i shall not stop writing.

i haven't stopped writing although i may have kinda stopped touching personal issues in here. but i promise to keep updating in a more professional level HERE.

Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts

A pleasant unplanned Sunday :)

Last Sunday we had to force ourselves out of the apartment as TNB was doing some maintenance work at our condo and there would be a power outage from 10am-3pm.

We were pretty lazy to do anything at first since we were already out almost an entire day the day before. But... since both our pwincesh and the little munchkin cannot stand the heat these days, we knew we had to find something to do outside.

At first, we even thought of going for a 'picnic' at our poolside... you know, just to swim all day, have lunch from McD's, bask in the sun, and then swim summore... but it's fine if there were just the one and I... it wouldn't be very comfortable for little jj, though, as she'd need her nap and all.

So, by 10ish, we were out having breakfast at our favourite Restoran Subang, opposite FAM. We took our sweet time, have the car washed just behind the restaurant and just lepak. It has been awhile since we relaxed like this. Usually, we'd always be pressed for time, wanting to rush here and there trying to get as many things done as possible. It was a nice change to be able to sit, read the papers, enjoy the food and not worry about what comes next.

beautiful moments with your loved ones, must be captured on camera :)

gambar bersama 'adik' hehe...

little jj on daddy's HTC Hero. there's no SIM card in it as daddy's now hooked on his E72 ;)

We were still contemplating on 2 things... to head over to my mom's place which was just 10 minutes away or we could either head on to IOI Mall, Puchong (because we've never ever been there!) or Mines Shopping Centre because it was far and little jj could enjoy the view of the water way ala Venice or we could just go 1 Utama again because we know what we could do there. When we got into the car, the one suddenly suggested Sunway Pyramid since it is huge enough to while away time until electricity comes back on at our place and also because it has been such a long time since we went there.

So, Sunway Pyramid it was.

First up, definitely and always, the IT section. Since years back, Sunway Pyramid's IT section has always been said to be comparable to the shops at Low Yat. Thus, most of the gadgets that we own came from here, if not the Digital Mall at Section 14, PJ. The one could spend hours in this section especially if he drops by his favourite gaming shop. Heck, even choosing a suitable mouse for his netbook takes awhile before he settles for something he really likes. As for moi, my opinion doesn't really count since I am not a techie geek and have not much techie knowledge, and that my choices are always based on cosmetic factor hehe... so, yeah.. take that orange mouse because it is tiny and cute or that bright red laptop because red is gorgeous ;P then again, I am biased in some stuff like I only use Nokia phones after a not-that-great experience using the Sony Ericsson's K700i and the Motorola's Motoming, and I only use a Mac computer because I think they are the best in terms of its processing system, gorgeous factor and value for money. So, I am not much help in this department ;P

When it was almost close to lunch time, we decided to grab something for little jj since all of us are still full from the big breakfast we had earlier. I suddenly remembered my best buddy, Ai Mei, whom I met on Friday, mentioning this delectable cheese hot dog pretzel from Auntie Anne's. She said that her Jeremy loved it and I thought of giving it a try.

So, there I went, queueing up for the hot dog when the one then gave me a signal that little jj was fast asleep in her stroller hehe... grabbed an additional lemonade and snack for us all to rest our feet before embarking on our journey to dunno whichothershops.

daddy checking his email while little jj sleeps. excuse me for buying the Glamour magazine on a whim... i just cannot help it with SJP on its cover ;P

I think we scoured every single inch of the mall! hehe... oh, and I made sure to drop by one of my latest favourite outlet - Marks & Spencer. See... their clothes have always been too large for me but recently, I just discovered that their clothes sit well on my [slightly] heavier bod and their jeans/pants look so perfect on me. If you've never checked them out, you should... they have improved a lot on their designs and they do not look as boring as they did before. Then again, I think our local distributors were the ones who brought in them boring designs from the UK.

I was looking high and low for some of their collection I saw in their catalogue but was disppointed when I checked out their outlets in 1U and KLCC. What do you know... the one in Sunway Pyramid actually has a better variety in their store! Well, at least in my opinion.

The jeans and pants that I've bought in M&S are really smart for us moms with tummies because the waistband is placed so perfectly on our problem area and your tummy will not look bulgy. You know how it is with those low-waisted pants/jeans which will give you that 'spare tyre' look especially when you sit down???... hah... no more of those when I sit ;) Oh, for those of you with 'thunder-thighs', their pants and jeans will fit you well too :)

I also think that their fitting rooms are roomier here... could it be due to the fact that they are built with the Arabs in mind? I mean, we all know the nearby Sunway Resort Hotel is always a popular hangout for those from the Middle East.

an intercom in its fitting room?

Little jj had a really good sleep and woke up around 2 hours later when we were all trying out some healthy fruit concoction just a floor above the skating rink. They were giving out some free-tasting mixed fruit juice and since we were already pretty tired from walking 20km (kidding!) we decided to give them a try.

still asleep when we were on our 2nd treat...

While we were there, we even caught a couple who ordered just one drink and played a game on their respective iPhones, with each other... kind of reminded us those days when we were dating where we always played scrabble on our Palm, using the infrared to connect to each other after we've formed our words ;)

they have quite a big menu there, as you can also view in their website. it was difficult for me to choose one as they all looked very healthy and very delicious!

When little jj woke up, I fed her the hot dog and boy, did she love it... she ate 3/4 of it. I was surprised that she could really eat that much :D

It was almost 4pm when we decided to make a move. But before we left Sunway Pyramid, we went over to their babies' changing room (I love their baby room, as reviewed here before).

where can you find such a spacious changing room, with a small play area and everything else...

When we got home, the electricity was already back on and instead of continuing work, I decided to join my boys and pwincesh in the pool.

I've always been a person who likes things to be well planned according to time and specific schedules so that I could plan out when (and how long I'd need) for house chores like laundry or even work that needs to be done on the computer. But sometimes, in cases like this, it sure was fun to be able to just relax and not be restricted to time. Of course I can't do that all the time because I'd need to prioritise my tasks as I could never tell what will happen next with the baby and deadlines I've committed but it sure was welcoming to be able to just put any worries aside and deal with things as and when.

Self-Empowerment is power.

