Sunday, December 25, 2016

Monthly Resolutions for 2017

I have an intense love-hate relationship with long weekends. I look forward to it and I bask in my fort of pillows and Korean dramas but at the same time, I'm so fidgety and I need to do something. But I end up not doing anything because I can't be bothered to drive anywhere! Frustrating but I'm trying to still just be happy with the fact that it's Monday tomorrow and I don't have to wake up early for work.

So other than watching endless Youtube videos (anyone knows of a good Youtube series to watch? I've pretty sure I've finished watching all of Buzzfeed's and Vox's videos), it has dawned on me that next Sunday is 2017. How quick has that been?? It got me thinking that I need a new approach for the new year so instead of a new year resolutions, I'm going to make monthly resolutions. I brought it up to my mum and she's already announced it to the whole world via her Facebook. Sigh, parents and their FB obsession. 

The whole point to a monthly resolution is that instead of having a yearly one in which I completely abandon by 4th January, I thought it'd be better to have 12 short-term ones. I think I'll be more focused and more enthusiastic to fulfil and achieve it. Right? Right.

January will be a month where I stop drinking sweet drinks (all kinds - sirap limau, coke, fruit juices, everything!). Mama was so enthusiastic, she has already planned 6 months in advance! I was thinking of doing month by month but ok....

My yearly resolution is to start saving up for my future. I should've done it long time ago hahaha but I'm going to take it rather seriously this coming year. And hope it snowballs into something big and fruitful in the near future. InsyaAllah! That and to take more photos. And not necessarily for Instagram. 

I'm going off tangent but fellow K-Drama fans, can we please discuss what a GORGEOUS drama Goblin is???? Some people are having a hard time digesting the age gap between the Goblin and Eun Tak but ??? Love is love ??? It's such a well-written, well thought out drama and I'm sooooooo into it. Production wise, it's brilliant. Gong Yoo is hella dreamy!! He says everything so romantically tragic, it's breaking my heart!! I keep changing favourite actors all the time but Gong Yoo is defo top 5. 
 I'm also really loving Dong Wook (have always regarded him as a great actor - loved him in Bubblegum) and Kim Go-Eun is so precious here. Didn't like Cheese in The Trap but thought she was really good in it so I was looking forward to her in this drama. Overall this drama is just golden and I highly recommend it. It is kinda heavy but the characters themselves are very lighthearted, it's just the plot that gets quite melodramatic and tragic. 

Oh and of course, merry christmas!! I love Christmas and I long to be back in England where Christmas was everything shiny and sparkly. I'm so dead jealous on everyone's holiday photos and their Christmas lunches and dinners. My Christmas lunch was Mama's cooking (the best ever!) and my dinner was McDonalds and fried rice. Not that festive but home is home and I'm kinda really loving it. 

Wishing everyone a great week ahead! Can't believe it's the last week of 2016!

xx

Monday, December 19, 2016

A wedding, some tears, and a lot of laughs

My weekend with friends! 

I spent my Friday night watching Sing with Iman. I LOVE that movie - particularly all the singing, duh. I'm reminded again and again how brilliant Tori Kelly is as a vocalist. I haven't stopped listening to her rendition of Stevie Wonder's 'Don't You Worry About A Thing' ever since I got back home from watching that movie. 

Saturday, I attended Ha's wedding. The Ha I sat with in history classes in KY. Sighhhh, I'm so elated for her. To be married to your high school sweetheart is everything! She looked stunning in her baju pengantin, with her husband on that pelamin. Makes me want to get married! The place was also really beautiful - she had the land next to her house look like the fanciest wedding hall. And the food was really sedap - they had apam balik!!! I'm definitely having apam balik at my wedding, y'all better be sure of that. And roti jala. And sirap limau because it's my favourite drink ever. And banoffee pie for SURE. I'm definitely the kind of person to want her guests to remember my wedding for the food.




Ha had this really cute photo booth section in her house and it was really fun because they had some props and you could take the photos back home. This one was a soft copy from their Facebook page (the photo booth company is called Theseplay). Always loved these photo booth ideas. Don't worry - I'll defo have this at my wedding too. Hahaha

Didn't know you could make a canopy look this gorgeous! Definitely in favour of an outdoor wedding now. 

