Wedding anniversary

Our 1-year anniversary was on 21 Jan 2013, fell on a Monday (my least favourite day of the week). After work, we went to a Thai restaurant in Subang Parade for dinner. Food was great, but the service was slow.

The next day, we had dinner at Holiday Villa. One of our wedding receptions was held at that hotel so we got a complimentary anniversary dinner as part of the wedding package. Food and service was excellent. Bread, salad and tomato soup for starters, main course: salmon for me, lamb for him. Dessert: banana parfait for me and tiramisu for him. We didn't take pictures with each other because a) the place was dark and b)I felt really chubby and unattractive on that day. We took pictures of the food only. After all, isn't that what people always do during special occasion these days? Take pictures of food?

Y doesn't want anything as anniversary gift. He asked me what I wanted. I said I want a kebaya (can't fit into the existing kebayas that I have!). So yesterday, we went to Amcorp mall and I picked a white kebaya with purple batik. White kebaya is a wardrobe staple, you can pair it with any colours of sarong.

5 things I'm into right now...

1) Taylor Swift

Love all her albums! From Fearless to Speak Now to Red...

2) Smule Magic Piano

My sister-in-law introduced this game to me and I'm hooked! Most of the time I'm playing "piano" on my iPad, feeling like modern-day female version of Bach :-p

3) Avene skincare products

4) Pinterest

I could spend hours going through all the interesting pins and reading the links to those photos. Pinterest gave me a lot of ideas when it comes to home décor, cooking, travel, fashion and beauty.

5) Scarves

I'm into scarves right now. Since I have a lot of low-cut tops, scarves are great accessories to cover the chest area. I do get funny looks when I wear them in this hot humid weather but whatever.

Vanilla

I'm happy today cos I did what I love the most -- shopping.

Hubby wanted to go to Ikea so we woke up early in the morning and headed straight there without having our breakfast beforehand! I didn't go crazy at Ikea like I always do, the reason is because I haven't got my December salary yet...sob sob. So I just bought a bunch of children hangers:

I'm glad that these children hangers can fit my UK size 6-8 clothes. The children hangers are cute, colourful and most importantly, cheap (RM 4.90 for a pack of 8). I bought 4 packs! Next week my plan is to iron and hang all of my clothes since 90% of my wardrobe consists of fabrics that crease easily.

Another thing which I've purchased is the Coffee Bean French Deluxe Vanilla Powder (Fat Free & No Sugar Added). I've always loved their Ice Blended Caramel & Ice Blended Vanilla and this vanilla powder is one of the important ingredients for both drinks. So excited to make my own Ice Blended Vanilla, hope it'll turn out well!

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At first I was contemplating whether to buy the Special Dutch Chocolate Powder or this Vanilla Powder. In the end I chose the Vanilla Powder because Vanilla has more health benefits compared to chocolate (not sure if this is really true or not...).

I googled the benefits of vanilla and here are some of the important points which I've found:

1. Helps with nausea (not that I experience any...)

2. Weight loss aid (yeay!!!)

3. Reduces anxiety and stress (might be useful for me...)

4. Healing of wounds

5. Regulates menstruation

5 major things that happened in 2012

2012 is coming to an end :-( I have mixed feelings about the coming year. Excited about what 2013 may bring and at the same time, worried about what's in store for me.

Here are 5 major things that happened in my life in 2012:

1) I got married

2) Moved into our own house

It's a double-storey terrace house. Considered huge because it's just the two of us staying there.

3) Added 2 new countries to my travel map

This year is the first time I went to Qatar and Thailand -- both for duty travel purposes.

4) Visited Stockholm again

Went to Stockholm for the first time in 2006 and never thought I would come back again but I did! For our honeymoon in June 2012. It's the best time to visit Sweden! 

5) 2012 is the year when I've taken the most number of international trips

Went to Doha, Qatar for 3 times in February (training), May (orientation) and October (meeting)... Stockholm, Sweden in June (honeymoon)... and Bangkok, Thailand in July (training).

In summary, 2012 is the year of learning and development for me. Praying for greater things to happen in 2013! :-)

Makeup primer for acne prone skin

I have acne prone skin and I just can't simply use any makeup primer.

One day I found a makeup primer for sensitive skin - Avene Oil Control Milk. The product claimed that it will mattify skin and it contains antibacterial ingredients that will prevent future breakouts so I decided to give it a try.

