I have never crave chilli mussels until I first tasted how good they can taste like~! *slurp~!* To help those who wanted to know some top places for chilli mussels, (which I am still compiling though) here are some places I love according to freshness, prices and sauce~! In order to compile this list, I have tasted the chilli mussels in Concas, Ti amo, Brando's place, Kailis Bro, and Cicerello.
1) Kailis bro
This company is one of the largest and well-known provider for seafood in Australia. There are endless branch all over WA itself, e.g. Fremantle, Leederville, Canningvale, you name it. Although the fish and chips are not as nice, the freshness are guaranteed. When I first bit into the mussel, I could not believe the freshness of it. *yummy~!* I went to the one in Fremantle, the sea breeze plus the yummy mussels is PERFECT~! =P
2) Ti amo
Add.: 57 Hampden Road Nedlands WA 6009
Although the chilli mussels in this restaurant is not as fresh as Kailis Bro. The price are very cheap in comparison and the sauces are simply delicious~! Absolutely...
My xmas wishlist... compiling...
I literally can feel the spirit of xmas (if not, at least the xmas shop-aholic in me, tee~hee~!) around me. Is it the angels, xmas tree and reindeer's decoration scattered all around the city and suburb? Or perhaps the many colourful xmas sale catalogues spilling out of my post box??
All these made me did something I have never done before, compiling a wishlist for xmas... (and yeah, tat is not really displaying the true spirit of xmas =P )
Item no. 1:
Dreaming by Tommy Hilfiger
I Lurv this fragrance~! Yummy yummy~!
2. Iphone 4G
I wish for an Iphone 4G minus the flaws... I wonder whether Santa's Iphone 4G would be better than store bought? tee~hee~!
Wonder what will I get for xmas... ;P
All these made me did something I have never done before, compiling a wishlist for xmas... (and yeah, tat is not really displaying the true spirit of xmas =P )
Item no. 1:
Dreaming by Tommy Hilfiger
I Lurv this fragrance~! Yummy yummy~!
2. Iphone 4G
I wish for an Iphone 4G minus the flaws... I wonder whether Santa's Iphone 4G would be better than store bought? tee~hee~!
Wonder what will I get for xmas... ;P
Suicide for love?
My FB is totally bombarded with this news about this 22 years old Malaysian guy who committed suicide after his break up with his gf; a relationship that lasted 4 months. It happened on the 9th of december this year when he jumped off the 14th floor of his building; I could not help but shed a tear for him.
What was going through his mind when he decided to end his life?
For a person who have been through so many challenges throughout my life, I look at him and couldn't help wonder 'why?'
In his blog (http://alvisskong.blogspot.com/), he mentioned that he is the kind of guy whose main existence revolves around love. How I wish that this love could be distributed to the rest of his family members and friends. My friends asked me to 'like' a FB website's tribute to him, I am sorry I could not do that. My condolences to his family and friends but not by 'liking' this website. By liking this website, does that indirectly mean I am supporting or encouraging this kind of behavior? That is why I decided not to do so.
In his FB post 45 minutes before he committed suicide, he asked his sister to take care of his parents. This is such a fearful end for a healthy and young man. I felt so sorry for his ex, whom he described as a devil in his blog. Some news even dub him as Malaysian Romeo.
Perhaps he is truly hurt by all those incidents that led to the break up (This song is a tribute for him, perhaps those were his last thoughts ), but I still strongly believe that no one should commit suicide so easily. Think of other ppl who truly loves and cares for you and the impact that will be left on them. Move on.
What was going through his mind when he decided to end his life?
For a person who have been through so many challenges throughout my life, I look at him and couldn't help wonder 'why?'
In his blog (http://alvisskong.blogspot.com/), he mentioned that he is the kind of guy whose main existence revolves around love. How I wish that this love could be distributed to the rest of his family members and friends. My friends asked me to 'like' a FB website's tribute to him, I am sorry I could not do that. My condolences to his family and friends but not by 'liking' this website. By liking this website, does that indirectly mean I am supporting or encouraging this kind of behavior? That is why I decided not to do so.
In his FB post 45 minutes before he committed suicide, he asked his sister to take care of his parents. This is such a fearful end for a healthy and young man. I felt so sorry for his ex, whom he described as a devil in his blog. Some news even dub him as Malaysian Romeo.
Perhaps he is truly hurt by all those incidents that led to the break up (This song is a tribute for him, perhaps those were his last thoughts ), but I still strongly believe that no one should commit suicide so easily. Think of other ppl who truly loves and cares for you and the impact that will be left on them. Move on.
Driving test~!
Yesh~!
Got my Oz driver's license~!
Not too sure whether to say it was pretty easy or pretty hard. But even though you may have been driving around for years in Msia doesn't mean you would easily pass the driving test here. The best plan is to hire a 'sifu' to teach you the OZ way of driving coz here they really implement the defensive driving pattern. If you are fresh out of Msia, pls dun waste ur money to take the test straightaway, coz I am pretty sure U r a pretty reckless driver. Coz I was~! lol...
Some differences:
1. Strict speed limit adherence. This is an ultimate straight fail if you surpass the road's speed limit. As the examiner will be viewing from the passenger seat beside you, ensure that you travel at least 5 kph below the recommended speed limit to avoid parallax error.
2. Head check. DO IT~! JUST DO IT~! I do have a good habit of doing head checks before reversing or parking, etc. But the examiner deducted me marks for grounds that I do not do enough left head check.
3. Signaling. Before entering a roundabout, if you are exiting in the next exit, signal left. If you are going to take the last exit, right signal. Signal when u are ready to exit the roundabout. Ensure that your signal does not flash more than 3 times after you perform your maneuverer. If you drive along a unmarked lane with cars parked beside the road, signal as if to overtake it.
4. Stop sign. In my boleh boleh land, apa apa pun boleh. Here, stop means stop. Stop for at least 3 secs before making your next move. But ensure you signal your direction before you stop.
5. Steering wheel. Always place hands at 10 and 2 o'clock of the steering wheel. Only use push and pull method of handling the steering wheel. Ensure your thumbs face upwards/outwards of the steering wheel.
Woah, so now you know the proper way of driving~! lol...