Made my way with my little tote (little jj, I mean) to Ikea over lunch today to meet a friend, Ros, who was showing me some stuff she was selling.

I had just added her in my fb friends list after meeting her while I visited a friend at the hospital. I've bumped into Ros a few times before but we never got to chat the way we did that day. So, after she had confirmed my request to add her, I went browsing away her fb page and discovered that she owns a blog selling authentic american brand goods.

Anyway, in my haste to get everything done in the morning - like feeding little jj, getting everyone ready, getting myself ready and sending the little munchkin to school, I reached Ikea only to realise that I forgot little jj's baby bag. And I hate when that happens!

See, it is a norm every time we leave the house - that I am usually busy with little jj and my eldest is entrusted with the responsibility to carry his little sister's baby bag. But I guess he had forgotten all about it this morning and since I was so engrossed with chasing after little jj before she gets into the elevator alone, I totally didn't see the lack of one more bag in my eldest's hands.

I was stumped when I couldn't find the bag. Because I had already reached my destination and I have parked the car. What made it worse was that I brought my little handbag instead of my usual large one that contains the entire house :( hehe... almost.

But, in a split second, I decided that I would just meet Ros and rush back home as soon as we're done. After all, I had given little jj milk just before we left the house, I had changed her diaper as well and the things I was worried about was her top getting dirty at lunch as I didn't have her bib, the absence of her favourite water tumbler and if she did a number 2 - which were all points that I deemed manageable, if they did occur.

Oh, but little jj gave me a pleasant surprise, though... she behaved so well and my concerns were unfounded. I placed her in the high chair at Ikea's cafe and she played on her own while I bought lunch. I know she likes fries and I ordered the famous Swedish Meatballs that comes with fries. For her drink, I got her the Spritzer Mineral Water and made sure I got a straw as well. When I got back to the table, she was all quiet minding her own business and Ros and another friend, Aje, were also surprised that little jj didn't cry for me. Wahhh... she's a big girl already *sob sob*

So, I had my meatballs and little jj ate away her fries while I chat away with Ros and Aje. In the middle of it, I fed her my meatballs and little jj truly loved it... so much so that she totally rejected the fries I gave her after that and only wanted the meatballs :) She was so full after the last piece of meatball and she then started to get cranky as she wanted to sleep. Thankfully, I was already done by then. All in all, I think I had a good 1 1/2 hours before I had to grant her my full attention.

Anyway, in the end, I didn't get anything from Ros although I initially thought I would get this sling bag from her. It looked really gorgeous to me but after I tried it on me, it didn't really complement me due to its relatively large size compared to my petite frame. The sling can be adjusted to a handbag but it defeats the purpose since I know I will never use it as a handbag.

Ros also brought other stuff like other types of bags, wallets and even a collared-T. I felt very tempted to get at least one other stuff from her but I realised that I cannot lose focus. I think I've been going on a shopping spree these couple of months and I think I should really stop doing that... I mean, I am worried of this inability to control myself where I cannot stop shopping, and always using the excuse that I haven't been shopping much for myself for the 18 months since little jj was born... that I wasn't able to do anything much until recently when she weaned off of me. There's really no end to shopping and the needs that I keep wanting to fulfill!

So... when I realised this particular factor just a couple of weeks ago, I started to see that having self-control is a form of self empowerment that can make you feel just as good.

Yes, you may be able to afford those things you buy but if you don't really need them in the first place, it may be wiser to keep your mind focused and move on to what's more important in life.

I think I sorta already filled that void I was feeling for the many things I had to sacrifice. I know you may think it isn't much but to those who know me well, and know how much I love the beautiful things in life like dressing up and taking care of my skin, visits to the hair salon and all things vain, the fact that I had pushed them all far back in order to tend to a very clingy baby (and also because money is better spent on the kids anyways), 18 months seem to be a huge achievement for me.

I had so much fun shopping the last couple of months and got plenty of new stuff since I saw my size [almost] returning to normal. I still can't fit into my old clothes and I am too small to fit in those large non-maternity attires I wore during my pregnancy... so you can imagine the many stuff I got to fill the void in my cupboard. But that need didn't go away and I kept going shopping, at times not even bothered about the price tags.

So, with the realisation that it's time to stop as I've enough new clothes, make up and skincare products to get by for another year (yeah yeah... we'll see), I am now keeping my mind focused on this promise I made to myself.

And... since that sling bag wasn't suited for vertically challenged moi, I guess I shouldn't let myself be tempted to spend on other stuff unnecessarily. Gosh... that felt good. I think! ;P

Now, over to more important matters... :)

Shopping for a good lipstick.

I just received this in my inbox and I can't help sharing this update here.

I must say that I've been a huge fan of Bobbi Brown since I started working in 1999. I became an even bigger fan of their lipsticks when I couldn't wear any other lipsticks ever since I was pregnant with my first born... I was told that hormonal changes would play tricks on a pregnant woman's body, especially to her skin but when it comes to my lips, I discovered that the changes were permanent. Those brands that I could wear before - drugstore cheap ones like Maybelline and L'oreal to luxury brands like Chanel, MAC, Dior, Estee Lauder, (even no-perfume Clinique lippies) whatever else, made my lips itch, swell and sometimes black (I kid you not).

Recently though, I managed to get reacquainted with a luxury brand after their new star product was launched. But it cost a tad RM109 for a stick and now that I've used it up, I am not sure if I'd want to spend that much on a gorgeous packaging that I would be discarding.

Oh, I was digressing. Back to the point - those days while I scout around for suitable lippies (which entailed plenty of wasted dough and throwing away lippies that were used only once or twice), I was happy to discover that Bobbi Brown's lipsticks were perfect for me... well, only the lipsticks and not their shimmery lip glosses, though. It was quite a relief too since the price wasn't too steep as they kept their packaging simple and modest.

Today, I am extremely excited to receive this info through email because one of my lipsticks is finished and I need a new one in a rosy/nudy shade.

i've always loved their natural shades, although i wish they also have something in dark brown or an intense crimson-dark choco shade

moisturising lippies seem to be the current trend in today's lip products...

There is also a special Mother's Day promotion running. So if you are a fan of Bobbi Brown or would like to discover them, do visit their local website.