With my girls!


Got my pelamin - need the groom now. 

A selfie with the beautiful couple! 

 Look at how stunning Ha is - I need a moment!! So happy for her - only wishing you the best happiness and the best marriage ahead for you, darling girl! 



Isn't the pelamin soooo beautiful???? Sighhh my heartttttt... I'm such a sucker for weddings.

And then on Sunday, other than taking like 3 naps, I went for Kaveetha's little gathering at her house. The event was in remembrance of Hafiz. Kaveetha and Sanju, being the amazing friends they are, got us all together for some makan-makan and to celebrate him. There were some tears but there were a lot more laughs. I was incredibly excited to go for this one because it feels like it's been so long since I met this bunch of friends. I got some smack about it obviously but I loved the whole night - being with some of my very, very good friends since high school was so damn fun. Forgot how much of a good time I have when I'm with them. 

Kaveetha's house was where I used to go for my BM tuition when I was in high school and she'd always host gatherings then so going to her house is like going back to being a teen. I love it. Conversations have changed but we're still the same people. We're now talking about work and our careers and who's getting married. It's so weird!!!! But so wonderful because shows how we've grown together. I had such a good time that I only left at 2:30 knowing very well that I had work the very next day. What's a little less sleep than being with friends, amirite?



A weekend of friends - only just about my favourite type of weekends. 

To more dinners, weddings, and celebrating our youth!

xx

Saturday, December 10, 2016

My Week

Hi! 

It's a Friday and I have next Monday and Tuesday off!!!! Yes!!! So excited to do absolutely nothing. 

/ Talking to Strangers /

Yesterday and today was spent being in a exhibition on behalf of the Nelissa Hilman brand. I think one thing I've realised from working with NH is that I'm getting more and more comfortable talking to new people. I realised people aren't that scary as I had once thought. You say 'Hi' and more often than not, they're going to say hi back with a smile. I spent most of the time talking to people who had a genuine interest about the brand. Well, enough interest to walk over to me at least. I must've looked bored as heck as I had no data on my phone at all and there was no working WiFi. But nevertheless, I had a great time. I actually really do genuinely like talking to people. 

/ Crush'd /

Also, on a totally unrelated note but I just had to write it here so that future self can remember, I met an incredibly cute Chinese boy at one of the booths and sigh, he was quite dreamy. He actually came up to my booth when I was by myself and looked at the shoes and took one of the coupons we were offering. Ahh, my 2 day crush, how do I find you on social media??? I know where you work but how do I find you??? Kinda reminded me of my younger, naive high school days when I used to have crushes all the damn time! Hahahahaha thinking about it makes me laugh but coming across this Chinese boy at the exhibition made me really miss having someone to like! It's such a great feeling to be excited about someone so although it was short-lived, I was quite happy to have someone to be excited about. Dear Chinese boy at the GEC exhibition, thanks for igniting a missed yet completely familiar feeling in me. Twas great. Find me on Instagram. Please.

/ The Dot Com Change /

Also, you might've noticed but I've changed my blogspot to a dot com. Exciting!!!!! For me, at least. For those who don't know about the back story of my blogging, I started when I was 14. Form 2 and I had just moved to Taman Tun. A good 60% of my friends in that class were running blogs. Some updated it frequently, some not so but all the same, I LOVED reading their stories and their 14-year-old feelings that I thought I'd join in the fun. I had kept a diary before that anyway so I just thought of it as a natural millenial thing to do - take diaries on a more public platform. 

And I'm pretty sure (but do correct me if I'm wrong!) that I'm the only one from that circle of friends who still keeps a blog. I'm a hoarder by nature, takes me so long to throw out things because I'm quite sentimental that way. I feel so sayang to trash things because at one point in life, it must've meant a lot to me. So I try to hold on to things til they go old and rusty but even then, I sayang. So that's why I've never been tempted to deactivate or delete my blog. Holds so much memories and old cringy stories to me! So the progression from a blogspot to a dot com was natural. Big girl already! Both me and my blog.

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Don't really know what I'm going to be doing this long weekend. My mind says to do something productive like finally catching up on my Korean skills or read that marketing book I haven't gotten around to doing but my heart says to pamper and chill and maybe do a Harry Potter marathon. Or maybe finally I'll get that massage I've been wanting to do for ages. 

