Monthly Archives

April 2015

in Beauty & Fashion, Skincare

Beauty + Events + First Impressions: Pure Beauty Launches Youth Restore Range

Pure Beauty, Youth Restore, Skin Care, Anti-Ageing, Serum, Firming, Night Cream, Day Cream, Eye Cream, Launch, Event, Putrajaya, Cruise, Wong Chui Ling, Watsons, Malaysia

Ageing gracefully is something I aim for. Almost everyone who knows me personally have been treated, at least once, with a very long and passionate lecture on how we should start taking care of our skin early on.

I’m 25 and we all know that’s the age where the skin and the hair start to age and get easily damaged. And I’m all for damage control, ladies. 😉 That’s why, if you’ve been following this blog, you might have noticed how often I test and write about moisturisers and anti-ageing products. We’re all gonna age at some point, but I’d like to keep looking just a wee bit younger than my actual age and to keep my skin healthy by using the products that are available to me. It’s doable, I tell you. My grandmother did it.

And with all of that said, I’m pretty sure all of you can imagine how I happy I was to be invited along with my friends to the launch of Korean skin care brand Pure Beauty‘s new Youth Restore Range. The launch was held in Putrajaya, while we were on a cruise on the lake. It was so much fun hanging out with my friends and making a couple more while learning about a new skin care product.

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in Expat Life, KL What to Do

Events + Movies: The Avengers: Age of Ultron Advance Screening! (Win a trip to NY, Hollywood, LA, or Seoul!)

The Avengers, Age of Ultron, Movie, Movie Premiere, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Watsons, Contest, Win A Trip, Travel Contest, Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Ultron

The Hulkbuster! Seen in Pavilion prior to Watsons Malaysia’s advance screening of The Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Though I’m a huge lover of Marvel, going to the advance screening of The Avengers: Age of Ultron wasn’t in the plan last Wednesday. But thanks to my friends Ella and Mira plus the Watsons Malaysia team, I ended up going! Even Alvin made it despite the looong hours at the office these days due to the ASEAN Summit. He made it just minutes before the movie started! Whew!

I love movie premieres and advance screenings as usually, there’s a lot of fun things to do prior to actually watching the movie. Cocktails, a fun programme, etc. And of course, since it’s an Avengers screening, some of the “cast” members were there. Well, not exactly Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, and the gang. But you catch my drift. 😉

The Avengers, Age of Ultron, Movie, Movie Premiere, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Watsons, Contest, Win A Trip, Travel Contest, Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Ultron

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in Beauty & Fashion, Fashion, Fashion Tips

Beauty + Review: Horien Contact Lenses

As someone who’s been suffering from poor eyesight for 15 years, I’ve had lots of experience with different types of glasses and contact lenses. While I do love wearing my vintage-looking specs, most of the time, I opt for contact lenses when I go out due to the convenience it offers. No need to worry about glasses sliding down your nose or being careful with how you move around, right?

I’ve been wearing contact lenses for over a decade now and I can say I’ve tried most brands. Some remain my favourite up to this day while some brought great disappointment (and eye irritation too, in some cases).

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in Asia

Travel: The Arundina Guest House (Cameron Highlands)

Arundina, Guest House, Cameron Highlands, Travel, Malaysia, Where to Stay, Hotel, Backpacker, Cheap, Nice Hotel, Great Hotel, Diplomat’s Wife, Review

Last January, we went to Cameron Highlands for a quick weekend getaway. During our stay there, my mom booked us rooms in The Arundina which is a guest house in Tanah Rata.

Arundina, Guest House, Cameron Highlands, Travel, Malaysia, Where to Stay, Hotel, Backpacker, Cheap, Nice Hotel, Great Hotel, Diplomat’s Wife, Review

I loved our stay in this guest house as it really gave us that feeling of being in an actual home in the mountains. It’s a simple, no frills place and is quiet at night as they have a no-noise policy after 10pm which is a huge plus for me. I just cannot stand noise at night – heavy feet and closing doors counted.

Arundina, Guest House, Cameron Highlands, Travel, Malaysia, Where to Stay, Hotel, Backpacker, Cheap, Nice Hotel, Great Hotel, Diplomat’s Wife, Review

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in Asia

Travel: Cameron Lavender (Cameron Highlands)

Cameron Lavender, Cameron Highlands, Travel, Malaysia, Pahang, Tourist Attractions, Things To Do, Where to Go, Travel Blogger, Diplomat's Wife,  Weekend Getaway, Flowers, Plants, Lavender, Roses, Strawberries, Mountain, Cool Weather

During my family’s vacation here in KL, we all went to Cameron Highlands for a quick getaway from the city and to catch a cool breeze. My mom and her boyfriend drove up first and we followed during the weekend when Alvin had no work.