Speaking of Mother's Day, I have to start working on an update which I've drafted in my head weeks ago. Anyways, have a good weekend and Happy Labour's Day :) although there will be no off day for me ;P

To some of you who are in my facebook list of friends and saw how attractive the latest collection of exclusive hand-printed batik dresses look on little jj, can now check out the latest designs in my beautiful friend's Little Girls' Closet website, where you can find Beautiful Dresses for Little Girls :)

I think the first time I helped promote her website was way back in October 2009 when she first launched her hand-smocked dress collection. As a close friend, I had the privilege to try those dresses on my little jj and I thought they were not only very pretty but they're also very neatly sewn. Best of all, I especially liked the hand-smocked detail on the dresses that run through the entire bodice, not just a small horizontal stripe like most of the smocking dresses you find everywhere else.

She shared with me on the fact that she received the most orders when I wrote about her site on this blog of mine last year (gosh... I should start charging advertorial/advertisements in here!! hehe...) and I guess it is only fair that I continue to help promote her online shop because I truly believe in her quality dresses for little girls. I think the designs are fabulous, the workmanship is pretty neat and I like that they're all pretty comfy and easy to care for....

Little Girls' Closet's Spring Batik 2010 is even prettier! There are 12 different designs in 5 vibrant colours. Everytime I put any one of them (little jj owns 4 so far) on little jj, people would always ask me where I got them dresses from... so now, look no further - go to Little Girls' Closet and be mesmerised with their latest hand-printed Batik collection.


little jj in Simple & Stunning	little jj in Pretty Luxury	little jj in Halter Elegance

But but but... if you haven't got your hands on their gorgeous hand-smocked dresses, you will be pleased to note that they are ALL going at 40% discount, to make way for more new collections that are coming soon. With the 40% discount, you will still enjoy free delivery (within Malaysia only) and the dresses will be sent to you in a nicely packed package.

As for me, my hands are feeling really itchy to click on those new Batik tunic tops... they look exquisite!

photos courtesy of Little Girls' Closet

let's see... shall i take the pretty one on the most left, the center beautiful piece or that elegant one on the most right? hmmmm....

Do you like what you see?

In preparation for a new member...

Friends in facebook are aware of my search for a new stroller.

See, getting a new baby and considering the fact that I'd be taking care of 2 babies without help made me suggest to the one for us to have a new stroller that could fit 2 of them at one go. I know I've seen mommies who babywear the younger one on them while the much older toddler sits in the stroller but in terms of practicality, I would much prefer both babies to sit on a stroller rather than me having to lug a baby around while tending to another.

Mannn... stroller hunting is not easy here in our country... especially if you're looking for a duo stroller. First of all, there isn't much choice out there in the market compared to those you see abroad... I mean, we went to so many online stores in the UK and US and you'll find so many good brands that are affordably priced.

Over here, the only ones with a duo carrier is from Mothercare and Phils & Teds, while you have those twins stroller from MacLaren and Chicco. I shall not touch those on local brands or other China brands that are cheap and flimsy because I believe in quality and safety after a horrifying experience with my first born when he was 7-8 months old. Note: made in China and China brands are two different points, okay.

Anyways, as usual, once we have something on our minds, we would go ahead with the proper research online and then calling up a few places, and we then went on our hunt to get it over and done with.

*image credit to Kiddicare.com

This was what I wanted - the Graco Quattro Duo. it has individual trays for each passenger but most importantly, it could fit little jj's baby carrier for when the baby is still very small. however, this stroller is unavailable in our country and my enquiries to littlewhiz.com and Babies'R'Us provided me with a negative response :(

First up, right after little jj's class in Kizsports, we went over to all the baby shops in 1Utama. We found a twin stroller in Chicco which was around RM1,300 after discount. It was perfect for newborn to 4 years old kids so it was perfect for both little jj and a newborn, and the handling was pretty good so it was quite alright. The only thing I didn't like was, it was pretty tough to fold and the weight was pretty hefty. I mean... get this - I go out buy my groceries and all, then I would need to get the stuff into the car, get one baby into her car seat and another toddler into her car seat, and they would then have to wait before mommy could start the engine while mommy fold the stroller (kick here kick there for it to fold). By the time I am done, I foresee my babies crying out, feeling the heat from the car park, etc. The price was very reasonable though, and I said to the one that Chicco would be our last choice.

*image credit to Chicco

pretty, affordably priced but heavy and doesn't fold easily.

Another outlet in 1Utama that I always liked to drop by every now and then, is Mom's Care, nearby MPH. They have a huge variety of baby stuff in many good brands. Over there, we discovered the twin MacLaren. The price was slightly more than Chicco but within our budget, the handling was so easy, the material was of a better and more comfortable quality and it was much lighter than the first one we saw. However, despite it having all these positive qualities, I still didn't like how it folded and we were still contemplating on 2 things:

1. the twin stroller will make it tough for me to maneuver in many areas because majority of shops do not have alleys large enough to accommodate a twin stroller; and

2. we were still considering getting a new stroller for little jj so that the baby can use her current Graco travel system.

*image credit to Mothercare

lightweight, perfect for newborns but difficult to fold.

Both points each have their own positive outcome - the first point would make it easier for me to handle both kids at one time while the latter, would eliminate wastage as the current stroller can still be used especially that Graco is a good brand (and still in very good condition) plus the fact that when little jj grows up, we would only be using one stroller VS an empty space in the twin stroller. And, the latter would allow either one of us to take the babies separately either to the changing room or wherever else when need be.

Of course, I would still like to discover my options fully before getting one. So, off we went to Mothercare in Bangsar Shopping Center. For those of you who are not aware, BSC has the largest Mothercare outlet and I went crazy at their ELC area after the renovations at BSC was completed. I think so far, it must be the best baby outlet in this country.

There, in Mothercare BSC, I finally got to see Phils & Teds, which suits my requirements perfectly but with a deep hole in the pocket. Strange though, that we would just grab a designer handbag of a higher price without much guilt but would think long and hard for a stroller that cost RM3k plus ;P

*image credit to Kiddicare

gorgeous, comes in many colours but quite expensive here and complicated to fold.

The Phils & Teds duo strollers were absolutely gorgeous! They have huge tires which makes handling so efficient and they are absolutely light in weight. The folding was a little too complicated though, even for the sales assistant, and we didn't bother to consider it. I mean, if a trained sales assistant finds it hard to fold it, let alone a busy mommy who has her hands full.

