Happy New Year 2016

In just a few hours, 2015 will be over and 2016 will take its place.... 

Hmm... reminiscing over 2015, I have had a lot of great things happened and some amazing opportunities from being a blogger as well as meeting awesome people along the way... and of course, my fair share of amazing food...

Toy Bank, A Gift of Love Community Programme

So I was over at Cheras LeisureMall, a couple of days ago, to see them make Christmas dreams come true for over 400 children from 13 children’s homes and charity houses through the mall’s annual community programme - Toy Bank, A Gift of Love!!

It was definitely very heart warming and also a joyous occasion filled with fun and festivities...

The Best Kept Secret Revealed

If you like fine dining in a fresh and chic restaurant with a breathtaking panoramic view of Kuala Lumpur's best city skyline, look no further. CEDAR ON 15 is the place to be.  While there are other amazing sky view restaurants around, I can assure you that not many can offer the same delicious yet exclusive dining experience CEDAR ON 15 can offer you...

Located in the midst of the Golden Triangle on the 15th floor of leading business hotel , the Impiana Hotel, the CEDAR ON 15 is the ideal place for a delightful corporate lunch with a client with natural  skylight during the day and a lovely place to bring that special someone for an unforgettable dinner.

Nasi Kandar Line Clear

Penang’s famous nasi kandar has plenty of people from other states and even neighbouring countries coming in in droves for a taste of their white rice swimming in a spicy mix of curries served with a wide array of dishes.

It is said that there are two distinct style of nasi kandar which is  the Indian Muslim style that is a marriage of local flavours with spices and herbs. These curries are often of a darker reddish tone, thick and usually spicy, depending on the stall.

Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul

 Most people say that your trip to Penang would never be complete without trying Laksa, Ais Kacang and  the famous Penang Road Chendul…

A miracle near Christmas....

My mom was in the National Cancer Institute recently for an operation. It was a very sensitive operation as it involved removing a new tumour (3rd time) at the throat area. This tumour seem to be growing quite fast and worse thing was it was also located very close to a nerve area. 

This made my mother's surgeon in charge a bit worried, and they requested that we invested and use a nerve monitoring machine that would help lessen any damages, since if there were damages, she probably might lose her voice or even have a hole in the throat or tracheotomy done for breathing. 

It was all very nerve wrecking, and there were a few delays along the way, twice because she had very high blood pressure and also a bout of asthma before a couple of days before the surgery, andthe nerve machine was somehow not available.

On the last admission just a day before the surgery, there was yet another huge scare where the anesthetist did not like the sound of her heart beat rate and said it could be life threatening to have the surgery. My mother was in tears a couple of times because of this... I am sure it would be nerve wrecking hearing that you might just die on that operating table...

A date with my other half at the Macalister Mansion....

I have been hearing so much and seeing sooooo many gorgeous pictures of the Macalister Mansion that I could not resist wanting to go there... Sadly, I am not one of the famous , sought after bloggers, so no one invites me there.. LOL..

So during my recent trip to Penang, I begged my other half to accompany me there and he agreed....We left the kids at the hotel to fend for themselves... (LOL, don't be so shocked, my eldest is already 20, second is 19 and my youngest is 11)  and escaped...

And this too shows what a lousy Penangite I am since I was so confused I initially thought this mansion was near the beach area at Gurney Drive.. somewhere probably along the Sultan Ahmad Shah road there or Farquhar street there... Imagine my face when I used the  google map app to find it smack in Macalister Road... (no brainer right)

Christmas around 5 malls...(in pictures....)

Seasons Greeting and Merry Christmas to all my readers who are celebrating this joyous season... And a happy holiday to all the others who are enjoying this just like I am...

pic credit domashno-izbelvane.com

Since it is Christmas Day, let me bring my friends and readers who are not in Klang Valley (Kuala Lumpur/ Selangor) around some of our lovely Christmas decorations... I am sharing some pictures here so you can enjoy it too....as we do actually have some pretty Christmas deco around....

Move for World Aids Day....

