Shopping and Other stuff

It's been awhile because of various health issues and also because I just haven't felt up to blogging honestly. I'm off to Singapore in August and I'm slowly getting ready to go, making lists of things to buy, things to pack, things I wish I could afford to buy :P

It's a bit all over the place at the moment. So in my attempt to "cope" I've become completely obsessed with make-up. Since I have limited resources when it actually comes to buying the stuff I've become totally psycho when it comes to checking beauty blogs. Which just added fuel to the fire. I have recently discovered a much healthier alternative which is doing beauty reviews on Makeup Alley (MUA). Since I basically buy most of the products that I buy after a tip from this website I figured I might as well contribute, because who knows, some other oily, acne-prone make-up lover could benefit from my wisdom. I've done like 26 reviews and I'm going strong. It's only hampered by the fact that I can sit for an hour at a go (health issues).

So anyway I'm going to be linking my reviews for any beauty products to my MUA reviews from now on. Brilliant, I know.

Anyway, here's the stuff I bought that I never got around to posting.

Something Borrowed - got this from The Book Depository for like RM18, super cheap. It's on everyone's fav chick lit list but I kinda hated it. I don't think I can do infidelity. Makes me feel ill.



I got the Shady Lady Vol 2. palette for sale at Sasa. I kinda hate it. See my MUA review here.

I got this great t-shirt for like RM40 from a stall in Empire Mall. It's from China and its super cute, long, comfy and has birds on it.

So that was all my random shopping, I also did a bunch of shopping for my Annual Dinner for work.

Let's start with the small stuff, I got this nail polish from Sasa. It's TERRIBLE. Horrible in fact. The normal Sally Hansen base coat is way better and the nail polish is a lurid fluorescent coral pink.

Got this Charles and Keith evening bag for like RM129 which is awesome, except for the fact that it cant really expand. I have a tendency to cram things into my bags so I think I may have already kind of damaged it.

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Got a MAC Lustreglass called Flashmode. LOVE IT. Read my review here. You know what? I cant find my review, anyway its a great product. Sheer fuchsia, nice and light and looks great layered on top of lipstick.

I got this Gosh Lipstick in Burgundy FREE with an order from Strawberry Net. Makes me look a bit like a prostitute. Actually it makes me look A LOT like a prostitute but with a bit of mixing or a light hand, its a superb berry color.

Got these ear-rings from black pearl, I wore the rhinestone ones for the annual dinner. A bit juvenile I know but they look really good on.

These Scholl shoes were RM188 so worth it and look amazing even though they're supposed to be comfy. Actually they are quite comfy.

Mum picked out this top for me, it was RM40. Looks really good on. Very asymmetrical, very sexy. A bit hot though.

So that's it :) Will be updating more on all the stuff I have to do before I goooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Flavor of my Week: White Oleander

I haven't done a random, non-shopping related blog post for a while so I figure here I go. I also haven't done a Flavor of the Week post so I figured I'd at least title the post to pretend like I was doing one. Let's face it though, I have absolutely no dedication nor discipline when it comes to blogging. Anyway, this past week I've been totally consumed by White Oleander.


On Thursday I stayed up till 1:30am reading it and basically almost passed out at work. It was so worth it. It's such a vivid, visceral book. I think I like it so much because of how beautifully its written. I love the author's word choice and the fact that its also got a very compelling story.

I've also started visiting the following makeup sites - Just a Bowl of Mouldy Fruit and Bubble Garm. I love their whole too much makeup look, it's so British and I like the overall style of their blogs.

I pre-ordered Something Borrowed from The Book Depository. So cheap, its only $5.99 and no shipping charges. I just have to wait like two more weeks and it will get here. I'm so happy I didn't buy it since it comes up to about RM19 and the cheapest I can get it here is RM42. It's the movie tie-in but who cares since its only the cover that's different.

I'm going to make chicken tikka masala for the family tomorrow night. Got the recipe off Eat Live Run. I made the marinade today and my mum helped me modify it a bit, more chili, more ginger. Should be good I'll let you know.