Or maybe I'll prompt my stalker/detective skills to find that Chinese boy on Instagram/Twitter. 

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Current Favo(u)rites

Current favourites! 

I haven't done a post on this in so long so I thought I'd update you and future self on what I've been really loving and enjoying this past few weeks.

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Music

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OK so I'm absolutely jiving to Bruno Mars' new album. My favourite and most repeated track is Finesse. It's very reminiscent of the 90's boy group vibe and I just cannot get enough of that song. To the point where I didn't even give Korean songs a chance the other day! And that's pretty major in my book. And I've been listening to Honne and they're really up my alley. They're like The Neighbourhood almost? My favourite is Good Together, such a fun track to listen to.

In terms of the Korean music sphere (because how can I ever forget?), I am really liking the slower songs. I only just recently discovered Urban Zakapa's 'I Don't Love You' from watching a drama (will get into that later) and it's sooooooo good. Given the rather slow melody, the lyrics packs a punch and it's quite emotional also. Me, emotional song lyrics? Love it! I also love Jay Park's new 'Stay With Me' and Hyolyn's new track featuring Jay Park 'One Step'. So happy she has a new album out - truly one of K-Pop's current biggest and best divas! 

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Fashion

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Stripes. I'm crazy for blue and white stripes as of late. Iman reckons I have too many and tells me off for buying more but I can't help it! I'm also obsessed with silver, gold and other obnoxious metallics. They're my new favourite things to see and grab when I'm out shopping. It's a fun addition to the normal outfit. Hah, I say all this without actually having a single metallic item in my life but I WILL! This is a promise in itself, you just wait! 



And mules! Oh my God, give me my mules in all colours and material, I need them in my life! I only have one good one from Charles & Keith in black suede. I wear it to death. It has a low block heel so it's really comfortable to walk in, but most of all it's so conveniently stylish. It's such an easy way to perk up an outfit and I mean, it's a slip on so you save on so much effort. I loveeeee mine and want to get more. 

 
Both from Mansur Gavriel

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Beauty

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Blush. Blush. Blush. I am allllll for blushes. And I only have one! I love the rosy look on my cheeks. I've mentioned this before but it hasn't really changed. I don't even wear much mascara and brow pencil/powder anymore. Probably because I'm always rushing in the morning so I don't really bother. But I must must have blusher on. Just gives life back to my face. I don't do bronzer because I don't really like how patchy it goes on my face. 

I love my Dolce Vita from NARS and am looking to buy a more orange toned blusher for the sake of trying. And I also totally suck for missing our Sephora's Black Friday sale. I did manage to, however, take advantage of Colourpop's free international shipping the other day and got myself more goodies. Can't wait for them to arrive! 

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Dramas

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Sigh. Moon Lovers was good in its early stages and it's largely because I was highly rooting for Kang Haneul. It got really lousy by the end of it and I just only watched for the sake of just staying til the end. It got dry and the plot just lost it. I desperately need him (Kang Haneul, henceforth referred to as 'soulmate') to be in a leading role in a romantic drama next time I see him. He is magic. On the eyes and as a character, he is beautiful! Definitely new favourite actor. But then again I say that about a lot of Korean men...

Now, I'm currently absolutely enjoying Weightlifting Fairy : Kim Bok Joo. It's centers around student athletes and it's so ~ adorable ~. I cannot say enough about how I love Lee Sung Kyung's dedication to her role. She put on 5 kgs (she was a fashion model and she is stunning) for it and she really gives a 110% to be Bok Joo, this goofy little girl who is rough as they come but melts at a cute guy, holding an umbrella for her. It's the little things and I really admire how she's trying to prove early doubters that she's up for anything for her roles. She's played the bitchy character in the past so I'm very happy that for her first leading role, she's this sweetheart who is not your stereotypical damsel-in-distress. She's literally and figuratively strong and ugh, I just love female roles like that. Strong-headed, determined and doesn't take a beating from anyone. It's definitely not a heavy drama and I highly recommend it. ALSO, Joo Hyuk is such a treat every week. I can't get over how handsome the guy is. It's actually painful to see these two beautiful lead characters on screen. Hurts my self-esteem. 


