Checking in

I am away in KL for Chinese New Year. I am so excited about going home even if its for a crazy three to four days because I haven't celebrated Chinese New Year with them since 2007! I have been limiting myself on the choccies and snacks just preparing for the feasts and cookies galore. It's not like I didn't see my family in all that time, but somehow, Reunion dinner and visiting friends and family for the cookies and chatter still hold a curious delight. Something still lingers in me after all these years that triggers that excitement deep inside.

Anyways, since February's begun, I have been keeping busy. Gathering more empties for Project 100 pan, packing and shopping for clothes and gifts for the trip, planning outfits for Chinese New Year, making sure my in laws don't miss out too much on the festivities by recreating the Chinese New Year Salad at home for them.

I focussed on getting the colour combination more than the traditional vegetables for the Yee Sang. I didn't want to rely on food colouring and I didn't want to use White Radish either as it might 'cancel' my FIL's medication.

Another issue that's been weighing on my mind: How do you survive a long haul flight on Scoot? I have packed entertainment and comfort.
Girly mags, my trustworthy Samsung Galaxy tablet fully loaded with TV episodes I need to catch up on, iPhone5 earphones (so comfortable to wear in long haul flights whilst you lean against headrests), a pillow and a soft cardigan that doubles up as a blanket, an empty bottle to fill up just before you board the flight with water, and snacks (last two items not shown).

Face masks, eye cream and hand cream are must haves with me to keep me moist on the journey. I normally bring cleansing wipes with me too for removing my makeup before I apply the face masks, I just didn't have any left. Deodorant and toothpaste to make for more pleasant greetings when I arrive. And everything else are just the essentials I need for my trip but because they are LGAs and I haven't purchased check in luggage for this trip, they go into my clear plastic bag to present at security.

I know the trip will be over before I have even adjusted to it beginning, and so to console myself for when I have to come back, I've purchased some pretties for a wedding I am attending in March. I knew I wanted a maxi dress, but buying retail here might just mean another girl rocking up in the same dress as me or spending too much money on a frock. So ol' reliable ASOS comes to the rescue with two dresses that I think might work and they were <$100 which was exactly what I was after.

The Rare scarf print dress: I am not too crash hot about the cutout right above my belly button to be honest, but I liked the colours and so I am excited to give it a go.

The blue dress's design is a winner but I bought the same size as the model's and it says she is 5.975 feet tall so I am pretty sure I'd be sweeping the floor with it when I get it.

Can't wait to receive them in the mail and to try them on. I'd return one of them probably, I just wonder which?

January Empties

 

Project 100 pan was easy at the start. Seek out the forgotten bottles of products that I didn't have the discipline to see through.

These all happened to be moisturizers this time around.

1) A souvenir from my dear friend's visit to LA: Love Spell from Victoria Secret, a fragrance of Cherry blossom, peach and white jasmine. All individual scents that I love but together, it is a sickly sweet floral scent that had hints of fruit and Mr. HEA didn't like it. Given the scent lingers until washed off, this moisturizer got put aside once I moved in with Mr HEA. And would I buy it again? Probably not given that the moisturizing effect doesn't last and a few hours after its been absorbed, skin feels thirsty again.

2) Body shop's Passion fruit body butter was part of a KK present l got two years ago. whilst the scent is nicer than Love spell, but not actually as long lasting, this body butter was nothing like the other ranges of body butter i had tried from Body shop. Passionfruit was sticky and unpleasant to feel after application. it doesn't absorb well into the skin. I don't miss it at all.

3) Another Christmas gift 2 years ago from work: this tube of Crabtree & Evelyn's Rosewater hand cream is lovely. Pleasant rose scent, moisturizing propensities (just the right amount of oiliness for the hands), this travel sized tube travelled Europe with me this last trip and it was a boon for the long haul flights. Another big tick for Crabtree and Evelyn handcreams.

Am not sure how many products I am going to get through for February. My discipline wanes. Plus I am traveling to Malaysia next week and gosh how do I avoid the temptation of cheap cosmetics and products. It's become such a habit for me! Hang in there with me and I shall report back on this in a Month's time.

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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.

Wedding at Centennial Vineyards Bowral

I went to a dream wedding yesterday. Full of love, personality and fun. Catching the groom prior to the wedding to ask if I could help in anyway, he said everything was under control, and I knew it would be. After all they had excellent support from the warm venue staff who coordinated all the event run sheet professionally and seamlessly.

It was a really warm humid day and evening where everything around Sydney seemed to be going wrong what with all the traffic incidents and fires making the drive down to Bowral slow to a crawl, but the place itself was protected from the worries of the world. Here, we laughed, we teared up, we embraced the young couple and lived that very moment with them.

The beautiful mingling area

Our wonderful menu for the night

My entree: Rotolo of Pumpkin

 

My dessert: Banana & Cinnamon cake

Wedding Cake

The Bride and Groom speech

I am pleased to say I had other causes to celebrate the night. I was able to sell my wedding dress finally and it fit the new owner perfectly which was a relief seeing her wedding was only two weeks away. Also, my makeup lasted me the whole humid day without melting.An amazing feat to be sure!

 It was my Burberry look complete with soft Smokey eyes glistened up with Chanel illusion D'Ombre Long wear luminous eyeshadow, Falsies applied with Shu Umera eyelash glue, Burberry Lip Velvet lipstick in Antique Pink all held together sitting atop my ever trustworthy Chanel Eclat Vitalumiere pressed powder that held everything in place the whole day. I think the trick is in good layering. A good moisturised face as a base, layered with BB cream and liquid foundation, then slowly building up layers of colour with the eye shadow and lip liner, pressing firmly on application with quick patting strokes. No reapplication other than lipstick was necessary throughout the entire day.

What a lovely way to welcome in the long weekend. I am very pleased for the couple and have been able to achieve a few personal fist pumps for myself along the way. Happy Australia Day folks!

Planning my best friend's thirtieth

No amazing feat as I had the help of several close friends to her and the birthday girl supplied a list herself of the 72 guests she wanted to spend the day with.

What's a birthday without balloons?

We decorated the Beresford Hotel at Surry Hills but the venue was so lovely that we didn't really need to add many touches. The organising was an ease as the staff were very professional and we were given an awesome host on the day that made sure the food came out on time and was evenly staggered throughout the day so that everyone had a nibble and no one got too drunk, drinking on an empty stomach.

We would have loved a party in their exotic beer garden, but we really couldn't have fit everyone in. and given the extreme heat and the cool rain that's threatened us since, we didn't really feel like taking a risk by booking the outdoors venue. This corner was ideal for a enclosed feel with the greenery in the dividers providing an outdoor illusion.

  The comfy couches and seating made it really relaxing easy for high heel wearers to rest their soles throughout the party too.

My OOTD: H&M Peplum Jacket, Supre Singlet, Zeitgeist pants, Vincci Sandals and Louis Vuitton Clutch. The Birthday present I gave the lucky girl, was unfortunately not LV, but something else from Paris that she clutched with glee when she opened it.

Did I intentionally match the Birthday cake with my outfit? Orange and Carrot cake was a big hit at the party.

Turns out you can still get the girl who has everything several creative things for her birthday. Every single present she was pleased with and excitedly tore the wrapping off for. Can you spot my gift? A limited edition Longchamp in blue, her covetted colour of the moment.

Happy Birthday my favourite girlfriend! I know it's been tough getting here, but I still can't beleive we have made it this far. I know you enjoyed the day and I am glad. On today, I wish you all the awesomeness Bali has to offer. Including your very own Katut, I hope. *wink*