Be Gorgeous!

Start your day with a smile!

2010-08-22T03:25:00.000-07:00

Look at good photos! Hang or paste some really awesome photos in your house, like family photos, birthday photos with your friends or holiday photos or any type of photos that show happy moments. Make sure they're not somewhere hidden. Put them by the door, or by your bedroom or even in your bathroom (that way you can see it straight away in the morning when you're brushing your teeth or having a shower). That way every time you pass by it the photos you don't have a choice but to look at them. And your mind will automatically remember those good times you had and make u smile!

Quick Tip!

2010-08-16T03:24:00.000-07:00

Best detergent to use to get rid of stains out from your favourite dress/top/clothes:

Seriously, guys, and I'm so not lying... its our famous shower gel, LUX!

I've used to this to get rid of blood stains, food stains, oil... etc.

Its so simple! Just dab some water on the stain. Take about a size of a 50 cents coin of the Lux shower gel. If its a small stain, you don't even need a brush. Just use your fingers to sort of scrape it of (is that even the right word...? watever!) and then rub the cloth together. It wouldn't be gone right there and then, so just put it in the washing machine, and wash like you normally do!

Good Luck!

I will always remember you...

2010-08-06T05:13:00.000-07:00

I know this has nothing to do with beauty or fashion or even anything that I usually blog about. But today I would like to share my sorrow.
At 6.30 pm today, I received a text msg from my father saying that my aunt has passed away after losing her battle with intestine cancer. I was devastated.
Images of her came one by one in my mind. Her smile, her laugh and her calmness.
Early this year, when she was diagnosed with the illness, it shocked the whole family. But I guess everyone was hoping that she will be cured, or at least, no one expected that she would go that early.
And the most regretful thing is, I was at home, in Malaysia when I received the news. I planned to go to the hospital to see her, but somehow I never did. I don't really know why. Now I wish I did. Even worst, I think the last time I saw her was about a year ago. I know its too late. I'm sorry, Mak Ngah.
I was never really close to her. As in, we don't really go out shopping together or anything... but when we meet, we usually have a good conversation together.
When I was a lot younger, I used to stay at my grandparents' house, and I used to see her on a regular basis with her husband. The younger image of her sitting in my grandmother's kitchen is still vivid in my mind.
It had always been very pleasant talking to her, with her smile that never faded and she had a calm face... like an angel. Ever since I was about 9, I know my aunt went through a lot in life. Of course as a kid I knew all about it by eaves dropping my parents' conversation. And from all the facts I've gathered, she became one of the person I respected the most. With everything she went through, till this day, I don't know how she became the person she was. She was kind, soft spoken, warm hearted, patient (I don't think there's even a limit to her patience) and.... I can't even explain anymore.
Now, I only have memories of her... and only good ones. Coz there're definitely no bad memories of her... definitely nothing. I always love u and remember u.

Travel Lite for Summer

2010-07-25T03:51:00.000-07:00

I've just came back from a Euro trip, and it was just oh-so amazing! But amazingly, I was able to travel light, and there was no overweight luggage even at the end of the trip. Awesome right?
I was in Amsterdam, Paris and London. And they're such amazing cities. Honestly, I was abit emo on the last day. It was sad leaving. Damn, I guess I suck at goodbyes.
But I must say that its not easy to travel light and looking pretty at the same time. But who says you can't look pretty while traveling? And who says you have to chuck your make-up bag when you're on holiday? Remember, you're going to take lots of photos, people are going to look of them (thats including your grandchildren later!), these photos are something that you would keep forever. So if you're going to hate the way you look how are you going to go back and look at them again in the next 5 years? Ok, now I sound like a total bimbo. I am not, ok? Haha. Anyways, my point is, you want to look good in your photos without the hassle of big make-up bags, right? You want to wear your favourite shorts and tops without worrying they look to boring because you might have to reuse them?

ESSENTIALS:

1. 1 LBD (Little Black Dress) - You might want to hit the club or even have a nice dinner. So, make sure its not too short and not too tight. Its never nice to have dinner in a really super short dress. This might sound boring, but black is the way to go when you have to travel light. You can't be fussy about colors at this point of time. Plus, black is classic! Hello look at Audrey Hepburn! Awesome!

2. A pair of really high black pumps - This way you don't have to bring more than 1 pair. Travel light, remember?

3. As many undies as you can - Ok, you can't travel light when it comes to this. Coz women have to change their undies as often as they can. You don't want to get thrush or fungal infection, ladies! Its really not pleasant especially when you're traveling. You'll end up not enjoying your vacation, if you get infected. Oh yea, make sure they're 100 % cotton. Non cotton undies don't absorb sweat, makes it easier bacteria and fungal to breed.

4. 4 bras- 1 pair of sports bra, 2 multi functional bras, 1 of your favourite. too little? Nahh. I think its just enough. If you think they're too dirty to wear just wash them in the sink with your shower gel and let it dry in the sun. Its summer, baby, thats what the sun is for!

5. Only 2 g-strings or thongs - Only for occasions, ok? Don't look for trouble wearing them every day during your trip.

6. Bathing suit - Its summer, go for a swim!

7. 1 pair denim - You don't have to wash them that often, plus they're heavy. Just bring 1 pair of your favourite denim and make sure they're comfortable as well.

8. 4 pairs of shorts - They're small and light. So ideal for light traveling.

9. 10 tank tops - I knows this sounds a lot, but tank tops are so light and they don't take much space in your luggage. Go for neutral colors like black, grey, white or brown

10. Scarfs - Bring about 3 of your favourite scarfs. This way, you don't look like you're wearing the same thing over and over again.

11. Cardigan - Take 1 long sleeves with you. Sometimes it can get a bit chilly at night.

12. Jewelleries - Ok, this is very important. Since you're going to be in your shorts and tank tops most of the time, you might look abit dull or can be boring. So, sex it up with jewelleries. Wear a long necklace, or several silver bracelets or even a loud pair of earrings. Just make sure they're not too tiny. Make sure they stand up. Good jewelleries can make anything that you wear stand out. They don't have to be expensive. Remember, not all cheap jewelleries look cheap. Sometimes they can look even better than the expensive ones!

