Monday, June 20, 2011

Dior!


Oh wow! Love the necklace-like accessory on this Dior! But this lovely "white swan" will peck a RM21k hole in your pocket.

Love the knotted necklace design nonetheless. Will keep it here as an inspiration reference anyhow.
Happy Monday everyone! *yawns*

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Missing it

Really miss the creating process. Looking at pretty stuff always makes me itch to make my own interpretation of it. The sense of accomplishment and pride that comes from holding up that completed piece while I inspect and admire its appeal.. Aaaa... Sigh, missing it.
No choice but have to live with just starring at pretty stuff for now as I have not enough time. Already so many things on my plate and am spread so thin so something's gotta give.
So... Aren't these pretty?! Love 'em!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Toothless Thursday?

hahaha...

am clueless... had no idea how to title this blog post.... and was thinking of something along the lines of Wordless Wednesday....

So, I still have all my teeth... well those that should be there anyways *grins*

Finally did it - signed up for a full marathon, come June this year, at the KL Standard Chartered Marathon. OMG - not sure what am getting myself into.... nevertheless, got ourselves some sort of a training schedule drawn up for the next 13 weeks till race day. Have been talking about doing the full marathon for a long time now. Plus there are so many other people out there who just seem to have the guts to sign up for a full marathon, so why am I so scared?

*shudders*

Anyhoo, according to my marathon training schedule - this morning was supposed to be a 10km easy run around the area. I suppose I should log it as a tempo run. Although my area is rather hilly, so was it a hill interval run? Anyhoo, to get 10 clicks, we had to do 5 laps, but we ended up only doing 4 and walking the last one. My left knee seemed ok but during the 4th round, it seemed to be tightening up, but not quite hurting. Just tight. grrrr... Nearing the end of the 4th round, sis said she couldn't do that last lap cause she was feeling out of breath (probably because she was still nursing a cold), so we ended just walking the last round.

And now we get to my real inspiration for this post:

Couldn't find the Meiji koala bears filled with choc cream to go with my morning coffee, so settled for the Meiji Pucca choco pretzels. There were actually two shapes in the packet - one that looks like a pacman sotong thing (on the right of the right photo) and the other that looks like the ones pictured on the front of the box. Tasted yummy! :) I Meiji! 

And this was at the aisle with all the other Glico stuff, so couldn't resist and bought the cheapest Glico Rocky box: 

I better stick to the marathon training schedule, otherwise am going to end up a fatty by June! 

Tomorrow: some speed training. 


Monday, March 28, 2011

Poor abused google man

Head lost.
Legs broken off.
Right arm "taken off" so that he could fit into the usb hole.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Bareno Run 2011


Think this post should be more aptly titled 'Breakfast'. :)

This was breakfast after the Bareno Run 2011. My usual running "gang" (hahaha) ran bandit at the Bareno Run, having missed the closing date. Also, slow in getting back into some form of training schedule, kinda had the Bareno Run sprung itself on us, when we realised in the week leading up to it that it was going to be held that same Sunday.

Realising that, we were going to run the half marathon. But my knee was giving me problems in the week before the run and my physio said better not run the half that Sunday. Actually, she said better not run that Sunday and recover properly before gearing up training again.

BBBBBUUUUUUUTTTT then she also said that I could "try out the knee"  - running to see at which point the pain kicks in. So I took that as, will try the knee out at the 10km run lar. :)

Run was okay - not too bad. Finished in decent time eventhough there was the threat of the knee failing looming throughout the run. Also had itunes stuck in my ear while keeping pace with sis throughout the whole run, except for the last hill leading up to the finish.

Anywayssssssss....... after the run, dug into the above :)
It's actually chee cheong fun but with kari sauce and I added yau cha kueh myself :). For non-Malaysian readers, "yau cha kueh" is like deep fried dough sticks that the Chinese love in their porridge, pork meat soup and even dipped in black coffee! haha...

SLURP! 

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Make up!

Ran out of it!

HOMG!?!

Go out bare faced - NEVER! Not since, I dunno, more than 10 yrs ago? or more?! ok, got lar.. but like very very rare occassions.. maybe when am really sick and need to go to the doctor's. or its like after an exercise session and i've showered and i am dashing out to buy something REAL quick.