Cameron Lavender, Cameron Highlands, Travel, Malaysia, Pahang, Tourist Attractions, Things To Do, Where to Go, Travel Blogger, Diplomat's Wife,  Weekend Getaway, Flowers, Plants, Lavender, Roses, Strawberries, Mountain, Cool Weather

For those who aren’t familiar with Cameron Highlands, it’s Malaysia’s version of the Philippines’ Baguio. It’s a district of the state of Pahang which is high up in the mountains.

Cameron Lavender, Cameron Highlands, Travel, Malaysia, Pahang, Tourist Attractions, Things To Do, Where to Go, Travel Blogger, Diplomat's Wife,  Weekend Getaway, Flowers, Plants, Lavender, Roses, Strawberries, Mountain, Cool Weather

Since it’s in the mountains, Cameron Highlands is pretty cold and can be a great escape from the rotisserie that is Kuala Lumpur. Seriously. What is it with the heat these days? I feel like I’m one of those Kenny Rogers’ chickens every time I’m out in the city streets. And if you start telling me that it’s already summer, I’ve got a comeback for you: Heavy. Afternoon. Rains! Climate Change right there, everybody.

Cameron Lavender, Cameron Highlands, Travel, Malaysia, Pahang, Tourist Attractions, Things To Do, Where to Go, Travel Blogger, Diplomat's Wife,  Weekend Getaway, Flowers, Plants, Lavender, Roses, Strawberries, Mountain, Cool Weather

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in Diplomatic Incidents, Personal Musings

Random Thoughts and Happenings 2

Things that have been happening lately compiled into one blog post. Get ready for the word vomit! 😉

Home Alone

The husband is off to another work trip and this time, he’s going to Davao, in the Philippines for a couple of days. I’ve always been an independent person but I don’t think I will ever be used to him going on work trips and being gone for days. Knowing that he won’t be coming home for lunch and at around 7pm (yes, the people at the Philippine Embassy in KL work long hours) feels weird for me.

Also, I do tend to worry and I’m not that used to sleeping alone anymore. The teddy bears on our bed are actually there for a reason, you guys. 😉

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in Uncategorized

Fitness: Healthy Post-Gym Snacks/Food (How I Curb My Cravings! Eat This Instead of That!)

Eat This Not That, Eat This Instead of That, Healthy Food, Healthy Food Alternatives, Raisins, Banana, Orange, Nuts, Yogurt, Healthy Snacks, Workout Snacks, Post Gym Snacks, Fitness, Impulse Studio, EMS, EMS Training, Kuala Lumpur

After battling a really bad case of allergies (which later turned into an infection), I am back to blogging! Yay! It’s kind of hard to write when your brows and eyes are swollen. But I look like my normal self now so I’ll just tell you guys more about that later. Today, I want to talk about FOOD and cravings!

As you might know by now, I’ve been doing EMS training regularly as my workout at Impulse Studio the past few months and the results have been ah-mazing! (Check them out here!)

I love EMS! In fact, my husband will even go as far as saying that I’m addicted to it.

(RELATED POST: Fitness: 9 Things I Love About Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS) Training at Impulse Studio in Bangsar)

The next thing I should be telling you is how I’ve been eating more and more healthy food to aid my training. But alas, if you’ve been following my Instagram, you’d know that going on a healthy diet is a huge challenge for me and I’ve been eating some carb-rich, oily, dishes that has “A million calories!” written all over them. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been on a diet longer than 24 hours for my whole life. I even failed on juice cleansing so bad. I ended up just drinking the juice with my usual meals.

Impulse Studio is located in Bangsar. And that location is both a blessing and a curse. I love going to Bangsar as that neighbourhood is super fun with quirky shops. I never get bored walking around the area after training. However, there are also a lot of restaurants in that place. Crepes, steaks, Thai food, sushi! You name it, it’s just a stone’s throw away from where I workout!

I dunno if it’s just me or what – but during those last few minutes of my workout, just when I know it’s about to end, I start imagining what I’ll be eating after! I start craving for burgers and sweets. I even think of all the restaurants in the area that I can just walk to after my shower! The McDonald’s that’s like a block away from Impulse isn’t helping my cravings either!