I'm back on Diane 35 for acne. So far so good. No migraines but my eyes are super dry. Irritating side effect.

I also discovered this website, Nail Fiesta, which sells OPI polish at RM33 a bottle. Much cheaper than the RM59 store price. I'm planning on ordering Dulce de Leche next week. Hopefully it's a smooth process and I'll definitely get more.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

I totally caved and bought Stieg Larsson's Bestseller, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I, and basically everyone else, have been seeing this book in displays everywhere and I figure, it's a bestseller so if a whole bunch of people like it - I probably am too.

Also since I read Carlos Ruiz Zafon's beautiful book The Angel's Game and Jed Rubenfeld's entertaining The Interpretation of Murder I figured that it's time for me to read something else other than my usual chick lit. I'll let you know how it goes.

I really wish I had it in me to do a huge blog post right now...

BUT I CAN'T. I'm just too bloody sleepy. I had this whole plan about how I wanted to write about how I'm so much better, list all the make-up I'm dying to buy, maybe even do a review on the one Lancome Juicy Tube I do own and even write a bit about how there's some serious drama, like always, going on at home.

But really all I want to do is get ready for bed and read more of The Swan Thieves. And the sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

Chickenpox Quarantine: Day 9

Today was ok, slow again, I think that I'll try to have a burst of activity tomorrow and the day after but today I just couldn't seem to face doing much. I pretty much...

1. Googled make-up blogs and celeb gossip websites.

2. Started re-reading The Blue Sword, my favorite book of all time. I first read it when I was twelve and at SFS. I love it still.

3. I watched Brothers, which was only so-so. I was saying to my mother that I feel like movies have lost their ability to connect with people because they're just not trying to anymore. They're just sort of formulaic and just don't seem to elicit any visceral response. Which is what I thought of Brothers. It could have been really good but it was just kind of flat.

4. Just watched A Perfect Getaway with my brother. It was really fun, very far fetched but just good old fashioned mindless fun.

So hopefully tomorrow I'll actually DO something :)

Chickenpox Quarantine: Day 8

So again, I did not get this post done on the day but instead the day after. I jut haven't been sleeping that well so I kind of just thought if I went to sleep like at 10, 10:30 I would be able to get a good night's sleep. Not so. I woke up every hour to pee even though I hadn't actually drunk that much water. As a result I'm out of it and mildly cranky and just feeling sorry for myself... good stuff, I know... :)

So yesterday I:

1. Read the last Traveling Pants book, Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood. I'm really glad I don't have to read them anymore, I think I've just gotten so sick of reading them simply because I HAD TO finish them. Which led to me kind of speeding through the last book. Maybe next time I'll read it first. Or not all at once or whatever.

2. I watched Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself which was, I'm sad to say, TERRIBLE. It was so bad. And I'm a really forgiving movie critic. Taraji P. Henson was undoubtedly very good given how wooden and predictable the script was. And although the story was standard Tyler Perry fare, I really felt like it was no excuse for how disjointed the editing was and basically how one scene just didn't flow to another. There were such huge gaps in the story telling that it really detracted from the whole movie. Adam Rodriguez looked smokin' hot but as an actor he is very limited and did nothing much to save the movie. Overall it was pretty bad, but I guess watchable if you do so without thinking about it too much.



3. Did some objective marking for my mum's class.

4. Wrote recommendation letters for my bosses so that they can change it for me. It's for grad school, I'm applying to do a Masters in Marketing which should be interesting...

5. Found out that I am now 55 kgs! I've lost 2 kgs so far! I can buy make-up! Woooooooo!!!!!

Chickenpox Quarantine: Day 7

I REALLY didn't do much today.

1. I mean yeah, I did read The Third Summer of the Sisterhood, but that was more out of obligation than anything else.

2. I sorted out my entire like 15 years worth of crap that I've collected so that I can start scrapbooking.

3. I watched half episodes of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, THS: Dirty Dancing and bits of Hancock.

