Beauty Newbie: Lip Balm

One of the few beauty essentials that I've been using for a really long time and really can't do without is lip balm. Here are my most recent picks!

1. Acca Kappa's Natural Mint Lip Balm

I'd really loved that this lip balm is really moisturising, and the minty feeling provides so much more relief, especially when I've been in air conditioned spaces all day. I also love that I can get all that in a tube format instead of a pot - most tube format ones I've tried aren't quite as moisturising as those in pots. Which was why I was pretty sad when I lost mine!

2. Melvita's 3 Honeys Nectar

My most recent purchase, it retails for RM62. Tried their tester in the shop and fell in love instantly. I'd been shopping around for a replacement after my Mukti one expired [Checked their website - don't think they even make the one in a pot anymore! It now comes in a soft tube.]. Well this one from Melvita did the trick! It's a little oily, so a really small dab is enough, but once applied it doesn't feel too oily or heavy.

It does have a mild taste that requires some getting used to, though [I'm assuming it's because it's a blend of 3 types of honey?]. I'll leave it up to you to decide what the taste reminds you of!

little things

Say hello to the cutest little present I've received this Christmas!

Hand sewn by the very lovely SY, this little sweetheart has yet to be given a name.

Suggestions anyone? Comments welcome below!

Another super random discovery over Christmas were these really yummy honey waffles D brought back from Holland. 

Doesn't look particularly impressive like that, does it? But one bite, and I was smitten.

I've gone and Googled it, and it turns out, these can be ordered online! Hmmm...tempting!

Yes, of course it's always food with me.

Omnomnomnomnom!!!

Ink's Holiday Picks

It's Sunday afternoon and I'm sipping my toffee nut latte (although it seems like they've run out of red cups early this year!), after having finished a Christmas performance with the orchestra.

How can I not feel like getting everyone else in the mood for the holidays?

Here are my top picks for getting into the holiday spirit!

1. Tony Bennett! His music never fails to make me smile - so why wouldn't his Christmas album be at the top of my list?

2. Jingle Bell Rock - pretty much any version of this song is still perfect for goofing off and dancing around while you're putting up the tree & decorations.

3. And of course, if there's someone you're missing this year, or maybe just want something super syok sendiri to sing during a karaoke sesh with the gang, this is it! 

4. Another staple in the Mac & Ink household - and it MUST be this version - the very, very, very best version of Last Christmas!

Okay going into Human Nature overload on YouTube now.

Buh bye.

Shopping in the most wonderful time of the year

So I started out wanting to write a post on 25 things I want this Christmas. 

Turns out, I'm a little less of a shopaholic that I'd thought! Couldn't make it to 25, but here are some of the most adorable things I've seen so far that are just calling out to me to buy them!

1.  A super cute Cath Kidston work bag.

I've been looking for a nice work bag for a while now - the backpack that the laptop comes with just doesn't cut it, especially when I'm wearing a dress to work. Definitely a splurge, so I'm still thinking really long and hard about it. 

2. Along the same lines as the work bag, I've of course been looking for more affordable alternatives. I've been quite sorely disappointed for ages - most would fall under the category of boring-bought-from-the-electronics-store. But this one from Bershka is so pretty yet functional. I think I just might get it!

3. Super cute cut-out dress from H&M. I saw it in the store, and thought it was perfect. At only RM 39.90, it's already hanging in my closet.

4. Although a girl can never have too many little black dresses, this one is just so tempting. Also from H&M. 

5. Another random find - these super cute passport cases. Saw this at one of those stalls selling purportedly "artisanal" and "handmade" stuff. But I searched "passport cases, pony" and found an entire page of exactly what I saw there. Here you go. Not as one-of-a-kind and handmade as it was made out to be by the stall. But still really cute!

Quote of the Month : December 2013

My obsession with ‘LOVE’

A while ago, I was googling ideas for bedroom decorations  when I came across an article that mentioned that it was good feng shui to have the words LOVE in the master bedroom. Since then, its become a bit of an obsession to find nice pieces of with the words LOVE.

I saw this wooden block on Pinterest (sold on Etsy) and have been on the lookout for a similar piece for quite some time. 

