Italiannies is not an uncommon name in the gastronomic world. With an “A’more di merrier” (translating to ‘the more companions, the merrier) theme, the popular Italian-themed chain has continuously been a favourite amongst food enthusiasts, especially those who have a penchant for Italian cuisine or pasta dishes!

In their constant process of serving culinary delights and spreading the good Italian cheer, Italiannies have come up with a Festa della Pasta menu – an extended menu that comprises of eight new pasta dishes! Available from now until 30 June 2013, the Festa della Pasta promotion gives customers the chance to savour a selection of authentic pasta recipes from the various regions of Italy. Prices range from RM18.90 to RM26.90 each. Also, even though the new promotional menu is pasta-oriented, Italiannies has also come up with a few appetizers and a dessert.

We were offered a chance to sample the new Festa della Pasta menu, here’s our take on it -

The Mediterranean Salad was our writer’s favourite dish of the night! The salad comprises of roasted chicken breast, black olives, tiny cubes of cream cheese, sliced tomatoes, onions, rocket and romaine greens. Everything went well together. As for the Gamberi con Aglio, we reckon shrimp lovers who enjoy a good ‘kick’ would take a liking to this dish. Cooked with red dried chillies, black olives and tomatoes, these perfectly sautéed shrimps were juicy and plump; just the way we like our shrimps! The dish is served with toasted bread, so please soak up the gravy with them. However, we did find this dish too spicy for our liking.

Especially for this promotion, fresh Tagliatelle pasta will be made daily at the Italiannies’ kitchen. In fact, it was so fresh that we got to witness the chef making it! There are two Tagliatelle offerings; the Tagliatelle con pesto al pomodoro and the Tagliatelle con Salvia and Funghi e Popettine.

Between the two, we would suggest you to go for Tagliatelle con pesto al pomodoro. The dish consists of plain and spinach tagliatelle pasta (yes two types of pasta!), green pesto, tomatoes, and garnished with pine nuts and parmesan cheese. We admit this was one of our favourites – we absolutely loved how it had just the right amount of pesto, and the pine nuts would prevent any jelak feelings! The Tagliatelle con Salvia, Funghi e Popettine with beef meatballs was alright. We reckon this sautéed pasta dish would appeal to those who prefer a dish that’s less saucy and lighter to the palate.

Another crowd pleaser was the Cannelloni. The pasta dish was stuffed with cream, spinach and artichokes, and served with homemade Marinara sauce topped with melted Mozzarella Cheese and Béchamel sauce! It was a total cheesy delight! If you’re a cheese-y and sauce-y type of person, and can order only one dish for your visit; please let it be this! If you prefer seafood or like something more than vegetables, perhaps you could have the beautifully presented Mussels and Clams Lombardi con Pappardelle. The pappardelle pasta is cooked with white wine, fresh clams and mussels, and garnished with herbs and chilli flakes. You could taste the wine, but it was generally not too overwhelming and fitted perfectly with the fresh shellfish, so really no complaints here!

We liked how homey the Paccheri con Ragú tasted;its traditional Italian beef sauce was hearty and matched perfectly with the parmesan cheese. Although many enjoyed the Tortellini con Salmone ed Aneto, we must warn you that it may not be for everyone. Our writer personally found the spinach and ricotta filling too overwhelming; but she did enjoy the afredo sauce and smoked salmon!

The other afredo sauce dishes would be a safer option to the less adventurous. The Fileja con Pomodoro e Basilico’s pasta was tossed with minimal tomato sauce and sprinkled with parmesan and fresh basil, and the Fusilli con Spinaci ed Alfredo Sauce had sautéed fusilli pasta, chicken breast and spinach. Though both dishes may not be remarkable, it would definitely be one of the safest choices for children and those more picky of sauces and all.

Have we got you craving for some delizioso Italian pasta? Well then, head on over to any of these participating Italiannies outlets;

• The Curve
• The Gardens Mall
• Empire Shopping Centre
• Paradigm Mall
• Gurney Paragon

Oh, and there’s more – aside for the brand new Festa Della Pasta menu, Italiannies has also prepared some meal promotions for their lovely customers!

Lunch promotion (11am till 3pm)

During lunch, with a top up of RM6 atop any choice of pasta (from the Festa Della Pasta menu), customers would get to enjoy a choice of either a salad (Insalata Verde), a dessert (chocolate brownie) or a glass of Pepsi!

Dinner promotion (6pm onwards)

By just paying an extra RM16 on top of any choice of pasta from the Festa Della Pasta menu, customers would get to pick between an entrée (Gamberi con Aglio), a salad (Insalata Mediterranea) or a dessert (Italian Trifle)!

For more information, please visit Italiannies or their official Facebook page.

Price tags

Ladies, we don’t need to know how much your pair of heels cost, get those price tags out! Gwyneth Paltrow was once an offender, so don’t get caught by the fashion police.

Do ~ Yes, we understand that the price tag stickers are hard to come off. Here’s a trick – dab nail polish remover on a cotton pad, place over sticker and let it soak in for a few minutes. You should be able to peel the sticker off after that. Use a ruler to scrape the residue or if you have the patience, use an eraser to rub it all off.

Ugly feet

We are not all blessed with the most beautiful feet around but there’s nothing more unsightly than parading your chipped nail polish, cracked heels or tortured toes in your pair of slinky heels. If you’re already spending hundreds of ringgit on pretty dresses, perfectly coiffed hair, and amazing makeup, surely you can treat your feet better?

On a serious note, your lust for killer heels can lead to bunions, hammer toes, calluses and plantar warts. All of which could be a painful experience if you don’t take care.

Do ~ Our feet is the most neglected part of the body. And if you regularly wear heels, or any shoes for that matter, spend some time and money on foot spa, pedicure, massage, etc to pamper your feet. Don’t walk in heel for long period of time, and always switch between heels and cushioned flats to air them and give yourself better support.

All in a squeeze

By now, you would have seen pictures of Julianne Moore’s tiny toes peeping out of her stilettos at the recent Cannes red carpet event. No? See above. Ladies, if the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it. You are doing yourself a big fashion no-no and not to mention, giving yourself painful health hazard.

Some cutting or design may look cute but you need to know that feet shape and growth/changes play an important role in looking and feeling your best too. In the case of Kim K., her swollen feet should not be tested to the limit with her choice of trendy footwear.

Do ~ When you’re buying a pair of heels, it pays to walk around in them first. Take your time and see how well the shoes fit – check if your feet slide forward or the straps cut into your skin as you walk, etc. Also, as feet tend to swell at the end of the day, it is the best time to go shoe shopping, just remember that you would need to let them breathe a little.

Inappropriate footwear

We’re pointing the finger at you, the chick who-can’t-be-caught-dead-in-anything-but-heels-no-matter-what-the-occasion. The Victoria Beckham’s of the world if you may.

True story – a girl was strutting (more like staggering) in 5-inch heels at an outdoor gig where the field is muddy and the grass no longer green not too long ago. Now, where is the sense in that? There’s a reason why the footwear industry gives us so many options – heels, pumps, boot, sandals, flip flops – so that you can make the right choice.

Do ~ Our best advice is to use your senses and judgment. If you’re going to the said concert, ditch the heels. If you know you’ll be running around a lot for meetings and whatnot, wear a more sensible footwear or keep a spare pair of heels/ flats in the car for when you need them. Don’t be the girl that everyone makes fun of and loves to hate.

Mismatch socks

Credit: Lovelyish.com

Ok, we’re on the fence on this one. Certain factors have to be considered here – what is your dressing style? are you going for a mod look? Slutty schoolgirl or the Apek wearing socks with slipper look?

Only a few types of heels are suited to match the shoes and socks combo, i.e. covered heels, pumps, Mary Janes, booties. It may look a bit weird on opened toe heels, clogs and sandals.

Do ~ You need a certain know-how to pull this off. The first thing to remember is that wearing socks will cut off your legs by shaving off a few inches of your height. Second is the texture; go for light and sheer material, avoid cotton as it tends to be bulky and stretch out fast. Next, the length; always keep the top of the socks resting at a slim part of ankle or calf to flatter your pints. Lastly, pair this with short hemmed dresses or shorts for an elongating effect.

Photo Source: menopausehealthmatters.com

As with each individual’s unique personality, the female body comes in a range of shapes and sizes. This, in our opinion, is a good thing as uniformity would be such a bore!

‘But what if I want her body shape, what if I’m sick of my bigger thighs/broad shoulder/etc..’ Well, yes, it is true that some lucky girls do have all the good bits, but that doesn’t mean you should be beating yourself up about your body shape. Everyone is beautiful in their own way.

Also, here’s some food for thought – no matter what shape and size you are, you’d still encounter weight-gain and cellulite if you don’t lead a healthy lifestyle.  That’s right ladies; whether you’re a curvaceous show-stopper or have a slim modelesque figure, you’d still be prone to cellulite without proper exercise and eating habits. This is because cellulite is generally fat deposits that form underneath our skin due to several factors, such as poor circulation. To learn more about how cellulite is formed, read this.

Though, cellulite tendencies do vary. The area the fats deposit at, and its visibility, would be different for every individual. In fact, one can safely say that cellulite visibility is heavily dependent on the type of body shape you are. Generally, there are four main types of body shapes for women, each with a different problem area;

1. Hourglass Shape

As the name suggests, those with an hourglass body shape would be curvy. Case in point – the very bootylicious Beyonce! They would have well-proportioned upper and lower bodies, which is further complemented with a distinctively narrow waist.

Problem areas: Though blessed with a body shape coveted by many, this shape does have its drawbacks – hour-shaped women predominantly gain weight and have cellulite in the hips and chest areas.

2. Pear Shape

The main identifiers of a pear-shaped body are larger lower bodies and smaller upper bodies.  Women with this body shape would usually have a flat tummy (lucky you!) and hips that are slightly broader than shoulders.

Problem areas: Those with pear-shaped figures would usually gain weight below the waist (hips, thighs, bottom and sometimes the calves). Oh, and we’re sad to tell you that pears are more susceptible to cellulite.

3. Apple Shape

Those with an apple-shaped body generally can notice that their bust measurements would be bigger than their hip measurements. To put into perspective, women with this body shape would have larger-looking abdomen and chest areas, but are blessed with long legs and thighs.

Problem areas: Apples tend to carry their weight around their midsection.

4. Banana Shape

A banana shaped body is easy to identify. Women with this body shape would generally be slim, slender, and have great arms and legs. Yup, the general model physique. Although their upper body would be proportionate to their lower, there wouldn’t be any major differences between the size of their hips, waists and shoulders.

Problem areas: The bad news for ladies with this body shape is that they tend to gain weight at the face, backside, abdomen and chest.

As you can see, different body shape types would have different problem areas. Now that you know where your issues would be at, attacking and minimising cellulite visibility becomes much simpler. The main idea is to focus on exercises that target those problem areas! Oh, and if you’re wondering what’s a fun and easy way to get your daily dose of exercise, we heard that skipping rope is a great way to tone your entire body!  Just take a look at this professional rope skipper -

Also, do keep in mind that cellulite treatments are a great and effective way to minimise cellulite. Case in point – the Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control. When applied to problem areas, this all-natural contouring product does wonders in minimising that nasty orang-peel’s visibility. It also gives you an even and smooth skin tone! This is because the Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control is able to break the vicious cycle of cellulite formation direct from its origin, ensuring a long-lasting ‘lifted’ effect.

Aside from that, the Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control can also effectively slow down any possible future cellulite formation. Plus, application is a cinch – simply massage the treatment into your problem areas! However, do remember that this contouring product should be supplemented with proper exercises and a healthy diet for the best results.

Therefore ladies, if you’ve been wishing for anther body type, it’s time to stop. Instead, get to understand your body shape better, and structure your exercises and diet around it. Remember, a healthy lifestyle and a proper anti-cellulite treatment like the Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control can go a long way!

Actress and former beauty queen, Chris Tong, was attacked in the wee hours of Tuesday morning (May 21) after finishing a meeting with a client in Jalan Kuchai Lama.

The 29-year old had gone to get some supper and was walking back to her car, when she was suddenly beaten on the back by an assailant at Taman Yulek in Cheras.

After falling down to the ground, Tong realised that the attacker was after her car keys in a possible attempt to carjack her RM300,000 Mercedes-Benz SLK. She sustained minor injuries on her hands and face.

Fortunately for Tong, her poodle that was waiting in the car started to bark and caused a stall owner nearby to take notice, who then started to shout at the assailant; believed to have attacked on his own. Members of the public then started to run after him but unfortunately, he managed to escape.

A police report was then lodged, but no arrests have been made to date. Anyone with information on the matter, do inform the authorities – you could be saving someone else’s life.

Ladies, please be aware of your surroundings at all times especially if you’re out late at night on your own. We may not always have the help of man’s best friend to save the day.

Source: The Star

Discovery Channel together with Astro, partnered up to chronicle the commitment that gave rise to the World’s Longest Underwater Cleanup, as certified by the Guinness World Records. It was a feat that brought out a lot of emotions in all those involved. And this is just the beginning.

Reef Rescuers is a 30-minute exclusive documentary that brings you behind the milestone-setting conversation project that took place in April this year.

At the special screening this morning, VenusBuzz.com had the privilege to see the process that goes into making this cleanup such a successful one. And let us tell you that an effort like this is mammoth!

Held over a seven day period between April 6th and 13th, a total of 134 volunteer divers from all around the world convened at Tunku Abdul Rahma Park in Sabah for the project. Many had flew in from Australia, France, Hong Kong, Lithuania, New Zealand, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and also Malaysia to make over 1,120 dives at 224 dive locations surrounding the park.

What they found was devastating. Over 3 tonnes of rubbish were hauled up from the seabed, out of this were 1,560kg plastic, 140kg glass and ceramic, 318kg metal, 357kg rubber and cloth, and 716 wood and mixed materials.

The urgency now is to highlight the importance of underwater conservation. Truth is the pollution is getting worse by the day with the world’s oceans becoming a regular dumping ground for toxic waste, rubbish and other harmful materials. It’s a sad situation when sea life are the unfortunate victims of human errors.

There needs to be more awareness about what we can do offshore as well as in the ocean. And the key lies in education – we need to be more civic minded about respecting Mother Nature. It may be one small step from each individual but the impact will be big if we collectively put our hearts and minds into building a sustainable environment.

That is the hope of Reef Rescuers in inspiring everyone to be actively involved in creating a pollution-free globe.

Reef Rescuers premieres on Thursday, May 30th at 7pm on Discovery Channel (Astro Channel 551) and Discovery Channel HD (Astro Channel 571). You can catch the encores over at:

• Discovery Channel (Astro 551) on Friday May 31st at 1pm; Sunday June 2nd at 5pm; Tuesday June 4th at 7pm; and Wednesday  June 5th at midnight & 1pm.
• Discovery Channel HD (Astro 571) on Friday May 31st at 1pm and Sunday June 2nd at 5pm.

Photo Source:bellasugar.com.au

Ah yes, the invasion of the zits! Also known as acne and pimples, this annoying and unsightly situation is caused by inflamed or infected sebaceous glands in the skin. It usually results from excessive oil and sebum trapped in our pores. They can be treated by various over-the-counter acne treatments or medications prescribed by a dermatologist.

However, despite our best intentions of shoo-ing the acne demon away, it seems like it’s easier to make mistakes and aggravating them more! Here are some simple facts and mistakes on what would worsen the unwarranted skin condition;

Popping and Pinching

‘Don’t ever pop/touch/pinch your pimple, it’ll scare!’ Yes, we know you’ve most probably heard that from skin experts tons of times by now, but well, they’re right! Although popping may seem like the fastest way to get rid of pimples (and that there’s this indescribable satisfaction that comes popping); your skin would be at risk of irritation, infection or even scaring.

Excessive Washing

Some people think that washing their faces more often would help them get rid and prevent acne. That is very wrong. Excessive face washing may lead to the stimulation of more oil, which in turn is the real cause of acne – too much oil and sebum stuck in the pores!

Sugary Food

Let’s get our facts straight – another reason acne forms is due to your blood sugars ‘swinging’ too much. This causes a gushing hormonal reaction that leads to increased sebum production and clogged pores. Therefore, when you have a sudden zit attack or are preparing for an important day, stay away from sugar-laden foods (e.g. candies and soft drinks) for the time being. Oh, and while you’re at it, lay off those oily fried food too!

Oily Cosmetics

Acne breakouts will worsen with foundation, moisturizers, sunscreen or any other topical skin product that are generally greasy and contains oil. If possible, try to use oil-controlling products or water/gel based cosmetics on the affected area instead.

Psychological Factors

Ever realized that the outbreaks are more common during exam periods or when you’re chasing a deadline? Negative emotions such as stress and anxiety can also influence the generation and aggravation of skin disorders, especially acne! So ladies; keep calm and be acne-free!

Sources: LIVESTRONG, WebMD 

It is obvious that meat is one of the easiest (and tastiest) ways to get your essential daily dose of protein, amino acids and other important nutrients. However, it is also undeniable that meat also packs a hefty high-calorie, cholesterol and saturated fat punch! Fret not though meat-lovers; the comforting news is that not all meats (and cuts) are the same.

There are actually a lot of factors to consider when buying meat. Just take a look at the infographic created by Greatist below. It enlightens us of the varying saturated fat and calorie content of chicken, beef, lamb, pork and other forms of meat. Who would’ve thought whether the meat was ground or cut would make a significant difference!

Generally, if you’re on a lean protein diet, go for cuts that are trimmed to 1/8” of fat or less. Just remember to add extra seasonings to boost flavour, because the flavours of the meat goes according to its fat content. We would also like to remind our readers that any healthy diet should consist of some fat. In fact; some research actually suggests a little of the saturated stuff can actually be beneficial to health!

So, the next time you head on over to the grocer to get some meat, just use this handy infographic to help you compare your options and purchase the best choice for your diet! Oh, and while you’re at it, do you know the real difference between white and red meat?

Source: Greatist

Yes, we are blessed with many public holidays in this country and there are so many things you can do over this long holiday weekend. How about getting those creative juices flowing?

These are some creative DIY projects to help you spruce up the home with a personal touch while doing your bit for Mother Nature.

1. T-Shirt Pom Poms

This cute idea makes for a fabulous deco in the living room. And we like that you get to recycle your old clothes while crafting. This will require a bit of patience and since you’ve got the whole weekend, spread out the process so you don’t get flustered. Instructions from Craftaholics Anonymous.

2. Bottle Jewellery Stand

Definitely one of the more prettier recycling ideas we’ve seen; this jewellery stand is made using the bottom of a soda bottle. In order to do this, you will need a really good cutter, drilling tool, metal file and threaded rod. Full pictorial instructions available at EPBOT.

3. Paper Roses

Find any old book you may have lying around that you’re absolutely sure not going to read anymore and use the pages to make this whimsical flower deco. It looks pretty enough for a pretty wedding DIY idea and great gift to friends. Step by step can be found at 100 Layer Cake.

4. Paper “Lace” Runner

With the old book, you can also use the pages for this paper table runner with lace trimming. The detailing is actually perfected with a decorative punch. For a rustic look, pages that are worn and yellow work best. Based on the project featured in BHG, you should be able to do this in under 30 minutes.

5. Pillowcase Garment Bag

Instead of plastic, why not store clothes in cloth? The former is not suitable in our climate as it does not allow moisture or cleaning chemicals to evaporate. So use pillowcases for fresh smelling clothes and to keep dust away. It’s relatively easy to convert, Martha Stewart has the steps.

Happy crafting Venusians!

Unless super heavy makeup plays a huge part of your personality on a daily basis, or you’re going for a classic 50s theme you might want to stay away from dark eye makeup and bright red lips and keep the look as natural and dewy as possible on your big day.

“On your wedding day you should look like yourself at your most beautiful,” says Bobbi Brown, who has created the Luxe Collection for the bride and her bridal party which consists of gorgeous shimmers in soft, feminine colours.

If you’re planning your wedding, here are some handy tips from the expert herself on the do’s and don’ts of wedding day makeup!

Q: In your opinion, what is the best wedding day makeup?

A: On her wedding day, every bride should look like herself at her most beautiful. This is not the time to try something edgy, trendy or dramatically different from what you usually wear. It’s about choosing a makeup look that enhances your features so you look like yourself at your most radiant. You’ll have your wedding album for the rest of your life so keep your look timeless.

Q: Any tips on how to create a timeless and classic wedding day look?

A: For the eyes, make sure you start out with a corrector and concealer under the eye. It will instantly make you look refreshed and well-rested. Use a light matte shadow like Cream Eye Shadow as a base (or highlighter on the brow bone if you have light skin).

Then, apply a soft shimmery shadow like Sparkle Eye Shadow in Pink Lilac (RM90) or a metallic eye shadow like Metallic Eye Shadow in Oyster Grey (RM85) on the lower lid from lash line to crease. To really make eyes pop, line them with Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink (RM85). For added intensity, I like to double line eyes with Eye Shadow in Espresso (RM85).

I love our new Luxe Eye Palette (RM240) because it has a handful of soft pastel and cool grey eye shadows with different textures and finishes—perfect for creating a modern yet classic bridal look. Last but not least, make sure you use a water-resistant liner that can withstand tears of joy. Try No Smudge Mascara (RM95), it’s long-wearing, waterproof mascara that defines, curls and lengthens lashes. Apply two or three coats for standout eyes.

For the skin - when it comes to getting picture- perfect photos, foundation is essential. Look for one that’s skin tone correct – it should have a yellow base to blend with natural undertones found in most women’s skin tone. Then, apply pressed powder to skin to help control shine. Stay away from translucent powders as they’re not invisible and just make the skin look ashy.

For a pretty flush that lasts, use two shades of blush on the cheeks. Start with a neutral shade, and apply it on the apples of the cheeks, blending up into the hairline, then downward to soften. Then, apply a pop of brighter blush just on the apples of the cheeks. For a lit-from-within glow that looks great in photographs, lightly dust Luxe Sparkle Powder (RM175) on the high points of the face including your cheekbones.

Neutral lip colors can look washed out in photographs, so choose a shade that’s one or two shades brighter than your natural lip color. Try using a brighter shade of pink, rose or plum.

Q: What look did you choose for your wedding day?

A: I loved being a bride and can still remember it like it was yesterday. I chose a look that reflected my classic, fresh and simple style. I went for a rosy lipstick, a soft pale pink cheek and my skin looked like skin. I wore a white tailored jacket with a matching mini skirt. I felt beautiful and more importantly, I still felt like myself.

Q: Any tips for last minute touch ups?

A: Remember to have fun, relax and enjoy! For afternoon touch-ups, I recommend using a Face Touch Up Stick (RM100) to even out any red spots or uneven skin tone. Rather than re-applying a whole new layer of foundation, a touch-up stick provides coverage only where you need it. Other key makeup essentials to keep in your bag are: blush, lip color and concealer. A customizable palette is ideal for touch-ups and can help you save time, as well as room in your bag. Our new Luxe Six-Pan palette (RM65) can hold up six shades of your favorite Bobbi Brown eye shadows and blushes.

Q: Do you recommend scheduling a consultation with a makeup artist prior to your wedding day?

A: Doing a consultation and run-through of the makeup prior to your wedding day is a must. Reserve a one- hour appointment about four to six weeks prior to the wedding to create and practice the look. Bring examples of makeup looks you like—tear sheets from magazines or a photo of yourself that you feel captures you at your most beautiful—and also some details about the wedding itself (is it on the beach, in a religious setting, etc.), which will help the makeup artist create a look that will work perfectly for your big day.

Planning your Big Day? Visit a Bobbi Brown counter to discover Bobbi’s signature bridal beauty tips for looking your most beautiful and picture-perfect. Makeup Lessons are complimentary and perfectly tailored to fit your lifestyle and needs!

THE LUXE COLLECTION

New Luxe Eye Palette (RM240) Prepare to fall in love with this luxe palette for eyes. It features six eye shadows with different textures and finishes, perfect for creating a variety of special occasion looks leading up to, and on, the Big Day. Plus, it includes two mini-brushes for easy, on-the-go application. Shades: Cream Eye Shadow, Pink Opal Shimmer Wash Eye, Shadow (New), Pink Lilac Sparkle Eye Shadow, Pink Pearl, Metallic Eye Shadow, Oyster Grey Metallic Eye Shadow, Espresso Eye Shadow Brushes: Flat Eye Shadow Brush & Flat Eye Liner Brush

Limited Edition Luxe Sparkle Powder (RM175) This ultra-sheer skin enhancer instantly brightens the complexion with a touch of barely-there sparkle. It’s the perfect way to add a glow without looking overdone.

Limited Edition Luxe Brush Set (RM470) This essential brush set has all the tools you need to apply makeup like a pro. Housed in a chic clasped silver case, this set also makes a perfect bridal party gift. Set includes seven of Bobbi’s must-have brushes: Face Blender Brush, Foundation Brush, Dual Ended Cream Shadow & Concealer Brush, Eye Definer, Eye Sweep, Angle Eye Shadow Brush, Dual Ended Ultra Fine Eyeliner & Eye Liner Brush.

No Smudge Mascara (RM95) This long-wearing, waterproof mascara promises to withstand tears of joy, all while defining, curling and lengthening lashes.

Limited Edition Luxe Six Pan Palette (RM65) How to stay flawless from ceremony to the last dance? Keep your essentials handy in this mirrored customizable palette. It holds up to six shades of your favorite Bobbi Brown eye shadows and blushes.

For more information, visit the Bobbi Brown Malaysia Facebook page.

Disney presents its first little girl princess with the debut of “Sofia the First: Once Upon A Princess,” an enchanting, music-filled animated Disney Junior television movie for the whole family, featuring an interesting twist – Disney’s Cinderella makes an appearance to offer Sofia some words of wisdom, princess to princess!

The movie is set in the storybook world of Enchancia, introducing Sofia – an average girl whose life suddenly transforms when her mother marries the king and she becomes a princess, Sofia the First. Sofia must learn to navigate the extraordinary life of royalty while holding on to her own hopes and dreamHers and her journey to being the best she can be also paves the way for those around her to realize how special they each are.

Her royal adventure begins as she prepares to move into the castle with her mom, starting a new family with her step-father, King Roland II, and step-siblings, Amber and James.

Getting help from another Disney classic in her journey are the three headmistresses of Royal Prep Academy – Fauna, Flora and Merryweather (the beloved fairies seen in Disney’s classic “Sleeping Beauty”) and royal steward, Baileywick, as well as a group of cute woodland creatures led by a wise-talking rabbit, Clover.

Sofia soon discovers that looking like a princess isn’t all that difficult, but displaying honesty, loyalty, courage, independence, compassion and grace is what makes one truly royal!

Using positive messages and life lessons, the stories from “Sofia the First” are created for families and applicable to young children. While she lives in a captivating world of castles, wizards and flying horses, Sofia remains a relatable peer-to-peer princess who is experiencing many of the same social situations as young viewers at home including learning how to fit in, making new friends and mastering new skills.

The all-star cast includes:

Sofia: Ariel Winter (“Modern Family”)

Queen Miranda: Sara Ramirez (“Grey’s Anatomy”)

Clover: Wayne Brady (“Let’s Make A Deal”)

Baileywick: Tim Gunn (“Project Runway”)

Amber: Darcy Rose Byrnes (“Desperate Housewives”)

James: Zach Callison (“Land of the Lost”)

King Roland II: Travis Willingham (“Ultimate Spider-Man”)

Cedric: Jess Harnell (“Doc McStuffins”)

Mia the Bluebird: Ashley Eckstein (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”)

Robin: Meghan Strange (“Special Agent Oso”)

Fauna, Flora, Merryweather: Disney Legend Russi Taylor (Minnie Mouse), Barbara Dirickson and Tress MacNeille (Daisy Duck)

Cinderella: Jennifer Hale

Sofia the First: Once Upon A Princess will show on May 27 (Monday) at 1pm on Disney Junior (Astro Channel 613), followed by Sofia the First television series which will premier in July 2013. Head on to the Disney Junior Sofia website for fun activities such as creating and personalizing their own prince or princess avatars with the Royal Me game, dressing up Sofia’s room or just having fun with the many activity pages and videos available on the site.

Photo Source: http://tt.mop.com

The Asahiyama Zoo is a regional zoo that opened in July 1967 in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan. Over the years, the zoo has been doing really well and even surprisingly surpassing the number of visitors to the popular Ueno Zoo in Tokyo! There are several ways of getting there, though we suggest you to take The Asahiyama Zoo express; a train service that solely transports passengers to the Asahiyama Zoo. It travels from the Sapporo Station to the Asahikawa Station.

Again, the VB team sincerely thinks that a ride on this train should be something to consider when you’re around Hokkaido. Why the persistence?

Well, simply because of its animal theme! And we’re not just saying feathered cushions, leopard prints or other animal motifs -

Photo Source: http://tt.mop.com

The train comprises of a carriage with a children’s play area and fluffy stuffed animal seats. Yes, zoo-goers get to snuggle up with pairs of polar bears, giraffes, wolves, reindeers and many more, even before hitting Japan’s northernmost zoo!

Photo Source: youtube

However, before you go onto airplane and tour sites to check out for flight fares, please be wary that the Asahiyama Zoo train has not been in service since 7^th April 2013. Don’t worry though, as this is not exactly bad news – the train service is merely suspended from 7^th April till mid-July because they are upgrading the outlook and preparing for the unravelling of their new outfit this summer!

Wow, we can only think of the possible new furry buddies to the fun train ride! Or maybe they’ll even manage to include in a mini petting zoo or robotic animals? So, Japan enthusiast, plush toy lovers and travel junkies – please look forward to the new Asahiyama Zoo train soon!

Samsung’s 4G Chromebook with an in-built Yes 4G connectivity will make life easy for those of us who want the ease-of-use of a tablet with the functionality of a physical keyboard, or the convenience of a laptop sans the annoying need to update software or install security features.

Basically, this is for the Internet consumer who wants her news, videos, tutorials, music, recipes and everything else quickly without having to wait for her laptop to boot up so she can start sharing this information with her friends through Facebook, G Talk and all her other social media platforms, stat!

Live, learn, work and play in a simpler, smarter and lighter way by harnessing the power of the cloud from anywhere or anytime, thanks to the Samsung 4G Chromebook which comes with a built-in 4G chipset that enables seamless and always-on Internet.  With Yes’ expansive network (which is the largest in Malaysia), expect high-speed mobile Internet connectivity of up to 20Mbps and nationwide 4G coverage.

The Samsung 4G Chromebook is a new type of computing device meant to complement an existing laptop with the purpose of cloud computing – it’s designed by Google to be fast, simple and safe for everyone to use. It boots within seconds and comes with popular Google apps like YouTube, Gmail and Drive so users can work and play right out of the box.

It also comes with a 100GB of Google Drive storage that is free for two years and unlike other computers, it keeps getting faster over time with seamless updates and built-in virus protection!

At a mere 1.1. kilograms, only 17.5mm thin and a 7-hour battery life, the Samsung 4G Chromebook is perfect for us ladies who need to be connected while working, travelling or just at home and want something stylishly thin and light so we can stay mobile while multi-tasking.

Coming to you at RM988 with a 24-month RM88 postpaid plan which comes with a monthly data quota of 3.5 GB, or RM1,299 for the device on its own, the Samsung 4G Chromebook is now available at Yes Stores nationwide and online.

For more information, visit the Google Chromebook page or Yes Chromebook page.

Chinese Herbalist expert, Mia Hatgis, explains that according to traditional Chinese medicine, foods can be characterized as heaty, cooling or neutral. And it’s not just simply because the way the food is cooked or based on their actual natural temperatures; it is just that some foods, especially fruits and vegetables, have the natural knack of inducing the cooling mechanisms in our body!

With the on-going hot spell in Malaysia, we advise our dear readers to stay away from heaty food and consume more body cooling items in its place. You wouldn’t want to get a sore throat or fever now, would you? We’ve came with a list of fruits and veges that have natural body cooling properties;

Melon.

Melons such as cantaloupes, honeydews and especially watermelons are a great treat for a hot day! As these superfoods are filled with enzymes and water, they allow the body to generate fluids and encourage urination, which is a very efficient way of clearing heat from the body. They are best eaten on their own, on an empty stomach half or an hour before your meal to help boost your digestive power.

Berries

The berry family are a healthy bunch. Raspberries and blackberries are fruits that can neutralize free radicals (toxins) in the body. Not only that, raspberries are also loaded with ellagic acid – an antioxidant with anti-cancer properties. Berries are also generally lower in sugar than the other fruits.

Cucumber

Cucumbers are rich in vitamins, chlorophyll and effectively replenish our body’s electrolytes (needed for the function of cells and organs). Additionally, the ascorbic and caffeic acids found in cucumber can prevent water retention, which is the reason why they make good face mask or cooling patches for the eyes. Keep these veges handy in your fridge and we guarantee that you’ll be as cool as a cucumber!

Bitter Gourd

Bitter Gourds, also known as bitter melons or balsam pears, are a well-known in the Chnese medicine world for their ability to reset the balance of ying (cooling) and yang (heaty) in the body.

Radishes

Radishes are vegetables with wonderful cooling properties and health benefits. This is because they are fibre-rich, filled with water, and contains a kind of sulfur that increases the flow of bile, which is needed to maintain a healthy liver and gallbladder. It also aids in digestion and is known to be a great diuretic.

Green and purple

Green and purple vegetables and fruits generally have more cooling properties thair red, orange and yellow siblings. To put into perspective – green apples would have more cooling benefits than a red apple.

And if you’d like something more frozen and sweet, why not try one of these recommended homemade icy treats!

Sources: TOKL NY, MENSXP 

We, women come in all shapes and sizes, right? That is what makes us interesting after all! Well, no matter if you’re pear, apple, banana or hourglass (read our article here to know your body shape), there is one thing that binds us all together – cellulite! This nasty orange peel can affect anyone at any age.

In understanding of this, VenusBuzz.com together with Clarins would like to present you with an opportunity to tackle your dimpled skin issue. Stand a chance to win:

• 1 x Clarins Body Lift Sculptor Treatment (60 mins) & add-on Exfoliating Treatment (15 mins) worth RM368
• 2 x Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control worth RM210

1. All you have to do is share with us ‘What fruit resembles your body & why?’

2. And tell us - ‘I need Clarins Body Lift Sculptor Treatment and Body Lift Cellulite Control because…”

3. Submit your answers HERE together with your full name, IC no., email address and contact number.

*Terms & Conditions

1. Contest ends on June 30th 2013.
2. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.
3. Late entries will not be entertained.
4. Judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entertained.
5. Open to Malaysians, participants must be 18 years old and above.
6. All winners will be notified via email.

Photo Source: sivertime.com.ua

If you are one with constant body aches, you should heavily consider your sleeping habits. This is because sleeping styles play a role in determining and influencing your body’s wellbeing. The best sleeping style you ask? Many doctors believe that sleeping on your back is the better position, as it balances out your body weight and keep muscles, joints and internal organs intact.

In fact; no amount of massage, physical therapy or chiropractic work will make body aches and pain go away if you’re not sleeping on your back. This is due to the fact that sleeping on your sides or stomach may pull the body out of optimal alignment and create patterns in your muscles.

Take for example when you sleep with your head turned to one side and your knee out. This pattern would cause some of your muscles are being used more than others. Furthermore, sleeping with your neck turned to one side all night would result in neck, hip and knee pains as our nervous system is all inter-connected. Even if the muscle patterns get released through therapeutic practices, you’d be still throwing your body out of alignment again the next time you sleep. Makes sense right?

To those who want to transit to a back-sleeper, try these;

Get a clearer mind. Go to bed with a notebook and a pen. If you can’t seem to fall asleep, write down everything on your mind that’s bothering you, from your daily schedules to your worry about paying the bills on time. The rehearsal of writing your concerns down is a good way to sort through and unravel all those negative chatter that’s going through your mind – it’ll help you realize and dissolve the real source of your emotional stress, consequently providing you with a good night’s sleep!

Pillows can help make things easier – try falling asleep with a pillow under the knees and one on your chest.

However, although sleeping on your back is undeniably one of the better positions and is the best cure for body aches, other sleeping styles do have their good qualities too. If you’re pregnant, side-sleeping is ideal for blood flow. As for snorers, stomach-sleeping is also deemed by some to help you breathe better. We guess it ultimately depends on the person and what they’re aiming for.

Sources: CNN Health, Boldsky

Let’s get this straight, not everyone is blessed with long, beautiful lashes. That’s why we have fake eyelashes and lengthening products in the market, right?

While the length and health of our eyelashes are very much dependent on genetics, there are ways to make them grow. Just like the hair on our head, eyelashes also follow a growth rate pattern. Here are some natural ways to lengthen your eyelashes.

Eat a healthy diet

A rather obvious tip but a diet rich in protein and vitamins is essential for hair growth anywhere on the body. This is the first step you should address as you need the nutrients to help your body function optimally. So go for fish, eggs, beans, yoghurt and soy to stimulate your eyelashes to grow. It will also help you to keep healthy fingernails and hair.

Apply olive oil or petroleum jelly

Natural lubricants like olive oil, coconut oil, vitamin E oil and petroleum jelly are found to be good for promoting lash growth. But this can get messy and cause slight irritation to the eyes. To apply, use a clean mascara brush or cotton bud to coat the lashes with your preferred oil. Gently massage the oil onto your lashes; do this in the evening and wash it off with warm water the next morning before applying makeup.