13. Hair dryer - Get a small folded one. Depending on where you're staying, you can't get hair dryers in all hotels.

14. Transformer - This is very important to charge your phone, laptop and camera. Get the 4 in 1 or 5 in 1, so that you don't have to bring whole loads of them in your luggage,

15. Toiletries- Buy the traveling packs. They're usually pretty cheap and you can get them in pharmacies. Get shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, make-up remover, facial wash, and toner. Don't depend on room service at your hotel, its useful to have everything handy

16. Band- aid - Just get small ones, just in case you get cuts or bruises. You never know!

17. Flip flops - Trust me, you will need those. Sure you can wear your walking shoes all day, but there will be some days where your feet are just too tired to walk, but you still have to walk and all you want are your pair of flip flops

18. Sunscreen- Get the ones in small packaging coz you won't be able to finish the whole bottle anyways. If there're any leftovers, just throw it away. You'll need the space later

Make- up

1. Light foundation - I use maybeline mineral foundation. Get the ones in small bottles

2. Light loose powder - I use Laura Mercier mineral loose powder. Seriously recommended! Its light with full coverage!

3. Lip gloss

4. Natural eye make-up palette - get small ones. I use Dior shimmery natural smoky eye palette. Totally awesome!

5. cream blusher - get the ones in very tiny jar. You can take it everywhere! I'm currently using Maybeline's cream blush

6. Eyelash curler (only if you have straight eyelashes)

7. Mascara

Others

1. facial cotton & cotton buds - Believe me, you will need them

2. If you use contact lens, take the traveling pack solution. Just take 1 bottle 1 first, if you need more, get them later while you're traveling.

3. Small bottle of deodorant and perfume - you will need those.

4. Lots and lots of panty liners! - You might be running out of undies towards the end of your trip. So these layers of cotton, will definitely save your va-jay-jay from feeling uncomfortable. Take a few in your handbags, and you can change in between trips or even whenever you feel sweaty and uncomfortable

5. Tampons. - even if you're not a tampon user, this might be the time you would to give them a try. They're incredibly light and handy, But of course, if you're not very comfortable using them, continue using the sanitary pads. They're not heavy either.

6. Supplements - I think vitamin c is very important. After all you need to get your immune system strong for your amazing journey. I took berocca on my trip, and it was very useful. Plus, Berocca is very good at curing hangover :)

7. 1 book. I know I might sound ridiculous, but you're traveling lite remember? Yes, I know you will need your travel books and stuff. My suggestion would be, before you go for your trip, get a good research, and download everything on your laptop or iphone or blackberry or ipad or whatever. That way you don't have to bring heavy books everywhere. But make sure u have a good and reliable laptop or any other electrical devices

8. Battery charger - I make this mistake sometimes. You have to bring your charger... for your phone, camera and everything else.

I think thats everything! But my advice is, have a check list on what you want to bring at least 1 week before your trip so that you won't leave anything behind. Also get some small bags or pouch to create compartments in your luggage. This way, you don't have to take everything out for 1 small thing. I'll probably add more later if I missed something. Have a good summer holiday!

3 Day diet Plan

2010-06-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

My last blog was on my protein diet. So, did I managed to maintain the weight? The answer is, a bit. Haha. Ok, I've gained a bit of weight since I stopped my protein diet, which in my opinion is normal. Coz your weight fluctuates all the time. Today u can me 47 kg and tomorrow u can be 49, and the next day you're back to 47kg! Thats quite normal as long as you're still in the 1-2 kg weight gain range.
Anyways, me and dearest hubby are going for a 3 week euro trip, and I badly need to lose weight. Its summer over there, and I've got to look good!! Hello!
So, I'm doing this 3 day diet plan. They claimed that it can me me lose 10 pounds (4.5kg) in 3 days. Lets see if its going to work.

3 Day Diet Plan Menu

Day 1

Breakfast
1 slice of toast with a spoonful of peanut butter
tea or black coffee
1 glass of grape fruit juice

Lunch
1 slice of toast
1/2 cup of chicken or tuna
tea or black coffee

Dinner
Beef or Chicken (3 oz)
Green Bean or Carrots (3oz)
Vanilla Ice Cream and an apple

Day 2

Breakfast
1 slice of toast
1 egg
1 banana
Black coffee or tea

Lunch
1 cup of low fat yogurt or
1 can of tuna with 7 saltine crackers

Dinner
1 cup of broccoli or cabbage
carrots
1/2 banana
beef
1 cup vanilla ice-cream

Day 3

Breakfast
1 apple
1 oz of cheddar cheese
saltine crackers
black coffee or tea

Lunch
1 slice of toast
1 boiled egg
black coffee or tea

Dinner
1 cup of tuna or chicken
melon
carrots
1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream

I've completed my 2 weeks protein diet!

2010-05-10T05:07:00.001-07:00

Yay! I can't believe I finally did it. Being able to eat carbohydrate again feels great. Honestly, I've never appreciated rice this much before.
But I feel great! I feel lighter, my clothes feel better and I definitely feel good. But of course, if I don't want to pile up those weight again I've got to control what I eat. Its all about portion control!

Protein Diet -Day 14

2010-05-10T05:06:00.000-07:00

Breakfast- Protein Shake

Dinner- Fish

Last day!!

Protein Diet -Day 13

2010-05-07T23:32:00.002-07:00

Breakfast- Protein Shake

Dinner- Tacos fillings

Protein Diet -Day 12

2010-05-07T23:32:00.001-07:00

Breakfast - Omelette

Dinner - Roast Chicken

Protein Diet -Day 11

2010-05-05T03:33:00.000-07:00

Lunch - Omelette

Dinner - Roast Chicken

O.M.G. I can't believe it had been 11 days since I last had carbohydrate. yes, I'm counting days, and I just can't wait to celebrate. To be honest, I didn't expect to make it this far. Its unbelievable, really.
I was cooking fried rice just now, and I was just tempted to have a bit, even if its just 1 spoonful. But I didn't. I've made it this far, why ruin it? My whole diet would be pointless then.
But the good news is, I'm very close to my goal. I've lost 3 kgs, I feel happy, confident and light. I look better and I'm able to wear some of my clothes I couldn't wear. Yay to me!

