It's all about the hair today

Frizz be gone! Unholy frizz be gone!

In the madness of work, winter and visiting cousins (meaning we are out almost every night), little mundane self-care routines have fallen on the wayward side and I have showing roots and an over-tired style. Didn't help that we ran out of conditioner either, and hadn't found the time to buy more.

One look at my crazy hair in the lift mirrors when I was leaving work in Friday made me determined to set things straight. So I went to the nearest Priceline to me and walked straight to the haircare section.

The brief was simple. I needed easy application (have always had the fortune of having my roomies dye my hair before I got married), permanent colour and not going to damage my hair. L'oreal Paris's Sublime mousse caught my attention from the beginning with the words "as easy as applying shampoo".
Nothing else held as attractive a claim after that so even though the range didn't have a blue black shade which I was after, I went ahead and put it in my shopping basket anyhow.

I didn't leave Priceline without visiting the Pantene section however. Thanks to SydneyShopGirl, I was introduced to the Pantene Clinicare intensive leave in split ends fuser treatment. And I needed shampoo which was on special so I ended up lugging two 750ml bottles with me to the counter. Why pay $16 for one bottle if you can pay $10 per bottle?
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Priceline Stash

 The instructions read so easy that I was able to have my hair dyed after putting dinner to cook in the pressure cooker. I made a chunky soup with lovely legs, pumpkin, carrots, onion, tomato, capsicum lemongrass and fresh spinach leaves to be stirred in at the very end. All served with warm toasted Ciabatta.

It certainly lived up to its expectations. (I'm talking about the dye). I guess winning the Glosscars on Beauty Haven (Thanks to Tanya on Twitter that pointed me to their reviews) should have given me an indication, but I didn't even know it until I had rinsed out the dye. Some reviews mentioned the colour didn't match the box, but I think cause I was going to a darker shade, that wasn't the case for me. Generally I beleive that would happen it seems for those going for a lighter shade. It was an even application and only took 45 minutes to apply, wait, rinse and condition with the conditioning balm they provided. I didn't finish the entire bottle for my shoulder-length hair and the hair is looking glossy and healthy still (Although in the interest of full-disclosure I have applied an entire tube of Pantene clinicare on top of the conditioning balm).

This is definitely a wonderful product for a Hair-Dye novice like me. If I had a rating system out of five stars for
1) Meeting Expectations
2) Budget Pricing
3) Glam Effect
4) Easy to use
5) Good instructions
I'd vote it four out of five.

KL Haul wish list

KL Haul wish list by happy-e-after featuring mini bags

EDWARD ACHOUR cropped tweed jacket
$620 - farfetch.com

Pleated skirt
$155 - pretaportobello.com

Zara snakeskin pants
zara.com

Tory Burch ballerina shoes
jildorshoes.com

CÉLINE mini bag
malleries.com

Chanel matte finish makeup
$58 - debenhams.com

Christian Dior foundation
lordandtaylor.com

Shiseido face mask
$51 - johnlewis.com

Beauty product
bioelements.com

LONGCHAMP Le Pliage Cuir
$565 - mirabella.jp

Blog | Hirshleifer's
hirshleifers.com

I found my KL Haul wish list yesterday and I realised that I only managed to score five or six out of that list. Most of them beauty related. Shopping lost its lustre when speaking with my cousin about the cost of some of these garments when she trawls the wholesale markets in China and Bangkok and the ridiculous markups she sees in the clothes. Even though Malaysian prices were already really affordable, I couldn't bring myself to pay retail price as she gave a running commentary on how much the wholesale prices were.

Le Sigh.

Perhaps I may fare better when I am in Europe with Mr.HEA at the end of this year. But then again, under his supervision, I doubt I'd get away with much.

Random barbecue

It was a scheduled work from home day because we had some guys come in to remove a camphor laurel tree from the backyard that was growing into our deck. Mr.HEA called in sick though because he was plagued with flu-like symptoms yesterday and didn't feel all that crash hot either today.