Use egg white

This may sound strange but if you’re one of those girls whose eyelashes dropped frequently, egg white can greatly help to make them stronger and thicker. You’ll need egg white and castor oil. Use two drops from both the liquid and mix them together before applying on the lashes. You can use a clean mascara wand or cotton bud to do this. Leave the mixture on overnight and wash off the next morning.

Trim your lashes

Also another weird trick but this can actually work. Just like our hair, a regular trim will help the eyelashes to grow back fuller and healthier. Use a small pair of scissors and only trim the very tips of the lashes to stimulate the follicle for new growth.

It looks to be myth busted! Multiplying a dog’s age by seven every year is not the right way to go, it seems the real calculation is far more complex than that. How the animal age would actually depend on its breed and stage of life.

As a general rule of thumb, smaller breeds live longer than larger breeds. So for example, if you have an adult Chihuahua, it will age slower than a Terrier every calendar year. But it must be noted that smaller dogs actually mature more quickly than larger ones which may take two years to reach their full size.

It gets even more complicated here – after two calendar years, a smaller dog is “older” than its bigger counterpart but after five years the small ones actually becomes “younger” in terms of its total lifespan.

According to Dr Kate Creevy, an assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Georgia, a dog aged about six years, not seven, for every human year based on the overall life expectancy and the ageing rates throughout the animal’s life.

However, this varies greatly by species. It was reported that a bulldog, which is classified as a medium sized dog, has the lowest average life span of just six years compared to a mini poodle that can live up to between 12 and 15 years.

In conclusion, it is not really as easy as 1 x 7 when it comes to calculating the age of our four-legged friends. Interestingly, the researchers found that dogs that are spayed can lead a longer life.

In another shocking piece of news that has angered many Malaysians, a 40-year old man has married the the 13-year old girl he allegedly raped after only six months of knowing her. 

After being charged with raping the minor, Riduan Masmud (left) had married the girl in the midst of the case, and claims he does not see anything wrong with the situation.

The father of of four children aged between two and 17 said that it was a case of “suka sama suka” (mutual consent) and that it was acceptable under Syariah law.

“There are many cases of men marrying underage girls. I do not see why my case should be any different,“ he told reporters outside the courtroom.

Riduan was charged of raping the teen inside a car parked by the roadside in Inanam, Kota Kinabalu at 10am on February 18 – it is unsure whether she knew him from school or whether she had been working for him as it has been noted that the girl is said to come from a poor family.

The restaurant manager said he will let his child-wife finish her studies first, before taking up a cosmetics course with his first wife who is a makeup artist. Speaking to the press, his wife also mentioned that she had accepted the teenager to be her husband’s second wife, and promised to guide her through her studies.

The girl’s father has also mentioned that there’s nothing he can do as they liked each other, and that it was best for her to get married. For now, Riduan’s RM8,000 bail has been extended till June 6 while the case is being reviewed.

It is alarming that marriage to underaged girls is still allowed in Malaysia, and the perception of as long as it’s “legal” matrimony means that all is fine and dandy needs to change. Rape happens within marriages, and many women regardless of age suffer in silence as they feel they have no where to go and unfortunately, many feel as though they are in the wrong.

We need change against all forms of rape, abuse and molestation. To find out more about how you can be a part of this movement, visit the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality website.

Source: The Star

What exact is a cronut you may ask. From the kitchen of Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City, the cronut is a half-croissant and half-donut hybrid pastry. As explained by pastry genius Domnique Ansel himself, “it has the shape of a donut. The dough is very similar to croissant dough.”

Croissants in the shape of donuts, sounds simple enough right? Oh, but it isn’t!

The innovative pastry chef reveals that the perfect recipe for the cronut was only attained after about 10 attempts. The current successful batch is made from thin layers of special laminated dough that are sheeted and folded differently from the usual croissants. It is then fried, rolled in rose sugar, and filled with light Tahitian vanilla cream (for the vanilla cream with rose frosting flavour). The pastry has a flaky and light inner, and a crispy and warm shell.

Photo Source: Ansel

Oh my, that sounds just all-too heavenly and sinful! Unfortunately, if you’re already salivating and itching for one (like us); they’re currently not available in Malaysia. Bummer!

Though, we reckon these babies must taste real good, or perhaps New Yorkers must be a pretty pastry-loving bunch, because the cronuts sold out within 35 minutes upon premiering at the Dominique Ansel Bakery on the 10^th May 2013! Not only that, just a few days later, after 200 cronuts had sold out by 9.30am, one angry and dissatisfied customer ‘flipped the finger’ at the staff on his way out of the bakery. Or how about this;

Wow, seriously? Who knew things would get so crazy! Can someone please do all Malaysians a favour and bake this here? We’re dying to know how these elusive cronuts taste like!

Sources: Good Morning America, The Daily Mail

(L-R) Helen Zughaib, Lebanon/USA; Maaida Noor, Pakistan/UK; Nancy Hoque, USA

Muslima: Muslim Women’s Art & Voices is an online exhibition organised by the International Museum of Women (IMOW). A number of artwork and groundbreaking collection of thought pieces are presented by contemporary Muslim women worldwide in this showcase. It is as much about creative expression as also a definition of what it means to be a Muslim woman today.

Often, Muslim women are portrayed as the weaker sex, so in a way this exhibition is giving the ladies a voice. It aims to shatter the pervasive stereotypes and myths while building understanding. From Malaysia to Iran, Denmark, USA and etc, women everywhere get to share their thoughts, attitudes, expressions, values and realities.

It’s really a diverse group of ladies, from those who are deeply religious to those who are no longer practising, women who cover and women who are comfortable in bikinis.

(L-R) Jessica N. Pabon, Egypt; Gazelle Samizay, Afghanistan/USA; Samira Abbassy, Iran

Interviews with prominent female Muslim leaders and activists as well as multimedia memoirs of ordinary Muslim women are also featured in the exhibition. Topics like Power, Leadership, Appearance, Myths, Generations, Faith and Connection are explored to encourage social change and cross-cultural dialogue.

In Arabic, the word ‘muslima’ is used to indicate a woman who believes in God and upholds God’s values. This includes prayer, charity, fasting, kindness and mercy.

If you are keen to contribute to the next Muslima exhibition later this year, do check out the website here and sign up for the newsletter.

Esprit has collaborated with EcoChic Design Award 2012 winner, Wister Tsang, to come up with an innovative ‘Recycled Collection’ consisting of comfy daily wear such as T-shirts and denim pieces.

What part of this is eco-friendly, you ask? Well, using manufacturing fabric “off cuts” and turning them into recycled fabric reduces textile waste, saves water and carbon emissions!

The Recycled Collection by Esprit is designed to be kind to the environment and were created using less water and less electricity – resulting in less greenhouse gases per garment. The denim fabric comprises of 43% recycled cotton, T-shirt fabric comprises of 35% recycled cotton, with the remaining 65% of the fabric made from recycled PET polyester. In striving for sustainability, none of the T-shirt fabrics were re-dyed, so they are blends that reflect the original off cuts, rather than solid single colours.

With the theme “Perfect Summer”, the collection emphasizes a “simple cut” design. Not only being creative and fashionable, it also presents various images for women. Be effortlessly sexy in our super hot and humid weather with a pair of denim shorts and a bra top or showcase your femininity with a long maxi cotton dress!

For colours, you’ll find everything from pale washed to dark unwashed denim, sunny orange to cool grey for cotton styles.

The “Recycled Collection” by Esprit will be available at Esprit Malaysia stores starting end of May. Recycled T-shirt prices range from RM79.90 and recycled denim prices range from RM149.90.

A premier and leading food and lifestyle broadcaster based in Singapore, the Asian Food Channel (AFC)  is Asia’s first and only 24 hour regional food channel dedicated to airing Western and Asian gastronomic and lifestyle programmes from around the globe.

In conjunction of the upcoming Hari Raya holidays, AFC will be launching an online initiative named the “AFC Foodie Face-off,” that will be mainly executed through all AFC social media channels (mainly their Facebook page) and via placed banner ads in the official AFC website. Organized exclusively for AFC Facebook fans in Malaysia, this initiative is aimed to provide food enthusiasts with a new, user-friendly and interactive platform to showcase and share their cooking talents with fellow connoisseurs, which will them put them in the running to join the AFC Foodie Face-off.

Officially kicking off this Friday (24^th May 2013) to 19^th June 2013, local foodies can submit photos of their best homemade dishes on the AFC Facebook page. Fans, family and friends can then subsequently vote for their favourite dish submissions, resulting in a top 50 list that’s based on ‘likes’, creativity and appearance. From there, the AFC judges will choose the top 20 finalists, who will be given a week to prepare before heading off to a Hari Raya themed public cook-off held at local cooking school, The Cooking House.

Prizes are also a treat; RM 5,000 for the first Prize, RM 3,000 for second Prize and RM 2,000 for the third Prize. The prizes will comprise of items such as Nikon Cameras, Tefal products and AFC merchandise. If that’s not enough, well-loved Malaysian AFC Celebrities, Sherson Lian of 5 Rencah 5 Rasa and Anis Nabilah of Icip Icip, will be guest-judging on the day of the cook-off!

To find out more about the “AFC Foodie Face-off”, please visit the AFC Facebook page from Thursday, 10th May 2013 onwards!

Who is this Nicholas Mak?

The recent Most Eligible Bachelor is not just all about looks. Born and bred in KL, he is a true city boy at heart who thrives for the expression and application of human creative skill and imagination – Nicholas Mak is a true art aficionado. With an Arts and Mass Communications education background, Nicholas is now a full time photographer and a part-time art director.

5 Reasons to Scream ‘Eye Want Nicholas Mak!’

5. He’s CLEO’s Most Eligible Bachelor

Someone from CLEO approached me to join the contest while I was working but I was hesitant asking her ‘Me? Seriously?’ ”

I guess we have that anonymous Cleo person to thank for then! Hesitant in joining at first, Nicholas soon apprehended the influence Cleo has in the industry. This prompted him to take up the challenge of joining the contest as a platform to venture and kick-start his career in the entertainment industry.

With his good looks at charming personality, it was needless to say that he was a shoo-in! And my, we must admit that we do like our hot hunks with tasteful tattoos.

4. His Passion for Photography.

It all started when his college lecturer constantly commented on his good eye for photography. He fell in love with photography and it just never stopped from there. Nicholas is now a full-time photographer (running 3MinuteFlashback) that mainly covers events.

Photo Source: 3MinuteFlashback

He shares that event photography is a favourite, ‘because the emotions in humans are always raw and especially at concerts and raves people tend to let loose and that is where the camera captures their true self.’ He also enjoys taking street photography, because the subjects would constantly be changing and that it depicts a country’s culture. And we’ve got to tell you this – his passion for photography truly shows. Just take a look at some of his works!

Photo Source: 3MinuteFlashback

3. He’s An Art Enthusiast.

‘Without ART; EARTH is just EH?’

Aside from being a photographer, Nicholas is also an art director. He had directed a few videos including K Town Clan’s Party Animal Music Video, and also created concepts for high budget corporate events. The reason he loves art directing is because it gives him the opportunity to see his ideas come to life. In fact, he tells us that all he needs is a team of creative people in a room with tea and pastry, and he’ll be the happiest man alive!

2. His Humble and Down to Earth Personality.

Although crowned as the 2013 CLEO’s Most Eligible Bachelor, Nicholas has not let that and his good looks go to his head! Although he does admit that his life has changed quite a bit after the win (even jokingly telling us that people have started to treat him nicer), he admits that his win is more to having great friends than loyal fans.

‘This is what made me the winner. Great support from family, friends and always staying humble.’

1. He is a Mr. Nice and a gym bunny!

Though emitting a certain bad boy aura, Nicholas is really a nice guy at heart! In fact; after announced as one of the 50 bachelors in the running for the main title, Nicholas had already pledged his winnings to charity. He was the first to do so in the history of CLEO Malaysia’s 50 Most Eligible Bachelor contest!

Photo Source: Nicholas Mak

When Nicholas is not out photographing or art directing, he’s hitting the gym, which totally explains his toned physique! We also find it cute how he names his Canon 5D Markii Iris!

What you’ll need to make your boyfriend look like Nicholas Mak:

Casual: Well-fitting pants and jeans, dark-colored collared tees, plain dark long/short sleeved tees, white sneakers

Formal: dark-coloured two-piece suit (slim fit), tie, leather shoes

Accessories: sunglasses, long-chained necklace (rosary), bracelets, snapback hat, beautiful tattoos

To contact this artistic Cleo’s Most Eligible Bachelor, or for more of his works, please visit 3MinuteFlashBack, his online portfolio, twitter or Instagram (nick3mfb).

Photo credit: Buzzle.com

It’s a health concern that has affected us all at one point or another. With Malaysia being a heaven for good food, we are prone to suffer from the occasional effects of food contamination. The cause is food-borne microbes which can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, abdominal cramps and fever.

You are as likely to get ill from food prepared at home as the ones you eat outside. Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to spot bacteria on food but you can take some simple steps to prevent or reduce incidences of food poisoning.

Wash hands thoroughly

When handling food, it is important that we keep our hands as clean as possible. Cross contamination can happen when the cooked food that you are handling comes into contact with raw meat and poultry. Thus, you should wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, most especially when handling raw meat, eggs and seafood.

Separate raw meat

This is an important aspect in preventing food contamination. So keep raw meat away from ready-to-cook foods such as salad, fruits and bread. These foods can become contaminated when comes into direct contact with raw foods or the drippings from raw foods. If thawing in the fridge, always cover raw meat and store it on the bottom shelf to avoid the said problems.

Keep your fridge below 5°C

Foods need to be refrigerated or chilled at the proper temperature to stop the food-borne bacteria and organisms from growing. Any level of temperatures between 4°C and 60°C will encourage them to grow rapidly, so always check that temperature is below 5°C. Also, refrigerated foods must not be left sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours.

Use different chopping board

Harmful microbes can easily transfer from raw foods to other foods, most especially when it comes into contact with anything they touch like worktops, plates, knives, utensils and cutting boards. It is recommended that you use separate boards for raw food, vegetables and bread. This will prevent cross contamination from occurring.

Cook food thoroughly

The surest way to kill off bacteria is to cook food all the way through. Certain foods like poultry, pork, beef and eggs should be cooked completely until steaming hot. Many of the nasty organisms thrive in these foods while raw, so cooking meat until it is no longer pink inside and the egg yolks and whites are firm. Use a food thermometer if you need to.

Source: WiseGeek, NHS UK

Sunglasses are as much a reflection of your personality as well as a fashion style. This season, the fad is all about statement pieces. We break down the hottest shades to help you find your perfect pair and channel your cool-kid persona.

Mirrored

Mango Neon Sunglasses, RM69

Time to head into the Matrix and get Morpheus sunglasses out. The mirrored shades is enjoying a big appeal with stars like Alessandra Ambrosio, Blake Lively, Jessica Alba and fashion blogger Chiara Ferragni sporting the futuristic sci-fi look. The ultrareflective lenses bring a more casual yet tough-girl touch and best paired with shorts and t-shirts for a cool festival get-up.

Round

Topshop Lucky Punch Out Arm Sunglasses, RM89; Jeepers Creepers Erika Tortoise Shell Round Sunglasses via Asos, approx. RM73

It is the go-to shape of this season as huge round glasses make up most of the frameworks. The John Lennon sunglasses has been around for ages but this time around, we’re seeing a fashion revival with thicker frames and contrasting colours. It’s a fun pair in reflection of the groovy era so save this for less formal events. This style might not suit those with round face shape.

Clubmaster

Mahuis Exclusive Prints Sunglasses, RM35 

The boyish Mad Men silhouette first came onto the scene in the 50s. Known as browline glasses back then, Ray Ban popularised the design when it introduced the Wayfarer Max and Clubmaster in the 80s. Today, the glasses still retain its clean retro appeal but get updated with funky prints and hues. Best to pair with boyish or androgynous dressing style.

Cat-Eye

Topshop Sheba Eared Cat-eye Sunglasses, RM109; Mango Cat Eye Sunglasses, RM79; Zac Posen Tortoise Shell Acetane Sunglasses via Net-A-Porter, approx. RM1,094

Looks like it’s all about revisiting the past with big fashion names like Anna Sui, Miu Miu and Jason Wu among others tackling the shades in their Spring 2013 runway show. This season the retro 50′s style frames have a more futuristic touch. Generally this cat-eye looks flattering on almost all face shapes and you can complete the look with red lips and sleek ponytail – sexy enough for tea time soiree or evening cocktail party.

Embellished

Asos Wavy Glitter Cat Eye Sunglasses, approx. RM55

From what we’ve seen on the Spring catwalk shows this year, it’s about oversizing the shades with glitter, studs, cute adornments and funky prints. It is about making a fashion statement after all. So go crazy with your shades but keep the rest of your outfit simple or solid; you don’t want to look like a fashion disaster. But if you’re adventurous enough, pair your sunnies with complementary patterns in your outfit. Here’s a fun DIY from Cupcakes & Cashmere we found that can help you dress up your old pair of sunnies.

Yup ladies, you know what we’re talking about. That uneven, lumpy, honeycomb-shaped appearance on your skin, that unappealing skin condition that we women dread and hate – cellulite!

All of us know how cellulite looks like and feel the frustration that comes from that annoying sight. But, do you know what exactly is cellulite? What causes this skin condition?

The lowdown on cellulite

There are quite a number of reasons why cellulite appears on your body. Some believe that hormonal and genetic factors are the main causes; others would say that it’s merely due to poor diet and lifestyle choices. While each of these factors do play a role in cellulite formation, the one common denominator of all of these factors is – the accumulation and storage of fat cells in your body. These fat deposits push against the connective tissues right underneath your skin, making the surface crease and lumpy-looking.

And now that you know what exactly this foe of females is, your next question should be – how to get rid of cellulite?

The general response would be to adopt a regular exercise and diet programme. Getting into a healthier lifestyle would most definitely promote better circulation, thus reducing the fat deposits underneath your skin. You should also drink plenty of water to help get rid of body waste and avoid tight fitting clothes as these can interfere with circulation.

But did you know that cellulite creams and contouring products also play a huge role in getting rid of cellulite?

For some unknown reason, many neglect the fact that cellulite creams and contouring products are one of the most effective and simplest methods of minimising cellulite in your body. When supplemented into a diet and exercise plan, these topical applications can speed-up the process of breaking down cellulite and improving the overall condition and tone of your skin.

The Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control is a contouring product that is designed to reduce the appearance of stubborn cellulite and slow down the development of new cellulite.

This all-natural product is formulated with six active plants extracts that stimulate lipolysis process – the process in which the stubborn fat cells will be broken down. Results also include a long-lasting slimming effect and smoother, firmer looking skin.

If you’re looking for an all-natural and effective method of getting rid of annoying cellulite, why not try out Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control.  However, do keep in mind that the product should be a supplement to your diet and exercises regime and not just as the main source of minimising cellulite! Here’s a fun exercise that you could try out -

Photo Source: feather-magazine.com

First thing’s first – is he really not Mr.Nice, or are you just being sensitive? In all honesty, unless you’re the other half of the relationship, it is hard to truly know and comprehend the dynamics and stakes of the love affair. However, if you are confident that her man is a jerk of a boyfriend and think that it is your duty as her best friend to give her a wake-up call, then this piece is for you.

Telling your friend that her boyfriend is a jerk is not going to be easy. One wrong move and you’re in the risk of ruining a beautiful friendship. Here is some ways to tackle the tricky task;

Be Subtle.

Don’t ever, ever be harsh and brutally honest. Even if she’s your sister from another mother, people tend to be extra defensive and easily-offended when met with sensitive scenarios. Also, do try to be calm, keep your emotions out of it and be more unbiased.

Our suggestion is to layer the conversation out – start by having a casual conversation about a romantic comedy you’ve just watched and move on to pinpointing the flaws and problems of the relationship. When she agrees with your point, try and hint her that it is similar as her own relationship (e.g. ‘but actually, you and your guy are also have the same issues’). Which then leads us to the next point…

Exemplify.

As the saying goes, love is blind. If your best friend is smitten by the guy, ‘your boyfriend is a jerk’ is definitely not going to cut it.

Instead, kindly and calmly explain to her reasons why she deserves someone who will treat her better. Present her with his bad habits as such – ‘he makes you pay for everything,’ ‘he makes you clean up after him’ and ‘he goes drinking every night.’  Yup, the key is to explain to her why he’s a jerk. This will show her that you have legit reasons for disapproving her lover, and not simply because you don’t like his haircut.

The Right Setting.

Location, timing and setting are very important for confrontations. Case in point –

The bad setting: you and your bestie are in a café and she’s happily telling you about the rare and nice thing that he’s done.
The good setting: he has just upset her for forgetting their date night (again) and she’s come to cry on your shoulder.

Be a Pack.

More often than not, if you have legit and true reasons of disapproving your best friend’s lover, chances are that others would too. However, we don’t mean for you guys to go in for a group confrontation. Strategize and plan out your ‘confrontation sessions’ separately, because sometimes two (or five) are better than one

Don’t Force.

Most importantly, please refrain yourself from insistently convincing or forcing her to break up. You have to understand that your best friend is in charge of her own relationship and choices; that it’s all up to your bestie to realize and see it herself why he is not the right man for her. For the time being, all you can do is to always be there for her and watch her back.

Photo source: favim.com

It’s time like these that a good playlist comes in handy to calm you down and get you in the right frame of mind to begin and end your journey on a good note and Spotify has recently commissioned a study to come up with the perfect list of songs for the nervous flyer!

The study – carried out by anxiety psychologist Dr Becky Spelman from the Private Therapy Clinic in London – investigates music that best helps calm the nerves of nervous flyers ahead of the busy summer holiday season and found that songs with a low tempo are ideal to calm nerves, and tracks that stimulate both the ‘logical’ left and ‘emotional’ right sides of the brain are also proven to reduce anxiety.

The research finds that breathing in time to music with a low beats per minute (bpm) at a controlled and reduced pace is proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure which in turn reduces anxiety.

Another established method is to listen to tracks which stimulate both sides of the brain, while using headphones and with eyes your closed because music which is harmonious and emotive is generally regarded as the best at achieving this type of stimulation which induces Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR).

So, which song is apparently the most effective to calm you down? Adele’s Someone Like You, which has a close optimum bpm of around 60 makes it the perfect pace for slowing down breathing associated with fear and anxiety.

Thanks to its soulful and harmonious tune, it helps to stimulate both sides of the brain which makes this the ideal song to calm anxious nerves – wonder if they took in to consideration the heart-wrenching lyrics though!

Curious to know what other songs would help you on your next flight? Try listening to this playlist offline on your smartphone and other devices with Spotify!

Calming Music To Fly To Playlist

·       Someone Like You – Adele

·       Orinoco Flow (Sail Away) – Enya

·       Piano on The Beach – Liborio Conti

·       Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major (“Elvira Madigan”) K. 467 – Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus

·       Better Together – Jack Johnson

·       Pure Shores – All Saints

·       Buffalo Soldier – Bob Marley

·       Scar Tissue – Red Hot Chilli Peppers

·       Paradise – Coldplay

·       As I Lay Me Down – Sophie B. Hawkins

·       Inside Out – Britney Spears

·       Ignition – R Kelly

·       Flaws and All – Beyoncé

·       The Christmas song – Nat King Cole

·       Space Oddity – David Bowie

For more information, visit Spotify.

Photo Source: bubblews.com

Technically, our electronic gadgets don’t endure a skinny dip because their electronic circuitry is designed in a way where electric current flows down specific pathways. As soon as any form of liquid comes in contact with that circuit of life (pardon the play of words), it will act as a new pathway, resulting in a gadget-guzzling short circuit. Yelp!

We know that there has been an increase in water resistant devices (e.g. Sony Experia Z), cases (e.g. InDepth cases) and protection methods (e.g. Liquipel) lately. But what about us unlucky ones?

The good news is that there is hope for your wet electronic devices! However, do bear in mind that the suggestions may not always be 100% effective. Therefore, your gadget may come out alive and functional, but damaged. But hey, that’s better than a lifeless phone right? Here are some dos and don’ts of saving and handling your wet gadget;

Turn Off and Dismantle! We know you would be anxious to check whether your gadget is functional or not, but don’t ever try and turn it on as any electrical current would fry the circuits. Instead, remove the battery, SIM card and any other peripherals attached to your device.

Wipe Its Insides Dry! Now that you’ve disarmed your electronic device, use a cloth and wipe each and every part dry.

Silica Packs! Silica gel packs (the kind you get with a new pair of shoes) are your best friends in times like these. Either place device in a closed airtight container or leave it on paper towels for 24 hours, next to packets of silica gel.

The Rice Method! Upon research, and recent personal experience, it came to realization that placing your gadget in a container full of uncooked rice for at least 24 hours to prompt moisture absorption may not always work. However, there are also several successful restoration stories with this method so we guess it really depends.

No Heat! Do not attempt to dry it by extreme heat with hairdryers, toasters or an oven, because the heat may possibly melt your gadget’s components. However, you can leave it under a lamp and let the heat produced by the light bulb evaporate the moisture over time.

Cool it! In all honesty; instead of heat, cool it. As cold air generally retains less moisture than warm air, placing your wet device in the fridge may actually help the drying process. It is suggested to leave your device 20 minutes in the fridge, and then 10 minutes out over the space of a few hours for the best results.

Be Calm, Quick an Patient! The key to a high gadget restoration success rate is to be calm and quick. So, the next time you get caught in a slippery and wet situation, just remember these simple methods and act calmly and quickly. Oh, but also be patient in waiting for your gadget to completely dry out before switching it on yeah!

Sources: Channel 5 

A muffin top is not a good look at all and whether you know it or not, belly fat is actually one of the most alarming type of fat around. It is not only unpleasing aesthetically but a large waistline could also be a precursor of disease! You could be in for a premature death!

Let’s get to know this belly fat.

When we start to gain weight in our midsection, it means there’s a spike in our cortisol level.  Stress is one the main causes of high levels of cortisol secretion. The hormone is usually released by our body in response to situations like cold, starvation, loss of blood, infection, pain, inflammation, lack of sleep, emotional trauma and intense exercise. Thus, when you don’t manage cortisol well, the hormone will break down lean muscle and cause you to start storing more fat around your midsection.

The problem only gets much more complicated with its partner in crime – insulin. When blood sugar rises as a result of the food you’ve eaten or stressful situations (hence high cortisol), you go through a rise in insulin too. Insulin works as the storage hormone, so essentially you are storing fat.

The best way to manage these hormones properly is to include proper dietary habits, exercise and good lifestyle choices in your life. Here are just some things to remember in your fight against belly fat:

1. Sleep

If you’re constantly working late into the night, time to adjust your schedule. When your biorhythms are off, you’ll just end up eating more. Feelings of tiredness cause your body to produce more ghrelin, which triggers cravings for sugar and other fat-building foods. And not getting enough rest has been found to affect hormone production in the body and thus, the spike in cortisol and insulin levels. So, ensure you get to bed early for at least 7 hours of sleep a night.

2. Exercise in bursts

The key words here are interval training. This means incorporating short bursts of high-intensity workouts that engage multiple muscle groups and work your cardiovascular system. Try aerobic, walking, swimming or running. A recommended home exercise you can do is planking, do 3 or 4 sets of holding yourself up with your forearms in the push-up position for 30 seconds each time.

3. Avoid sugar & long periods of no eating

A healthy diet is vital in fighting belly fat. Reduce calories by consuming more protein, vegetables and whole grains. Resist the urge to binge on snacks, especially sugary ones, and avoid going on long periods of time without eating. This could send your body into starvation mode and starts storing everything. Instead have small meals or snack healthily every three hours to keep your body fueled up.

4. Load up on Vitamin C & dark chocolates

Due to the environment that we live in, it’s easy to get stress out. So you need more Vitamin C to help balance out the high level of cortisol in the body when under stress. Vitamin C is also essential for producing carnitine which is a compound used by the body to turn fat into fuel. Also, we’ve heard the goodness of dark chocolates such as antioxidants benefits, so treat yourself.

5. Chill out

One of the biggest offender of belly fat is stress. So you really need to take a step back when you’re feeling tense and annoyed. Check your breathing, it’s most likely that you’ll be holding your breath with short breaths or taking rapid shallows breaths when feeling stressed. Close your eyes and take long, deep breaths for about five minutes. Focus on slowing down your exhalation and consciously relax your belly.

Source: Forbes, Shape

The lovable Minnie Mouse has always undeniably been one of the most iconic cartoon characters out there, even donning a new designer dress revamp recently. Exploring the fashion-forward side of Minnie Mouse, the OPI Couture de Minnie line mixes pink, fuchsia and red shades with textural components to come up with three limited edition nail crème colours, a new Liquid Sand shade and clear base with metallic glitter pieces;

Chic from Ears to Tail. This pop of bubblegum pink is totally fabulous!

A Definite Moust-Have. This fantastic fuchsia is at the top of my shopping list.

Minnie Style. This white and red glitter is the height of fashion.

Innie Minnie Mightie Bow. Catch the crimson by the toe!

Magazine Cover Mouse. The headline-making strawberry has sparkling texture.

Adorable names aren’t they! As with most of the OPI collections, the Couture de Minnie line comes with a mini set, entitled the Couture De Minnie Runway Minnies. The box set comes with the four coloured nail lacquers in nifty 3.75ml bottles, but without the Minnie Style, which is a clear base with hexagonal red, pink and white glitters.

We did a colour swatch of the new Minnie collection, and we must say that we’re delighted with the collection! Application for most of the lacquers only needed two coats, except for the pink-y Chic from Ears to Tail, which needed three.

Our personal favourite is the Magazine Cover Mouse – we really loved the sparkly matte texture from the strawberry red liquid sand! The Chic from Ears to Tail has a subtle silver shimmer to it, giving its light bubblegum pink a really sweet finishing, while A Definite Moust-Have’s striking rosy pink with a very mild pearl-like shimmer would really be a definite crowd-pleaser as the colour can suit almost any skin tone. Lastly, the Innie Minnie Mightie Bow’s is a luxurious deep red shimmery shade that would satisfy any red lover!

When compared to the fun and playful shades of the Vintage Minnie collection, the Couture de Minnie really lives up to its couture theme with its striking and provocative colours. We would say that this new Minnie line would especially appeal to those who love glitter and texture. All in all, we’re quite pleased with how the renowned nail polish brand has portrayed the iconic mouse! Who knows, perhaps OPI will release a Punk Minnie Mouse set next?

The new OPI Couture de Mini Nail Lacquers are currently available at Colour Culture (OPI Nail Bar), and leading nail, beauty, hair salons and spa centres throughout Malaysia. It retails at RM63 per bottles and RM83 for the Runway Minnies.

Phew, this was sure a hot week! Jovian Mandagie releases his latest ‘Orked’ collection for Tesco, and the legendary footballer David Beckham has finally called it quits! If you need cooling down, why not try one of these homemade icy treats we picked for you readers? If that’s not your thing, treat your lips to a lollipop-stained look or a room makeover? 

Fashion: [First Look] ‘Orked’ by Jovian Mandagie x Tesco

This year, the designer of choice for Tesco is the very talented Jovian Mandagie. Called Orked, the exclusive collection was officially launched for online preorder on starting 15 May 2013 on Tesco

Where To Makan: Five Homemade Icy Treats To Indulge On A Hot Day! 

We think we speak for most Malaysians when we say ‘this hot weather will be the death of me!’ To help cool our readers down, we present you a list of five icy treats to indulge in this crazy Malaysian hot spell!

Wellness: 5 Know-Hows To Healthy Weight Gain 

Gaining weight is just as hard as losing weight, it just doesn’t happen overnight. But it’s good to remember that it is achievable and gaining weight while optimising health should be your goal.

Beauty: [Tutorial] Lollipop-stained lips with Make Up Forever’s Aqua Rouge and Aqua Lip 

Here is how to achieve the same lollipop-stained lip look with one of our favourite items by Make Up Forever – the Aqua Rouge and Aqua Lip collection!

Lifestyle: How Bedroom Colour Affects Your Sleep & Sex Life 

Want better quality sleep and sex? A survey conducted in the UK by Travelodge found that the colour of your room have different effects on said activities.

Entertainment: [David Beckham] Hats Off To A True Football Legend!

Just like most of you football or Becks lovers out there, we are in a pool of emotions from the news of David Beckham retiring! Here’s a tribute to him, with why we think that Becks is a football icon that many should look up to.

Yup guys, it’s pretty obvious (and painful) that the current Malaysian weather is more suited to be drying laundry or for making ikan kering! Now, wouldn’t an ice treat sound good to you? That sweet and cooling sensation as you take a bite of your most favourite ice cream flavour?

To help cool our readers down, we present you a list of five icy treats to indulge in this crazy Malaysian hot spell! Oh, and we only chose homemade treats this time, because ice cream makers are geniuses that deserve so much love for creating something so delightful and wonderful (and beneficial in this weather)!

The Potong Artisan Pop

Made using fresh natural ingredients and coming in a variety of gourmet flavours with a twist, these artisanal pops are a modernized ‘blast from the past’ treat!

Who will enjoy it? This will appeal to the old school kids who are craving for a nostalgic walk down memory lane. The childhood ‘aiskrim potong’ treat is relived again with The Potong that comes in a variety of flavours. It’s like ice slushies, but on a stick! However, costing RM5 a piece, we do admit that they are rather pricey. But hey; it’s icy, refreshing taste is a welcome treat for a hot Friday afternoon or a lazy Sunday!

Recommended Flavours: Cherry Rootbeer and Watermelon Fizz!

Forty Licks 

Made with Farm Fresh’s Fresh Milk, Elle and Vire’s Whipping Cream, fresh egg yolks, and the least amount of sugar possible, these decadent delights lets the flavours and silky smooth texture do the talking!

Who will enjoy it? Honestly now, we can’t see anyone not enjoying Forty Licks’ treats! Forty Licks says the name is because ‘one lick just isn’t enough’ and we couldn’t agree more with its smooth and creamy texture and amusing flavours handcrafted with the finest ingredients! Some of its amusing flavours as popcorn, Baileys and Coffee and Thai Tea. We also love how the premium qualities of the ingredients translate beautifully into the ice cream. Plus, the ice cream mastermind himself is such a nice person to commute with!

Recommended Flavours: Salted Caramel and Roasted White Chocolate with Lavender

Fatbaby Ice Cream 

A new contender in the homemade ice cream scene, Fatbaby truly stands by their statement – ‘if you are going to treat yourself to something special, wouldn’t you want it to be made of the good stuff?’ as they serve us quality ice creams.

Photo Source: FatBaby

Who will enjoy it? Though flavours may not be as expansive as other brands, Fatbaby is an obvious crowd pleaser. Just take for example their swirly salted caramel; its texture is lusciously soft and flavours are not overly sweet. Another obvious favourite is their Cornflakes ice cream, as it is filled with satisfying crunchy cornflake bits!

Recommended Flavours: Cornflakes and Peanut Butter

The Last Polka 

The Last Polka is a pretty well-known and loved ice cream brand, and it’s really no wonder why with its French-styled ice cream and locally-inspired flavours!

Who will enjoy it? Well, Malaysians! With flavours such as Bandung, Teh Tarik, Horlicks and Punya Colada (which is coconut, pineapple and nangka madu), we can clearly see where the appeal is. However, it’s not merely a novelty thing – these great tasting homemade ice creams are creamy, melt in your mouth and get you craving for more!

Recommended Flavours: Nutella and Punya Colada.

fru-t-pop

Located at the family-run Fru-T-Pop cafe in Sri Hartmas (22, Jalan Sri Hartamas 8), these popsicles are basically preservative-free, gluten-free and dairy-free “fruits on sticks”!

Photo Source: fru-t-pop

Who will enjoy it? Handcrafted completely with fruits and without added water, sugar or colouring, we can’t help but to label these popsicles as the healthy ice treat! Blast-frozen to lock in the fruits’ natural flavours, Fru-T-Pop’s creations are refreshingly worthwhile. Aside from their natural appeal to health-conscious eaters and fruit lovers, we personally think these treats are a fun alternative to creamy creations. Their flavours differ day to day, but mainly comprise of the likes as dragon fruit, mango, pineapple, watermelon, strawberries and lychee.

Recommended Flavours: Soursop and the organic banana, dark chocolate and milk chocolate combination.

We didn’t really state the places to get these icy delights because most of them are pretty mobile or have freezer around The Klang Valley. For more information on where to get the treats, please proceed to their Facebook pages (as per appropriately linked above).

Freeze your eyeliner. It can be rather difficult to apply eyeliner when it crumbles as you put it on. Leave it in the freezer for 15 minutes prior to applying so that it’ll glide along your lash line seamlessly. Take note, this won’t work so well with gel or liquid liner.

Substitute eye cream as cuticle cream. If you’re running out of the latter and need a quick fix or just want to save some money, try using eye cream with extra-moisturising and hydrating benefits on your nails. It can help to cure dry cuticles just as good.

Rinse hair with vinegar. This will help to restore moisture to your mane and also boost the shine factor. Soak your hair with vinegar for a few minutes – dilute with water if the smell or liquid is too strong, and then rinse off with cold water.

