Quick Snaps #1

A pictorial version of Quick Chats. In case you didn't already get that.

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1    I D O L 
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As I've mentioned before, I don't usually follow influencers because I like to have my Instagram as personal as possible - so as to only see photos of friends and family only.

But one local style influencer I absolutely love is Sri Azni. She's #stylegoals.

We had a styling event the other day at the Bangsar store and she came. I was manning the registration table and so when I saw her, I was so star-struck. She's beautiful, you guys!! Like really pretty and was just the absolute sweetest. I was sorta afraid of going to these events (not that I had a choice...) because fashion people, in a lot of ways, scare me. And it's basically like going to a party where you know absolute nobody else except for the host.

But anyway, I took a photo with her because I couldn't suppress the fangirl in me. And she is just the nicest being ever!!!! Like super smiley and super kind. I love her feed because she looks incredibly effortless in literally whatever she wears and she pulls it off!! All!! The!! Time!!

But I was more awed as to how nice she was, like so soft-spoken and sweet. One of the better parts of working in fashion is you get to meet social influencers you've always admired so here's my first and hopefully to many more! 

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2    B T S
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I love K-Pop but you know who I love most in K-Pop?

BTS.

I can sit you down for an hour or two to tell you all about them and count all the ways why I love them. But for the sake of this post, I won't. Maybe next time. But basically they're one of the hottest and most popular boy group in the k-pop scene now. They were the case of zero to 100 real quick - came from a very small company and is now the biggest thing in k-pop. And I just really love them.

And recently they got invited to the Billboard Music Awards. If you don't know how big of a deal that is, let me scale it for ya. They're the first ever Asian group, first ever k-pop group to be invited, to be nominated and to win! First! Ever! News articles have called them the best thing ever since Psy. They won the Top Social Artist award and that was decided by fan votes. Other nominees include Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber and freakin' Rihanna. All previous years, Justin Bieber won, no question. So for a k-pop group to win from the Biebs himself?????? K-pop makes you feel funny things and when they won, I was just the happiest and cheeriest girl in the office. Smiling from ear to ear kinda happy.

AWWWWW!!! Don't this make you smile? No? Just me? When they won big at last year's Korean music award shows, I was crying from happiness ok!!! So over but these are MY BOYS!!! Breaking barriers right, left, centre, this BTS!!! To represent Asia at the Billboards is a pretty damn huge deal! 

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3    M Y  # 1 
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My grandfather still goes around calling me his number one cucu. Not in the order of sayang but in like, literal order. I'm his first grandchild! He still has the most precious photo of me and him in his office and one of me in his lap and that's my favourite photo ever. I love my grandfather, he's one of my favourite people ever in life.

And one of the things we share in common is this!

We have a straight line across our palms! It doesn't sound like an awfully big deal but it is to me. He's always shown it to me and have always admired in since I was a little girl. We were out for dinner together the other day and I reminded him of it and he was so excited about it again. Sigh, this old man is just the most precious. May Allah bless him! I have the best Pak Tok ever and that's Allah's blessing to me, alhamdulillah!

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4    I M A N  G O E S  T O  C O L L E G E
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Iman's home now for a whole week! And all in great timing because she's home to start off Ramadhan with us. I've missed her but she don't look like she missed me hahaha. I'm happy that she loves where she's at and that she's getting along with her roommates. Can't wait for her to start classes (previous week was a week-long orientation) and really begin her college life. I loved mine like crazy so I hope she does too.

"This is my number one essential"

This was when she was about to leave, packing her things into the car. She also dreaded the baju kurung, saying "This baju kurung is just too much effort, man". Effort kat mana entah lah.

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5    K G B  W I T H  F R I E N D S
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Dinner date with Amal, Nans, Anis and Q! We had good burgers at KGB. This was a week before Amal went back to Canada. It's always so, so fun meeting these girls and talking and laughing and catching up. And I was really pleased we all got to meet Amal again before she flies to Ottawa. Love the girl!!!!! Hi Amal, I know you're reading, bud. Can't wait for you to start the new chapter in your life. Excited for you and for this new adventure you're about to embark. And in a new place at that! Somewhere I can know lah at least what time is what time. Hahaha.

___

Ok I'm about to continue watching Suspicious Partner! SO GOOOOOD!! I've never watched Ji Chang Wook in anything but he's incredibly charming and incredibly swoon-y in this so I'm loving every episode.

Selamat berpuasa, berbuka and bersahur everyone! 

xx

Quick Chats #2

Yay second round!

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1    G L A S S E S

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I really would love to buy a pair of glasses that are prescription-less. I just want them for the sake of style. And before you say anything else or roll your eyes, I've actually wanted to wear one from when I was young. So I'm not like, entirely swayed by current trends. When I was younger, I would voluntarily go for those free eye tests at shops while I wait for my mum to get her lenses prescribed and it would always be the same result -

"OK, good, no problem, 20/20"

Which obviously I'm very grateful for because who doesn't cheer for good health, right? So I never wore glasses (and neither have any of my siblings actually, we're all blessed with good vision from my dad, he still doesn't need to wear one and he's already 58). But I REALLY WANT ONE!!! The more grandmother it looks, the more I want it. Can't seem to find any that I like.

I'm also really really thinking of getting a Gentle Monster piece. Like the aviator, coloured-lenses one. But I'm an annoying snob and I really want to get my first one when I go to Seoul next because I want to get the full experience of going to their über cool concept stores and actually coming out of the store with a new purchase. I'm not planning to go to Seoul this year but hopefully next Spring! 

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2    I M A N

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This is a quick update for those who know me. My youngest sister, Iman, has left for college!!! :(((( Yes! My youngest sister who you've all probably seen if you're on my Insta/Snapchat. 

She is now in a college about an hour an a half from here and no, it's not KY. But a boarding college, nonetheless. 