Protein Diet -Day 9

2010-05-03T02:31:00.000-07:00

Breakfast - Protein Shake

Dinner - Sambal Fish

Ok... i know it looks like I've been starving myself, but really, I haven't. My appetite hasn't been so good these days, and I really don't know why.
Today was the 1st day of class and I was surprisingly not weak. I wasn't hyper, but I wasn't as tired as I expected. But thats probably because I had an early class that ended at 12. Lets see how everything goes tomorrow as my class starts and 1 and ends at 4. And I have an interview at 5. Wish me all the best!!

Protein Diet -Day 8

2010-05-02T04:12:00.000-07:00

Lunch- Assam Pedas (Just the fish)

Dinner - Chicken

6 more days to go, and I'm counting days to celebrate. Next week is going to be hell since class starts tomorrow. Urrghh is going to be tough. I know i'm going to be moody, cranky and hungry. Plus, I usually bring snacks like chocolates and stuff to class so that I won't fall asleep. But next week, I can only take fruits. Even my kitten eat more luxuriously than I do. Sigh.
But I'm seriously feeling a lot lighter. But too bad my scale isn't working so I don't know if I've achieved my goal. I should go to the gym tomorrow and weigh myself.

Protein Diet -Day 7

2010-05-02T04:09:00.000-07:00

Breakfast - Bits of lamb

dinner- Salad

I can't believe it! I'm already half way through, and I didn't even once cheat on my diet. I kinda skipped lunch today since I wasn't hungry and didn't feel like eating. It was hard looking at everyone enjoying their pizza and I was concentrating on my salad. But I've been getting compliment! Yay!

Protein Diet -Day 6

2010-04-30T21:52:00.000-07:00

Dinner - Lamb Curry

Ok, I know this is really bad, but I seriously didn't feel like eating today, so I skipped breakfast and lunch. And I had a few small pieces of lamb. I don't know why, but I wasn't hungry, and food didn't really appeal to me. But I did drink lots of water.
A friend of mine came over and brought a big piece of brownie, and yes, I was tempted. Though I didn't have the appetite to eat, I was still tempted. But thinking about my diet, I didn't even take a small bite. Haiihh... I want cake. I want pancakes.
So, I have 1 more week to go, and then I'm done!! Can't wait

Protein Diet -Day 5

2010-04-29T04:42:00.000-07:00

Breakfast - 1/3 of 1/3 nando's chicken

Lunch- rest of the chicken

Dinner - Agadeshi Tofu

Its my 5th day and my body is craving for carb like hell. I'm telling myself not to give up over and over again. I haven't been well, so I didn't really feel like eating today. But I drank lots of water! Yay!!
So far I feel a bit lighter, and 2 people told me that I've lost a little weight. However, the scale doesn't tell me the same thing. Weird. I wonder why.
O.M.G. 9 days more to go. All I want now is rice, pasta and more and more pastries. And I find myself craving for sugar more than usual. Perhaps its because, since my body is not processing any carb into sugar, it starts looking for instant quick fix sugar.
I sure need lots of luck to continue this!!

Protein Diet -Day 4

2010-04-28T04:20:00.001-07:00

Breakfast - Woke up late, didn't have any breakfast

Lunch- Oxtail Soup

Dinner- Spaghetti Bolognese (without the pasta. Just the sauce)

Today was pretty hard as it was the first time I went to the gym since I started this diet. My stomach was making noises and I didn't have much energy. But I still went through the bodypump class for 55 minutes. It was the longest 55 minutes, ever! I was as hungry as hell when I got home, but somehow didn't eat that much, and I don't have any explanation. Maybe all I wanted was carbs not protein. Honestly, the hardest thing about this diet is temptation. People around me are eating pasta, rice, bread... and I'm stuck with protein. Its just my 4th day, and I'm almost giving up. But if I give up, I've got to give away my skinny jeans. All of them. No way I'm ever going to do that. Ever. At least not until I'm bored of them. Haha. 10 days to go!!

Protein Diet -Day 3

2010-04-27T06:16:00.000-07:00

Breakfast- Japanese Tofu

Lunch- 1/2 can of chickpeas

Dinner- Japanese Tofu & seafood

Today was pretty bad actually. Well, I'm not well, and the fact that I can't take any carbs make me feel even worst. But on the bright side, I've been dehydrated, so I drink lots of water!
I have 11 days to go and feels like ages! Tomorrow I'm going to the gym for the 1st time since I started this diet. I hope everything goes well. I'd probably take some protein shake before I workout just to fuel me up.
I've done so many types of diets before, and honestly, this is the best so far. Coz I don't feel cranky or tired or even weak. But I know I can not continue this diet for more than 2 weeks, coz my body needs carbohydrate.

Protein Diet - Day 2

2010-04-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

Breakfast - Fish and Chips (without the chips. Haha) & 1 Piece of Chicken wing

Lunch - Grilled Fish

Dinner- Barramundi Tacos Filling (Without the tacos)

Day 2 was much harder for me as we were on a camping trip. I guess the best way to stay on your diet is to stay at home. It wasn't easy for me to look for something that does not contain any carb at cafes and restaurants. Plus the fact that I was tempted to steal 1 potato chip from my friends, and taste that delicious juicy burger my hubby was eating. Sigh. And it wasn't easy for me to drink lots of water either coz I knew it would be hard for me to look for the toilet when I desperately need to pee over and over again. Yes, it is not a good idea to be on a strict diet when you're traveling.
It wasn't easy either when we got back. I was tired and too lazy to cook, so we decided to go for Mexican food. As soon as I stepped in the restaurant, I knew I didn't have much choice to choose from. There were tacos, nachos & burritos... all my favourite. So, I ordered 3 tacos, pushed the tacos aside and it the fillings. It was good though.
But on the bright side, I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms or anything. I didn't even feel weak. 12 more days to go!!!

Protein Diet - Day 1

2010-04-26T05:16:00.000-07:00

Breakfast - Woke up late (so, no breakfast)

Lunch - Hard Boiled Egg

Dinner - Hard Boiled egg with black pepper lamb

Haih, 1 st day is always the hardest. But I went through it. Everyone else was eating rice and I was stuck with hard boiled egg. But the saddest thing was I didn't manage to finish 3 ltrs of water. I didn't feel that tired though. Surprisingly, I was quite energetic!