To my delight, I finally found the exact same (well almost) wooden ‘LOVE’ piece from Typo in Singapore. According to the price tag, it is sold for SGD24.95 and MYR59. I decided to buy it there and then despite the high exchange rate. Wasnt sure if it would be available in the KL shop. (Why isn’t there a Typo in Penang???)

Still wrapped up the way it came, my beautiful LOVE is sitting on the shelf above my bed for now. I’ll make sure to find a good spot for it in the new house!

Moustache Houze

Over the past year or so, the whole idea of quaint little cafés seems to have caught on and there seems to be a new one to explore every time I go home. 

The latest one I've checked out: Moustache Houze. 

I love fads. Either going all out and being totally into them, or just being all snarky about how dumb most of them are. But one of the fads I've taken the latter disposition to has to be the whole moustache pattern thing  - I mean seriously what is with wearing a top with moustaches printed all over it? It just makes no sense...and makes me feel a tad squeamish. 
But then again who am I to talk when I put this little pic together? 

So back to the cafe. Seriously how does one build a business around a passing fad? I went doubtful and with my most cynical mindset in play. 

It's still pretty beyond me why people are all so ready to engage with these props & photo ops that don't really mean anything to me. But what the heck, I didn't really like how crowded the counter area was - so I sat around and took pictures while the guys ordered for me.

Because I was there around Halloween.

Am I the only one who finds the floating books with moustaches a little bit of a weird force-fit?

And what quirky little cafe in Penang would be complete without the furniture made from vintage doors or grilles?

Moh Moh Instagramming his drink & cake (green tea and, I think, red bean..ick), while KW and I attempt selfies celebrating our BRFs.

So, this is supposedly the specialty here - their "Special Ice Cube". The lack of the plural form in the name, when there are several flavours available, and two cubes in a glass, totally bugs me. But okay, whatever. It was pretty awesome. These are the kiwi and pineapple ones. 

Pretty much a fruit popsicle in a glass.

Pour soda water into the glass, and voila!

Not particularly loving this place. But would totally go back again to just hang out in the smaller rooms upstairs. Oh yeah, the bathrooms, as we found out from the super cute waiter, are upstairs. You'll need to take your shoes off, and climb up the steep and narrow staircase. Remember to stay clear of the people carrying trays of their drinks and food up to the rooms. And, you know, give people the "Will you walk faster?" look as they balance their trays up the stairs, and you wait practically forever for them to get to the landing so you can go back downstairs. 

Disclaimer: Recently went to dinner with a couple of friends - one an actual food writer, the other a chef. The writer lamented how many a blogger out there writes a lot about food, without knowing head or tail about food at all. My silence led to both of them looking at me while the writer very carefully asked, "Nobody at this table is a food blogger, right?"

"No. Not a food blogger," was what I choked out.

So here it is - read for your own entertainment only. 

My relationship with food solely revolves around eating - in a super normal, don't care what drink goes with what food to be eaten with what piece of cutlery sort of way. And I'm unapologetic about it.

Yum.

When you've got a Tuesday off...

You go for a late morning swim and get a case of sunburn that's so worth it!

Then, go for lunch at this little place called Coliseum.

Never really did my homework about this place, but it's apparently been around for ages in KL. And recently, they opened an outlet at Plaza 33 in PJ - the one I went to.

Be forewarned, as I rightly was, this is one of those places that seems to be talked/written about so much that it's kind of become a little over-rated; setting one up for disappointment.

So now that you've been warned, you can go in and enjoy a slightly pricey-for-its-standard meal that really isn't too bad at all. 

Checking out the place while waiting for my food. 

While Kenny freaked out that I was shamelessly photographing some cute guy who was walking by. 

Did not notice him, by the way. Was too busy zooming in to get this pretty-if-I-may-say-so shot.

So, on to the important bit: the food!

The chicken cordon bleu that costs RM 28.90.

Yes, I'll be frank. Good. But over-rated and a tad over-priced.

But definitely satisfying enough to recharge before going in search for phone covers. 

Found a super cute one with those Hello Kitty-like bows that I shall figure out how to photograph with my phone in it at some point. 

