My First Pre-Loved Closet Sale Party @ TTDI

So I'm finally done talking the walk and am walking the talk! Imma gonna throw a PRE-LOVED CLOSET SALE/PARTY this coming 1st September @ TTDI!

pls click for the fine print.
try saving it on to your computer to read. :)

How exciting is that??? Date, time, venue as stated in the promo poster. My aunt, who's a beautician and runs a beauty salon, is kind enough to lend me her space to hold the sale! /gamdong So. Yup. Here we are!

Organizing this "event" is truly exhilarating yet nerve wrecking! I mean, knowing me, the things I'd worry about is none other than, what if no body comes and not will people buy my junk gems, they are gems ok! T___T *chill chill* but it's ok, at least I try. Huhu

Ok , sob promos aside, please come! Even just to say hello! That'd be a heck load of motivation for me!

Anyway, just briefly - the sale will be held, as mentioned, in my aunt's thalgo salon @ taman tun dr. ismail (address @ the attached pic), from 10am to 4pm. I'm digging deep into my closet (and my sisters', my mom's, and my aunts') and basically took out everything that we are not wearing anymore, and hopefully find them some real loving in new homes. There are some really good brands (brand new and preloved but lightly worn!) here! No worn-out, pariah stuff on sale. Don't worry.

The objective is to clear my wardrobe, which I don't have one, actually, a physical wardrobe I mean. So my clothes are all hung out in a room - a sort of walk in... wardrobe? But it's not working! The dust and the mozzies are bugging me nuts! Besides, I'm just not wearing them anymore, but sayang want to throw out because they are in good condition and are pretty! Really, just for one reason or another, I've grown out of the erm, teen/college girl styles (I mean, a mother? Hello? I can't be donning that H&M mini skirt and I Luv NKOTB BSB band tee anymore right. It's just... off. Age-wise T_T)?

ANYWAYS!!! Giving clothes a second life instead of sending it to the dumpster is good for the earth. So!

I'm also going to donate 10% of the proceeds to Malaysia Independent Animal Rescue (MIAR) - a non profit volunteer group dedicated to saving the strays (receipt will be shown here upon making the donation). I've read a few of their rescue efforts and I'm really touched by it; I can't be on the ground with them, so I just want to do what I can. So, I appeal for your support too! You can check them out on their facebook page.

So yes, feel free to get in touch if you have any questions, I'd be glad to furnish you with as much info as I can. But yeah, it's not a complicated event, just make time and come say hello. And re-home my darling BSB tee. Please? /hopeful

Meanwhile, here's google map's link to the said location. So come! Don't make me wait from 10-4 and cry from 4-cows come home ok please.

p/s do bring along your own bag/recycle bag to keep your purchases. Save the earth! Use not plastic! 

p/p/s OH YES HOW CAN I FORGET! DO HELP ME TO SHARE THIS OUT, I'D REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT! THANK YOU PEEPLES!!!!! :)

Here's some of the pieces that will be on sale that day posted on facebook

Weekend Thoughts + FriendlyFashion.my Contest

Concrete Safari by leishia26 featuring statement necklaces

Off the shoulder top, 71 MYR / J Brand short shorts, 1,220 MYR / Green shoes, 595 MYR / FOSSIL messenger bag, 705 MYR / Statement necklace, 200 MYR

I'm obsessed with the colour mint/turquoise! It's so refreshing! Ah, heart! It's the weekend again! We were at Genting last weekend, and it was super cold and foggy! But we are headed for Melaka this week, my fingers all crossed the weather down there won't kill us! :(

Anyway, happy weekending!

p/s Since I joined friendlyfashion.my's Become Our Official Bloggers contest last week, I have been eating the humble pie, everyday - the girls out there contesting are super talented and awesome, just plain style blogger material if you will, while I, out of no where emerged the first place (at the moment la; the contest ends 15th of August) out of sheer love and support by you guys, I'm just speechless!