Ice acne and fat away. Massage an ice cube over your face until it melts every night before bed. It is said that this routine can help keep fat cells, acne and even wrinkles at bay.

Free puffy eyes with raw potatoes. It has been found that raw potato slices contain astringent benefit which can help to decrease water retention while the enzyme catalase in it helps to lighten dark under eye circles. Cut two slices and place one on each eye for 10 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water after.

Keep unruly brown in check. The trend may call for bushy eyebrows, but keep them tamed with an old toothbrush or clean mascara wand. Spritz a little hairspray brush brows and style them as desired.

Exfoliate your lips. Keep your pucker in kissable condition by exfoliating regularly. Apply lip balm on your lips, then use a toothbrush to gently slough the dead skin away. Wipe away excess flakes with tissue.

Remove nail polish without remover. We’ve all been there before. In the case that you run out of nail polish remover, apply a clear top coat to the nail and remove it promptly with a cotton ball. The cracked or chipped nail polish should come right off.

Treat ingrown hairs. If there’s swelling and redness, apply a product containing azulene or witch hazel to soothe the area. Then, coax the ingrown hair out from its location gently with tweezer. But don’t pull it out as this will only make the hair to regrow in the same way.

Create DIY home spa. Refresh your mind and body with a little indulgence you can do at home. After a warm bath, put your favourite lotion in a bowl and pop into the microwave for about 10 seconds. Bear in mind not to over heat it and the oils in the lotion shouldn’t separate. Apply on skin and enjoy.

Source: Huffington Post, You Beauty

Founded by Christopher Strauch, who has worked with the likes of Zalora and Rocket Internet, Glasses online (glassesonline.com.my) is a fairly new online shopping portal that caters to all our eyewear needs. In fact; they’re Malaysia’s first online eyewear retailer! The store boasts of a slew of eyewear from frames to lenses, and even carry designer bands! We guess it’s time to bid goodbye to troublesome eyewear store trips, and shop at the comfort of your home.

Why We <3

Lowest Price Guarantee. Glasses online promises to offer customers the best price guarantee. It is stated that if customers are to find the purchased product cheaper anywhere in Malaysia, the difference of the price would be returned!

Eyewear Galore. What our eyewear-wearing writer likes best is the variety of brands and styles Glasses Online carry! With a gallery of over 150 brand and 35000 styles, Glasses Online can be considered the biggest eyewear store in Malaysia. From Porsche aviator frames to Cooper Vision astigmatism contact lenses; they’ve got them all covered!

Quality Brands. As they the store works directly with brands headquarters, they ensure that the brands they carry are 100% original and authentic.

Free Delivery and Returns. No matter the size or quantity of your purchase, Glasses Online offer free delivery of your items to your doorstep! Additionally, they also have a ‘Free Returns’ policy; if the product does not fit, you get to return it back to them within 30 days!

Why We No <3

Website bugs. Sadly, we noticed a lag in the website when accessing certain pages (e.g narrowing down our searches). However, we admit and like the fact that they’re web layout is very neat and orderly, hence making shopping easy.

Do-It-Yourself Prescription. As Glasses Online is an online portal, they obviously do not help you test and take down your prescription. You would have to go to an optician to get your PD (pupillary distance) measurements.  However, Glasses Online do provide you with information and detailed instructions on how to get a precise reading out of the PD slip.

So guys and girls, what are you waiting for – drop by Glasses Online for a look!

A survey conducted in the UK by Travelodge found that people who sleep in rooms painted with yellow, blue or green, get the best night’s sleep. Generally, people who sleep in blue rooms have the most shuteye with close to eight hours of rest while those sleeping in purple room get the least hours of sleep, clocking in only at less than six hours.

Purple is usually associated with the artistic community where the colour helps to stimulate creativity and the unconscious mind. Meanwhile, blue is the colour of choice as it helps to promote calm and relaxation.

And the effect of bedroom colours doesn’t stop there.

Contrary to belief, red does not ignite the fire and couples only make love just once a week in a crimson bedroom. Meanwhile a couple that sleeps in a bedroom decorated with caramel are most likely to have sex three times per week.

Other activities that are also influenced by bedroom colours include online shopping which are mostly done in grey themed bedrooms, while greater motivation to exercise are found in bedrooms with silver decor.

“Room colour does influence your mood and set the tone for your living environment. Therefore, it’s important to choose a bedroom decor that will help you relax and induce sleep,” said Travelodge interior designer Francis Whitley.

Time for a room makeover, we think!

Photo Source: dreysports.com

After a trophy laden career spanning 20 years, one of football’s most iconic figures has decided to call it quits. The 38 year old former England captain said in a statement that “now is the right time to finish my career”.

Becks was highly regarded because of his ability to deliver – the man could curve the ball in ways that have never been seen before and had deadly free kicks as he could curl the ball up and over the wall with utmost precision into the top corner of the goal. He also had amazing stamina and endurance.  But there is more to the eyes with this footballer as he was also a  role model and leader off the field. One of his most inspiring acts is, while at his recent PSG team, showing amazing amazing kindness by donating 100 percent of his salary to charity. All this truly proves that he is a football icon that many should look up to, on and off the field.

Photo Source: tumblr

He was the captain of the England team. His generation of the England team was considered the golden generation and touted as the strongest England team since the World Cup winning team of 1966. However, it wasn’t to be and England did not meet the expectations and weren’t even close to winning a major tournament. The highlight of his England career would be his free kick goal in the final minutes of the game against Greece in the World Cup qualifying game that booked England’s place in the 2002 World Cup.

Victories in early career. The football star started his career at Manchester United as a teenager going through the ranks from the youth team into the first team. Alongside him was Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers. In 1997, he scored one of the goals of the Premier League by scoring from the middle of the field. That goal is widely considered as the goal that introduced David Beckham the football icon into world football.

Photo Source: sportsillustrated.cnn.com

He was also part of the historic treble winning team of the 1998-1999 era of Manchester United. It was during his time at Manchester United that he met his wife, Victoria Beckham. However, Becks would have his Manchester United career cut short after he had a fight with his manager Sir Alex Ferguson. This is due to an incident where it was said that Ferguson kicked a boot in his direction that hit his head during the half time interval of a match. Becks was seen leaving the stadium that day with stitches above his eye brows, and furthered to move to Real Madrid.

Good intentions for football. After his spell at Real Madrid, where he helped Madrid bag the league title,  he moved to the MLS to play for the LA Galaxy team. Any people considered this move as a way to make more money. However, Becks saw it as a way to help MLS grow into a competitive and attractive football league. He publicly stated that he wanted to help the MLS grow. This proved to be the case as his appearances helped to improve the league in football terms as well as his publicity helped attract a wider audience.

Photo Source: beyondretro.com

Just when people thought that his career was over, he elected to move to Paris Saint Germain (PSG), where he played the last year of his career. His single season at PSG helped them win the league title as well. This has lead to him being the only Englishman to win the title in four different countries. He had a spell in Italy with AC Milan which also led to him winning a championship medal.

Thank you David Beckham for all the memories of your entertaining games and obvious passion of it; you will always be a football legend. We wish you all the best for your future endeavours (and underwear modelling)!

Sources: Daily Mail UK, ESPN FC, The Telegraph

Image credit: chacha.com

Above is what I have in mind when I hear the word ‘plastic’. The stereotypical all-American popular high school girls we knew from ‘Mean Girls’ (2004, when Lindsay Lohan was still sober).

The Plastics gained their moniker from their artificial attitude, similar to how the society address any replica of a more expensive (and prestigious) prototype. We used to tinker with our plastic mobile phones but the fashion aristocrates are now gaga-ing over plastic bags, shoes, arm candies.. Is this the world’s act of revenge to using no plastic shoppers?

Plastic on the runways

The runways have been filled with PVC, acrylic and see-through accessories lately. After plastic clothing received warm welcome last year at Milan Fashion Week, Karl set the summer tone ablaze with see-through floppy PVC hats at the Chanel S/S13 runway which saw the models strutting on solar paneled runways.

Meanwhile on Burberry Prorsum, a structured doctor bag is made kitschy with see-through, colourful plastic – resembling the cult arm candies from Furla. This season, Furla played up their booming jelly bowling bag with the mini sling tote that unsurprisingly come in candy colours. Valentino and Gucci sparked up the minaudiere department and naturally – shoe designers take cue.

Following the suit of fashion forward Margiela (as seen on MMM for H&M), perspex shoes are seen in monochrome on Michael Kors while Charlotte Olympia recreated the glass Cinderella shoes in chunky heeled sandals.

Eco-chic plastic

image credit: plastics.americanchemistry.com, stylenews.com

Question is, does this plastic trend encourage more plastic usage? PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) is the third most produced type of plastic, which is commonly used in construction because of its flexibility. In fashion, it is used to replace rubber and leather to save cost and for the added shine. PVC is also waterproof, hence its usage in coats and skiing equipments – although also being adapted to goth and punk fashion before recently hitting the fashion trend peak.

However, we breathe a sigh or relief knowing that big designers and brands are fully aware about the damage PVC could cause – hence the use of recycled plastic for fashion collections by H&M and Stella McCartney. In 2011, the former created their bangles and raincoats from recycled plastic bottles (plus came up with Conscious Collection) while the latter uses animal-friendly plastic leather for her Spring 2013 collection.

Fashion police George Kotsiopoulos also participated as a guest blogger / stylist on Plastics Make It Possible, an initiative by American Chemistry Council to make the most of plastics in our lives.

An eco-chic plastic fashion, it is!

Plastic, your way

With anything shiny, the go-to vibe is futuristic. The rise of plastic accessories this season is a tad different. Retro, cheeky and playful are the messages that come across and with the no-joke heatwave in KL lately, we could really use a reason to smile.

Products info: Topshop lime square bangle, RM69. ASOS plastic sunnies, approx. RM55.25. Nimmue kitty dress, RM63.20. Zara tangerine see-through box clutch, RM139.90. 6th Sense black&white dress, RM75. Lux & Bu plastic floral necklace (via FashionValet), RM39. Milktee denim shirt, RM69. The BlakMagiqLvrs striped skirt, RM39. MOVF pink see-through heels, RM52. Mango tangerine blazer, RM159. WEE camo denim jacket, RM68

Why not play around with trends and mix them up for an unexpected result. We are talking the predictably tough camo jacket – boy shorts – combat boots combo with a cheeky plastic box clutch.

Alternatively, go all-retro with a neon tank and print leggings, layered with a denim shirt. Slap on some seriously pink lipstick (that will make Naomi Campbell go ‘check your lipstick before you talk to me!’) and finish off with some plastic sunnies.

Plastic can look a little grown up too, mind you. Mix your shift chess-inspired dress with a pair of sexy see-through heels, and plonk in your bright blazer effortlessly for a finishing touch. Face Hunter (and Garbagelapsap)-worthy, no doubts there.

Now go, have fun putting on some plastic on yourself! But always remember, for safety reasons, line your see-through bags with a cute pattern pouch or bag organiser. It’s always better safe than sorry!

Sculpted by inventive designer Brent Christensen, these ice castles look like something straight out of a Disney animation. Based in the United States of America (yes, we were surprised too!), these scenic castles are about 25 to 30 feet tall and has an assessable interior décor complete with tunnels, archways, walls and stairs. If that’s not captivating enough, the icicle wonderland is even prettier at night with their multi-coloured LED lights!

These dreamlike castle sculptures are made entirely out of ice with no supporting substructure. The foundations take shape by waiting for a pool of water to naturally freeze atop grass. It is then attached with countless icicles, with water slowly freezing them together, like a gluing agent. The artist ‘grows’ his own icicles, therefore controlling their sizes and shapes. Together with his team of 20 helpers, Brent slowly and carefully creates mesmerizing art.

The idea for these beautiful icy sculptures came to Brent when he was searching for new outdoor activities for his children during winter. They then played around with ice construction ideas and experimented building ice skating rinks, ice caves and other frozen creations. After a few hits and misses, Brent mastered the art of building ice castles.

In 2009, Zermatt resort asked Brent if he would build a larger ice castle on the lawn of their resort. The inventive designer obliged; Brent’s sculpture prompted over 10,000 people to view it! Other locations where Brent has worked his magic at were as Town Square in Midway, Utah and Silverthorne. His most recent displays are at Ski Time Square, Steamboat Springs (Colorodo) and Mall of America, Minnesota.

Sadly, the Ice Castles display are officially closed for public viewing for the 2012-2013 season. However, the good news is that Brent Christensen and his team are already in the works of planning their upcoming 3013-2014 season! Which gives you plenty of time to plan (and save up) for your future icy retreat!

For more information, and updates on their 2013-2014 plans, please check Ice Castles or their Facebook page throughout summer and fall.

Text and Photo Source: Ice Castles 

Photo Source: Triumph

Well ladies, wonder no more with the newly launched Triumph Body Make-Up collection! 

Some of you may be asking ‘make-up? why such a name?’ In all honesty, we did too. After all, it is a lingerie line. However, Triumph revealed that the line was made to deliver you the same benefits as your favourite make-up does – to blend in so well with you that it seems like you’re wearing nothing at all! Like a natural second skin, if you may.

Another thing we love about this new collection is the fact that Triumph has understood that not all women’s skin sport the same ‘nude’ tone. That’s right ladies, no matter if you’re a fair maiden or have a healthily tanned outlook; there’s bound to be a shade that will blend in well with your skin tone! Designed to be delightfully comfy, lightweight and invisible, Triumph’s all-new Body Make-Up collection comes in a variety of nude colours – Vanilla, Light Rose, Soft Blush, Cappuccino and New Nude. For those who like the basic black bra; there’s that too!

This thoughtful and innovative new range is made with super-light and super-comfy Lycra. The bras also come with a Memory Cushion that moulds perfectly to your individual body contours, ensuring a personal and ultimate comfort fit. But don’t just take our word for it! Malaysian Jazz singer Atilia shares that the new Triumph Body Make-Up bra fits her so well, she needn’t adjust her ‘sisters’ at all when wearing them!

We don’t know about you ladies, but we sure are tempted for one! The new Triumph Body Make-Up collection is available at all Triumph boutiques and major department stores in Malaysia. The bra retails at RM179.90 and the brief is from RM44.90.

For more information, please take a look at Triumph or their Facebook page.

What, you may ask, is a CC cream? Well, everything that the BB cream isn’t, the CC cream is; so while BB creams promises a host of qualities in one formulation and goes on thick and pasty, CC is all about targeting the problems and going deep and narrow in the sheerest formula.

Using a 3-prong approach, CC cream (which stands for Colour Correcting) combines pigments such as lavender optics to neutralize the skin’s tonal shift, hydration and sun protection.

1. Colour Correction

Sallow, dull skin turns into a rosy glow and skin imperfections are instantly corrected for a virtually flawless look, leaving skin with a radiant finish.

2. Hydration

Infused with key hydrating ingredients such as Aloe Barbademsis Leaf Water and Hyaluronic Acid which instantly provides a refreshing burst of hydration while water binding agents such as Trehalose and Sorbitol protect skin against changing humid conditions to keep in hydrated all day.

3. Protection

Incorporating a blend of sunscreens of UVA/UVB protection to help prevent the visible signs of aging, and antioxidants such as Vitamin E to protect against environmental assaults to keep skin looking healthy.

Unlike pigmentation that is a process which occurs in time, skin tonal shift is something that happens overnight due to lack of sleep or having an epic night out partying – so instead of picking up that painkiller in the morning, similarly, your skin requires an instant pick me up, a colour correcting tool to even out your skin tone!

Besides containing hydrating benefits, this CC cream also comes with SPF 30 so you can wear this on its own or under your favourite foundation. True to Clinique’s philosophy, it’s appropriate for all skin types and the formula is oil-free, non-acnegenic – dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested.

Available in five different shades, the Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream SPF 30/PA+++ is available in Malaysia at all Clinique counters from May 23, 2013 onwards at RM120. 

Photo Source: Oreo

Working, paying the bills, and generally playing the role of Super Mom is a tough balancing act. It is sad to say that modern parents often miss out on spending precious quality time and having fun with their children. However, becoming best friends and enjoying bonding moments together with your children is not as elusive and hard as you think! All you need to do is to learn to learn to show your love in a way that your child understands.

We all know that each and every child has their own unique personality, but not many realize that they also have their own quirky way of receiving and showing affection! In fact, there are 5 languages of love;

Words of affirmation.
If your child is on that enjoys your kind words, then why not leave post-it notes with words of love and encouragement creatively hidden and scattered all over your child’s bedroom? Conversely, we’re pretty sure that the beaming smile on your child’s face when they see the notes is sure to lift your spirits up for the busy week too!

Quality time.
Nothing says “I love you” more to some kids like undivided attention! Turn the TV off, clear away those work documents and take a walk with your child at the nearby playground. It really isn’t that hard, we’re quite certain 20 minutes of spending quality time with them is enough to make both of you happy.

Gifts.
Some children’s’ faces tends to light up brighter than others when they receive gifts! How about surprising your child with an elaborate treasure hunt with a special gift at the end? Leave an easy trail of orea cookies your child to follow that leads to that new oreo bus set she’s been hinting at for weeks! Complete with sparkly ribbons!

Acts of service.
If acts of service hold a special place in your child’s heart, perhaps you can then take a day off from work and transport your child to wherever he or she wants to go for the day. Indulge in his or her fancies by watching that animated film they’ve wanted to catch, or satisfy your child’s sweet tooth by gulping down their (and your) favourite oreo milkshake!

Physical touch.
The warmth of a parent’s physical touch is irreplaceable, even more so to come children. Be generous and smother him or her with oodles of bear hugs and kisses when you get home from work! Remember to have “cuddle nights” (or “cuddle morning calls”) too!

Speaking your child’s love language will not only win their hearts, but build an intimate bond between you and the apple of your eye. So, be sure to hustle your family together after whenever there’s free time to do the appropriate 5 love languages as a daily family bonding activity!

Called Orked, the exclusive collection by designer Jovian Mandagie was officially launched for online preorder yesterday on Tesco. In celebration of the collaboration, all of Jovian’s 24 ready-to-wears were previewed at a special fashion show held at Neo Tamarind KL.

Tesco’s designer collaboration has been a yearly affair that fans can look forward to and last year, we saw the 20 by Rizalman x Tesco collection going off the racks when it hit the stores nationwide.

Likewise, Jovian Mandagie’s pieces are expected to garner the same effect if not more when it hits the store this June 24th onwards.

This is the first year that Tesco is opening up the designer collection for preorders between May 15th and May 26th. With every pre-ordered item, customers will receive an exclusive Orked by Jovian scarf which will all be ready for collection at your selected stores from June 17th to 23rd.

The Orked collection boasts of chic kurung labuh, kurung moden, kebaya, kaftan and long dresses in sweet pastel hues. Think soft shades of lilac, blush pink, mint green and flavescent yellow.

The Jovian touch is not loss with his signature peplum, draping and mermaid silhouette apparent in the beautiful, flowy numbers. What you can’t miss is his love of detailing such as embroidery and flower appliqué. Loved it!

The award-winning designer chose the theme ‘Orked’ for his collaboration as the flower is one of the most unique flowers in the world. In essence, the orchid personifies the characteristics of a modern woman who is strong, resilient and yet feminine. This is his Raya gift to his fans.

Orked by Jovian Mandagie will be available at the following Tesco stores with prices starting at RM199 per design:

Ampang, Mutiara Damansara, Klang, Shah Alam, Setia Alam, Puchong, Kepong, Kajang, Nilai, Seremban 2, Melaka, Desa Tebrau Johor, Seri Alam Johor, Station 18 Ipoh, Taiping, Tanjung Pinang, Penang, SP Selatan Sungai Petani, Mergong Alor Setar and Kota Bahru.

Photo Source: bumblebee.com

Seriously now, even if I added in a slice (or two) of my favourite cheese into my tuna sandwich, I would still lose interest in it before I take my tenth bite! Be it because of an easily-bored nature, or a serious dislike of repetitive food choices (like me), one thing is for sure; a variety of sandwich spreads would definitely do anyone some good. And hey, home-made choices are always a healthier and better choice when compared to the conventional canned and bottled options!

So, fellow sandwich and bread lovers, here are some simple cheesy sandwich spread recipes for you to try and test on! Make them for your family, your better half, or bring it to work! Or use these recipes as a base to create your own cheesy concoction. Who knows, you might even be the next cheesy spread guru! Oh, and do remember wholemeal bread is always better than white.

Cheesy Apple Slaw

Ingredients:

• 1 grated apple (green or red)
• 50g grated cheese
• 1 TBsp. mayonnaise
• 2 medium spring onions (chopped)
• 1 Tsp. lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation: Mix all ingredients together.

This makes up a spread that can generously spread up to 3 sandwiches. It is especially delicious with wholemeal breads or rolls.

Recipe based off BBC: GoodFood 

Parmesan Tuna

Ingredients:

• 1 can (340g) chunk tuna
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 3 spring onions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp. sour cream
• 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. dried basil leaves
• dash pepper

Preparation: 

1. Drain tuna, and mix with bell pepper and green onions in medium bowl.
2. In small bowl, combine cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, lemon juice, and basil leaves and mix well.
3. Add mixture into tuna and mix well.

When covered tightly and stored in the refrigerator, this spread can last up to 2 days. Oh, and don’t hesitate to try this recipe out with canned salmon or boiled chicken too!

Recipe based off Busy Cooks 

Cheese and Basil Chicken Sandwich Filler

Ingredients:

• 1 large piece chicken breast
• 7 TBsp. mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp. fresh basil (chopped)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 3 Stalks celery (finely chopped)
• 4 Tbsp. grated cheese
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Procedure:

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Roast at 180 degree Celsius for 20 minutes, or until juices run clear. Let cool, and chop into chunks.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, basil, garlic and celery. Combine with the chunked chicken and Parmesan. Refrigerate until ready to use.

An alternative method of cooking the chicken is to boil the breast meat (skin and bone in tact) with some salt, garlic and bay leaves until nearly done. Also, you can use light mayonnaise if you’re watching your weight.

Recipe based off All Recipes 

Photo Source: ericshalley.com

In fact; did you know that the average adult needs 1,000mg of calcium daily? This is because calcium does so much more than merely providing the skeletal structure for our bones and teeth – calcium also plays a key role in many other day-to-day body functions such conduction of nerve impulses and helps in the regulation of our bodily fluids.

That being said, what’s a milk and cheese hater to do to get their daily dose of calcium? And how about vegans?

Well, here’s an interesting and appalling fact – plants are actually a great source of calcium too! Just take a look at the infographic showing calcium-rich plant-based food! Done by the lovely people at Vega, it teaches us that the consumption of two to four servings of bean sprouts, okra and other fruits/veges/grains/beans is enough to meet your daily calcium quota.

Moreover, plants actually provide a healthier form of calcium! This is because plant-based calcium sources contain more vitamins C and K, and the minerals potassium and magnesium, which are all important for our well-being. Woah, that’s really some food for thought eh?

Just yesterday, screen goddess Angelina Jolie revealed in a New York Times post that she had a double mastectomies recently. She carried, what she calls as a ‘faulty’ gene, which puts her at a 87 percent risk of developing breast cancer and 50 percent for ovarian cancer. It is a medical concern close to her heart as he own mother, Marcheline Bertrand died at age 56 after nearly a decade of fighting cancer.

Her revelation has been described as one of the most defining moments of breast cancer awareness.

As one of the most recognisable women of today, Angelina Jolie has effectively renewed the attention on breast cancer with a bold message. 1) is for the need of early detection and 2) to explore your options and make informed decision to prevent the disease.

Why mastectomy? 

Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.

It was not an easy decision for Angie or any women, no doubt. It is a personal decision that must have carried a lot of emotions. As a woman, we feel strongly connected to our breasts as a sign of sexuality and womanhood. To lose them is simply overwhelming.

Jolie’s decision highlights the dilemma faced by women who are genetically vulnerable. Though it must be noted that the BRCA mutations are rare and hereditary cancer accounts for 3 – 5 percent of all breast and ovarian cancer cases (source: Cancer Journal).

Women like Angie who carry this gene have a 65 percent risk of developing breast cancer in comparison to a risk of about 12 percent for most ladies. Thus, for women who are at a higher risk, removing the breasts would make sense.

About the treatment

Generally, if you are diagnosed with breast cancer, treatment options can be lumpectomy – where part of your breast will be left and only the breast cancer and tissue around the cancer are removed; or mastectomy – where all the breast tissue is removed.

A mastectomy depends on each individual case and the type of breast problems you have:

• Subcutaneous mastectomy – removal of the breast except for the nipple and areola
• Total or simple mastectomy – removal of the entire breast tissue, nipple and areola
• Modified radical mastectomy – removal of the entire breast along with chest muscle lining, underarm lymph nodes and sometimes a part of chest wall

In Jolie’s case, her double mastectomies saw the surgeons removing as much breast tissue as possible while preserving the skin covering her breasts for reconstructive surgery. Fillers were then inserted where the breast tissue would have been.

Mastectomy is often seen as the last resort but for some women, it is actually the first big step against the long process of being afflicted with cancer. You should always be informed about your health and be empowered to make informed decision. Consider your motivation for doing it. Angie’s family and children became a big driving force in her opting for preventive mastectomy.

Nothing short of a strong woman, Angelina Jolie’s message is as clear as day.

“For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options. I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices.”

It is the world’s most popular game to have hit Facebook, iOS and the Android Play store. With over 66 million players worldwide, you can be sure that the Candy addiction is for real. On Facebook alone, more than 15 million users spend their time playing the game daily.

Candy Crush has now overtaken Angry Birds in the popular ranking. Even its London-based developer King has surpassed the creator of Farmille – Zynga to be the world’s most popular social gaming firm.

The latest figure comes after Zynga’s most recent earnings call which now place them second with 52 million players daily. It is an impressive progress for a game that is just over six months old. Candy Crush was launched for mobile in late 2012.

What’s not to love about the saga really? The goal of the game is simple, just match three or more sweets in a row to make them disappear, kind of similar to Bejewelled. But the hard part is progressing through the game; once a player loses five lives, you’ll be locked out of the game for half an hour. It is the perfect time killer for many and addictive for all.

It is estimated that since the game was launched, Candy Crush Saga players have spent the equivalent of 103,000 years on it with over 1 trillion candies crushed.

Photo source: haifona.deviantart.com

Well, sometimes it’s fun to reminisce and play around with makeup and here is how to achieve the same lollipop-stained lip look with one of our favourite items by Make Up Forever – the Aqua Rouge and Aqua Lip collection!

These colours are bright, vibrant and will stay on forever that we reckon this is the kind of stuff synchronise swimmers use, or just someone who wants the freedom to wow the people at the pool with editorial-quality makeup to match her designer swimming suit.

What’s great about the Aqua Rouge sticks are that each tube comes with two ends; one with a foam that gently paints on a matte layer of intense (and we mean intense, highly pigmented) colour for that perfect 80s look, while the other end is a brush that dabs on a velvety topcoat that for those of you prefer that glossy finish (love the black ombre packaging)!

How-to:

Step 1: Apply a moisturising lip balm to soften your lips – we love this one by Soap & Glory called A Great Kisser because it tastes like peaches which just gets you excited for your lollipop-inspired lip!

Step 2: Using the Make Up Forever Aqua Lip in Baby Pink (20c), line your lips to give it definition and fill it in evenly.

Step 3: Using Make Up Forever Aqua Rouge in Pomegranate Pink (19), gently dab the colour in the center of your lips mimicking your lip shape but smaller and just in the center – make sure it doesn’t reach the borders of your lips!

Step 4: Carefully, press your lips together to gently disperse the colour so that it blends naturally.

Step 5: Using the other end of the Aqua Rouge, apply the gloss on to your entire lip evenly for an amazing, juicy pair of smackers!

The Aqua Rouge collection comes in 17 brilliant colours and everyone we know who has tried it, is completely taken by the brilliant colour and lasting power – however, it does come at a price though.

If you hate how lipsticks smelled back in the 80s (you know, before the days of vanilla-scented lippies) this might turn you off in the beginning, but it’s literally like 3-4 seconds and after that it sits perfectly fine with no funky smell. We’d still buy this regardless!

Based in Hong Kong, Hypebeast is a premium online magazine for current and relevant news on fashion, arts, design and culture. Be it hip street wear of contemporary high-fashion, the HB team has successfully made a positive contribution to, and through, one of the most important creative mediums with their constant unique content and insights. (Sounds pretty familiar eh?)

And we must say, we are glad that PUMA and Hypebeast had teamed up for a sneaker project! When presented with the opportunity to work with one of the world’s leading sports and lifestyle companies, the fashion-forward HB team wasted no time to conceptualize sneaker designs based one one of Hong Kong’s most significant and traditional culture – the dim sum cuisine.

Celebrating the original PUMA Blaze of Glory, a shoe that built its credibility through PUMA’s Trinomic technology, the PUMA x HYPEBEAST Blaze of Glory collection is a unique take on a classic PUMA silhouette. Using elements widely known and cherished in making Siu Mai and Har Gao, the project serves up a delectable sneaker treat aptly named the PUMA X HYPEBEAST ‘Dim Sum’ Blaze of Glory Pack. We also like the fact that these babies will be made available in a dust bag that mimics the motif of a bamboo steamer; the similar way a traditional basket Dim Sum is generally served in!

PUMA x HYPEBEAST BLAZE OF GLORY HAR GAO LTWT

In the actual dim sum cuisine scene, the Har Gao is a shrimp dumpling with a delicate translucent skin wrapper. With that said, PUMA X HB clearly did a good job in translating the dish’s outlook onto their innovative sneaker. The main outlook design of the PUMA x HB ‘Har Gao’ Blaze of Glory LTWT was achieved by placing a translucent layer on top of a minimalistic shrimp camouflage patterned upper. Featuring a PUMA FAAS 250 midsole, this sneaker LTWT is light in weight and more flexible than the OG.

PUMA x HYPEBEAST BLAZE OF GLORY SIU MAI OG

What is Har Gao without its siu mai sibling, right? Based on the open-topped steamed meat dumplings made with a yellow-hued wrap and topped with a sprinkling of orange roe, the team has conceptualized the PUMA x HB ‘Siu Mai’ Blaze of Glory OG with a luxurious yellow leather and suede upper finishing. Additionally, its substantial silhouette fits in well with the cushionCELL midsole in white and rounded out by a neoprene boot for fit and comfort.

The PUMA x Hypebeast ‘Siu Mai’ Blaze of Glory OG and ‘Har Gao’ Blaze of Glory LTWT are currently available in Hong Kong since 8 May 2013, and will soon be released worldwide starting 17^th May 2013. The styling duo will be available at Crossover Sunway Pyramid and Crossover City Square, Johor Bahru for the price of RM499.

For more information, please visit Puma or Hypebeast.

Called ‘Witch-Craft’, the collection of ‘wearable sculptures’ feature Ursula from The Little Mermaid, Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty and the Evil Queen from Snow White.

Levi said that he has always loved Walt Disney characters since his childhood days and he enjoys the fantasy and naivety that is present in the Disney world. “The villains are special because they are iconic and interesting. They are most memorable for me.”

The choice of Ursula, Maleficent and the Evil Queen as muse for his footwear was an easy one. They each have a distinct uniqueness with their character and temperament that make up a quirky collection.

The Israeli-born designer is famously known for his outlandish shoe designs which has even claimed a fan in Lady Gaga. She wore the double boot pair in her Born This Way video.

His Disney villains designs which were uploaded on his blog two months ago have been garnering quite the attention lately. Each pair in the series features hand-painted face of the villains on the insole.

He first started the blog in 2010 as a means to update his friends on his latest designs without having to email each and everyone of them every single time. Since then he has been making waves with positive reactions on his one-of-a-kind ideas. His other quirky shoe designs can be seen here.

According to a new research, people who always use the words ‘me’, ‘myself’ and ‘I’ are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety.

The German scientists found that people who use the first-person singular pronouns are more prone to these two conditions compared to those who tend to use plural pronouns such as ‘we’ and ‘us’.

Dr Johannes Zimmerman and his team of researchers from the University of Kassel interviewed 15 men and 103 women for this study.

At the time of the research, most of them are being treated for conditions such as depression and anxiety disorder. They were asked about their past, relationships and self-perception. It was found that the group that always say ‘me’ and ‘I’ are not only more likely to be depressed, but they also have more difficulties with interpersonal behaviour such as interacting in a group of people.

This group tend to exhibit attention-seeking behaviour and can’t seem to spend time alone. Whereas, the group that constantly uses words like ‘we’ were better at maintaining social boundaries in their relationships while still having a healthy social life.

Dr Zimmerman believes that the singular pronouns group tend to be needier. However, he points out that there is no evidence linking the use of ‘I’ and ‘me’ to depression, instead the speaking habit is probably an indication of how people see themselves and relate to others.

Source: Popsci

Who is this Leonardo DiCarpio?

Named after the artist Leonardo da Vinci, as his pregnant mother was standing in front of a da Vinci painting the first time she felt him kick, Leonardo is one of the most recognized and talented actor of the current generation. The man is also a film producer with a production company named Appian Way Productions.

Many have marvelled at his acting performances and capabilities. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Leonardo DiCaprio started his acting career by appearing in television commercials and recurring roles in TV series, such as Growing Pains. It was pretty much uphill since then for this A-List actor as he became a key choice for several box office hits. Just to name a few, his famous movies include the internationally successful Titanic, The Aviator and Inception.

5 Reasons to Scream ‘Eye Want Leonardo DiCarpio!’

5. He’s an acting chameleon

Let’s face it; Leonardo DiCarpio is an acting legend. And one of the best things that we love about him is how he easily gets into character, despite the different kinds of roles he takes on. Even though Leo will undoubtedly be best known for his portrayal of Jack in Titanic, we’re pretty certain that same goes for his portrayal of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Cobb in Inception, Frank in Revolutionary Road, Candie in Django Unchained. Oh and his Gatsby in The Great Gatsby (yes, we are that confident). Get our drift ladies?

4. He keeps things private

Unlike some (or most) Hollywood A-Listers, Leo is one thespian who keeps a low profile. Despite his numerous messy love affairs with fashionista and gorgeous girlfriends (e.g. Gisele Bundchen and Blake Lively), Leo tries not to appear in tabloid news and prefers to keep interviews and communication on a more professional tone and work-based, i.e. about his roles and films.

3. He’s a loyal friend

If you have not known, Leonardo DiCarpio is Kate Winslet’s long-time BFFL (Best Friend For Life)! In fact, the talented actor was the one who walked Winslet down the aisle when she recently remarried. “She’s one of my closest friends and feels we can say anything to each other,” he says to Express.

Not only that, Leo is also reportedly good friends with blue-eyed cutie Tobey Maguire and Mark Wahlberg.

2. He ages well

Leo was well known for his boyish looks back in his younger days. However, the talented actor has long outgrown that youthful, boyish physique and charm of his, and is instead, currently giving an alluring and manly appeal.

Nonetheless, regardless of any Leo ‘phase’, one thing is for sure; this cutie has certainly aged well!

1. He’s an environment lover

“I am an eco-geek,” admits the star. An avid and committed environmentalist, DiCaprio has received copious praises from environmental groups for his admirable environmental activism. Take for example his $1,000,000 donation to the Wildlife Conservation Society at Russia’s tiger summit in 2010. This garnered high “muzhik” or “real man” praises of Leo by the Russian premier, Vladimir Putin. Or his more recent email to the Thai Government to call them on banning the trade of ivory.

Moreover, Leo’s goodwill is not only stipulated to the environment – he had lately donated $61,000 to GLAAD, an organization which upholds the image of LGBT people in the media.

Leo truly wants to make the world a better place, and we salute him for that!

What you’ll need to make your boyfriend look like Leonardo DiCarpio:

Casual: Relaxed jeans, dark-colored collared tees, plain dark long/short sleeved tees, leather jackets, sneakers

Formal: dark-colored two-piece suit (relaxed fit), tie, leather shoes

Accessories: sunglasses, watch, cap (newsboy)

Sources: ONTD, Leo DiCarpio Network, Express, Fanpop

Photo Source: lcentral.net

In fact, based on various researches, it is noted that there are four major types of learners – Read/Write, Kinesthetic, Auditory or Visual. With that said, it is pretty blatant that different learners would have different learning and teaching preferences.

As a parent, identifying your child’s learning style would greatly impact the child’s learning experiences. This is due to the fact that when a child’s learning style is identified, proper teaching and study techniques can then be implemented. Thus, ensuring a more efficient and enhanced learning capability.

We list down the most distinctive characteristics and suggested learning advices for each learning style;

1. Auditory Learners

As per the name, Auditory learners those who learn best through these sense of hearing. They would much prefer to ingest information through audio or video clips, or by discussing a topic. Your child would also be inclined to have a great knack for remembering past conversations and music lyrics, repeat things aloud and are natural listeners.

Learning/Teaching Advice: Parents should encourage their child to participate in discussions and ask questions during lessons. Also, any other auditory distractions and influences should be minimized.

2. Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners learn best when they gain understanding though hands-on and personal experiences. With that said, they are generally good at remembering things they’ve actually done before (e.g. after cooking a meal), enjoy physical lessons (e.g. science experiments or sports) or become fidgety after a long period of time.