Got my Oz driver's license~!
Not too sure whether to say it was pretty easy or pretty hard. But even though you may have been driving around for years in Msia doesn't mean you would easily pass the driving test here. The best plan is to hire a 'sifu' to teach you the OZ way of driving coz here they really implement the defensive driving pattern. If you are fresh out of Msia, pls dun waste ur money to take the test straightaway, coz I am pretty sure U r a pretty reckless driver. Coz I was~! lol...
Some differences:
1. Strict speed limit adherence. This is an ultimate straight fail if you surpass the road's speed limit. As the examiner will be viewing from the passenger seat beside you, ensure that you travel at least 5 kph below the recommended speed limit to avoid parallax error.
2. Head check. DO IT~! JUST DO IT~! I do have a good habit of doing head checks before reversing or parking, etc. But the examiner deducted me marks for grounds that I do not do enough left head check.
3. Signaling. Before entering a roundabout, if you are exiting in the next exit, signal left. If you are going to take the last exit, right signal. Signal when u are ready to exit the roundabout. Ensure that your signal does not flash more than 3 times after you perform your maneuverer. If you drive along a unmarked lane with cars parked beside the road, signal as if to overtake it.
4. Stop sign. In my boleh boleh land, apa apa pun boleh. Here, stop means stop. Stop for at least 3 secs before making your next move. But ensure you signal your direction before you stop.
5. Steering wheel. Always place hands at 10 and 2 o'clock of the steering wheel. Only use push and pull method of handling the steering wheel. Ensure your thumbs face upwards/outwards of the steering wheel.
Woah, so now you know the proper way of driving~! lol...
When two becomes one...
Can actually harm you more than you would admit.
Be it you are 'single', 'in a relationship' or 'it's complicated' phase, I am sure that you will have experience unrequited love, heart breaks and lonely phase. You see other people in what you perceive as the 'perfect' relationship and long for that. We were told, no... TRAINED to think that when the princess or the poor girl finds her prince, she lives happily ever after. So, girls were brainwashed by meaningless fairy tales since young that the ultimate goal in life is to find her soul mate. As we age, we grow smarter, we learn what PI represents, we know fibonacci number, (for GOODNESS sake) but that immature and unrealistic lesson was hopelessly ingrained into our brain.
What this means in the 20th century is a very unrealistic mindset and attitude in a relationship. I find it quite disturbing when a totally motivated, ambitious, outgoing and outspoken person got into a relationship. And with the snap of a finger, she turned into this needy, sticky and spineless person who has no time for friends and family. The change happened almost instantaneously, suddenly all her plans revolved around the guy, she all but gave up her identity and become 'one' with her bf.
I am not trying to pinpoint this person in particular but it is becoming a widespread phenomena. I have notice that it is now a up and becoming trend of 'two become one'. Here are some of the phases I noticed:
1st phase: Those tell tale symptoms
a) When you call her out, both of them appear.
Yes, initially you try to be subtle and hinted that it will be a ladies night. Then you could not stand it, and you blatantly tell her that you do not want him there, but they just come as one. I do not understand how can she not see that her neediness for her bf has become imposing on her friend's lives?
b) Telling her means telling him.
They say you should not keep secrets in a relationship. But then if those secrets are not yours to begin with and you agreed not to say, it is best to keep your words. Your words reflect your personality. And if you start to blab about other ppl's secrets in a relationship, has it begin to dawn on you that you and ur partner have nothing better else to talk about? Telling one person you have the menstrual today and having her bf asking you how are you feeling the next day is NOT ok. Even if it is a mutual understanding that your bf would be informed, he should not butt in as if he is one of the ladies.
c) TMI
Perhaps you can relate to me on this one. Those annoying couples who see each other every single day or be it week, and still they leave overly intimate msgs on FB, on msn and twitter for every one to see. What an eye sore. My statistic has shown that these types of relationship may seem sweet on the outside, most of the time it indicates that both party are insecure about the other's commitment and use this method to re-instate to other's their relationship. More often than not, these relationships fail miserably and they don't speak to each other anymore and delete each other from FB, etc. Don't believe it?
Sometimes, this can even happen to you and you barely feel it. So how do you know?
d) Your friends get sick of you
Initially your friends throw tantrum or complain that you are no longer spending quality time with them, then they stopped calling you altogether. This is usually a bad sign.
2nd phase: you start making excuses for him
If you are a bf craze, you will notice that you start making excuses for him. If your friend complains that ur bf approached them in an inappropriate manner, you start making excuses for him. Excuses I have heard includes: He was raised in a western environment (My western friends do not simply touch me, thank you). He was overly passionate (hint: boundaries?), etc etc. Perhaps you complained to your friend that he borrows excessive money from you, and your friend asked you to dump him. And suddenly you started to protect him giving excuses like he is not always like that, he really needs it, etc etc. The worst part is when he start to hit you and you still make excuses for him.
WAKE UP, he is NOT a baby! YOU DO NOT need to make excuses for him. He knows how to make up excuses all by himself. You need to stop making excuses and start confronting him about it. If it really is nothing, both of you can resolve it calmly and with dignity. What does not kill you make you stronger. If it really is something, avoiding the issue will not make it any better.
3rd phase: You say Love is Blind
I do hope that you will not proceed to this stage. Usually gals who lost their identity in the first year will begin to see their bf pulling away from them and taking interest in some other gals. But unfortunately, I have seen smart, independent gals ended up in this stage.
He may do something to wrong you and you say Love is Blind and did not confront him.
Love is not blind. In the Bible, it is recorded that:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in sin, but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always hopes, always trusts, always perseveres. Love never fails."