I'm also watching 'My Wife's Having An Affair This Week'. Stars Ji Hyo (also known as the only female on Running Man). It's about... well, affairs. It's not as cutesy and fun as Weightlifting Fairy but it has its comedic parts. It tells a story of a couple who is going through a tough time as the husband discovers that his wife is committing an affair. And to see how they endure the storm. My first time watching Sun-Kyun's acting (he's the husband) and I'm a new fan. He acts frenzied and distraught so perfectly! I empathise with him of course but he's such an endearing character and I am really enjoying watching him act. 



Not a fan of 'Entourage' which is disappointing to say the least. Was looking forward to it so much and it's nothing but a bunch of guys who have nothing to do but walk around together??? Haven't started with Legend of The Blue Sea. REALLY looking forward to Hwarang because Park Seo Joon (lead of She Was Pretty) and Go Ara (Reply 1994) have my heart and I can't wait to see their chemistry on screen. It's going to be off the hook, I can already SMELL IT FROM HERE. 

I didn't know what to make of the Korean drama system in which they only produce a drama for one season. Something I wasn't used to as an avid American TV drama fan before. Although I'd love to see how my favourite characters in my favourite Korean dramas go on to do more than just a season, I think it's pretty brilliant that they only have 16-20 episodes to really tell a story. And it just means more opportunities for more actors to be in more dramas. I have Dramabeans bookmarked because I often go there to read drama reviews and drama news. It's actually really thrilling to hear new dramas being made and see who's being pitched to star in it. If you're a K-Drama fan and don't know what Dramabeans is, then well, what have you been doing?!?!?! Best thing ever to happen in K-drama land. Go!

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Instagram

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Some Instagram accounts I really love these days. I really admire people with excellent taste for content curation on their social media. It's art, people!!! 



















___

Ok phew so that's all for this post. Long and chatty but feels like I haven't updated this blog properly in so long so this was needed. At least to me. 

Have a great day, talk soon! 

xx

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Shop-lot factory

Had a fun day at work today! I wasn't in the office per se as I went on what Hanif, the person in charge of production (also incredibly funny), would say "Tour". Kinda felt like it too!

We went to our stockists first and brought shoes for them to restock. Got to meet Kak Su at BVII even for a lil while! Then we went to KLCC because Nelissa has some shoes stocked there in Isetan. Hanif drove in to the loading bay and he kept laughing at me because I was genuinely really fascinated! From Marks and Spencer to alcohol suppliers, everything! The loading bay btw is huge. It's massive, and the lift stinks like rotten fish. Maybe 'cause it actually carries fish on a daily basis. I forget that Isetan has a whole grocery department downstairs so there were a lot of food going in and out. And we went into Isetan through the back rooms where all the employees hang out. Felt kinda cool?? 

Then we went to the factory where they make some of the shoes. I thought it'd be in this huge space, like as big as the Willy Wonka one. It wasn't. It was a shop lot but extended to two floors. You won't know this about me but I have this intense fascination on how things are made. I am endlessly curious as to how ANYTHING is made. From lipsticks to roof tiles, I love seeing the process of production. For me, it's like physically seeing how 2 and 2 adds to 4. So the trip to the 'factory' was an incredibly insightful one. From how they slap the Nelissa Hilman tag on the soles and stapling leather onto the heel, I was in * a w e *. Genuine awe. 

Wasn't there for too long as we had to rush elsewhere but here are some photos I managed to take.

This mak cik was so friendly and nice, I actually spent some time listening to her stories as she continued gluing things on. 








I love learning more and more things about retail and fashion as I work with NH so things like these excite me. Whenever I can, I always pester my colleagues and even Nelissa herself sometimes about the industry and the whole start-up culture. Would love to blog about it but need to be working more to do that haha!

So close to the weekend already, yes!!! I'm definitely getting myself churros this weekend.

xx

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Donald Trump and boys at Uniqlo

It's a glorious Sunday! I woke up at blissfully at 11 today, and only because my grandfather had called me. I'm about to go get ready to go to OU in a bit because I've run out of facial cleanser. 