Learning/Teaching Advice: Parents can play memory games or use flash cards with Kinesthetic learners to help him/her memorize notes and information. These learners are also encouraged to break up their study periods and study in groups. 

3. Read/Write Learners

These are the traditional learners, where information is easily absorbed by reading and writing. If your child is a read/write learner, they would more often than not enjoy reading, like coherent teachers who put a lot of information into sentences, and often take exhaustive and letter-perfect notes in class. They also won’t hesitate to use a dictionary!

Learning/Teaching Advice: These learners are encouraged to take down notes (no surprise there!) during lessons and convert diagrams and charts into worded points. However, parents should foster their read/write learners to jot down points in bullet points instead of lengthy notes.

4. Visual Learners

Visual learners are those who learn better when ideas, information and concepts are associated and represented with images, charts or diagrams. This is because these learners tend to think in pictures. Some characteristics of these learners are that they tend to be fast talkers and require quiet study time.

Learning/Teaching Advice: Parents should teach their child using flashcards. They should also teach and encourage the child to diagram or outline important points in a visual manner themselves as notes.

However, it should be noted that although these are the main identifiers and differences of the four main study styles, it does not mean that your child may fit perfectly into one of the four learning style categories. Meaning that it is possible for your child to be a combination of two categories. You and your child should explore a variety of learning methods, and choose to use the ones that they find most useful and effective.

Sources:  The Study Gurus, Online College

PJ Laugh Fest is happening from May 15th to June 9th at PJ Live Arts, Jaya One. The highy anticipated event boasts of 20 shows with 50 performances and 100 acts from the region and also the world. Yup, this festival is getting serious! Seriously funny that is.

Come celebrate the diverse world of comedy with many genres on offer. Among the highlights is Harith Iskander who will be embarking on a surprising first as he teams up with jazz maestro Michael Veerapan to deliver Malaysia’s first stand-up comedy musical.

Bring your kids to enjoy the funny fables from Borneo, India and around the world. The story goes that when little songbird Pipit gets caught by big monkey Beruk, he tries to find his way out by making Beruk laugh with the songs, jokes and stories he remembers from other songbirds.

While in The Talkative Turtle & Other Stories, a group of seasoned children entertainers from Box of Delights will be taking to the stage. Also lined-up is a cheeky ballet performance by the ballerinos of Men In Tutus coming all the way from the US. Puppeteer Jeff Achtem from Canada will also be in town to showcase some cool storyline involving monkeys in the jungle, UFO abductions, brain transplants and flying ninjas.

And of course, local celebrated comedians such as Afdlin Shauki, Douglas Lim, Patrick Teoh, Kuah Jenhan and Ida Nerina have all got their materials ready for the shows throughout this 26 days.

For full listing, visit PJ Live Art. Tickets available at Tix.my.

People hate you for it and try to invalidate your concerns about being too thin, underweight, feeling tired all the time, or not fitting into your clothes properly. But the truth is there are just some who are blessed (or cursed!) with the skinny gene and fast metabolism.

It’s not all rosy though. Many women who struggle to pile on the pounds are often at a higher risk of osteoporosis because they have lower bone density and muscle mass. Thus, they are prone to hip fractures and lower life expectancy. Also, those who are underweight face a higher risk of fertility, pregnancy and menstruation problems.

All these are real concerns. Gaining weight is just as hard as losing weight, it just doesn’t happen overnight. But it’s good to remember that it is achievable and gaining weight while optimising health should be your goal.

1. Eat every four hours. Your body needs to build muscle, tissue, skin, etc and you need a continuous supply of energy to feed it throughout the day. So don’t skip a meal and breakfast is a very important start to your day as the calories are used for energy and building blocks. Eat a combination of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats. To prevent your body from losing energy, muscle mass or tissue, meal timing is especially important so eat regularly every three to five hours.

2. Consume healthy fats. These good kinds of fats help you to feel full and provide nutrient dense calories. Always aim for at least three different food groups like whole wheat pastas, nuts, fruits and vegetables to give your body a broader spectrum of nutrients to work with throughout the day. So instead of just a handful of nuts, eat a few slices of whole grain toast with almond butter and banana slices along with a glass of soy milk.

3. Adopt the superfood diet. Choose superfoods that are packed with nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fibre and healthy fats while go low on sugar and refined carbs. Incorporate beans, green leafy vegetables, and even dried fruits (sugar- and preservative-free of course) into your diet. Rack up on the extra nutrition without having to resort to eat huge portion of food or junk.

4. Drink your food. Go for filing, high-calorie beverages like smoothies, healthy shakes or liquid meal replacements. Smoothies are the most ideal choice because you can add all kinds of good stuff like nut butter, carrot juice and protein powder. Liquids aren’t as filling as solid food, so you can avoid feeling stuffed or bloated. Drink between meals to add calories and always opt for 100 percent fruit juice.

5. Eat before bedtime. Right, consider this your permission to satisfy the midnight snacking. A lot of our healing and regeneration happens while we sleep, so eating before bed ensures that a fresh supply of nutrients are available for your body to tap into to do the work. But this is no excuse to go crazy, the key is healthy snacking with produce such as vegetables, cheese and lean protein like chicken breast.

Source: Shape.com, Naturally Savvy

Photo Source: theotherpaper.com

Be it those harmless black swarms, or a parade of tiny red biters – ants are one of the most pesky and resilient insects that can infest your house! On your counter-tops, tables, carpet or cupboard; these tiny critters can be found almost anywhere and at anytime. More often than not, one would opt for pesticides as their weapon of choice against these tiny home invaders. However, these potent chemical compounds are actually more harmful to you and the environment than the pests, especially so if you have a child or pets at home.

So ladies and gents, the next time you reach for your toxic pesticide, why not try one of natural ant control remedies or repellents to ward them off first:

Mint.
Leave mint leaves or rub mint essential oils near areas where the ants seem most active. If you find those items are too much of a hassle to buy, mint teabags or mint-flavoured antiseptic mouthwash work too.

Vinegar or Apple Cider.
White vinegar or apple cider works as these liquids contain fungicidal and insecticidal properties, and wipe out the trails ants leave to guide other ants to whatever food source. Plus, they’re great natural house cleaners! We suggest you to make a cleaning solution out of vinegar and water, place into spray bottles and spray on ants or areas where you’ve seen ants.

Citrus and Cucumber Slices.
Some people swear by cucumbers and citrus fruits, such as lemons or oranges, to curb their ant-y problems. Simply smear the juice, rinds or place cucumber slices near cracks or entry points because ants apparently dislike them.

Spices and Herbs.
Ants hate the scent of spices such as black pepper, cinnamon, rosemary, bay leaves, basil and garlic. All of these household ingredients are highly effective ant deterrents that can safely be sprinkled on counter-tops, or placed in between cracks and tiny spots.  

‘Firewall’ Your House.
Keep them ants at bay by creating a ‘firewall’ line around home entry points (e.g. around door thresholds and window sills) with chalk, baking soda or baby powder.

Admittedly, items such as spices, baby powder and cucumber slices do not help get rid of the ants at your home, but they do prevent additional unwanted guests joining in the party. Ultimately, the key of eradicating ants from your home is to locate the pesky insects’ source of entry or nest. You then block and seal up the cracks, slits or holes the ants enter from (with blue tack or sticky tape), or place abovementioned ant deterrent items near the areas.

Sources: Small Notebook, Reader’s Digest

We all generally know that smoking is a deadly habit that should be quitted. Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman (MOH’s deputy director-general) released a statement saying that tobacco was the leading cause of preventable death in the world, attributed to about five million deaths annually. So yes, smoking is indeed a deadly habit, but it is also undeniably a hard routine to boot.

Research has shown that many smokers actually have the intention to quit, but are often stumped or unsuccessful due to the lack of smoking cessation knowledge and support. That is where GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Sdn Bhd’s (GSK) latest ‘Pledge to Quit Right’ campaign comes in – where smokers would be educated on the right methods of quitting smoking, and get the utmost support, from health care providers, fellow campaigners, family and friends.

Already a huge success in other markets (e.g. Australia), GSK and the Ministry of Health (MOH) are proud to introduce this programme in Malaysia. Recently launched last week, the Pledge to Quit Right campaign helps raise awareness on the successful tried and tested smoking cessation techniques, such as the 3-step 12-week nicotine replacement therapy with NiQuitin. Additionally, they would also get to consult with Certified Smoking Cessation Service Providers (CSCSP) at selected pharmacies. The pledge campaign also encourages the use of GSK’s unique Internet-based Behavioural Support Programme (BSP).

As the program is not only designed for smokers who wish to quit the habit, those who want to show their support for a cigarette-free Malaysia, and to also be a pillar of moral support to quitters-at-heart, can post their pledges on the Pledge to Quit Right board at the Pledge to Quit Right road shows or on the mobile Pledge to Quit Right board transported by Era FM and My FM radio cruisers. The pledges collected would hopefully spur smokers on, knowing that the nation is supporting their desire to be cigarette-free.

What say you, dear readers? Because the VB team is really stoked and glad that such efforts are made to help smokers kick the habit! Let’s all give quitters-at-heart a lending hand and all pledge for a healthier and smoke-free Malaysia!

Just like us humans, our four legged friends do like their snacks. But rather than rely of store-bought treats to do the deed, why not turn to your kitchen?

Many of our fruits and vegetables can be given as treats to your pets. Yes, it is rather strange but they are a healthier option. Of course, this will very much depend on your cats or dogs’ preferences; some may enjoy the variety while others may turn up their nose against the sight and taste.

But do take note not to overfeed your dog or cat with human food. Introducing new foods may cause upset stomach and issues like vomiting and diarrhoea in your pets. So go slow and only introduce one new fruit or vegetable at a time. This will help you keep track of any health changes.

Fruits safe for pet’s consumption:

• Apple
• Banana
• Berries – blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
• Mango
• Melons – cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon
• Oranges
• Pear
• Pineapple

Not safe: Grapes and raisin! These are toxic to your cats and dogs, and can cause kidney damage in them. Best to avoid citrus fruits like lemon, lime, grapefruit and persimmon too as these fruits can cause upset stomach.

Vegetables safe for pet’s consumption:

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Green Beans
• Lettuce
• Pumpkin
• Spinach

Not safe: Onions and garlic! These are toxic in all forms – cooked, raw, and powdered. It can cause damage to your pet’s red blood cells which may eventually burst and lead to life-threatening issues. Also to avoid wild mushrooms and corn.

As with any type of food, always consider the size of your pet and the appropriate amount of serving. With fruits, remember to wash thoroughly and remove all seeds/pits before feeding to your pets. Some fruits contain high sugar, so always feed in moderation. As for the vegetables, it is best to steam them first for easier digestion. Consider mixing the greens – puree or mash – with your pet’s regular prepared food to be given at mealtimes. Consult with the veterinarian if you are unsure about giving any fruits and vegetables to your furkids.

Source: PetMD, Trupanion

Last week, we presented you with a yumtastic list of places to bring your momma on Mother’s Day. We do hope the list gave you ideas and helped out with your planning!

For those who’ve missed out the piece or have yet made (or couldn’t make) a reservation booking, fret not. The VB team is here to save you with another set of possible places to bring your momma out for a treat! And, because we love our readers, we even dropped by or made calls to check whether these restaurants are already fully booked for Mother’s Day! Oh, and if you’re wondering whether there’s going to be another last, last minute Mother’s Day restaurant list; sorry but, nope. So it’s really best you make that reservation call now!

Ladies and gents, here are 5 last minute restaurants for you to celebrate Mother’s Day;

Deutsches Haus – 0379605736 | ground floor, Jaya 33

Deutsches Haus is a German restaurant with a relaxing environment, friendly servers and meaty meals that ranges from crispy pork knuckles to succulent sausages.

Photo Source: Deutsches Haus

Thumbs up: Situated at the corner lot in Jaya33, Deutsches Haus has a cozy and quiet atmosphere, and is fairly easy to get to. Our personal favourites are their ribs, Garlic Herbed Knuckle and Farmer’s Soup. Top that up with a a wide variety of German beer and a friendly and nice manager, and you’ve got yourself a pleasant place to have a hearty meal!

Thumbs down: Being a German restaurant in nature, most of the dishes are meat-based. So, if your mother is not really one that enjoys eating meat, she may find her choices slightly limited.

Living Food Bistro – 0321812778 | G-04, Menara Tan & Tan, Jalan Tun Razak

If your mother is more of a healthy eater, why not bring her over to Living Food Bistro for a deliciously guilt-free meal.

Photo Source: Living Bistro Food

Thumbs up: It should be noted that Living Bistro are closed on Sundays, but the eatery will be operating from 9am to 3.30pm for the coming Mother’s Day! Nominated for Best Healthy Eats in the 2012 TOKL Food Awards, Living Food serves you an assortment of fusion meals made from guilt-free products, such free-range eggs and chicken. Their recommended dishes are the raw enchilada and salted caramel gateau. Delicious food and desserts that is good for the body? We’re sold!

Thumbs down: As mentioned, the Bistro will only be opened until 3.30pm so it’s more to those who want a Mother’s Day brunch or lunch. Oh, and be wary of bringing the whole big familia to celebrate Mother’s Day here – your momma may be a health food enthusiast but not everyone has the same belief.

Padi House | Lot E-06-G, Setiawalk, Persiaran Wawasan, Pusat Bandar Puchong

This Asian fusion restaurant has an extensive that consists of pastas, typical western delights, rice dishes, cakes, coffee and many more.

Thumbs up: Padi House at Setiawalk is a very spacious and beautifully designed two-storey restaurant, making it a decent place to celebrate Mother’s Day. We like the place’s decent price range and recommend you to try out their Caesar salad, macadamia cheesecake and green tea latte. One other key reason to bring your mother here is the location – Setia Walk’s architecture and design is done very well and the entire commercial block itself is built around a water feature.

Thumbs down: In all honesty, the food is not on the spectacular scale. However, the restaurant’s setting, price and location greatly makes this a nice place for meals. Also, although Setia Walk is truly pretty; their parking is constructed in an odd and confusing way. To prevent momma from nagging and as a safety precaution, be sure to go in groups and not leave too late.

Noble Mansion – 0379608992 | 1st Floor, The Plaza @ Jaya 33

The latest addition of The Oriental Group has gotten Chinese cuisine enthusiast buzzing with quality and innovative creations.

Photo Source: Noble Mansion

Thumbs up: With a modern interpretation of a Chinese mansion decor and a menu showcasing the latest Cantonese creations (e.g. Braised E-Fu Noodle with Tiger Prawns)  by Executive Chef Justin Hor, Noble Mansion is one place that would keep your mother happy. For a treat, why not try their Sizzling claypot abalone & frog meat? Be quick though, the last time we checked with Noble Mansion (3.30pm on Friday), they only had five tables left for reservations!

Thumbs down: As with any indulgent restaurants, Noble Mansion is on the pricier side. Though, considering that it is Mother’s Day and the food is good, so why not splurge right?

Sticky Fingers Bangkok Bistro - 0321431141 | Lot C4-06-01, Level 4, Connection Pavillion KL Jalan Bukit Bintang

This Thai fusion restaurant would keep spice-loving mommas happy with their interesting concoctions and lively music.

Photo Source: Bangkok Bistro

Thumbs up: Having sampled various Thai fusion eateries before, we dare say that this is one of the better fusion choices. The restaurant itself sports a very interesting interior with their occasional statues, paintings and DJ station (yes, a DJ station). Do try their Tom Yum soups and Linguine with tom yum paste and freshwater prawn. They taste great and have a satisfying kick to them! Oh, and we also hear that the crispy roast duck with coffee sauce is also good.

Thumbs down: Spice level may be a tad bit high for some, but you can always ask them for a less spicy version. Also, we should warn you that Bangkok Bistro is a bit towards the pricier side (but still not too expensive) and may be a bit too lively and noisy to some mothers.

There you go! Good luck, have fun and enjoy your Mother’s Day everyone

Children are often reluctant to let their parents in about bullying. Who can blame them when they fear that the situation would only get worse with the parents storming into school and causing a scene. So mum and dad, hold your horses. No doubt, you will feel a wide range of emotions from anger to sadness, helplessness and guilt but it is important that you remain calm for your kid.

You can’t fight your child’s battles but here are some tips to help bully-proof your loved ones:

Communicate

The first thing to do when you suspect that your child is being bullied is to talk to them. Get them to tell you what’s really happening and let them know you will support them no matter what. Ask for their permission to contact the school if the need arises but if he or she disagrees for fear of reprisals, let it rest for now. Explain that if the bullying is still going on after a period of one or two weeks, the school should be made aware of the issue because it is unlikely to stop.

Remove the Cause

No, not the bully in question though that would make life easier but identify why your child is being singled out. Is it the recess money? Or the toys or gadgets they’re carrying to school? Sometimes these things can be a cause of envy and prompt the bully to react. Help your child neutralise the situation by encouraging him or her to bring their own food to school and leave the prized possessions at home.

Buddy Up

You know the phrase ‘strength in numbers’? So encourage your child to build friendships and establish a solid core group of friends. Get his or her buddies over to the house for playtime, face-to-face interaction, etc. This will help build your kid’s social skills and confidence. It will also make it harder for the bullies to single out your child if he or she moves in a group.

Humour is a Friend

This works best for older children. Ward off a bully’s insult with humour, it will catch them off-guard and help diffuse the tension. As the wise adult, practice this approach with your kid by trading witty comebacks and in time, he’ll be coming up with a humourous reaction quickly and easily. But do make sure to distinguish between wit and insult, you need to teach your child that the bully’s behaviour is unacceptable.

Be Assertive

When a bully strikes, it’s important to stay calm and ignore hurtful comments. A good anti-bullying tactic is if your child has the courage to look a bully in the eye and stand up to him. Work with him at home and practice different situations so that he can learn to be more assertive. But do note that this approach can be dangerous in cases of severe bullying or in a situation where your kid might get hurt.

Keep Calm & Carry On

A good way to convey the message to the bully is to not give in to the taunts but if a threat occurs, it pays to let a higher authority know. Teach your kid to ignore the bully and walk away with an air of self-respect. Bullies thrive on hurting others so a child who isn’t easily ruffled has a better chance of being left alone. Learning to walk away takes courage and you can help support your little one by building his or her confidence through various activities.

Source: FamilyEducation.com

Photo Source: pk.ilookstyle.com

Oily hair is a fairly annoying and often frustrating condition. Some of the causes of this oily predicament may be due to your food intake, usage of wrong hair product, washing your hair daily (gasp!) and well, maybe even due to our hot and humid Malaysian weather. Though, don’t let that get you down. Because the good news is that oily hair is quite simple to overcome and manage!

Here are five things you can use and do to tame unwarranted oily tresses;

Acidic rinses.

Rinsing your hair with naturally acidic liquids are great for reducing the amount of oil in your hair. These liquids would contain tannic acid, which is a natural astringent that would leave your hair looking clean without over-stripping its natural oils. Examples of these liquids are diluted lemon juice, tea and vinegar.

Curl them up.

Curling or waving your hair is one way to reduce oily appearances. This is because those extra curls and waves make it harder for natural oil from your scalp to slide and travel down the shafts of your hair.

Minimise hair washes.

We understand how you’d be tempted to wash your hair each time it gets oily and greasy (us too!), but don’t! Each time you shampoo your hair, your scalp would work overtime to compensate for the lost oil. This would cause an overproduction of oil, resulting in more oily problems.

The oatmeal treatment.

Cooked oatmeal is a simple and great remedy to absorb oil from the roots. It also helps exfoliate the scalp! If you’re pressed for time and need a quick fix, just take a small handful of dry oatmeal, sprinkle it onto your scalp, leave it on for a minute or two to absorb the oil and simple brush it out. Quick, simple and all-natural, just the way we like it!

Apple cider vinegar

Mix some apple cider vinegar with water and pour it in a spray bottle. Rinse your hair with the mixture and then wash out the hair with warm water. This can help control shampoo build-up.

However, do keep in mind that your hair needs a substantial amount of oil to keep it from being dry and brittle. Oil is essential to protect your hair shafts from breaking, keeps your scalp in good condition, and gives your hair that nice, healthy-looking sheen. So don’t go overboard ridding the oil and grease away yeah!

Sources: Urbane Women

The next time you’re transiting in these airports or travelling to the cities itself, be sure to check out these cool and cheap ‘sleeping pods’ for that one-of-a-kind travelling experience.

Abu Dhabi International Airport

The ‘GoSleep’ pods which was just launched this week will be a curios thing to try out. Travellers who are desperately in need of some shut-eye can climb inside the capsule for a nap in private.

The cocoon-like sleeping chambers are actually chairs that can be converted into flat beds with a sliding roof to shield you from the noise, sound and light. The 10 pods are lined up neatly in a row at Terminal 3, and another 10 are located at the Al Dhabi Lounge at Terminal 1. A further 35 will be fitted later this year.

The pods designed by a Finnish firm, are currently available at AED45 (approx. RM36) per hour. You get internet access, luggage storage and power source for your electronic devices.

London Heathrow

The Yotel draws inspiration from the Japanese, it offers single or double coffin-like cabins with first class hotel facilities. Guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi, flat screen TVs, personal toilet and “cabin service”  which is just like a room service.

Yotel is located at Terminal 4 and check-ins can be done through the automated kiosks hassle free. Standard rooms come with twin beds while some premium ones boast of double beds with bigger shower and more storage space.

Price ranges from RM118 to RM337 according to TripAdvisor. FYI, there is also a Yotel in Gatwick, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and Manhattan.

Munich Airport

Called NapCabs, these self-service booths are set-up in Terminal 2 of the airport. The four-square metre boxy room has a full bed, workstation, multimedia touchscreen with preloaded video and audio, flight information, alarm clock, TV, internet access and air-conditioning.

Guests can book a specific amount of time they want to spend in the pod through a touchscreen and upon “checkout”, service people will be called to clean the cabin and put down fresh sheets.

Rates start at 30 Euro (approx. RM116) depending on the time of day you check in and payment can be done with a credit card.

Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport

The Sleepbox is also inspired by the Japanese, but it is substantially larger in size. Each sleeping compartment contains a maximum of three bunk beds, a bedside table, electrical outlets and reading lamps. You can request for a TV and alarm clock.

Sleepboxes are installed at the AeroExpress terminal. Sleepbox has become such a popular concept that the mobile cabins have sprouted in downtown Moscow.

Users can rent the space for as short as 30 minutes to more. The price varies depending on how many hours in use – the more you pay for, the less it costs per hour.

Dubai International Airport

A power nap is what you can expect at SnoozeCube. The compact hotel booth provides you with the most basic amenities. Each room has a single bed, TV and a little hanger space, rest assured high speed internet access is included and flight information readily at hand.

The pods, created by a New Zealander, are located at the departure hall of Terminal 1 and popular with those on shorter layovers. Booking can be done online and the minimum stay requirement is at least two hours.

The charges start at AED65 (approx. RM53) for a single cube and AED85 (approx. RM69) for a shared cube per hour.

Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi

A spinoff of Moscow’s Sleepbox, the ones in India is called Sam’s Snooze At My Space. Each box are equipped with beds, tables, Wi-Fi connectivity, electric sockets, flat-screen TV and DVD player.

The snooze cabins are located at the departure area of Terminal 3 and it’ll cost you USD10 (approx. RM30) for single occupancy or USD14 for double occupancy per hour.

Source: IBTimes, AirlineTrends.com

I procrastinated. A lot, before the first word was typed into this article, thanks to the hours spent on shifting through my mother’s old photos from the late 60s and early 70s. Those black and white gems captured the perfectly coiffed hair, glorious circle skirts and carefree shift dresses worn when mum was hanging out with her sisters and friends. Influence of Twiggy and The Beatles was apparent as the fuss-free fashion took over the feminine era of the 50s.

Not even a little did I regret the Fashion Friday procrastination, for the heartwarming mum’s ‘ooh!’ and ‘ahh!’s filled the house for that couple of hours; the excitement was even shared with her sisters abroad who confessed that they laughed to tears.

This week, our team and friends have shared their mothers’ old photos with us. Let’s recreate the nostalgic joy for mum by dressing up according to her teenage years decade! Dig up some old photos, do some style research, get her a fresh bouquet of flowers and above all – spend some quality time with mama this Sunday.

The feminine 50s

Photo credit: Sianiwati Sunarto
Products info: Luccacal wayfarer sunnies, RM26. Sunny Sideup Closet blue vintage dress, RM39. Furla Candy mini bag available at Furla Malaysia outlets, ASOS heeled flats, approx. RM184.50

This is a decade that celebrated womanly figures, when fashion was resurrected after World War II brutally slaughtered it. Hips and curves were flaunted through nipped waist and full skirt; think Marilyn Monroe. Hair was perfectly puffed up and waved with no strays allowed.

My mum’s clan was a living example of 50s poster girls with their glorious womanly attireChannel the 50s with a selection of dresses as seen on our SNL Sunny Sideup Closet, heeled-flats and a puffed up do. And oh, don’t forget your teeny tiny tote!

The mod / androgynous 60s

Photo credit: (left) Audra Roslani, (right) Sianiwati Sunarto
Products info: Zara patent black mocassins, RM259. Mango fuchsia shift dress, RM99. Happy Socks polka dots knee-high socks (via ASOS), approx. RM55.30. H&M figure-fit jacket, RM149. Topshop lipstick headband, RM33. H&M polka dots leggings, RM39.90

The women empowerment era made many slowly moved away from cinched waist and pushed-up bust. The top of the crops were shift dresses, mini skirts and pixie cut as seen on the era’s icon Twiggy and Audrey. Makeup was kept to the bare minimum with only doll-like lashes taking the centre stage.

Gender-associated dressing was abandoned, with women starting to pick up on fitted blazers, culottes and boxy silhouettes (remember Jackie O’s iconic pillbox hat?). Colours were outbursting and music shouted freedom, signified by the heyday of The Beatles.

Editor Audra’s mother was the epitome of the carefree and confident 60s women. Often spotted in shift dresses that complemented her petite figure, her hair was short and fuss-free. Whereas, my aunt was a true androgyny believer in her neat pixie cut, slicked back like a true gentleman would. Armed with the ‘it’ blazer, she redefined beauty in her own rights.

Recreate the look with a shift dress paired with calf-length socks and coloured flats. Alternatively, slick your hair back using wax and button up your tailored blazer to pair with printed leggings.

The musically-influenced 70s

Photo credit: (left) Nash Maran, (right) Gwen Ong
Products info: Whitesoot flare midi dress, RM63. Charles & Keith black platform sandals, approx. RM136.50. Bunny Noo sequin cropped top (via Rarablack), RM89. Mango flared pants, RM139

Music, lifestyle and fashion are inseparable, as apparent in the 70s where the hippies brought into spotlight the tie-dye shirt and midi to maxi flare skirts. Other trends through the decade were heavily influenced by the flamboyant ‘Saturday Night Fever’ with its bell-bottom pants (insert compulsory John Travolta’s go-to disco pose here) and platform shoes – worn by both men and women. In that spirit, anything glittery too, was hot.

This is also the era where DVF came up with her timeless wrap dresses. The late 70s, on the other hand, was owned by the punk. The fashion is not at all dead following its revival this season, even marked by the ‘Punk: Chaos to Couture’-themed MET Gala this year.

Senior Writer Gwen relived the 60s by wearing a jolly midi sundress inherited from her mama, paired with the classic black platform sandals. The witness of the decade, Nash Maran’s mother, shared similar love towards the aforementioned dress that she wore with wavy hair back in the day. Emulate the carefree style with one thing in mind: keep the arms bare!

The funky 80s

Photo credit: JyyWei Tan
Products info: Diva polka dot bun hair tie, approx. RM15. I Wear Sin footprint leggings, approx. RM95. ASOS rainbow effect sunnies, approx. RM391.60. New Balance 574 70s (Size? Exclusive), approx. RM276.40. H&M plaid shirt, RM99.90

Go big or go home. That’s the 80s funky spirit where big, curly hair reigns alongside loud attires in loose fit. Some of the must-have items include the now-trendy sneakers, printed leggings and lightweight sport jackets. Don’t shy away from accessories like big plastic earrings and colourful sunnies. While Madonna circa ‘Material Girl’ was the icon of the decade, Indonesia’s band Club Eighties relived the jovial lifestyle in the 00s.

Features Writer Jyy Wei’s mother swore by the bold 80s lifestyle with her big hair that she wore with loose checked shirt and midi skirt. This Sunday, blow up your hair and put a bright adornment on it, wear your loudest leggings and complete the look with a boyfriend shirt. Sneakers on, neon earrings on and you go girl!

The Asian heritage

Photo credit: (left) Sianiwati Sunarto, (right) Loshana K. Shagar
Products info: Ethnic Chic nude jubah (via Zalora), RM79. Saloma emerald green kebaya biku top, RM300. Adila Long batik clutch, price & style upon request

If there’s one thing our mothers from different decades share – it would be their love for the traditional heritage. From kebayas to kurungs and sarees, on the most important days our mothers trade skirts for the timeless traditional wear.

Mine inherited the love for Indonesian traditional kebaya from her mother; together the duo proudly donned the national symbol on her graduation day. Loshana Shagar’s mother shares the similar view as she struts in saree – both in special occasions and daily life. Her special saree was stunningly red and gold, perfectly complimenting her complexion.

This Sunday, iron your best baju kurung and wake mum up with the widest smile you could manage. Otherwise, pair a kebaya top with your maxi skirt and batik clutch (also makes for a great Mother’s Day gift!) and tell her: “Selamat Hari Ibu!”.

You think you may be doing things right. Washing your face twice a day, applying moisturiser religiously and never forgetting your SPF sunscreen. How hard can it be right? But surprisingly, your regimen may actually be causing you more harm than good. Here we uncover the mistakes you might be making in your quest to get squeaky clean skin.

#1 Wash & Go

A cleanser does not mean it’s your one-step-be-all product. If you leave traces of makeup expecting the cleanser to wash away the residue, you’re in danger of clogging up your pores. Try using cleansing oil or facial wipes to dissolve sunscreen and makeup first. When washing your face, use lukewarm water and about a pea size amount of cleanser. Use a silicone pad to gently scrub away the dead skin cell every other day.

#2 Choosing Cleanser According to Skin Type

We’re told that we should only use products that are catered to our skin type. Correct! But there are certain ingredients that should never ever be present in your face wash like fragrance and parabens. A cleanser should work for any skin type but it is the formula that distinguishes itself from the others. So those with oily skin may prefer for a gel wash to help dissolve oil while people with dry skin might opt for formulas with extra moisturisers.

#3 Exfoliating with Grainy Scrubs

Contrary to popular belief, thick and grainy scrubs do not actually clean your skin more effectively. The texture is actually too harsh for the delicate facial skin and can aggravate the appearance of pores. Constant exfoliation can also cause inflammation. Instead use salicylic or glycolic acid cleansers once or twice a week to do the job. Adjust accordingly based on how your skin is looking and feeling.

#4 ‘Open or Close’ Your Pores

No matter what tricks you do – massaging your face or splashing with cold water – you can’t open or close your pores. But a steady blast of mild steam can help soften hardened oil embed in pores. So that hot shower might be doing some good. Take care though as extreme heat can make problems like rosacea and redness even worse.

#5 Time & Technique

In order for your cleanser to work its magic, you need to be washing your face for at least two full minutes. And you need to apply the right technique. Stimulate your skin by using your fingertips to massage in big sweeping circles and then knead with your knuckles. Start with your forehead and then move down to your nose, outwards to your cheeks and then down to your chin and neck.

Running Man (런닝맨) is a South Korean urban action variety show in which the shows’ members (hosts) and guests compete with each other, in a specific landmark, to complete challenges at hand. The show is well-received for its thrilling and comedic missions, and slew of popular celebrity guests, such as Big Bang and Girl’s Generation. Running Man is currently airing on channel ONE HD (Astro B.yond ch393).

And here’s a treat for all you Running Man and Korean music fans; tomorrow’s Running Man episode features Jessica of Girl’s Generation and rapper Eun Ji-won! Although this is Jessica’s third time with the show, it is actually Eun Ji-Won’s first!

The two guest stars will be joining the main cast members in what will be an ‘Animal Kingdom’ special episode. Set at the Everland Resort theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi, be set to catch the two and their teams wittily battle it out amongst tigers, polar bears, rhinoceroses, giraffes, penguins and many more!

For this episode, the challenge involves everyone seeking out a ‘virtual’ animal counterpart and wearing headgears of an animal that most resembles them. Jessica sports an adorable rabbit piece, while Eun Ji-won puts on a panda headpiece. Another thing to look forward to is Kwangsu and his comical antics of imitating a giraffe in his giraffe headpiece. Despite this being Eun Ji-won’s first appearance on Running Man, he hits it off very well with show members Lee Kwangsu, Haha and to great comedy, Yoo Jae Suk!

So ladies and gents, if you’re curious of who comes out as the winner of the ‘Animal Kingdom’ episode, or plainly want to kick-start your weekend with a healthy dose of laughter, be sure to tune in to ONE HD (Astro B.yond ch393) on 10 May 2013 at 11.45pm!

One of my favourite quotes that I’ve come across recently has got to be, ““Think for a minute, darling: in fairy tales it’s always the children who have the fine adventures. The mothers have to stay at home and wait for the children to fly in the window.” by Audrey Niffenegger, in The Time Traveler’s Wife. It gives a feeling of no matter where we go, and what we do in life, we can always count on that one person to be the beacon of light in dark times – even if it may not always be smooth sailing.

This year, we thought we’d share some of our stories about our moms and appreciation towards them..and also, MAJOR brownie points to us for the most awesome Mother’s Day gift ever! (c’mon, one of the few perks we get as writers, eh!) We hope you enjoy our tales, and do share your stories with us too

1. Of Aquariums and Caterpillars

There are so many anecdotes that I have about my Mom that I wouldn’t know where to start, but I suppose I’ll go with how she’s played a major role with my obsession towards fancy hairstyles. I will always remember when we moved to Kota Bharu from Penang back in the 90s and she would take 8-year old me to this tiny shop lot up some narrow stairs in the city center, where she would get her hair done by this lady in a tiny, dingy salon.

I remember being fascinated by a huge aquarium with the lone Arowana fish that seemed to glare at me angrily, so I would run and hide behind her while the smell of chemicals filled my nose, and I suppose that’s why the smell of hair salons have a strange, calming effect on me to this very day. She would spend a couple of hours there, and come out with tight little curls on her hair to which I would ask, “Why do you have caterpillars in your hair?” I remember thinking that Mom looked prettier au naturel before her perm, but I also learned in time that you needed to let your hair settle a day or two before it actually starts to look great.

I would then beg her each time – when would it be my time to perm my hair? And after what seemed like years, the day finally came when I was allowed to get myself..a Barbie crimp! Getting Darryl Hannah’s mermaid-do from Splash was the highlight of my childhood and the fact that Mom would braid my hair in different styles while I had my Milo before going to school everyday, made me the envy of 12-year olds everywhere.

Since then, I’ve spent many years experimenting with natural highlights in my teenage ears, and the day I returned home with hot pink streaks – I thought I had finally pushed the limit. I was sure Mom would disown me. With fear as I opened the door, she looked up from her glasses and said, “I like this, at least it looks like you’ve spent money on it.”

Since then I have never looked back. Today, I came home and saw caterpillars in her hair having not seen them in years. I smiled and thought of the grumpy fish  - Audra

2. My Mum the Van Driver

Raising a family with five kids, logistics was a huge headache for my parents. For as long as I can remember, van was the official family ride. Toyota LiteAce to be exact. When you’re a kid, a van is a pretty big machine and it’s the coolest thing ever. It is like having your own playground on wheels.

What I fondly recalled the most is mum being the family’s official driver. Dad was away a lot for work and thus, mum did a lot of the running around. She ferried us to school, tuition classes, church, everywhere. Yes, juggled she did.

It was not long before the van became the hot ride in town. Friends and neighbours came asking to ‘tumpang’ our van too. Some of my brother’s classmates hitched rides to school while on some weekends, mum drove her gang to the morning market together. Mum was quickly known as “Aunty Pauline, the van driver.”

When I entered secondary school, I began taking the public bus. School was on the other side of town, so it would make more sense for mum to concentrate on my younger siblings. I didn’t like the bus rides, it was cramped and long, there was always a shady character or two. While I relished in my independence, I missed mum’s driving.

But I’d never forget that whenever it rained after school, I’d see mum waiting for me in her van as I got off the bus. As an emo teen, I was always grateful that I didn’t have to walk the distance home, all wet and miserable.

My mum is the coolest driver I know. Not that she’s a daredevil on the road but she approaches driving like how she approaches life – patient, rational, calm, generous and giving. The same values that I am still trying to emulate to this day. Perhaps, the key is in the van.  - Gwen

3. My Mom, The Forgetful

You know those annoying things or habits your momma does that drives you up the wall? Well, my momma has a few (maybe tons) of them, with her memory being one of my top five. Yes, her memory.