I wanna implore you to really understand and savor this verse. If he loves you, he should be honest with you. You should be able to face him and talk to him about the incident/issue. Unfortunately, often times love is confused with lust and while you may love him and pour out everything to him, you are merely his object of lust. Woman put their hearts out there to be hurt time and time again and sometimes their own friends choose the easier way out and make excuses for these bastards. According to the movie/book "He is not into you", stop thinking you are the exception, you are the rule. Guys who flirts all the time, will cheat on you. Guys who always try to get easy cash from you, will continue to do so. Guys who wants to have sex on the first date, is only there for lust. There are some exceptions but don't bet on it! Here are some tips:
a) Start by treating yourself as your own best friend. Tell yourself the truth, stop lying to yourself or make excuses for him. You don't need to be paranoia nor should you be super ignorant. Don't hurt your heart over a lost cause. Move on. Loving yourself and understanding what a person who loves you will/should do and what they shouldn't do.
b) Have your own space. If he is constantly out with his mates either in gym or playing sport, you don't have to stay at home fidgeting with the phone right infront of your eyes. Have your own ladies outing and your own personal space. Bottom line is you need to stay sane. Putting 100% out there for your bf is NOT healthy. Have a little 'me' time. This enable you to actually still be an individual outside of the relationship, and reduce your neediness and stickiness in a relationship.
Be it you are 'single', 'in a relationship' or 'it's complicated' phase, I am sure that you will have experience unrequited love, heart breaks and lonely phase. You see other people in what you perceive as the 'perfect' relationship and long for that. We were told, no... TRAINED to think that when the princess or the poor girl finds her prince, she lives happily ever after. So, girls were brainwashed by meaningless fairy tales since young that the ultimate goal in life is to find her soul mate. As we age, we grow smarter, we learn what PI represents, we know fibonacci number, (for GOODNESS sake) but that immature and unrealistic lesson was hopelessly ingrained into our brain.
What this means in the 20th century is a very unrealistic mindset and attitude in a relationship. I find it quite disturbing when a totally motivated, ambitious, outgoing and outspoken person got into a relationship. And with the snap of a finger, she turned into this needy, sticky and spineless person who has no time for friends and family. The change happened almost instantaneously, suddenly all her plans revolved around the guy, she all but gave up her identity and become 'one' with her bf.
I am not trying to pinpoint this person in particular but it is becoming a widespread phenomena. I have notice that it is now a up and becoming trend of 'two become one'. Here are some of the phases I noticed:
1st phase: Those tell tale symptoms
a) When you call her out, both of them appear.
Yes, initially you try to be subtle and hinted that it will be a ladies night. Then you could not stand it, and you blatantly tell her that you do not want him there, but they just come as one. I do not understand how can she not see that her neediness for her bf has become imposing on her friend's lives?
b) Telling her means telling him.
They say you should not keep secrets in a relationship. But then if those secrets are not yours to begin with and you agreed not to say, it is best to keep your words. Your words reflect your personality. And if you start to blab about other ppl's secrets in a relationship, has it begin to dawn on you that you and ur partner have nothing better else to talk about? Telling one person you have the menstrual today and having her bf asking you how are you feeling the next day is NOT ok. Even if it is a mutual understanding that your bf would be informed, he should not butt in as if he is one of the ladies.
c) TMI
Perhaps you can relate to me on this one. Those annoying couples who see each other every single day or be it week, and still they leave overly intimate msgs on FB, on msn and twitter for every one to see. What an eye sore. My statistic has shown that these types of relationship may seem sweet on the outside, most of the time it indicates that both party are insecure about the other's commitment and use this method to re-instate to other's their relationship. More often than not, these relationships fail miserably and they don't speak to each other anymore and delete each other from FB, etc. Don't believe it?
Sometimes, this can even happen to you and you barely feel it. So how do you know?
d) Your friends get sick of you
Initially your friends throw tantrum or complain that you are no longer spending quality time with them, then they stopped calling you altogether. This is usually a bad sign.
2nd phase: you start making excuses for him
If you are a bf craze, you will notice that you start making excuses for him. If your friend complains that ur bf approached them in an inappropriate manner, you start making excuses for him. Excuses I have heard includes: He was raised in a western environment (My western friends do not simply touch me, thank you). He was overly passionate (hint: boundaries?), etc etc. Perhaps you complained to your friend that he borrows excessive money from you, and your friend asked you to dump him. And suddenly you started to protect him giving excuses like he is not always like that, he really needs it, etc etc. The worst part is when he start to hit you and you still make excuses for him.
WAKE UP, he is NOT a baby! YOU DO NOT need to make excuses for him. He knows how to make up excuses all by himself. You need to stop making excuses and start confronting him about it. If it really is nothing, both of you can resolve it calmly and with dignity. What does not kill you make you stronger. If it really is something, avoiding the issue will not make it any better.
3rd phase: You say Love is Blind
I do hope that you will not proceed to this stage. Usually gals who lost their identity in the first year will begin to see their bf pulling away from them and taking interest in some other gals. But unfortunately, I have seen smart, independent gals ended up in this stage.
He may do something to wrong you and you say Love is Blind and did not confront him.
Love is not blind. In the Bible, it is recorded that:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in sin, but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always hopes, always trusts, always perseveres. Love never fails."
I wanna implore you to really understand and savor this verse. If he loves you, he should be honest with you. You should be able to face him and talk to him about the incident/issue. Unfortunately, often times love is confused with lust and while you may love him and pour out everything to him, you are merely his object of lust. Woman put their hearts out there to be hurt time and time again and sometimes their own friends choose the easier way out and make excuses for these bastards. According to the movie/book "He is not into you", stop thinking you are the exception, you are the rule. Guys who flirts all the time, will cheat on you. Guys who always try to get easy cash from you, will continue to do so. Guys who wants to have sex on the first date, is only there for lust. There are some exceptions but don't bet on it! Here are some tips:
a) Start by treating yourself as your own best friend. Tell yourself the truth, stop lying to yourself or make excuses for him. You don't need to be paranoia nor should you be super ignorant. Don't hurt your heart over a lost cause. Move on. Loving yourself and understanding what a person who loves you will/should do and what they shouldn't do.
b) Have your own space. If he is constantly out with his mates either in gym or playing sport, you don't have to stay at home fidgeting with the phone right infront of your eyes. Have your own ladies outing and your own personal space. Bottom line is you need to stay sane. Putting 100% out there for your bf is NOT healthy. Have a little 'me' time. This enable you to actually still be an individual outside of the relationship, and reduce your neediness and stickiness in a relationship.
Why I need to curb my addiction to FB
With the release of the 'Facebook' trailer, FB has become more and more popular amongst the community. But it started me on my own reflection on my usage of FB, and I have discovered annoying facts about FB.