I didn't get to send her there because I had granddaughter duties at home. I didn't cry if that's what you're asking. Because I'll be seeing her again tomorrow when she comes back for the whole week. The house gets awfully quiet and it's not because Iman was always chitchatting at home and making a racket but because I usually look for her after work and lepak in her room for a bit before I go back to my own room. Now, I don't have anyoneeeeeee *wails, kicks, cries*. 4 years ago, I was lonely because I was the only one away and now I'm the only one home. Sighhh. I actually thanked my mum the other day, "Thanks for having more kids after me".

I miss my siblings! Can't wait to have everyone home again!

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3    K O R E A N  L A N G U A G E

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So I've posted a video, once or twice, of me speaking in Korean. I don't think I'm all that good because I still struggle to come up with full sentences at the top of my head. My idea of being fluent at a language is just participating in a conversation without having to spend like 5 minutes thinking of what to say next. I'm not there yet.

But I totally understand now when people say "They can understand a language but can't speak it". I used to be quite confused because duh, if you can understand something, surely you know how to speak it. Wrong. People say immersion is the best teacher and I think I agree. I've not been in a situation where I am surrounded by Korean speakers (though I'd love to but the thought of it is already quite nerve wrecking) so my rate of learning is just a lot slower than people who go for actual classes and surround themselves with eager Korean learners.

I'm actually still actively trying to find a class to participate, an after-work or a weekend curricular kinda thing, but they're soooo expensive. And I'd have to sit for an actual exam which really is what's putting me off the whole thing. But if any of you know of any language academies around Damansara, let me know please!

But I think with me, my 'classes' and idea of 'immersion' is through watching Korean shows. If you've seen any, you'd know they're pretty generous with Korean subtitles and written narration and all I do really, is screenshot and write them down in a book. I've probably already said this but someone asked me how I have become so fluent (I'm not) and this is how I learn... kinda. So that way, I've become more fluent in conversational day-to-day Korean. And it's slang. I also have like a million and one Tumblr pages dedicated to just learning Korean so that helps too!

I tried learning Japanese the other day but man, too much. Korean in comparison is just a hell lot easier to understand and learn. Took me half an hour to get the Korean alphabet down. *blows nails*

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4    F I G H T  M Y  W A Y
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So this is a Korean drama and I've been waiting for it for SO LONG. It stars Park Seo Joon and he's like one of my favourite actors since I first watched him on She Was Pretty and I've been swooning over him ever since.

When I heard he was about to lead a new drama, I was already SO on board. His previous one, Hwarang, was... meh. I mean, I've probably raved about it once or twice here but I was more blinded by the men in that show than the actual storyline. And it fizzled out quickly for a lot of different reasons. Mainly because they lost the plot and they forgot the leading lady by the end of it. After Hwarang, I think I can pretty much conclude that old saeguk dramas (period dramas) are just not my thing. 

But anyway, Seo Joon's leading lady in this is the beautiful Kim Ji Won who played Rachel in The Heirs and was the second lead actress in Descendants of the Sun. I've always thought she looked like she could handle a whole drama on her own as the main actress so I'm glad she finally got the chance to and WITH PARK SEO JOON AT THAT!!! The chemistry!!! Is!!! So!!! On!!!

It's only 2 episodes in but I love how refreshingly real this show is. It's a show about 4 friends leading very normal, subpar lives. Most Korean dramas tend to explore more on the very poor or the very rich but this one's just about average middle-class people who are doing mundane jobs while still having very real yet very far-fetched dreams. It's also a friends-to-lovers drama and you know I love me some friends-to-lovers drama. It's been so long since I was excited for a drama so I can't help but have high hopes for this one!

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5    Y O U T U B E  x  P O D C A S T

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I've been playing with the idea of making more Youtube videos in my spare time and learn more about video-making and all that jazz. I want to wait for Tania to come home because well, she has the camera. I have severe second-hand embarrassment from my OWN videos so I don't know why I'm even thinking of being Youtube active. At a recent event, someone I just met mentioned my Korean vlogs and how she loved them and that she based off her Korea trip on our video. Or that's what I think she said because I was too flustered and didn't hear what she actually said.

But I'm thinking of being more active on media in that sense. A friend of mine, Dayana, made this wonderful podcast and I'm so jealous how good she is at it. I'm nowhere the speaker she is and I don't have a great recording voice but I really would LOVE to try podcasts too. I need to organise my thoughts on this and get back on it soon. I also really need to start saving up for a quality camera hahah

___

Didn't think I'd have much to talk about but hey, what do you know? I was in bed all day today although it's a working day. I actually did go to the office this morning but decided to leave about an hour and a half in because my period cramps got so bad that I got a headache out of it. Went to the clinic and she gave me some painkillers and my mc for the day. Came home and tossed and turned in bed. ALL DAY! And I'm still in pain and it's already closing on midnight. I have cramps every now and then but today was especially bad. Won't be able to fast for the first few days of Ramadhan but that's not going to stop me from waking up for sahur hehe.

Have a wonderful month of berpuasa, everyone!! Weather has been pretty unforgivingly hot these past few weeks so make sure you get in your appropriate water intake everyday so as to not be dehydrated in the day. And to not makan so gelojoh ok, we still want to look nice in our baja raya so let's try to ease up on the food for buka. Makan tu makan but don't overbuy and overeat. It's all about moderation this month! 

I'm excited to puasa actually because I didn't get to do that at home last year so I'm excited that it's not like a 21 hour fast anymore. 

See you in my next post!

xx

My first fashion show

I feel great.