My momma has, what we call, a ‘selective memory.’ She’d remember things I mentioned a week ago, but forget what I told her in the morning. In fact, just last week, I frequently reminded her that I would be having dinner at a friend’s on Thursday. I even told her the morning itself! And, in all classic momma Tan-ness, she called me at 8.30 pm to bombard me with questions -

“Why you not home yet!? Where are you.”
“I’m having dinner with a friend, I told you..”
“Why didn’t you tell me!?”
“But I did! I’ve been telling you since Monday!”

Yup ladies and gents, that’s the usual scenario that goes on between my mom and I. Honestly now, I do understand and accept her having selective memory. I know that she has a lot on her mind. But I won’t deny that there are times where wonder if she’s doing it on purpose to get me boiling.

Ironically, it is that same memory of hers that makes me feel her love. Momma would abruptly do or get something unexpected, simply because she suddenly ‘remember’ things.

“Wei, I bought you a sweater!”
“Oh, thanks. But why so sudden?”
“Because I remembered you were looking for one last month and this is cute! Oh, and there’s that cake you like too, go eat it now.”

Ah well, that’s mothers for you, right? They’d make you want to move out as soon as possible one moment, but do heartfelt and warm things that change your mind the next. Thank you momma, for all your love and affection. But please do remember that I’m going out on Saturday to get my hair done, aye! – Jyy Wei

4. Mum & Daughter 2.0

As an only daughter and only child in the family, it’s not surprising that I’ve always been very close to my mother. She’s intelligent, stylish and not fussy – I look up to her. We really like to travel and explore new cities; both of us can walk up to 13 hours a day!

Growing up, the mum = role model mindset I’ve always had was challenged. As an adult, we slowly realise that our parents are not flawless. They make mistakes too. But the beauty of it all that I’ve just come to realise quite recently, is that we could be imperfect together and make quite a great team. On our trips, getting lost is nothing new; but the frustration eventually brings us closer as a team. It’s the misadventures that we laugh at for years after.

It’s also the misadventures that make us a strong team – on trips and in real life. I love you because we never quit on each other, Mamah. - Nina

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms – old and new, and have a fantastic day with your loved ones!

Photo Source: Getty

So what exactly is the MET Gala, you ask? The Costume Institute Gala, which is also known as the Met Gala, is a yearly ball that celebrates the annual opening of the Metropolitan Museum’s (The Met) fashion exhibit. The annual event would have a different theme each year, which is set accordingly to the displayed art exhibition.

This year, the selected theme for both the exhibition and gala is “Punk: Chaos to Couture”! Sounds fun, eh?

Although most stars didn’t seem to portray the theme well, we must say that there were plenty of looks and fashion choices that (greatly) wowed us! Here are our top 6 ‘wows’ of the night;

Anne Hathaway

Photo Source: abclocal.go.com

Wow, just wow. Although not really in synch with the night’s theme, Anne Hathaway was a real shocker with her newly bleached hairdo and exquisite 1992 vintage Valentino gown. And damn girl, she is one heck of a stunning blonde!

Kim Kardashian

Photo Source: Celebuzz

We won’t lie – we’re one of those who have been greatly amused by Kim Kardashian’s recent fashion choices. And well, this one has got to be one of the most confusing piece yet (try spotting her arm). Kimmy dear, that powerfully patterned Riccardo Tisci, with matching gloves, is not doing you any justice at all!

Clearly, Robin Williams agrees with us!

Sarah Jessica Parker

Photo Source: Getty

We’re not sure where to start between the Philip Treacey mohawk headpiece, Gilles dress, Fred Leighton jewels or Christian Louboutin custom boots! There is just honestly too much going on at a go, and surprisingly nothing that is of the ‘punk’ genre.

Madonna

Photo Source: Getty

Madonna puts the ‘P’ to ‘Punk’! In our opinion, this music legend was one of the few who truly understood and adhered to the theme with her custom assembly from Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci.

Nicole Richie

Photo Source: Getty

When a friend told us that Nicole Richie got herself a grey hairdo, we honestly didn’t imagine it to be that way! But hey, we don’t mean it in a bad way – the petite beauty is rocking it with her punkish silver coiffure and custom Topshop gown!

Olsen Twins

Photo Source: Getty

The fashion-forward twins certainly made some interesting decisions. Ashley opted for a vintage Christian Dior Haute Couture gown, and Mary-Kate’s sported a Chanel Haute Couture gown with a vintage Balmain jacket. Admittedly, the looks were the perfect example of boho-chic punk!

Sources: Getty Images

It’s an all too familiar scenario, one where you find yourself searching for snacks and tidbits throughout the day and stuffing your face to glory. Some like it crunchy, others like it sweet, salty, and etc. The one thing that binds us all? Food bingeing.

Don’t feel bad ladies. According to science, we women are programmed this way. We’re biologically wired to can’t say no to food but yes to eating disorders.

In the experiment by Michigan State University, the researchers found that there are sex differences in rates of binge eating in animals, which indirectly has an implication on humans too. The experiments on female rats saw them being six times more likely to gorge than their male counterparts.

Psychologist Professor Kelly Klump has this to say: “Most theories of why eating disorders are so much more prevalent in females than males focus on the increased cultural and psychological pressure that girls and women face. But this study suggests that biological factors likely contribute as well since female rats do not experience the psychosocial pressures that humans do, such as pressures to be thin.”

In other words, our biology plays a huge role in eating disorders. Women have a higher tendency to binge eat.

Professor Klump reckoned this may be related to the brain’s natural reward system. They are now testing to see if the brains of female rats are more sensitive and responsive to rewarding stimuli such as high fat and sugar food, as well as the chemicals that may trigger reward behaviour.

Source: Daily Mail UK

Photo Source: uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com

Humanity has become heavily dependent on digital devices (e.g. laptops and tablets) for both work and leisure purposes. In fact, did you know the people nowadays would spend an average of six hours daily in front of a digital device? With that said, it really doesn’t take rocket science to know that this would heavily impact your health, especially your eyes.

And we’re not just saying dry and tired eyes. If not careful, this daily act may lead to Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), where one would suffer from headaches, blurry vision, or even long-term near-sightedness. Gasp!

As it is understandable that reading off digital devices is unavoidable to some, here are 5 simple and effective ways for you to care for your eyes in this digital environment;

1. Blink.

Blinking is essential for keeping your eyes moist. This is because, as you blink, your eyelids help keep your eyes coated with three beneficial layers of tears. So ladies and gents, blink away for healthier and better eyes!

2. The 20:20:20 Rule.

For every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break from your screen and look at something that is 20 feet away. Trust us when we say that this tip greatly helps, because we just tried!

Photo Source: Mezzmer.com

3. Adjust Your Working Environment

Experts recommend sitting at least 20 inches away from the computer/laptop and setting your monitor screen 5 to 9 inches below eye level. This brings your lids downward, maintaining the healthiest blink rate.

Also take note of the room light – good room lighting does wonders to your eyes! Try keeping window lighting to the side of you and your gadget, rather than directly in front or behind you. If unavoidable, use blinds and get a glare screen. Point is, try to position your device’s screen in a way that it reduces reflections from windows or overhead lights from your work area.

4. Contrast and Brightness

Each person has a preference for his or her contrast and brightness, pick the one most comfortable to you. However, do try to keep it as dim as possible as bright screens may strain your eyes. As for extended reading, changing your monitor settings to a reflective lighting scheme is better.

5. Bigger Text

Reading tiny texts strains your eyes, which causes pain and discomfort. Try magnifying the text and images on your device to help you avoid squinting and straining your eyes.

Quirky prints, structured cuts and beautiful retro designs  - those are just some of the few reasons why vintage lovers love the timeless style! Although pretty sought-after now, vintage apparel providers are hard to find in Malaysia. And that’s where Sunny Sideup Closet comes in! Founded in 2009, Sunny Sideup Closet is an online boutique that specializes in vintage attires. From funky graphic prints to pretty pleats, it can be seen that the online boutique has tried its best to satisfy our ‘blast from the past’ cravings!

Why We <3:

Vintage Galore. As stated, Sunny Sideup Closet is essentially a vintage online boutique. In fact, they’re one of the more reputable vintage boutiques in Malaysia that carry a slew of vintage dresses.

‘New’ items. Recently, the shop has started to bring in non-vintage items! However, it should be noted that the new items collection is not as expansive as their vintage catalogue.

Inexpensive. One of the things that we love most about Sunny Sideup Closet is how affordable the apparels are! Heck, we even spotted a dress on sale for only RM15! The non-sale vintage items range between Rm40 to RM50, while the new items are from RM50 to RM70. Oh, and they also offer free shipping for purchases above Rm100!

Regular Updates. Sunny Sideup Closet would update the site for at least two times in a week, ensuring us buyers constant fresh goodies!

Pleasant Shopping Experience. Having purchased off Sunny Sideup Closet before, we vouch for the shop’s prompt and quality service. Top that off with strong bazaar presence, quick replies and friendly shop owners and voila, you’ve got yourself a pleasant shopping experience!

Photo Source: Sunny Sideup Closet

Why We No <3:

Selected Items. Although they do have other segments like ‘skirts’ and ‘belts’, majority of the apparels in Sunny Sideup Closet are dresses.

Quick To Sell. Many a times have we spotted a dress we’d like to purchase but, to our dismay, are labelled ‘reserved’ or ‘sold.’ Yup ladies, the items at Sunny Sideup Closet get sold quickly. So, as the saying goes; the early bird gets the worm (or in this case, the quickest fingers get the purchase).

To get your vintage clothing fix, why not check out Sunny Sideup Closet or their Facebook page.

The initiative was started by Clitoraid, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness on female genital mutilation (FGM) and providing reconstructive surgery to its victims. But lest you think that this is a sombre event since it’s about FGM, well, don’t.

Clitoraid spokeswoman Nadine Gary says that the awareness week, lasting from May 6th to 12th is all about celebrating the female form and it’s supposed to be fun. Along with the clit, Clitoraid is hoping to touch on the issues surrounding masturbation.

“Our first six years of humanitarian work have been dedicated to surgically repairing clitorises for female genital mutilation (FGM) victims, and on October 8th, we’ll open the world’s first Clitoral Restoration Hospital,” she explained. “This year, we’ll celebrate the sexual pleasure of all women, since all can benefit from more sexual appreciation.”

The subject of clitoris has been a taboo for many centuries and in the 19th century, it was believed that sexual arousal can destroy a woman’s mental balance. Masturbation was often blamed for diseases like jaundice, blindness and premature death. In 1865, the president of the British Medical Society even recommended clitoral excision as a cure for illnesses like epilepsy and hysteria.

It was not till the 21st century that the clitoris was properly researched. An Australian urologist, Dr Helen O’Connell finally mapped out the clitoris 8 years ago using an MRI device.

It was found that the clitoris can reach up to 8 inches in length. It is the most sensitive organ of the body with about 8000 nerve endings, even more than a penis which has about 5000.

So, now you can understand why more attention needs to be given to the little lady down there.

Some call it addiction; some call it a hobby or collection – be what it may, it is undeniable that handbags are an essential part of a women’s wardrobe! And, as with any other fashion piece, styles and trends would change with seasons.

In order to keep up with what fashion houses are offering, we take a look at Vogue’s best handbag picks from the fall/winter 2013-14 catwalks. From Prada to Victoria Beckham, here’s a glimpse of what handbag styles and trends are ‘in’ and ‘out’!

The Minaudière

We were delighted to see the various brands playing around with this silhouette! Valentino, Chanel and Christopher Kane have designed very beautiful and modern-esque pieces that ooze luxe, elegance and style (and made us wish we were rich).

Just look at how fab queen Fergie rocks the bag!

Why We Love It: Yes, we do know that its size is a wee bit impractical but it is admittedly perfect for a night out with your man or girlfriends. This tiny bag also acts as the finishing touch and accessory to your outfit!

The Foldover Clutch

Hold on to your clutches, because they’re here to stay! Though, this season is more about the foldover kind – brands such as Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and Burberry have crafted some well-designed pieces. And we like what we see!

Oh, and we reckon Charlize Theron likes them too!

Why We Love It: Those who can’t get over the Minaudière’s size would love the foldover clutch. Big enough to fit your wallet, phone and some essential make up, yet stylish enough for night use; nice! Loving this Burberry Prorsum piece and how you’d pair it with a leopard print skirt – so fresh!

The Doctor Style

The Doctor silhoutte may be just what the doctor ordered! This timeless pieces may look like something repeated from previous seasons, but designers such as Marc by Marc Jacobs and Victoria Beckham understand that some styles are forever.

The trendy Ashley Olsen is one that has taken a liking of this vintage-looking bag!

Why We Love It: The doctor silhouette is pretty flexible in terms of day and night usage (just remember that smaller sizes are more suited for dinner parties). With its spacious compartment, structured and chic vintage outlook, the doctor’s bag is definitely a choice accessory.

The Bowling Style

This steering bag silhouette is everything a bag should be as it cleverly combines practicality and style. Brands such as Prada and Miu Miu are highly utilizing the silhouette. However, we also notice them upping the design with some patterned textures.

Their fans? The ever-hot latin actress, Eva Longaria is just one of the many who sees the charm of this functional bag!

Why We Love It: This stylish bag is simply versatile, comes with handy internal pockets, sturdy double handles and a top zip closure—making it one of the best carryall bags for the girl on the go.

Fur

Brands such as Louis Vuitton, Valentino and Philip Lim are seen incorporating this funky and fun texture into their bags.

Why We Love It: Simply because it’s a fun and vibrant texture – think Cruella de Vil! However ladies, we do hope that those bags in the runway and the ones that you carry are faux fur.

Darker Colours & Stuctured Shapes

Move over bright colours, because earthy warm hues are in. In fact, aside from Miu Miu and sporting pastel colours (that are also of a neutral tone), most high-end fashion houses are turning to the darker side. It is also noted the the bags of the coming season sport a more ‘structured’ outlook (like the Doctor and Bowling silhoutte).

Why We Love It: In all honesty, we are relieved that bright colours are slowly taking their leave. The new darker shades emanate a certain sophisticated charm and are purely easier to match. Oh, and if you think these hues lack life, light and neutral pastel colours are the alternative. Also, the definitive shifts to structured bags are a positive sign as the effortlessly fit in with daytime, work and night attires!

Sources: Vogue, Dish The Dirt,  Eranzi, Purse Blog, Cool Spotters 

For some people, relationship is as clear as a bright sunny day. They know what they want and who they are going to spend the rest of their life with. But for others, it is not as easy as ABC. What happens when you’ve been on the dating scene for a while now but still can’t make the crossover to commitment-ville?

Time to question yourself, that’s what.

Ok, first thing first. The most important relationship that you’ll ever have in your life is the one with yourself. When you are actually in touch with your mind, body and spirit, and set about to take care of yourself the best way possible, then will you be able to open up to others outside of yourself. If you can’t treat yourself with love and honesty, you can expect others to do the same.

Now let’s get reflecting and be honest.

Are you good at sharing? 

No, we don’t mean share your partner but rather share your life. You do know that when you’re in a relationship, things will slowly get more intimate and you’ll be sharing a lot more time, history and space together, right? So how willing are you to give in to these openly because you want to and not because you feel or think you need to or it’s the right thing to do. It’s all about the ‘we’ thinking rather than ‘I’.

Are you good at listening?

This is a trait that is important no matter who you’re with. Are you truly present when someone speaks? Can you fully engage in a conversation or do you find yourself daydreaming away, being more interested in checking your emails, phone and etc? Without good listening skills, your relationship will not be able to grow because when a person feels that he or she is not heard by you, they will most likely believe that you don’t find them important. Also, it’s a sign of disrespecting that person’s time.

Photo source: Favim.com

Are you willing to give up some privacy? 

We all have secrets but not to the extend of putting up walls and keeping our partners out. Being in a relationship means you lose some of your privacy and you’re ok with that. It shouldn’t be a big deal to be more transparent. But if you feel strongly negative about letting him into your world, you may want to reexamine yourself. Do you have something to hide? Or real trust issue that makes it very hard to be honest with your partner?

Are you troubled by your past?

This can stemmed from childhood fears, family upbringing, past relationships, etc. Like it or not, we are shaped by our attitudes, beliefs and behaviours from young and history has a way of creeping up on us. Take a hard look at your relationships with your family, friends and ex-lovers. Are you subconsciously holding back because of a particular bad episode? Is there any correlation between past issues with the current ones? You need to be honest with yourself and recognise what may be limiting your relationship potential.

Are you the faithful type?

Women, like men, are prone to wander too. And nothing is more devastating than a third person. Sometimes, it may just means you’re not ready to commit to one person. So ask yourself how prepared are you to be in a monogamous relationship? Can you play by the rules and not cause hurt? Lay it all out on the table and see where you stand. If you’re not ready, that’s ok, just don’t drag another person who may not share your same views into the fling.

Photo source: PocketBurgers.com

When we talk about flexibility, the image is one of a woman who can do the splits or bend her body backwards without any difficulty at all. While this is actually achievable with the help of yoga, we are just your average girls who are considered lucky enough if we can actually bend forward to pick up the file from the floor.

The road to great flexibility may require daily efforts from you but the benefits will make it worth while. Yes, you do need to make flexibility a daily pursuit in order for your muscles to be used to the agility and prevent risk of injury. Plus, a study by the Japan’s National Institute of Health & Nutrition also found that increased flexibility could prevent or reverse stiffening of arteries. So you could potentially prevent the risk of cardiovascular diseases too.

The easiest thing you can do to improve your agility is to do stretches. You can start by going for a 10-minute walk before starting your stretch. Focus on the major muscle groups and stretch until you feel the slight tension. Hold for at least 10 seconds but stop immediately if you feel any pain. This is usually a warning sign that your body might be injury-prone soon.

Below are a number of stretches you can do at home:

Neck stretch - Roll your head gently from side to side and press your ears to your shoulders on each side. Hold and repeat. Place your hands on the back of the head and push it forward to stretch the neck.

Arm stretch - Adopt a standing position and extend your left arm. Place your right hand on the left elbow to bring your left arm in towards your chest. Hold for 10 seconds, release and repeat.

Quadriceps stretch - Stand up straight while bending your left leg up behind you. Use your left hand to grab your ankle and pull towards your butt. Hold and repeat on the right leg.

Hamstring stretch - Sit on the floor with back straight; extend one leg forward while the other is bent with your foot touching your thigh. Reach forward to touch the toe of your extended foot. Hold for 10 counts and then release. Repeat for the other side.

Thigh stretch - Also in a sitting position, but this time with the soles of your feet touching each other. Gentle lean forward towards your knee until you can feel the tension in your thighs.

Knee lift - Lie on your back and lift your knees to the chest. Use your arms to pull your legs toward your chest. You can also do this with one leg at a time.

After getting all worked up, time to hit the shower right? Here are five more stretches you can do in there.

That ‘glistening’ look might work for some, but unless you have absolutely flawless skin – it can look as though you have oily and tired looking skin.

For a fresher appearance, mattifying your skin will do the trick – try Dior’s Forever Extreme Control collection, the Extreme Wear & Oil Control Matte Powder Makeup in particular, provides long wear and lightness in a formula specifically conceived to resist extreme “summer” conditions.

Skin gets a velvety finish and refines pores without a caked-on effect, which blends into the skin providing a perfectly matte finish even when the weather is hot and humid. This light and ultra-matte finish makes this powder ideal for creating perfection and radiance in Asian complexions.

Velvety Fresh

How does it do this? By incorporating a dosed blend of smoothing micro-beads and powder plaques into this compact foundation formula, which makes it glide on incredibly well!

These particles are combined with matte mother of pearls which serve to reflect light and illuminate skin texture, while simultaneously correcting shine and skin tone – all this done without any opacity, so pores are therefore less visible and creates the illusion of ideal skin.

Matte All Day

What’s the point of having matte skin that doesn’t last throughout the day? Thanks to the formula which contains varying degrees of porosity which control and capture the excess sebum of oily skins, you get a purer epidermis with minimised pores.

This reinforces the foundation’s adherence to the skin in order to ensure a perfect, true to life finish! In addition, it also contains elastic polymers, new generation binding agents which encourage cohesion between elements and which melt at skin temperature – so you don’t have to worry about your face feeling tight or caked with makeup!

Balance Makes Perfect

The key ingredient in the Forever Extreme Control is the tailor-made perfecting Skincare Essence by Dior, which is present in all the Forever foundations, that contains a duo of encapsulated agents.

Called the NMF (Natural Moisturizing Factor, or natural substances naturally present in the skin that retain water in the corneal layer), these spheres contain hydrating agents and sebum regulating zinc derivatives – so to make a long story short, the hydrating agents are released on your dry zones, and the sebum-regulating ingredients are released onto the oily zones!

Let’s not forget the elastic polymers that optimize UV protection by encouraging the bioavailability of filters at the surface of the skin.

It’s all about the packaging!

This slim, elegant and practical case is classic Dior – and is every woman’s best friend! The case is magnetic for easy and secure closure, and contains a large intergrated mirror as well as a sponge applicator for easy application and touch ups. What’s great is that refills clip easily into the case!

Diorskin Forever Extreme Control Compact Foundation is available in 6 shades, to fulfill the needs of every skin tone for RM195.

Artiste’s impression of the new Sg.Wang facade!

Situated in the Bukit Bintang area of Kuala Lumpur, Sg. Wang plaza is a popular shopping centre that has often attracted crowds of all kinds with its wide selection of retail shops. The plaza has won several awards, including the 2011 Kuala Lumpur Mayor’s Tourism Award for Excellence in Shopping Mall Category and the 2009 Brand Laureate Award for Best Brands in Brand Strategy. Oh, and did you know that Sungei Wang actually opened in 1977. Yes, it has been that long!

With that said, it would be obvious and understandable for the building would to show signs of wear and tear. After all, it has been over 35 years! Though, all those worn-out paint, dark lift lobbies and discoloured tiles may come to an end soon.

That’s right ladies and gents – one our most favourite shopping mall in KL is officially getting a facelift, promising shoppers a fresher and more modern shopping experience! In fact, refurbishment exercises had been going on since November, 2012. This includes works on the ceilings and tiles. Just take a look at the upgraded works;

The floor sports fresher and brighter tiles, giving shoppers a better shopping experience! Other on-going renovation progresses include a repainted façade, upgraded lift lobbies, improved mall signage, improved lighting at the main atrium and a covered walkway along the mall’s frontage on Jalan Sultan Ismail!

Artiste’s Impression of new Lift Lobby

Oh and fret not dear shoppers, although the works are currently in progress, there will be no closure of business as all works will be done after he mall’s regular operating hours! The revamped Sg. Wang will unveil its brand new look at the end of this year and boy, we sure are excited!

For more information on the mall’s refurbishment update, please go to here.

All over the world, there’s a growing appreciation for designer items and for many, the idea of glamourising one’s wardrobe with a Chanel or Louis Vuitton seems like a very appealing fashion. The ‘It’ bags are as much of a burgeoning brand awareness as an evolving lifestyle.

Designer bags are favoured because they are known to be sturdy and reliable. The material and craftsmanship are top notch. These bags often last for a long time and in the case when you are bored of your bag, you can always sell it off to make room for another buy.

Gone are the days when ladies shunned away from preloved or used handbags due to various reasons like superstition and pride, now it is seen as a smart investment. And, why not?

Like how the watch is a symbolic item for the men, women find the handbag as an extension of her personality. Whether it’s the satchel, hobo, shopper or clutch, a bag is a very big part of a woman’s life. That is why many would invest in a really good piece or two for all her needs. Most women keep our lives in the bags we carry anyway, so it’d better be up to the job!

The Malaysian Buying Trend

There’s no denying that designer bags are expensive. But with preloved offers, it is now more accessible to own a slice of that sophistication. In Malaysia, we have a number of offline and online shops selling preloved designer bags. Many offer competitive prices and easy payment to suit each buyer’s needs.

Among two of the well-known sellers are Glampot and Attic House, which are both running their businesses off and online. These two establishments only carry 100% genuine products and bags can be sold on a consignment basis – where you leave your bag with them to be snapped up by potential buyers.

With preloved designer bags, the selling price will definitely be lower than a new one and you have the option of paying by installments. It is more a bargain for the buyer than the seller, who may have to shave off a few hundred ringgits of what was expected.

Malaysian women are now willing to fork out a substantial amount of money to own a piece of luxury, some up to over RM10,000. Luxurious brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada and Gucci are the most sought-after when it comes to designer handbags.

One woman shares that she only buys designer bags if there’s a resell value. And because bags are an investment, she says it is important to consider the durability, functionality and learn how to take care of the goods the proper way. More often that not, women simply throw their bag around and carry inappropriate bag to the wrong events and such; this is “bag abuse” as she calls it.

Yup, designer handbags appeal to people from all walks of life and with preloving ways, the coveted bags can be a dream come true for many.

Photo Source: stylenow.info

Who is this Tobey Maguire?

Born in 27^th June 1975, Tobias Vincent “Tobey” Maguire is an American actor and producer hailing from Santa Monica, California. Maguire is best known for his role as Peter Parker in the Spider-Man films. Nonetheless, he is not merely a lucky fluke in the acting rig. This cutie’s repertoire of films also includes the likes of Seabiscuit, Brothers, The Good German, and the highly-anticipated The Great Gatsby, where he acts alongside his best pal, Leonardo DiCarpio.

Photo Source: Tumblr

5 Reasons to Scream ‘Eye Want Patrick Tobey Maguire!’

5. His Dedication To Acting

A good actor would do his best to get into character and fit into acquired roles. Tobey is no exception as he would often make changes in his diet to either gain or lose weight for movie roles.

 In 2003, he was required to lose 25 pounds to fit his role as Red Pollard in Seabiscuit. This was achieved by drastically decreasing his calorie intake. Immediately after that, Maguire had to regain back his weight and bulk up for Spider-Man 2. As for his role in Brothers (where he also had to go through another intense weight-lose process), Maguire had spent time with men who had come back from war to get a better understanding of his role in the post-war film. Though we do not condone yo-yo dieting, one has got to admit – Maguire sure has dedication!

4. He’s A Devoted Father

Maguire has been happily married for a few years to Jennifer Meyer, a jewellery designer. The long-time couple of 10 years have two adorable children; seven year old daughter Ruby Sweetheart and four year old son Otis Tobias. And boy, he does seem to be the doting father! There has so far been no family drama news from the Maguire household, and he’s is often spotted carrying, holding or simply being around with his family. Just take a look at this;

And trust us – there are a lot more that are bound to melt your heart!

3. His Eyes

Let’s all take a moment and gaze into this Californian lad’s dreamy eyes;

Let’s admit it – Tobey Maguire has one heck of a beautiful gaze! Can you just imagine staring into those round, soulful  baby blues? Because we sure can! Oh, and plus point is that his smile is equally as captivating too!

2. He’s A ‘World’s Sexiest Vegan’

Tobey Maguire became a vegetarian in 1992 and a vegan in 2009. In 2002, PETA declared him as the World’s Sexiest Vegetarian. With a soulful, dreamy gaze, cute smile and an often fit body (especially his toned arms!) – it’s really no wonder why he bagged this title! Oh, and you ladies know what they say about vegans and the art of lovemaking aye.

1. He’s Prada’s Choice

Prada is not that famous for hiring A-listers to star in their campaigns. However, the major Italian fashion house had acquired Tobey Maguire to be the face of their 2011 autumn/winter menswear collection. It seems that renowned Prada designer, Miuccia Prada, is impressed and comments Maguire’s transfixed, pensive and intense acting directions. Therefore, making him a suitable choice for Prada’s sophisticated threads.

Regardless of the reasons for this association, one thing’s for sure – Tobby Maguire looks pretty dapper in Prada!

What you’ll need to make your boyfriend look like Tobey Maguire:

Photo Source: Tumblr

Casual: Relaxed jeans, dark-colored button-up top, plain dark teas, ocassional blazer, sneakers

Formal: dark-colored two-piece suit (relaxed fit), tie, leather shoes

Accessories: sunglasses, wedding ring, dreamy gaze, happy sons and daughters.

Sources: Celebuzz, Just Jared, The Daily Mail, Listal 

We love it so much, we even compiled a how-to dress in blue and white since it’s back as a hot fashion trend this season! So when we were given the challenge to come up with a simple tutorial on how to ‘dress up’ our indelible ink stains from voting in Malaysia on 5 May 2013, we immediately thought the blue reminded us of this gorgeous blue and decided to do a quick saran wrap (Cling film) tutorial to try and camouflage our inky finger!

What You’ll Need:

Base coat, dark blue nail polish (Urban Decay’s Bluesky Blonde) and white nail polish (OPI’s Alpine Snow), saran wrap or cling film (tear it up and roll into medium sized ‘balls’), top coat.

Note: Feel free to substitute the white with silver, gold, or hot pinks if blue and white are not you favourite colour combinations.

How To:

Step 1: Apply base coat on all your nails, and paint your index and pinky finger with two coats of dark blue nail polish, and the rest with two coats of white polish. Allow to dry completely.

Step 2: Apply some dark blue nail polish on one piece of the saran wrap – do not apply too much because you don’t want it to be super thick or else you won’t get the desired effect.

Step 3: Carefully dab the saran wrap (with the polish side facing your nail) on to your white nails. Do not go overboard, dabbing it twice to cover the nail roughly. We think it looks good when there are obvious white space so you can actually see the contast.

Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 by applying white nail polish on a new piece of saran wrap and dab on to the dark blue nails instead. Wait for it to dry completely, then apply top coat!

How did you cover up yours? Send us pictures on Facebook or leave a comment below!

May 5th was an extremely good day for Malaysians, as throngs of voters woke up early to exercise their rights as citizens of the country. Some even braved the heavy storms in the evening, but what was incredibly heartwarming was that 80% of registered voters (out of the 28 million people in Malaysia) turned up in good spirits – which is massive turnout compared to other democracies around the world such as the US (58%), Japan (60%) and France (72%).

This was also a record breaking total for Malaysia in the history of all Malaysian general elections, and something we should all be extremely proud of as this is a sign that more Malaysians are being more politically aware and involved in the state of the country. Let’s not think of it as a lost or defeat – in order for change, first of all people need to at least have their foot in the door.

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. – Alan Watts

Once they are in, it’s easier to make deductions and find what works for them, and what doesn’t – to make a more informed decision at the next elections. The key thing to remember is, 5 May 2013 marks the day that they decided to be involved – many of whom were first time voters. Now, their eyes are wide-open and their decision making would start four years before their next vote, as opposed to a mere month before based on social media shares alone.

Walking to the voting centre, with other Malaysians was a good feeling – all different races, smiley faces, old and young. The on-ground volunteers who have dedicated their time and helped at the schools were in good spirits, and this rubbed off on everyone who was there to vote. It was uplifting talking to complete strangers queuing up around you – that excitement, that should be the outtake of the GE13. These are the people we’re fighting for – not against. These are your fellow Malaysians.

Just like how most families have the odd one out – the black sheep, this does not mean that people who do not share the same views or thoughts as you, do not deserve love. We each have our stories, and collective reasons for believing based on things that have happened in our lifetime. Therefore, we cannot know what others have been through in their life, but by hurling hurtful words and slanderous name calling – this negativity only breeds more negativity. Politics, as is religion, cannot be drummed in to a person if they are not ready to receive.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. – Barack Obama

Instead, let’s visualise and focus on the end result – where we want Malaysia to be in the future and make the small changes we need to do starting now; and that change starts with you and how you live your life on a day to day basis – that means no queue cutting on the roads, no illegal parking, no ruling your subordinates with fear, or bribery of colleagues and people you work with through meals and gifts – the list goes on. Corruption stops with you.

Sure, it may only come in the next 10 to 15 years maybe, but trust in the fact that the longer the wait, the sweeter the victory. Lead and change others by example, and not by condemning them. Start small, by talking to others with love, calmness and positivity to those around you for a change, and you’d be surprised at how rational conversations end up opening up the minds of others to be more receptive of what you have to say.

Be the person you want your leaders to be and remember, your vote was not for naught.

Photo credit: Lucas Lau

It’s finally here ladies and gents! Tomorrow’s the big day – the 13th Malaysian General Election! In this special edition ElectionBuzz, we’ve compiled a series of informative tips, procedures and general know-hows on what to expect of GE13, 5/5/2013. Vote wisely, and be safe everyone! Oh, and enjoy the public holiday on Monday, Selangorians!

Monday a Public Holiday for Selangor

Good news for Selangorians who are leaving the state to vote on Sunday; Monday has been announced as a public holiday! The Chief Minister of Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has announced that May 6 has been declared a public holiday for the convenience of voters who will be headed to the polls the day before.

What You Need To Know When Voting At GE13

With the tons of voting tips surfacing on Facebook, emails and by word of mouth, let’s face it; things are getting confusing. Especially so with new rules and regulations. To make things a little easier for our readers, we’ve compiled some of the more important points that you should know, be cautious of and remember.

Indelible Ink and How It Will Affect Your Manicure

Manicure addicts out there be warned: Indelible ink will only fade off after 5 – 10 days so if you’re thinking of getting a super expensive manicure right before going to the voting polls (which should be really soon), think again!

Voting for Newbies 

Regardless of who you are voting for, if this is the first year that you will be going to the polls – here is a quick guide for all you Election Newbies (we know it can be a little daunting)!

Photo source: www.negarakita.com

The Chief Minister of Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has announced that May 6 has been declared a public holiday for the convenience of voters who will be headed to the polls the day before.

This is an encouraging move for those in Selangor to carry out their responsibility as voters on May 5, as the day off would allow voters to return to their constituencies to vote without having to rush back to work on the same day.

He added that the declaration is in line with Paragraph 9 of the Public Holidays Act 1951, which states that the state government can declare one day a year as a public holiday.

To all eligible voters, exercise your rights for the future of our beloved country, and be safe this weekend!

Source: The Star

That’s right ladies and gents, that one day dedicated to appreciating and honouring mothers and motherhood draws near (12 May 2013, to be exact!), and we do hope you’ve got the celebrations planned out! Eh, no? No plans yet? Haven’t gotten a gift nor decided on any restaurants yet? Didn’t even know that Mother’s Day is next week? Oh my.

Well, that’s okay because you’ve still got time! We list down 5 restaurants (complete with telephone numbers) that would make a great treat to your mothers!

Serai - 0321816717 (GF, Bangunan Life Centre, Jalan Sultan Ismail)

This appealing restaurant is a great place to head to for quality traditional Malaysian dishes in a cosy interior.

Thumbs up: If your mother adores local cuisine, Serai is a great option. Their menus consist of local delights such as Nasi Ulam Ayam bakar, Nasi Kerabu and steamed Siakap with Lime Sauce. And then you have the interesting takes, like the Beef Rendang Penne and Crispy Skinned Salmon. As for their desserts section, the y take on a less local approach with offerings such as Pavlova and Pistachio Crème Brulee. There’s really something for someone! Oh, and we also want to commend on how pretty and classy the Interior decoration is.

Thumbs down: The menu is not really extensive. Also, some might find the pricing to be a tad pricy for local Malaysian cuisine. However, in all honesty, that point is pretty subjective as the food in Serai is good.

Bistro à Table – 0379312831 (6, Jalan 17/54, Petaling Jaya)

This quiet and quaint restaurant in Section 17 serves up Chef Isadora Chai’s delightful French creations.

Thumbs up: With a menu consisting of items such as the wagyu cheek boeuf bourguignon with chocolate and frog’s leg with quince aioli and basil caviar, your mother will definitely be amused and pleased! ‘But mom’s never had french food before,’ you say? All the more reason to treat her here! Ranked No. 3 in Malaysia in the Asian 2013 Miele Guide, Bistro à Table is a good place to introduce french cuisine to your mom.

Thumbs down: Servings may seem small to some. Though, that just gives you more stomach space to try an extra dish right?

Kampachi – 0321489608 (Lot 6.09.00, Level 6, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Bukit Bintang)

Awarded best Japanese restaurant for the 2011 and 2012 TOKL Food Awards, Kampachi is a pretty good restaurant choice if your mother is a lover of Japanese cuisine.

Thumbs up: If your mother is a sashimi lover, look no further – Kampachi promises fresh sashimi directly air-flown from Japan. We highly recommend their signature soba noodles. Made fresh daily, the soba noodles are smooth, firm, springy and chewy! Additionally, aside from the usual green tea offered in Japanese restuarants, Kampachi also has a wide selection of tea choices (2 pages full)!

Thumbs down: We point-blankly tell you that eating at Kampachi is not going to be cheap. Our writer comments that the 9 piece sashimi set she had came up to rm100, ouch! Though she also said it was one of the freshest and biggest slices she had up to date.

The Ming Room – 0322848822 (3rd Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Bukit Bandaraya)

Serving authentic Cantonese cuisine that offers continuous new creative variations, the Ming room is a favourite amongst many.

Thumbs up: Creativity and innovation comes to play as The Ming Room serves Chinese dishes with a twist. To get a better idea of what we mean, their menu consists of food such as Crispy Cod Fish Roll with Chicken Floss, Charcoal Grilled Pork Ribs Spanish Style served with Chilled Citrus Juice and Deep-Fried Oyster & Winter Melon. And yes, they taste equally as good as they sound! Trust us when we say that you will not be disappointed with your meal. We recommend the Charcoal Grilled Pork Ribs Spanish Style as the meat was tender and flavourful.

