Check-in

I write this from my hotel room in JB. Tomorrow I have a full day workshop in the fabrication yard. Last week I was stuck in a ridiculous training session for the whole week. Classes started at 7.30 am and ended around 6 - 7 pm.

To cap off the relaxing week, we had an exam the last day. The week was capped with an exam, AND I came down with food poisoning.

Valentine's Day was spent eating banana leaf rice (really excellent, by the way). We spent a lovely Saturday eating, shopping and resting. Then I spent my entire Sunday catching up on the week's work and ended up working until 1 am. The week before I spent 2 days in another mind-numbing workshop AND we had friends over for housewarming/CNY twice.

I am EXHAUSTED.

Yesterday was the first time I worked out in about 2 months. It felt wonderful moving again, but I am sore.

What I am into these days:

1) IntotheGloss - More like obsessed. I stumbled upon this super cool site via one of my favourite blogs, then got really really hooked on reading about people's beauty routines. I love how they talk about their backgrounds, their philosophy when it comes to maintaining their skin (diet or product or both). Some of my favourite Top Shelf posts are this haute hippie cold-pressed juice bar owner's, this simple routine by a model-turned social entrepreneur.

I'm also lovin' this BEST OF list. And this fabulous post is really making me rue not opting for a bathtub in our home.

2) Oils - I'm really into them, - Cleansing oil, oil in my hair, on my skin.

I first purchased Neutrogena's cleansing oil, which was a mistake. My skin got red and splotchy, and I absolutely despise the synthethic scent. I switched to Shu Uemura's instead, looking up online on how exactly to use it (Massage it into dry skin, use water to lather and then rinse) and - and what a difference! Red patches GONE. My skin feels soft and lost its tight feeling. Neutrogena relegated to cleansing my feet and elbows now.

I also use coconut oil in my hair. I massage a good amount in my scalp and hair, potter about for a few hours, then rinse out with shampoo. My hair is all thick and glossy, for the first time in like, ten years maybe?

 I still use my all-time favourite H20+ sea salt-almond oil scrub. The price (for a body scrub) is a little off-putting (a large jar costs RM150 but it does last at least a couple of months), but I do want to experiment with making my own salt-or-sugar scrub when it's finished.

Oh, and another product ITG got me hooked on - Fresh Sugar Face Polish. Use this after cleansing, and the brown sugar, strawberry seeds, plum and grape seed oils really do wonders. Glow I believe is the word we're looking for.

What I started:
1) Yoga. Started, with ONE class. But to be continued - with all the crazy work stuff ongoing I want to learn to unwind and breathe.

2) I also started listening to this before bedtime (ITG again, I know). Anything to get more out my short(er) hours of sleep!

3) I made it a priority to do less social networking and more reading in bed. One of my greatest pleasures is reading in bed. I have finished 2 books so far this January - so excellent progress made there.

4) Oh, and on that same note, I have also been devouring magazines (January'14 issues of Fortune 2014, FastCompany, Vanity Fair, and Vogue India). I treated myself to a 1-year subscription of Monocle Magazine.

Holiday Gift Guide 2013

This year I've gone slightly more atas than the last, I admit. But hey, as one ages, one would expect one's tastes to mature as well.

I personally own and regularly use everything listed here, and they just elevate everyday routines - be it a handsome coffee press that you can bring everywhere, luxurious tea, lovely but reasonably priced bath products, or that special piece that completes an outfit.

I have also tried to include stuff that are made or developed locally - it's nice to support local businesses and the quality of these products are really good. What's not to like?

1) TWG Teas and accessories
Good tea is life-changing, and for once, easily available. The Earl Grey is wonderfully fragrant without being cloying, and the Tokyo Singapore is my favourite way to end a long day. You know - me in pyjamas, the airconditioning on, the duvet on my legs, a good book and a steaming cup of tea. Bliss. Get your fix at Pavillion KL or KLIA.