So yeah, please, go check out other girls' profile (my personal favs are Cute Granny Vintage, Colour Bites, and Evienereal!), you can vote for each contestant once. Or if you still love me so, you can vote for me too haha /shameless much!

This humble pie has taught me to buck up and learn to blog like a pro, even if I don't win a place in the top 15; also, winning is not everything, friendship is. I'm so, so, so happy, really, really happy that these girls are super friendly and nice, even if we are sort of competing each other to get on top, yet they are really nice to me! Such a humbling journey! Thank YOUs! Here's wishing you girls all the very best! :)

OK, as usual, my p/s's are getting too long to be p/s's. -_- Signing off then! Hehe

Hands-On Makeup Course @ MALswisse

Some months back, a girlfriend asked a few of us girls if we’d like to buy a groupon voucher for a makeup course! Now given the me from 3 years ago, I’d have shrugged you off and asked, rather rudely, for what? But since this year I’ve made a resolution to try NEW things, so I thought, heck, there’s no reason to say no. I mean, it’s high time I be a girl already! So after a few exchanged of giggly words, we bought the voucher and waited breathlessly for the day(s) to come. OK, it was just me being all breathless and jakun-ish. Zzz.

A little background - the course was conducted by MALswisse at Empire, and was divided into 2 lessons (dates of our choice) and all three of us chose Saturday afternoons; each lesson was about 3 hours long. The first lesson talked about skincare, you know, from makeup removal to double cleansing (very important!), and all that. I counted, a total of 9 steps, and that should equate to about plus minus 9 products per routine? Like, seriously? So that confirms what people say about being a girl is not cheap. 

The second lesson taught us the basic makeup technique and this, confirms what people say something about there’s no ugly girls but lazy ones. 

And that’s the grand summary of my experience! Haha! Oh I forgot to mention that the promotion cost around RM45 per pax through groupon, if my memory serves me well.

The lessons were pretty fun; there were less than 10 of us in both lessons, so it was cozy and that made me feel less shy to talk back ask questions. The trainer, Sharmaine, was friendly too, which made the whole experience very enjoyable, even more so when I went with friends!

Now, I’m not a full-makeup-on-everyday kinda girl, but at the end of the course, I was more confident with applying makeup on my own, especially applying liquid/cream foundation and eyeliner - the 2 steps that I'd avoid at all cost because did I tell you before? That once, I got a complimentary full face makeup at Stila's counter, and I was to attend a wedding after that. Half way into the wedding, where I've greeted like a gazillion people, I decided to pay the loo a visit, and by golly when I saw myself in the mirror I almost died! My lower eye lines "dropped" and I literally looked like a Red Indian ready for war with all the under-eye war paint. What truly killed me that night, was that when I asked Jason why didn't he tell me that I looked like some crazy woman?! His answer, was as epic as epic could ever be - "well, I thought it's supposed to be like that!". Man, srsly? -___- I died a million times that night, till this day, the thought of it is enough to kill me another million times T____T Since then, I avoided eyeliners like... like... you would a terrible ex from a bad romance. Ah. Those young, ignorant days! We shall reminisce in another post now, shall we not?

SO ANYWAYS! I’m also diligently practicing double cleansing now and I remind myself everyday to moisturize; seriously, the lack of moisturizing is the downfall of your skin. Hello flakiness!!! I think if we do the cleansing and moisturizing steps well, good skin is achievable, no matter how terrible your skin is currently! 

So yeah, coming back to the course, personally it does feel good to be back in a learning setting, given a chance, I’d do this kinda short courses again! Whether to learn, to update ourselves, or simply to network, they are all pretty good reasons to go out and just have fun! :)

MALswisse conducts various beauty courses, do check them out! 

p/s thanks for the fun girls! :)

Kuhrayzee Joolai!