I was at NuSentral at an ungodly hour last Sunday. Naturally, not many people were around and I had a little bit of a challenge trying to find my way up to the SkyPark there.... 

Now why was I there?? Hmm... it was because Celebrity Fitness Malaysia gathered a few hundred Malaysians to raise awareness for AIDS during a three hour workout party in support of World AIDS Day 2015.

Alvin and the Chipmunks : The Road Chip

Thanks to Nickelodeon, my mini me and I got to be among the first to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks : the Road Chip a couple of days ago.....We have been watching the movie since the first movie and my daughter loves the movie....

Looking fabulous in no time....

Now those who know me well will know I am a very simple woman. Being a mom of three grown kids, juggling managing my own life, the lives of my kids (or at least poking my nose in wherever I can), trying to stay sane with the deadlines for work and my blogs, and trying to control not blowing up at the whims and idiosyncrasies of the people around me..... 

There are plenty of times I am much too tired... or is it also  lazy to slather on all those make up and go out of the house just bare faced. OK, I may be wrong, but I do not think I look like a monster without make up.. LOL. At other times, I do put on some make up before stepping out.. but there are also many times I go all the way with make up , it depends on where I am headed to as well as how I feel that day...

But I have to admit that looking good do really play an important aspect in our lives especially when it comes to our superficial society. People out there are just too easily critical over others, in maybe trying to pull others down ?... How many a times have you heard your relatives or friends saying, " Hey, you have put on weight...." or "Hey, you  look so skinny now.." , "Wah, why your face so pale"

X'MAS BAZAAR & FLASH MOB SURPRISE at SUNGEI WANG PLAZA

Life is already begins to be a struggle when you get married and have two or more kids. With rising inflation rates and scary escalating cost, both husband and wives struggle to make ends meet to support the family and pay the bills... So, when a woman who is a mother loses her husband, the burden is twofold. 

How to look more DASHING.....

Razor bumps, fine lines, greasy skin, breakouts, black heads are some of the frustrating issues men have, whether they choose to admit it or not....

If you are just shaving with a disposable razor and washing your face with that bar of soap.......... it's high time you made some changes to your skincare routine. 

With just a couple of essential grooming products—and sacrificing an extra minute or two in front of the mirror—you can keep breakouts, wrinkles, greasy skin and razor burn away. And, you don't have to be secretly checking your girlfriend's or spouse' s or sister's  skincare products...

Dining royally at the Imperial Chakri Palace....

Most foodies know that is you are seeking authentic and premium quality Thai cuisine here in KL prepared by highly skilled Thai chefs hailing all the way from Thailand, there is no other place then the Imperial Chakri Palace.

Simple , bright and beckoning, but still classy,  especially after it’s refurbishment last year, the Imperial Chakri Palace is frequented by royalties (yes, HRH the Yang DiPertuan Agong, and the PM and all come here to dine from time to time) , VIPs, and working executives for lunch, and why not… they have even collaborate with Thai Celebrity Food Expert who is Thai Royalty from the Chakri Dynasty itself , ML Sirichalerm Svastivadhana (Chef McDang) 

ETIHAD AIRWAYS INTRODUCES BANK TRANSFER PAYMENT OPTION IN MALAYSIA

 

I have news for those of you who like to travel on Etihad Airways!!! The national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has introduced a bank transfer payment option for bookings made on etihad.com.

The new payment option is definitely a very convenient option for guests who prefer to pay for flights with cash.

TEH TARIK POPSICLES THAT MELTS ME....

Practically everyone knows that there is nothing more awesome then something cold and refreshing... say... maybe a nice ice cream 'potong'  that Malaysia is famous for, on a hot sweltering day...  and most Malaysians can never seem to resist Teh Tarik, one of the most beloved beverage in Malaysia...

All I want for Christmas... is Althea....

For those of you who know Althea, it is an online K Beauty shop which gives us ladies (and even some of the metrosexual men who loves to take care of their own skin and looks) the chance to purchase amazing Korean beauty items at a real good bargain....