2) Bodum Travel Coffee Press and/or Milk Frother
Simple, elegant yet durable, we spotted the travel press at Ben's Independent Grocer and purchased on the spot. The press comes with a regular cap, so it doubles up as a nice tumbler which I can fill it with my smoothie mixture for days when I don't have the time to brew coffee. The battery-operated milk frother is a nice tool for those barista wannabes.

2) British India home scented candle
Made from palm oil. I only have the citronella, a scent which never grows old for me and of which I am a little obsessed with. It reminds me of our spa vacation in Phuket - totally what I want for chilling out to.

4) Argan oil.
Purchase from here. I use it on my neck and to repair my horrible cuticles, which have never looked better. Attach an instruction sheet (copy it from the website).

5) 100% cashmere scarf
I am, I am proud to say, a most skilled eBay huntress. Some of my proudest purchases include my magnificient Tods Bauletto bag at 30% off its normal price, a Mulberry Bayswater, a beautifully waterproof Longchamp and a BCBG jumpsuit. I was busy scouring eBay for a soft blanket/throw for cosy nights in on the sofa, and came across this site. Delivery was fast and efficient, and the product is so so soft and light. But don't be fooled though - it does a much better job shielding me from the cold of the office than its cheaper but fancier-looking counterparts.

6) 34Thirtyfour leather cuff
A slightly edgy, but still elegant cuff made from buttery leather that ages beautifully, from this Malaysian-born brand that folks in the know are raving about. Their bags are slightly more expensive than I'd like, but there is no doubt on the quality of their work. Maybe next time....

7) Electrolux Powermix Silent Blender

I was actually forced to purchase this behemoth when my little Japanese blender devoured the last of its own rubber washers. That, my friends, is the problem with buying stuff from those noisy stalls in the mall that always seem to draw a curious audience - the stuff you buy from some obscure brand will probably be discontinued after a year and you end up scrapping a (granted, ugly and cheap) perfectly good blender just because you can't buy the washer that goes with it.
Since we were just getting into our smoothie groove, I had to get another blender. I knew what I wanted - a glass jug that stays clear even if I blend ice and other hard stuff, and a food mill attachment. I finally settled on this silent monster, and am really happy with its performance so far. Oh, and the blue light that comes on during the blending is kinda cool.

9) Tanamera toiletries and spice massage ball
I love this local brand. The brown soap is a mainstay in my shower. It has these wonderful rice beads that gently exfoliate as it cleans. Tanamera products are made with local spices ans herbs - citronella, rice, ginger, hibiscus, pandanus. Who needs lavender and rose and we have jasmine and citronella?
The massage ball is great for calming stressed-out muscles and relieving pain. So easy to use too - just heat in the microwave. As it soothes the aches and pains it releases some wonderfully spicy scent that comforts and warms (It goes very well with with the situation described in Item #1, as you can probably tell). Oh, and bonus - you can purchase online!

Oh, and what's Christmas without a little Wish List of my own? Here's what I would love to receive this year, for being such a good girl:

1) Kindle Paperwhite
2) The entire "Homeland" series
3) For Shonda Rhimes to produce Gray's Anatomy Season 10
4) Some time off to just chill at home
5) KitchenAid
6) Small copper pan
7) Zara shopping vouchers

Publika

If I keep this up the Eats posts will soon outnumber the Cooking ones.

Despite the recent spate of bad news about malls in Klang Valley in general, I have fallen in love with this place. This, despite the super confusing mall layout, and the shops are so spread out that it takes some sturdy shoes and a little bit of bravado to explore the place proper.

But one's curiosity is rewarded with some really quirky shops. Not your run-of-the-mill MNG, Zara and the such - lots of local stuff, which is really nice to see. My faves - Kaleidoscope - a "lifestyle" outlet that stocks really nice accessories and cute homeware (they have clothes as well, but I found the collection nothing to shout about), 34 Bespoke - Malaysian-designed leather goods (didn't buy anything but the stuff looks of top notch quality - especially love the leather cuffs).