I typed a one-page essay on how crazy things were in this household and decided truly, I’ve gone crazy to give such detailed report on the happenings, chronologically for that matter, down to the colour of oli’s poop. So I deleted everything and decompose recompose. 

So, in a nutshell, oli came down with chicken pox, recovered, and then, together with frappy, came down again with the flu and high fever bug. That day when all these flu and fever thing was happening at the same time - was hell for me T_T. Thankfully, both recovered overnight after medication (the doc made me insert suppository for them both T____T), but the antibiotic caused oli to purge. She’s coming out of it, though, as of now.  On top of that, jason’s been away a lot this month, like, half a week, every week kinda a lot. So whenever he's around he’s all stressed out from work and I’m all stressed out from weathering this… whole crazy month thing with no break. So yeah. There. More or less (definitely less! Haha!)

My plans to blog regularly is hence, upset. And picking up from where I left off is, so difficult. But I try. 

So please excuse my ayat-ayat tergantung with no apparent writing style nor class. And to make it even more painful for you, Imma just gonna vomit a truckload of some photos to get things started. Erm, yeah. I promise the next post when I come back, I shall attempt to be more regal and elegant. With chanel, blings, louboutin's and all that. Attempt to ok.

So erm, bye?

pre-chicken pox. and silly sisters

Melted chocolates left in the bag. Trust me to do this sorta things. #1

on coffee bean's sofa

life as a city toddler is boring

Hit by the pox!

don't we all love sleeping babies?

cuppa cherries by the AC staff for frappy to snack on. how sweet!

Went for a business meeting and had to borrow a notebook with jack black's face
to scribble on. Trust me to do this sorta things #2.

In sickness and in health

that happy smile :)

posers much?

college. this way. went for an ossum play at sunway college!

epic meal to commemorate epic month

Easy Recipes For Kids: Beetroot, Pumpkin, Carrot Soup

I’m so excited to share this, once again, super-simple-hardly-a-recipe beetroot recipe! Now I was never a fan of beets. I don’t like the earthly taste. So when my mom gave me one and asked me to eat it, it’s good for you, I cringed loudly inside. 

I rummaged the net for cool recipes, but they all call for spices and herbs and time and patience, which I have not. So I decided to anyhowly make a soup out of it with what little ingredients I have in the fridge – carrots and pumpkin! 

And it turned out nice! The fact that I’m feeding my family beetroot makes me feel pretty good about myself too. So I hope you’ll like it!

Beetroot, Pumpkin, Carrot Soup

Ingredients:

1 pc chicken breast, chunk-cut
1 stick carrot, cubed
1 big slice of pumpkin, cubed
1 small beetroot, cubed

1. While boiling water in a medium sized saucepan, prep and clean up the chicken breast. When the water boils, put the chicken in the saucepan and bring to boil.

2. Add in the carrot and pumpkin, bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 60 minutes. Season with a little salt for taste.

And we are done! 

Frap, Oli, and I shared a big bowl of rice flooded with the soup and it was glorious! If you do try this recipe, let me know how it turns out! 

p/s you can also add corn and/or potatoes, if that’s what rocks your socks. Happy eating!

Yes. What About Boys?

So I was having a conversation with the frap, that goes something like this. And for the record, I did not dream this up ok!

Frap: Mommyyy, schatat bee me guys. Guys.
Me: Wha...? Did you say guys?
Frap: *smiles* Guys chu ba gai gao car ya ba eh yu bao cook!
Me: What? Are we gonna talk about guys now? Seriously?
Frap: Schatat mommy beeyo papa yuuba kabir da *sighs*
Me: I'm not sure you are ready for them boys, at least for now, you know.
Frap: Har? Guys car!
Me: Yeah, cars are nice, but they are not everything you know. I mean, you're so young! And, and fragile and naive! And boys being boys, you know. And the commitment! Oh, let's not even go there. Ugh.
Frap: Mommy.
Me: Yes darling?
Frap: Stay cool.