I'm writing this at 12:29 pm and it's a Saturday. I've already swept the floor of my side of the house (people who've been to my place would know what this means), vacuumed, changed the bed sheets, did laundry, showered, and all fuelled by my routine glass of lemon water. Damn. I feel great. I love having not do anything and wake up late and just laze in bed - I'm all for that life but nothing better than seeing your carpets cleaned, floors spic and span and have brand new sheets to sleep on. And I smell like like lavender from my body soap. Already a great Saturday.

I'm skilled at putting things off but I was so rimas with my room that I just kinda threw myself to cleaning mode. Once I get in the mood, my mind just goes into overdrive and I'm just telling myself "You might as well do that while you're at it" at... everything. But like showering, it takes me ages to get in that headspace. But once I'm there, best bet I'll be doing everything.

I brought some work home because I have to present something to the director of the company. Who's actually very, very nice and meetings with him is very fruitful and fun for me because I learn a lot. I have to prep on what I want to say and my ideas and opinions and provide him with options on what we can offer as a brand. I've already used up my energy quota for today so maybe I'll do it tomorrow.

Yesterday, I attended my first fashion show! It was for Mimpikita's raya collection. I swooned all throughout the show. I wasn't sitting first row - I was at third. My fashion show partner, Raissa, developed a spinning headache just right before we had dinner and she had to go to the loo to puke twice! I know that feeling very well so I tried to accommodate as best I can. Headaches always seem to happen at just the oddest of times. I remember my one really bad headache and I think I was about 7? 8? and it happened on the night of my birthday party at Twinkles. Do you all remember Twinkles??? Wonder why they don't have that anymore. Anyway, it was disastrous. I had my head down the whole time - I don't even remember blowing out the cake because I was just really, really not feeling well. I didn't play with my friends nor did I even speak to anyone because I felt so nauseous. Sucks because it was TWINKLES???? You don't have always have your birthdays at TWINKLES!!!!

But guess when I felt better?

The morning after. I rushed downstairs to open my presents and I remember asking myself "How the hell did I get instantly 100% better after one night of sleep???".

I digress.

Anyway, fashion show was great but I felt so out of place. And it's because most of these fashion shows, people go in like groups of 3-4 or even more. And they're dressed to the nines. I came right after work so we're talking like, 9 hours of worn make-up and messy hair (thisclose to bringing my hair dryer and finding a working plug to re-do my hair). I wore a white short-sleeved shirt under a sparkly little crop top and flared pants. The pants made it work, I think. Flared anything puts a bit of drama in an outfit, I think. I just topped up some glitter on my lids and reapplied lipstick. And!! I had some really good aglio olio at Farenheit 600 and it was cili padi and garlic galore so I smelled of that. I know right? Attractive is my nickname.

But the collection was beautiful and the detailing was immaculate. Especially the bespoke one. Mimpikita has always been one of the local brands I've always liked in terms of their tailoring, their bridal wear and their more exclusive bespoke line. I don't have a boyfriend yet but let's be all rest assured that I'll be having a Mimpikita wedding dress.

I just had a fulfilling lunch at Mimpi Muor (it's at KD, Google it and thank me later! So sedap!) and I'm back to my habitat. In a fortress of pillows and fresh sheets. So ready to take my evening nap and it looks like it's about to pour and my heart *sings* for rain-accompanied sleep time.

Have a wonderful weekend!

xx

Quick chats #1

Hi! Time for quick chats*

*my solution to quick and easy blogging. I always stress myself out from writing a post of just one topic. Then I thought I'd just cram in a lot of the things in one post. So... basically, what I've been doing all this while lah. 

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 1    G l o s s i e r   s u n s c r e e n

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Help me, God. I love this brand. I haven't actually gotten anything from them because they only exclusively ship to the US & Puerto Rico and I'm a lazy shopper and can't be bothered to do all the registering-a-US-mail-address-and-have-it-sent-over jazz. It's just a lot of work for a lip balm. Albeit a pretty great one.

But when you love a brand without physically purchasing a product, isn't that just great advocacy right there? I'm essentially vouching for a brand I've never ever tried. It defies the laws of the traditional customer experience journey which goes something like 'you buy first, you decide whether you like or dislike it, and then shape a fair and sound judgment around it'. But this is when a brand with a great marketing strategy can challenge that theory. I'm so attracted to the overall aesthetic of the brand, their stories, their photos, their packaging, their creative direction, everything! And without even trying anything from them. It's actually so inspiring to see. I'm not a brand (... yet) but man, I'd be smart to take notes from Glossier. It's difficult to lift from the entrepreneurial grounds when you're selling skincare - a commodity that doesn't show results 'til waaaaay past purchase date. They do make-up too but their brand motto is skin first so they're really emphasising on that.

I've named this part 'Glossier sunscreen' because they're about to blow the water (see? customer advocacy EXHIBIT A!!!) with a highly anticipated sunscreen. No one actively goes out to buy sunscreen as much as they do for their other skincare or make-up products so for me to be looking forward to this release is pretty phenomenal marketing on Glossier's end. 

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 2   K n o w i n g  B r o t h e r s

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Korean variety show fans, let me just say, 'Knowing Brothers' is all that I've been watching. Haven't gotten around to Running Man (and it's new members), 2 Days 1 Night, not even Infinity Challenge. But when I see a new episode of KB, you best bet that's what I'm definitely, definitely going to do for the next hour. Don't even fight me on it! 

It's hilarious! Brings me back to my good ol' Running Man days where I'd spend hours just glued to my laptop screen. Bad for the skin and eyes but oh so good for my heart and soul. I'm only just gearing up to watching every episode but I've been catching with the later ones first. They couldn't have gotten a better panel of members on the show because they work so well together. The chemistry is like no other!! And it's so refreshing because of the interview concept of the show.