Foodwise - the food court boasts some really excellent versions of Yam Rice, Pan Mee, Beef Noodles and Zhang. For breakfast last weekend, we decided to be a little adventurous and try out the Red Bean Bag. I had the French toast, which was lovely (although I did flinch at shelling out RM12 for a slice of bread, I will be honest). AK ordered the baked eggs, and let me tell you, I was truly jealous when I dipped a fork into the dish and took a bite. It was a molted Middle-Eastern-esque concoction of eggs baked with minced lamb, sausage, aubergine in a passata sauce, topped with oozy mozzarella. Worth every bit of the RM17.90 we paid for it.

And did I mention B.I.G's, or Ben's Independent Grocers? Who says grocery shopping has to be boring? With its chalkboard quotes at the produce section, and the fact that you can find everything from Bunga Kantan to goose fat under one roof. So I pay a little more for my groceries - at least I know I'm buying kampung eggs, washed organic spinach (for RM1.30 a bunch - not bad for such an upmarket place), organic oyster mushrooms (RM2.40 a bag - cheaper than Miri), freshly cured bacon (at RM5.89/100 g, really reasonable) and environmentally-friendly handsoap and washing liquid (which you should too, by the way).

Lovely planter in front of The Red BeanBag

Quotes to grocery shop by at Ben's Independent Grocer

Kaleidoscope

Newness

1) New necklaces, at prices to good not to snap them, from Forever21 and the local crafts market

2) The first 100% silk shirt I own. From Zara. Love the slouchy cut and of course, the feel of the fabric against my skin.

3) This gorgeous not-to-casual maxi dress, in vivid emerald. Also from Zara (I swear, this store will be death of my financial health one day - stylish, quality clothes at prices just at the high range of my price comfort zone). The peekaboo skirt makes it slightly special and the scoop neckline keeps it casual, in lieu of my usual halter or spaghetti straps in maxi dresses. Which mean I can wear this to church without looking overly dressy either. I have plans to wear this to Christmas mass (yes, it's a bit of planning a bit far ahead, but hey, this is how I justified the purchase)

4) I've been looking for this one forever - handwoven ikat table runner in blue rather than the usual red, brown and yellow. Something to remember Sarawak by.

What gets me through

Work has been bordering on the insane lately. It is shaping up to be a bad year for my department in particular, and we seem to spend every day firefighting as they call it, unable to plan or to improve - only to react. It has gotten to a point where sleep has become somewhat difficult to fall into. I have taken the opportunity to imbibe a little, just enough to help me fall asleep, and so far my little nightcaps have been quite effective. More on that later (am not turning alchoholic anytime soon :)). Other than that, here are a couple of things that have been brightening my dreary work days:

1) Cheerful new loafers that I have been searching for, like, forever. I finally found a pair I liked, that fit me well, at Pedro's.

2) Gunmetal grey nails, just to shake things up a little and make me feel ever so slightly rebellious.

3) My trusty toy in its rugged, no-nonsense cover. No Kate Spade or Kath Kidston for me, please.

4) These crystal bracelets. Every Christmas, My 80 year old grand-aunt gifts me one shiny strand. I wear these and I remember her, and subsequently my extended family. My grand-aunt sometimes has difficulty figuring out whose house she's sitting in, but somehow never fails to remember gifting me with these. Suffice to say, they are precious.

Atonement, Fall of Giants and other bits of the weekend

Lots of italics coming up, it's one of those posts.

~ Oh my, Atonement is positively gut-wrenching. My heart is broken, I tell you. And taken. By James McAvoy, who has swept me off my feet as "the young man who crossed the surrey in his best suit, swaggering with the promise of life" and lost it all - his bright bright future and his one true love at the throw of the dice, or rather the lying words of a naive young girl. Those electric blue eyes. That preppy short hair. The very upright-ness of Bobby Turner, his character - in his determination, as he wrote in his letter, to "live without shame", his lilting French, the way he walks with his back so straight, so upright. Swoon.