1. FB is toxic~!
So while I am doing my research and conducting meetings with my supervisors and other phd students, days seems dull and tiring for me. N guess what? When I log into FB, I am bombarded with status, comments and photos of other people having fun. This is quite predictable, no one is interested in pictures of other ppl working. But the annoying bit is when u have a really rich fren in ur fren list. Yeah, I do. Her family is like the richest in my hometown, and their family even have their own private jet. So her status would read like 'Going Europe for the weekend~!' or 'Did my manicure and spa..' or a picture of her nestling happily in her private jet with her father with a caption that goes 'Daddy, u r the best!'. How can a hardworking, honest person top another person who is born with a silver spoon? How depressing....
2. Toxic...
Not only the emotional toil it inflicts, but also the time consuming part that is alarming. And I am not hiding myself from this shame, I have been taking part in this next point... pointless games~! When it all boils down to it, aren't most of the games pointless in FB? Initially they have the 'who has the biggest brain' game, that was fun and probably educational. Or the typing game? But games like Cafe world? Pet society? Restaurant city? Farm ville? We spent our precious time clicking our mouse collecting points by 'visiting our friends' and accomplishing mission by 'sending invites/help request to our friends'. Those minutes spent everyday doing that accumulate into a staggering large number in a year and the invites we send out? We are just like a highly efficient spamming machine!! And these games applications are not innocent. Incase u didn't notice, they collect personal information about you for their perusal. What type of perusal are those? Who knows?
3. Toxic...
While sharing personal info and comments amongst frens are normal and fun, FB has seeped into other aspects of our lives. Without even realizing it, FB is evolving into a common platform where colleagues and employers are invited in, that is when the danger starts. A lot of innocent banter, pictures can backfire on you. I once rejected my tutor's friend request and the next thing I receive an email demanding whether I was using him or not. *weird*
And now they have a new application in FB where you can announce your location at a certain period and a map will be conveniently shown for everyone to see. Clearly they have the BEST intentions in mind. But isn't it apparent what this would mean? Encouraging stalkers. O wait... is that what everyone wants? Let me just say, don't wish for it until u have a taste of the horror.
In short, TMI. Just KISS, pls.
I miss the good old days where ppl actually call you for bdays and updates. Video call when that is too expensive. Send an actual parcel and hugs and not words on the status bar.
So, perhaps it is time for me to reduce my time spent on FB and hit the gym more often~! :D ( And then perhaps take a shoot during gym time and POST IT IN FB~! spam me, my friends, spam me~! A~hem...)
1. FB is toxic~!
So while I am doing my research and conducting meetings with my supervisors and other phd students, days seems dull and tiring for me. N guess what? When I log into FB, I am bombarded with status, comments and photos of other people having fun. This is quite predictable, no one is interested in pictures of other ppl working. But the annoying bit is when u have a really rich fren in ur fren list. Yeah, I do. Her family is like the richest in my hometown, and their family even have their own private jet. So her status would read like 'Going Europe for the weekend~!' or 'Did my manicure and spa..' or a picture of her nestling happily in her private jet with her father with a caption that goes 'Daddy, u r the best!'. How can a hardworking, honest person top another person who is born with a silver spoon? How depressing....
2. Toxic...
Not only the emotional toil it inflicts, but also the time consuming part that is alarming. And I am not hiding myself from this shame, I have been taking part in this next point... pointless games~! When it all boils down to it, aren't most of the games pointless in FB? Initially they have the 'who has the biggest brain' game, that was fun and probably educational. Or the typing game? But games like Cafe world? Pet society? Restaurant city? Farm ville? We spent our precious time clicking our mouse collecting points by 'visiting our friends' and accomplishing mission by 'sending invites/help request to our friends'. Those minutes spent everyday doing that accumulate into a staggering large number in a year and the invites we send out? We are just like a highly efficient spamming machine!! And these games applications are not innocent. Incase u didn't notice, they collect personal information about you for their perusal. What type of perusal are those? Who knows?
3. Toxic...
While sharing personal info and comments amongst frens are normal and fun, FB has seeped into other aspects of our lives. Without even realizing it, FB is evolving into a common platform where colleagues and employers are invited in, that is when the danger starts. A lot of innocent banter, pictures can backfire on you. I once rejected my tutor's friend request and the next thing I receive an email demanding whether I was using him or not. *weird*
And now they have a new application in FB where you can announce your location at a certain period and a map will be conveniently shown for everyone to see. Clearly they have the BEST intentions in mind. But isn't it apparent what this would mean? Encouraging stalkers. O wait... is that what everyone wants? Let me just say, don't wish for it until u have a taste of the horror.
In short, TMI. Just KISS, pls.
I miss the good old days where ppl actually call you for bdays and updates. Video call when that is too expensive. Send an actual parcel and hugs and not words on the status bar.
So, perhaps it is time for me to reduce my time spent on FB and hit the gym more often~! :D ( And then perhaps take a shoot during gym time and POST IT IN FB~! spam me, my friends, spam me~! A~hem...)
My moisturizing diary~!
Spring is here!!! Day in day out, the sun beats down mercilessly on me... I am a lazy person when it comes to taking care of myself but then I learnt to invest on moisturizing products.
For me, the essential criteria in choosing the moisturizer is best value product~! So you would find that most of the products I used can be found in almost any big shopping complex.
My moisturizing products~! And yes... I have been using a LOT...
Nuskin range
The Nuskin range is perhaps the only series that you can't obtain easily from any supermarket. It is a product under a direct sales company which you have to join in order to buy the products at a much discounted rate.
Cleanser --> Nuskin Creamy Cleansing lotion ($18)
Just squeeze a 20 cents amount onto your palm and massage it onto the face. It is very mild, gentle and moisturizing for the skin. After wash, I can literally feel the moisturizing effect on the face. However, as it is a creamy cleanser, it is not as effective as a foam cleanser in removing sebum and dirt nor should it be used as a make up remover.