So basically : It's a classroom concept. There's 7 of them, all different but all with great sense of humour. So they have guests every week and they come in as an 'exchange student' and they have to come to the front of the class and introduce themselves and then go on to play a game of 'Guess!' where they set a question of a fact about themselves but leave the members to guess what it is. Sounds really plain and simple but it's SO funny ok I know I've been saying 'funny' like a million times already but it really is. 

Maybe I've just grown so accustomed to the Korean sense of humour that it is only just funny to me? Idk but thought I'd list it here in my random chats.

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3   S p o n s o r s h i p s

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I hardly, hardly follow any social influencers on my Instagram. I would see them on my Explore page but I don't actually follow them. To keep it pretty short and sweet, I like to follow people for people and not for brands. I'd be more favourable towards opinions on brands when people aren't paid to do a post on them. There was an article some time ago where local celebrities had to pull an endorsement they did on something health-related after finding out that it was a phoney. Attach your name to something you truly, honestly believe in. Build your identity and your image and stay true to it. Don't let money falter that. 

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4   L e m o n  W a t e r

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So I've been getting into the habit of drinking lemon water first thing in the morning. Like, really. FIRST FIRST FIRST thing in the morning. Even if I'm late, I still down a whole tall glass of lemon water. I drink it warm and here's what I think about it.

In terms of skin, I don't see the great effect just yet but I trust it will because I mean, it could be me succumbing to the placebo effect but I'd like to think the stubborn pimple scar on my left cheek has reduced in darkness oh so slightly. Hope this isn't me jinxing it!!

And in terms of weight loss... guys I just found your new cardio equivalent (ok sorry I take it back for all exercise enthusiasts). I've lost like 3kg (!!!) from this. I started about a week and a half ago...? And I've lost 3 kilos! I'm also trying to limit rice intake to one meal in 2 days. So if I have nasi lemak for morning today, I can't have rice for any other meals til the day after tomorrow. That could be contributing to my weight loss but I've had cheat days for that and I've been pretty loyal with my lemon water so I'd like to think it's more of that than me not eating much rice because I eat pretty much the same amount of carbs and calories anyway as substitute. 

3 kilos, guys!!! 

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5   P u b l i c  h o l i d a y  b l i s s

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I was telling my mum the other day that a 3 day weekend is perfect. You get 3 late nights and by the time you hit the third day, you're fully energised (and even sometimes a bit bored) so you're ready to go and be productive at work. We're too far in the times to introduce and implement a 3 day weekend but I'm just really happy and glad that we're made up of so many races and cultures that we have the bliss of having so many public holidays in a year. 

People say "It's encouraging laziness and unproductiveness". Have you seen the way some of my friends work? Super late nights and super early morning and working all weekend on top of all that. I don't know who y'all hang out with but the kids I'm with are hardworking and productive people so a public holiday every so often won't hurt. Especially because it's used up more to rest and visit family (balik kampung for long weekends) and spending time with your loved ones. It's fine, I advocate it. Stress less, love more kinda thing.

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6   B e i n g   f i n a n c i a l l y  r e s p o n s i b l e

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I'm living with my parents (like every other unmarried Asian kid) and the car I drive to work is not mine, I don't pay when we go out for meals, nor do I pay for bills for the electricity, water and WiFi. 

I lucked out on two things ; being an Asian and being my parents daughter. 

Now that I've started working and getting my own pay, something I've never had before, I try to be a bit more financially responsible. I've been planning on going on holiday trips and concerts and all I'm really thinking is, "Ok shit I need to save this much and this much so that I can get to spend that much and that much". Before this it was all my mum and her generosity.

Even with personal shopping. I have a list of things I'd like to buy such as the electric blue tunic from Zara and the galactic-themed earrings from Lovisa and IOPE's essence (that costs RM250 btw wtf is skincare even) but I'm restrained so much financially. I probably can still buy it but I think more than just twice now. I think about 200 times before paying. 

I'll admit - it feels a bit liberating to be so restrained from shopping. As ironic and strange as that sounds. Before this it was more of a "How do I justify this to Mama?" and now it's "RM200 for a blouse???? Forget it!!!!! You can feed mouths with RM200!!!!!!".

I'm telling you, guys. I'm an adult now. A responsible, RM200-richer, adult who's saving for the greater good*.

*holidaying and going for K-Pop concerts, holllaaaaa

xx

Angry Me

One of my colleagues said something along the lines of,

"We're all capable of being bitchy, it's just the matter of whether we allow ourselves to show it or not"

And I think it's true.

We all - to a certain extent and limit - can be mean. It's within us, it's pretty natural for us to get angry and thus, pretty natural for us to burst every once in a while. We have a limit and we're not perfect. You're not human if you don't allow yourself to be angry. 

Today's a bitchy day for me. And I don't really know why. 

Or maybe I do.

It could be all the commotion at work today. Or it could be that nothing went my way. It could be that I haven't had full 8 hours of sleep in the past few days. It could also be that I haven't had rice for the past 3 days. It could be that drivers on the road have pissed me off an incredible amount today. I didn't find anything funny - not even the things that would make me laugh on any other day. I'm actually, at this very second, really annoyed at both my mum and sister for not replying my messages. It's like this fire in my bones and it's igniting the bitchiness in me. Also, I'm not really sorry for saying bitch about a million times over in this post.

I don't know, man. Does PMS really stand for pre-menstrual syndrome or post-menstrual syndrome 'cause I'm really feeling the latter. I mean, I hate everything and everyone around the few days before my period but I'm also finding myself to be just as bitchy a few days after also. It's like I have a 2 week window of being cheery and happy.

Tomorrow's Friday and we're back to having a glorious long weekend so I'm going to find my happy place again. Being angry and annoyed constantly is so frustrating because I'd love to have a great and satisfying day but it's as if my whole being is telling me I can't because I'm being constantly reminded of the things that have pissed me and will piss me off. It's ridiculous I know but I can't help it.