And the stuff i ran out of is stuff to cover the face, not eye shadow or blush lar - can do without those.

What do I do? Scrap the bottom of the barrel with a cotton bud... only managed to get out enough to cover half my nose. Sheeeettttssss.... how? slap on a bit more concealer and dig out the old compact powder (which makes me look white as ghost) for a bit more coverage.

Need more diversion - ok, put on some eye makeup to divert attention to the eyes and away from the blotchily covered face.

Check mirror - okay lar. Looks decent enough - black rings around the eyes and freckles covered. Set!

After lunch at Yuzu @ the Gardens, quickly dashed to Robinson's to check out the make up they have. I've not used much Shu Uemura makeup. So far only their concealer which is really light and not drying - compared to the MAC wan, which I blame for the line under my eye :( . Also have their eye shadow in powder and cream form. Love the cream eye shadow, really makes the powder color stay on. Or just use the cream for nice enough natural look.

Ok ok, so here are some photos of the semi makeover experience at the Shu counter. Lady was nice, patient and pretty good with the color recommendations. I like! Felt so pretty after. Face looks brighter, and I feel/look more awake!

 
me waiting for the lady to get all the stuff ready for me makeover

the whitefficient range of skincare she used - nice! 
face felt smooth even after I washed everything off later in the evening. 

RM400 + RM30 rebate voucher later. 
Got the travel sized whitefficient range because I spent more than RM350 
and the nite cream because I spent more than RM400! 

Loving it so far. Feels light. Managed to replicate what the lady did for me. Will only start using the eyebrow pencil after I'm done using my own wan. The mouse feels nice and light. She said you could just use that, cover up with a bit of concealer on the particular spots and then top off with loose powder. But I don't think it'll be enough coverage. Anyhoo, the powder foundation has SPF too - so all good. 



Addicted to Shu Uemura now :)

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Caramel from The Loaf

Dessert after lunch today from The Loaf.

Now I know where else to get caramel. Only ever had ones from Ipoh when my aunty brings it down. Really yummy caramel too. Love it especially after it's been in the fridge so it's a lovely cool creamy taste going down my mouth.

This was from The Loaf at Pavilion.

Help! Am eating too much and running too little!!! Bareno half marathon this sunday?!? wish me luck!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Food @ Essence, Sheraton Imperial

A few weekends ago, back in February (am so behind and so slow with updating my blog... been super busy!), husband and I went out on 2 date nights in a week - cue the "woah" sound effect.

Why so special ar?

Husband had paid for the starwood privilege membership and with it came vouchers for free dining. So, it wasn't a romantic gesture or anything, just merely an effort to use up the vouchers.

And, I made the effort to take photos of the buffet spread at Essence, Sheraton Imperial. Until they stopped me at the dessert bar that is. humph. think it was the dessert chef - am sure she was just defensive about people copying her work.

pfffft!
fresh oyster - ok la

dessert bar from afar - looks pretty huh? 

sugar free = guilt free? 

i know why desserts always look so appealing - they are always so colorful! 

this was not the dessert bar, but the cheese and fruit platter

the after dinner self portrait.... 

think we were at dessert by about 8.15pm? :) hahaha...

Friday, February 18, 2011

Fire Update

Happy Chinese New Year everyone.

Have been busy with a holiday overseas. Think am still slightly jetlagged from the 3 hour time difference between KL and Sydney. Never had jetlag for so long after traveling from Australia before.

It has its plus points in a way. Means its slightly easier for me to get in the morning to go running. Did a first run in the year of the rabbit last Sunday morning. Ran about 13.3kms before having to walk the rest of the way back for a total distance of about 14kms.

My left knee was hurting from running at a faster pace. I was "playing" with a group of guys who were running at about 5'40/km pace. Was pretty good fun... Kept up all the way until the hill incline.

Oops - I digressed from the title of this blog.

The room that endured the fire was cleaned up by the contractor before Chinese New Year! I heart my contractor, when he gets things right. He mobilised his workers really quickly. We got the debris all removed and then the room was prepped for painting and the floor cleaned up. Then he got the electrician in to install a new air cond unit and fixed up the lights too. Wah lah! Done! In about 3 days' work! woohoo!

