Harvey Nichols Sale

I remember distinctly raving to everyone that London was heaven because the sales were astronomical and it was delirious trying to fathom the idea of designer bags lurking in bargain bins when London goes on sale. Incredulous looks I got, and when I was here during the Boxing day sales five years after that ethereal experience, I couldn't find it, and I thought it was merely a mirage.

Lo and behold. I didn't dream it all. I saw a man on the tube reading his paper and on the front, it said, Harvey Nichols sale now on. #HNSTAYCALM. How to stay calm? I was moments away from experiencing that glory again! And this time I made sure I documented it because I didn't want people to disbelieve anymore that this heavenly experience existed.

Marc Jacobs in Bargain bin

You know what you spy behind the massive bins?

 Rows upon rows of Alexander Mcqueen discounted Pashminas and chiffon classic skull scarves!

GBP 134 for the Pashmina

GBP 83 for the scarf

Proenza Schouler Tote in the 70% off racks!

Alexander Wang 45% off!

PS1 bag in Paprika only GBP792!

I only hyperventilated in the bags department, but I must say the shoe department evoked the same emotions from shoe aficionados. Overheard, "I am at the Harvey Nichols sale, stuck in the shoe department. I have been here for a few hours trying on every pair of shoes that are on sale. I don't want to ever leave".

These Balenciagas caught my eye

 I didn't want to leave, but I couldn't buy up the store either, seeing I made a pact that I wasn't going to amass all these new wants before I make this move to London. Ah well, more for others to enjoy. I ask you again, How to stay calm?

Valentine's week and weekend shopping

I told Mr.HEA not to do the predictable this year. If he were to send flowers to the office like he has the past few years, I no longer wanted the boxed Roses Only. That is on the mighty presumption that he was still planning to send me flowers to the office. You know, since we're married now and all that. Still, I secretly hoped that he would even though he made no mention or hint that he would. He is good at fooling me like that.

Then, on Vday when my concierge rang to say I had a delivery at 2p.m. ish I was stoked! The fact that I didn't know what was awaiting me was thrilling (Mr.HEA's deliveries of flowers had been the exact same things in the past). Getting the vibrant bouquet above was something quite different and it was the first thing that really made my Valentines.

The second was knowing that my beloved idol got married the day before and seeing the happy pictures. Exactly a year ago, I learned that she was about to marry her Mr.Right, but the wedding was pushed back till this year due to unforseen circumstances. She finally found him at the age of 38. Who says that girls cannot find their HEAs after thirty? I believe this is testament so that it is still possible.

The third thing that happened on Vday that totally made it awesome was a lovely evening with my Girlfriends at Merivale's Palings, surrounded by rose petals and sipping on delish Prosseco.

I am so hooked on March into Merivale at the moment that I have been frequenting their establishments any chance I can get. Friday after work drinks were at the Ivy Pool Bar.

The flowers Mr.HEA got me were in full bloom when the weekend came around. They really brightened up the room, and totally matches my bed spread.

 

I've told Mr.HEA to promise me that as long as we are no longer separated physically in the future, he doesn't have to feel obligated to send flowers to my work anymore. Valentine's seem to be a lot more extravagant in the Southern Hemisphere. He said in his London office and on the streets, there wasn't a stir at all and no flowers in sight. Quite unlike the flurry of activity I was experiencing on Facebook and Twitter updates and what I observed of the after-work crowd whilst waiting for my girlfriends on George Street.

The Saturday, I went shopping with my girlfriend for some special occasions. It's tough shopping with a small budget nowadays. We had to up ours to $150 -$200 for anything decent. I loved all the pieces I tried on below, but I just couldn't buy them straight out.

Bec & Bridge cutout dress, reduced to $200 in size 8, but it was a little too unforgiving, the way it hugged my bottom half. I looved the scooped back though and how the mesh makes it less revealing but still allows it to be alluring.

This Sheike dress is gorgeous and is perfect for a semi-formal style with its chiffon sashes.  Full price at  $149, but I felt it  was not quite right for what I was looking for.

This Witchery dress in Size 6 was reduced to $99 and was just the type of attention seeking style I'd gladly parade around, but I am growing slightly too rotund for a size 6 and they didn't have a size 8 available for me to try.

On the left was a full priced Witchery current season shift dress. I loved it, but for $149, I thought I could find much better; such as the Sheike dress on the left that the sales assistant encouraged me to try on. It was really quite lovely and matched all I wanted for the dress I envisioned I wanted. But this was a current season piece and the immobilising fear that someone else would rock up in the exact same frock was too much to bear and so I reluctantly passed it up, but I think I may purchase it anyhow sooner rather than later.