Thumbs down: Even though The Ming Room is a Chinese cuisine restaurant, it should be noted that it is done with a modern/western twist (e.g. the minty Spanish Pork Ribs). Therefore, if your mom is one who prefers old-school style Chinese cuisine, The Ming Room may not be for her.

Nosh - 0322013548 (No.7, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru)

Situated in Jalan Telawi 3, NOSH is a fairly new café in Bangsar that serves up a storm with their impressive fusion menu of local and international cuisine.

Thumbs up: This is definitely the place to go to if your mother is a lover of desserts. What’s best is that their desserts affordable, not overly sweet and are made of quality ingredients! Also, they have a special desserts menu specially for the months of May and June! For a more detailed review and information on the May specials, please visit Venus Eats: Sweet on Nosh.

Thumbs down: As with any shop and restaurant in Telawi, finding a parking spot would be a challenge but you could always park in the nearby Bangsar Village and walk over. And also, there aren’t many choices for the mains at NOSH. Though what they lack in quantity they make up in quality.

And if treating mom a meal is not enough, how about getting her a little extra gift? Hey, nothing’s too good for the most important woman in your life we say!

[edited] We’ve made another list of 5 last minute places you could bring your to for Mother’s Day!

Every once in a while, we here at VenusBuzz.com like to get away from the city and one weekend, we made our way to Ipoh, Perak. It can be said that great food can be found in every corner of Malaysia and we couldn’t agree more. In this escapade, Burps & Giggles was on top of the list simply because it looks like the kind of place that shouldn’t be missed. And what a lovely makan trip this was.

Burps & Giggles is located in the old part of Ipoh right behind the famous Kong Heng coffeeshop, which serves great hawker fare like Kai See Hor Fun (chicken kuey teow soup), Chee Cheong Fun and more by the way.

Occupying two colonial-era shoplots, this quaint eatery has been steadily gaining visitors since its opening last September and you’ll understand why once you step in. It’s like the new is paying homage to the old.

Many of the old furnishings are still intact with the wooden beams, shutters, ceiling and old stairs remaining as they were with some modern touches like cute signage, quirky decorative items and fun murals scattered around the shop.

Burps & Giggles gets it right for preserving a rustic kind of ambience while making history look really cool right now.

During weekends, Burps & Giggles can get pretty crowded. We arrived at the bistro a little before noon on a Sunday and the tables were all almost filled up. Luckily for us, we managed to get our table in no time and onto whetting our appetite.

Burgers are the signature here and we’re told the ‘Specials’ hit the mark as well. But impaired by a small tummy, the two of us couldn’t afford to go overboard, so we had the Jammy Burger and Brioche from the Specials menu.

The former is made with succulent Angus beef patty on a bed of jalapenos, tomato, onions, cheese with a spread of tomato jam to seal the flavours. The patty, being the most important component of a burger, remained juicy and moist. Most satisfying bites ever!

In the Brioche, the mixture of creamed mushrooms, truffle oil and ‘fussy egg’ was surprisingly a hearty combination. If you’re wondering what is a fussy egg, well according to B&G “it’s an egg that does not resemble a prim and proper grilled egg.” Love it, love the messy plate!

If you are keen on filling up the tummy even further, the next door cafe Buku Tiga Lima (remember the ’555′ mini book?) is another venture to try out.

Also taking up a pre-war shoplot, this place serves pastries, crepes, bagels and hot spuds amidst an eclectic mix of interior decorations. We’ll be back 555!

After a rather fulfilling lunch, I’d suggest for you to take a walkabout around the backyard of these establishments. Lazy Lane as it’s called, showcases some quirky murals reminiscent of the ones in Penang, and a small gate leads to the Sekeping Kong Heng hotel. The neo-classical building also host a communal library and an art gallery of which many paintings of old Ipoh are displayed for your admiring pleasure.

More on that later, do look out for our next post on Ipoh! All in all, visit Burps & Giggles for an experience of the old meets new and of course, the good food and great surrounding ambiance.

Burps & Giggles (Tel: 05-242 6188)

93 & 95, Jalan Sultan Yussuf, 30000 Ipoh, Perak

Opening hours: 8.30am – 7.15pm; close on Tues

http://www.facebook.com/BurpsGiggles

Just imagine a play with actors sans makeup, and you’ll realise how important it is to have proper makeup for the audience to completely immerse themselves in these roles that are being portrayed.

We went backstage with the M.A.C team at Pan Productions’ The Producers at KLPAC to see the transformation and process behind the creative team to see the inspiration behind these looks.

Haritha Shan, M.A.C Senior Artist working her magic on Safia Hanifah, who plays Ulla on The Producers

“The process took about six months, and the main inspiration was given by Nell Ng (Artistic Director of Pan Productions) and then I googled some looks – Google’s my best friend! So I went through images and sent them to Nell to see if it worked for her, and from there – that’s how we got the looks,” said Haritha Shan. M.A.C Senior Artist.

“Since this is stage makeup and it’s live, the makeup has to be a little heavier so that it’s more expressive. Also, because of the placement of the stage whereby the audience is looking down on to the stage, it’s important for the makeup to be super heavy as compared to if you were looking up on to an elevated stage,” she added.

“The most important feature is to use full coverage foundation on the skin, to make it really matte so that when they sweat – the makeup does not budge. Since this is a musical, skin has to be kept matte because they’re running about singing, dancing and sweating, and we don’t want them to look shiny!”

To emulate this matte look, try using M.A.C’s Prep + Prim Skin Base Visage, Studio Careblend Pressed, and Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.

The Cast

The main cast consists of two male leads namely Max Bialystock (Peter Ong) and Leopold Bloom (Vince Chong), and a female lead named Ulla (Safia Hanifah).

“Peter is playing an old ‘hamsap‘ man, so we had to give him a lot of contouring and fake lines to age him and make him look really old,” said Haritha.

“For Vince, we had to make him look as natural as possible for stage but we mattified the skin as much as possible so he looks fresh faced at all times.”

“As for Safia, I’ve used Amber Lights and a texture of green on her eyes to make her olive skin pop. I didn’t make her eyes too dark with the blacks, because then she’d be the same as the ensemble. When she switches characters, her makeup will be more Bollywood-inspired!” added Haritha.

We asked Haritha what were some of the challenges for the rest of the ensemble and she said it was about giving them a look that would work well with all their different outfit changes.

“We also enjoyed giving Alizakri Alias, who plays Roger De Bris – the fabulous director in The Producers, his womanly transformation!” she said.

“Another fun thing we did was create a 3D mole for Joshua Gui as his role as Carmen Ghia – we basically used a small cotton bud from a Q-tip and rolled it into a small ball, then we used Liquid Last (eyeliner) in black to colour it and let it dry up and harden for a bit.

We then used the Duo eyelash glue to stick it on to the skin, so he could pull it off with ease during the performance,” chirped Haritha.

According to Nell, the show would not have looked as spectacular if not for the M.A.C team who helped create the looks and even did their publicity shoots.

“The M.A.C team makes you feel very loved – they’re always smiling, always cheerful and go the extra mile, they even remove our makeup for us!

When you get your makeup done by someone else, you’re reciving energy and their vibes, and the M.A.C artists have such positive energy that you feel energized; you feel your role, your transformation is complete,” said Nell.

When asked about how she briefs the makeup team, Nell dished out a little secret.

“I always impose on what I want to look like on my leading lady! I will brief the makeup team because that’s my interpretation of beauty, and they make it even better!”

Catch Pan Productions’ The Producers at KLPAC from 26 April to 11 May 2013.

Photo Source: 25karats.com

It’s okay if you were too buzy to remember (or plainly didn’t know), you’ve still got plenty time to plan a great celebration for your most favourite woman in the world! And, in all honesty, it’s really not that difficult to plan a treat for your her. All you need is some effort, dedication and good ol’ love – which is actually what your mother have been doing and giving you the whole time.

The VB team has come up with a few ideas and sourced a few promotions to help you guys and gals out;

Apparels.
We know that this is a pretty common gift but it is undeniably a safe option. Try avoiding common choices like a blouse or dress. Instead, opt for something different or with an interesting design, like the Oroton Prisma Silk Scarf. Crafted from 100% silk and made in Italy, the Prisma silk scarf can be worn and styled in many ways to update your mother’s every day outfit. Classy and functional, what’s not to love!

Pamper Her Hair.
Needless to say, we women are very attached to our crowning glory. So why don’t give that special woman of your life a hair treat fit for a queen – scalp treatments, hair mask, a stylish cut, touch up on the roots and anything her heart desires. One great place that you can try out is 76 Style, and guess what – they have a Mother’s Day promotion! Applicable to members, the salon is giving 50% off on all services for mothers on the month of May. Please visit 76 Style for more information.

The Revitalizer Plan!
Plan mom a spa trip, a massage session or maybe some organic juice for her? Treats that help her de-stress, re-energize and generally have a better wellbeing are a great way of telling your mother ‘I appreciate all you’ve done for me.’

Mani/pedi Time!
Because who doesn’t love a good mani/pedi session, right? How about taking a look at Posh! Nail Spa as they have set a variety of deals and promotions especially catered for Mother’s Day.

Pimp Her Gadgets.
If your mom had a smartphone or tablet, a new and nice casing or sleeve can make do for a nice gift. She doesn’t have any of those snazzy gadgets? Well then, you’ve got yourself another gift option! Psst, the Samsung Galaxy S4 was just launched last weekend!

Accessorize Her!
If you’re at your wits end, do as that famous line – ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend’. Though, we’re not saying that you should specifically get her diamonds (we understand that they come with a hefty price tag). Other options like jade bracelets, gold earrings or the Oroton Soul Necklace is good too!

Time and Effort.
Let’s face it; most of the times the best gift is something more personal and close to the heart. Chances are that your mother will be pleased if you could spend quality time with her during the day. To make things more special, how about treating mama to breakfast in bed with one of our simple and healthy breakfast recipes?

Good luck and have fun planning

Notes: Oroton is a leading Australian designer brand with outlets in 1Utama, Pavilion, KLCC and the Gardens. They are giving 50% off any lip balm or nail polish with any purchase until 12th May (Mother’s Day). For more information, please visit Oroton.

But it’s not that easy now, is it? There are thousands of lipstick shades in the market and finding the right one can be a little like finding a needle in a haystack. If you’re a make-up noob like me, this is one love-hate relationship that can get really frustrating.

Glossy, sheer or matte? Red, pink or brown? What about skin tone? Let’s learn how to choose the right lipstick colour.

The general rule of thumb is that lighter colours work for daytime wear while darker shades are good for nighttime. Sheer and matte finishings are appropriate for day look and glossy bold touch is a nice look for evening events. As for skin tones…

Dark - Girls with dark complexion can play with a variety of colours from plums to caramels, reds, pastels and coral oranges. But it is best to avoid bright pink, orange and bold red unless you have the personality to pull it off. Generally, the deeper your skin tone, the deeper shade of lipstick you can wear.

Medium - Girls with golden undertones can work all shades of red as well as bronze and copper. Rich pinks can help enhance your skin tone. To highlight cool undertones, go for deep reds and blue-reds. You can also try sheer berry, spicy brown or brown-based mauve.

Fair - Girls with pale complexion should avoid reds and browns with an orange undertone and also bright pinks, as these colours tend to wash out your fair skin. Instead choose light corals, light pinks, nudes and beige tones. Shimmer and wine reds work for a bit of pop to your look.

Tip! When buying a lipstick at the counter, use the tester on a sheet of white paper to see what’s the dominant colour.

• If they are mostly brown, warm red, or very pale hue, these will work for yellow skin tone.
• If they are reddish and pinkish, these will look good on skin with a rosy tint.
• If they are of rosy, magenta and purplish hues, these will be nice on darker skin.

Also, take into account your lip size.

Just like in fashion, darker shades will make your lips look smaller while lighter colours help make your lips look fuller.

Of course, this is just a basic guide to choosing your perfect lip shades and avoiding a beauty disaster. Certain factors like the occasion, your dressing style, the mood of the day, your personality, can all affect your colour choices. Don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best on you. Make it kissable all the way!

Nautical typically brings about the retro blue, white and red combo inspired by the mighty sailor. Without fail, the wardrobe classic reappears every few season or so – each time with a slight difference to it. While the classic blue and white stripe tee will never go out of style, this season blue and white appears refreshed, refined and a little more grown up.

Left to Right: Miss Selfridge Vintage Floral Jean, Fashion Blogger Jessica Stein wearing Tibi Floral Blazer and Shorts, Miss Selfridge Floral Print Lace Dress

Taking yet another clue from the East, blue & white appears in Chinese porcelain-like patterns in dresses and breezy button-downs among others. The fashion inclination reminds us of a show-stopping Roberto Cavalli dress Victoria Beckham wore back in 2009. The body-hugging mermaid tube gown was all kind of wonderful: womanly, goddess-like and filled with statement.

Fast forward to SS13, Temperley London redefines modern femme fatale through blue & white combo in her collection. The icy blue blends gently with white in see-through and embroidered fabrics. Teamed up with nipped waist and flowing skirts, her creations are feminine with a hint of mystery.

Blue & white how to

The colour combo sends out a clean and soothing vibe – making it suitable for both work and play. Plus, we also found out that blue & white complements yellow to brown skin tones well; making it a good wardrobe investment for an Asian soul. Be inspired by the minimalist art deco trend and keep it simple when decking yourself in blue & white.

Left: Mango shirt, Forever21 pants, Zara bag, Sepatu Merah wedges. Right: vintage shirt, H&M pants, Trafaluc by Zara sandals, mom’s tote, Vintage Casio watch

For a day full of meetings at work, pair your fitted blue shirt with tailored white pants that would allow you to move quickly and gracefully. Complete the look with a white blazer, a pair of nude wedges and your go to tote.

For a more laid-back day out, allow yourself to breathe with an oversized white shirt and blue patterned pants, or fabric jacket and cullotes with a pair of sandals. Clutch your carry-all and KL sun ain’t got nothing on you!

Mango ethnic blue jacket, RM359. Zara deep blue cullotes, RM149.90. Mango blue & white sundress, RM89. Zara white tote, RM159.90. ASOS leather sandals, approx. RM104. Mango white blazer, RM159. Zara ethnic blue skirt, RM249

Blue & white for the boys

From dads and executives to the stylish youngsters – blue has been the boys’ go-to colour for ages. When paired with black or grey – blue appear rather formal but when white comes into the picture, boy do we have a dapper getup! Very few (if any) men could pull off white pants, so until then we should stick to the white top and blue bottoms combo.

Music and Theatre Editor Wong Boon Ken, 24, shares of his undying love for blue and white.

Photo courtesy of Wong Boon Ken & Amir Rashid

“I believe there’s a shade of blue for every ocassion. After all, there’s a reason why the most classic jeans are made in blue. The colour is very versatile and when paired with white, you get yourself a foolproof combo.”

For the men, plonk in your white t-shirt and blue bermudas paired with your trustworthy slip-ons and a satchel for your day off. When dressed to impress, wear your crisp white shirt and blue pants with an optional blue chambray blazer. To top it all off, you can never go wrong with a good pair of leather brogues.

A fashion trend both you and your man can apply? We’re psyched!

Photo Source: yukawanet.com

That’s right folks, it’s a bright red, juicy tomato hair cut! And no, it’s not a wig. Just when you think you’ve seen and done the hippest and craziest hairstyle, Japan once again tops the funky hairstyle spectrum with an inspiration from the vegetable world.

Named as the “Ripe Tomato” (“kanjuku tomato” or 完熟トマト), this haircut takes form of a, well, ripe tomato! The basis of the cut is a short round voluminous bob. Dye it mainly bright red, (literally) top it off with a careful green crown and voila! Ripe Tomato!

The mastermind behind this eye-catching and creative hairdo is a hairstylist named Hiro from the trendy Osaka-based hair salon Trick Store. In fact, we found out that this is not the first creative hairdo from the salon! Hair Trick has a portfolio filled with trendy and interesting hairstyles that ranges from polka dot patterns to anime styles.

Photo Source: beauty.hotpepper.jp

Although a little far out, the ‘dos are truly impressive! And it seems that Japan has taken a liking to them too, especially the Ripe Tomato style. Response about the Hiro’s recent work has been resoundingly positive. Replies to a tweeted picture of the hairstyle were as such;

• “I want that cut!”
• “How cute”
• “So adorable”
• “I want to cut and color mine the same way”
• “Nice!”

Our thoughts on it? Well, it certainly is a creative and detailed hairstyle! Hiro has done a good job making it look as ‘fruit-like’ as possible – just note how the ‘stem’ rises above the round ‘body’. However, as for getting our hair done like that; we may not be as bold as to sport this look, yet.

How about you ladies? Do you think it’s a work of art or just plain crazy? Would you try it?

Sources: Kotaku, The Daily Mail

When it comes to Instagram and social media, there’s nothing worse than having unattractive, grainy photos on your feed – the urge to passive agressive Tweet, “What is the point of this?!” is high – yet we choose not to unfollow because we’re..well, friends.

So as friends, here are some of our tips to take nice looking fashion-type photos that (hopefully) won’t irk your followers too much and instead, get you new ones!

1. Selcas/Selfies: Face the window

Follow @audrakay

Good lighting is vital for the perfect selca (self capture), and you don’t want light that is directly above you  - instead, choose diffused lighting! The easiest method is to stand facing a window and bam, blemishes be gone! If you think the natural sunlight is too harsh, pull your curtains down et voila – light filter! The one thing you want to avoid is standing underneath lighting as this causes shadows on your face, or worse still – standing with a light source behind you (unless for artistic purposes).

2. Background’s Amazing!

Follow @ninaulala

A great photo is one that’s got a lot of things to look at with something at the foreground and background. Choose bright, contrasting colours or amazing street for editorial-worthy pictures. If you do not have access to any of these things, you’d be surprised at how some mundane everyday outdoor scenes have the ability to make your Lookbook pictures absolutely pop! But we will say, stay away from the toilet-mirror selfies – ain’t nobody got time for that (unless it’s one of those fancy gold-plated ones with toilet assistants and perfumes).

Follow @audrakay

If all else fails, go minimalist chic against a plain white backdrop – your wall. Think Terry Richardson, this sort of profile shots are incredibly effective and a great way to let your personality shine because let’s face it – all eyes will be on you.

3. The Queen of the Crop

Follow @audrakay

The best thing about Instagram is the 2 by 2 dimensions which requires you to crop your photos. So, if you have flabby arms or your roots are showing – crop, crop, crop. It’s easy to make anyone look good with Instagram – remember, you’re in control of what you want to show! The same applies to pictures of your designer handbags and clothes, it’s more artistic to see a close up of the texture or fabric than a flat picture of the entire bag. Sometimes, less really is more.

4. Variety Show

Follow @gwenkym

Contrary to popular belief, Instagramming every minute of your life is not the way to go – be selective when choosing pictures to post (even if you look crazy amazing in all 10 pictures) or else save some for another day when you might not have as many pictures to post up. Spam in any form is annoying, so choose wisely! Also try to add some variety, if your last 5 photos were selcas of yourself or the same theme – you might want to mix it up a little bit with pictures other than yourself!

5. Get a Little Apps From My Friends

Follow @burnlikecinders

If you don’t have a personal assistant to follow you around to take full length body shots of your #OOTD (Outfit Of The Day), a full length mirror and an app like InstapicFrames is your best friend. InstapicFrames allows you to put up to 5 pictures in 1 Instagram so this makes it ideal to highlight the details on your outfit. Use the full length vertical slot for a full length selca using your mirror, and the smaller slots with accent items from your outfit that make the look so amazing!

6. Posture, Posture, Posture!

Follow @ninaulala

It’s simple things that will give you some added height in your full length shots – either cross your legs when standing up with your shoulders back (never ever hunch, and yes..the broken-doll pose is not for everyone) or stand on your toes to give you more inches and a ‘toner’ looking body with slimmer-looking legs.

 7. Filter & Go

Thanks to Instagram’s awesome filters, our pictures look amazing and artsy (check out what your favourite filter says about you). Sometimes you need ‘em, sometimes you don’t – depending on the narrative you’re going for.

Follow @ninaulala

Black and white pictures do well for a more dramatic effect, so the use of light and contrast is important. Use a Valencia filter to lighten dark pictures, and X Pro II to darken light photos. If your photo is perfect just the way it is with lots of  bright colours that are true to life, opt for a #nofilter hashtag and keep it au naturel

8. Be A Specialist

Follow @audrakay

Choose your vice and do it well – be it #shoeporn, #armcandy, #manimonday – there are ways to enhance these pictures. For shoes, a side view is great to score the best snap, or one that has an interesting background contrast.

Follow @gwenkym

Arm candies look lovely when juxtaposed against your pants or top to see how it works with your outfit, and manicures look nicer when fingers are curled or are holding on to something.

 9. Camera On Top

Follow @sutarii

Everything looks better from an aerial view, so hover your smartphone directly on top of your clothes/accessories (black and white backgrounds work best) and slightly off-center pictures look more interesting!

Follow @audrakay

10. Share the love

Use hashtags such as #fashionista #ootd #style and the other ones we’ve mentioned in this article so that other fashionistas who share the same love for shoes and fashion are able to get inspired by your unique looks and coordinations. More importantly, have fun and share pictures that you love; pictures that make you happy and not what you think we’ll get you more likes

The Downtown Abbey costumes were featured in an exhibition at the FIDM Museum & Galleries Los Angeles. Pic credit: Alex J. Berliner/ ABimages

Vintage is in! You can now look like the women of Downton Abbey, and also live like your favourite character. NBC Universal, the production giant that now owns the rights to the drama, has just announced that a clothing line inspired by the British show will be launched later this year. The collection is set to go on sale along with an extensive range of merchandises such as homeware, furniture and even beauty products.

The period drama, which has been steadily gaining fans since coming onto the UK screen in 2010 and the following year in the US, is often praised for its breathtaking set, beautiful costumes and beguiling storyline.

NBC is not new to releasing official merchandise from their famous shows like 30 Rock and The Office. But this will probably be the first time that fans get to completely immerse themselves in the Downton’s Grantham-Crawley lifestyle. It is said that the clothing line will feature ladylike dresses and accessories as seen on characters like Lady Mary.

Downton Abbey is one of the most successful British dramas around starring the likes of Maggie Smith and Michelle Dockery. Set in the early 1900s, the series follow the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. Shooting is now underway for the fourth season.

Source: Vogue UK, Grazia Daily UK

We’ll admit it – we have a secret Pinterest board to store all our wedding ideas for when (note: not ‘IF’) the day comes! Hey, some people have movies and music, and others plan their weddings as a form of escapism!

So if you’re planning for your wedding in 2013 – 2014,  get inspired by the dreamy, whimsical dresses at New York Bridal Fashion Week which took place from April 20 to 22 this year, by some of the hottest names in bridal fashion:

1. Marchesa – The Classic Girl Next Door

If you’re the girl next door with timlesss style, then Marchesa’s for you; thanks to a collection consisting of the most delicate lace with classic sweetheart necklines. Offering lots of tulle, there are glamorous floor-length wedding dresses and full-volumed skirts – with a nice option to have detachable skirts and flowing trains for the wedding after-party.

2. Reem Acra – The Manic Pixie Dream-Girl

The very definition of whimsical, Reem Acra’s collection was dreamy with elements of Elvish fantasy thanks to intricate head ornaments worn around the crown and an umbrella veil – literally, a veil attached to an umbrella while the bride holds up her own umbrella.

Now, we didn’t say anything about realistic or convenience but the dresses on their own are elegant and understated with sequinned bodice and mermaid-tulle silhouette. Perfect for the indie manic pixie dream-girl!

3. Carolina Herrera – The Disney Princess

If you have the ability to sing with blue birds and are known for your kindness and like-ability, try something from Carolina Herrera’s wedding dresses fit for royalty! With 3-quarter sleeved lace tops, a short chic fur cloak and long, barely-there veils you’ll be as regal as the next-in line.

4. Oscar de la Renta – The Barbie Doll Cake

If you ever had a Barbie cake for your birthday growing up, you’ll love the tight bodice, full skirt silhouette on the de la Renta dresses which reminds us of smooth fondant and desiccated coconut cakes! The classic romantic collection even features the use of pink and blue tones which provide a fresh appeal.

5. Vera Wang – The Edgy Alternative Chick

For the edgy bride with attitude, consider something from Vera Wang’s unconventional bridal dresses that inject a dose of monochrome with touches of black thrown into the classic white dress.

Think the Black Swan meets 1920s rocker-flapper chic; from sweetheart black lace bodice with a full tulle skirt, to combining contrasting materials such as white lace and black leather cutouts and black leather gloves that go way past the elbow – this is definitely for the bride who wants to make a statement. Just don’t regret the black dress like fashionista Sarah Jessica Parker did when she tied the knot to Matthew Broderick in 1997!

Which one’s your favourite?

Photo Source: examiner.com

Weight conscious individuals would deem carbs as something negative; as a source of any possible unflattering flab or weight gain. And then you have the opponents, who believe that carbs should always be the staple of meals as they are an essential source of energy. So which is it, are they good or bad?

They are actually both. In fact, it should be known and realized that there are two kinds of carbs – the good and the bad.

The infographic below gives a simple, yet informative lowdown on what exactly makes carbs good or bad. According to Online Nutrition Degrees, good carbs are fundamentally those that are gradually absorbed into our body, thus giving us our required energy over a long period of time. On the other hand, bad carbs do the opposite and cause blood sugar spikes that result in weight gain.

With that said, it should be noted that you should not omit carbs out of your diet as they are a primary source of energy and an important part of a healthy diet. The trick is to simply opt for good carbs instead of the bad ones. Remember, a good and healthy diet consists of a variety of foods from all of groups, but in adequate proportions.

Sources: Online Nutrition Degrees

Credit: HighGraphic.com

#1 Get 8 hours of sleep

One of the most important habits is to get the recommended eight hours of sleep daily. Your body need a good amount of rest to function properly as well as to keep stress and tiredness at bay. Sleep deprivation takes a toll on both body and mind, thus never ever think you are gaining more time by sleeping less.

#2 Wake up early

We always moan that there isn’t enough hours in a day. One of the few things that could change this is to wake up early, possibly even right before the alarm rings. When you are up early, you get to plan and accomplish more with your time. As they say, the early bird catches the worm.

#3 Eat breakfast and avoid snacking

It is called the most important meal of the day for a reason. So, fuel your day with a hearty breakfast! Once that’s done, avoid bingeing between meals to keep the extra kilos off. Know between emotional eating or necessity, when you can identify the trigger, be willful not to give in.

#4 Eat your 5-a-day of fruits & vegetables

Many health associations advocate to consume five portions of fruits and vegetables every day. This is to help your body and brain get all the nutrients for vital performance internally. So eating fruits and vege should be part of your diet plan daily.

#5 Exercise for 30 minutes daily

If you’re in a desk-bound job like most of us, it is important to get in some form of movements each day to break the sedentary lifestyle. A minimum of 30 minutes is all you need to keep your health in good shape. Take the stairs, walk around the park, scrub the toilet, you know the drift.

#6 Think before you act

We are always hurried to act now, buy fast, and do whatever it is before it’s too late. But it’s very important that you take the time to think about what you want or need before allowing yourself to take the action. Spend at least 10 minutes to analyse over a choice presented to you before deciding.

#7 Stop worrying

As human, we are prone to this feeling of self-doubt and worry. Many factors come into play but just remember this, if you are constantly worry about whether your role as a daughter, friend, lover or worker is up to mark, you are actually going to bring yourself down with your own self-destroying prophesy.

#8 Prioritise

Daily tasks will always be there but do what’s important first. Also, when it comes down to it, know what’s important in your life. Choose things that will give you deep fulfillment and encourage you. Never neglect those around you in the process and don’t forget your I-Love-Yous.

#9 Keep the dream

It is always nice to have a dream or goal to work towards. This keeps you motivated and not lose sight of what it is that you desire most. Have a reminder like a photo or quote which you can look at every day and be a constant pick-me-up when life gets hard.

#10 Indulge in me-time

Life demands a lot from us and while we try to meet the expectations, never forget the one person that is most important in the race – YOU! Take time off each day to reflect, gather your thoughts or emotions and simply be in touch with your soul.

When you can change your life habits successfully, then it’ll be possible for you to change your life for good!

Though only starting on May 2012, Femme Elegante has garnered quite a number of loyal buyers and an upright reputation in the Malaysian shopping scene. The online boutique specializes in sourcing fashionable designs from overseas to cater to us trendy buyers. And we’ve got to tell you, if you’re a fan or classy and designer inspired items, you will not be disappointed with this online shopping site!

Why we <3

Premium designs. The shop definitely stays true to their vision. Even at first glance, one would realize the online shop has plenty of premium-looing and designer-inspired items. Classy items and premium designs, we likey!

Plenty of choices! From casual shorts to cute dresses, Femme Elegante has most of the clothing apparels covered! Oh, and we also like the fact that they’ve set out a plus sized album!

Orderly Layout. Its neat layout makes it a cinch to shop at Femme Elegante! Upon entering the products segment of the site, you’d see a very organized sidebar with tabs such as ‘new collection’, ‘Dresses’ and ‘Trousers’. You can also shop according to price range.

Easy Payments. Bid goodbye to those instances when you’re ready to make a payment but are then turned off by the shop’s !preferred merchant. Femme Elegante has Paypal, Master Card, Visa and MOL Pay!

Why we no <3

Pricier items. We’ve also noticed that the more premium-looking items come with a heftier price tag (think three digits). Though, they are still admittedly cheaper than most branded apparels out there.

Formal Tone. As mentioned, the neat and organized layout makes shopping easy for customers. However, the site is also pretty rigid to our liking. It would’ve been cooler if they added in a little flair to their presentation style to make shopping experiences more fun.

Pre-order. Femme Elegante is essentially a pre-order shopping site. Though they do have a few ready stock items at their ‘stock on hand album,’ almost all of the items in the store are pre-order. Therefore, as with any other pre-order items, do purchase only if you’re willing to wait yeah.

Not actual product photos. Being avid shoppers ourselves, we noticed that some of the images have appeared in other websites before. In other terms; the site uses stockist images. Granted that they do offer detailed measurements, it would be better to see images of the actual items or of the apparels on a more local and standard physique (which makes it easier to estimate how it would look like on us).

So ladies, if you’ve got a wedding reception or formal dinner planned up next month, why not give Femme Elegante (or their Facebook Page) a visit!

In what could be the first of its kind, an American company has claimed to have invented a shirt that stays clean even after 100 days of wear but no tear. Wool & Prince said the garment is able to resist odour so much so that it still smells fresh after being worn for rigorous exercise.

What’s even mind-boggling is that the shirt does not need ironing because of the wrinkle-free material used. Apparently, it can withstand even the roughest of treatment.

This sounds like the perfect shirt for your man who is not too keen on laundry, eh?

The shirts are made out of wool which has been said to be six times longer lasting than cotton, able to absorb scent, resist tearing and free of crinkle.

Lest you think this is complete hogwash, one of the designers – Mac Bishop – road-tested a prototype in a ’100 Day Challenge’. He wore the same shirt for 100 days straight while doing things like running and even wearing it for 72 hours during Hurricane Sandy.

To further test the durability of the shirt, the team at Wool & Prince got 15 people to test it out for themselves. Response have been good with lab test showing that wool fibres can bend back together more than 20,000 times without breaking. In comparison, cotton breaks after 3,200 bends.

At the present moment, Wool & Prince has just launched their Better Button-Down shirts on Kickstarter. They have already garnered more than the initial goal of raising $30,000 (approx. RM94,000) in funds to start production. With 21 days more to go, the pledge now stands at over $100,000 (RM312,000).

The shirts will be sold at $98 (RM306) and due to the overwhelming response, there are plans to ship internationally! In the pipeline are more size options, extra-slim fit, classic fit and other patterns/colour choices.

Pretty awesome eh?

Photo Source: keeppy.com

And hey, nobody’s to blame for that. Truth is; when you two have been in the friendzone for a substantial amount of time, it definitely takes time to get used to, and more time to feel more like a lover and less like a friend. But hey, don’t let that stop you from dating your best friend. Who knows, as cliché as it sounds,  your life partner may really be right next to you the whole time!

To guide you ladies through that awkward transition stage, we list down 5 simple-sounding yet all-important things that you should do;

5. Make an effort.

Now that you’re in the dating scene, take time to doll up, wear a pretty white dress, perfume or even get a chic manicure. Plus points if you wear his favourite color/band/super hero icon! Trust us; any guy would definitely appreciate the effort. However, be careful not too over dress or go over the top with things; you wouldn’t want to come out as pretentious now.

4. Stop Hanging out.

And by that, we mean go on proper dates. We’re not saying that you two cannot hang out, but think of it this way – if hanging out is usually what you two did before officially getting together, then what’s the difference of being in a relationship? With that said, as mentioned above, make and effort and basically just show him the ‘girlfriend’ side of you.

3. Make him your go-to person.

Yes, we understand that he was your best friend, that you’ve naturally been running to him during happy or sad times. However, it should be undeniable that you have other friends too, and well, have also confided in them. We’re not saying that that’s wrong but please do think of your man – his ego may be at stake if he realizes that he’s not your go-to person.

2. Compliment him accordingly.

Let’s face it, when you’ve been friends for a long time, you’d tend to get a little comfortable and things like ‘that haircut really looks good on you’ may come out as ‘hey hey, look who’s finally decided to get his hair fixed lah! Not bad, your hair is finally not a bird’s nest!’

We understand how joking around and snide remarks may be how you two work, but decent and sincere compliments can strengthen the bond of a new relationship, and are more pleasant to the ears.

1. Act like a ‘girlfriend’.

In all actuality, this is actually the most important point. Now that you two have finally decided to take your relationship a notch higher, please just keep that thought in your mind. No longer hesitate to call him if you miss him (not during working/studying hours, mind you!), stop wondering if he would mind fetching you to a place and throw away doubts of asking him to watch that chick flick with you. Repeat after us, ‘I am now his lover.’

Good luck ladies And remember – ‘I am now his lover’!

Photo Source: malayaraya

With the tons of voting tips surfacing on Facebook, emails and by word of mouth, let’s face it; things are getting confusing. Especially so with new rules, regulations and if you’re a first time voter. To make things a little easier for our readers, we’ve compiled some of the more important points that you should know, be cautious of and remember.

Before Election Day

Check Your Status and Details. First and foremost, please check your details only at the SPR website. We suggest printing out your details as soon as you check. This may act as proof of your details and that you are a registered voter.

If there are or wrong false details. We’ve noticed several individuals have complained about problems with their voter registration details on SPR’s website, such as (i) having registered but records not found, (ii) a shift in the voting location or (iii) never registering but records are on the site.

Take a deep breathe, calm down and just report to any of the following;

• SPR – 0388856565 or http://semak.spr.gov.my/sistemaduan
• BERSIH 2.0 – info@bersih.org
• DAP – dap@dapmalaysia.org

(information was taken from ongkianming.com)

Take good care of your index finger. This may be a bit of an exaggeration but based on sources, any form of makings or stains will disqualify you to vote. Oh, and ladies, perhaps you can also put your nail polishes on hold for the time being.

During Election Day

This is generally how the polling room will look like:

Photo Source: MyDurianTV

The voting process is as such:

1. You enter the room and head towards polling clerks 1, 2 and 3.
2. Clerk 1 will see and check your identification card, and cross out your name in the list.
3. Clerk 2 will mark you with indelible ink. Let it dry and be careful with the ink
4. Clerk 3 will give you a stamped ballot paper.
5. Go to the voting counter/booth and mark ‘X’ to indicate your vote.
6. Go to the ballot boxes and place your folded ballot paper into appropriate box. Polling clerk 4 will push down the papers in the box with a ruler.
7. Exit room.

The polling centre opens from 8am till 5pm. It is advisable to be the early to avoid any disappointments or delays.

Proper attire. By this, we mean that you are not allowed to wear clothing, badges or buttons that bears alignment to any of the political parties.

Bring your IC. or any other form of identification (temporary IC, driving license, passport). However, sources tells us that Passports would be more of a hassle as the counting agents would ask you to fill in Borang 11, which would equate in you wasting time.

Check your ballot paper! It is your right to get a clean ballot paper. So ladies and gents, upon receiving your ballot paper, ensure that it is clean. Check for any form of dots, black spots or tears. Oh, and a full stop behind/after a candidate’s name is also considered a ‘dot’ and will void your vote.

Do not smudge! Indelible ink is to prevent individuals to cast double voting. However, any smudged ballot paper would be rejected or voided. So, please be careful.

Take caution of your surroundings. Key point - the agents are merely suppose to cross out your name on their list. Also, your ballet paper will have a registration number. Ensure that the polling clerks do not write the registration number  near you name on their list and make sure that they don’t mark your name in any way possible. If anything strange happens, make a fuss or motion to the Presiding Officer (KTM).

For more information and detailed explanations , please spare 5 minutes of your time to watch this educational and entertaining video.

Be safe, alert and vote wisely all!

Who is this Robert Downey Jr.?

Robert John Downey Junior (born April 4, 1965) is an American actor, most known for his roles as Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes. Downey is often commended for his works by many, which is really not a wonder because he truly is a brilliant and versatile actor. His other films include Tropic Thunder and Due Date.