~ I seem to be drawing multiple parallelisms between the movie and Ken Follet's Fall of Giants, which I am currently chest-deep into. They make me reflect on the same things. How war changes everything. The fruitlessness of it all and the despairs - families and lovers torn apart, heartbreaking letters to and from the front lines, and of course, the terrible death of innocents. And the how their characters conduct themselves - on the surface, quintessentially British eloquence and conservatism, almost bordering on shyness. But you have to take a second look - into their (often blue and piercing) eyes, read into the bow of the head, the hand placed on another's. All contradictory to the searing passion behind closed doors (or in Atonement's case, it was cracked open). In my head, one of the book's protagonists (ahh a German, ironically) is Mr. McAvoy, tortured good looks and all.

~ Listening to Matchbox 20, especially this song on the iPhone. I think of my two brothers. Despite me being five and eight years older than them, we somehow have to come the same conclusions on a few very important things in life. For example, that Matchbox 20 is THE best band ever. That mankind has yet to produce a movie as awesome as The Lord of The Rings. All three of us have read the book, more than once. Oh, and the music. Sure, my brothers shake their heads at my fondness for haunting, wintry, almost new-ageish music with lyrics that don't make much sense (Cases in point: these numbers) and they're almost embarassed about my fondness for Taylor Swift. Dom's taste also runs questionable at times (erm, "Barbra Streisand" by DuckSauce, anyone?). But one day we just broke out Bright Lights together, trying our very best to twang the lines "Baby, Baby, Baby..........Maybe, maybe, maybe..." the way Rob Thomas does (and, I suspect, not being very successful) so you can understand why listening to this makes me all smiley inside.

~ My adorable tea sub that I ordered when in London. Works like a charm, looks like it belongs in a cartoon. Yesterday was a particularly stressful day at work. Couple that with the insomnia I had been experiencing the past two nights, and by yesterday evening my head felt like it was about to explode, among other symptoms. Before I went to bed I filled my submarine with green tea leaves (from Thailand) and brewed the tea using my new super cute glass. I breathed in the grassy scent and let the hot steam rise to my face. I took deep breaths. I sipped my brew, lightly sweetened with honey. I smiled at the sight of the fat yellow sub, and of course as the sight of my fat yellow (orange) cat bounding around the bed. And I really could feel myself feeling better.

I know, I seem to be living and dreaming anywhere else but here or in the moment. These are all I have now.

Milestone - not

Sigh, how time flies. I can’t believe I am turning the big 3-0 soon *cringe*. There is still so much I want to do, and to be absolutely truthful, I kinda expected more from myself coming into this age.

Nevertheless there is still so much to be thankful for, and so much to look forward to. So it is to the future I look to (where else?) and to a life more whole in my thirties. But that is a story for another day.

So I shall treat the looming date less like a milestone where I have to have something to show for, and more like an excuse for another round of self indulgence and frivolity. So, without much ado, here is my requisite birthday wish list:

1) One of Michael Kors black or silver oversized watches for ladies. I have lusted over Cartier and Tag Hauer in the past, and almost pulled out my trusty credit card when we walked into a TH store and I discovered that the prices are much lower than I expected. But after much contemplation I realize that a) I need to conserve the cash for our plans next year, and 2) even if I didn’t, I’d much rather spend the money on another set of plane tickets. My wanderlust knows no bounds, and surpasses even my shopaholism. Besides, I kinda have a thing for big mens’ watches (I like to juxtapose against with my perceivably small wrist), better still if they look like my grandfather owned them.

2) Ferragamo Varina ballerina flats. So stylish and versatile, and comfy too. I tried on a pair in Venice and fell in love (they felt surprisingly more comfortable than the Tods loafers I also tried). But again, can’t bring myself to splash out on them.



3) An iPhone 4s. I still do not own a smartphone, and am tired of waiting for the iPhone 5 that just refuses to show itself.

4) A large order with Amazon.com. it has been somewhat of a yearly tradition for me to either place a yearly magazine subscription and/or an extra large order with Amazon.com for my birthday. Here’s on my list this year:

- Holly Becker’s Decorate. So many good reviews on Amazon.com, including a video one! I admit I was a little put off by some reviews stating that her style is more shabby chic/ cottage, but seeing the video review made my mind up for me – I want!

- India Contemporary. I have mentioned before that I love the Indian aesthetic - in small, modernized doses. This book looks just like something I am looking for.