There's still hope in shopping brick and mortar style. I ended up coming home with a sophisticated brown and black strapless Coast cocktail dress, reduced to $105 in Myer. It will be less summery than the look I was aiming for, but I am very happy that I wouldn't clash with any of the other guests (you have no idea how close I have been in the past with Seduce, Cue and Forever New pieces) and I look forward to putting the outfit together for a blog post when I wear it next. Oh, and my bestie's spoils, she was just as lucky, ending up with two dresses that met her brief for $50 each after discount. Score!

Chinese New Year back home

Finally recovered from a whirlwind of a weekend celebrating Chinese New Year at home. Was the weekend worth it? YES! Could it be longer? YES! Could I do it all over again? Maybe not, it'll be longer next time, I promise myself.
It's just too emotional to take these trips for such a short amount of time and Chinese New Year especially with all my family around, it's too hard to say goodbye.

It was nice being home. Surrounded by all things familiar and all friendly and accepting faces. To sit by the waterfall my dad built and ponder about life in the midst of all that serenity.

Our garden at home

This is KL in all its CNY grandeur:

Chinese New Year in KL

Of course all Chinese New Year really revolves around is the feasting with closed ones and the Reunion Dinner is the most significant practice of the entire holiday, signifying that if the family is reunited this night, then they will be united for the entire year. And my Grandmother especially treasures this, because she believes that since we have all the twelve symbols of the Chinese Zodiac in our family, come what may, as long as we remain as one body, we can overcome any misfortune.

Reunion Dinner courses: Layered pork belly slices with yam, Braised Sea cucumber and mushroom, Pork stomach pepper soup, Steamed Chinese Sausage and Fried Chicken. there were also steamed chicken and fish that didn't quite make it into this pic.

Feasting also extends to gorging on the snacks amidst the idyllic chatter. CNY is the only time when no one is working and therefore have time to catch up.

All the CNY cookies, nuts and munchies that are purchased especially for the festivities

Most good dishes served at CNY holds its own auspicious significance. this dish has featured on my blog before but it carries the meaning of success and climbing higher up in the year.

Home Made Yee Sang

This dish means longevity and the village where my family originated from in China all those years ago is known to make the best longevity noodles, al dente and well seasoned.

Most important first meal of the CNY: Longevity noodles

My family always makes sure my favourite home made meals are prepared when I am back, even if it wasn't quite the seasons for them:

Handmade Pan Mee(Black sesame flavored for a wholesome twist) with Yong Tau Fu

Rice dumplings which I hadn't eaten for yonks!

So, after being so spoiled and fed at home, I come back to a day of fasting on Ash Wednesday. And my parcel from Asos as planned. I was swimming in the dress, which I didn't expect. So off back it went. Sighs. It's back to trawling for dresses again.

More shopping my closet

When faced with tough decisions on what to wear without exhausting the bank account (still dented from the Europe trip and buying gifts for family for Chinese New Year), especially for packing to take with to Malaysia for my upcoming festive visit, it was a tough call. Mother will crack down hard with her code of approval for what is decent or not, and it is not skewed towards being trendy I can tell you that much. First there`s the trying on of outfits:

Maxi skirts for day and for night

One statement necklace three ways: fun, work and play Then when it got too muggy to keep pulling clothes out of the wadrobe, I decided to get creative with a notepad and colour pencils to mentally pull together pieces from my wadrobe to pack for the trip. I think I have some winning combinations. Can't wait to wear it for real when I get back.

Shopping my closet

I thought instead of buying more clothes on Shopbop or Asos, I'd first do a check through my closet to see what I do have already, half of my clothes purchased from boutiques in Malaysia.

Outfit #1: Rory Beca Sofia Lace Blazer, Zara Basics White Singlet, Glassons Grey Shorts, Novo Gladiator Sandals

Outfit #2 (All Malaysian bought): Cat Whiskers Green Lace Collared Blouse, Boutique Denim Maxi Skirt, Sheike Skinny Belt, Vincci Mint Sandals

Outfit #3: Cue Cowl-back Black Blouse, Black Sequined Skirt, Louis Vuitton Epi Electrique Iena Clutch, Charles & Keith Booties

Outfit #4: Rose Garden At the Walk Bead Embellished Collar Blouse, MNG Pencil White Skirt, Sheike Skinny Belt, Boutique Pastel Patent Peeptoes

Have thought the wadrobe through and there might just be a few things in there that I can play with to remain on trend. So I should keep saving for Europe end of the year.


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