April Empties

1 Chanel Chance Perfume sample, very handy to keep in my purse for a refresher after work, before play. Who doesn't love the Chanel Chance scent?

2 Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Moisturising soap with Shea butter - Again the spoils of the Maldives Hotel Bathroom stash. I couldn't resist free C&E products, especially when it came in my favourite range of all the Crabtree products.

3 Skin Choice Placenta + Pearl Facial Treatment Mask - Special with Eyelid design for Elasticity & Brightening: Something I bought from Hong Kong Watson because I was trying to stock up on facial masks and the lady was aghast that I was using Oil of Olay. For my youthful skin she swore this product was a lot more suitable as it was light and nourishing and so hydrating that it would keep my skin supple. My verdict having now finished the box? I don't think it gives me any brightening results nor elasticity. Yes it is hydrating and refreshing after a hot stressful day, but it doesn't deliver the amazing results that I have been used to getting from the other masks I use. I have two more boxes of these unfortunately, but I am not revisiting this after that.

4 Skin Choice Luxury Skin Care - Caviar extract, pearl &; hyaluronic acid. Self Waterizing drop cream For all skin types: Of the same product line as the previous product, this was hailed as the all in one moisturiser that was luxe in its texture but yet easily absorbable due to its high water content, perfect to use even under the eyes. My verdict, I love that this product smells like Hazeline Snow in a way, the texture is a really light watery cream that doesn't leave a thick residue and I never need to wash off the next morning as it would be fully absorbed, I didn't think that the cream did very much other than moisturise however. I like to make my night creams work hard for me whilst I am rejuvenating and I can see this is clearly a day cream and not a night face and neck cream like I have been using it as.

5 Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Shea Butter Body Wash - Disgusting gloppy texture with a sickly honey smell. It doesn't lather up and doesn't leave you smelling fabulous after the shower as most the glop gets washed down the drain as soon as you try to lather it. This was a Christmas kringle gift a year ago and if I ever found out who my Secret Santa was, I'd have words with them.

6 Sunsilk Summer Care Leave in conditioner - This was the summer of 2004 and all the memories of us with our tropical coconut-scented hair lying on the beach vying for an even tan. Way before wrinkles and the threat of Skin Cancer frightened us cause we were uni students then and we were bold and invincible  Don't know if this product still exists on the shelves, but it was all the rage back then and always sat in my beach bag. That's probably why I never finished using it, I never frequented the beach often enough after starting work. Boo...

7 KissMe Mascara - A Japanese label available at Sasa and most reputable Japanese Makeup resellers. It is Maybelline for Asian eyelashes. Elongating, Curling and easy to apply. This tube is kept fresh well beyond the typical 3 months of usage you'd normally get from other mascaras as they dry up and gets clumpy. Not the KissMe though. Its curved wand distributes the mascara evenly right up till the end.

8 Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion -  Refer previous Burt's bees review, I didn't like the lotion any better. It was sloppy, watery honey smelling gunk that absorbs well and does the moisturising job, but oh there is nothing lux about applying this product and I'd rather enjoy moisturising rather than cringe and get drips of body lotion every where. Uggh!

9 Neutrogena pure mild facial cleanser for all skin types. A trustworthy product that just does the job and will never fail you. I have had this bottle since Uni days too and really gritted my teeth to finish the very last bit. I will miss the pump bottle dispenser as most my facial cleansers come in tube packaging.

This makes my Project 100Pan tally sit currently at 23.33 products thus far. That's almost GBP50 to spend on my trip! Glee!

Saké Sydney

A restaurant that we've waited years to get to. Not that it was hard to get into but the abundance of good Japanese restaurants in Sydney has made it unnecessary to frequent such a posh Japanese place unless it was a really special occassion.

Last week we went there to celebrate a 30th birthday and it was nice to see that the restaurant was still flourishing well with patrons to its brim. And for good reason because the service was excellent such as one would expect of Japanese service.

An extensive sake and beverage list was the first thing I picked up and overwhelmed by the choices of many unfamiliar sakes, I settled on a pre-dinner drink of Hendricks Gin with a slice of cucumber. It was nice to see a degustation menu that is paired with sake but it was a school night, it wouldn't be wise to drink all that much, especially when I am not trained to appreciate the flavours.

So what of the food? Scrumptious modern Japanese fare. You're encouraged to share and so we got a bite each of the dishes below:

Tuna Ceviche: lemon dressing, finished with coriander, jalapeño chilli, tomato & crunchy fried onion, perfectly seasoned twist to Japanese sashimi. and the Jalapeno adds a welcome kick of heat.Crunchy onion flakes, coriander and sesame oil keep the dish unmistakably Asian but the sour tang was a beautiful way to whet your appetite and begin the meal.

Tonkatsu cups: 4 pieces of panko-fried pork belly & spring-onion bites, served in lettuce cups with mustard miso & Japanese barbeque sauce. Yummy stuff, fried and crunchy with enough salad leaves to distract you from the fact that it isn't the most healthy dish to have loads of (you could very easily though).


