Sunday 2 October 2011

Closing Down

It has been a month since I started this blog.

When I initially started it, I had a different vision and goal for this blog. I never quite got round the explaining it but it was basically to show off the goods I have purchased to people who are interested to know and really, to my then boyfriend. Little did I know, a few hours after bringing this blog to life he would be dumping me.

I still remember calling him, telling him I had a blog and to please come and visit kusadai! He was away in his mind thinking about guys or something and sounding disinterested. And, yeah.. he dumped me on my phone call, I hung up in sadness, anger and confusion. He didn't call back. I doubt he actually even remembers me telling him I have a blog but nevertheless, it doesn't matter now. It was semi-for-him then but things have changed. It ended even before it began, really.

So, things have changed. You may have noticed I even changed the title once. I don't feel comfortable posting here anymore. It doesn't feel as funny as I had envisioned it because it is difficult to be funny funny. Anyway, au revoir. Thank you minna san (everybody) for visiting. I can see from my stats I have good support.

Thursday 29 September 2011

An unwilling participant

I knew i could never change a man, yet I met a man who hoped I'd change him. 


And, I continue to cry at 2am with a long day shift pending come 8am. And, I hope again that one of the seemingly 'pleasantly confused' will tell me I am lovely and beautiful despite my puffy eyes. And, only to find they weren't confused.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Facial at Halls of Ivy

"I'm gonna flush out and cover up every hiding place so he has to come out. Cruel? Sounds like I'm doing him a favour and being his publicist FOC!" - I love the stuff I come up with

I had a facial session booked at a place I have been passing by recently. I didn't notice it before and it turns out they're only a year old. It's called Halls of Ivy and it is a beauty parlour as well as a beauty academy. BBC 3 awarded the parlour/owner 1st runner up Beautician of the Year...

So, I was going through their service and price list and they have a 1 hour Monu Aromatic Facial session for £35  which, I thought, wasn't too bad a price. They are opened all week except Monday, so it had to be done today.

I showed up pretty much on time but they thought I was late as the girl booked my appointment 30 minutes earlier. They were nice about it, though.

My yardstick to any facials I get is: Aster Spring: Origin of Beauty in Malaysia. Price also compare la.

The place looked quite nice la but not spa-ish. Looks more like how someone would decorate a house in a modern punya English-type decoration i.e. one wall with a fancy coloured wall paper, a radio, a nice cupboard with decorative flower-candles, their table and no wash basin in the room. Should have taken photo! But you can see it here.

The bed was like one of those beds with a hole where you can put the face but they've covered it with a rather furry decorative towel. I doubt it is washed everyday cos they just line it with tissue like they do on hospital out-patient couches. No pillow under your knees. No towel to cover you when you get cold but the bed was heated la, thank god. So, I was thinking, is it cheaper to wash towels or heat a bed?

Then, they will get you to undress in private but the towel is probably at most 50cm long. I am not that tiny but neither am I fat; I couldn't wrap it around my chest. It was really weird la. Imagine the fat lady with tetek besar; she'd be lucky if the towel just about reached each nipple medially. Worse was when she later gave me the head band to put in myself so I mess up my hair instead of them (shifting responsibility at the next level). I was already using my upper arms to hold the little towel down. How do I do this without the towel dropping? A gay man might have bluffed me into think I had a solid relationship but luckily I not so stupid, lie down and put it on.

So everything was pretty much standard la. Wash, exfoliate, mask, massage, tone and moisturize.

The good:
1) Excellent application of each product. Every time was a massage. Her fingers were always warm! Her touch was like a fairy's. So smooth. So relaxing I was almost in dreamland
2) Offer me water
3) Don't have to omong-kosong too much
4) The price isn't too bad.

The not-so-good:
1) No steamer and steaming
2) No extractions
3) No towel but got heated bed
4) Just under one-hour. More like 45 minutes
5) I doubt the product is not tailored to the skin. And, not very aromatic for an aromatic facial. After five-hours, my skin felt dry and if I didn't top-up my own, I think it will become oily too. I have combination skin.