- Jamie Oliver’s Cook with Jamie: My Guide to Making You a Better Cook. I’ve been wanting a culinary encyclopedia for ages. One with great writing, of course. And while I usually prefer Nigella Lawson or Nigel Slater’s writing, the reviews of this book, and the fact this one is rather more technical – diagrams of cuts of meat, the fine details of pasta making , etc. are calling out to me

- Any of Donna Hay’s books. I also want Nigella Christmas.

*I’ve already placed my order (I threw in Martha Stewart's Cookies too) Nigella Christmas, orgininally on sale at only USD14, is sold out!! Now I want it even more damnit!

F & M

AK is not one to plan our trips abroad - he leaves these things to me - where to go, what to do, where to stay and eat, etc. Oh, he'll chip in with the odd "Do we really need our own villa?" or "We should explore China next year", and of course gasp at the rates of my desired hotel every once in a while, but most of the time, he goes along with my whims and fancies.

This time I got lucky. Since he was exploring London with a colleague two weeks before we met up there, this time he had an idea of where he wanted to take me in our limited time in London - a place he knew I'd go absolutely bonkers in given my love for food markets and such - one of my favourite things to do in any foreign place is visit the food markets, or even just regular supermarkets to check out the fresh produce and conveniences on offer. I've brought back French pate, German dried pork belly, wines, polenta, Ritter Sport chocolates, even cat food from abroad.

Despite my online orders arriving safely at AK's hotel, I was a little disappointed at not being able to visit Harvey Nichols as we wanted to reduce our travel time as much as possible, and I had made Anthropologie my top priority in London. Luckily Forntnum and Mason's was just a few blocks away. Happily, the visit there well made up for not making to Harvey Nicks. I went a little nuts there, and of course wished we had more money and luggage space to cart back it all.

Handmade marshmallows - plain vanilla, rose, strawberry.



Skull and ghost candies for Halloween.






Honeycomb and chutneys and crabapple jellies.





Stilton in clay jars.






Garlic-infused olive oil.




Lovely assortment of baked goods.






We spent a good two hours there and would have stayed for scones and clotted cream if time permitted. We also carted back lots of tea for our families back home in their lovely silver and turqoise tins. Love :)

London Shopping List

My excitement is quickly building up in anticipation of joining AK in Europe! Despite all the bleargh stuff happenning at work (the only way I know how to describe it all now), it's not every day, month or year that we get to travel like this. So I say f*** you to all that is wrong with my life right now and roll right on over to happier stuff.

Like couch surfing research on how to make the most of our half day in London before jetting off to Seville and then Venice. Am also thinking of a day trip to Córdoba when we are in Seville, to see the Alcazar, the Great Mosque of Córdoba and all the Moorish architechture I can take in.

Being from Penang, I do appreciate beautiful buildings. I might not be able to pull a Ted Mosby but I do try to distinguish between Gothic, Renaissance and Art Noveau best I can. I take in all that I can - the stained glass windows, the gargoyles, the signages, the cobblestone streets. This is also why I love Penang, and fell in love with the Cordoba district of Mumbai. I never realised it until I looked through all my vacation photos and realised that in addition to food (and shopping, might as well just admit it), I am a (European) architecture buff. Feel free to guffaw now.

On we go, back to the delicously frivolous.

The last time we were in London I managed to get to Harrods and its famed food halls. Not as great as I expected, and the prices were, well beyond me. I didn;t even buy an Ispahan macaron (5 bloody pounds a piece)

This time I have been checking out Harvey Nichols. They also have a pretty famed food market which I am dying to check out.

Meanwhile I have of course already checked out the goodies on their website. Ansd here's what I have my eye on so far:




Harvey Nichols Chocolate Drink Caddy. I fell in love with this the moment I saw it in ELE Singapore magazine a few years ago. Just look at that adorable label. Our tropical weather might not be all that condusive for a mug of thick hot chocolate with peppermint marshmallows and a slug of brandy/whiskey/Bailey's, but I sure can whip one up for snuggling under a blanket on a rainy day. And I'll hand down the tin to my kids, I promise!