Though it wasn’t rose gardens and sunshine for this New York born lad – Downey’s previous substance issues had led to some questionable antics, several arrests and failed rehabilitation attempts. Nonetheless, all is well now as he has been sober for almost ten years, starred in several successful blockbusters and has oh-so-sexy-and-manly look!

5 Reasons to Scream ‘Eye Want Robert Downey Jr.!’

5. ‘I am Iron Man’

In the summer of 2008, Robert Downey Junior landed one of the biggest acting roles (and the one role that may possibly define his acting career) – to be cast as Marvel’s Tony Stark, a.k.a Iron Man.

Photo Source: ign.com

The first Iron Man film was globally released on May 2008 and grossed over $300 million in the United States and Canada. The film went on receiving enthusiastic reviews which mainly commended Downey’s performance as a highlight of the film. After three Iron Man films and an Avenger one, we seriously couldn’t agree more.

4. Rehabilitated Succes

Though considered as one of the best actors of his and the current generation, Robert Downey Jr. is also known for his past off-screen struggles with sobriety. Downey has been influenced by substances since young as his father was a drug addict. During an Oprah interview, Downey revealed that it was only at during his April 2001 arrest where he realized that he needed to take back charge of his life.

Downey says he has been drug-free since July 2003 and gives credit of it to his family, therapy, meditation, twelve-step recovery programs, yoga and the Wing Chun Kung Fu practices. And the rest, as they say, is history. Now, if only Linday Lohan takes a lesson or two from this man…

3. ‘I-couldn’t-care-less’ Attitude        

That’s right folks, if you’ve been following Downey with his interviews and behind-the-scenes, it’s plain to see that this man is quite similar with his Tony Stark character – he has an ‘i-couldn’t-care-less’ attitude.

Though it not really isn’t a bad thing per say. Downey hasn’t really done anything nasty or made any snide remarks at others (we all know that there are celebs like that). And hey, who doesn’t love a guy with a wicked sense of humour.

2. Versatile Good Looks

With or without a beard, long messy hair, shaggy cut or crop-short hair, purple sunglasses, a top hat… Truth is; Robert Downey Jr. can rock off practically any look.

We reckon it’s because of his distinctive features, especially those charming eyes!

1. Hands-On Husband

Downey is currently happily married to Susan Levin, an American film producer. We say ‘happily’ because he has been quite public in showing his love and affection to Susan. As a matter of fact, Downey looked more than happy to be with his wife at the LA premiere of Iron Man 3.

Both of them were having a blast and fooling around on the red carpet, and he was even seen kissing and hugging her. Aww, don’t they look cute together! Additionally, during their filming of Sherlock Holemes together, Downey that the couple enjoyed it very much because they did not have to “miss each other” during the long production

And, in other news, Downey has stated that he had Susan to thank for helping him get off and control his drug and alcohol habits. A “Suzie Q” tattoo rests on his biceps in tribute to her.

One more time now, awwww.

What you’ll need to make your man look like Robert Downey Jr.:

Formal attire: Well-fitted suits, dark inner shirt, comfortable sneakers

Casual attire: Plain t-shirts (preferably black or simple), plain tops, low-waist fitted dark jeans, leather jacket, vest

Accessories: Hats, funky and stylish sunglasses, ‘couldn’t-care-less’ attitude and a cute smile!

Sources: The Daily Mail, DowneyUnlimited, listal

Many of our bodily functions depend on our breathing. When we experience difficulty in breathing, it can be very frightening. The intense tightening of the chest or feeling of suffocation can oftentimes lead us to worry that we’ll soon meet our maker.

Depending on the cause, different people experience dyspnea differently. It can be a one-off episode or a recurring affair. Breathlessness happens when the body needs more oxygen than it is getting and thus you breathe faster to try increase oxygen flow into the lungs.

Some factors like strenuous exercise, extreme temperatures, massive obesity and high altitude can contribute to one’s shortness of breath. But in some cases, this could likely be a sign of a medical problem. When you experience unexplained shortness of breath, especially if it’s suddenly and severe, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.

Question Yourself

When you first experience breathlessness, ask yourself these questions:

• Did it start suddenly or have you been feeling it over time? Did anything trigger it?
• Are you only breathless when you move? Is it worse when you lie down?
• Do you feel ill? Do you have a fever, a cough or recent weight loss?
• Do you have chest pain?
• Are you coughing up any phlegm? What colour is it?
• Have you lost weight, coughed up blood, been in contact with anyone with tuberculosis (TB) or travelled abroad recently?
• Have you recently been bed-bound or on a long flight?
• Do you smoke a lot?

These are vital details that will help your doctor to make a diagnosis about your situation. Your doctor might then require you to undergo check on your heart, including blood pressure and lungs. Possible causes might then be narrowed down with lung function tests, chest X-ray and blood tests for anaemia, an underactive thyroid gland, and heart failure.

The Possible Trigger

The causes of shortness of breath can be narrowed down to two stages – acute/temporary and chronic/severe. But whether is sudden or long term, breathing difficulty should always be taken seriously. Take note of when it occurs, how often and other related symptoms that may assist the doctor in your case.

How to Response?

When you feel the sudden attack of breathlessness, the first thing is not to panic! Call 999 (112 from mobile phones) or get someone to drive you to the hospital if you experience severe shortness of breath that comes on suddenly and affects your ability to function. Also, look out for symptoms of chest pain, fainting or nausea, it could be signs of a heart attack or pulmonary embolism.

But other than that, you should make an appointment with the doctor if your breathing trouble is accompanied by:

• Swelling in feet and ankles
• High fever, chills and cough
• Lips or fingertips turning blue
• Wheezing
• Further breathing difficulty when you lie flat

Credit: Cleveland Clinic

Prevention is better than cure as they say. To prevent your shortness of breath from getting worse, do take some precautionary measures. Some things to remember is to stop smoking, avoid exposure to pollutants and lose weight if you are overweight. In short, keep a healthy lifestyle.

Source: Mayo Clinic, Patient.co.uk, Cleveland Clinic

With this simple tutorial, get delicious candy apple nails in four simple steps – and what’s even better is that you don’t have to do nail art on all your nails! Just select a few and paint the rest in bright candy colours to create more interest and focus on the nail art.

What You’ll Need:

Base coat, top coat, candy coloured nail polish – do include apple red and green, acrylic paints in white, dark green and light green, thin paint brush, top coat.

How To:

Step 1: Apply base coat and create the apple shape using your desired nail polish colour by painting on two asymmetric oval shapes that covers the tip of the nail completely.

Step 2: Using your brush and dark green acrylic paint, draw a short line in the heart of the apple  - this is your stem.

Step 3: Next, using the lighter green acrylic paint, draw a leaf next to the stem.

Step 4: Complete the look by drawing the ‘shiny’ surface on the apple white nail polish or acrylic paint; one longer line that’s tapered, and a shorter dot at the top. Apply top coat once dry, and you’re done!

Like this step by step? Look for nail artist Richelle from the TTDI branch of Posh! Nail Spa!

Posh! Nail Spa is a mani-pedi retreat that offers a full line of manicure and pedicure services, nail extensions and enhancements, as well as waxing and eyelash extensions. Express your individuality with their unique nail art styles!

Photo Source: hotfrog.co.uk

However, it is noted that the actual performance of solving a maths equation is not the culprit of those painful sensations – it is essentially the anticipation of having to solve maths equation that may hurt certain individuals! Oh, and we say ‘certain’ because only those with a phobia towards mathematics are affected.

Sian Beilock, a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago and a leading professional on math anxiety, reveals that the sheer anticipation of having to do maths can send those with math anxiety into a frenzy. The anticipation would prompt a brain reaction that is almost similar to when one experiences pain, such as burning your hand on a hot stove. Yikes!

This was proven based on a research conducted at the University of Chicago. Researchers had passed a series of word and math question to 28 selected adults – 14 that are identified to have high-levels of math anxiety, and 14 with low math anxiety. When the individuals were attempting to complete the questions, their brains activities would be recorded and analysed using brain scans.

From the study, it was noted that the brain activities of the highly math-anxious people would correspond similarly with the same brain areas that register the threat of bodily harm and pain. In simple terms – the higher a person’s anxiety about math is, the higher the likelihood of pain to be triggered and experienced in the brain. Additionally, further testing proved that math-anxious individuals would only experience a heightened sense of anxiety when met with math-related situations and nothing else.

Honestly now, we find these discoveries pretty liberating! Though, we personally don’t find it surprising (and no, it’s not because we’re biased). Think of it this way, if there’s already several proven studies showing that physical discomfort can be experienced by psychologically stressful events, such as the end of a romantic relationship (come on now, don’t deny that you didn’t feel any hurt), why not solving maths question eh?

Sources: National Geographic, UChicago News

The popular quarterly bazaar hits Jaya One this May 18th and just like previous editions, you can expect a unique atmosphere greeting you. The festival-like event will feature a line-up of celebrity vendors, long-time Markets favourites, delicious food, and the return of The Yard. Thrift hunters can find the latest bargains without putting too big of a dent on the wallet.

Not to be missed out is the all-new Lorong Makan, where guests can, as you guessed it, indulge in yummy grub and drinks. A variety of artisan and local food will be served, trust this will be a popular pitstop for many looking to refuel in anticipation of the day’s activities.

Among the notable vendors that will set-up space at Markets are:

• Notbook-Notbuk: quirky notebooks and paper goods handcrafted with love
• iHeartBadges: fun button badges
• Bisou Rose: body & bath
• Glossy Addiction: funky clutches to chic suede bucket bags
• Project Swissify: vintage clothing
• Creole: eclectic accessories, bags and apparel
• Bhumi Batik: apparel featuring pretty batik prints
• Pestle & Mortar: apparel inspired by Malaysian lifestyle and culture
• Fabspy: funky clothing for men and women
• Azorias: chic casual and formalwear

Do note that the vendors will not be providing any plastic bags, so we encouraged you to bring your own bag en route to helping Mother Nature and shopping to your heart’s content.

For more information, here’s Markets’ website and Facebook. Or tweet them.

In this day and age where we’re constantly walking on eggshells because it seems like everything and anything is politically incorrect, it’s refreshing to just have unabashed laughter at pure satirical humour.

Thanks to theatre group Pan Productions, we spoke to Nell Ng – the Artistic Director for The Producers in Malaysia, to find out more about this revival of Mel Brooks’ smash hit musical which is now available for the enjoyment of Malaysians sans hefty price tag – and without skimping on the laughs!

“It’s based on the 1968 film of the same name, which follows the story of Max Bialystock (played by Peter Ong) and Leopold Bloom (Vince Chong) who have discovered a surefire way to make a fortune on Broadway: to raise millions from little old lady “investors”, produce the worst play in a long history of flops, and then run off with the money when the play closes on opening night,” she said.

Basically, they think they’ve got the formula for a flop with the incredibly offensive ‘Springtime for Hitler’ – or do they?

With songs including “I Wanna Be A Producer” and the infamous “Springtime for Hitler”, The Producers is a hilarious, glittering and irreverent spoof of traditional Broadway musicals that will delight audiences from start to finish with it’s trademark comic moments and slapstick humor – we were definitely laughing from start to end which believe it or not, really got us starting the week with renewed enthusiasm and positivity!

If you’re anything like us, you’ll be singing the Guten Tag Hop-Clop for days! On the world stage, The Producers went on to win a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards on the Broadway stage, including Best Book, Best Score, and Best Musical, before it was turned into the 2005 hit movie starring Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman and Will Ferrell.

The Malaysian cast is supremely talented, with each individual being able to act, dance, and sing with that all important comedic timing – we were immersed into the world of Bialystock and Bloom within minutes of the opening.  We’re not talking just the main cast; the entire ensemble, the band, costumes, and even the makeup played such an important role in making this show a success. Not bad for a production that was put together in five weeks, not bad at all.

“There’s something for everyone, it’s a very versatile and easy to like script and there are characters in there that will just crack you up even if they don’t have any lines. There are dances, there are really good singers – which is of course, really important for a musical,” said Nell.

So where did she get her inspiration from – the movie or the shows at the West End or Broadway?

“I watch a lot of shows (at the West End) but I refuse to watch shows that I know I’ll be doing, until after I’ve done it because I want my own interpretation as a director. I need to work within my budget and within our means, so I’d rather not be swayed by seeing how other people do things and just do it my way without bias.”

When asked about how she felt during opening night, she said it was nerve-wrecking, but extremely worth it.

“I was frozen in my seat! It’s like a mother giving birth and wondering if people will love my child! The pressure was tremendous, but they (audience) left smiling on the gala opening night so that was a relief! I was beaming from my left ear to my right ear because it was so nice to see everyone come out smiling – it was very heartwarming.

I’m very proud of the cast and crew – I was up on opening night until 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. texting and congratulating them one by one, and they were so excited as well. It’s that kind of camaraderie that we have.”

Finally, why would people want to watch Pan Productions’ version of The Producers?

“You will see pure talent on stage, and you will feel it. Sets and costumes are important, but if you strip everything away  – the audience still needs to leave feeling like ‘Wow, they were really good.’ That’s why people need to come watch live music, up close and personal because you will feel a buzz – you’ll feel recharged,” she said.

“I would hope that people start coming to KL to watch our (local) productions because we definitely have all the talents here, we just need more public support.”

This is the first time The Producers will be staged in Southeast Asia, so be sure to catch it – if you love laughing, you won’t regret it

Over the weekend, Jovian Mandagie created quite the buzz when he launched his latest collections with a special preview at JW Marriott KL. As one of the most celebrated designers in Malaysia, Jovian tempts with the release of three new lines under his name – J Luxe, Demi Couture and J Hijab.

J Luxe, dubbed the pre-Raya collection, comprises of 20 specially re-designed editions of his best sellers so far. Due to the demands for the highly sought-after garments, Jovian has taken to add new embellishments and more daring colours and patterns to the current release. While his previous pieces boast of pastel hues, this time the maestro is playing around with bold and earthy tones in view of the Spring/Summer season.

His designs – Jova, Jewel, Jules, Jachyntha and Jheryl – take on intricate and chic decorative touches. We spotted the use of lovely floral and geometric patterns throughout the collection.

In the Demi Couture range, Jovianistas would be pleased to know that each design can be customised to fit you perfectly. The arm’s length of the kebaya tops can be shortened, three-quarter or even long sleeved.

What’s exquisite about this line is the stunning hand-stitched work that goes into it. The detailing, applique, beadworks and intricacies that are featured on each and every one of Jovian’s design is simply gorgeous. Each design is limited to only 30 pieces, so it’s very niche.

Meanwhile for headscarf wearers, you can now choose form over 50 designs and colours in the J Hijab collection for any occasion. In line with the collection’s launch, Jovian took the opportunity to introduce his brand ambassadresses, Mira Filzah and Amelia M. Yusoff who both stand as the faces of J Hijab. The girls were chosen from over 1000 entries sent in.

The collections were made available for pre-order during the preview causing fans to go into a frenzy trying to get their hands on the limited pieces before anyone does.

However last night, the designer and his team sprang a surprise by announcing that the J Luxe, Demi Couture and the newest, J Homme for men are now exclusively on sale at FashionValet. The coveted J Luxe and J Homme collections are open for orders till May 1st 2013!

Photo Source: hkdesigncentre.org

Though, we reckon its time to give that perception a revamp. Yes dear ladies and gents, the image above is actually a Starbucks store! It may not be known to many but there are a few concept Starbucks outlets that don’t fit most of the ‘standard’ description. Be it just a quick stop, getting yourself a quick java fix, or simply as a chillax place to rest or do work, these Starbucks stores are worth a visit (or two)! Here are 6 of the coolest Starbucks stores around the world;

Fukuoka, Japan

Photo Source: geekosystem.com

Designed by architect Kengo Kuma, the store’s structure makes use of hundreds of wooden blocks that interlock with each other throughout the store. These interwoven pieces also acts as the roof base of the store. According to sources, the stunning design is meant mimic the branches in a forest; to give and allow patrons to feel that the Starbucks outlet is ‘nestled in a tree’.

Kamakura, Japan

Located just a few minutes from Kamakura Station, this particular Starbucks store comes with a terrace seating, scenic veranda and a backyard pool. The spacious and minimalistic interior decor of the store is claimed to be designed to resemble a wooden Japanese-style home. Still not impressed? The Starbucks outlet was built at the late Ryuichi Yokoyama’s former residence, which explains the display of his notable works around the store.

Beijing, China

Photo Source: cityweekend.com.cn

Built to blend in with the traditional oriental architecture and charm of Qianmen street, Beijing, this quaint Starbucks outlet features Chinese woodcarvings, customized mugs and old-fashioned wood tables. Additionally, aside for the usual Starbucks coffees and pastries, customers can also get traditional Chinese food, such as zongzi (粽子, dumpling).

Hong Kong

Photo Source: brandeating.com

The Starbucks at Duddel Street, Hong Kong, can be deemed as a sort of time machine – you have your typical plush-seats Starbucks decor at one side, and a ‘bing-sutt (冰室, “ice parlours”) concept on the other! With details such as old school binds, folding chairs, menu sheets and small-tiled floors, we must say that the look of the bing sutt truly makes one reminisce old-time Hong Kong tea houses.

Amsterdam, Germany

Photo Source: fastcodesign.com

This Starbucks outlet is actually built in the old bank vault of Amsterdamsche Bank, a landmark historical structure in Amsterdam’s famous Rembrandt Square. The store’s multilevel space is mainly consists of recycled materials and goods, such as antique Delft tiles, bicycle inner tubes on the wall, and wooden gingerbread moulds.

Denver, Colorado

Photo Source: fastcodesign.com

Conceptualized as a green concept Starbucks, this particular store has no comfortable sofas, free power outlets or CDs for sale at the check-out counter. Instead, this LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building sports a ‘drive-thru and walk-up’ concept. Another interesting fact is that the outlet structure was created in a factory and delivered to the current Northglenn situation from a truck! 

We’ve got to say, we’re pretty impressed and amazed by these Starbucks architecture! Here’s to hoping something like those stores emerge in our homeland soon! Till then, perhaps you can add these spots to your travel go-sees?

Sources: Earth Techling, Co.Design, Brand Eating, 

This is one exercise you can do it virtually anywhere. And the best part is you could be burning up to 75 to 100 calories if you’re walking on flat terrain, and 200 to 250 calories if you’re doing it uphill. Keep in mind these tips when you’re walking for a slimmer, healthier body:

Walk five days a week at 30 minutes per session. Do it at a pace that gets you breathing heavily but not to the point you can’t talk. This is not going to be easy but walk as long as you are comfortable during the first week and for each subsequent week, increase the amount by no more than 10 percent.

Pick up the pace. To warm up, begin each walk with five minutes of easy-paced walking, about the same pace when you do grocery shopping. To cool down, do another five minutes of easy-paced walking at the end of each walk. You can also do this intermittently during your walks. This helps your heart rate to speed up and slow down gradually while keeping boredom at bay.

Engage a friend or family member to walk with you. When there’s someone expecting you, chances are you’ll feel more motivated to keep up the exercise. If one of you can’t make it (aka break the cycle), put a penalty of RM5 in a jar. Fingers crossed this won’t happen but if it does, donate the full jar to charity.

Aim for 10,000 steps a day. That might seem like a big number but do you know, on average most people walk about 5,500 to 7,500 steps a day running to and from meetings, to the water cooler, and such? Use a pedometer to see how many steps you normally take in a day and increase that amount by at least 200 steps daily until you reach between 10,000 to 12,500 steps.

Explore during walks. Use your sessions to experience the great outdoors and keep you mentally engaged. Vary your routes and terrain to help you target different leg muscles and thus, improving the effectiveness of each outing you make.

Improve your walking posture. When you walk properly, you can reduce discomfort and burn more fat and calories. No slumping or hunching. Stand tall with your spine elongated and breastbone lifted to allow your lungs to fully expand. Keep head straight, eyes focused and shoulders relaxed. Roll your feet from heel to toe and allow your arms to swing freely. Firm your tummy and flatten your back as you walk to prevent lower back pain.

Climb the stairs. If you’re really pressed for time, climb up and down a flight of stairs for two minutes, five times a day. You’ll garner the same results with a burst of heart rate in those segmented 10 minutes as you would from 36 minutes of walking on a level surface.

*Walking may be one of safest activities you can do but do stay safe always and it is best to keep away from lonely, deserted areas. 

 Source: Reader’s Digest

Situated in Jalan Telawi 3, NOSH is a fairly new café in Bangsar operated by Ann and Judith. At first glance, the café sports a rather simplistic yet chic décor and ambience. This is clearly a place that lets their food do the talking as NOSH is a full-fledged restaurant with a rocking fusion menu of local and international meals, decadent menus, aromatic coffees and a wine bar.

To celebrate their sixth month mark in the gastronomic world, NOSH has decided to plan a not-so-little treat for their patrons – an exceptional extension of their desserts menu! Aptly named ‘Sweet on NOSH’ and available throughout May and June, this special desserts menu entails of 10 additional dessert treats, on top of their already existing 10 desserts. Yes girls and guys, you get a whopping total of 20 dessert choices to choose from May to June! Oh, and to those with a smaller sweet tooth, fret not as NOSH has also prepared some savoury specials to keep your taste buds, palate and tummy happy!

To show you a glimpse of what’s in stored and to ease your ‘is it worth the excitement ‘quandary, the VB team takes on a preview and taste-test of the food. It’s a tough job, but someone has to (happily) do it!

The Savouries

We first take a look at NOSH’s savoury offerings. Their May specials include the Smoked Salmon Salad, Pumpkin & Smoked Chicken Risotto and Lamb Gnocchi.

The Smoked Salmon salad is an easy crowd-pleasure. The greens were fresh, crisp and pairs well with the flavourful salmon. We also like the fact that the good folks at NOSH have added in potatoes to accommodate to those that take their salads as a main course.

As with all their pasta dishes, the risotto and gnocchi were prepared al dente (which is cooked to be firm but not hard). Truth be told, that method of preparation may not be for everyone. In fact, Ann had admitted that there were several customers who had remarked about how hard their pasta was. Our take on it? We must admit that we really enjoyed chewing and relishing the flavours that came from each and every pasta (and tender meat) bits, yum!

The Sweets

“We’ve had customers who come over and just order desserts as their mains!” said the cheery Ann.  Pretty self-explanatory once you take a bite of NOSH’s sweet offerings.

As mentioned, Sweet on Nosh is a special extended desserts selection that would be available for the month of May and June. The menu comprises of treats ranging from a chocolate-based pavlova to locally-inspired coconut panna cotta. With diversity like that, we’re pretty sure there’s going to be something for someone. The Sweet on NOSH menu selections are as such;

1. Earl Grey Crème Bulee
2. Crème Au Chocolat
3. Coconut Panna Cotta
4. Black Forest Pavlova
5. Sweet Potato Azuki Gateux
6. Lemon Peach Tart
7. Walnut Tiramisu
8. Apple Cinnamon Cake
9. Strawberry Cheesecake
10. Chocolate Orange

Here’s the catch though – to order off the Sweet on Nosh menu, customers would have to get a minimum of two dessert platters.

Ann mentioned to us that this was to accommodate and encourage the ‘share-share’ culture that we Malaysians love. As the portions are more than satisfactory, we would advise you to go with one or more friends to avoid wastage (and to try on more desserts!). Good food is meant to be shared, aye? Though, we also see no fault if you think you deserve a little pampering ad would like to savour two platters yourself!

As for the food itself, we honestly tell you that we went home with a smile plastered on our face. Just take a look at these cakes -

If you think they look great, truth is they taste even better! The Strawberry Cheesecake was light, loaded with strawberries, not overly sweet and has just the right amount of creaminess and smoothness. We recommend this treat to strawberry and cheesecake lovers! As for the non-cheesecake lovers, the Chocolate Orange cake was also a delight as we experienced a fine and balanced union of cocoa and orange flavours.

If you’re more into oriental style desserts, might we recommend the Sweet Potato Azuki Gateux. This airy green tea chiffon sponge cake is generously topped with sweet potato mousse (yes, those weren’t pasta on the cake!) and rich azuki red beans. Another interesting dessert concoction is the Earl Grey Crème Bulee, which we’re sure would appeal to many tea lovers. Other personal Sweet on NOSH favourites include the Black Forest Pavlova and Lemon Peach Tart.

NOSH also has the chocolate treat to die, the Varlhona Heaven – a trio of molten chocolate cake, chocolate tart and homemade chocolate ice cream, all made from Varlhona chocolate. For those who may not know, Varlhona is considered one of the foremost chocolate brands in world. Yes ladies and gents, just imagine how wonderful these decadent trio taste like!

Or better yet, quit imagining and just head on over to NOSH to have a taste for yourselves! Trust us; you will never Nosh the same ever again.

NOSH (Tel: 03-22013548)
No 7 Jalan Telawi 3
Bangsar Baru
59100 Kuala Lumpur

For more information, please visit NOSH or their Facebook page.

This week started off with a sad tone with the news of Irene Ong Ai Sam stabbed to death in Bukit Gasing whilst jogging with here daughter. Her body has been laid to rest at the Gui Yan crematorium with hundreds of visitors paying their last respects to the social activist. Rest in peace Mrs Ong, you will be missed. To lighten up spirits, here are our top picks for the week in all things fashion, trends, food and lifestyle.

Buzz Worthy: Mother Dies Saving Daughter From Robbers

Tragedy struck joggers at the Bukit Gasing trail on Saturday as a woman was stabbed to death while jogging with her daughter.

Entertainment: The Sundance Film Festival 2013 (April 26-30)

Want to do something different this weekend? Why not call the girls, grab a popcorn bucket or tubs of ice-cream, and tune in to Astro b.yond (channel 438) for 2013′s Sundance Film Festival winners!

Fashion Trend: The Sneakers Trend

After borrowing men’s tailored blazers and slacks, women’s fashion is taking yet another cue from the lads: the sneakers.

Fashion: [NSFW] Sexy Lingerie for Men? Oh Yes!

Looks like lacy numbers and sexy lingeries are not just for women, even men can have a piece of the action.

Where To Makan: Five Crepes Around Town

Crepes are great! They’re nice on their own, and especially awesome when paired it with almost anything. Here are five crepes you can try that are around The Klang Valley!

Fitness: 5 Easy Stretches To Do In The Shower

Pressed for time to exercise? How about trying out one of these easy stretches you can do in the shower.

Photo Source: glutendairyfree.co.uk

At initial thought, the idea sounds pretty harmless. Though, that is not right – detoxing in general is going to be difficult. Nonetheless, don’t be discouraged because it is undeniable that going on an organic juice detox would greatly benefit you.

1. Cleansed Body. The main reason you should go on an organic juice detox is this – because your body (and mind) would be in a cleaner and healthier state. By only turning towards to organic juices and light meals as a food source, you would be slowly flushing all the bad stuff out and replacing them with the fruits’ benefits.

Try this:  Apple, peach and apricot combination. This three work well to promote lymphatic drainage, helps digestion and improves your body’s detoxification abilities.

2. Improved Immune System. Organic juices are a great source of vitamins and minerals, which are needed to lift and improve your immune system.

Try this: Blackcurrant. Berries, especially blackcurrants, are well-known for its ability to attack free radicals.

3. Clears Constipation. If you are prone to constipation, the organic juice detox would do you a whole lot of good. As you would be getting heaps load of fibre from the juice, and due to the fact that your body would be in a cleansed and healthier state, your digestive and bowel system would be at its best state.

Try this: Kiwi. One main reason constipation occurs is because our body is too ‘heaty’. Kiwis are know to have a cooling effect on our bodies, thus relieving constipation.

4. Slim Down. When done right, the organic juice detox can help you burn down fat, fast.

Try this: Apricots. These nectarines are filled with lycopene, which is known to prevent the build-up of fatty deposits. 

5. Better Skin. Since organic juices contain ample amount of collagen, you would get healthier and glowing skin. Dutifully consuming organic juices can promote the lymphatic drainage and stimulate your skin’s metabolism. In general terms – it effectively calms down and clears up skin problems.

Try this: Peach. The peach is good for clearing up skin problems as it is known to be a great skin regeneration stimulant.

Oh, and you also have the infamous mille crepes! These are glorious stacks of crepes with layers of cream in between. Crepe, cream, crepe, cream. Oh my! Be it in a cake form, as a sweet treat or a savoury dish, admit it – crepes, when done right, are a delight!

Though, we did realize that, for some sad and unknown reason, the crepe scene is not that hot in this part of town. Fret not dear readers, we’ve managed to scout a few crepes to satisfy your crepe-y cravings! Here are five crepes you can try that are around The Klang Valley!

Yaku Crepes  (LG, Central Floor, Time Square)

Though not known to many, Yaku Crepes have actually been around for almost 10 years! Their crepes have a crispy start, but give it some time and the heat from its piping-hot fillings would soften it up nicely.

The good: Its fillings. Just look at the amount of fillings in the image! We also liked the fact that the crepe did not depend on the feelings’ flavours as the main source of taste – the crepe itself had a nice taste to it. What we’re trying to say is that this is one of those foods where everything blends well together, which is how we like our food to be.

The not so good: Truth be told, though Yaku Crepes taste good, we wouldn’t exactly say that this as a spectacular crepe. Another factor is that Yaku Crepes are only available in The Golden Triangle (Sg.Wang, Times Square and Low Yat to be exact) premises.

Hokkaido Ichiba  (1Utama Shopping Centre)

Crepes and ice cream make a lovely pair. What more if the ice cream is superb, which is the case for Hokkaido Ichiba.

The good: We admit, the crepe above doesn’t look that good, but looks can be so deceiving! It is very important that we highlight how delightful the Ichigo Crepe (strawberry crepe)! The crepe was filled with strawberry ice cream and fresh strawberries, and topped up with strawberry sauce. Yes, it is a strawberry lover’s dream! The crepe’s taste fit the strawberries perfectly.

The not so good: Honestly now, the crepes are a tad too hard. We recommend you to get the crepes that are wrapped around Hokkaido Ichiba’s awesome ice cream as this would soften up its texture. Also, there are hits and misses with their crepes – we loved the strawberry crepe but were disappointed with the chocolate one.

Shimino  (Pavilion)

Shimino crepes are served to you in a cone shape, with the fillings of your choice and fresh cream inside. And we’ve got to tell you, the combination is ingenious!

The good: The crepe piece is moist and soft, which is how crepes should be. The fillings include strawberries, mangoes, grass jelly and cheese cake. Yes, you can have cheesecake in your crepe! Take a good bite of the crepe, cream and perhaps peach slices and, ah bliss! Oh, and you can also pick between the original or mini portions now! The mini version is an ideal size for snacking in-between meals.

The not so good: As this crepe uses fresh fruits, getting a Shimino crepe can sometimes be a gable. If unlucky, you’d encounter sour mangoes or strawberries. We suggest you to be smart when buying – if it isn’t mango season then just try avoiding mango fillings. Also, price may a factor, but then again, you can always opt for the mini version.

Nadeje Patisserie Mille Crepe  (32 Square)

Hailing from Melaka, Nadeje Patisserie has become a household name in the world of mille crepes (crepe cakes). Rumour has it that, before opening their recent 32Square outlet, there were even those who drove down to Melaka for a slice!

Photo Source: Nadeje FB

The good: We absolutely love its soft and moist texture. Trust us when we say that it literally melts in your mouth. There is also a variety of flavours for you to choose from. To name a few, there are mocha, rum and raisin, gula Melaka and chocolate banana flavours. If you’re the type that’s not good with decisions, may we suggest the mocha flavour.

The not so good: The mille crepe was a tad too milky, so it can be a little jelak. However, this is entirely out of personal taste. Also, get the cake with patience – on a Wednesday afternoon, our writer had to wait half an hour just to collect a cake that was pre-ordered days ago. Yes, even for collections

Food Foundry  (BG8, Happy Mansion, Jalan 17/13, Petaling Jaya)

Throwing in another mille crepe option, Food Foundry can be considered one of the more successful and longest mille crepe providers in The Klang Valley.

Photo Source: Food Foundry FB

The good: The crepe itself has a light taste too it and matches well with the crepe. We also like how the mille crepe taste is just right – it is not too sweet, slightly creamy and has the adequate amount of flavours. Our suggested flavours include the strawberry and chocolate. Enjoy!

The not so good: When compared to Nadeje Patisserie, the cakes’ crepe pieces from Food Foundry are not as soft and moist. Though, we wouldn’t exactly say that this is a terrible thing.

Credit: Hansgrohe-int

Stretching is one of the most effective ways to keep your body in top shape. And the shower is one of the best places to do stretching as you can both save time and tone up your body simultaneously. The water beating against your skin also provides a great relieve for tired muscles and fatigue.

When shower stretching, you’ll essentially be engaging your core muscles as you’d need to find some form of stability. It can be pretty slippery in there, so take extra caution when performing these simple moves.

#1 Squats

Squat while washing your hair or lathering up. Stand with feet wider than hips, bend your knees and squat down with glutes squeezed in tight.

For relaxing the back muscles after a hard day at work, adopt the same position and squat but this time rest your hands on the floor in front of you and relax your head. Keep in position for 30 seconds and feel the water massaging you from above.

#2 Kickbacks & Calf Raises

Lean into the wall and kick one leg up behind you while raising your heel upwards. Focus on the glute of that leg and feel it tightening behind you.

When washing your hair, face or brushing your teeth, raise yourself up on tip toes and lower back down to a flat foot position. Do these two moves for 2-5 minutes. This helps to tone your behind and release any tension.

Credit: Walkers Scunthorpe UK

#3 Side Bend

Stand with your feet at shoulder-width apart and raise your right arm up over your head. Then, tilt your body to the left to flex your torso muscles and do the same for the opposite side.

You can also try placing your right palm on the wall behind you and your left hand across the belly while moving your feet toward the left as far as you can with keeping hands firmly pressed.

#4 Arm Circles

Swing both arms in a forward motion five times and then another five times in a backward motion. Add torso twists with your arms up in front of you, twisting them from side to side, repeat about five to six times.

To relax tight shoulders, stand with feet together, open your arms out to the sides behind you and place your palms on the wall. Press palms away from you and lean forward slightly to intensify the stretch. Hold for 30 seconds or more.

#5 Wall Push-Ups

The perfect rinse involves a bit of push-ups. Get on your knees or if that feels uncomfortable, push yourself against the wall, just add extra reps so that it’ll be worth your while in the shower.

Source: Fit Sugar, Canadian Living

The Apartment is an exhilarating reality design competition and TV series where 8 pairs of contestants would compete with each other to win a brand new apartment by Sime Darby Property. Witness a plethora of artistic talents, creative ideas and stunning interior decors as contestants go into an all-out design battle to create the most stylish and fabulous rooms based on weekly challenges.

Laurence Llewellyn Bowen once again returns at the head judge. Joining him as the mentor and host would be another familiar face, the renowned designer Jamie Durie. In fact, Jamie Durie is in town for The Apartment: Live in Malaysia!

Photo Source: The Apartment TV

The live audition of The Apartment will be held at 1Utama Shopping Centre tomorrow (27 April 2014). The Apartment roadshow will be there from 10am to 10pm, but the auditions would be from 11am to 7pm. Oh, and as stated, Jamie Durie will be present! So guys and girls, if you think you’ve got a Midas touch with interior decors and want to be in the running to win a brand new Sime Darby apartment, be sure to keep yourselves free tomorrow!

When asked about how the auditions would be like and what exactly are they looking for in The Apartment contestants, Jamie Durie and Team Dali (winners of The Apartment Season 2) answered that contestants must be prepared to work under pressure and time. Based on the recent audition in Singapore, contestants had to create mood boards on go through the Dulux Colour Challenges. Sounds pretty challenging, but don’t be discouraged! Remember, the VB team will always be rooting for you!

Shoppers and non-participants are also in for a treat – in conjunction with the live auditions, Dulux is offering exclusive promotions during the Happy Colour Hours at 1pm and/or 4pm on Saturday and Sunday! There is also a Dulux Colour Experience Wall, where RM2 will be donated for each square painted on the wall. Proceeds would go to a charitable home of Dulux’s choice.

So, to those interested, you know where to head to!

For more information, please visit The Apartment TV of their Facebook page.

Credit: David LaFerriere/ Flickr

Meet David LaFerriere, a graphic designer who happens to be a really cool dad. For him, packing his two sons’ lunch is a creative process like no other.

He has been drawing illustrations on his children’s sandwich bags and photographed almost every single piece since 2008. Through the course of these five years, he has amassed over 1,100 sandwich bags art which can be seen on his Flickr page.

Credit: David LaFerriere/ Flickr

The father from Massachusetts shot to fame after his work was recently featured on The Weekly Flickr, a vlog that documents the cool projects of Flickr’s most popular photographers. Most of his subjects revolve around monsters, robots, birds, worms and even social media icons.

The inspiration, he says, could come from anywhere or whatever that’s happening at that time. Sometimes, the bread itself provides an idea with the bubbles formation that he likens to finding shapes in the clouds.

LaFerriere is not the only dad to make lunch fun for his school-going children.

Derek Benson is another father who lends his own creative touch to beautifully decorated brown bags. Each bag takes him about 20 minutes or less to complete and sometimes, his kids get involved too.