I should calm down. Angry me is not attractive.

x

Work trip to Singapura!

Sigh, I love Singapore.

I haven't been to an awful large number of cities so this might not be too legit of a list but Singapore's one of my favourite places ever. 

I love KL and I'm quite heavily biased towards it. Sure, it comes with its flaws and inadequacies but I don't mind it. Singapore is like the KL I'm used to - we share the same culture, the common makeup of people, the food's pretty much the exact same but yet so different. It's clean, it's proper, it's well-planned. Singapore, in comparison to Malaysia, feels very disciplined. Like a staycation but a level up. It's funny because I was in a different country and yet, I was always so surprised when I hear people speak Malay like they do here in KL. And I don't know why that surprised me - we're literally just like a road away from one another hahaha.

And of course... though I hate to be an obvious 21st century girl... Singapore feels super Instagrammable. It has beautiful buildings, streets are lined with full grown trees (I'm actually genuinely surprised just how much greenery they have, it's amazing!) and it's just a really well thought out city. I love cities that are not dependent on private vehicles. I wish KL was more like that. Sure, we have MRT's, LRT's, Monorail, KTM, what have you but they don't seem as friendly as ones abroad. And why the hell do we need so many different kind of train systems anway?? Can't we just have one? Or at the most 2?? But that rant's for another day.

Back to loving Singapore.

I was there for Singapore Modest Fashion Week so I was occupied at the Sands Expo Convention Centre for most of the day so I didn't get to sightsee and explore as much as I had liked. I'm definitely looking to go there again in the next few months when Tania comes back from the UK. Cause I looooove the place and I really want to properly visit all their museums and fancy cute little café's. I'd love to go to the Arts and Science Museum and the National Museum. All of it! The last time I went before this recent work trip was when USS had just opened and my family and I all went. That was ages ago. So to go back to Singapore was very fun.

Some random photos I took. It annoys just as much as it annoys you that these photos aren't the same size.

Our hotel was just right by Haji Lane and the infamous Zam Zam restaurant. I had the mi goreng and just a tip if you're going there; don't get the mi goreng.

Was working the first day and didn't get to really OOTD so this was a hurried one at like 7pm. Looks like somewhere near Pavilion hahaha

Ok so I was introduced to 4 Fingers while I was there. We were so tired from the first day of work there that we decided to just order delivery to our hotel. Omg best ever chicken!!!! I'm more of a burger person myself so for me to say this is really good chicken it must only mean that it was really good chicken.

Cupcake's are from Fluff Bakery but I'm not the biggest cupcake fan so this was... ok I guess...

Bits and pieces of Haji Lane. Such a precious place.

Um so this is an edited photo because it was really quite dark and it had just rained (you can tell by the wet pavement). Singapore was pretty rainy throughout our stay.

With the Mimpikita sisters! They were very sweet and so humble.

MOS burgers!! We had them twice - it was so good. It's plain burgers but I freaking loved it???

With my two colleagues/friends. The trip was about eating, entertaining customers and complaining how tired we were hahah but I had great fun. Shera (standing in the middle) helped us a lot and guided us throughout the stay - she ordered cabs, brought us places, this and that, very big sister-like so I was and am very quite grateful for her!

OMG YES long weekend ahead of us!!!!! I'm sooooooooooo going to not do anything and laze around. As I do.

xx

13RW

Ok I just got on the whole 13 Reasons Why craze and I get what the hype is. It's depressing and really dark and twisty (Grey's Anatomy fans anyone??) but it's soooo addictive. I've retired my good ol' what-is-sleep-when-there's-a-good-show-on days because well, it's not practical for work but I found myself sleeping at freaking 3 am to watch it. The reason I couldn't go on any longer was because I was physically unable to keep my eyes open and I found I wasn't concentrating anymore.

But it's so good, right?????? I love how it's directed and depicted and the characters are so real. I haven't watched a show that really indulges into social issues and at least, not this apparent and blatantly graphic. This is my first time really getting myself into it and it's very... intense and dark. Doesn't really seem like it in the first few episodes but it gradually gets there in its later parts. This show makes me see bullying from a first person perspective and it hurts. It's difficult to watch, to be honest. Some scenes I had to close my eyes. It's very hard to sit there as an audience because it makes you feel helpless. I don't think I've ever felt like that watching a show which is why I kinda really like it. Even after finishing the series, it stays with you. It's really haunting in that sense. I had to take a breather and just kind of calm down and watch something more uplifting and comedic to get my spirits up. It's probably one of the only shows I've ever agreed on staying til the end that was this dark. Even Skins had its humour. 

SKINS!!! 

Don't worry, I won't spoil (I'm like the Chairwoman of Anti Spoilers Association*) (*no actual such thing) it for you who haven't watched it but if you have, I'd love to strike up a chat with you to hear what you think about it. If you haven't, you should go watch! It's an important show as it sheds light on some really taboo topics which I think can and will benefit you one way or another. Some people love it, some are on the fence and some people just straight out protest against it. And I'm open to hear from any perspective. I've already read up on so many different theories on what the ending meant as well as different articles on the signs leading to a possible venture of a second season. I swear, when it comes to TV shows and movies, I'm putting in a lot more effort into researching than I did in college and university....

... ok mum, I'm only like half joking.

Regardless, I really did enjoy it and am anxiously waiting for a second season. Though I suspect it'll take a year to write and make. It's still pending and everyone's acting pretty coy about the idea of a second season but my guess is that they're doing it to build anticipation and c'mon, is Netflix ever going to not bank in on a huge success? 13 Reasons Why is the most mentioned Netflix show on Twitter ever. And yes, in 2017, that is a thing.

I do have to say it is pretty R rated so maybe not watch it with parents? I recommended this to my mum when I first watched it and now that I've seen them all, I think I might have to take back that recommendation...