So, Phils & Teds were definitely off the list despite it having all the points I need. Damn... it was so perfect...

We also discovered a Mothercare duo stroller which I already saw on their website. It is only slightly more than RM1k and has all the requirements I need too, except that it is much longer than P&T. The handling was pretty easy as well. It has its individual trays and cup holders and collapses very easily... just one turn of the handle and it folds down instantly. One step and boom. Perfect. There is no need to kick one lever and kick another lever and pull this and pull that and put them together (like that song, 'Hokey Pokey'). The only downside, is its weight after it is folded. I cannot possibly lug it into the boot of our car. It is waay too heavy. *urrgghhh*

*image credit to Mothercare

the photo doesn't do justice. personally, the design was ok, collapses like a charm but heavy.

Therefore, we then decided to stick to our 2nd option - for little jj to get a new stroller.

We were worried that she wouldn't like a new stroller because she's such a routine toddler. She likes familiarity and may not welcome something new.

I saw a single stroller from Combi which looked perfect... it 'spoke' to me and I fell in love instantly. It was damn light and just pretty for little jj. However, with one more stroller in our car boot, we know that we have to get one that folds like an umbrella to save space. The one even mentioned of one that he saw, that folds like a golf bag and he could carry it on his shoulder.

So, adding another hour to our stroller hunting in Mothercare BSC, we discovered one from MacLaren. It was only RM600+ and could fold like an umbrella, exactly like what the one mentioned. The only thing was, it doesn't have a front tray, which many parents say one of the reasons for their much older toddler's disinterest in sitting on strollers... without a tray, I know little jj would not have that 'security' of being locked in, especially where she uses the tray as a table for her to put both feet up at times hehe. And, she could rest her favourite books on the tray.

But as life has it, one cannot have it all, right? We let her try out the MacLaren, she hated it at first but as soon as the one strapped her nicely, she actually let daddy push her around the shop.

little jj, trying the stroller out with much resistance initially...

So, we asked for a nice raspberry colour which they have one, asked them to take it out of the box and everything else, put her inside and walah.... the princess fell asleep. Soundly.

what's perfect in my eyes may not be perfect in hers... but this picture is absolutely perfect :)

So yes, we found the 'perfect' stroller. And despite moi wanting a stroller that can fit both babies, I guess this choice is more practical. However, I may not be able to go out that freely without being accompanied by another adult... I mean, I can't possibly push two strollers, right... so................ there goes my freedom. But what is life without those small sacrifices, right?

And there goes our adventure :)

A Fulfilling Start to the Long Weekend!

I am performing heavy multi-tasking in this beautiful long weekend.. am currently hooked on Ponzi on facebook while I continue checking in once in awhile on my cafeworld, farmville and yoville accounts haha... and, at the same time, I was able to cook Shepherd's Pie for dinner (I made plenty frozen ones and kept in the fridge, of course) while attempting to produce a new copy for my friend's new collection in Little Girls' Closet, the one-of-a-kind online dress store carrying quality handmade smocked dresses and hand-painted batik attires for little girls (and I am saying this out of sincere honesty). Just wait for their update on the new collection... they're absolutely gorgeous.

Anyways, the one came home from a 3-day motivation camp in Lenggeng on Thursday evening. I was wrong to say that he left at a perfect timing when I was free from urgent jobs... the fact that I was reducing my caffeine intake made me walk around the house like a zombie and feeling bloody lethargic all the time. I couldn't sleep but I was tired... and that felt bad. But... as much as I felt so spoilt and needy, I didn't immediately cry out to him on the phone as I didn't want to bother him with his once-in-awhile bujang moments. Heh. But yes, I felt so spoilt... and couldn't really believe that I once took care of a kid all on my own. I have been so emotionally dependent on the one and I love being dependent... I mean, why would we have a partner for if we have to rely on ourselves all the time, right? As much as I (think) can be a superwoman, I prefer not to be one?... Yes, I am independent but I also love being dependent. Go figure.

The one didn't need to go to work on Friday as the office was closed due to the public holiday today for Thaipusam today... so, we had a full Friday as I wanted to get plenty of things done on a weekday, with someone to look over little jj while I busied myself with stuff...

Let's see... first, very early in the morning, we headed out to Plaza Alam Sentral in Shah Alam to renew my business registration... it was already due by the time I wanted to renew it online and was unable to continue the process unless I do it directly at any SSM (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia) offices. And to avoid from rushing before the Friday prayers, we made sure that we left the house pretty early... it helped a lot that little jj woke up really early that morning too.

unlike the pdf business license you'd receive by email when you register online, the SSM branch provides a nicely printed hard copy on a quality art card.

Oh, just for your info, the renewal process was done in a jiffy, surprisingly, I was fined RM20 for the delay in renewing my business and got 10% discount (under "Sokongan Pakej Rangsangan Ekonomi") for every registered year.

little jj with her signature pout, waiting patiently for my number to be called...

We then had our breakfast nearby our place, along with little jj in tow and bought chicken rice for the not-so-little-anymore munchkin who was at home finishing his homework.

Then, we decided to pay a visit to the primary school where we planned to send little jj and whaddaya know... this kiasu mom was told that I would need to wait until she turns 5 before we could register her. Haha. Oh well, to be fair, during the little munchkin's time, registration was compulsory 2 years before his Year 1 commenced... a few years after, when it was my niece's time, she was required to be registered 3 years before her Year 1 commenced. Therefore, it is only natural that I suspected I would need to be more kiasu and register little jj 4-5 years earlier, right??... *sigh* well, apparently, not...

Whatever it is, the one and I agreed that we would still drop by the school next year, in case the indecisive education ministry who always seem to have a habit of changing their ruling and all, makes another set of rules without us parents realising them. So yeah... the administration at the office can be sure to see my face every year at their office....

After Friday prayers and tlm already in school, the 3 of us then headed off to 1Utama to gather some stuff...

The one was contemplating between getting an iPod touch or the new PSP for his [insatiable] gaming needs and while he did that, we managed to grab some books from MPH and applied for new membership cards. We have been visiting a lot of bookstores pretty often due to little jj's early interest in books and thought that we should take advantage of their memberships for the amount of books we've bought (and planned to buy).

this is little jj's newest favourite book... we've bought it about one year ago but she had only given it much more attention very recently...

she not only reads it in the car, but every where else she can...