Quote of the Month : November 2013

Confessions of a Papierholic

I have a weakness for cute stationary. My name is Mac and I’m a papierholic.

My addiction was fueled at the Kikki-K shop in ION Orchard, Singapore. I was on a high the moment  I stepped into the lovely shop. The walls were lined with shelves of gorgeous notebooks, planners, diaries, pen, pencil cases, paper pads, cards, gift tags, desk accessories, document folders and so much more. I wanted everything!

I would have bought the whole shop had my wallet allowed. And so with that though, I decended back to earth and let my practical side take over. A half hour or so of careful & painful deliberation later, I narrowed down my selection to only 2 items.

A 2014 typography calendar...

... snd a weekly 'To Do' list pad.

 

I love their simple and very practical designs. They will make a beautiful addition to my work desk.

Beauty Newbie: Gel Eyeliner

If there's one kind of makeup I still haven't quite figured out, it's eyeliners.

Most probably because it's one of the most recent things I've started using. 

Seriously, how does one not freak out at something sharp coming at your eye? Even worse when those make up counter ladies insist on putting eyeliner, and sometimes eyeshadow on your waterline (another word I only recently learnt). I can't even bring myself to bring make-up remover that close to my eyeball. Which leaves me looking like a zombie bleeding eyeliner for the 24 hours after my lame attempt at makeup removal.

So, when actually using eyeliners myself (lash line only!), I usually prefer pencils, simply because they're easy to use and mess-free. That is, until it's the middle of the day and I start looking like a raccoon despite having only put on a very thin line of eyeliner. Somehow, no matter what base, concealer, loose powder or whatever I try, my eyeliner still runs. Especially on hot, humid days. 

Definitely no winged eyeliner looks on hot days. Ever!

So, I finally tried out gel eyeliner. The one I'm using is this bluish one by Face of Australia.

 Having received this from someone, as opposed to buying it, I'm not too sure what the exact colour name it is, but checking out their site, it looks like I've got the purple one!

But it really does look more like a dark blue. 

Whatever. It suits my skin tone. And my clothes. 

I'm good. 

I love it. 

Still working on doing a winged eyeliner look with gel, though.

Yes, it is budge-proof!

My only complaint about gel eyeliners so far? Having to clean the brush!

Quote of the Month: October 2013

Found this one shared by a friend on Facebook.

Apparently, lyrics to music I don't really listen to. 

But a tempting mantra to live by. Sometimes. 

Sometimes, all you need to do is ask

So, here's a short post before we all head out for another awesome weekend.

I'm pretty sure it's happened to all of us at some point or other. Or we might have even been guilty of this once or twice.

You're supposed to have a relaxing boardgames night in with the gang, when suddenly one in the group brings along someone they fancy, and keeps letting them win.

Or an awesome girls' night out. But someone brings her guy along as if it's the most natural thing in the world.

Well that didn't happen last weekend. 

Because, trivial as it may be, there are times I think most of us forget how to be more considerate people. So much so, I hadn't even realised that there was this very simple solution to situations like this. Until a friend of mine, one half of a very happy couple, presented the solution I didn't even know I needed.

She asked if she could bring her guy along. 

That was when we bought our tickets to Tiesto. 

Which was shortly after a disastrous evening where I thought I was headed out for a movie with my two friends, and a girl one of them had recently started seeing. Only when we met up did I find out that the other friend had brought someone along, too. Nevermind that he didn't have a shot with her. I could've at least been given a heads up. And maybe brought along someone I didn't have a shot with either. At least then I wouldn't be the odd person who didn't have someone sitting across from me at dinner. And I'd have someone to offer half of my humongous pile of mashed potatoes to without it being awkward.

"What? Are you crazy? Of course we'd never say no!" was our response when she asked. 

But the point is, she asked.

The result?

No surprises.

No awkward moments.

Lots of partying to awesome music. 

Everyone's happy.

Cheers to that.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Bring along a sunny disposition...and an umbrella

Now, where was I?
Oh yes, food and Legoland.

Awesome food in unexpected places.