Now I've got nothing to watch. I haven't caught up with Riverdale in like 2 weeks so might do that. Anything else worth watching til 3 am?

xx

Some karaoke and some asam pedas

Hello! It's 9:15pm on a Saturday and I had a pretty fulfilling day.

This week went by so fast, before I knew it I was on my way home from work on a Friday evening already. I think because nights go by so fast; I shower pretty late and before I can indulge in some late night drama's, I tell myself to instead get some 8 hours of sleep because I 110% guarantee it won't be a pleasant morning if I don't. 

After sooooo long, we had a home cooked meal for lunch today. Usually one of us would have plans to eat out on a Saturday afternoon so Mama won't cook but I specifically requested to have lunch home. You might or might not be too interested but today we had ikan asam pedas, ikan goreng, ayam sambal tumis, mixed vegetables and of course sambal belacan. YUMMMMM!!! I only had salad last night (ok fine with some pasta) so I was really REALLY looking forward for lunch. My idea of the most perfect lunch is nasi putih and lauk pedas pedas. Any day, anytime! 

Then Iman and I went for karaoke. That girl looooves her karaoke. So do I actually but Iman probably a lot more. She sings to every song and I'd say a good 80% of the songs sung were her picks. I sneaked some Korean tunes in but only like 3 because it's not that fun if you can't sing with a partner (my karaoke sessions with Tania are 90% Korean songs). But it was reaaaaallly fun. I LOVE karaoke - I can't sing to save a life but that makes it just that more enjoyable, tbh. 

I'm on a No Shopping month for April and... it ain't going so well. I haven't bought anything but we're only in our first week so calm down. I think it's because I've laid myself a rule to NOT shop that makes me want to buy everything. Things I really do not need. Not that I actually have money to buy these things but y'know. Like I don't need a pink suede skirt but then I again I really do want one. Meh, I'll get this over pretty soon but UGH the temptation is real and it's very annoying! What I usually do before actually making a purchase is contemplate over it for 24 - 48 hours. If I'm still thinking about it, I'll probably get it because I'll be happier and RM xxx less but I mean, happier. And isn't happiness all there is to it?? But to be quite frank, I don't think I'm that much of a shopper. I like browsing through but it's very difficult for me to really like something - so much so that I'd actually go through the pain and inconvenience of trying it on in a fitting room and lining up to pay. And I really dislike online shopping because from previous experiences, fit's never right and it never is what you expect. Either colour's off, fitting's off, material's off, or all of it feels off. So I'm making No Shopping month sound like a major deal but it really isn't. I'll get over it.

Also, just really random but I miss holidaying!!!!!!! I was ironing some clothes and I saw my pink luggage bags right in front of me and I sighed out loud because I miss packing, unpacking, going out seeing new things, walking on foreign land, getting familiar with the neighbourhood. I miss it all! I regret not traveling more when I was studying in the UK. My travel plans these next couple years is to explore more of Asia. I don't know if I want to travel so far to Europe just yet. I mean, I was just there. Asia's pretty kick-ass fun also if you give it a chance so I've decided to do just that. I'm in the midst of planning a trip end of this year so I'm stoked for that. Need to save money first thus my whole No Shopping month.

Now this tee... this tee didn't have to go through my 24 hour test. I bought it then and there because I liked the message. Girl Gang would obviously refer to other girls in general. To be supportive of one another and to cheer on each other. Who's going to do it if not us? (This was a random #WIWT shot today by my sister Iman, who texted me just 10 minutes ago to say, "Um credit me pls, I'm your underrated photographer". She is. So here's her credit, I guess?)

Have a great one! (It's 11:14 as I'm about to hit Publish on this post. Freaking 2 hours to write this much!)

xx

Beauty with the Beast

My face is moisturised (I've put on enough layers of product to know it's moisturised), I have a K-Ballad playlist on Shuffle on my Spotify and I'm trying to keep myself awake because I need to fetch Iman from work at 11. 

I had a great day today. I watched Beauty and the Beast and I had Japanese food. Oh yeah, I'm into Japanese food now. I used to really dislike it but I'm starting to warm up to it now. It's... aight. But you know what was amazing?

Beauty and the Beast.

Siiiiiiiigh. That movie is enchanting and beautiful and all I hoped it would be. I LOVED that it stayed VERY true to the original - from the costumes, the songs, the depiction of characters, the set. I would think they would have strayed away from the 1991 classic (totally Googled that) because isn't that what directors and producers do nowadays? I love love love the animation and so I was just brought back to my childhood when I was watching the film - the scenes looked and felt ridiculously similar and I was just so in awe of the whole thing. Starstruck. I'm in love with this movie.

Also, there should be another lengthy discussion on Emma Watson. That beauty is just out of this world. She was stunning throughout the whole movie, couldn't stop staring at her and she's just about the PERFECT Belle you can ever imagine. I was wondering how she'd fare if she had taken up the La La Land role but I can't imagine anyone else playing Belle so good on you, Emma Watson!!! UGH! Hate that you're so perfect!!!!

So after watching this movie, I went on a crazy Google search for all upcoming Disney movie remakes and I'm pretty excited for the next few years to come. I am reliving my childhood and was there any better time than your childhood? No, there wasn't, don't fight me on this!! I can't wait for the nearest one, Mary Poppins! It's up there with some of my all-time favourite films ever made so I'm really looking forward to it. Plus, I'm a huge fan of Emily Blunt and Meryl Streep so this is going to be spectacular methinks.