It was really good to have a week-day in the house with Hubby, starting with making a nice hot breakfast for us before I take my seat at my study nook.

It was distracting though hearing the chainsaw buzzing, with hot tradies walking around the house. Six men turned up for the job of removing two trees! Amazing eye candy. Mr.HEA sprang into action as the thuds of branches falling onto the ground started sounding. Not like he could sleep anyhow. But I suspected by the time the main trunk fell to the ground, he wasn't feeling so flu-like anymore.

Look at how much more solar access our backyard now has! Mr.HEA proudly exclaims that our clothes on the clothesline will dry a lot quicker now, and I agree whole heartedly.

Then amidst the sunshine, Mr.HEA's spirits lifts and he declares he will cook us a barbecue lunch and haply procures steak from the local butcher's. I toss a quick salad of baby cos lettuce, Roma tomatoes, basil leaves, red spanish onion, slized mozarella cheese and hard boiled egg with a dash of olive oil and salt and pepper as my only dressing. Voila! Instant BBQ (Haha, I only turned up to eat anyhow, Mr.HEA prepped and cleaned everything else)

 And what does one wear to an impromptu barbecue? Well, I was working from home and so wasn't going to play dress up, but here's an older OOTD shot from Sunday where we attended another inpromptu barbecue at a cousin's house.

Blue Blazer Jacket: SES
Grey Singlet: Zara
Red Patent Leather belt: Tory Burch
1969 Jeans: Gap
Beige and Orange Patent flats: Vincci (part of my KL haul)

Whilst munching on some crunchy Cos lettuce leaves, I couldn't help but think of where we would place our newly acquired log stools (saved from the tree) for the backyard. My thoughts keep fleeting to Dale's backyard from The Block with those pretty little cushions:

Source: The Block website

A check of their supplier's list reveals that Dale's mum made them with fabric from Spotlight. I'd love to replicate them very much, but will probably save that project for when our European adventures are over and we are back at our block.

Anyways, am really excited with the garden now. Our next plans are to pretty up the neglected garden beds. Transplanting my flailing rose plants into a sunnier spot are in order and a fresh coat of decking oil is needed for the patio I would think. Will keep you all posted with those projects I am sure.

Sunday, 1 July 2012

Bel Mondo

A delightful Sydney restaurant icon that I had never explored until Friday this week. We went for a work function and my was it a delicious wintry day in Sydney to be out of the office. Making our way down Gloucester walk, blink and you might miss this place, nestled away inconspicuously in a corner. Beyond the doorway however, is a massive space, with a well stocked bar and dotted luxury chairs and chiffon drapes from the high ceiling beams to the floor.

We are hurried along to the dining area screened behind those mysterious drapes. Drenched in sunlight, we were seated next to windows that opened up to this delightful view:

Yes the window needed a clean

 I started with a beautifully plated up entree that looked like a little garden on the plate. Although there was a distinct fishy smell as the plates were set down, the flavours were vibrant enough to the palate and was fresh after all.

Juniper cured regal salmon with alaskan king crab, orange, fennel & horseradish

 Don't fret, my stomachline didn't take all three of these mains, but I am assured by those that tried them that they were gorgeous combinations on the plate. My own gnocchi was light and fluffy with a tinge of the sweetness of the purple congo. Very pleased with my vegetarian choice. The sides we selected are rather rich, bordering on French styled cooking, I took a second helping of the mash, which in hindsight, my hips are not any wiser for and it was well worth the deed.

Pan fried fillet of barramundi with butternut squash, figs & proscuitto, burnt toast jus

Slow cooked lamb shoulder with pea & mint risotto, caramelised garlic & honey purée

Potato purée with truffle & parmesan butter &
Cucumber salad with persian feta & white balsamic made the most decadent sides

Sautéed purple congo gnocchi with wild mushrooms, snow peas & toasted almond foam

I really liked the style of desserts in Bel Mondo where almost every dessert was accompanied by a herb of sorts. My particular plate was very little sweet and more sour and bitterness, but it acted as a delightful palate cleanser and I did not feel disgusted with myself after polishing off the plate as I know I would have if I had caved for the Dark chocolate fondant with beetroot, raspberry, marjoram & cardamom that my neighbour was spooning oozes of into her mouth.