4. I watched the latest Vampire Diaries episode. It was satisfying as always.

5. I watched Glee on StarWorld. Man I love that show. Also I love Lea Michelle/Rachel.

Chickenpox Quarantine: Day 6

Man, I was way too tired last night to do my daily update so I left it for this morning. Okay let's see, what did I do yesterday.

1. Read The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, it was great, but I'm definitely feeling the pressure of having to finish the whole damn series now. Which I have to, since I did start it...

2. I burned a couple of movies for Dad and bro.

3. Cleaned my room somemore, it's pretty much done so I think I'm going to go ahead and start sorting out stuff for my scrapbooking today. I don't have any movie I want to watch today so I should be able to do a whole day of "work."


4. I watched Broken Embraces/Los Abrazos Rotos. I thought that it was alright. For some reason it wasn't as effective as his older movies and not nearly as visually stunning as his last one, Volver. It could be the fact that the movie was literally interrupted like 10 times by phone calls and other stuff but I just couldn't get into it. What I did like about it was Penelope Cruz. Her performance in it is remarkable in ways that her English speaking performances never are. Also what I liked is how sort of stylized and clumsy the embraces in the movie are. It's a mixture of Old Hollywood and just like biting and gnashing. It's not realistic but it stays with you.

5. Watched a REALLY bad episode of The Ghost Whisperer with my brother. J. Love Hewitt, I'm sorry to say, is a lot bigger than shed used to be. By no means is she a fatty bom-bom but she's like got an ass you can grab onto.

Chickenpox Quarantine: Day 5

Man, so I saw the doctor today, she told me to stay home for another FIVE days. Basically the whole week. It's tragic. And yet not. Because I can actually get some stuff done. I was initially dreading it because things have been a bit chaotic in a bad way at home but today was better so I'm thinking that it might be good.

So since I've been banished from the dinner table early today (presumably so I don't give everyone THE POX), I am here doing my daily blogging a little early. I figure its a good idea since I think I'm going to turn in early today. Since I did wake up at 6:30am to see my doctor.

Ok so what have I been up to today:

1. Went to the doctah lady - as I said.

2. Read Ann Brashares Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the first book to be exact. I remember the first time I read these books I was staying in Katie's house for her annual Thanksgiving inviting that she did. I would be in the basement and read it before going to bed. Man, those were good times. That reminds me, I have to send a card to her mum. Anyway, it had the same effect today as it always does. I got teary eyed and very emo. Good books, I think I'll go through the whole series in the next couple days.

3. I watched An Education. So my thoughts on this movie are that I really enjoyed it. I think that Peter Sarsgaard was a little awkward, Alfred Molina was pitch perfect but the whole movie was, let's face it, entirely about Carey Mulligan. And I mean that in the sense that it was completely from her character's point of view and also because she totally owned and charmed the audience from the second we see her onscreen. She is luminous in this movie. In an entirely different way that Amanda Seyfried was in Mamma Mia!. Mulligan is like Audrey Hepburn, heartbreaking, naive, fresh and yet so poised for greatness - kind of luminous. She completely lives up the hype surrounding her and I'm so happy about that because it means that she's going to be around for a while.


4. I cleaned my room! Swear to goodness, it's looks way better than it did before. I think it might be able to do a complete overhaul by the time the week is over.

Right now I'm contemplating watching an episode of The Vampire Diaries, but I think I'll leave it for tomorrow. Trashy TV and some hanging out with the bro beckons me.

Chickenpox Quarantine: Day 3 & 4

Yeah, so, blogging on Saturday didn't quite happen so I'm making it a joint update for the past two days. I actually accomplished some stuff I was supposed to do, I've made this huge list of things to do while I'm quarantined - so let's get started on what I got started on:

1. I read Lisa Jewell's The Truth About Melody Browne. My mum and dad bought it for me since I'm stuck at home. It was actually very good, very poignant and different from most chick lit. But then again most of Lisa Jewell's books are like that. I was reminded of why I like her books so much, except I don't think it's going to get reread as much as the Shopaholic books or like a pure fluff love story simply because it actually has more depth.