This product is definitely gentle on my skin but unfortunately, it is the worst primer I've ever used! Makeup DOES NOT glide smoothly after applying this oil control milk.

Then I found Avene Sensitive White Whitening Fluid. It's a moisturizer that helps clear blemishes with its whitening properties and it also can mattify skin.

I tried it and my foundation did go on smoothly on my skin BUT this moisturizer is not sweat resistant! Makeup melts away easily whenever I used this. Not a good look!

Next I decided to try the Avene Sensitive White Serum. This is not a makeup base actually but I think it does a better job keeping my makeup stay put compared to the usual makeup primers.

Whenever I use this before applying foundation, makeup will lasts for a very long time. On top of that, this product is suitable for my acne-prone skin. This is my favourite beauty product at the moment!

*All images from Google

Aquarius

Wow it's been a year since I last blogged!

I have no idea what to write about. So to get me started, I'm going to share the characteristics of an Aquarian which I found on Pinterest.

I'm an Aquarian and I think most of these characteristics fit me well. How about you fellow Aquarians out there?? Do you agree??

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AQUARIUS : The Water Carrier (Jan 21 - Feb 19)

• Dependable
• Impartial
• Thoughtful
• Generous
• Fair
• Independent
• Selfless
• Interested in others
• Loyal friend
• Strong willed
• Open minded
• Candid
• Observant
• Communicative
• Inventive
• Idealistic
• Individualistic

Blogger has made so much improvement since I last blogged. Oh, and I bought a new laptop a few months ago. Another pink Sony Vaio. So I'll definitely be blogging more often from now on.

Last day of 2011

How I spent the last day of 2011:

Woke up, had my breakfast. Figured that it's the right time to start eating healthy, so I started my day drinking a glass of warm water and ate mandarin oranges. Then I had a little bit of fried rice and a little bit of fried noodles.

Showered, got dressed and went to the tailor for my wedding dress fitting. I got 4 dresses:

1) Dress for solemnization ceremony: OK, but it's heavy with beads so putting it on and taking it off is such a hassle.

2) Dress for Reception #1: The slit at the back of the long dress is just too much! It almost goes up to my butt! I didn't realize this when I tried this on at the tailor's because I was busy focusing on other details, but I'm gonna send this dress back and tell her to stich up the slit because it's too revealing.

3) Dress for Reception #2: The most beautiful gown I've ever seen! Unfortunately, it's made of heavy duchess fabric and the tailor used a tiny zip. The zip got stuck and they had to put on a bigger, stronger zip to the dress.

4) Dress for Reception #3: This fits well, too bad it makes me look like I'm wearing a curtain.

So I only took 2 of the dresses home (for solemnization & Reception #1) and I paid for all my dresses to lessen my debt!

Next, went to Felda Villa to submit all the marriage documentation to the jurunikah.

After that, went to KLCC. Got my first full salary already, so I paid off my outstanding zakat for 2011. I was supposed to start paying zakat in May this year, but I put it aside until now, so the total that I had to pay is RM432.

After paying off the zakat, I felt better and I decided to buy a new pair of jeans at Levi's. I've always wanted the Curve ID jeans since October, but when I resigned, I didn't get my salary and last month, I didn't get full salary. The Slight Curve jeans didn't fit me, the Bold Curve fits me but doesn't look that flattering, so I bought the Demi Curve.

Then, I treated my parents for lunch at Dome. They had fish n chips, and I had this horrible grilled catch of the day. The chef can't even marinate a fish! Too salty. I think the best grilled catch of the day is still at Manhattan Fish Market.

Next, went to Swarowski. Nothing interesting there. Tiny, delicate, pricey jewellery. Not my thing.

At Parkson's accessories section, something caught my eye - Monet alphabet gold pendant. From RM248 discounted to RM173. Unfortunately the letter 'N' was not available. There was an 'L' which stands for Liyana, but I don't want to buy it because Liyana is the name my office colleagues call me.

Went to ISetan, hoping I could find the 'N' pendant. No luck.

Saw a Nine West handbag sale and there's a bag that I liked but the display was actually the last piece, so, no thanks.

Since I had no luck with shopping, I went home and tried to make full use of my day by folding clothes etc.etc.

OMG, I'm getting married in 3 weeks!