Protein Diet

2010-04-24T07:57:00.000-07:00

Haihh... I've gained 4 kilos and I can't even fit in any of my skinny jeans anymore. Been wearing black for a couple of weeks now to create the illusion of 'no weight gain'. Hah i wonder if that really works. Its just for my own security I guess. Anyways, I've promised myself to go on a protein diet for 2 weeks. So, in this 2 weeks, I will not eat any carbohydrate and only consume protein. Oh yea, I'll also be drinking 3 ltrs of water. Lets see if it works. Wish me luck!!

Who would have thought...?

2010-02-18T08:59:00.000-08:00

When I was younger, I used to see my mum drinking her herbal drink or in Malay we call it Jamu. She would make weird faces because of the smell and taste ( I guess). And I was asking myself, why torture yourself?
My grandmother used to tell us not to eat Maggie Mee because of its MSG content, and eat lots of ulam (raw vegetables). Of course, being a kid I used to get grossed out to the thought of it.
But now that I'm 24, I realized that my grandmother was right. She knew what was best for us, and what was not. Honestly, almost all my life, I hated vegetables. But once I turned 18, and I realized how important it is to consume vegetables, I try to eat them whenever I can.
Our great grandmothers had their own recipes and remedies to keep them maintain a healthy life. Think about it... there're just so many diseases nowadays. Cancer is nothing new in our time, and obesity seems common. This happens because of what we consume every day. Sugary drinks, preservatives and MSGs seem to be necessary to many of us.
I only have 1 more year before my skin starts aging, and I know I have to start doing something now before its too late. Prevention is better than cure, they say.
So, I guess our ancestors know what they're talking about!

I did some research on traditional beauty recently, and tried a few remedies and recipes. These recipes do not content any drug, so the result might be a bit slower than what we have on shelves at the malls, but one thing for sure, unless you have any allergies or sensitive skin, it doesn't have any side effects. I can't say how long it takes to see the results, as it depends on each person. But for me, I could see it almost instantly!

Youthful skin mask

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of turmeric powder
2 tablespoons of coconut oil

Steps:

1. Mix the ingredients together in a shallow bowl till you get a paste.
2. Apply evenly on face and neck.
3. Let it stay for at least 20 mins (the longer the better)
4. Before rinsing your face, rub your face like you would when using a scrub
5. There will be some yellow stains. You can use your daily cleanser to wash it off
6. Pat dry
7. Use once or twice a week

Result: The 1st time I tried it, I could feel that my skin was softer and more supple

Hair treatment

Ingredient

1/2 cup of coconut oil (depending on how long your hair is)

Steps:
1. Apply coconut oil all over your hair and massage your scalp.
2. Let it stay for as long as you can (I usually do it for about an hour)
3. Wash your hair with shampoo and rinse.
4. Feel your scalp with your fingers. If there's still some oil left, wash your hair with shampoo, and rinse again.
5. Towel dry hair.

Result: I've made this remedy as my weekly routine. My hair is now not as dry as it used to be, and much softer. This remedy can also be used for people who are experiencing hair loss, except that scalp massaging should be the main focus.

Immunity and skin glowing tonic

Ingredients:
100g of fresh turmeric
1/2 cup of fresh lime juice
2 teaspoon of honey
1 cup of warm water

Steps:
1. Squeeze the juice out of the turmeric using a juicer.
2. Pour it in a tall glass and mix the rest of the ingredient.
3. Drink daily

Result: I have just started drinking this juice recently, and have yet seen the result. Though most of you might think its pretty gross, but its actually not that bad. Its not tasty, but its drinkable. If your taste buds can't take it, try adding more honey.

Good luck!

Lumpy Booby

2010-02-11T22:28:00.000-08:00

Found a lump in your breast? Don't panic yet. It might just be fibrosis in the breast. Fibroscystic breast is a condition where a non cancerous lump containing cyst develops in a person's breast. This a common condition which affects more than 50% of women at some point of their lives. Though fibrosis in the breast won't turn cancerous or increase the chances of breast cancer, this condition may sometimes make it more difficult to detect hidden breast cancer with standard examination.
Depending on the size and the condition of the fibrosis, in a lot of cases it doesn't have to be removed. But if its growing bigger and bigger, your doctor might advise you to have it taken out.
However, I talked to my doctor recently about this condition (he's one of the holistic doctors). He told me to try my very best not to go for a needle biopsy or a mammogram,as both may lead to worst than good. But, ask for second, third and fourth opinions from several types of doctors, and listen to your heart before making your decision. In the end, its your body, so its your choice.
Anyways, he told me several ways to get rid of fibrosis in the breast without going through surgery. What these steps do is, they can drain out the cyst in the breast.

1. Eat Asparagus and Sour sop (lots of them, every day!!)
2. Consume 1 tablespoon of coconut oil every night
3. Take Black Seed Oil every night
4. Take Evening Primrose Oil daily
6. Take 400 International Units of Vitamin E daily

Fibroscystic breast is not harmful but it can be annoying. So before you plan on getting it surgically removed, try these options.

The Cambodian Beauty Secret

2010-02-10T18:43:00.000-08:00

Cambodian women has always been famous for their sweet smiles and friendliness. But behind that sincere attitude that they have, God has given them a special gift. A gift that most of us don't really have anymore. That is, natural beauty (I'm talking about natural beauty, bare- without make-up). When I was in Siem Reap recently, I noticed their clear flawless skin, even skin tone and silky long black hair make me envy them in secret.
Well, their secret is, due to financial problem (they're seriously poor), they don't use any harsh chemical on their faces. Yes, I cleanse my face everyday with a type of liquid that we call facial cleanser, and I know the fact that it can do more bad than good.

Here are some of their beauty recipes:

Pore Cleanser

2 cups of water
A handful of turmeric (sliced thinly)
A handful of galangal (sliced thinly)
A handful of hibiscus leaves
Kaffir Lime (cut in halves)

Steps:

1. Bring all ingredients to boil in a shallow saucepan.
2. When the mixture starts boiling, put it of heat.
3. Pour mixture in a big bowl, and cover the bowl with a towel.
4. Put your head under the steam (just like what you do when you need to inhale the steam for stuffy nose) so that it can open pores and with regular use, this can also eliminate blackhead.