Mask --> Nuskin Clay Pack ($26)
I love this moisturizing mask, it smells and feel like putting yoghurt on your face. =)
Moisturizer --> Moisture Restore Day Protective Lotion SPF15 Normal to Dry skin
Love the non-greasy and light feels it gives over other moisturizer~!
Eye cream --> Intensive Eye cream ($44)
Although I didn't see my eye bag and dark eye circles reducing, this product is very moisturizing. During a hydration test, the indicator showed my under eye hydration level as 44% so not too bad.
*Note: prices quoted are based in Australia, it may deviate slightly due to demand and supply in certain country, namely Malaysia.
Nivea Hand cream
Redwin Body lotion
Both of these are almost the same price~! lol... It is a really good deal if you can get like 1L of body lotion with just $5~! I have tried Kiehl's ultimate strength hand salve ($44) to combat the dry climate. But apart from a very strong medicated smell, it does not have much long term improvement on my dry hands. Nivea hand cream only cost $4 but after using it one week my hands have more marked improvements. The same goes with the body lotion, I have tried Vaseline line which cost twice as much as the Redwin brand. But Redwin can improve the overall appearance of my skin as compared to Vaseline line. This is the third tub I have used in 3 years. Totally WORTH it~! =P
Another product I really love is the Palmers' Lip butter ($3-4). Apart from providing a hydration barrier to the lips, it also adds a subtle gloss. *love it~!*
I do notice that when I applied on dried skin on my lips, the skin would peel off painlessly in a few hours leaving a smooth exterior. The weird point though is the flavour... chocolate mint? Where is the typical strawberry and cherries? =P
I found out through experience that not all expensive products produce the desired result, you can look good even on a budget~!
Hope by sharing this, it can help you on future purchases~!
Till then, stay hydrated ^^
For me, the essential criteria in choosing the moisturizer is best value product~! So you would find that most of the products I used can be found in almost any big shopping complex.
My moisturizing products~! And yes... I have been using a LOT...
Nuskin range
The Nuskin range is perhaps the only series that you can't obtain easily from any supermarket. It is a product under a direct sales company which you have to join in order to buy the products at a much discounted rate.
Cleanser --> Nuskin Creamy Cleansing lotion ($18)
Just squeeze a 20 cents amount onto your palm and massage it onto the face. It is very mild, gentle and moisturizing for the skin. After wash, I can literally feel the moisturizing effect on the face. However, as it is a creamy cleanser, it is not as effective as a foam cleanser in removing sebum and dirt nor should it be used as a make up remover.
Mask --> Nuskin Clay Pack ($26)
I love this moisturizing mask, it smells and feel like putting yoghurt on your face. =)
Moisturizer --> Moisture Restore Day Protective Lotion SPF15 Normal to Dry skin
Love the non-greasy and light feels it gives over other moisturizer~!
Eye cream --> Intensive Eye cream ($44)
Although I didn't see my eye bag and dark eye circles reducing, this product is very moisturizing. During a hydration test, the indicator showed my under eye hydration level as 44% so not too bad.
*Note: prices quoted are based in Australia, it may deviate slightly due to demand and supply in certain country, namely Malaysia.
Nivea Hand cream
Redwin Body lotion
Both of these are almost the same price~! lol... It is a really good deal if you can get like 1L of body lotion with just $5~! I have tried Kiehl's ultimate strength hand salve ($44) to combat the dry climate. But apart from a very strong medicated smell, it does not have much long term improvement on my dry hands. Nivea hand cream only cost $4 but after using it one week my hands have more marked improvements. The same goes with the body lotion, I have tried Vaseline line which cost twice as much as the Redwin brand. But Redwin can improve the overall appearance of my skin as compared to Vaseline line. This is the third tub I have used in 3 years. Totally WORTH it~! =P
Another product I really love is the Palmers' Lip butter ($3-4). Apart from providing a hydration barrier to the lips, it also adds a subtle gloss. *love it~!*
I do notice that when I applied on dried skin on my lips, the skin would peel off painlessly in a few hours leaving a smooth exterior. The weird point though is the flavour... chocolate mint? Where is the typical strawberry and cherries? =P
I found out through experience that not all expensive products produce the desired result, you can look good even on a budget~!
Hope by sharing this, it can help you on future purchases~!
Till then, stay hydrated ^^
Premier of Australia's Iron Chef Challenge
Have you ever watched the original Iron Chef Challenge from Japan?
It looks ridiculously... FANTASTIC~! The food they prepared, the precision and techniques they displayed and the plating up reminded me that there was a difference between a chef and the very normal me~! :D
But I have to stifle a giggle or two when the commentators talked, because the translation is too terrible!! XD
So when Australia announced the premier of Iron Chef challenge at 7:30pm on Channel Seven and the first competitor is a young chef from greenhouse cafe, st georges terrace, Perth??
The greenhouse cafe and restaurant in Perth, so cute~! [source: http://gillcos.tumblr.com/]
The competitor from Perth [source: WAtoday.com.au]
I knew I had to see it~! The Iron chefs are Guy Grossi, Neil Perry and Guillaume Brahimi.
The three Iron chefs [source: smh.com.au]
Through the competition, they have to make entree, mains and dessert using a secret ingredient, i.e. coconut and judged based on originality, plating and taste. The competitor from Perth was very creative with his dishes especially the nitrogen treated coconut juice which easily cracks open to reveal coconut mouse on the inside. This is served with nice crumbles and crushed nuts on the side~! I was soo sure he would win but too bad he didn't~! But his creations are so unique, I am sure I would venture to his shop to taste his food soon!
I hope I don't have to queue up then to taste his food....
It looks ridiculously... FANTASTIC~! The food they prepared, the precision and techniques they displayed and the plating up reminded me that there was a difference between a chef and the very normal me~! :D
But I have to stifle a giggle or two when the commentators talked, because the translation is too terrible!! XD
So when Australia announced the premier of Iron Chef challenge at 7:30pm on Channel Seven and the first competitor is a young chef from greenhouse cafe, st georges terrace, Perth??
The greenhouse cafe and restaurant in Perth, so cute~! [source: http://gillcos.tumblr.com/]
The competitor from Perth [source: WAtoday.com.au]
I knew I had to see it~! The Iron chefs are Guy Grossi, Neil Perry and Guillaume Brahimi.
