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.