2. Did more typing of mum's quizzes and tests. Again, I'm just glad that I can be of help, you know?

3. Furiously websurfed through all my favorite beauty blogs, I think my fav of the moment is Make Up and Beauty Blog. The blogger, Karen, is truly a woman after my own heart in every way. Her humor, her writing style and of course the fact that she actually wears a variety of make-up - not just like nude lips and nude eyes.

4. Watched Max Payne last night on TV. It was quite entertaining, kind of ridiculous but hey, Mark Wahlberg looked good. Actually a little too good for a dude who's still pining his dead wife but... you know, whatever.

5. I read InStyle's April Color Issue this morning and it was Fabu! I completely take back what I said about Ariel Foxman because it is an awesome issue, on par with the fantastic last year's Color Issue with Salma Hayek on the cover. This issue has Gwen Stefani on the cover and she looks AMAZING, outside and in the mag as well.


6. I watched the Ugly Betty episodes of "Fire and Nice", "All the World's A Stage" and "Million Dollar Smile". I had forgotten how lovely and lighthearted the show is and also how much I like it. Justin kissed a boy which is awesome and about time! Plus Austin is a seriously cute kid. I'm also very glad that Betty's braces are off, I know that you know she's getting way too hot/isn't the point of the show that she's ugly? But you know what? I'm happy that she's finally getting made over because it's ABOUT TIME.

7. Majorly revamped my filing system for expenses, banking, job information, tax information, etc. etc. It looks fabu and I'm very proud of myself - that I actually had the patience to do it basically.

That's about it - I'm going to go to bed now and go see the doc tomorrow morning and see what she says about my pox situation. Wish me luck!

Chickenpox Quarantine: Day 2

So today, I didn't really do all the fun stuff I was supposed to do but it turned out to be kind of a productive day. Sort of.

Today I:

1. Started reading Marian Keyes' Last Chance Saloon, almost done, I'll finish it right before I go to bed. It's probably my second favorite book by her. Love the whole Katherine/Joe storyline, like their chemistry just flies off the pages at you.

2. Typed up a quiz for my mum's work. I'm so happy I could help because of two reasons; one because I am a WAY faster typist and two because I can actually feel useful for a change.

3. Tried to watch the first episode of the 10th season of Dancing With The Stars. I wanted to do it because I find that I have an inexplicable fascination with Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls. Since she's going to be on it... well... I had to try to watch it. Alas, it was such utter crap that I just couldn't. I fast forwarded through the whole damn thing and frankly its just not worth wasting my life to watch her dance for two minutes. I'll just go download the Beep video and watch it again. Speaking of...



4. I just watched The Mist, this mildly terrible and yet strangely compelling horror/monster flick. Thomas Jane is the hero and basically everyone is stuck in this hardware store while a mysterious AND deadly mist falls over this small town. It's extremely ridiculous but there are some legitimate actors in this movie like Mr Jane, like I mentioned before, and Marcia Gay Harden and the prettiest woman EVER, Alexa Davalos.



That's about it for today. I'm super worried about my uncle in the States who seems to be getting sicker and also over some other family stuff which I won't air on the internet. So I'm pray-pray-praying and would really appreciate it if you could send good vibes my family's way.

I'm back. I swear.

So updates. The last time I wrote I was lonely at my new job and had no one to eat with. Now, a mere month later, I now boast a regular lunch mate. Who was as lonely as me. So we aren't exactly on the same wavelength, what with her being a whole 12 years older to me and having two kids but it's nice having someone to eat with. Even if she does ask me inane questions sometimes. All the time.

What else is new? Deepavali or Diwali as they say in North India, is coming up so it's all systems GO! in my house, especially in terms of cleaning. So far I've oiled our leather sofas and I'm waiting for more directives from my mother. I also cannot fit into any of my Indian clothes which bring me to the next thing I've been up to.