The insurance companies, on the other hand, sigh.. a different story altogether.

Will post up photo of the 'new' room.

oh! also newsworthy - husband and I are going out for our SECOND dinner date tonight! woah.... so good, ya? Nothing special other than trying to use up vouchers for free meals we have!!!


Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Fire!

Was a usual Sat evening at home - around about 6.30pm. In the bathroom, during baby's bathtime.

During her bath, the lights in the bathroom went out. Went downstairs and confirmed that circuit had tripped. Told the husband and came back upstairs to continue with baby's bath. Finished her bath and I came out of the bathroom into the baby's room, followed by the maid with baby. She walked into the room and said that she could smell something burning. I immediately thought that maybe the wires had somehow fused or something because in the morning, the lights in my bathroom did a pop and then went off, tripping the circuit too.

The husband came in asking if I had tested which lights were the ones tripping the circuit. Then said that he could also smell something burning. Directed himself to the switch for the bathroom lights and commented that the smell was getting stronger. Then he turned to open the room door to his parents' room.... and then he exclaimed, "OHMIGAWD! GET OUT! GET OUT!"

He quickly ran downstairs scooped up Bubbles on his way who was waiting at the stairs, the maid carried the baby and followed him, while I was the last one out. I turned to look behind as I came out of the baby's room and saw fire through the crack underneath the door and thought, "OH FARK!"

Once we got outside, the husband started to trying to ring the bomba, but only had the phone number for the Bangsar Police Station. We got a bit of cover at the neighbour's which had an open porch, as it started to rain soon after we got out. Plus, baby was naked! She only had the wet towel wrapped around her. We also got the Logan, the golden retriever who was outside at the porch area on the way out. The husband took off his shirt for baby, but his shirt was already wet and cold.

Husband knocked and shouted to the neighbours to get out of their house as well, in case the fire started spreading. We stopped the Home Guard security who happened to be doing his rounds to call the fire brigade.

The police arrived quite quickly, I'd say about 5 minutes after, as they were from the police station close by. I think there were 4 or 5 of them who came in motorbikes. They went in with the husband to check. I was still waiting outside and saw that he opened all the windows from our bedroom and smoke started to come out after. I just stood there fearing any sudden explosions. I didn't have my mobile phone with me, and couldn't stand just hanging around outside. So I tied up Logan and ran inside to the master bedroom to grab my phone (even saw my DSLR camera on the dresser and made the decision to leave it!!!). When I was in the house, I couldn't see the fire underneath the crack of the door anymore and presumed that the fire had gone out.

Came back outside and called my sister to tell her what was happening. I then called my brother, to tell him that I was dropping baby off with the maid so she could get some clothes on. Poor baby must've figured something was wrong as she was quiet throughout. Bubbles also went with them.

Came back to the house and the Bomba arrived and Gavin was still running in and out of the house topless. At some point here I think, I figured it was safe enough to go inside and pick up some clothes for baby. Inside, the fire was out, and looked like a CSI scene, as there was no power, it was dark, smoky and torchlights were flashing about.

I retrieved our passports, my watch, rings and some clothes for baby. Brother came by at that time and I passed him the bags with the valuables. Then came out and my sister arrived then and took hold of Logan who was still tied to the neighbour's pole.

Stood outside for awhile to explain what had happened to my sister and then got a call from my brother to ask if they should give baby any food. At this point I went in to the kitchen to get some milk and milk bottle for baby. Passed them to my sister who took Logan to my brother's house as well. By this time, we had also retrieved both our laptops and husband saved my DSLR camera, so my sister trooped them all off to safety.

By this time, when I went inside the house again, the mattress with burn patches had been pulled out of the room. And the bomba lady (ya, a firelady, not a fireman - she a big momma! "don't mess with her, fire!") was explaining her theory of how the fire must've started from the wall fan. It probably overheated as it was left switched on, then melted the plastic around the motor, melted plastic bits dripped onto the bed below, burnt, spread to the curtains next to the bed, and spread along that wall to the air conditioner which also melted. The melting plastic was also dripping on to the wardrobe of clothes underneath that.