Skin Whitening/Anti wrinkle treatment

1 tablespoon of grated turmeric
1 tablespoon of grated galangal
2 tablespoon of organic honey

Steps:

1. Mix all the ingredients together till it forms a paste.
2. Apply on the skin as a mask for 30 minutes.
3. This paste can also be use to exfoliate

*Don't be surprise if your skin turns yellow. Turmeric stains your skin temporarily. But as it wears of, your skin will look lighter and brighter

Hair Treatment

Kaffir lime uice from 6 limes

Steps:

1. Rub the juice through your hair and sculpt. Leave it for 20 minutes. Rinse.

Enjoy!!

Beauty Bloggers

2010-02-02T05:42:00.000-08:00

Some beauty blogs worth checking out:

Sugarshock beauty blog

Beauty Addict

Bella Sugar

Beauty Blog Junkie

Save some cash and revamp your wardrobe!

2010-01-27T19:09:00.000-08:00

I am at my point where money is a bit of a problem. What I'm trying to say is I would love to have a good piece of designer dress or a really high quality dress. Many people may not believe me, but I actually do not own that many dresses. I usually just accessories them differently every time I wear the same dress.
Anyways, I usually clean my wardrobe every 6 months to give it a fresh look. Plus, it gives me the chance to see what I have and what I need. Honestly speaking, just like other tips on revamping your wardrobe, its not an easy task. I would suggest play some happy music when you're at it.
However, cleaning out your wardrobe does not mean you have to throw away every single thing you think you're not going to wear. If I do that I'd only have a few clothes left.
Clear your mind and analyze your clothes 1 by 1. Check if there are any holes. If there are, think of any way you can save this dress. Perhaps add a pocket or maybe cut the length? If no, yes you have to break up with it. Throw it away, toss it somewhere you can never turn back and get it again.
Pull out clothes that is outdated, not your size anymore and you don't think you'll ever wear them again coz you're just bored of them.
Lay them out on the bed or somewhere spacious. Look at them closely. If you have a dress that is too big, you can easily take it to your taylor and alter it to your size.
Outdated? Be creative. Try to think of a way to save the dress. Perhaps get rid of its shoulder pads or maybe shorten the length or perhaps alter the waist size? Take it to the taylor. She or he will know what to do. But don't forget to voice out your preferences. Most outdated clothes or dresses can be saved, by modernizing them. If you're taylor is really good, you dress will be a super hot vintage dress.
All of us have come to the point where we're just bored of some of our clothes. My tip is, alter them! From long sleeves to short, from to short to sleeveless, from long skirt to mini skirt, from a dress to a skirt! But if you think there's nothing you can do about that piece of cloth, get rid of it!

5 rules to flat abs

2010-01-21T21:48:00.000-08:00

1. Stop targeting those superficial muscles! That means, those crunches you're doing every day are not technically working. According to Yahoo Lifestyle, in order for you to lose 450 grams of fat you need to do 250 000 crunches a day, that means 100 crunches a day for 7 years!! If you ask me, i'd probably wouldn't even make it for a year. So start doing your planks by targeting your core muscles

2. Stop being a couch potato and start moving your bum! Best workout for your bum is the glute bridge march

3. Eat for your abs: 1. wholegrain breads & cereals
2. Chicken & turkey
3. Beans & Legumes
4. Olive oil
5. Peanut Butter
6. Green Veggies
7. Whey Protein Powder
8. Low Fat Dairy
9. Eggs
10. Berries
11. Oats
12. Nuts & Seeds

Eat more protein (fish, chicken. nuts... etc)
Avoid added & processed sugar
There's nothing wrong with fat - know your limits and eat with moderation

4. Stop the stress!! Stress encourages your body to store more fat

5. Believe it or not, but workout less. Doing abs work out everyday, won't do any good. You only need 3 sessions a week to get tone. Give your body a full day recovery before you do your next abs exercise. If you're body is used to the work out you're currently doing, its time to move on to a harder move. But you can still have your daily cardio exercise!!

Gossip Girl Spoiler Alert!

2010-01-21T21:41:00.000-08:00

Ok, if you're a big fan of Gossip Girl and you don't want to ruin your day, go away!! Seriously, don't read this.

Here goes... According to some reliable sources Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf are going to break up at the end of this season. Why oh why? I'm so upset! They're my favorite couple... the sweetest couple ever!!!

So apparently, the break up is going to be Chuck's fault and everyone else is going to hate him too!! Chuck oh Chuck!

Is your hair straight but flat and dull?

2010-01-16T02:43:00.001-08:00

My hair had always been straight, but very thin, flat and dull. This always annoy me that there're times that I perm my hair just so that it'll look thicker. However, I've just accidentally discovered a really inexpensive way to make my hair look thicker & bouncy but still straight. I just came back home, and there was only a bottle of shampoo for curly hair (I used it when I had permed hair). So, out of desperation, I just used it anyway. The result was marvelous! After washing and blow drying my hair, my hair looked bouncy, alive but at the same time straight and silky!

Burnt

2010-01-14T01:24:00.000-08:00

It hasn't even been a week that I'm back, and my skin is already looking burnt. Oh the hot hot sun. Some people might like this, but I don't. Somehow my skin doesn't show its original flush, and looking dull all the time. So right now I'm planning to go for a pharmacy hopping to look for an affordable product to repair my skin. Believe me, this is the time that I wish I could afford SKII, but u can't have it all, right?
I used to wonder why can't I buy this and that. I've always been longing to have a bottle of 'Miracle Water' in my bathroom cabinet and a tub of creme de la mer on my dressing table. But you know, rather than thinking about how much I want it, i think its best for me to think of how much I have in my life, and be thankful. Yes, I thank God for everything that God has given me. A great husband, great family, nice apartment and of course, a chance to further my study. Some people don't even have anywhere to live, no food to eat, and worst some people have to go through war. I am so grateful for what I have