Mariage Freres Green Tea from Provence. Super posh. Knowing me I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between this and other supposedly more inferior stuff. But again, I am a total sucker for such gorgeous packaging. Gotta have it!







And this one is just too cute to let slip. Yellow submarine tea infuser. I want I want I want!

With the exchange rate less wince-inducing, Christmas coming soon, the fact I need as many pick me ups as I can get, it might be another year or two before I visit London again...and many other perfectly rational reasons :)....I am definitely going to get my hands on these. Now the only question is whether to buy them online and have them delivered to AK first, or pay a visit and decide then....

2011 Emmys

Despite my (pathetic) attempts to watch less mindless TV, I can't help myself. I MUST tune in every week for a dose of acerbic, vulgar, but infinitely hilarious Fashion Police! Joan Rivers, I love you!

Anyway they really outdid themselves in the episode covering this year's Emmys, especially the ending :)

Anyway, there were a few of the things about this year's fashion at the Emmys that caught my attention.

This is the first time I am acquainted with Lena Heady and I am smitten. Her getup is a perfect example of how one can cover up almost everything but still look drop dead sexy (AK the hot-blooded male will never understand this haha) and ooze class. Note to self: Copy this look!


Apparently she plays the despised (and may I add, ULTIMATE evil, heartless, cruel b*tch!) blonde Cersei Lannister in HBO's Game of Thrones, the TV rendition of the first of the Song of Ice and Fire series of books that I happen to love. The show has apparently garnered some rave reviews. Although after watching the preview online I don't think the series will live up to my imagination, very much like the entire Harry Potter franchise. Two minutes of watching the preview and I already have so many complaints. Why is Catelyn Tully so old and haggard?? Why is Bran so old? Jon Snow should be leaner and meaner, with darker eyes and hair. And a white-skinned Khal Drogo??? Are you kidding me??? Although having said all that, I must check out Lena as a blonde green-eyed medieval beauty.

This is why I love to blog, one can digress and shoot off into all tangents at will :)

Fashion, we were talking about fashion.



Am not sure whether I like Gwyneth Paltrow in this Lanvin number. I have a love/hate relationship with Gwyneth, I want to be her and sing at the Grammys *blush* wearing fabulous color block Louboutins and publish a beautiful cookbook where I'm pictured wearing floaty white dresses, setting up my rustic yet elegant table, firing up my pizza oven, and smooching my kids.

This of course also means that I hate her, haha. I also love (almost) all the outfits she models on Goop.com. But the Lanvin to me is just a horrible transmogrification of a saree. Slightly vulgar too, but not in a witty Joan Rivers way. Pity, she's normally so sleek and classy but this just looks hoochie. I expect this from Kim Kardashian or even Rihanna. Gwyneth should just continue to age gracefully and go back to sleek sheath dresses and uber chic suits.

OK, it's this year's Emmys we were talking about. Ahh. Again, Claire Danes is one of my best dressed in Oscar de la Renta.

I absolutely love this graphic sequinned dress. Where can I get a cheap copy??



Speaking of cheap, Katie Holmes. Meh. Boring, boring, boring. Moving on.

Zoey Deeschanel, who apparently is one of today's hottest trendsetters:

Well, well. Why would you wear an 80's prom dress to the Emmys?? Why would you wear an 80's prom dress anywhere??? Also what's with the beehive?? Maybe she's paying homage to the late Amy Winehouse, but seriously no one but Amy could pull it off.

Melissa McCarthy:

My first thought was: Barney the dinosaur. OK that was politically incorrect, and downright mean. I'm sure she's witty and talented and all but you can't wear purple and expect me to not think of Barney.

Oh, and this is something else that caught my attention. Not the dress though. I didn't make much of this black Elie Saab that Evan Rachel Wood had on, but I'm totally digging her super cool hairdo



Altogether sleek, modern-slash-50's feminine with the razor shaved back and 50's like front. One day, when they invent a cream that will chisel my face and lift my saggy neck I will try this style. Admiring only for now.