I for one find it hard to resist all the amazing deals you can find there... it is really very much less then what you have to fork out and pay at boutiques and stores around...and hey, if you purchase more then RM100/ RM150 (depending on the offer period) you get free shipping!!! 

Save hundreds or thousands of ringgit with just a RM145 'investment'....

Don't you wish life was like the gif above.... That we had just soooo much money we did not know what to do and we can just burn it... 

Everyone is complaining about the escalating cost of living nowadays and so it is always heaven sent when we can find huge savings some where... 

What if there is a book or app that enables you to enjoy life and dine out in style but with huge savings... won't that be awesome... imagine being able to bring your date, your other half or even your best friend to some fancy restaurant , spa or such and you only have to pay for one.... isn't that like amazing....!!!!

Food Review: The NEW Delicious Menu & "Inspired by Tapas"

It was a lovely Saturday afternoon when I headed towards delicious in Bangsar Village II... There were both KL and Penang bloggers there all geared up and ready to check out the new delicious menu as well as their "Inspired by Tapas" specials.

It was a fun afternoon meeting new people as well as seeing familiar faces while indulging over amazing plethora of drinks and scrumptious food.....

ENDLESS JEWELRY DEBUTS IN MALAYSIA AT SUNWAY PYRAMID

There is something about a charm bracelet that is of course, charming... and very attractive to women like me...it is as though when you have a charm bracelet, it is a milestone every time you collect or add another charm to it.. well, at least it is to us middle class people... After all, each charm is carefully selected to add to our bracelet over the time...

Or on the other hand, you might be adding a charm to your charm bracelet every time you achieve something or if that charm reminds you of something you want to remember...

Although, for rich people who can afford to buy all the charms they want in one go, it probably is different...

Sponge Cake, Mixed Berries Jam Muffins and Peach Mousse Dessert recipes with Alce Nero jams

With Christmas, New Year and even Chinese New Year around the corner, lets add a healthy touch of natural organic sweetness to our desserts, pastries and cakes with the newly introduced Alce Nero Organic Mixed Berries Jam.

Alce Nero, the leading organic brand in Italy, offers an exciting range of pastas, pasta sauces, honeys and jams for the eco-conscious and health conscious connoisseur of fine food.

FreshLook FreshFaces ColorGirl Search 2015 winners...

Some of Malaysia’s most colorful young women showcased themselves and the winners were revealed at the FreshLook® FreshFaces ColorGirl Search 2015 Finale, a very exciting and colourful event held at the Bee at Publika , to cap the end of the year. 

Yours truly was there as usual out of curiosity as I have always been so fascinated with beauty pageants, not that I ever get close to participating in one... hahahaha

NINE NICKELODEON APPS TO ENJOY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

We all love to play games on our smart phone or tablets from time to time...it make us pass time faster or de stress and forget the harsh reality of the world for a little whole

For this year end holidays,Nickelodeon in Asia has hand-picked some of its popular apps released in 2015 which offer pre-schoolers and gamers of all ages the opportunity to connect with their favourite Nickelodeon characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dora from Dora and Friends: Into the City!

Players are invited to check out “Playtime With Blaze and the Monster Machines” which caters to pre-schoolers and comprises five mini games, “SpongeBob’s Game Frenzy” for fans of optimistic sea sponge SpongeBob SquarePants and “Sky Whale” an app featured in Nickelodeon’s brand-new live-action comedy series,Game Shakers, that requires users to bounce a narwhal in the air to catch as many yummy donuts as they can.

Butterfly Charity: Bene Box Project

  

So just having done playing Big Sisters (and brothers) to a bunch of underprivileged kids on Saturday, my Sunday morning has me waking up early again, and heading far, far away to Puchong IOI Mall with a bunch of other Butterflies to pack our very own gifts to be given to children from the Yayasan Seribu Harapan Malaysia...