Just imagine this... we used little jj's Kidz Club card to get 10% discount for the children's books, we obtained points for our standard MPH card and 1Utama One Card, and we got another discount from an MPH voucher we received in December'09. It was a really good deal :)

we got a book for tlm, a comprehensive BM dictionary for moi, guess who's hand was grabbing her new book while I took this photo, and a book for a friend's daughter (who also loves to read) for her 3rd birthday next weekend :)

Before we left 1Utama, we redeemed our 2nd free set of 6 Big Apple doughnuts from the accumulated points in our ONE Card. I guess in this uncertain economic situation we are in, these sort of memberships do offer attractive perks.

yummies...

Tomorrow will be another long day for me but at least the one will be off on Monday due to Federal Territory Day. For now, I gotta continue being an efficient multi-tasker (haha!) while I wait to organise a pizza party once the construction of my new building is completed... yes, I am talking about Ponzi, my latest addiction...

Merry Xmas!

So... this shall be one lazy blog post eve of Christmas as I simply cannot have this blog idle with no updates... and, since I just received 3 more jobs to be submitted this Monday, with one book-editing job that's still under way, I'll try to keep the update concise.

Well... I had a good day today. In fact, this week has been a crazy week trying to rush for that short deadline given to me by a favourite client and fitting in some quality time with the kids and my SIL, Jannah, who has been hanging out at our apartment for the school holidays. In all those hecticness, I am still recovering from the bad bad flu I got from the one last week and my mind feels so tired from juggling between ensuring that I get the proper rest vs. the much welcoming busy-ness.

As I have just received one pay cheque a couple of days ago, I decided to treat everyone in the family today and headed on to Mines Shopping Center for lunch... it's been awhile since I went there and I have always loved to sit in those restaurants along the man-made waterway that runs through Mines Resort City.

Everything went great today... although traffic was a little chaotic getting into parking at lunch time, we managed to get a parking space almost immediately after we entered the parking lot and so nearby the entrance summore... lunch was served quickly and little jj behaved really well.

I managed to do some work on my E72 with the help of my iGo universal bluetooth foldable keyboard while waiting for our lunch to arrive and the beautiful ambience made everything else just lovely.

picture taken by my SIL, Jannah, on her Satio

I also finally got that laser printer I needed for work... since I already own a 3-in-1 HP Deskjet, I felt that another black and white laser printer would help even more as I'd always need to print out completed work to proof-read it against clients' documents and I so need a speedier printer to fulfill the requirements of a busy WAHM. Plus, the fact that a laser toner lasts longer and prints much more pages than the cartridges of a deskjet printer, this purchase was so overdue.

Then, I also finally got my hands on the most gorgeous (and very reasonably priced!) 3-in-1 pen/pencil by Cross which was on 20% offer. See... I have never gotten my mind off that 3-in-1 pen/pencil/stylus I got for free at a corporate event about two years ago. It must have been my first encounter with such stationery that I fell in love with instantly... yes, it was just a pen but I never realised how different it makes between a RM3 pen to one that cost RM100plus. I used it at every occasion until it disappeared at the hospital just after I gave birth to little jj. Since then, I had always longed to get one just like that but kept on contemplating whether it is worth buying something so expensive when I could easily misplace it again. After all, it is just a pen...

most Cross were on 20% discount at every stationery shops we went...

But today, I just couldn't resist making that purchase... it is after all, 2 years since the last one disappeared. So, I took this purchase as an end-of-the-year treat for myself - a reward for whatever reasons I can find hehe... and... I am in love, again :)

Oh, I also finally found a faux leather case in the design that I wanted, for my E72 - where many shops including Nokia kept telling me that the phone is too new and that I would have to wait a few more months before the case is available - this one shop at the digital centre in Mines actually have one that fits my Vin perfectly!

After little jj woke up from her afternoon nap, we all headed over to daddy at KLCC and I further rewarded myself with more stuff but that deserves a blog post on its own.

a beautiful view, taken from Starbucks... you can see down there, a boat you can charter for massages. i do not know how it works but i guess it's like a private massage session while the boat takes a ride with you on the huge Mines lake.

It was truly a good day and Merry Christmas for myself (hehe...).

Merry Christmas to all my Christian friends, and to the rest of us, enjoy the long holiday.

Review: Lancome Beauty Institute @Bangsar Village II

A continuation from here...

My idea of a facial is one that is not clinical. I would like my facials to be a multi-sensory experience of touch and smell, and I always would look forward to those relaxing shoulder massages since I hardly have time for a full body massage.

Since I’ve been to Clarins and Estee Lauder’s salons before, my visit to Lancome’s Beauty Institute was without high expectations. My main aim was only to have a facial treatment before Raya comes and that I was going to enjoy the 30% off for my first facial – at RM40 cheaper than the salon I usually frequent to, I would be just happy with that 90-minutes relaxation being pampered by a beauty therapist.

Bangsar Village is a little away from home but I just had to take my chances with this salon since it’s only a week before Raya and I am sure other salons would already be fully booked. Parking was a breeze at BVII and LBI was really easy to find.

As I arrived in front of the salon, I was a little perplexed as I didn’t know where their door was – there wasn’t any ‘OPEN’ sign and the entire outlet was decked in see-through glass. But I reckoned that I should walk over to the end of their shoplot and walah… the glass door slided open hehe…

One of them got my name and accompanied me upstairs for a skin consultation. She didn’t introduce herself neither did she wear any name tags. She asked me if I had had my breakfast and I told her I was fasting. The waiting hall was huge with comfy sofas and tables. Despite telling her I was fasting, she asked again if I wanted any drinks. Judging from that, I think she just isn’t well trained for small talks but I have to give her credit for trying to make conversations.

I was asked to fill up their form and had to wait for their machine since someone else was also using it at that time. I had nooo problems with that as she handed me some beauty magazines to flip through.