Listen to your body

2010-01-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

Me and my hubby had a great conversation about healthy eating with my father in law (who is a seriously health freak)just now. He just came back from seeing this non-mainstream but highly recommended doctor who gave him some good advices on healthy eating. As most of you know, we should avoid eating white stuff like, white rice, pasta, white bread etc... And I think most of us tend to buy low fat food, you know, to avoid getting fat or to lose weight. But my father in law made a good point when he said that America has the largest amount of low fat food but the Americans are just getting fatter and fatter each year. Weird isn't it? So according to this doctor he saw, the biggest culprit to being fat or weight gain is actually sugar. Any form of sugar. This include carbs (rice, pasta, white bread...etc), sugary drinks and even fruits! I almost screamed when I heard that. I love fruits. I eat fruits in front of the tv, almost every day. Apparently its ok to eat fruits, but not the riped ones or the sweet ones. But those are what we really love, right? Gosh, being healthy is so hard. And apparently, those fatty food that we eat is actually ok as long as we eat with moderation. But sugar is the villain. Trust me, it wasn't easy for me to take either. When sugar enters our body, it becomes belly fat and this could cause high visceral fat. This is dangerous to our body as it could lead to deseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problem. Visceral fat is very hard to get rid of, so the only way you can do this is to lower your sugar intake and exercise regularly. So to lower your sugar intake (which is hard bcoz almost everything that we eat and drink contain sugar), try to take food that does not convert into sugar right after it enters your body, like vegetables. If you have to eat sugar, try to go for honey or less processed sugar like palm sugar or brown sugar.
I've been asking myself, "How do I do this?" and I came up with kind of a good idea. I don't think I can go on and on with a strict diet and not tempted to eat unhealthy food. As a matter of fact, its ok to give in to your cravings sometimes. Coz if you don't do that you might just give up and eat everything! So, my plan is to eat healthily for 6 days and take a break for 1 day. That sounds fair, doesn't it?

Sculpt

2010-01-05T19:08:00.000-08:00

O.M.G! I have to say that this is the most tastiest protein shake i've ever tasted in my life! I usually take their latte flavour, but they have other flavours too, like chocolate, strawberry and vanilla.
This protein shake is low in fat, low in sugar, low in carb and its especially created for women. All you have to do is just mix 250 ml of soy milk or skim milk and a scoop of the shake, and blend it. This a great after work out drink! I totally recommend this to all women

Acai Berry

2010-01-05T18:56:00.001-08:00

Acai Berry is famous for assisting weight loss. First introduces world wide by Oprah, this product has been a hit ever since. As I've mentioned in my blog before, I've bought Acai Berry quite awhile ago but haven't been consistent in consuming it.
Anyways, after about 3 weeks consuming this drink every morning, I have to admit that I haven't shed a single kilo. I'm not saying that Oprah was lying when she advertised this product but perhaps different product works differently for different body. Coz I've read some reviews on the internet where there are people out there lost a lot of weight by drinking Acai Berry juice. But I do notice that this drink gives me a lot of energy and it tastes like Ribena. So, if you drink this before hitting the gym, its a really good idea. Other than that, I don't think there's anything special or unique about this product.

I have nothing to wear!

2010-01-02T04:43:00.001-08:00

Familiar with that phrase? I hear myself saying that every single day.

Everyday when I open my wardrobe, I caught myself staring at a row of same old boring clothes. "How am I going to look hot if I wear the same thing over and over again?!", thats what I always asked myself before going to sleep.
I did some reading and watched some fashion shows, and it turns out that you don't really need to have that many clothes (especially if you can't effort it) too look smokin' hot. You just need the basics.

1. LBD (Little Black Dress)
2. Tank Top
3. Some Scarfs
4. Denim
5. A pair of good stunning sexy heels
6. A pair of good stunning ballet flats (Hello, Audrey Hepburn!)
7. Trench Coat
8. A pair of boots
9. Black skirt
10. Turtle neck

These are the essentials, and its cool if you have more than this. So once you have all the basics, all you have to do is use your imagination by mix and matching your basics with your accessories and jewelleries. A simple black dress (even if its a cheap one) would look expensive if you match it with some gold earrings, long gold necklace, gold bangles (3 or 4) and of course, a pair of heels. For something more casual, just wear your best jeans with a plane tank top. Put a scarf over your neck and let the end hang in front of your chest. To make your look even better, make sure you have your accessories like bangles, necklace and earrings on.

PS: You don't have to buy expensive accessories, just make sure they look expensive. Accessories are very important!

Look good without spending (or shop smart!)

2010-01-02T04:27:00.000-08:00

Since I'm a student, its not easy for me to spend money all the time to look good. Seriously, its not easy to keep up with my high maintenance ways (i have to admit, i am a bit high maintenance). However, no matter how much I want to save up, I can't even go to the supermarket looking like a hobo. So, I did some thinking on how can I not spend (that much) but still look awesome. Here's what I've found:

1. Do your own manicure & pedicure. It might sound hard but with a little bit of practice, you'll master it like a pro. Google or look up on you tube on how to do your own manicure & pedicure. They have many useful videos on it (save AUD25).

2. Do your own facial. Its really easy, unless you really have bad acne problem. In that case, I recommend you to leave it to the professionals. Otherwise, boil some water. Pour it in a wide shallow basin. If you want to, you can pour in a few drops of essential oil. Let your face be near the water, close enough that you can inhale the vapour. But not to close, or you'll boil your face! Then, scrub your face with a good face. I suggest body and face scrub from MD Formulation. Its quite expensive, but you only need to use a little bit, so it should last about a year. After that, apply some face mask on your face, according to your skin type. The ones sold at the pharmacy in small packs are cheap and good. Make sure you read the ingredients though, you really don't want to get allergic reaction. Lastly, after the mask has dried up, rinse your face, pat dry and apply some moisturiser. If you have some vitamin C cream, it would be a good idea to apply it now. And now you're done!! (save AUD 55).

3. Have your own hair treatment. Boil some olive oil. Let it cool a bit till its warm enough and soak your hair in it. Now, wrap your hair with a towel, and let it stay over night. Wash your hair the next day. You will definitely get soft shiny hair!! (Save AUD 100).

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T21:49:00.001-08:00

I know its a bit late for a Happy New Year, but who cares? So, Happy New year!! In previous years, I nvr really thought of having a new year's resolution. But this year I do! I'm not going to tell you what it is or i'll jinx it so lets just hope I can keep up with my resolution!

Soft luscious lips!

2009-12-21T16:43:00.000-08:00

Don't you hate chapped lips? Those dried dead skin just make your lips look horrible and sometimes it hurts too! Here somethings you can do to get beautiful lips:

1. Drink lots of water (2 liters per day)

2. Eat plenty of veges and fruits

3. Exfoliate your lips. Don't have one? Try this. Gently brush your lips in circular motion with your toothbrush when you're brushing your teeth. By doing this, you will be able to get rid of the dead skin. Make sure you don't do too hard or you might hurt your lips. Pat dry. Apply some lip balm. Alternatively you can buy Benefit's 'buffing lip beads' (comes together with a lip balm). The beads are very tiny so that you can exfoliate your lips gently.