Work tomorrow! I've planned my outfit and I'm hoping to get in early so I can leave early because Monday traffic is a mothertru-

xx

Staying

I am actually quite sad writing this because I haven't had the time to blog and I'm feeling myself slipping away from it and it's quite heartbreaking. Because I love this blog, it was my favourite thing (still is) and now that I've gotten busy with work, I just don't have the time. Every time I'm back from work, I'm just so, so tired and I usually just head to bed after watching a few Youtube videos and/or catch up with the rest of the world on Twitter and Instagram. I don't have time to sit down and write a post. Other than not having the time, I think I've also been pretty uninspired to write. I just don't have much to talk about these days. And more than anything, that leaves me kinda really very sad. I used to have a million and one things to talk about but these days, it gets difficult to do things when I'm always occupied with work. I still check my work email before going back to sleep to prep myself for the next day. I make working look like it's the shittiest thing but it really isn't. I just try to get as much work as I can within the hours I'm in the office because I hate feeling like I'm not worth the money I'm paid so I try to really exhaust myself at work and come home feeling like I did ok and that it was a great, productive working day.

I'm still getting used to it, actually. Getting up early still isn't as automatic as I'd like (my mum can't sleep past 7 am anymore, she's just so used to waking up super early for work) and I thought I'd get used to being tired and having a fixed bedtime routine. I don't, really. I'm not used to the work, I still get pretty stressed (and it shows because Nelissa and the rest have actually said that I've looked different from when I first interned, I'm looking much more stressed at work) when under a lot of workload. Thought at this point, I'd be a well-oiled machine. I'm working on it.

I really, really, really want to be a young, hip, cool, 24 year old, the one who still travels up and down and takes a lot of OOTD photos and have fun dinner parties with friends but I don't really. My whole thing of wanting to be more active on this blog and on Insta feels pretty much short-lived. And that upsets me because I'm still so new at working and I don't want to make it feel mundane and depressing. I guess I thought I would have done a lot more at this age. 

I think I might cry.

I want to change things around for myself but I don't know how to get myself up for it and it's worst when you don't know where to start. I always start writing blog posts but never have it out because I never finish it. I'm like, stuck at the 2nd sentence because I won't know what to say. I have my own personal diary and there isn't much space to write in for each day anyway but even then I can't fill it up. Sometimes I forget to write an entry and I tend to just write 4 days worth at one go and it sucks because generally there won't be anything much for me to remember to write within that 4 days anyway. I feel really uninteresting and it sucks. 

I think what I'm trying to say is that I'm not excited for a lot of things as much as I thought I would be. I feel like I'm kinda letting my younger and more exciting and more adventurous and ambitous self down. It's like I'm slowly succumbing to mundaneness and I'm allowing it to consume me. 

I'm probably going to cry still about it but tomorrow's the 1st of April and I'm going to have to wake up tomorrow feeling better about my situation and that I'm one step closer to the bigger dream.

I'll write more and not just for my friends and family who read it but for myself so I hope everyone stays. 

xx

Snack-free March!

I have this habit of writing and then exiting the page, which would push all of my would've-been posts into Drafts.

I'm determined to have this posted TODAY.

Apologies for not writing in so long - I just have been quite busy with work and I risk sounding like a total broken record but I just get too tired once I'm home from work. And weekends... well, weekends I don't do much and I try to take both Saturdays and Sundays completely to myself. Whether it's meeting friends at night or out for shopping trips by myself. I don't check my work email at all (I used to!) during my days off, 'cept for Sunday so that I can do some Monday prep. Like last minute homework kinda thing.

Anyway! 

I've just had lunch, I had samyang for noodles. I haven't had that in ages but I've been craving for something spicy and that was the perfect fix. Maybe not that great of an idea seeing how I have sensitive lips and this was my first meal of the day????? But it was so good, I couldn't resist.

My parents and grandparents are out for a wedding and Iman's out working so I'm at liberty to sing an Ariana Grande tune to my heart's desire. So that means loud and way off-tune. Only the best way to sing, really. I've been also incredibly digging Ed Sheeran's new album. Iman and I bought the record and have been playing it non-stop in the car. My favourites are 'Perfect', 'Happier', 'New Man', 'Supermarket Flowers' (SOB!!!!), 'Dive' and of course 'Shape Of You' (which I have concluded as perhaps the best song on the album).

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R I V E R D A L E

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I've also been binge-watching Riverdale! I looooooved reading the Archie comics when I was younger so I was actually looking forward for this new series. Started late 'cause it's now 7 episodes in already and I'm only starting but it's actually kinda good?? It's not as... plasticky as Pretty Little Liars. PLL was a bit Desperate Housewives-ish in terms of its production and filming. Riverdale is a bit more clever with its filming and props and colours. Being a huge fan of the Riverdale gang, I especially love it immensely when I hear references to the comics. Jughead doesn't wear a literal clown, he wears a beanie but cut out to look like a crown with it's original shapes sewn on it. I LOVE IT! When he mentioned Jellybean, I was like !!!!!! Jellybean !!!!! And I also really love the differences the show makes so as to not be a carbon copy of the original. There's diversity in the series which I appreciate. I feel if it was too similar to the original comics, it would've been... predictable and boring.

But go watch it regardless! I haven't tuned in an English speaking show in so long so this was a pleasant surprise. Haha

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M o n t h l y  C h a l l e n g e

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Update on my Fast Food Free February : Went pretty well though I cheated twice. But it's pretty good I guess seeing how McD is literally a 3 minute drive from my house and the temptation was REAL! I don't think it's all too difficult anyway because when I was in Bristol, I hardly ever ate fast food. Once in like 6 months. So ok lah I guess.

This month is snack free! Which means I can't have snacks in between proper sit-down meals. Breakfast, lunch and dinner and that was IT. This is actually proving to be harder than February's challenge. I tend to be a bit peckish in the evening. I would actually go downstairs of my office to the mart and get myself crisps or an ice-cream. We'll see how it goes. Took me some time to figure out what to cut out this month! My mum's on the same challenge this month. I'm running out of ideas so help me out if you have better ones!