The consultation came and I was struck by how high-tech and accurate the machine was… I mean, I’ve gone through something like that in Leonard Drake and Clara’s a long, long time ago but all were very stereotype. I mean, I’ve always, always told people (beauticians, especially) that my skin type is oily. O-I-L-Y but time and again, all of them would tell me that it is impossible to have such oily skin since I have passed that 25 mark almost 10 years already. Apparently, those above 30 would normally have combo skin with some dehydration/sensitiveness here and there. Even when my skin gets all shiny and oily, some beautician would tell me that the foundation I was using is the wrong type or that I didn’t moisturise well bla bla bla.

This time however, the first sign of me falling in love with this salon was how the machine affirms my understanding of my own skin’s character. At 34 years of age (oppps… not yet 34, not until December!!), my skin’s oiliness is much higher above the average level all other women of my age. And since I have not been using proper range of skincare, I may have stripped too much of the surface oil, making my pores enlarged most of the time as they try to absorb more moisture from the surroundings. Hence, making the upper dermis really sensitive and dehydrated despite moi experiencing all-day shine.

All that time, she still hadn’t introduced herself and I was too engrossed with what I learnt about my skin that I hadn’t thought about asking her name.

One advantage of having such oily skin is that the reading showed my skin’s firmness and elasticity faring much higher than an average 30-something year old woman. *yeayyy* thus, anti-aging care isn't at all necessary although it wouldn't hurt to start.

She told me that I really need to treat the oiliness yet increase the hydration. So I asked her – how was I able to do that when the moisturisers basically make the skin dry and matte. And she went on to tell me that I need to treat that yet use something else to increase hydration. Ooohhh kayy… I was a little skeptical as I foresee the amount of products I’d need to overlap. And, just as she failed on the small talks, she wasn’t very good at explanation either due to having just a fair command of the English language. Thus, some detailed questions that I have (I sound like a journalist there) like blotchy skin didn’t have a proper explanation from her. But I wasn’t going to be a bitch that day and so I thought I’d just get on with the treatment.

As I read a review here, I went with the intention of getting a whitening facial hoping that my chicken pox marks would lighten a little so that it won’t be too visible in my Raya photos. But I was surprised when told that the whitening facial may be a little too rich for my skin and that I should have my skin properly cleansed first. I was a little disappointed with that but I wouldn’t want to argue either.

When I found out that she was going to work on my face, I asked for her name. Tiffany. My name is Tiffany. Hehe. Ok… that was sorted.

I was brought into this room, all draped in white curtains and just a relaxing chair in the middle. The lighting was in pink, to welcome me in. There was a huge locker for me to put my stuff and I was given a pair of comfy slippers to wear. She left the room and told me to press this one switch in the room once I was ready. Ok.

She helped me onto the chair and I fell in love at how the chair felt totally comfy under me. Compared to other facial salons (with the exception of Leonard Drake as they put a pillow under your legs), you are not subjected to hard flat bed. This one will ensure that the chair (when turned flat into a bed) would follow the crevices of your body, making it perfectly comfortable.

Then, Tiffany turned on the specially composed music that has been customised according to the treatment. Hmmm… the music actually sounded more like those from drama minggu ini days or cheap documentaries you get from FINAS. Hehe. But but but… as the treatment progressed, the music changed into soothing tunes which later just gets switched off from your senses as you enjoy the beauty treatment.

And that came the best parts… for someone who totally enjoys her facials, I noticed all the little details.

Tiffany went on to clean my face, first with the milk and after that, with a Pore Focus cleanser, suitable for my skin type. I’ve always loved the subtle scents in Lancome’s products and this cleanser has micro beads in it where I feel totally cleansed and refreshed. Then, she used a scrub on my face and as if she knew my bad habit, she advised me not to press on my skin hard when scrubbing as the scrub already contained properties to lift off dead cells. I liked that she layered my face with a piece of tissue after every cleansing ritual to take off the excess and then wiped off with wet facial cotton rather than rinse using a sponge, to prevent unnecessary tugging of the skin. Only after the final scrub did she use the sponge and I loved how warm water felt on a thoroughly cleansed skin.

Then, it was the steam and I wondered how she’d perform the extraction on me. I’ve always cringed that part since everybody else I went to had not scored high points in that department with me.

I was pleasantly surprised though that instead of leaving the room while my face was under the steam machine, Tiffany performed what must be one of the best hand massages I’ve ever experienced! If that was a special technique specifically from Lancome, I say, kudos to Lancome (and good job, Tiffany!). She was firm but knew what felt good. I didn’t have to undergo any pain in order to feel good. This already scored high points in my book.

The extraction part came with a wonderful surprise. All these while, my previous beauty therapist was the only person I’ve ever met who could extract my milia, even those painful ones near the eye area, with me feeling less pain. But Tiffany, well… she did better than that! She didn’t need to prick deep into the skin. All she did was a simple quick pierce and the oil seed came out and moi feeling minimal pain. What I liked about the extraction process was the fact that Tiffany had used 2 facial cottons dipped in their signature rosey-scented toner and pressed them together to pinch out my blackheads and whiteheads. That, is so much better than the feeling of cold metal prong being prodded on my skin. Another plus for Lancome (and Tiffany!) *yeayy*…

When that was over, Tiffany used a machine similar to the one used in Leonard Drake where it helped eliminate surface bacteria on the skin. But instead of doing just a shoddy sweep, she rolled in onto every part of the face, twice. *more points*

A peel mask was then put on my face (not a peel off mask but a peel) and Tiffany then left the room. Oh, plus points again for putting on Primordiale eye cream on my eyes (and lips too!) before putting on the mask. This similar process was also done before steaming my face.

10 minutes was probably up and the mask was rinsed away and the lights in the room was instantly dimmed. Tiffany used a relaxing cream and worked her firm hands on my face and upper body.

Instantly, I fell in love with the salon (and Tiffany! hehe…) and my initial intentions of wanting to explore other salons quickly diminished. This salon is here to stay ☺ It was such a good massage and I didn’t feel like I needed more… it was like the method was done perfectly for one to feel just right… that’s good, isn’t it? I’m not sure how long that lasted but after the massage, I felt drowsy and ready to sleep.

Next, she put a hydrating mask on my face. Now, this is one unique experience too since most salons would already double mask me. Here, they do a mask at a time. I fell asleep this time and Tiffany spoke to me in almost a whisper to tell me that she was going to clean my face when that time was up, finishing with such a nice soothing warm wipe on my face, neck and shoulders.