After a really intense workout like EMS Training, you’ll definitely be hungry. And in fact, you should eat! But the question is, will your food actually work with the training you just did to help your body be healthier or take you a few steps back when it comes to your progress?

So, to help myself instil a bit of discipline to my cravings and my tummy, I did a bit of research and asked people who know better than me when it comes to nutrition, about healthier (but still great tasting) substitutes to my usual cravings. And because cutting down my food intake is just near to impossible, I decided that if I’m going to be eating more, then I might as well opt for nutrient-filled food that will help me recover from intense workouts rather than junk, right?

I’ve tried them all and so far, they’ve been working pretty well for me. And don’t worry – I won’t be waxing poetic over kale and other greens. Not really the biggest fan of greens, to be honest. And I did promise great tasting alternatives, didn’t I?

Putting this up here for posterity’s sake and so I can look back at it whenever I finish working out. But don’t judge me when I post gelato photos on Instagram. I’m allowed cheat days, aren’t I? I’m still doing baby steps here. 😉

Without further word vomit from me, here’s my no-diet, crave-curbing cheat sheet! I hope it helps you out too! 😉

1. Instead of ice cream, go for yogurt.

Yes, you’ve heard of this one before. But some say that a lot of yogurt brands are actually not as healthy as you might think. Sugars, calories, etc. But at the end of the day, yogurt still has less of those than ice cream. I also opt for Greek yogurt these days or the low-fat, high calcium ones that Anlene has. Just so my brittle bones and teeth get some extra love.

2. Instead of candy or chocolate, go for raisins.

It’s the snack my grandma used to give to me after school and I still love it up to this day. Raisins make me forget about candy in an instant. They’re chewy too which is a plus!

Raisins do have calories. But they’re the good kind that’s filled with nutrients! They also contain protein, fibre, potassium, and iron.

3. Instead of French Fries, go for nuts

This one is hard to curb. Fries are so effing good! And I’ll admit, to me, nuts are not entirely God’s gift to human kind. They’re hard to bite on which can be a nightmare for my brittle teeth (they sometimes crack while eating really crunchy food) and nuts get in between them too which can make flossing a tedious task. But the health benefits make the hassle and extra care worth it. Whenever I feel like taking a short stroll to McDonald’s to order a large pack of fries, I force myself into a cab so I can go home straight to where my stash of nuts are.

Almonds, cashews, and walnuts have been linked to lower cholesterol levels. Walnuts are also rich in omega-3 which is good for your heart while almonds are packed with fibre and Vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant. Cashews, meanwhile, carry iron and zinc which are good for your brain and eyes.

4. Instead of milkshakes, go for granola smoothies

https://instagram.com/p/0E0M4CiqXF/

I’m lucky that Impulse Studio in Bangsar is right next to LA/PA, a restaurant that makes awesome granola smoothies so I usually get mine from there. But they’re also quite easy to make at home (if you’re not lazy like me). Just mix milk (almond, coconut, or hazelnut milk would be better), frozen fruits, and granola into a blender and voila! A sweet, nutritious, and very filling drink. 😉

Oh, and add a bit of dark chocolate, if you must. 😉

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The Balm, The Balm Cosmetics, Mary Lou Manizer, Highlighter, Beauty, Review, Beauty Blogger, Diplomat’s Wife, Makeup, Contour and Highlight, Pin Up Girl, Cute Packaging
in Beauty & Fashion

Beauty + Review: The Balm Cosmetics’ Mary Lou Manizer Highlighter

The Balm, The Balm Cosmetics, Mary Lou Manizer, Highlighter, Beauty, Review, Beauty Blogger, Diplomat’s Wife, Makeup, Contour and Highlight, Pin Up Girl, Cute Packaging

I often relate makeup milestones to Pringles and chocolate. The moment you start eating/doing it, it becomes quite hard to stop yourself.

I remember back when I was in college. I never shaded my brows. I just let them be as they had this normal, natural shape. But once I got around to using a brow pencil, a spoolie brush, and some brow gel, the rest was history. Damn, that 1950s eye brow arch. I just gotta have it on all the time! In fact, I can never go out or be seen by actual human beings without my brows on fleek (as one of my favourite Youtubers would say).

Back then, I wasn’t into concealer as well since I’ve always had skin that’s on the clearer side. But after I saw a makeup artist use concealer under my eyes and to put some shade on some areas of my face which looked perfectly fine before, I knew I was never going to live without concealer anymore. It’s like, you never know something wrong is going on until someone else actually points it out! However, this drives my husband nuts when I tell him I have to cover up some stuff on my face and he’s always like – ‘What are you talking about? There’s nothing there!’