So, this week USA got themselves a new president. I didn't follow the US presidential election because well, I wasn't interested in it. I did, however, feel just as anxious to know who was going to occupy the White House for the next 4 years. And ???? Donald Trump ???? I don't have to know much about politics to know he' not just unfit for office, he's also ridiculously intolerable! The things he has said about minorities, about women, about immigrants, about Muslims, about everyone other than white people!!!!! It's vile and it's something I haven't come to terms with. I don't think I will. But on the bright side (can I even call it that...?) it's been highly entertaining to see comedians and talk show hosts give their two cents on the results. I love how passionate they are in denouncing Trump, as they should. Best thing about the Americans is that they say whatever they want to say even if it is on national TV. Something I think maybe should also be implemented here (without anyone having to be jailed for). I spent my whole day yesterday watching about a thousand Youtube videos of the ladies at The View were (Whoopi and Joy are my new favourite people btw) and Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher, Russell Brand, and so many others talk about how inept Donald Trump is. There's that tiny beam of hope that he somehow makes an effort to show he deserves that position...? And not talk bat shit crazy things like a lunatic??? I don't know, one can dream.

I spent the day today strolling around OU by myself. Being a frequent OU goer, I know weekends are when half of Klang Valley goes there so I opted to make my life easier and not spend half an hour on parking and grabbed an Uber instead. Wanted to get three things; facial cleanser, churros and doughnuts. Managed to get the facial cleanser from Etude House, no one was at the counter at the churros place and Big Apple closed down! Devastated because I was really looking forward to eat something sweet! Also, something I realised, Uniqlo has some of the cutest employees. I thought it was just the one that I frequent but they're everywhere! Not Abercrombie hot but geeky cute like how you'd think a Uniqlo wearing boy would be. Go to a Uniqlo and keep an eye out and let me know if it's the same. Because really, they're quite easy on the eyes. 

Oh! You know how I went on and on on how much I love Girl Boss? Well then this week I came across an article about how Nasty Gal was going to file for bankruptcy. IMMEDIATELY, I questioned all that I read in that book! I was kinda angry because after reading more articles about Nasty Gal, I discovered so much shitty stuff that was going on with the upper management and how Sophia's ego post-Girl Boss became so inflated that she became distant with the very brand she built. Their ill-treatment towards their employees was atrocious and it's kind of a nightmare. If all that's been reported is true then they kinda deserve it. Karma, people!!! Don't treat people like shit!!!

Ok I'm going to go make myself some really spicy ramyeon and watch some shows before I head to bed. 

Have a great week ahead and be nice to people! And moisturise! 

xx

Sunday, November 6, 2016

SoKo Photos

... 

Late as usual but need (!!) to have this on my blog to share and to immortalise. I have this irrational fear that all my photos will disappear one day. It happened when I was 12, I brought my dad's camera to a Standard 6 dinner and that was the first time I had ever dressed up for an event. I had my hair straightened and even had blusher on! Had such a great time and took so many photos of my friends. Can't remember what happened but I remember it being such a fun night and when I wanted to see the photos the next morning, they were gone!!! Gone!!!!! Turns out my brother had fumbled with some of the settings on the camera and accidentally deleted everything. I was furious and cried. Ever since then, I've gone the extra mile to make sure my photos are still in tact. Hard drive is good and all but I mean, you can't ever lose anything on the Internet so posting it on my blog is like extra free security. 

Also, I miss Seoul terribly. Next time I go (because there WILL be a next time), I'm going to go visit during the colder months. Looks cosy.

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DAY 2
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DAY 3
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DAY 4
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Our favourite place after a whole day out. I'll gladly recommend this place to anyone who is looking to go to Seoul. Ridiculously convenient place (has a convenient store just downstairs and is linked to the Hongdae station which you can take an express train from Incheon Airport) and so well kept! Loved it!

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DAY 5
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A mountain of all their show costumers... I know, I cried too. 













Too much shopping bags so she gave us a trolley. CUTE!!





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DAY 6
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Myeongdong at night is so lively and happening and beautiful! Because yes, I personally find obnoxiously bright and loud shop signs beautiful.

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DAY 7
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FINALLY ALL UP! Phew. 

Ok work tomorrow, talk soon! 

xx