After that, she put on Primordiale Eye Gel to my eyes and lips area, the Hydra Zen serum, Aqua Fusion moisturiser and sunblock with SPF50. Plus points for slathering all those not just on the face but décolletage area as well! Then, the bed was transformed slowly back into a chair and before I got up, Tiffany gave a nice head massage to fully wake me up.

I got up and realised that the entire room was enclosed in white curtains and I couldn’t see the locker hehe. Tiffany pulled one part of the curtain to unveil the locker and then only did I realise the rationale behind it… I guess they had wanted the customers to feel like you’re the focus… and your head won’t feel cluttered seeing all those props, gadgets and products everywhere. I guess that had worked beautifully! All you see is a chair in the middle with curtains all around *applause*

As they had a Raya promotion, Tiffany then explained to me a mix & match package where I would get double the value I’d sign for instead of the usual buy-5-get-1-free. The amount was a little hefty to me but I was game for the double return that I would be rewarded with (plus that heavenly massages that I would get!!). And… they allowed me to pay a partial sum, where the balance is due at a much later interval. That scored another plus point in my book ☺

Really, I am in love.

I love it that their facials cost an average RM180 (some are lower, some as high as RM300 for the whitening facial) yet I get such excellent service and an accurate reading of what my skin is like so that a more effective treatment can be administered. Secondly, I loved that they didn’t rush on me… Tiffany took her own sweet time and experienced enough to know what needs to be done. I forgive her for her lack of communications skills with such firm hands ☺ Thirdly, I am okay with the extractions done on my face and appreciate those little details that Lancome created for a better and less stressful experience.

I love that they didn’t push me to buy any products but since I wanted to revamp my current skincare, I felt so well understood as they didn’t recommend that I buy from the same range. Instead, for the first time ever (which you may not receive such advise from the counters) my problem skin is dealt with more accurately – cleanser for oily skin, toner for sensitive skin, serum from the hydra zen range to increase hydration and the whitening moisturiser that will help slough off dead cells gradually while preventing that tired/dull look and evens out skin tone. Best of all, as pointed out by the one when I returned home, I didn’t look like I had the chicken pox again unlike how I’d look after every facial (and since it is in Bangsar Village, I was able to check out the clearance sale in Zara as well *yeayy*).

I guess if you know that Lancome products work well on your skin, do give Lancome Beauty Institute in Bangsar Village II a visit. Nope, this post wasn’t sponsored and I write truly from my personal experience.

So here’s the number – 03 2287 1084 / 03 2287 1087. It’s on the ground floor and if you’re not sure where you are, it’s the other side of where Coffee Bean is located (I had to walk a bit since there was no directory on site). There’s also one outlet in The Curve but I do not have their number.

Oooohh… I’m still in love as my skin still feels supple today. After more than a year of neglecting my skin, the wait was all worth it ☺

P/S: Another review and photos can be found here.

Hada, meet Jada.

Ok... we have just subscribed to the cartoon channels on Astro and both my darlings are actually watching Clifford on Disney right now. Errmmm... by way of 'darlings', I meant the one and my 12-year old who has just finished his UPSR exams yesterday.

Surprisingly, little jj wasn't up this morning like she did for the past 2 days. I accidentally slept while feeding her around 3 am and woke up at 5.15am, almost missing our sahur. Thankfully, sahur was already cooked by midnight last night or else we would probably be eating McDonald's again :)

Hokayy... I've been a little 'slow' in my updates recently as I've been plagued by Farmville addiction on Facebook (hahahh!). I was told before how addictive this game can be and never really bothered to try it out until I saw 3 Farmville gifts from my dear cousin, Fida, who's far away in the UK. Once I started, there was no turning back and I even questioned myself why I didn't start earlier as I have missed out on a lot of rewards and wealth-sharing from friends who've started playing it long time ago hehe... yup, i t - i s - b a d, especially when you're also juggling puasa, a little baby, work and housework ;P

5 days of playing, I am already at Level 16 and managed to pull the one into it as well ;P the worst was us fidgeting after breaking fast in Keramat last Sunday as we didn't get to log in to monitor our crops haha.

Anyways, latest developments.......

| Jada has started to sing along to some of her favourite tunes! Our eyes would open so wide when we hear her attempts as her pronunciation is pretty inaudible although the melody part would sound not too bad :) sorry guys... no videos on this yet since she'd surprise us all when she does this and as soon as we realised what she did, we'd all give her one good stare and she'd stop immediately hehe.

hello, world... meet Hada, Jada's new pet ;P

| I just cannot resist Hada the Hippo. Found it on TinyTapir and was hooked when I read that its blanket is 5 feet long (because if little jj doesn't use it, I am exactly 5 feet tall haha...).

Ok... little jj hasn't been showing any tendencies of attachment towards any of her soft toys. She has plenty of soft toys but after she turned 6 or 7 months, she has stopped holding any soft toy for more than 3 minutes. Her favourite was once Tucker, the Lamaze tortoise but I now realised that she loved Tucker only because she was truly enchanted by her own reflection that she saw in the mirror attached to its tummy. And although my first born and I both had an attachment towards any teddies or any plush toys, we do not see any of those signs on little jj. Heck, even that thoughtful gift from one of the one's blog readers in the form of a red teddy bear the size of little jj, she only held it for a good minute before ignoring it since the day she saw it. It is bad that the teddy is kinda invisible (to her) and just lying there in her play pen, unattended.

So, when I saw this pink pet zoobie, I haven't lost all hope on little jj. I do believe she's got it somewhere deep inside (hehe...) or mommy would make it mommy's own pet ;P. I guess, part of me fell in love with Hada because I love all 'gadgety' stuff - it is after all, a 3-in-1. If little jj cannot see it for a soft toy, she would have inherited her parents' trait for loving multi-functional gadgets, won't she??

you can even commission TinyTapir to have your baby's

name embroidered on the plush at an additional RM10.

| My current love for gold jewellery has brought me to custom make the anniversary gift from the one. Yes people, our gifts to each other are hardly surprises (although the surprise would come in the form of emotions that entail any purchases hehe). I think I've mentioned before that I hate mind games and I dislike being disappointed with unreasonable expectations. And the one also agrees to this so that we'd get each other something that we both really want, not based on subtle hints. So, with my obvious new interest in gold, the one gave me a budget for the anniversary gift he owed me and I instantly knew the time has come to replace that charm bracelet I've always loved which was a gift from my granny for my first birthday - it was placed on my foot and later on my hand as I grew bigger. Guess that piece of classic bracelet can now be handed down to little jj.