Lemongrass & bergamot parfait with black sesame ice cream, hazelnut praline

& lime leaf granita

Being teased for being a food picture taker. LOL

After the long boozy lunch, we were given the rest of the day off and because I had a do to attend at Assemby Bar, what was a girl to do with the spare time to hang out in the city? Hit up the Westfield shops of course!

Some basics for layering in winter. $60 poorer but hopefully will solve the problem of not having anything to wear!

Thursday, 28 June 2012

Keep calm and carry on

Keep Calm and Carry On was a poster produced by the Government of the United Kingdom in 1939 during the beginning of the Second World War, intended to raise the morale of the British public in the event of invasion.

Source: Wikipedia

Today has been that kind of day, beyond that which I had to deal with at work. I think I have led on in previous posts that at the HEA household, something has been bubbling away under the surface. And well, here it is. No it isn't that Mr.HEA's grandmother passed away and we celebrated her wake last week (the reason why the posts front has been quiet). She had a beautiful long life and she brought together six children, eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, left behind to continue her legacy and looking around, the room, we are all such well brought up people and decent contributors to society that I think it was her mark on the world and I'd be truly proud of that achievement for myself in her shoes. For that, I dried my tears and vowed to celebrate her life and legacy instead of fretting I never got to know her.

Well, the post alludes more to the next chapter of my married life. Mr. HEA has decided to up and fulfill his dream of living in London, which is why if you have followed me on Twitter, you would have seen that I have booked tickets to go there in December to visit. Mr.HEA is leaving in August. Everyone I have told seems to be more panicked than me, telling me that I simply need to give up my career and be with him because my husband and my married life is more important. But I have made up my mind.

Perhaps I am selfish, I am staying put because I came here ten years ago and built everything I have here from scratch. The networks, the home, the family. I am not prepared to go back to nothing yet. Mr. HEA tells me it's just stuff. And I know he is right. But having a proper couch and a good fridge is how you tell you are here to stay and that this is your real home. Well, that was how we earmarked it when we were students, sharing accomodation. This is my own territory now and I struggle to leave behind. Besides, I have worked so hard to be influential of the direction of something that is so visible and tangible, that I cannot see why I would let it go for nothing secure?

Well, the plan is this, that Mr.HEA goes, since this is his adventure, and I stay because I have experienced mine, plus someone needs to support the mortgage until the finances are stable. I know, it is my Head talking, not my Heart. At times, I wake in the middle of the cold night and I slip into the nooks formed by his stance and am warmed and comforted by his physical presence in bed with me, but then I shed a tear for him not going to be there in a few months' time.

I have asked for him to wait for our one year's anniversary, but he is so unhappy being held back that I simply cannot bear to watch him suffer for my selfishness. So I will let go, and I will be strong if he cannot bear to see me suffer. He does not need to worry for me, I tell him as much, I want him to be only concerned about himself at first. And he is good, thinking about everything he possibly can to ensure that my well-being is cared for in every aspect whilst he is away (much like Captain Crawley did for Becky in Vanity Fair before he went on to war). I Love Him so for that, but as much as I thought Becky the conniving and selfish heroine, and how I loved Amelia's character in the story, I realise now I must be Becky, despite how people must judge me, and be distant and cold and strong to Mr.HEA so that he will thrive and survive in the wilderness London whilst we are apart.

Plenty of time to be meek and demure and reliant when we are reunited in the future. In my last post, I alluded we were celebrating, that is, we were celebrating him getting his Visa approved. My dear man is beside himself, so I shall remain supportive, keep calm and carry on.

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