So, still a little on the hotel - I think we should have done waaay more reading when picking the hotel. Too late to eat at JB City Square (because it was already past 9pm when we were ready to head out for dinner), and too tired to go anywhere further, we walked around the area surrounding the hotel looking for food. 

It was also the sort of area where GM insisted I not bring along my handbag. Which contained my camera.

So when we finally stumbled upon this dirty back alley somewhere around the hotel that was just lined with food stalls, I did not have my camera handy.

And also I was pretty busy trying to avoid puddles, and keeping an eye out for rodents and other miscellaneous creaturs, which I just knew would be there.

Not very convinced, but really too tired to care, we all decided to give this place a go.

So here are my not very awesome iPhone photos:

From the top row: our boys doing the ordering while Doris and I got settled into our seats at our table, and I figured out how I'd position my seat so I avoid this constant drip of water that was coming from above, somewhere.

Middle row: Food that honestly didn't look like much. When it comes to ikan panggang, all you see is food drenched in oily, and oh so yummy sauce.

I'll let the last row speak for itself. Burp.

Now, the funnest place on earth.

Okay, I exaggerate.

Before the trip, lots of my colleagues were warning me that Legoland is going to be really hot, with little shade. And there also wouldn't be all that much to do. 

All kind of true. But as luck would have it, and as seen in the above pic, it was a pretty cloudy day when we got there. With few rides, and most of them being more suitable for kids, or adults with kids, I pretty much only went on one which was the dragon one. 

If you're one of those need-this-rush-to-feel-alive types, this probably won't do it for you. 

Be prepared to walk. A lot. And keep your eyes peeled.

What is awesome about the place, though, are all the little quirky details that you can just walk around and take in.

Like this fella over here, seen through the window on the way to the dragon ride.

Or these workmen "putting up" the signboards around the park.

And also pirate ships with a big red button just outside the display for you to fire the water canons on the ship at your pals.

Use with discretion - the water fires at approximately adult crotch level (perhaps that's only if you're as short as I am). And will most likely elicit a reflex WTF from your victim, who will feel sheepish after, given the number of kids around.

Other randomly cute things:

I could handle this. I think.

I also thought it was great how organized and child- & family-friendly the place was, what with all the stroller parking areas, and very, and I mean very pleasant staff. 

When it rained over lunchtime, which meant all the cafes were utter pandemonium, all of their staff remained really professional, and were really quick with all the clearing up, setting up extra chairs, rearranging tables to seat more groups etc. etc. I did not expect this at all from anywhere in Malaysia (don't get me started on my rants about customer service) and was really impressed!

By the time we were done with our surpirsingly good seafood tom yam pasta, there was also a balloon artist by the door, keeping all the kids happy campers. No wonder the sound of screaming children (one of my least favourite things in the world) was really quite negligible considering the number of kids there. 

Our next stop after lunch was the City Stage - simply because there still wasn't much we could do while it was still raining. 

When we went inside, I immediately wanted to run away. There's something about those interactive shows that get kids to volunteer, come up on stage, and dance around to annoyingly un-childlike music (in this case it was them trying to teach kids to do the Gangnam style dance, to the sound of Gentleman, ick) that just makes me cringe - even when I was the appropriate age to be one of the kid volunteers. 

So I stood by the entrance, willing the rain to stop, hoping to make a mad dash out of there. 

But damned their super efficient and organized staff, who can very politely but so firmly tell you to go sit down and stop blocking the stroller parking area. 

So we sat down, and my first very cynical thoughts were "So this is what happens to out of work dancers, beatboxers and DJs."

But okay, they were pretty good.

And of course, the trip wouldn't be complete without having bought something.

Presenting.....

my super cute Lego key light.

and my super awesome Stormtrooper! 

Note to self: bring own towel

Sometimes you just a change of pace.

Sometimes you just need to reconnect with the people you used to be a kid with to be kids again. 

Sometimes you're so badly in need of both, you wish you could blow off work on Friday and leave for vacation one day early. 

Or maybe that's just me. 

Travel with people you actually like.

That way the long wait at the airport actually feels like fun; no mobile games, books or magazines required. 