Butterfly Charity: Big Sister Project

It was a weekend of charity with the Butterfly Project Malaysia and yours truly was up early and at 1Utama early in the morning to meet up with 15 other butterflies to be a part of the Big Sister (Big Brother ) project where we were each paired up with a child from the Chrestus Home in Cheras.

Personalized gifts for myself and someone....

For those who have been reading my blog, I am sure you have read my thoughts on personalized gifts over HERE  and well... so I got about ordering my own as well as a gift for my husband's sister whose birthday is coming soon... 

Thoughtful Gifts for Him & Her this Christmas...

With Christmas fast approaching, so do we get busy trying to get delightful gifts for our friends, family and loved ones.

However, finding the perfect gift  for your loved one – no matter male or female – can be a little stressful.  

So why not try doing this year's festive shopping on 11street (11street.my), the biggest online marketplace to make gift-shopping a more  relaxing and enjoyable experience?

I know I am enjoying ordering my gifts from there....

Celebrating Christmas From The Heart at Cheras LeisureMall

pic credit to Cheras LeisureMall FB

For many people, a child is precious. He or she is a gift from God and our best hope for the future. That is why we really should do all we can to love and care for them, as well as provide for them with our best. 

And as we celebrate the season of joy in giving, we should remember the children that are less fortunate who have lost their parents and have no one to dote on them or to spoil them.... So, let's find it in our hearts to give them a ray of sunshine, so that they too, can shine bright in the future. 

Dazzling Christmas Do for Senior Citizens at eCurve

 Yours truly was at the eCurve recently to witness a group of senior citizens from Lovely Nursing Centre, Petaling Jaya enjoy an afternoon of festive cheer, musical thrills and an all-round good time by the management of eCurve.

Christmas in the Air

It was a humid day like practically every other day in Malaysia and my daughter and I gasped in ,delight when we entered the mall to be engulfed with the nice cool air conditioning...

A short while later, we were gasping again, with open mouths in awe as we beheld the gorgeous 25 feet tall Hanging Christmas tree suspended in the air with gorgeous Yuletide lights and decorations at the Center Stage area of the mall we were in... none other then Sungei Wang Plaza....

LAUNCH OF POSITIVE PARENTING -KIDZANIA "CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT" SUPPLEMENT AND TALK SERIES

Being a parent is so much more then just giving birth and raising babies. It is actually a very challenging job, and one we cannot simply resign or run away from. 

But what that is sad is that in modern times, parents and their kids (at least a majority of them) have hectic lives with both parents working and also kids being put through various classes and lessons....such as tuition, piano classes, ballet classes, art classes, religious classes or religious school (for the Muslims), and heaven knows a myriad of other classes...

Because many families have both parents working, they do not have time to nurture their children, leaving them with maids, baby sitters or having to go through all those classes and lessons...

It is hard,but parents do need to step up their game or risk their kids getting into the wrong company and becoming delinquents.

Spritzer Slide the City Splashes Into Malaysia with Roaring Success

 Putrajaya has its share of unique international events taking place which includes hot air balloon carnivals, fireworks competitions, floral showcases, motorsports events, film festivals, watersport competitions and marathons. 

During the last weekend (5th and 6th December) , my daughter and I were there at  Malaysia’s administrative capital to take part and enjoy a whole new event there, which involved a massive 1000-foot waterslide lining Lebuh Wadi Ehsan.

We started off there with anticipation and curiosity and when we saw the crowd and the huge slide, we definitely were bowled over...

A lovely stay at Vistana Penang

So yours truly had been planning for a trip back to Penang again to see a bit more of my hometown which has been constantly changing over the years and months... I wanted to also see my son who was studying there and with his tight schedule, he could not quite make the trip to KL for a few days stay.

So my husband, our youngest daughter and I packed our bags and headed up north on a leisure 5 hour car drive...for those who want to drive from KL to Penang, it normally doesn't take so long, but hubby was driving on 90-100 km p/hour and we took several stops for breakfast, toilet breaks, fruit breaks, refueling, stretching... etc....