Verdict:
I think it was OK la. Three stars. I don't think, even after three sessions, my face would have that glow I get when I go to Aster Spring. I would go back to the place but not do the same facial (this is their only one-hour facial) again. Will want to try the microdermabrasion to see if I can get rid of some of my acne scars. :-(

Thursday 22 September 2011

Package from Amazon

I have been slow to post. A bit sluggish motor-wise.

Will be working tonight and I tried to stay in bed as long as possible. My mind not really thinking nor dreaming but my little heart betrays me; it continues to yearn, long, calls and - the universe forbids - love this guy. And minute beads of tears collect at the corner of my eye.

So, I had to get up to let the numb mind take over. My little heart has quieten, I am tired but can't go back to bed. Little heart, why do you betray me?

And so I sigh...

On Monday, a new package appeared outside my door. Not a big surprise since no one buys me stuff online except myself. And, even buying online is a recent thing I have only engaged in the last year when I lived in a remote village neither here nor there...

Anyway, from Amazon...

What could this beeee?

Philips Satinelle Soft HP6509 Epilator
Hmmmm.....
Just under £30.
Pretty cheap considering most epilators were rather expensive just a couple of years ago.
The back of the box showing what it can do: epilate (for the legs), shave (the pits and bikini line), two speed settings, bag and a 72db noise level...  Not that I paid much attention since I read all of it on Amazon
It's a basic set for the price. Comes with the motor with an epilator head, shaving head, guards for both and a cleaning brush. It has more than a hundred good reviews compared to the more expensive epilators.
So I, uhm, tried it on Tuesday night. It took about 2-3 whole minutes before I even dared to put the thing over my skin. I thought it was just gonna rip my skin, fat, muscle and down to bare bone...

Finally I plucked the courage to put it on the very fine hairs on my legs. Hmmm, was ok la. I didn't bother epilating my legs because the hairs really aren't visible. I still don't dare put it any where else on my body... hahaha. Still building the mental courage. Maybe in a few weeks time.

Actually I have been thinking of buying an epilator for a long time now. Two years, I guess because I remember watching this video below. I also remember my then boyfriend watching it with me and encouraging me to get it (why didn't he buy it for me?). She is so funny and I thought she was funny because I agree shaving your pits on YouTube is terribly embarrassing. I think she was one of the first people to expose and epilate her pits on the channel...

LOL

Sigh, it's strange how an epilator still reminds me of him...


Update: OMG, literally tried it on the pits after being encouraged by the video. It hurts la but it's not that bad. Once the hair is out, you can run the thing over and over and it doesn't even feel like anything. The follicles are a bit raw like it is after shaving but some talc (or maybe aftershave?) might do... Defo need to exfoliate everyday.

If you see me standing like this, you know why...

Saturday 17 September 2011

Retail Therapy

I wanted to sleep in all day today but was wide awake by 10am. Then, starting moping. Mope, mope, mope. Googling, getting angry, more angry, thinking, thinking. Not really achieving anything. I thought I was gonna pick myself up, exercise, go out and take a passport photo of myself. If I didn't achieve that, I'd be very angry at myself.

So I got dressed and went out on a mission... and shopping.

OMG, I thought luckily I procrastinated in buying my ex-boyfriend a SuperDry Windcheater! Would have been such a waste of money since he dumped me and isn't contributing to retail therapy. Of note, he also advised me to go for retail therapy. WTF, right? Don't tell me what to do when you've just dumped me. As they say, no money, shaddap.

First stop was HMV. My ex liked going to HMV a lot. I tried not to think about it because I really wanted some music so my head would think of other things esp when exercising. I was looking for cheap-ish hip-hop and R&B for £5. Picked up Jay-Z, Tinie Tempah and Professor Green but something was playing in-store which and the melody really grabbed me. Then, I listened to the lyrics and it made the back of my hair stand. I walked round and round and round listening to half the album and the songs continued to give me that feeling..... Shazam'ed the songs, dropped all three albums and picked up Ed Sheeran's Deluxe + album to make a semi-swift escape...