FOR REALS! PEOPLE! FOR. REALS.

The little lady actually said stay cool! STAY COOL! She's asking me, HER MOTHER, to freaking STAY COOL because, oh you know, it's only boys, mom and I can so handle them! *rolls eyes* oh won't you just kill me now? !!!

Exclamation marks. That's all I have for you now.  -_-

Oh and some pictures from the week. /continue dying in exclamation marks

Stay cool, she says. Pfft!

brekkie

virgin beer

a whole new world from up that height

spot the red!

hope

yes, i'm afraid you can't choose your parents, oli

prisoned

icky!

obsessed about colours

rotterdam! it's like, wearing ten tiny pieces of starry night skies on you!

lazing around. everyday.

smelly bunnies

I'm sure the hubs and I would need helmets to face them boys head on. Sigh.
We will definitely make you wear helmet from now on. To fend off the guys.

Easy Recipes For Kids: Pasta In Potato & Carrot Soup

Whenever I’m out of idea on what to cook for the frap, carrots and potatoes are always my go-to ingredients. Always. Maybe because that's what my grandma used to cook for us as children. Ah, comfort food. 

Here’s a super simple recipe, erm, it’s hardly a recipe! But it tastes great, Frappy finished her first bowl and requested a second!

Pasta in Potato & Carrot Soup

Ingredients:

1 stick carrot, cubed
2 potatoes, cubed
1 tomato, cubed OR a spoon of tomato paste
1 piece of skinless chicken thigh, cut
1 cup of shell pasta
3/4 saucepan of water

1. While boiling water in a medium sized saucepan, prep and clean up the chicken thigh. When the water boils, put the chicken in the saucepan and bring to boil.

2. Add in the carrots and the potatoes. Reduce the heat to low, and let simmer for 60 to 90 minutes. I didn’t have tomatoes, so I added a spoonful of tomato paste. Season with a little salt.

3. Come meal time, add in the pasta and let cook until al dente. Serve. (The Chinese in me like to add a dash of soy sauce in my clear soups, it gives it a sweet boost, somehow!)

What did I say? Is it simple or simple? Haha! You can always add celery, cabbage, peas, onion, and bacon (I'd sweat the diced onion and cook the bacon for a coupla minutes before adding the chicken and other root veges, and then water/stock), or whatever ticks your interest, to make it more flavourful and wholesome. I think this soup is somewhat like minestrone? Tis a chinese version! Haha. Anyway it goes wonderful with baguette and toasts, too! Or rice!!! YUM! Bon appétit!

Stolen Moments

I received an sms from a dear friend last evening, wishing me happy mother's day. Now throughout the day, friends' have been coming up to me wishing me the same and for lame-joking sake, I'd reply oh dear please don't remind me! I know. Don't ask me why I always, ALWAYS like to say lame things and embarrass myself like that! Ugh. Anyway, so when I was replying this particular sms, saying thank you, suddenly it hit me. I realized that, yes, I am actually, happy. Happy!

Not oh-boy-i'm-alive-everyday-cracking-head-what-to-cook-do-laundry-clean-up-shit-yay-i'm-loving-it kinda happy; but I am just, happy. Happy being where I am now, this moment. A wife, not a terribly good one at that, but a wife nonetheless, a mother (!), that fact that I am figuring things out (and the big picture's getting clearer) finally on how to move on and achieve goals socially, financially, personally, and uh, career-ly and I'm ready for that! And that caught me by surprise, because I've always thought I'm in such a rut, that I'm forever in that much dreaded waiting phase, waiting for that big break, only I didn't realize that that big break is now.

Now. I mean, every moment at home with my two girls is a milestone that says something big about their growth and I get to be part of it! Every decision made (and quarrel!) with the hubs about petty or important stuff says something big about a relationship shared for x amount of years. Every meltdown I experience says something big about the maturity process of my womanhood.