The three Iron chefs [source: smh.com.au]
Through the competition, they have to make entree, mains and dessert using a secret ingredient, i.e. coconut and judged based on originality, plating and taste. The competitor from Perth was very creative with his dishes especially the nitrogen treated coconut juice which easily cracks open to reveal coconut mouse on the inside. This is served with nice crumbles and crushed nuts on the side~! I was soo sure he would win but too bad he didn't~! But his creations are so unique, I am sure I would venture to his shop to taste his food soon!
I hope I don't have to queue up then to taste his food....
Spring time in Araluen~!
Spring is in town~!
Just had to take a 45 minutes drive down to Araluen to enjoy the beautiful nature. The tulips and roses are amazing, the extensive portray of flowers and trees are beautiful. The landscaping are just splendid~!
*secretly thinking: Is Mr. Thomas gonna hop out anytime soon? (Hint: Narnia)*
*The tiny speck of flowers on the grass looks like tiny speck of snow on the ground, pretty~!*
* Tulips... tulips... tulips~!*
And yeah, these pictures are the real thing~! love it~!
Just had to take a 45 minutes drive down to Araluen to enjoy the beautiful nature. The tulips and roses are amazing, the extensive portray of flowers and trees are beautiful. The landscaping are just splendid~!
*secretly thinking: Is Mr. Thomas gonna hop out anytime soon? (Hint: Narnia)*
*The tiny speck of flowers on the grass looks like tiny speck of snow on the ground, pretty~!*
* Tulips... tulips... tulips~!*
And yeah, these pictures are the real thing~! love it~!
Adelaide trip
Recently I get to travel fully paid to adelaide for 4 days, which is totally fun~!
I always felt that Adelaide is a smaller place than Perth, it still is... sorry, guys. What I enjoyed most was the colonial architecture. In Perth, we only have London court; but Adelaide like Melbourne still has those clock towers and old character buildings in the city central~! And yeay, they have beard papa and breadtop~! But they don't have Corica like Perth~! lol...
* My apartment bedroom *
* Beautiful antique building in Adelaide*
*Cute pig statues in city*
When I depart from Perth, the weather was sunny and the flowers are blossoming, the heat has come back into our hearts and we have packed away our heaters. When I arrive in Adelaide, I was aghast to find my stash of spring clothings is TOTALLY out of place. People are still sporting scarfs, thick jackets and boots~! Omg... Cold... Probably should have checked the weather forecast before I come~! grr...
When we took a short trip to Hanhsdorf, i.e. a german themed village, the locals are wearing thick sweaters and pants and I wore a dress up to my knee and sandals like high heels. *sniff sniff* I could literally feel the wind blowing into my bones~! >.<
*Beautiful wind chime/music box design in Hanhsdorf*
*Puppet in Hanhsdorf*
Food there in Adelaide is also quite delicious~! Love 巴国布衣~! Super spicy and YUMMY~! For a 4 days and 3 nights stay, me and my frens ended up eating dinner for 2 days consecutively. On the last day, we went there intending to take away some dish to bring back to Perth, but aw... they open at 5pm in the evening. Too late and too bad...
There are other things I wanted to go in Adelaide, gonna save it for another time... like the world largest rocking horse? aw... lol...
I always felt that Adelaide is a smaller place than Perth, it still is... sorry, guys. What I enjoyed most was the colonial architecture. In Perth, we only have London court; but Adelaide like Melbourne still has those clock towers and old character buildings in the city central~! And yeay, they have beard papa and breadtop~! But they don't have Corica like Perth~! lol...
* My apartment bedroom *
* Beautiful antique building in Adelaide*
*Cute pig statues in city*
When I depart from Perth, the weather was sunny and the flowers are blossoming, the heat has come back into our hearts and we have packed away our heaters. When I arrive in Adelaide, I was aghast to find my stash of spring clothings is TOTALLY out of place. People are still sporting scarfs, thick jackets and boots~! Omg... Cold... Probably should have checked the weather forecast before I come~! grr...
When we took a short trip to Hanhsdorf, i.e. a german themed village, the locals are wearing thick sweaters and pants and I wore a dress up to my knee and sandals like high heels. *sniff sniff* I could literally feel the wind blowing into my bones~! >.<
*Beautiful wind chime/music box design in Hanhsdorf*
*Puppet in Hanhsdorf*
Food there in Adelaide is also quite delicious~! Love 巴国布衣~! Super spicy and YUMMY~! For a 4 days and 3 nights stay, me and my frens ended up eating dinner for 2 days consecutively. On the last day, we went there intending to take away some dish to bring back to Perth, but aw... they open at 5pm in the evening. Too late and too bad...
There are other things I wanted to go in Adelaide, gonna save it for another time... like the world largest rocking horse? aw... lol...
Nature's beauty *my jogging diary*
Winter is going to end soon... as a matter of fact, can I consider today is the last day of winter? Jogging down the lane amids annoying cyclist bells... till you spy the ice cream truck selling soft serve ice cream... walk closer for a queue before remembering the real purpose of jogging... urgh.... Will remember to empty pockets next time before jog... Must RESIST temptations...
Jogging... Jogging... must remember to breathe in and out, in and out... The beautiful sceneries along the route sure make me wanna stop and just stay in this moment... *snap snap* goes the iphone before I realized with shame there is a guy trudging along a DSLR with the expandable lens... urgh... Show off... Off I jog again...
Nature's brilliance
The patch of green grass with scattered drops of colourful petals and leafs...
Looks like a forlorn christmas tree~!
Perfect venue for dates... =)
Fiery red flower on dry looking twigs... Makes me think of passion and perseverance... rawr.. rawr... =P
Salt... salt... salt...
FINALLY!! Ok, this is sad but Salt (the movie, bear that in mind) has finally... FINALLY been released in the Australian's cinema. It is sad that it takes such a LOOONG time to finally get to see on big screen. This movie has been released in the Malaysian cinema on 27th of July 2010 (which is 2 days after my departure from Msia) and I had to wait... yes... wait... till 19th of AUGUST to view it in cinema here... Urgh... way to go to promote and encourage piracy...