Ed Sheeran. + Deluxe
Songs that reflect my feelings of the past, present and hopes for the future.. :'-(
And it is fuzzily comforting the songs are always directed to a girl
If you ever read this, thank you, Ed for making such a beautiful and meaningful album.. (altho you shud also thank me for buying your album)
Besides my passport photos, I made a mental list of other things I wanted but not massively important to get today. So, I popped into Boots:

1) Moisturizer
2) Body scrub
3) Bronzer/blusher
4) Eye liner
5) Kit of EcoTools bamboo make-up brushes (between £15-£20!)
6) Bath sponge
7) Mineral powder

Botanics Enriching Body Cream £5.61; Botanics Cleansing Body Scrub at half price £2.29 and Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eyeliner (very good, hardly smudges) £3.99.
Walked round and round and round... Really hoping 6pm doesn't come too soon because I didn't wanna go home..

KFC? McD's? Went to Sainsbury's je la.. This week's shopping was only £14.77, so I guess last week's expensive spend is evened out..

Tonight's dinner. I was going to *treat* myself.
Clockwise:
Warburton's Pitta Chips - quite good, tastes like tortilla
Magner's Apple and Ginger Cider - hmmm, where was the ginger?
Doritos Hot Salsa
Be Good to Yourself Guacamole - treat also must try to minimize calories la
Be Good to Yourself Soured Cream and Chive - surprisingly very good for a 'light' version
Pumpkin falafels - really should be eaten with hummus rather than dips
My other regular, boring buys to cook a giant pot of food for the rest of the week, tomorrow

Tried to make an effort with my no-effort dinner whilst watching X-Factor.
I really liked 'em Essex Two Shoes!

Before I left, I dropped off a roll of 36 exposures for development and print which I'll pick up tomorrow. If there's anything nice, I'll post it.

And, I did achieve my one goal of taking passport photos of myself...

Finally, a youtube video of Autumn Leaves; a song that reflects my feelings of the present :'-( which I would like to move away from but feel like my hands and feet are chained to some haunted thing.




Wednesday 14 September 2011

Pleasant Surprise

Didn't buy anything today but got given something instead.


Was at work earlier when my colleague stopped me and said he has a present for me. Dugged really deep down his pocket. I thought, "probably bringing up his list to give me a job to do, sigh"...

He finally managed to get whatever it was and he pulled this out:


M&M's Peanuts
It was already half eaten but he had folded it back nicely. That really made my day. Every bite was delicious!

Simple things...

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Sunday Supermarket Shop

Hello guys and girls,

Been wanting to update two days dah but Sunday was a really bad day for me la. My heart and mind was in a really dark place. I went to a BBQ on Saturday night; thought meet new people will help me feel better. Ended up missing my ex-boyfriend more! Sunday morning wake up feel memang terrible. Mope, mope, then finally went to supermarket. Supermarket seriously made me feel better la, dunno everyone there but seem like I know them also. We all got something in common, wanna buy stuff for the home. Watch the daddy and the mummy and the kids. No dogs or cats la. Everybody doing their usual Sunday supermarket shop.

Monday le, busy doing presentation for today. Picked a super hard topic to present on summore, Really asking for trouble le. But people said was good (!!?! thank you!) so ok la.

So, have to be quiet focused or else I will buy the whole shop and cannot carry home. That one memang kantoi la. So shop, shop.. then checkout. Wa super shocked. Only my backpack full and one recyclable bag used already £39.34. How can, right? Last time £20 can buy until die carrying.

See!! So little things only right already £39.34. How can??
Clockwise: Milk, Chai Tea Latte, 3 boxes of fish, Belvoir elderflower cordial, Ambrosia light rice pudding, dried milk powder, contact lens eye drops, croquette, eyebrow pencil, black-brown masara, Taste the Difference Pesto Genovese, sundried tomatoes and a punnet of peaches.