4. Always use lip balm (before you put on your lipgloss or lipstick and whenever) & never lick your lips. Licking your lips will only make your lips even more drier.

5. Always, always, always apply lip balm before you go to bed.

No need cuticle lotion!

2009-12-21T00:07:00.000-08:00

I did some thinking today on how I can save up. I mean, there's always something that has been custom made for anything. For example a cuticle lotion. I know that many of us need it to get our cuticles soft so that we can get rid of them (for those who do their own manicure). But cuticle lotions are not cheap. I did some research and found out that you can substitute your cuticle lotion with your hair conditioner. Obviously everyone has a bottle of hair conditioner, so that's 2 in 1. I tried this trick on my nails, and it worked just as well as a cuticle lotion. All you have to do is just squeeze some hair conditioner on your cuticles, soak your fingers in a bowl of warm water. Get a cuticle pusher and push your cuticles do the edge. Now you can save up a few dollars!

Mascara smudge?

2009-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Though I basically have normal skin my t-zone is always oily and that includes the area under my eyes. So, even when I use waterproof mascara, i would still get mascara or eyeliner smudges on that area. I've tries all kinds of mascara, the cheap ones and the expensive ones, and nothing works. And then I discovered that the oil under my eyes is the culprit to this problem. So the trick to solve this is to dab some loose powder on your lash and the area right under your eye (the skin area at your lower lash ) with a small make-up brush. Don't forget to blend it so that you don't have weird patches. And then, just apply your mascara like you normally do!!

Losing Weight

2009-12-19T02:05:00.000-08:00

I just talked to my dad via skype the other day and he said I've gained weight. According to him, I look 'round'. WTF? Hell, yeah I freaked out. Me & my dear hubby just got back from a short trip in Hunter Valley and I know I've gained even more weight with all the cheese and junk foods I ate. So, just now, after we got back, we went for a 4km jog. Wow, that felt good! But not enough to lose weight. Now, I've got to find a new strategy to lose weight. I'm not sure how, but I have some stuff in mind.

1. Increase my water intake.

2. Drink Acai Berry juice every morning
I've heard and read somewhere that Acai Berry is very good if you plan to lose weight. I've bought it quite awhile ago, but I haven't been consistent consuming it. So now that I need to lose weight, I have to drink it every day. Will write about it in a week or 2 weeks time.

3. Exercise every day. 1 day or cardio, another day of weight & strength training, another day of cardio again and so on. My cardio routine will consist things like running, swimming & cycling

4. Reduce carbohydrate intake.

5. Eat more vegies and fruits.

6. No no no junk food

7. Reduce processes food intake

8. Reduce eating out

9. Portion control

10. Take heavy lunch and then go for light dinner.

Time to powder your hair!

2009-12-13T05:05:00.000-08:00

If you're too busy to wash your hair, and you have an event to attend or you just don't want your hair to look oily and messy, here's a good tip.

Pour some baby powder on your hair. Brush your hair till the powder disappears. Repeat if needed till hair is no more oily.

Alternatively, you can always buy dry shampoo from the pharmacy. But why waste if you can save some cash?

Choose the right foundation for your skin color

2009-12-12T23:20:00.000-08:00

I find that the hardest thing about make-up is getting the right foundation for your skin color. Most of the ones available on the shelves are either to light or too dark for my skin. And most of the time the lighting at the malls are just not right. Like, when I try on a foundation over the counter, it looks nice and stuff, but I've bought it, brought it home and applied it on my face the next day, it just doesn't suit my skin tone.

There're so many advices on how to choose the right color for your skin. When I was in Malaysia, I attended this make-up course. It was a really cool course, and they use Mac products. Anyways, their advise on choosing the right foundation is to choose 1 tone lighter than your skin color. While in Australia, experts recommend make-up users to choose the exact foundation color with your skin. Which means, choose the tone that disappears in your skin.

As for me, I prefer to follow the Aussie method. I don't really like looking whiter than my skin tone. It'll just make me look weird and not natural. Plus, with this method, you won't get a weird line along your jawline. Well, I like the Malaysian make-up tips as well, but I prefer to mix and match both tips. Take the good ones from both sides.

However, its not easy to find a tone that disappears in your skin color. Especially with my skin tone ( I would say, I'm quite tanned), its much harder. So, my advice would be, get 1 foundation which is 1 or 2 tones lighter than your skin, and another foundation that is 1 tone darker. Play around with the colors by mixing them till you get the same foundation color as your skin. Also, make sure you get the right lighting (the best lighting is natural light). So, if you can sit at your balcony trying on the right foundation color, it would be perfect. So, if you find the mixed foundation too dark, add the lighter one. And if its too light, add the darker ones. But make sure you add them bit by bit or you'll seriously screw up the color. After you've got the right tone, apply some at your jawline, cheekbones & forehead (remember, don't put too much!). After that, take a foundation brush or a sponge, and blend and blend and blend!

Tip: The best way to put natural make-up is to look fresh and glowing without looking like you're wearing make up. So, keep it minimal on the foundation!!!

More water please!

2009-12-12T23:03:00.000-08:00

Water might sound too plain for most of us. Its tasteless, contains no sugar and it does not look as attractive as sugary & carbonated drinks. But still, water is very important to all of us. We use water to cook, shower, wash our face, soak our fingers and toes for pedicures and manicures and of course we all drink water. But water does more than all of those.

We hear a lot of people wondering, "How do I lose weight?", "How can I get beautiful clear youthful skin?", "Why am I always so hungry?", "How can I get a clear urine color" & "After a night out, how do I detox my body?"

The answer is, of course, water!! One of the main things I did to lose weight (I used to be big) was to drink lots and lots of water. But don't drink more than 3 liters or your body can be overload with water.

Drinking lots water has always been the beauty tip used by celebrities like Beyonce, Jada Pinkett Smith, Shakira, Eva Longoria, Leighton Meester, Blake Lively and more. They say that they drink lots of water to lose weight and to get a clear and beautiful skin.

So, drink up people!!