[image: http://angelinajolie.forumcommunity.net/?t=34187027 ]
I wish to say the movie is totally worth the loong wait, but I seriously waited too long for this movie~! *this has been my constant grumbling*. The plot wasn't as conniving as the trailer indicated with minor foreboding of what is to come. But all in all, the stunts were original and the pace of the movie is wonderful. In short, the line went smoothly, and her take of the russian language is not bad~! Kudoz for that~!
In terms of actings, this movie really displays in full view what a talented actress Angelina Jolie can be. But with a handsome husband at home, it is no wonder you could not feel a single spark of chemistry of her and her on-screen husband. lol...
I love it~!
Overall : A (I would have given it an A+, but why o why did they make me wait soo long for it? grrr... )
[image: http://angelinajolie.forumcommunity.net/?t=34187027 ]
I wish to say the movie is totally worth the loong wait, but I seriously waited too long for this movie~! *this has been my constant grumbling*. The plot wasn't as conniving as the trailer indicated with minor foreboding of what is to come. But all in all, the stunts were original and the pace of the movie is wonderful. In short, the line went smoothly, and her take of the russian language is not bad~! Kudoz for that~!
In terms of actings, this movie really displays in full view what a talented actress Angelina Jolie can be. But with a handsome husband at home, it is no wonder you could not feel a single spark of chemistry of her and her on-screen husband. lol...
I love it~!
Overall : A (I would have given it an A+, but why o why did they make me wait soo long for it? grrr... )
Home made avocado mask
Bored... bored... bored...
Don't even for a second think that I am free, but day in day out doing the same old thing? thinking and rethinking along the same line of topic?? This is really unhealthy both for the mind and the soul. I find myself thinking of ways to escape even well... myself...
As I was fretting and pouting over msn with my fren, came across this really interesting v-blogger. She blogs about beauty tutorials and what I liked most is the natural remedies. (Check her out at http://www.youtube.com/user/MichellePhan)
I have never tried home made mask before, although I have always wanted to. So, armed with some references and knowledge of the benefits of certain ingredients, I decided to make my own version of avocado mask. (Plus did I mention that my bf ate half an avocado and left it in my fridge and now he is away for the week?? I can't possibly finish THAT!! =P)
This is the recipe that I used to make the mask. This portion can make you enough for 1-2 months, depending on how frequently you use 'em. The only reason I make soo much is bcoz I have 1/2 an avocado lying forlornly in my fridge!! Try not to make so much as the longer it lies in the fridge, the less fresh it would be. And the core idea in making ur own masks would be freshness~!
1/2 avocado
4 tablespoons of milk
2 thin rinds of lemon
Avocado
*Image: http://www.avocado.org.au/nutrition/nutritional_information.aspx*
This is the core ingredient of the mask, mash it till it turns a pulpy texture. In order to get it properly mash, it is advisable to use a mixer. If you are lazy, you can leave it as it is, but you won't get an even texture when u apply it on your face. Known for its essential fatty acids, it is wonderful as a natural moisturiser. It also contains vitamin C, antioxidant and collagen which brigthens and tightens your face.
Milk
A well known natural moisturizer, found on the cover of many beauty and health product~! Containing vitamin A, D and B12, it enhances the quality as well as the vitality of skin. Try to use fresh and not long life milk as it contains less preservatives.
Lemon
Well, this is the additional ingredient that I added in. Lemon is a powerful source of vitamin C and antioxidant. The reason why I added this in was to give an extra boost to skin lightening. Do u know, u can bleach your hair with concentrated lemon juice? lol...
After adding it all up, this is how mine looks like...
You just need a small teaspoon of the mixture to cover the whole of your face. Make sure to also include your neck area if you have saggy skin around your face. Initially I wanted this mask mainly as moisturizer, however after 20 minutes on my face, I could feel the tightening effect. This is wonderful and did not trigger any allergic reaction, it is so natural you can use more frequently than the store bought mask, but don't use it everyday~!
Note: Always store unfinish mask in the fridge; Do not store longer than 2 days; do not heat mixture especially after lemon is added, this is to deter the lost of vitamin C in the mask mixture.
Don't even for a second think that I am free, but day in day out doing the same old thing? thinking and rethinking along the same line of topic?? This is really unhealthy both for the mind and the soul. I find myself thinking of ways to escape even well... myself...
As I was fretting and pouting over msn with my fren, came across this really interesting v-blogger. She blogs about beauty tutorials and what I liked most is the natural remedies. (Check her out at http://www.youtube.com/user/MichellePhan)
I have never tried home made mask before, although I have always wanted to. So, armed with some references and knowledge of the benefits of certain ingredients, I decided to make my own version of avocado mask. (Plus did I mention that my bf ate half an avocado and left it in my fridge and now he is away for the week?? I can't possibly finish THAT!! =P)
This is the recipe that I used to make the mask. This portion can make you enough for 1-2 months, depending on how frequently you use 'em. The only reason I make soo much is bcoz I have 1/2 an avocado lying forlornly in my fridge!! Try not to make so much as the longer it lies in the fridge, the less fresh it would be. And the core idea in making ur own masks would be freshness~!
1/2 avocado
4 tablespoons of milk
2 thin rinds of lemon
Avocado
*Image: http://www.avocado.org.au/nutrition/nutritional_information.aspx*
This is the core ingredient of the mask, mash it till it turns a pulpy texture. In order to get it properly mash, it is advisable to use a mixer. If you are lazy, you can leave it as it is, but you won't get an even texture when u apply it on your face. Known for its essential fatty acids, it is wonderful as a natural moisturiser. It also contains vitamin C, antioxidant and collagen which brigthens and tightens your face.
Milk
A well known natural moisturizer, found on the cover of many beauty and health product~! Containing vitamin A, D and B12, it enhances the quality as well as the vitality of skin. Try to use fresh and not long life milk as it contains less preservatives.
Lemon
Well, this is the additional ingredient that I added in. Lemon is a powerful source of vitamin C and antioxidant. The reason why I added this in was to give an extra boost to skin lightening. Do u know, u can bleach your hair with concentrated lemon juice? lol...
After adding it all up, this is how mine looks like...