Penang: Time Capsule Hotel

Situated in the heart of Georgetown, the Time Capsule Hotel is a backpacker’s haven along the bustling Chulia Street, just about a 25-minute drive from Penang International Airport. 

I passed it by heading towards Muntri Street, which is just behind this hotel actually... and I was definitely intrigued....After all, I have heard so much about it and I wanted to experience it too given a chance.....

However I did not stay this time around, but rather just looked around a little...

12 Days of Christmas With Reebonz Luxurious Daily Surprises and Gifts!

You hold and even hug your bag close for a huge portion your day, whenever you are out on the move.  Like it or not, we women do have a very close relationship with our bags.

It is on a chair next to you in the restaurant or on the table when you have lunch. You show off your handbag to your friends and everyone you pass by along the way. Your bag, like it or not actually does completes your own personal style and your OOTD (outfit of the day).

Whether your bag is real, fake, or ‘luxury pre-owned,’ they are actually an expression of who we are and where we belong in social, economic and fashion terms. Our bag is both functional and also form of self-expression. 

Some people tend to say, you may not be able to afford that bungalow in Bangsar or penthouse condo around KLCC or the golden triangle but, you could, maybe, indulge yourself with lovely branded bag.

TRIKSTARS leaves audiences spellbound at Premiere Night

When I first heard about TRIKSTARS, I just knew I had to watch it come hell or high water.. I do not know about you but well, magic shows thrill me, especially those from Las Vegas , the entertainment capital of the world where everyone knows the best entertainers gather together, not forgetting Europe who has their fair share of pretty amazing performers...

Anyway, the first ever TRIKSTARS - Masters of Trickery made its nail biting debut to over 2000 people yesterday (4th December 2015) at  Sunway Lagoon's Amphitheatre where some of my blogger friends, my little girl and I were also there to enjoy the Premiere night...and we were pretty much quite blown away by the world class magic, illusions, comedy and musical. TRIKSTARS -Masters of Trickery is now happening from 5 December – 20 December 2015.

Penang : Purrfect Cat Cafe

My youngest daughter has always wanted to go to a cat café and on learning that my elder daughter went to one, she insisted that the next time we are in Penang, we would then visit the cat café. 

PUMA TEAMS UP WITH KOREAN LIFESTYLE LABEL, LIFUL FOR THE R698 SYMPHONY

Looking for a pair of new sport shoes and have always been interested in Korean fashion? This might be of interest to you... 

Apparently well known Global Sports Brand PUMA has joined forces with Liful, to celebrate the Seoul-based lifestyle label’s 10^th anniversary. 

Guardian Unveils New Botaneco Garden Trio Oil Hair & Body Collection For Beauty Solutions from Nature

Guardian, the largest pharmacy, health and beauty retail chain in Malaysia has introduced the new Botaneco Garden Trio Oil Hair & Body Collection for eco-conscious consumers who prefer effective beauty solutions with ingredients harvested from nature.

The collection was launched at Core Gallery with an exhibition and gallery tour of the exotic ingredients and production process, that showcased the range as a work of art recently.

CHOW ‘EM RIBS DOWN LIKE A CHAMP!

It is always fascinating how some people can eat fast... and with that... there was recently a face-off of gastronomical proportions when hungry tummies and focused appetites faced their main competitor - the Tony Roma’s Bountiful Beef Ribs! 

AirAsia ASEAN Traveler - Beach Specialist trip

I was over the moon when I received a text message to tell me that I was the blogger winner for the AirAsia ASEAN Traveler for the Beach Specialist category. It was so amazing being chosen from amongst what must seem like a lot of other amazing bloggers as well...

I could barely contain my excitement but I was slightly confused when told where I was heading to errmm.. Pattaya is understandable but Singapore??!!.... Apparently, they were sending me along with the public category winner to Pattaya and then to Singapore before coming back to KL.... 

The BIG day came and I found myself  rushing helter skelter to KLIA2 with my luggage and passport.. and finally caught up with the three other ladies... Mariam, being AirAsia's representative and tour leader,  Tong, the public category winner of the Beach Specialist Category, and Adilla, Tong's friend....We then got our luggage checked into the flight and wandered around for a little bit in the airport before boarding our flight to Pattaya...