They'll also be the ones who order for you while you arrive fashionably late, just because you want something off the breakfast menu and won't make it in time before they change to the regular menu. And also not call you a diva when you walk back to Starbucks to get your coffee just because you insist McDonald's coffee makes your heart race.

Be secretly happy when the shopping isn't all that great - you're definitely not going to budget.

First stop: Johor Premium Outlets.

It was our first time there, but most of us have heard enough not to expect anything too amazing. And we were, as expected, not particularly wowed.

I went hoping to get myself a new pair of shoes for the gym, but no such luck. Both the Nike and Adidas stores seemed to have more clothes than shoes. Got quite excited at Nike for a second - my favourite designs of sports bras and shorts were on sale - but of course, they were not available in my size. 

So, what were the pretty amazing deals we found at JPO? The deals on things I have absolutely no use for at the moment, of course. And one of them would come in the form of RM 100 for two super cute La Senza sets that would otherwise cost above RM 200 each (according to the store assistant, at least).

So, haul for the day: two super cute knickers from Victoria's Secret and a pair of cute peach-coloured jeans from Gap.

All the while, the boys were so sweet - no complaining whatsoever while the two of us shopped all afternoon. Or maybe it's because they got to hang out and talk about whatever it is they talk about when we girls aren't around. 

Bring your own towel. 

None of us really had much time to do much research for this trip. We just bought the flight tickets and that was that. So as the date of the trip drew nearer, a compromise between number of stars, our budgets and availability had to be made.

We ended up with Citrus Hotel in JB - ranked 13 of 73 hotels in JB on Trip Advisor, with 3.5 stars (4 stars on some travel review platforms). 

Perhaps we should have done more reading, and probably kept in mind that all these travel sites don't really award stars in a standardized manner, because four stars my little tushie. 

Don't get me wrong, they have all the basics - staff were pleasant, beds were comfy, bathrooms are in perfect working order, and food is decent. So here's the rest of it:

About a week before we went on the trip, GM did some research because he was borrowing a colleague's MPV to fit the six of us comfortably during the trip. That was when we found out this hotel does not have its own parking. So be prepared to park along the street, if you can find any lots there, or in JB City Square, which was what we opted for. 

So for RM 198 a night, you get no assurance that you'll get exactly the kind of room you booked, or that all your rooms will be nearby. However, the upside is if you've booked the smallest kind of room, this means you'll likely get bumped up into a bigger, better room if they run out of the kind of room you booked. 

I ended up with the family room, which comes with a double bed and a single bed. And lots of empty floor space because there's no other furniture aside from the beds, a little table with your basic coffee-making needs, and a chair. Oh, and a TV mounted on the wall. The walls are pretty thin so don't expect to get away with laughing and cheering over drinking games - we got ourselves an angry shout from one of the neighbouring rooms.

So, to my upgraded room we go. The place has two lifts: a tiny one that just fits the six of us and our bags, with no wiggle room; and an even tinier one which just fits Jeff, our luggage, me and my claustrophobia.

It's also another one of those hotels that have bathroom doors that don't lock - like completely doesn't have a lock. What is with that? Seriously, is it so expensive to install a door that at least latches from the inside?

Jeff pretty much freaked out that I didn't bring my own towel, while I nonchalantly said that all hotels have towels, it'll be fine.

It wasn't.

First one I unfolded had stains on it. 

Second and third ones were fine, although not quite as white as they should be. They also use that commercial detergent or softener that what seems like all cheap hotels use that smells like...er...some other liquid of similar consistency to softener.

Okay, tired. More on food and Legoland in my next post. 

Keys To The New House

It's official....got the keys to the new house just last week!!

And now the fun begins. Having decided to plan, design and decorate the house ourselves without getting an interior decorator, the hubby has already dubbed it our 'Mega Project' of the century and I foresee a lot of hard work ahead for us. It will mean having to work with the contractor ourselves and decide on every detail of the house, the design, fixtures, electrical wiring, lighting, paint colour and we'll have to pick out every home appliance, every piece of furniture, curtains, etc.

I'm all excited yet terrified at the same time. Whatever the outcome, we'll literally have to live with it for the rest of our lives (well at least for a very, very, very long time to come).

Where to start?