I had to wait 3 months before getting it done since the budget that the one gave me was insufficient which I had found out when getting a quote from my favourite jeweller. I mean, the budget seemed good enough for me but not necessarily so, for the piece of bracelet that I require especially since price of gold has gone up quite rapidly. See... the bracelet has several elements that are meaningful throughout our 4-year journey together (and more to come!). And when it was insufficient, I had decided to wait awhile so that I am able to top up the amount when I get my next payment for some jobs that were already completed, or even maybe have the chance to top up the amount when I get my next hardship allowance from the one ;)

So yesterday, I beamed with happiness for the next piece of meaningful and lasting composition that will act as a simple collector of future gift ideas as it has 8 more tiny rings and 11 elongated hoops to hang 50 more charms. That's another 50 more years of celebration, don't you think? =D

at the moment, i am happy with my J, the Tous bear and

the symbol of our love for each other which has an inscription at the back of it :)

I have plenty more to write but will end here, for now, with hopes to update more before Raya comes. Hope is good.

P/S: just a sneak preview below - I put on a sample of a hand-smocked dress for a writing job I had just completed for an e-commerce website. The dresses are awesome, I kid you not and my N86 8MP doesn't do justice to the dress (especially since little jj was wearing her bodysuit inside). I shall update you mommies out there once the website is up because your little girl should not miss out on wearing at least one of the dresses :)

mommy, this dress is too dark for my complexion... do you have one in pink?

In LoVe

The first day of fasting came and went quite well... I am happy to be able to fast on the first day successfully although I was a little bit worried earlier since I am still breastfeeding the baby - I mean, I am not worried about the hungry part but more for the thirsty part. But, I was feeling a little guilty as I didn't fast the entire month last year, partly because I just came out of confinement and believed that the baby needed a good flow of wholesome mummy's milk. I really do not want to miss an entire month this year and decided to just give it a go today... after all, I could always break fast if ever I do feel lethargic or extremely thirsty.

Anyways, I had a good meet with my very dear friend, Nicole, this afternoon. It was meant to be a lunch date until the one reminded me that harlow... puasa laaa... hehe. So, I quickly text-ed my gorgeous girlfriend that lunch has got to be cancelled at our usual gorgeous hangout and to be replaced with a good shopping destination so that we could still hangout and chat.

And oh, what a really good shopping session it was... it has really been quite awhile since we both went for serious shopping together. Usually it would just be lunch and window-shopping in BSC, where there are a limited number of shops and items you could buy, apart from the pharmacy, grocery store and book store that we would frequent to. And... in the process of buying this and that, I was politely told by the cashier in Guardian that she thought I was Chinese haha... that reminds me of the question I posed to the one, if in case I did proceed to having lunch in public with Nicole, no one would even suspect me as a Malay now, would they? ;P

I've always loved to shop with Nicole because we'd both encourage each other to spend haha... and we both love to see each other looking gorgeous. We even had a 10 to 15-minute drama down at the Nine West section of Isetan, admiring a lovely handbag at 50% discount. It was truly funny, if you were there to bear witness. But as much as I thought the bag looked pretty, I do believe I already have plenty (more so, the one would definitely raise an eyebrow with the so many bags I already own hehe...). I managed to put the bag back on the rack but I knew Nicole couldn't stand to see the last piece being displayed and grabbed the bag for herself. I do think that the sales girl was so relieved that we finally took the bag after hogging on to it in front of the mirror for ages!

I managed to get a nice gift for my cousin who just gave birth and although that was my only shopping plan, what truly caught me by surprise was this awesome deal... feast your eyes (only for Bobbi Brown's fan)...

this sleek compact is yours FOC with any 3 refill purchase - offer only until 31 August 2009!

this was definitely a steal!

There are 4 slots available but since I couldn't make up my mind which eye-shadow colour is best, I was happy to have chosen a lip colour-quad, one lip gloss pan, and a blusher (the lip colours pans come with a plastic attached cover so that you don't get any access powder (from the blusher or eye-shadow) on them. You can even choose a foundation pan to be slotted into the compact.

But but but... what truly caught our eyes was the sight of this little girl, I managed to capture on my N86 8MP... can you see what we saw??... look carefully :)

Okay... the girl in the above picture was just awesome... she could very well be mistaken as a midget.. Of course, we both could see how obvious that she was just a little girl, probably barely 4 years old. I could very well capture her on video but was afraid if I'd get sued for stalking the little wonder.

See, if you had seen what I saw - what instantly caught my attention was the LV tote she had on her, held so tightly wherever she went... mind you, it wasn't a fake bag - that we could so tell. Her mom looked like a model and she was with another friend, both also wearing LV bags. But I wasn't admiring their bags at all... it was her that amazed me. It was the way she held her bag, with the handle rested on her arm, ala Victoria Beckham and many other glamourous celebs. And since there were the two of us, being cheeky felt easy ;P so, while pretending to check out Guess shoes, this was the photo that I managed to take on the active little girl.

That wasn't all... when they were done shopping at the shoes section, she demurely took out her sunglasses and put it on as if she was a true experienced pro! :D

I dunno... partly, I felt bad for her because she shouldn't be subjected like an adult... heck, she should truly enjoy being a kid but then again, this could also be a kiddy thing for her - playing adult. Oh well, it was surely a wonderful sight for me because a scene like this is so rare unless when you're watching Channel E and they show you what Suri Cruise or Zara/Shiloh Pitt are wearing.

Hehe...

i shall not stop writing.

A pleasant unplanned Sunday :)

Self-Empowerment is power.

Shopping for a good lipstick.

In Love With Little Girls' Closet

In preparation for a new member...

A Fulfilling Start to the Long Weekend!

Merry Xmas!

Review: Lancome Beauty Institute @Bangsar Village II

Hada, meet Jada.

In LoVe

Blog Archive

Labels

Awards

Followers

My Blog List