Tea

2009-12-09T04:34:00.000-08:00

I've always been a coffee person. Every morning, I would drag my husband to a cool cafe (we go for cafe hopping every day) and say to the waiter "Can I get a strong flat white with 1 1/2 sugar please? And yes, make sure its double shot." And yes, thats how my day would start and would not be complete without a cup of good coffee (my favourite would be Campos coffee!)

Anyways, I was reading a book about natural beauty when I came across this chapter on tea. All sorts of tea like green tea, black tea, white tea and so on. The authors says teas are antioxidant, good for your skin, digestion and yes, it makes you look younger. For hundreds of years, Chinese people drink cups and cups of teas everyday! No wonders most of them are skinny (not to forget the Japanese as well!).

So, I went to this shop in Chinatown called the Tea Specialist. I've never been to a purely tea shop before and I had the shock of my life to see so many type of teas around me. There were black ones, green ones, flowery ones, and some are wrapped in white cloth. So, I went up to this lady and started asking questions. And yes, apparently the book I read was right. Teas have a lot of health benefits. It can also prevent you from getting diseases like cancer, ulcer and so on. I was really impressed and go myself a big bag of black tea that cost me AUD15! Pretty expensive for a bag of tea leaves. But apparently, the ones that we usually buy at the supermarket are not graded and not pure. It has been processed and the benefits are not... hmmm really there anymore. But the ones I bought are pure and fresh (says the lady). Oh yea, the other reason on why I bought the black tea instead of green tea is because it can make you lose weight. Crap i'm such a sucker when it comes to weight loss product.

So, I drink this black tea every day for about 2 months. Well, I didn't really lose weight (maybe its because of what I've been pigging out!). You see, I've always had this problem of... hhmm... you know going to the toilet. Just not that good at it. Haha. I just have indigestion problem (I can go on about 3 days without going to the toilet). It was up to the point where I had to take laxatives. But I have to admit, this tea really solve my problems. Its not as good as laxatives but its... hhmm more natural. I hope you know what I mean, but I don't really know how to explain this. If you've taken laxatives before, you know how much your stomach cramps when you need to go to the toilet. But not with this tea, it feels more normal.

Now, I'm trying their green tea. Much more expensive than the black tea (AUD35). Works the same, but taste better. Will write about it when I finish the whole bag.

Been a while since my last post

2009-12-09T04:21:00.000-08:00

Haiihh... it has really been awhile since my last post. Don't really care if anyone's reading this, really. I think I stopped at Day 3 of my Blackmore's Detox program. Did I continue. Nope. Haha. I guess I was not strong enough.

Ok, the truth is, there was too many pills to eat in 1 day, and really that bitter thing taste really bad. I just couldn't consume it. I think it contains alcohol because of the burning feeling in my throat right after I swallow it. I only took it twice, and gave up. The other pills are ok, but there're just too many of them. Plus, you have to take them every time before you eat and after. Sometimes I forgot and I don't eat at home all the time. I know that the easiest thing to do is just keep some in my handbag, right? But the thing is I always switch my handbags, according to occasions and what I wear. So when I do, I'd missed the pills.

I think the lemon detox is easier. Yes, you practically starve yourself the whole day (or for a week if you're doing the complete program), but at least you'll always remember to drink the lemon drink. Plus I have a new version on the lemon detox. I do it every other day, so that I get a day of to relax and revive and do it again the next day (this continues about a week or 2). It might not work as successfully as the complete program, but I did manage to lose some weight! So for those who think the complete lemon detox program is very hardcore, try my version. Who knows, it might work.

Day 2

2009-10-05T18:49:00.000-07:00

Morning-

Woke up at 6 with a stomachache. Went to the toilet, and seriously, the whole process was not pleasant. Tried going back to sleep again, but the pain was still there. The pain continued, and I decided that I shouldn't go to class. Its like, there's pain for 5 minutes, and then its gone, and its back again. Haiihh... the world of detox. I slept to get over the pain and ended up missing breakfast. So, I had a salmon sandwich for brunch. After consuming Acidophilus Bifidus and Milk Thistle, I feel thirsty again.

Afternoon-

I feel awesome! Totally energized though I'm on a detox program. Honestly, I didn't expect this to happen. Did a few hours of housework (cleaning, laundry, scrubbing & vacuuming), felt a bit hungry, but I'm still energized! Oh yea, I don't know if I'm just imagining this but I feel a bit lighter today. Cool eh?

Evening -

I'm definitely feeling better and better. Very energized! But I'm quite worried that I won't be able to sleep later, as I'm feeling very hyper right now. I've taken the Colon Care, and thankfully so far my stomach has not grumble like it did last night. And I do notice I pee more today. Not sure if its because of the water intake or perhaps its because of the Milk Thistle and Acidophilus Bifidus or maybe both! But what frustrates me is, I haven't been able to keep up with the 2 litres per day requirement. Its weird, coz usually on my non-detox day, thats how much I drink. Will definitely do better tomorrow! Good nite!

Day 1

2009-10-05T18:40:00.000-07:00

Morning-

Woke up really late, so I missed my breakfast. So, instead I had brunch. So far so good. Except that I felt so so thirsty after brunch. I didn't have any juice, so I took the Digestive Bitters with a little bit of water. Urrgh its disgusting!! The worst thing I've ever tasted in my whole life! Even durian taste better. The Acidophilus Bifidus and Milk Thistle were ok, since they are in tablet forms.

Afternoon -

I'm not sure if it was because of the detox, but I've been feeling so so sleepy. A bit exhausted, but not too bad. Had some chicken rolls for lunch, but I didn't as bad as I expected it would be

Evening -

Wow... Had a long nap, and still feeling sleepy. Must be the detox. But so far no headaches or any major problems. Thank god! Had mushroom soup for dinner. The whole day, I hvnt been feeling that hungry, but I've been really thirsty. I also haven't had any coffee, and I guess that was a success! However, the worst thing was having to take the Digestive Bitters the 2nd time of the day. Yuck! Took Colon Care before I go to sleep, and I could hear my stomach making weird noises.

Blackmore detoxification program

2009-10-04T00:42:00.000-07:00

I have just bought this detox program this afternoon. According to the pharmacist, this program is better than rapid detox. It wasn't that expensive (55AUD), unlike the lemon detox program. It cost me 99AUD!!