You just need a small teaspoon of the mixture to cover the whole of your face. Make sure to also include your neck area if you have saggy skin around your face. Initially I wanted this mask mainly as moisturizer, however after 20 minutes on my face, I could feel the tightening effect. This is wonderful and did not trigger any allergic reaction, it is so natural you can use more frequently than the store bought mask, but don't use it everyday~!
Note: Always store unfinish mask in the fridge; Do not store longer than 2 days; do not heat mixture especially after lemon is added, this is to deter the lost of vitamin C in the mask mixture.
Next destination: KL
Next destination in our list: KL~!
The main idea is of course to do SHOPPING~! But I only spent one day in KL, so didn't do much serious shopping, but manage to do some EATING~!
Sandwich kueh, i.e. between one layer of yam and sweet potato, there is one slice of melted sticky rice cake... totally yummy~!
Kueh with glutinous rice in the middle, very special but the taste is still not bad...
I think the highlight should be the 'horse feet' kueh, it was so yummy, we bought 8 for RM2 and we gobbled it soo FAST I didn't manage to snap a picture of it~!! ono...
The other highlight is the fish head mai fun, totally delish~! The one in USJ10 is not bad, but this one is in my opinion the best~! This place is Bukit Indah~!!
Klang bah kut teh
Han leong also bought us to do some sight seeing. Have you seen this place? I forgot the name of the place... hmm... something along the line of I-city? Eye-city? Ah well, it is a sight to be remembered.
This whole place is lighted, LIGHTED till soo BRIGHT!!! Parking fee cost about RM1, so a lot of ppl just chose to park outside. This place looks very new and consists of a central park fully decorated with statues, lighted trees, peacocks, pandas, lanterns, etc. Around 9 - 10pm at night there was light show at the outskirt of the aforementioned park.
Lighted trees and flowers...
The park which consists of many different lighted objects, the electricity bill will sure soar high~!
Slight light play at the top of the building, seems like xmas and snow display...
The main idea is of course to do SHOPPING~! But I only spent one day in KL, so didn't do much serious shopping, but manage to do some EATING~!
Sandwich kueh, i.e. between one layer of yam and sweet potato, there is one slice of melted sticky rice cake... totally yummy~!
Kueh with glutinous rice in the middle, very special but the taste is still not bad...
I think the highlight should be the 'horse feet' kueh, it was so yummy, we bought 8 for RM2 and we gobbled it soo FAST I didn't manage to snap a picture of it~!! ono...
The other highlight is the fish head mai fun, totally delish~! The one in USJ10 is not bad, but this one is in my opinion the best~! This place is Bukit Indah~!!
Klang bah kut teh
Han leong also bought us to do some sight seeing. Have you seen this place? I forgot the name of the place... hmm... something along the line of I-city? Eye-city? Ah well, it is a sight to be remembered.
This whole place is lighted, LIGHTED till soo BRIGHT!!! Parking fee cost about RM1, so a lot of ppl just chose to park outside. This place looks very new and consists of a central park fully decorated with statues, lighted trees, peacocks, pandas, lanterns, etc. Around 9 - 10pm at night there was light show at the outskirt of the aforementioned park.
Lighted trees and flowers...
The park which consists of many different lighted objects, the electricity bill will sure soar high~!
Slight light play at the top of the building, seems like xmas and snow display...
Holiday retreat: Singapore~!
After a long flight of 5 hours, finally reach asia continent~! *yeay*
First destination: Singapore~!
It has been almost 10 or is it 15 years since I last visited this place~! After complaining relentlessly about winter in Perth, I was hit with instant humidity and heat, like sauna. Whew...
The first thing I couldn't resist to try was their chilli crab~! But then once I started roaming the streets, I was frequently tempted by the various food available along the street. It is indeed true that Asia offers a gastronomical experience~! Luckily got some friends in Singapore to bring us around on the first day, i.e. Roy and Alan. We went for dinner and dessert and was so busy taking pics of the food and venue (Them with their DSLR and me with my pathetic Iphone... XD) that we forgot to take a pic together. Now who says youngsters are so narcissist? :P
Chilli crab served with fried man tao, SD48/kg in 黑社会(Vivo city)... Heard the one in 'No signboard' restaurant is the best, but it is SD130/kg for pakistani crab... OUCH~!
Fruit tart at Food Paradise (also Vivo city)
Mango fruit tart, blueberry cheese fruit tart and chocolate banana fruit tart~!
This is the best~! *yummy* The crust is soo nice~! How to describe this crust?? *yummy... yummy... yummy~!*
Tea to go along with the tart, beautiful colours~!
Venue: Food Republic (Suntec City)
Loved the concept of classical library food court~!
One of the place we visited which I wish I have more compartment in my tummy for... Clarke Quay~!
Beautiful concepts and lightings~! XD
[more pics to come... ]
First destination: Singapore~!
It has been almost 10 or is it 15 years since I last visited this place~! After complaining relentlessly about winter in Perth, I was hit with instant humidity and heat, like sauna. Whew...
The first thing I couldn't resist to try was their chilli crab~! But then once I started roaming the streets, I was frequently tempted by the various food available along the street. It is indeed true that Asia offers a gastronomical experience~! Luckily got some friends in Singapore to bring us around on the first day, i.e. Roy and Alan. We went for dinner and dessert and was so busy taking pics of the food and venue (Them with their DSLR and me with my pathetic Iphone... XD) that we forgot to take a pic together. Now who says youngsters are so narcissist? :P
Chilli crab served with fried man tao, SD48/kg in 黑社会(Vivo city)... Heard the one in 'No signboard' restaurant is the best, but it is SD130/kg for pakistani crab... OUCH~!
Fruit tart at Food Paradise (also Vivo city)
Mango fruit tart, blueberry cheese fruit tart and chocolate banana fruit tart~!
This is the best~! *yummy* The crust is soo nice~! How to describe this crust?? *yummy... yummy... yummy~!*
Tea to go along with the tart, beautiful colours~!
Venue: Food Republic (Suntec City)
Loved the concept of classical library food court~!
One of the place we visited which I wish I have more compartment in my tummy for... Clarke Quay~!
Beautiful concepts and lightings~! XD
[more pics to come... ]
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