Upon arrival at the airport, we cleared immigration, got our Thai SIM card so we could stay in touch. Buying a SIM card there wasn't that expensive. It was just 290 Bahts, for 5 days of internet and calls and were greeted by some lovely Thai models who gave us a lotus shaped bread. We quickly learned that it was actually Loy Krathong day and Mariam made a note to bring us to check it out. 

We then pick up our luggage and headed out. The trip to the hotel from the airport via a shuttle van cost 250 Bahts per person and the shuttle van drops us off right in front of our hotel.

The most amazing place for Sunsets... the Sky Gallery in Pattaya....

When my tour leader decided to bring us to the Sky Gallery, we were anticipating a restaurant on top of some building and thought nothing much of it. 

But when we arrived at the Sky Gallery, we were astounded, we were mesmerized and seriously, I have to say  that it is hard to find a more glorious place to have a drink, chill and spend an hour or so with friends or family members, or with your date/ spouse....

Hotel Review: Pinnacle Grand Jomtien Resort

The Pinnacle Grand Jomtien Resort is a pretty picturesque resort with rooms that come with balconies or terrace. 

Loy Krathong in Pattaya, Thailand

We had just arrived at the U-Tapao International Airport in Pattaya, Thailand and passed the immigration check point when some gorgeous models (AirAsia Thailand staff??) handed us some lotus shaped bread and urged us to take some pictures with them. 

PUTRAJAYA INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA'S GREAT EIGHTH INSTALMENT

I have always found those Hot Air Balloons fascinating.. but I have not gotten the chance to get up on one... a fact that I hope can be remedied one day soon...

Let me share 3 fascinating facts out of many others.....

• A sheep, a duck and a chicken were the first passengers aboard a hot air balloon. They also fortunately survived the very first hot air balloon flight, which lasted just about eight minutes... and all of this was in 1783, when the first hot air balloon was set to fly over the heads of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and the French court in Versailles..

• The longest hot air balloon flight ever recorded was piloted by Richard Branson. It began in Japan and ended safely in northern Canada. This hot air balloon flight happen to be the fastest recorded as well, flying across the skies at 245 miles per hour!!

• Did you know you cannot fly hot air balloon flights in the rain. This is because the heat inside of the balloon can turn the rain water to boiling temperatures on top of the balloon, thereby destroying hot air balloon fabric.

Have yourself a "TRIUMPH-ant" Christmas......

During October, Triumph recently launched its “Find the One” short animated movie that brings to life the magical experience of finding the perfect fitted bra. Did you see it? I really loved it.....if you haven't check it out by clicking here....

Maximizer Cleavage on Demand Turn up the volume and lace it together for maximum boost. Seductive, sensual and sophisticated, there is a perfect choice for your every occasion. 

70% of Malaysians are changing the way they work...

Have you ever found yourself working from somewhere other than your office cubicle? Like that time you answered work emails whilst down at the bistro with friends for your usual Friday night catch up? How about that time you frantically rushed off an important report from the nearby café because the Wi-Fi at work failed you yet again? If the scenarios above struck a chord, it could be that you are one of many Malaysians with an ever-changing work habit, and whose regular routine may not necessarily even involve stepping into the office.

Being a blogger, I know for sure I have done that, and I need to bring my lap top on my trips and such so I can update my blogs and such....

ASTRO BEST PREMIERES “HE NAMED ME MALALA”

Yours truly was over at  TGV Luxe 1 Utama to catch the special screening of this amazing real life documentary film yesterday with my little daughter. And I must say that this documentary film is really inspiring and teaches us about standing up for what we strongly believe in as well as not giving up....

‘He Named Me Malala’ (HNMM)  is a new 21^st Century Fox documentary film about Pakistani-born student and youngest Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, and this documentary film premieres on Astro Best (CH 481) from Thursday, 26^th November.