Nasu dengaku: grilled eggplant with light and dark miso pastes, creamy eggplant flesh with sesame seed riddled miso sauce that reminds me of the traditional Yong Tau Fu sweet sauce we used to have back in Malaysia. Loved that flavour a lot when I was a kid so it was a trip down Memory lane.



Sashimi tacos: tuna & salmon sashimi filled baby tacos with chilled tomato salsa matched with Kozaemon Junmai ‘sake shots’. I have always liked Sashimi tacos, in Ocean Room but to chase the delicate flavours with sugar rimmed sake shots, that seemed counter-intuitive at first but I realised that the Kozaemon Junmai was as delicate as the fish it chased. In fact it was a beautiful palate cleanser to prepare us for the mains.


Buta no kakuni onsen tamago: 12 hour braised pork belly, daikon radish, 64°C hens egg, truffle oil scallions was gorgeous, melt in your mouth pork and the fragrance of the egg yolk runned through the daikon sweet sauce, everything came together beautifully before it melted away.


S express: scallops, spicy mayo, cucumber, seared salmon, witlof & sweet sauce, the bitterness and crunch of the witlof slices through the other components of the sushi in a perfect balance.

Dynamite spicy tuna, shredded onion & cucumber with spicy tobiko. These simple makis pack a punch.

Miso-cream scallops: pan-seared scallops, baby corn, asparagus, shiitake mushrooms & yuzu miso cream, is a recommended dish, and it is delicious, light but rich. Exactly right to share this dish, just enough to tempt the tastebuds.


Crispy chicken karaage: fried chicken pieces served with creamy spicy sauce, so much delicious sauce and only so many pieces of fried chicken. I liked the batter. It was light and golden. Not overfried like how some other places overdo it.

Yuzu Soufflé with dragonfruit, one of the most refreshing desserts I've ever had. I'd have it anytime, If you think you've had too much too eat and was bloated, this is the dessert to have to close the meal. There is so much dessert in its flavour, but it doesn't take up any room, Just tangy sweet fluffy air.

Green tea kitkat: Have you ever had these from Japan? I think they sell it here now at 7-11, but the construction of this one is far more sophisticated and delightful.

The infamous Bento box dessert with delish mango coconut balls that stare at you before you pop them into your mouth, edible paper rolls that are gooey and chewy, Black sesame balls nested upon the most delightful fairy floss and Yuzu sorbet to refresh your palate so that you can taste those flavours all over again.

I love the place and would highly recommend it to anyone in search of good fusion Japanese and five-star treatment.



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Retail therapy

For less than $200, I picked up all these Buys today on sale:

1) Wittner Pastel Multi leather strap sandals; $34,99 from $139
2) Ipanema  by Gisele Bundchen fancy flip flops that I am looking forward to wear in my European summer trip; $17.95 from $30
3) Forever New Amelie Dusty Pink top with cutouts; $27.97 (Further 30% markdown score!)
4) Forever New Alexa Zipped Blazer; $69.96 Also  another Further 30% markdown score!)
5) Lovisa funky neon coloured necklace which I thought went well with my crazy coloured Prabal Gurung for Target top. $7. Also bought rings which aren't pictured here. I figured I am gonna add rings to my styling too despite never really having worn any in the past.

All that for $165, who said Australia was too expensive to shop in?

From the other side

Last week has been difficult because my manager's just come back from maternity leave. I don't mean to judge but watching her settle back in (or not) really makes me question a lot of things about what I will be like when it comes to my turn.

From my perspective: it really sucks being a colleague of someone who  has just come back from one year's maternity leave. It's hard for everyone at stake.

Here's the story, she comes back and she doesn't want to work full time any more but she wants the same role. While we think it's not possible but because we love her we divvy up her work and try to make sure everything goes on as normal. At the same time management tell us the extra workload will not be remunerated because that's how it's going to be if we want her back into the workplace, and they are putting all their resources into making sure she is supported, not us. Is that really fair on us? We don't want her to not come back but the truth is she can't work at the same capacity and it affects everyone else in the team, but she's the only one it seems that will get the support, not us, so management tells us.

So what does the workplace do to accommodate all these costs and intricacies of facilitating a working mother's needs? What do we do to accommodate/accept the decisions made?

What is right and just for her is the opportunity to actually be a mother and still work. And we want that for her because it means something for us too in our future with the organisation. But, somehow nothing was planned and everything is so haphazard now for her coming back. They really should have thought about this 12 months ago when she left to have her baby. Sigh. Mind you, settling in with the manager of the maternity contract was not even that easy and now we go into turmoil again readjusting to yet another change to the team.

Here's my notes for myself:
1) As soon as I fall pregnant, really start thinking about the current workplace and putting things in place so that I can go and come back with minimal impact to the team

2) Don't take that long off work because it makes it harder to come back (Separation anxiety with your kid apparently is easier to deal with when they're much younger) and harder for the team to adjust twice plus it stagnates their progress.