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O i l y  h a i r

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Ok so about 2 weeks ago, I realised my hair was really, really oily. Like the kinda oily that was greasy to the touch. You know that feeling when you have a strand of hair that is clumped together as a result of unwashed conditioner? Like product buildup? YES, that's what I had. But it was frustrating because I would spend ages in the shower trying to wash off all my shampoo and conditioner. I wash my hair with cold water, I would only apply conditioner to the ends of my hair, I would scrub my scalp like crazy. I was doing everything right! It was still the same. To the point that it was really getting to me and I was so unhappy at work because it was so rimas to have severely oily hair that was completely noticeable by anyone and everyone. And now that I have a fringe, it would look really just gross. And the weird part about it all was that the oil and grease was solely concentrated on the left crown of my head.

So I did what every millenial kid would : Google-d the shit outta 'oily patch hair on left crown of head'.

And lo and behold, I was comforted to see that this was apparently quite common and a lot of women have been going on the net seeking for advice on how to get rid of this. Some swore by home remedies like dish detergent, apple cider vinegar, and baking soda. I even watched a Youtube video of how this girl concocted some of the mentioned ingredients and went on a length process to rid her oily patch.

Ever since my whole reindeer-pimple incident (have I not mentioned it on this blog? Basically, I had a bright red pimple right smack on my nose and I googled home remedies and someone mentioned that rubbing garlic all over the affected area was an effective way of ridding the pimple ASAP and since I'm all about that ASAP life, I did just that. It left me with a burning sensation but I thought that was good. LOL I totally woke up with a minor burn on my nose and it was BLACK. My pimple had gone dark but still very much present. Doctor gave me an ointment, but not without completely judging my completely naiive dependence on the Internet for medical advice, and it peeled right off 3rd day in. I had to wear a plaster across my nose to school and looked ridiculous. Ahh, high school), I chose to be smarter about my decisions and NOT succumb to tempting home remedies and decided to grab the good ol' tea tree shampoo. So I did. The next day after work, I rushed to OU and went to the specialised hair care shop (right next to the Balloon Buzz store, same row as Sticky candy store) and this Chinese lady went on and on to say

"Aiya you banyak muda lagi lah, you tak perlu bimbang lah, ini boleh baiki punya! Teknik you basuh rambut mungkin tak betul punya, itu pasai rambat you oily! You muda lagi, ini sebab you stress kerja itu pasal rambut you minyak lagi"

Which I oddly took so much comfort in. That this was curable and that I was 'banyak muda lagi' hahaha.

Bought a tea tree shampoo and came home and headed straight to the shower. You know those aggressive hair washes at the salon where they shampoo the life out of your hair? Yeah I did that. Because I couldn't take greasy hair no mo'!

IT WORKED! After the first wash, it was so much better though still had some oily strands. Third wash in, and it's back to being fluffy and light. I'm back to loving my hair and the whole world. And that aunty for selling the tea tree shampoo.

Can't believe I went on so long to talk about my hair hahahaha but it was emotionally tough ok!!! I love my hair so it was unsettling for me for the past few weeks. It's done now and I'm haaaappy!! I highly recommend tea-tree shampoo for oily hair - works like a freaking charm!

_____

Ok back to watching Riverdale. Talk soon!

xx

Blunch

Y'know what, even if the world came crushing down tomorrow, I'd be ok with the bunch of friends I already have. I know some really great, intellectual, funny, ambitious people and I have the ultimate privilege of having to call them my friends. 

Today, I had brunch with 2 of them. And they're both really purdy and sweet and I love them. And we're all like the same size (short) so it's actually quite cute. Hahahaha

I treasure small blunches (it was supposed to be brunch but we only got there at like, 1pm so... blunch is like we intended it to be brunch but didn't really quite get to that stage so...) with my good friends because you can just go on and on and on. This time it was 4 hours of just talk and photo taking. We met up at Botanica and Co. The food's fine. Actually, I didn't even pay much attention to what I ate because we were just catching up with one another so much that there wasn't a time that we were actually eating eating. I had arrabiata something something and it was pretty basic pasta. And it's quite pricey also! Total came close to 200 bucks and it was just the three of us. 

We talked about everything under the sun - work and how hard it can be, love and how hard it is, boys and how hard they've always been, and everything in between. So basically rants lah. Always such a fun, fun time. I feverishly looked forward to this blunch so it was so nice to meet up again. The last time we met was in November! But everyone's so busy these days and it gets difficult to have spare time for friends. I miss school where work was so much less. So much less stressful. Fatin and Sarah have it way worse than I do lah but still! 

Some photos from today.

We didn't have to wait long for a table - but maybe it's cause it was only the three of us. Also, this place is pretty popular for birthday. About 5 times we heard Happy Birthday sung aloud by the waiters. 

How gorgeous are these girls!! Stunners.

This baju was the first thing I bought in Seoul. Literally on the first day where I vowed to not buy anything yet. I couldn't pass it up - I absolutely love it. Both frills and blue/white stripes? Um yes please???

Sarah's laksa is HUGE. Poor girl - looked like she was continuously eating but it was never-ending! 

Eeeep so sayang! Also look! I gone got some bangs for meself, didn't I? Tiny bit annoying having to fix them every so often but I think I look like 8 years younger so there's that. 

#WIWT is something I'm trying to make happen again. For you who don't know, it's 'What I Wore Today'. Ok also how annoying is Sarah and Fatin - they're always so photogenic - they look like this in literally every shot!! Perfect smiles and all! I had a million before settling on one measly photo. 

I have the BEST bunch of girlfriends around me so I'm going to hold on to them for a long, long time.  Strong, independent, super smart, generous, kind souls and I'm forever forever blessed with great company around me like Fatin and Sarah. To more late brunches, my beautiful gems! 

xx