But alas, my eyes have become very critical even to the minutest of details. And here I go again, going off point. What was I supposed to talk about? Ah, highlighter. Like my brow and concealer story, I was also late to the party when it comes to contouring and highlighting. In fact, there was a time when I would contour my face and totally forego the highlighter. YES. UGH. Weird times.

But then, Benefit Cosmetics popped my highlighter cherry by giving me a sample of Watt’s Up as a gift with purchase (GWP) and it totally changed my life! I’m exaggerating. But it did drastically change my makeup routine!

I’ve been pretty loyal to Watt’s Up and cream highlighters but with all the peer pressure (and by peer, I mean Youtube beauty vloggers) I’ve been getting, I decided to try out The Balm’s Mary Lou Manizer. Everyone’s talking about it so I might as see what the fuss is all about.

The first time I picked it up in Sasa, my first thought was: ‘Damn, this packaging is seriously cute!’ I love vintage fashion and I love pin-up girls so The Balm totally got their packaging right in my opinion. 😉

The Balm, The Balm Cosmetics, Mary Lou Manizer, Highlighter, Beauty, Review, Beauty Blogger, Diplomat’s Wife, Makeup, Contour and Highlight, Pin Up Girl, Cute Packaging

The compact is round and quite big but it fits perfectly on one’s hand. It’s packed with 8.5 grams of the product so it will practically last you forever.

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in Expat Life, KL Food, Kuala Lumpur

Foodie Adventures: JEQ in the House (Seksyen 17, Petaling Jaya)

JEQ in the House, Restaurant, Cafe, Review, Petaling Jaya, Seksyen 17, Restaurant Review, Cafe Review, Food Review, Comfort Food, Pasta, Coffee, Coffee Art, Malaysia

Living in KLCC is like being inside your own bubble. Sometimes, you don’t really think of venturing out since everything you need seems to be a stone’s throw away. Great restaurants, malls, supermarkets – everything.

JEQ in the House, Restaurant, Cafe, Review, Petaling Jaya, Seksyen 17, Restaurant Review, Cafe Review, Food Review, Comfort Food, Pasta, Coffee, Coffee Art, Malaysia

However, after making friends with expats who have been here for a while as well as with locals, I found out that there’s more to Kuala Lumpur and its neighbouring city Petaling Jaya when it comes to shopping and food choices.

JEQ in the House, Restaurant, Cafe, Review, Petaling Jaya, Seksyen 17, Restaurant Review, Cafe Review, Food Review, Comfort Food, Pasta, Coffee, Coffee Art, Malaysia

In fact, the more you move away from the city centre, the more realise that when it comes to choices, things can get quite overwhelming (and budget friendly too!). That’s why I’m so thankful for my friends’ recommendations! 😉

JEQ in the House, Restaurant, Cafe, Review, Petaling Jaya, Seksyen 17, Restaurant Review, Cafe Review, Food Review, Comfort Food, Pasta, Coffee, Coffee Art, Malaysia

Situated in a quiet, residential area in Seksyen (Section) 17 of Petaling Jaya is a cafe that serves food that will really make me forget about dieting. Not that I have problems with that. 😉

JEQ in the House, Restaurant, Cafe, Review, Petaling Jaya, Seksyen 17, Restaurant Review, Cafe Review, Food Review, Comfort Food, Pasta, Coffee, Coffee Art, Malaysia

There’s nothing like comfort food and good coffee on a hot, humid weekend and JEQ in the House was able to provide both while I enjoyed the cafe’s ambiance.

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in Expat Life, KL Food

Events: Domino’s Pizza Launches the New Golden Chicken Plus No GST Price Increase (#PaySameOrLess)

Domino's Pizza, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Golden Chicken, GST, No GST, No Price Increase, Pizza, Online Delivery, Delivery, Food Delivery, Events, Blogger,

A little over a week ago, I was invited with some of my blogger friends to a Domino’s Pizza event. I wasn’t going to say no as it’s common knowledge that I’m a huge fan of the pizza place – I practically abuse their online delivery service on days when I feel lazy to cook. (Yes, there are days like that. Shh!)

We usually order the Meatasaurus pizza with an ‘Extreme Edge’ which translates to an all-meat pizza with cheese inside the crust! Ah. So sinful but so good!

Domino's Pizza, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Golden Chicken, GST, No GST, No Price Increase, Pizza, Online Delivery, Delivery, Food Delivery

Golden Italian Chicken

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