And one more big break? That in that split second, I'm finally coming to terms with myself, my family, my life. And I like it. I feel assured that, slowly but surely, things are falling into its rightful places, that I should really cut myself some slack and just at times, go with the flow, albeit patiently. So yeah. Happy. I am.

look who's peeking out and over the cot!

Jenny from the block

Breton stripe top from Azorias. Love it!

Suddenly She’s Two!

OK, I guess I cannot be in denial anymore. Frappy, my baby, remember? That tubby little wee thing that got everybody went all mushy with her expressionless face and sweet, silly smiles? Well, she’s not that little wee thing anymore! /wails!

She’s a girl now, a big girl who knows how to work her heels (ok not for real, but she loves to put on heels, correctly at that! Where lah did she get that from?! /shifty eyes); she wants to explore places (on her own) and is not shy to make new friends (it’s simple really, just open your mouth and say HAI!!! And then smile. There, you just got yourself a new friend. Simple but profound wisdom); she eats big people’s food; she answers back (!!!); she says xie xie (thank you) when given food or helped without being prompted; she puts away her toys (!!!! sometimes only haha); she is imitating speech, a lot. You should really see her when she’s watching her walt disney’s animations; she’d get very engrossed and babble along with the characters as if she wrote the script. Just yesterday, mickey from the mickey mouse clubhouse asked his audience to say “oh toodles!”, frappy did just that. She said Oh tootoos! 

She is doing so many things these days - some new, some old but more refined and sophisticated, it’s scaring me sometimes! I mean, like, noooo stop! Stop growing so soon! Just stay and be that little wee thing who weighed a ton with all the oh-so-squishable fleshy chunks like that Michelin man for awhile, won’t you? Lookit you! You are all slimming down (except for the tummy haha!) and elongating! You’re wearing dresses and look properly like a lady already, except shorter. Much shorter.

But no, time says no. She has to grow, keep growing and moving with every tick of the hands on the clock. Oh how that pains my heart my dear frappy! But it’s a joy to be able to grow with you, I’ll have you know that missy! You are such a joy to be around with (but I’ll also have you know that you’re such a pain when you’re stubborn and so loud it’s embarrassing -__-). You know, when she knows I’m feeling under the weather, she’d come over and hold my arm, and when she hugs me, she’d give my back a gentle rub and my shoulders a baby squeeze! Such a grown up my goodness! Just stop! You’re giving me heartache just thinking about it! 

Haiks. All I wanted to do was to pen down a few happenings from yesterday, the 7^th of May 2012 – Frappy’s 2^nd birthday; and of course I had to be random and go all over the place! Hehe. Ok then, I’ll leave you with some memories that no money can buy – my family came visiting (my parents just got off work and had a flight to catch this morning!), my brother sponsored the most delicious berries pavlova, and a group of our friends came celebrating the special day with us! It wasn’t a planned party, I was just going to symbolically give frappy a cake-cutting ceremony and call it a (birth)day, but Ju organized a whole bunch of dear friends over (on a weeknight! You guys make me cry!) and suddenly we have ourselves a party! And these people even brought gifts! I feel so loved whenever I have people coming by our house, and this is not even my party! Ugh. Why am I sucha mush! 

At one point my mom was asking me, rather suspiciously, "these… are frappy’s friends? So old?"

Nawww, mom! They are not old. They are gold! 

Ok, I should really stop, this is turning into an essay (that, and also I’m typing this whilst standing, with frappy clinging to my leg like a koala to a tree trunk, and oli grabbing my toe, like… like, oysters stuck to pier stilts. So very abruptly, and very cliché-ly, blessed birthday my sweet mocha frap! I hope you had an awesome time last night with your family and friends, donning new dress, sunglasses, fairy wings, eating that fancy branded pavlova with fingers, and simply being an all attention-grabbing star! I love you too much, baby! Just don’t be annoying ok? xox

Good morning! I'm two years old today!