 Highlights of my purchases (which is almost everything since it's so little!):

Cannot seem to get it the right way..
My ex-boyfriend memang suka this one. I buy cos I also like la but he like more.
Now he's gone means more for me lor. + thinking.
Been craving ice-cold cordial like crazy.
This is is quite nice cos no preservative but must drink in 3 weeks. Boleh la!
Summore I like the bottle a lot.
Didn't plan to buy one but I saw it and I must have it.
Got three flavours: classic, ginger & lemongrass, something else
Looks like made for German market. Taste also like for German market.
Very rich, creamy and sweet taste... My Indian friend don't really make chai tea like that.. but I guess this is 'latte'
Can't seem to find my 'regular' make-up kit. So bought new one.
Maybe it does make it look longer la cos my oriental lashes so fine, anything that de-fines it makes it look longer
My ex-boyfriend got super nice lashes girls will die for. I always said if we had a daughter, all the other girls will be soooooooooooooo jealous. Too bad.
Lost my favourite Japanese brow definer la. Have to settle for this second class black-brown brow  pencill

So, Sunday mar. Must cook for the rest of the week...
Goreng (fry) some onion and chilli
Too lazy to peel and chop the garlic although it would have been a very good thing to do.

Tambah (add) the skinless and boneless haddock mixed with chopped sundried tomatoes.
This fish kinda pecah (break) la. But didn't completely disintegrate.
Spaghetti, Genovese pesto, stir, stir and hey presto!
So, now I have to exercise and then can makan my spaghetti topped with Parmesan cheese! Yum, yum, rub my tum!


Friday 9 September 2011

Bestsellers

So today we finished early. Sempat go to high street shopping a bit.

Went and deposited £20 at Waterstone's.Wanted to buy some books la. Specifically, was looking for Michael Ende's Neverending Story and Momo but got blinded by the selection, 3 for 2 offers and product placement. I'm a big sucker for product design and placement la. Always get conned one.

They had placed David Nicholls' One Day, Starter for Ten and The Understudy right at the entrance. The colours also very attractive. Nearly bought all three using the 3 for 2 offer.

The title wouldn't have inspired me to buy the book had I not watched the movie. 
The main character has been a understudy for several years to the top 12 hottest man on earth.. and he falls in love with this guy's wife. Scandal. Apparently a funny story but seriously, affair is so off-putting.

But then rational saved me la, "Amanda, you just saw Starter for Ten the movie two weeks ago. And, The Understudy is affair-related and the synopsis so not feel-good. Will you read this?"
Starter for Ten (2006)
Starring the ever so hot James McAvoy
This was an excellent movie. Came home after a shift and this strange movie was on TV. Really did feel  the atmosphere of the past and that of student life. Seems so tragic at first but happy ending with a moral to the story. I love movies with '..and the moral of the story is?' feeling.
So went scouting for other 3 for 2 offers and saw this which looks like vegetable soup for my soul:

Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro
RRP £7.99
Bought this cos the title is so emo like how I feel now. I hope it will be a good and distracting read. Triple plus for the author being Japanese (Japanese obsession, yo!)


And this! Rawr!

Dexter is Delicious
Jeff Lindsay (sorry, but so not handsome)
RRP £7.99
OMG, I so love Dexter. I have only watched a couple of episodes on a flight but got hooked. Have read all the other Dexter books with great enthusiasm to the point of being anti-social! Really wanna buy the Dexter DVD boxset but I think it's not out for the UK market yet plus, not so cheap now.

And settled for this David Nicholls book because it also looks like vegetable soup as well... Didn't realize the movie just came out! I'm so on-trend.
One Day
David Nicholls
RRP £7.99
Effectively this book is FREE on the offer :)
Hmmmm, will I only meet Mr Right 20 years from now? Depressing gila punya thought

I put it in my toilet so it looks more chic than it already is. Ahahaha, yallah.
And also bought two cards. 