At first they weren't sure if it was the air conditioning unit as well but she concluded it was the wall fan (i can't remember why now - she da CSI, not me).

Husband's account of events.
When he approached the room door, he opened it slowly and with the door just slightly open he could feel an inferno of heat from behind the door, before shouting at us to get out of the house.

When the police came, they asked him to show where the fire was, eventhough he thought he shouldn't go into a burning house. They got to the door, opened it and immediately the fire started blowing up with the gush of oxygen rushing in. They closed the door again, husband retrieved the hose from the porch but we have no open water tap in the bathroom to connect the hose to! So they opened the door again and threw the water left in the bathtub from baby's bath! They also used her potty which could fill up with water quickly to put out the fire also.

When the bomba came, the fire had already been put out. So they went in, used an axe to hack the burnt pillows and bedding just to make sure there were no more burning ambers that could light up again.

TNB fellas also came.
Think the bomba called TNB, or maybe the police, because it was an electrical fire. 3 TNB guys came to make sure the wires were dead and also switched off all the respective fuses for the circuits running in the two bedrooms at the back.

They also okayed for us to stay in the house that night. The police had also advised against leaving the house all empty to prevent any looters coming to the house.

So..... how do I feel now?

Am okay emotionally - not too shaken up. But at a point while I was standing outside waiting for my house to burn down when I felt really emotional. It is the lousiest feeling, standing outside, knowing you are somewhat safe, but your home, together with all your valuables and (material) things from your whole life, was facing impending perish.

Counting lucky stars.
Luckily, no one and no dog was hurt.
Luckily, we didn't lose too many things, mainly old furniture.
Luckily, husband closed the door after he discovered the fire, which choked the fire so it stayed small and slow.
Luckily, the glass in the windows did not break through which would have allowed in all the oxygen to fuel the fire.
Luckily, it was bathtime for the baby so we were upstairs and discovered the fire when we did and not in the middle of the night or while we were out.
Luckily, the fire did not explode out to the living area upstairs while we were in the room next door, trapping us in.
Luckily, the wall fan was above the bed and not above the bookshelves, where there were more highly flammable books.
Luckily, the fire was already out when the bomba guys came, otherwise all our stuff would've been sprayed with the white powder. The whole house have been in a bigger mess and stuff destroyed eventhough property saved.
Luckily, it happened while there were people in the house.
Luckily, we discovered the fire....
.... and the list goes on.

I know we are lucky to have escaped unscathed. But frankly, am quite tired of counting my lucky stars this way - something bad happens and you have to console yourself by looking on the bright side. How about some real "luck", like a windfall gain, y'know, winning the lottery perhaps. Otherwise, am happy to just go along with life in a boring, unexciting kinda way, without such events to jolt my blood pressure. Sigh....so Big Guy, if you're listening, either throw some real LUCK for a change or just not throw anything this way at all. I really don't know about any "ooong" coming out of this.

Anyhoo, some real tips in preventing and in the event of a fire:

  • closing the door back on the fire was the right move - it not only contained the fire but choked it
  • do try to trip your main fuse every 6 months to make sure it works - ie, check that it does trip, so you know the circuit breaker works
  • do make sure you know how to have quick exits from the house (i know we never think of such things in our daily lives, but you also never know when accidents happen, sigh...)
  • electrician confirmed that cheapo fans have no built-in cut off mechanisms - just spend that little bit more money on reputable KDK or Panasonic fans, ie, don't buy the RM20 stand fans from jusco or tesco. or if you have one in your house now, once they start slowing down in rotation - please throw them out. 
  • keep the phone numbers of the police and fire brigade in your phone or just know it - our first instinct was to dial 911! that does not work in Malaysia. (will update for the correct emergency phone numbers - see, i still don't know it!)
Now for the photos (only) of the aftermath:
 
right: scarred mattress

blackened with soot

damage in room

what's left of the fan and burnt headboart (hate to think this happening to human flesh)

left: melted ceiling light but asbestos ceiling intact

what's left of the curtains

bomba reckons the fire spread from the right (where the wall fan once hung) towards the curtains at the windows to the left (where the a/cond is now partially melted)


bantal terbakar

 
right: where the wall fan once hung

national 1HP a-cond 
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