If you've been incredulous reading through this and maybe a little upset, I apologise, but I am noting these feelings because one day I will be on the other side and I have to remember what it was like for my team members now for when it's my turn then.

Also, I was raised very differently. In Asia, Maternity leave was a foreign concept. You get your confinement period to recover and then off you go again. My mother didn't have to worry about the business stagnating or adjusting to change. The mentality is Work is important and she has to put work first so we fitted around her time-wise and priority-wise. And it was acceptable. It was the way it was and it instilled in me a good work ethic myself.


My mum sent me this photo recently. I think she means to say she missed those days when we were little and still clung to her. I was surprised as I had never seen these photos before. I didn't remember ever taking breaks and family trips with my parents when we were little. I assumed they were so busy working that we never went.

But here it is, evidence that they still tried and gave us time when we were little and that the two young mum and dad did everything they could to provide money and care for us.

So the decision is mine, What will I do when it comes my turn?


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So so

Easter's meant to be a spiritual renewal time for me and it was just that. But it wasn't quite as pleasant a long weekend as I would have liked despite the great company I had on Easter Sunday and our opportunity to try one of Messina's infamous creations- Dr Evil'sMagic Mushroom gelato cake.





I fell sick and spent Monday in bed instead. Did I also mention that in an attempt to go out for breakfast on Saturday I got booked for a $300 fine? Ouch. Still waiting for that ticket to arrive. It's in the same time as my car rego's due too, so I'd be broke this and next month paying all that off.

Mr. HEA was travelling in Norway so we didn't get to converse all that much. But then my little nephew is in town so his antics make up for me not having the company of Mr. HEA. I am enjoying learning from the parents around me on blogs and in real life so that I can work out how I want to raise my kids. Hearing my in- laws's discussions also help me build my understanding as to what family values I am expected to instil in my kids in the future.

Anyways, finally made it back to work yesterday and got this terrible announcement made of a decision by management for a non- satisfactory solution to a problem we were anticipating. It feels like they don't care about us. We were on the cusp of presenting a solution of our own but management seems to not have given us much of a choice to not follow in their decision even though they tell us they have our best interests at heart and that the solution is just a 'trial'. I don't see how it will be reversible if it doesn't work out. Sigh. It was really hard getting up to go to work today with the rain, my insomnia pondering over this matter and my nagging cough. But here I am, about to step out into the rain to walk towards work. Brave enough to take on whatever more shit they want to put on us. Like we don't have aspirations or need motivation. Blergh. Wish me luck.

On a brighter note, Malaysia's dissolved their parliament. I guess we might have some good change there still. Here's hoping and praying.

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Caffe Sicilia

I would highly recommend Caffe Sicilia for a group booking. They serve a beautiful set menu for $60 per person which includes a pre-dinner Prosecco (exchangeable for a mocktail bellini if preferred). The attention and service you get there are of professional waiters who are out to give you a very positive experience whilst at the same time, highly affable and eager to please.

The four selections of entrees included:

Pumpkin and provolone fritters served on a bed of mixed lettuce & chestnut salad

Yellow fin tuna tartare served on citrus cous cous 

Tasmanian smoked Salmon rosettes with cream and lemon filling

Buffalo milk ricotta served on housemade sicilian caponata

Followed by a choice from the following four mains:

Orecchiette Scampi with garlic and majoram

Wagyu Sirloin Tagliata with peppercorn and parisienne potatoes

Risotto e Nduja Salami,with chardonnay wine reduction and grana padano cheese

Black Cod Fillet served on kumara potato cream

And Cake of the day as desserts:

Everything  was cooked and seasoned to perfection. You cannot go wrong with this rustic Italian joint in the streets of Surry Hills.

Bucket List

To live in Italy one day ala Frances Mayes in Under the Tuscan Sun but with Mr HEA as the grumpy old
man that is constantly asking me when is the next meal which will be made out of the freshest
 Italian local produce.

To go to Bangkok on that shopping trip with my girl cousins and to go to Vietnam with my girlfriends like we vowed to over dessert/ cocktails but then we let the daily grind take over and haven't revisited the idea since.

To be able to live in London with Mr.HEA and build our home there living simple lives

 On the cooking front:

To Master Macarons

To learn how to roll rice dumplings

To learn how to make sushi

To learn how to cook Confit of Trout/Duck

So many more dishes that I'd like to learn: Nem Nuong, Pho, slow cooked eggs,  Radish/Yam cake.

And Restaurants I am yet to visit: MoVida, Quay (Guava Snow egg!), Fat Duck (Sound of the Sea!), Porteno (Fried Brussel Sprouts goodness), Popolo and Momofoku (Infamous Pork Buns).

What about you? Do you have things that you'd like to achieve or want to share with that special someone or are saving for that particular joyous occasion? Given what I've been through in the last few months without Mr.HEA, sometimes I begin to believe that Life is what you make of it. There is no point getting hung up on dates and specific anniversaries or birthdays as long as you keep building and reminiscing on the great memories. My motto from here onwards is to concentrate on my three Fs, Food, Friends and Family.