It's been eight days since I broke up with my ex-boyfriend. Hopefully these books will keep my mind busy when idle so I don't think stuff that will upset me la. 



Monday 5 September 2011

Closing Time

Today I hoped to finish work at 5pm, sharp!

Then I discovered I showed up too early for my shift and was meant to finish at 10pm. :-(

Did not and could not make it to the shops....

Friday 2 September 2011

Breakup Buys

So those of you who know me on Facebook will know my sob story la.

For those of you who dunno, my boyfriend of four years and I broke up la. I thought we were on the verge of engagement and marriage, maybe when he had some savings and our location was a bit more stable. What's really upsetting is he also said, "I could marry you but I didn't". That is so WTF man, right?

Anyway, so my friend was really nice la. Ask me to come over and stay so I don't stay at home and mope. I have to say it worked la, the puffiness of my eyes have receded and the throbbing in the head has stopped. I thought of going to the supermarket to buy stuff before arriving but dunno where the supermarket is and I was late.

My friend cooked a simple but delicious home-made meal la. No mood to eat all day except something bland like rice pudding. The rice was especially nice. I think maybe cos he use salt and I don. 
Chicken breast with chili sauce
My friend can't eat chili one but he can stand this one
Mushroom omelette
Yummy white fluffy rice
Green bean with onions
So, after dinner we went and got dessert and some extras...

Millionaire's Belgian Chocolate Caramel Tart
£3.50
Was ok la. Dunno cos sad that din enjoy or really just not enjoyable.

My friend wanted some custard but didn't want the big carton
Talked him into trying rice pudding - nice bland and good for post-breakup  nausea
Had to buy tisu
£1.50 - must seem expensive right? Don't worry, another 17 packets came with it.
Can use for cry and for digging nose
Extra Thick Aerosol Cream
My friend didn't like this cos he said no sugar
Was OK la. Just eat it.
Anyway, this month gotta save money and I will tell you why next time....



Thursday 1 September 2011

V&A Shop Purchases

Whoop!

We love buying stuff and we love buying stuff at bargain prices!

We buy stuff because we need it. Other times, we buy it because it is cheap! Sometimes, we leave something for next time when there's a bargain be it a true bargain or a subjective one.

So, I noticed I have been exercising my buying power lately despite being kiamsiap and sharing my purchases with my boyfriend and friends via Whatsapp.

It's really nice when they said, "Waaa, nice purchase" or, "Glad you like it", or even ask the most satisfying question, "Wei, how much ar?". With the last question, I can give them a full account on how satisfying it was to get the item at (a subjective) bargain price!

This week itself I have bought several items which is a major achievement on a kiamsiap level. But let's start with what I bought yesterday...

So, I went to the V&A Museum in South Kensington, London on my 1 week forced annual leave. At their V&A Shop got summer sale.
Art Nouveau textile by F. Steiner & Co. , 1903
Reproduced by amet&ladoue
70% cotton, 30% silk
Handmade in India
RRP £30. Sale £22.50
Approx 2m long, this scarf is light and cool.
Close up of the beautiful pattern and colours under sunlight.
Really made my day because I was thinking that I need to shop for a nice multi-colour scarf before embarking to V&A

Embroidery scissors, £7.
This one, I am not sure if bargain or not but I really wanted it la.
Recently bought a similar non-functional antique one at Spitalfields for £5 (not with me at the moment but will compare and contrast some day).

Tombow Onbook Mechanical pencil.
RRP £6. Confirm bargain price £1.50.
Greedy, wanted to buy two cos so cheap. Had to reason with myself
Got other things I wanted to buy but must think first! Should I buy or not?
William de Morgan tile reproduced by Jackson Ceramics. Handglazed RRP £18. Sale £13.50
Cloisonne Blue Hummingbird Earrings. Sterling Silver base with enamel. £25.00
Such a beautiful museum and an equally beautiful giftshop! Worth spending money there since their profits goes to up-keeping the museum.

Thank you for your time! Please let me know your thoughts. Should I buy or not? x