Recently, because I had to do a physical for my new job I found out I weighed like 58kg. I'm only 4'11". That is rather overweight. Still I'm one of those fortunate people who packs on the pounds everywhere as opposed to in my ass so I guess I should be grateful. I've decided to be proactive about the whole situation and join a gym. The gym of my choice? The hip-tastic Celebrity Fitness. I know, it's not exactly me and it's seriously flourescent, shiny and silver and everyone walks around in these ridonkulous purple outfits. But it's really close to home and the parking lot is relatively safe so whatever. The day I went there to sign up the marketing lady/girl/whatever was like, you're overweight, you should weigh like 46kg. I was like NO, I will not EVER weigh 46kg because the only time I did I was anorexic. And then she gave me this patronizing smile and was like No dear, you don't understand you'll be all toned up and you'll see. I was maybe about to smash her face. But I didn't so no worries. In any case the trainer during free personal training sessions was more realistic and said I should weigh about 50-52kg. I will report back soon or as and when I lose weight.

I'm making full use of my workplace's library. So far I've read Austen's Emma and Trisha Ashley's The Urge to Jump. Emma was actually really annoying because I think that Emma is an extremely annoying character, she's just really sure of herself and self-righteous when she's WRONG. And The Urge to Jump is alright, a little hard to relate to because I'm not an almost forty, 6 foot tall, fantasy author lady woman but it was cute. Lae also lent me The Lovely Bones, which was really good actually. I can't wait for Peter Jackson's adaptation and I definitely think that Saoirse Ronan's an amazingly good choice for who should play Susie. But my verdict is definitely out on Mark Wahlberg playing her dad. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Stephanie Meyer is ruining my life.

So basically after I watched Twilight like the obsessive teenager I am INSIDE, I went out and bought all the books (Actually it took me like 2 freakin' months to get all four because it turns out they kept getting sold out, go figure) that Stephanie Meyer had written in the series. Now because I have no time, I have been able to control the compulsion to read these damn things.

I read Twilight like two months ago, in like a day, and pretty much hated it in comparison to the movie. I think it's really poorly written and Bella in the book is way more irritating than Bella in the movie. I managed to hold off and read the next book, New Moon, like half a month later.

Then this weekend, I came back home with this plan to relax, do a lot of office work, write that damn short story that's due (final submission date on 31 March 2009...) and have an all round productive weekend. Instead I picked up Eclipse which I proceeded to read all of Saturday, finished it at 12:30 am Sunday, and then woke up 8 hours later and then started on Breaking Dawn, the final book.

I managed to wrench myself from the damn thing to go to my yoga class and now I think can probably hold off till next weekend. As you can see I have about 3/4 of the bookto go as evidenced by my fetching High School Musical bookmark (acquired from a storeroom clearout at work), peeking out from Breaking Dawn.

It's not like these books are THAT amazing. Well Book 2, 3 and 4 are hella more compelling than the first one BUT it's more than that it's like I can't stop. And I mean my love for Robert Pattinson greatly diminished once I realized that he errs a little too much on the side of crazy. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, click here for a transcript of his GQ interview.

So anyway, Stephanie Meyer is totally ruining my life. Those damn books. I don't know what the hell happens at the end of the last book but BTW if I had a choice I would totally go with the werewolf and not the vampire. Except he's WAAAAAAY too tall. Just sayin'.

I'm back from the dead!

I know that y'all had given up on me for good. I'm sorry - work is hard, my brain is mush and I'm exhausted. But I think I'm gonna try and do the whol: forget about work when I'm out of the office spiel. So... what else is new in my life?

...
Okay no wait, there must be something, I bought these snazzy Salvatore Ferragamo eyeglasses which might be the most high fashion thing I own. They're quite cool, they've got these little crystals on the side. The funny thing is after I actually got the lenses put in and I tried them on I was a bit like... are they actually flattering or not...? Do I look a bit like a cross eyed superhero? But now I've realized I just have to dress up a bit when I wear them. So I don't shame them.

Ching Wen, Laetitia and I went to The Curve last weekend, watched Ip Man (the third time for me), ate dinner at Marche and then at 9pm went romping around Ikea. It was fabulous.

I'm bumming right now, trying to figure out what to do, I think I'm going to go take a nap or read Jane Eyre for the 5th time.

So will write when I get a life, until then - BONJOUR!!!