Credit: Derek Benson/ Lunch Bag Art Tumblr

His finds inspiration from everything like old movies, fantasy characters, cartoons, etc. The video game developer describes his work as conversational pieces that he hopes would help his kids as icebreaker in class and boost their self-confidence.

One thing they both have in common is that they’re doing it out of love, which makes all these art priceless. Now Malaysian dads, time to up your game! No pressure

The actress at the Iron Man 3 premiere. Credit: Celebuzz

The list is out and it came just in time for Gwyneth Paltrow who has been named as the World’s Most Beautiful Woman. Looks like a busy week for the the 40-year-old actress with the premiere of the latest Iron Man 3 happening at the same time.

The award announced just hours earlier in the US has not been well-received though. The “people” it seems do not agree. Some are questioning the method in which the decision was made and others made clear their displeasures on twitter.

The actress has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. Her website Goop caused a stir for selling bikinis for girls aged 4-8 years old and she was recently voted as one of the most hated celebrities in Hollywood in a poll by another magazine, Star. Even at the Iron Man 3 premiere last night, her choice of clothing was deeply scrutinised for being too revealing with the completely sheer side panels.

Gwyneth Paltrow, who claims that she is just your regular girl in jeans and t-shirt, was praised by the magazine for her timeless look. She credits her rigorous diet and workout routine for keeping her young and in good shape. This is the fourth time she’s been named by the magazine as the world’s most beautiful and she takes over the crown from last year’s winner Beyonce.

People Magazine’s Top 10 World’s Most Beautiful Women:

1. Gwyneth Paltrow
2. Kerry Washington
3. Amanda Seyfried
4. Zooey Deschanel
5. Jane Fonda
6. Jennifer Lawrence
7. Kelly Rowland
8. Halle Berry
9. Drew Barrymore
10. Pink

After borrowing men’s tailored blazers and slacks, women’s fashion is taking yet another cue from the lads: the sneakers. As one of the season’s biggest shoe crazes (besides those ultra-sexy heeled sandals), sneakers gets a major facelift with luxe materials, sequins and the infamous wedges. The same craze has gotten street stylers don full-fledged gym shoes and not only Chuck Taylors.

From a thing of Jay-Z and Kanye West, sneakers have officially joined the ‘it’ list.

The trendsetters

So who’s behind this grand fashion world takeover scheme? We highlight a few ‘sneaky suspects’.

Who’d have thought the ones who ignite public love for sneakers were the highly-functional and rather bulky New Balance. The brand’s signature 407s, 410s and 576s are making rounds since last October with the likes of Céline’s Phoebe Philo and Lauren Conrad spotted in them. Up to date, even Jane Aldrige of Sea of Shoes fame has donned ‘em mighty sneakers!

A sneakers talk would not be legitimate without a mention of the ‘king of all sneakers’, Nike. Way before the trend took off, Nike has constantly churned out stylish sneakers besides their functional pairs. While the boys have been raving about their Air Max Infrared, their signature high tops with sleek built are still proven to be a hit among the ladies.

Clockwise: Converse <3 Marimekko, LV sneakers, Jimmy Choo sneakers, Isabel Marant Bird Sneakers

Nike’s long-time competitor Adidas is not showing any sign of slowing down, by tying up with Jeremy Scott. The brainchild of the collaboration are the catchy and rather controversial Adidas Originals JS Wings Silhouette. Later on, the designer teamed up with high-profile Korean girlband 2NE1 to come up with a sub-line of the JS Wings.

If those sneakers are too sporty for your liking, then you’d be thrilled to find more whimsical pairs from Keds x Kate Spade and Converse <3 Marimekko. Otherwise, there’s always those wedge pairs made popular by Isabel Marant and have inspired Marc Jacobs and Chloé among others.

Where to get those stylish sneakers

In Malaysia, stylish sneakers are highly accessible and you know better that they don’t belong to the sports stores. Follow KLKix and their active community in Malaysia for the latest updates. Last month, they held a Sneaker Swap Meet at The Bee, Publika.

Start your sneakers journey by paying a visit to one of Malaysia’s pioneer sneakers shops – Sole What. Their outlets at The Gardens (S229A, 2nd floor) and 1Utama (F364A, 1st floor) are basically a sneaker lovers’ heaven with their limited edition goodies put together in gorgeous shop displays. Their latest in-store additions include Leather Jack Purcell with Floral Insoles and New Balance 574 Varsity & 373 Classic Packs.

If you’re an avid online shopper, then Size? is the equivalent of ASOS when it comes to stylish sneakers. From Asics to Adidas, Size? does not disappoint with its range of choices. When on the site, don’t miss out on Size? Exclusive section where you can find one-of-a-kind designs from Nike, Converse and Fred Perry among others. What we love most about the site is its free international shipping for orders over £100. Yay!

For the high fashion girls in you, head over to Net-a-Porter and rummage their rather extensive sneakers selection (stored under the ‘Shoes’ tab). Mostly made up of wedge sneakers, it is the place to go for designer sneakers.

How to sneak sneakers into your daily outfits

1. With skinny jeans

Skinny jeans are the foolproof items you should start with when attempting on the sneakers look. Pick your favourite coloured denim, add on a striped tee, and insert the jeans into a high-top pair. Done!

2. With mini dress / skirt

Slim-built canvas sneakers would look great if paired with a mini dress / skirt as they wouldn’t ‘cut’ into your height, besides adding that whimsical bit to your overall getup.

3. With dungarees

Dungarees, 90s’ kid old time favourite piece of garment, is making a comeback and boy do they fit sneakers like a glove! To further accentuate the playful vibe they ooze, go for in-your-face statement sneakers. Opt out from necklaces and go for arm candies instead to let your midriff shine.

General tips on acing the sneakers look:

• If you are conscious about looking shorter when wearing sneakers, opt for Converse or Keds pairs as they are slimmer in built that they won’t cut off your height. Bulkier pairs like New Balance are more suitable for those with long legs.
• For those who are game to ace the tomboy style, the principle is go big or go home. Make a statement with your sneakers like Rihanna, and go easy on the rest of your outfit.
• To achieve an interesting juxtaposed look, put on sneakers to complement your tailored monochrome look.
• Unless you are going for the hip-hop look, never pair a loose bottom with sneakers.

Products info: Mango coloured denim, RM99. Bershka striped tee, RM89.90. Adidas Originals x ObyO Jeremy Scott Instinct High (via Size?), approx. RM609. Topshop cutout floral dress, RM233. H&M basic white singlet, RM27.90. Dorothy Perkins skater skirt, RM299. Converse All Star Hi Floral (via Size?), approx. RM257.80. ASOS denim dungarees, approx. RM178. Luccacal neon bracelets, RM16. Topshop leather look bralet, RM166. Marc by Marc Jacobs cutout metallic leather wedge sneakers (via Net-A-Porter), approx. RM1,216

Photo Source: www.ecorazzi.com

A study was done not long ago to find out the truth of the matter. Michael Wasserman of the UC Berkeley’s Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management had done a research on the effects of Phytoestrogens (sex hormones found in plants) on wild primates’ behaviour.

The 11 month study follows a troop of red colobus monkeys in Uganda. Wasserman and his team had observed and kept tabs of the primates’ eating, grooming and sex habits. From their research, they found that the more the male monkeys dined on the Millettia Dura leaves ( a tropical tree plant containing Phytoestrogens), the higher their Estradiol  levels (their ‘sex hormones’) were. This then resulted in the monkeys getting it on more than grooming themselves.

Though similar studies and experiment have yet been conducted on mankind, one should remember that human and primates contain quite a number of similarities. Due to that, intellects do agree with Wasserman’s studies. In fact, his results have even been published in several health and hormone journals.

If that isn’t enough, several other studies have proven that soy products can increase you sex drive, and fruits full of vitamin C tend to improve sperm count and its motility rate. Celeries are also known to increase your sexual appetite as they contain androsterone. Actually, it seems that most libido-increasing foods come from plant sources. Food for thought, right?

Our thoughts on it? Well, we find no reasons to disagree with Wassermans’ studies. Also, it is undeniable that a proper vegan diet would be able to cleanse and detoxify you, resulting in a better body and mind. And well, when you feel better about yourself, anything could really happen.

So yes, we reckon that it is possible for vegans to have better sex. What do you people think? Leave us your comments below!

Sources: The Daily Mail, MensHealth, UC Berkely News Centre

The tagline says ‘Glamour Goes Online’ and at the preview launch today, we got to see why. Elegance and sophistication are two words used to describe the designer, Rizalman. His work always has a touch of femininity and effortless chic. This collection is no different, though he is moving away from his trademark monochromatic tones and in place, neon is his new playground.

In his latest collaboration with Zalora, one of the biggest online store in Asia, everyone will now have a chance to own a Rizalman piece in their wardrobes. Classic Rizalman silhouettes are presented in form-fitting cuts and flowy kaftans. Frills and peplums are also present in his designs.

Fashion lovers get a chance to choose from a variety of styles, colours and patterns that will be pleasing for the upcoming Raya. Solid comes in black, red and fuchsia while stripes and patterns in bright colours add zing to the collection.

The pieces are decorated with embellishments like bows, rhinestones and colour beads. Our favourite has to be the oversized gold zippers around the neckline, that gives off a modern couture feel!

Ladies, time to get your Raya shopping done! The Rizalman for Zalora collection is available now on site and the price ranges from RM350-RM460. All orders received before June 7th 2013 will be delivered to your doorstep by June 24th 2013.

Though there are several brands that offer instant cameras, it is undeniable that Fujifilm is one of the more popular brands right now. Instead of cracking your heads over what is what, here’s a lowdown on the various types of Instax cameras;

Oh, and always remember – there is no wrong camera decision. Different cameras would have different pros and cons, but that doesn’t mean that one is a league above the other. Just keep in mind that the camera choice is based on what you want and need, and that instant film photography is all about having fun!

Sources: Fujifilm Global, B&H

Watch a superb line-up of new and exclusive programming on Sundance Channel from April 26 to 30 that will premiere four exclusive movies which were shown at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

Catch a different movie each night at 10:00pm and experience the excitement of Sundance London (happening simultaneously at the O2), from the comfort of your own home! Below is further information about the films to debut on Sundance Channel in conjunction with Sundance London, including premiere dates and times:

1. This is Martin Bonner, Friday, 26 April at 10:00pm

Martin Bonner has just moved to Nevada from the East Coast, leaving behind his two adult children and a life he spent more than two decades building. He’s there working a new job as the volunteer coordinator for a non-profit organization that helps prisoners make the transition from incarceration to freedom. It’s Martin’s first job in two years and he’s recently declared bankruptcy. At the same time, Travis Holloway, a prisoner in the program, is being released after serving 12 years.

Sent back into the world with nothing, Travis also finds life in Reno difficult to adjust to, despite the help from his program sponsor, Steve Helms. The stories of Martin and Travis slowly converge, as the two men meet and find that they have much in common, not the least of which is an unspoken need for encouragement and support. Their unlikely friendship blossoms but is put to the test when Travis betrays Martin’s trust in order to reunite with his estranged daughter. The film received an Audience Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

Cast: Paul Eenhoorn, Richmond Arquette, Sam Buchanan, Robert Longstreet, Demetrius Grosse / USA (Director and screenwriter: Chad Hartigan)

2. Halley, Saturday, 27 April at 10:00pm

Alberto is dead and can no longer hide it. Before surrendering to his living death, he forms an unusual friendship with Luly, the manager of the 24-hour gym where he works as a night guard. Halley is an essay on the anguish experienced when the illusion of control over our bodies disappears.

As a contemporary gothic story, the film casts a compassionate look at the life of a helpless witness to the decomposition of his own body. Alberto’s condition offers a reflection of our mortality and the solitude of decay. Screen Daily called the film a “disturbingly stylish and surrealistic drama” with “impressive performances.”

Cast: Alberto Trujillo, Lourdes Trueba, Hugo Albores / Mexico (Director: Sebastian Hofmann, Screenwriters: Sebastian Hofmann, Julio Chavezmontes)

3. Computer Chess, Sunday, 28 April at 10:00pm

An existential comedy about the brilliant men who taught machines to play chess – back when the machines seemed clumsy and we seemed smart. Set over the course of a weekend tournament for chess software programmers circa 1980, Computer Chess transports viewers to a nostalgic moment when the contest between technology and the human spirit seemed a little more up for grabs.

We get to know the eccentric geniuses possessed of the vision to teach a metal box to defeat man, literally, at his own game, laying the groundwork for artificial intelligence as we know it and will come to know it in the future. The movie received the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

Cast: Patrick Riester, Myles Paige, James Curry, Robin Schwartz, Gerald Peary, Wiley Wiggins / USA (Director and screenwriter: Andrew Bujalski)

4. Goats, Monday, 29 April at 10:00pm

Fifteen-year-old Ellis is getting ready to leave his luxurious home in the foothills of Tucson, Arizona for his freshman year at Gates Academy, a prep school on the East Coast. While he is excited about his new life ahead, it means he will leave behind Wendy, his single, New Age trust-fund mother and the only real father he has ever known, a goat herder living in his mother’s pool house that goes by the name of Goat Man.

Finding it difficult to adjust to his new prep school surroundings, Ellis begins to make friends and starts to excel at his studies but eventually gets into trouble at his new school. When he’s invited to visit his estranged father in Washington, DC, Ellis sees an opportunity to build a closer bond between them and soon begins to balance the varied – and sometimes complicated – relationships in his life. The film was an Official Selection at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

Cast: David Duchovny, Vera Farmiga, Graham Phillips, Keri Russell, Justin Kirk, Ty Burrell / USA(Director: Christopher Neil, Screenwriter: Mark Jude Poirier)

5. I Used to Be Darker Tuesday, 30 April at 10:00pm

When Taryn, a Northern Irish runaway, finds herself in trouble in Ocean City, Maryland, she seeks refuge with her aunt and uncle in Baltimore. But Kim and Bill have problems of their own: they’re trying to handle the end of their marriage gracefully for the sake of their daughter Abby, just home from her first year of college.

A story of family revelations, people finding each other and letting each other go, looking for love where they’ve found it before and, when that doesn’t work, figuring out where they might find it next. Variety praised the film: “At once emotionally charged, formally abstract and narratively laidback, Porterfield’s third feature should sustain the indie cred enjoyed by his much-lauded earlier films.”

Cast: Deragh Campbell, Hannah Gross, Kim Taylor, Ned Oldham, Geoff Grace, Nick Petr / USA (Director: Matthew Porterfield, Screenwriters: Amy Belk, Matthew Porterfield)

In addition to the 5 films shown on Sundance Channel, original programming at Sundance London will show highlights from the festival - including interviews with some of the biggest celebrities in attendance and overviews of one of the most high profile events.

For more information, please visit Sundance Channel.

We love it when exciting collaborations take place and think it’s great that beauty box CosmoBox (which we wrote about last year) have kept things fresh by collaborating with another Malaysian that’s gone international – it’s none other than fashion and art illustrator Jessica Wong, creator of the Plasterdolls!

This limited edition sleeve features a Plasterdoll with her trademark “band-aid” on her forehead, and she’s seen applying beauty products from this month’s CosmoBox products which makes this month’s edition super chic and very cute – definitely something you want to have on your dressing table!

Items in this month’s Plasterdoll and CosmoBox collector’s edition beauty box include:

1. L’oreal Professional Mademoiselle Infinium Hairspray (in partnership with Lady Gaga’s stylist Charlie Le Mindu).

2. Benefit’s Benetint  Rose-Tinted Lip & Cheek Stain

3. Sothys Hydra- Nourishing Body Lotion

4. Murad’s Age Reform Refreshing Cleanser

5. Murad’s Essential C Cleanser

6. Dr. Fuchs The Emergency Eye Pads

7. The Nail Shop Nail Tips

8. Velcro Fringe Holder

Plasterdoll has over 3,000 fans and followers from all over the world which makes this a very unique collaboration that combines the fashion element with carefully curated beauty products giving subscribers the opportunity to try new beauty products – combining art and beauty in a fun package!

So what are you waiting for? At RM33.00 per month, CosmoBox has carved a niche as the premium beauty box in Malaysia, and can be gifted or subscribed to at BoxCulture.

It’s pretty noticeable that most social media networks tend to be quite image-heavy, which makes sense as visuals do draw in the crowd. However, if you’re the one in charge of a social media community or profile, picking and creating the visual content can get rather hectic (trust us, we would know)!

So community owners, content managers, graphic designers and anyone else who’s been frustrated with image sizings before, this piece is especially for you!

Brought to you by the lovely folks of LunaMetrics, this cheat sheet comes with a complete set of measurements for social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and even LinkedIn. Not only does this cheat sheet show you the exact measurement of how the social media platform will display your image, it also states the recommended upload sizes! Oh yes, we can just hear those gleeful squeals!

So ladies and gents, it is time to bid goodbye to frustrated moans and agitated grunts as you create Facebook Timeline photos or Twitter Profile images that fit perfectly on each platform. Dear LunaMetrics, thank you and bless your kind souls!

You would’ve heard of it – myBurgerLab, a magical place that concocts burgers so juicy thanks to hours and hours of experimentation to produce the elusive ‘perfect’ beef and chicken burger and by god, it’s beautiful.

Inspired by Heston Blumenthal’s techniques, it comes as no surprise why myBurgerLab is making waves locally; the three guys behind it (RenYi, Chang Ming and Wee Kiat) produce burgers for the love of food and will go all out to bring only the best to customers.

“Our advantage was not knowing how traditional F&B works; and that worked for us because we approached it from a very different perspective – as a customer,” said RenYi, Managing Director at myBurgerLab and just overall pure burger genius when VenusBuzz.com spoke to him recently.

The restaurant which is located in Seapark seats about 45 to 50 people at any one time. They open for five hours each day (5pm to 10pm) and sell up to 650 burgers a day. That’s a lot of numbers, and numbers that prove that it isn’t just all talk and hype.

“We’ve been selling out every day since day 1, that we’ve not had time to open up for lunch (which was the initial plan). After awhile it evolved into  ‘myBurgerLab only opens at night’ – and that has worked for us,” he added.

What makes it special is that the meat is processed and ground in-house, and everything is made from scratch; right down to the black buns which are synonymous with this burger shop that started about nine months ago – July 10, 2012 specifically.

We like black buns, and we cannot lie..

“I don’t know what we did right. Probably the black buns. It started out with regular buns. We knew we had a strong flavour but we needed to go viral quickly.”

RenYi said that he found charcoal powder, experimented by adding it to the bun mixture and seeing how it didn’t change the texture but looked interesting –  decided to try it on a test group.

“The funny thing is that those who got the black bun took pictures and posted it on Facebook.  So we got a lot of feedback, a lot of reviews – things like ‘Where are you getting this? What is it?’ – so we knew we were on to something.

When we started, we were selling 50/50 black and white buns, but after awhile people started demanding, “I want the black bun” and we started embracing that despite some of the negative feedback – some people thought it was hangus (burnt).”

Instagrammable meals

Today, the store only carries the black buns and what started as a shock factor, has ended up being the very icon of myBurgerLab! In this day of social media, they’ve been smart and meticulous in the portrayal of their bread (and butter – pun intended).

A quick search on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #myburgerlab, you’ll notice that these burgers look good – and trust us, it’s got nothing to do with what type of filter you’re using.

“I tell my staff, when you look at it (the burgers served) it has to be Instagrammable. So we’ve also had to think about how to package it as well.

People eat with their eyes; when they look at a picture and it looks good – they’ll want to come.”

Makan time

So we tried four burgers; 2 beef burgers, 1 chicken burger, and a vegetarian burger to get a good idea of what myBurgerLab had to offer.

To make this simpler, let’s just establish the fact that the beef patties are indeed – awesome. No grizzly bits of ‘mystery’ meat, just well-cooked patties that are tender and put the juicy in couture burgers (we totally just coined that).

You may order a set which comes with refillable soft drinks (self-serve) and a heap of tasty Rosemary fries. Other options include Smooshie drinks (bottled fresh juice) and Forty Licks ice-cream.

The Taste Test

1. The Signature Burger : A+

If you like a good ol’ burger with onions and caramelised mushrooms – this one’s for you. What’s great is that they don’t use the typical button mushrooms which is frequently used by other burger-joints. Going Asian-style, they’ve used a mix of shiitake and enoki mushrooms which contain a lot of ‘umami’ flavour – leaving you wanting more!

We would recommend going for the A++ which comes with a parmesan crisp that adds that extra texture to an already almost perfect classic.

2. The Vegetarian: Vivien’s Husband

Probably one of the tastiest veggie burgers around, the ‘patty’ is a huge Portobello mushroom seasoned lightly with olive oil, salt, pepper, bread-crumbed and fried, melted sharp Cheddar, with a slice of pineapple. There was also a slight mango-tinge to it, which gave it a very fresh taste.

Wondering why it’s called as such? Having tested the burger on several customers in the earlier days, a particular lady kept raving about it on her social media accounts and when asked about what they should name it, she replied, “I want to marry it. Call it Vivien’s Husband.” The rest is history.

3. The Secret Menu #1: Jamming with Elvis

All good burger joints should have a secret menu – those who know it feel like they’re in some sort of secret société and we’re here to help you through that initiation. If you’re a fan of peanut butter and jelly – this is for you.

Yup, you heard us right. PB&J burger. It’s revolutionary. It’s life-changing.

Inspired by a particular Swedish furniture shop’s famous meatball & blueberry jam combination, they’ve gone one step further and added peanut butter to this beauty which gives is a smooth, creamy texture – a brilliant replacement for cheese! Honestly, we Can’t Help Falling in Love (now, that’s cheesy).

4. The Secret Menu #2: Whatever Chicken

Given the extensive list of burgers, this might come as a bit of a daunting task for the uninitiated when choosing a burger. You might be tempted to say, “Whatever” – and Whatever’s what you’ll get.

The Whatever Chicken burger is a fried chicken breast with a fried egg, green salsa sauce and seaweed mayo. Having been brined for 24-hours and sous-vide for 2 hours, you can expect juicy chicken breasts that feel like they’re actually chicken thighs. Very filling, slightly heavier than the other two burgers – this is strictly for those who love seaweed.

myBurgerLab continues to push the envelope with out-of-the-box ideas - with 16 burgers on the standard menu, expect to find interesting combinations such as the Waterballoon consisting of watermelon and lychee.

“It’s inspired by a drink – I personally like eating my watermelon with salt. I thought since our beef patties are a little salty, it should go well with the watermelon, and the watermelon would go well with the lychee.

Thereotically it should all work,” said RenYi when asked about how he gets some of his inspirations.

Worth the wait?

Be it sweet, salty, or just..’whatever’ – rest assured that there’s something for everyone here at myBurgerLab. Is it worth the wait? Honestly, I never thought I would ever attempt queuing up for food (anyone who knows me, knows that I hate buffets because I despise having to ‘work’ to get my food) so the fact that I’m sold on myBurgerLab, should say quite a bit.

I even went back on a stormy, rainy night when there was less of a crowd and tapau-ed an Elvis (can you tell which one’s my favourite yet?), and had my mom try it. Now, of all the meats beef is her least favourite kind, but she actually enjoyed this and told me to get her one if I ever decided to queue up again.

The price is reasonable and depending on the type of burger – I paid RM22.50 for a set which includes fries and refillable soft drinks. That’s about the same price as another ‘premium’ fast food burger joint, just a hundred times tastier.

So there you have it – the VenusBuzz.com seal of approval (mother and all). It’s only a matter of time that you’ll find your favourite burger here, and it will probably be sooner rather than later.

myBurgerLab

No. 14, Jalan 21/22, Seapark,

46300 Petaling Jaya,

Selangor.

Opens: Tuesday – Sunday (5:00pm – 10:15pm)

For more information, visit the myBurgerLab Facebook page.

Photos taken with a Canon EOS 650D, except for panorama shot which was taken using an iPhone 5.

Before we hear another man complains about how their wardrobe is boring and their choices are limited compared to women…well guys, now your choices have gotten a wee bit more interesting! How does lingerie sound on you?

Introducing HommeMystere, a collection of luxurious lingeries dedicated especially to the boys. Considering how much the lads “love” lingeries, this might just add even more sizzles to their fascinating appeal.

The brand from Australia has been making the news lately for its bespoke underwear after the success of its recent runway show at the Las Vegas International Fashion Show.

HommeMystere carries a niche selection of padded bras, frilly thongs and lacy teddies with fun names like Flower Power, Jungle Fever and Forget-Me-Not.

Oh, we most certainly won’t forget now!

The collection comes in stretchy satin, delicate lace, comfy lycra, cute bows and prints with matching panties, bras and thongs. Each piece has been designed with care, attention to detail and to fit the body perfectly.

Lest you think this is made to target gay men, you’re so wrong. No prejudices here! The men’s panties and bras are marketed for straight guys who may or may not have a secret fetish.

However, it must be noted that the company do not discriminate; “gay, straight, vegetarian, republican, Anglican, martian or any other persuasion” are welcomed to browse and shop. The average customers are men who are married or in a relationship with a woman, between 40 and 60 years old. Even wives are buying the pieces for their husbands as gifts.

The company began selling standard underwear four years ago but since making pretty things with satin and lace, the demand and feedback have been incredible.

Now HommeMystere specialises in comfortable men’s panties aka ‘manties’ that fit very well, as well as bra straps that won’t fall off the shoulders, teddies that will not ride up halfway through the night and quality fabrics that feels soft to put on for all-day wear.

HommeMystere currently targets consumers in the US, UK and Europe. But fret not lingerie lovers, they provide shipping to anywhere in the world for $5.00 (approx. RM17). Here’s the site if anyone wants to do some lingerie shopping!

Source: Daily Mail, Yahoo! Australia

Photo Source: thecafesucrefarine.com

Though I am guilty of one thing; buying ready-to-serve dressings from the grocery store. Yes, they’re immensely convenient and some do taste pretty good, but I always had a weak spot for eateries that serve me a salad with their own dressing (albeit sometimes overcharging me). Don’t you agree?

Here are some simple salad dressing recipes for all you salad lovers (including me) to try and test on. Who knows, you may be inspired to start your own salad joint soon!

Basic Vinaigrette Recipe

This dressing goes well with most greens. Before you go on making this, remember to always stir any seasonings into the vinegar first before combining it with the oil. This is because certain ingredients, like salt, will not blend into your vinaigrette after mixing them.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 pinches of salt
• 1 pinch of pepper
• 6 tablespoons oil

What To Do:

1. In a bowl, mix together salt and pepper into the vinegar.
2. Whisk in oil. Use immediately, or cover and chill until ready to serve

Recipe Source: Easy French Food

Strawberry Vinaigrette

This dressing is great with any tossed salad, but it is suggested to pair it with mixed baby greens. Top it up with crunchy nuts, more strawberries, or even mandarin oranges, and YUM! Oh, and you could also experiment with different types of preserves!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar-free strawberry preserves (or you could also use strawberry puree)
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup water

What To Do:

1. In a bowl, whisk together the strawberry, vinegar, mustard, and pepper until well-combined.
2. Gradually whisk in olive oil and water. Use immediately or keep chilled until ready to serve.

Recipe Source: Mr Food 

Photo Source: fruitshare.ca

Balsamic Vinaigrette

This simple yet awesome dressing not only tastes great with greens, it is also similarly delicious when paired with meat or when drizzled on steamed and blanched vegetables!

Ingredients: 

• 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste

What to do:

1. Place all ingredients into a clean container with a tight lid,
2. Shake till all ingredients are well-combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe Source: Mark’s Daily Apple 

Quick Creamy Salad Dressing

Creamy dressings gives your salad that extra oomph if you’re looking for something filling, yet healthy. Don’t hesitate to add in shredded grilled chicken or even bacon bits because  creamy dressings goes well with meat too!

Ingredients:

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 to 2 cloves garlic, grated
• 2 ½ teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons water
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

What To Do:

1. In a bowl, thoroughly combine the mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, lemon juice, and water
2. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Use immediately or keep in fridge in an airtight container.

Recipe Source: Hungry Cravings 

Photo Source: yourveganmom.com

UT Grand Prix is a t-shirt designing competition held by Uniqlo. Each year, the competition draws in entries from various countries around the world by enthusiasts looking for an opportunity to create unique graphic t-shirts for the brand. And you can understand why. The winners stand a chance to win amazing prizes including $30,000 (approx RM90,000) cash and a great opportunity to see their winning designs being sold in Uniqlo stores worldwide.

This year, the competition kicked off on August 3rd 2012 and drew in close to 3500 entries from 63 countries. And the theme was based on six legendary international musical acts – The Who, AC/DC, David Bowie, Madonna, Kiss and the Sex Pistols.

Three categories were up for judging. What made this year’s contest even more special is that the musical legends themselves have personally selected the winning entries for the Artist’s Choice Award. That, and in addition to an online vote for six People’s Choice Awards and 12 Winning Entry Awards were selected.

Local boy, Zairul Puad, grabbed the Winning Entry Award under the AC/DC category. This is his second time bagging an award for his designs, last year he won the Most Voted award. His inspiration for the winning design is from AC/DC’s hit “Highway to Hell” and features an old video cassette to give it a ‘vintage’ mood.

Uniqlo will reproduce all the 24 winning designs on t-shirts which have just been released in store on April 22nd. The t-shirts will be sold worldwide as part of the 2013 UT collection, each priced at RM59.90.

Photo Source: edublogs.org

Not only do those red bumps annoy the heck out of you with that constant itch, your skin may also transform into an art gallery of bite marks and scratch wounds. To ease your itchy and scratchy woes, here are some tried and tested natural remedies that will make you reach for the itchy bump less;

Lemon Juice.

Simply smear some lemon juice onto your rashes to stop that itching sensation. It’s alright if juicing is not your thing, you can also place a lemon slice onto that irritating bulge. But please be cautious, it may sting a little if you’ve been consistently scratching the bite.

Apple cider or Vinegar.

As soon as you notice that sweet mark your mosquito friend leaves on you, apply a small amount of apple cider or vinegar onto it. As with lemons, this method may give you an initial burn, but don’t worry as it will go away soon.

Banana Peel.

Just rub the inside of a banana peel on your bug bites and voila! Instant relief. Not only does the banana peels’ anti-inflammatory properties calm skin irritation, it is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants to increase circulation for healing, and also antibacterial properties to heal infections. Plus, think of that yummy fruit you get to eat!

Salt + Hot water.

The next time you get an itch, be sure to make this combination your new best friend.  Just add a tablespoon of salt to a bowl of water (as hot as possible), soak a towel/cotton in it, and place onto the bites. Alternatively, you can also use salt paste – just mix finely ground salt with a small amount of water until you get a thick paste and apply onto affected area.

Aloe.

As with other forms of skin irritations, aloe vera is an excellent solution for mosquito bites. This is because it’s thick and translucent flesh contains several natural anti-inflammatory and soothing qualities, making it the ideal topical treatment for even the most sensitive skin.

Toothpaste.

If you’re lacking ingredients and want a quick fix, just dab on toothpaste. Oh, and it’s better if your toothpaste contains peppermint ingredients – that minty sensation sure feels better than irritating itches!

The popularity of the FitFlop sandals is undeniable. From young to old, everyone wants a piece of the footwear. The latest range draws inspiration from the simplicity and grace of the Japanese Tea ceremony.

The four designs take on a lovely simple touch. In the Hanabira, which means ‘Petals’ in Japanese, the sandals mimic oversized flower petals that are folded with patent leather layers. While the sparkly Suisei, which means ‘Comet’, are studded with glitter bits for those who love a little bit of bling on their feet.

Meanwhile for minimalists, you may prefer the simple and classic lines of Sho as well as the leather-covered Bon sandals. The former has a soft leather toe loop and patent cross-vamp strap. While the latter comes with a patent leather front strap, soft nappa upper, curve straps and features statement buckles by visionary designer Ross Lovegrove. He is highly credited for his inspiring works which touch on the logic and beauty of nature, often mixing technology, materials science and intelligent organic form to create beautiful aesthetic expression.

FitFlop High Summer 2013 collection is now available at participating stores in Isetan KLCC, Isetan The Gardens, Isetan Lot 10, Isetan One Utama, Parkson Pavilion, Metrojaya Mid Valley City, Robinsons The Gardens, Bangsar Village I, Bratpack Great Eastern Mall, Bratpack Hartamas Shopping Centre, Bratpack Bangsar Village II, Bratpack e@Curve Mall, Bratpack One Utama and Res|Toe|Run Paradigm Mall.

Get updated on FitFlop over here.

We’re not saying you should go with completely naked fingernails, but perhaps adorning it with various nail art or crystals would best be left for after the indelible ink has faded off – think of it as a reward for doing your bit for the country (as if you really needed a reason!).

The Election Commission (EC) has advised voters not to get their nails done as it is inevitable that your fingernail will be stained with the ink which is meant to ensure no double-voting during GE13.

“It is simply unavoidable. So, I would advise against getting that RM200 manicure this election period, as you won’t be able to rub the ink off your nail polish,” said EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.

“Besides, voters should be proud to wear a mark on their finger showing that they have exercised their democratic right to vote.”

For obvious reasons, the ink will not be able to be removed using any substance which includes nail polish remover, and will come in two colours this year (which would be kept a secret until polling day).

The ink would be applied starting from the first joint of the left index finger, up to the tip of the fingernail but if that’s not applicable (ie. for amputees), they will be marked on other fingers or parts of the arm.

We think this will be quite cool, to show that you’ve exercised your democratic right to vote and to be worn quite proudly! One thing’s for sure, we’ll probably just leave our index finger on our left hand plain before going to the polls or alternatively, paint the rest of our nails after voting to complement the colour of the indelible ink!

What about you MANICyours addicts – will you be painting your nails before/after GE13 (we’ve got the Malaysian flag tutorial here)?

Source: The Star, Twitter

I’m not proud about it, but I will not lie – I want to be very skinny. But, it’s not because I think being skinny is beautiful, neither is it because I aspire to be like those Victoria Secret Angels. My honest-to-truth reason is simply because I was a fat kid that successfully lost a lot of weight, and I wish to be forever doing it.

What I’m trying to say is that becoming skinny may become an addiction to some. And in my case, it did.

It all started during the end of high school. After years of ‘fei po’ (肥婆, fat lady) taunting and that humiliating moment where a male friend tried to pull my chair closer to him, but instead, ended up pulling himself closer to where I was seated at (because I was that heavy that I became the load), I started my weight-loss efforts.

It was slow at first, taking almost half a year to see the results. But when it did, boy was I darned happy! I was so happy that I increased my exercise efforts and further cut down meal portions. I did the exact same move for almost every kilo I lost, which was cool, but there was a problem – I couldn’t stop. Even after countless times of hitting my ‘ideal weight,’ there would always be a new target or a new diet fad to try. Yup, I was badly addicted.

But before you label me as having eating disorders – I did not. I guess I’m lucky I didn’t encounter any major eating disorders like Bulimia or Anorexia. But, I did pick up some bad habits. I would lie that I had eaten lunch, slyly throw away my food when no one’s looking, or even sneakily drink more water before going on the weighing scale to reassure concerned people.

As expected, my body succumbed to my disapproving habits. Some of the more obvious signs are my decreasing bra sizes and the emergence of a visible bald spot, which is pretty disheartening to a lady. It also affected me mentally as, even after losing more than a thirs of my original weight, I continuously encouraged myself to lose another kilo within the month, or would beat myself up for not jogging that extra 20 minutes.

Worst part? I still didn’t think I was skinny. Nope siree, a 5’3” that weighs only 43kg is not skinny at all. In fact, I thought I wasn’t thin enough. Though deep down, with all those disheartening signs (and the many more that came after), I did realize how unhealthy I was becoming.

Flash forward a few years to now.  I’ve gained back almost 10kg. and have a curvier and fuller body shape. Although the bald spot is still slightly visible, my crowning glory is in a better state now. So yes, I am generally way healthier than I was back then. However, ask me if I want to go back to being skinny or if I’m sad about gaining weight, my answer is a quick yes.

I wish I could tell you that there was a life-changing incident, that I woke up one day and realized that ‘I’ve got a problem, I need to stop.’ Truth is, the only reason that I’m not as obsessed with losing weight now as I was then is simply due to my current lifestyle. It’s not that I don’t want to be jogging away my calories; it’s more to workload pile-ups, lack of time and just being plainly too tired to bother.

So yeah, when you’ve successfully lost a significant amount of weight, it may get hard to stop. Sometimes, it really isn’t because of peer pressure or that we think being skinny is the only way of being beautiful. Sometime, you just get addicted to losing weight, even if obvious health concerns were showing.  I guess that’s the truth and one of the main reasons beneath eating disorders.

To those who are like me, this piece goes to you. To those who are stuck in that limbo, who have already reached their ideal weight but still wish for more, who know that they actually look fine but just want to be skinnier – you don’t need to lose that extra kilo. I know you must’ve heard that a thousand times by now, I also know you yourself know that, but seriously now; it’s time to believe in it. Believe in the fact that you really can, and should, stop losing weight.

Yes, I know I still harbour negative thoughts about my body image, and still want to be darned skinny. I admit that I still have quite an amount to work on if I want to get over that addiction. But hey, I won’t deny that I have come to accept the fact that being healthy should be prioritized over skinny feels. The thing that helps calm my inner demons? Think this – doesn’t hearty meals, healthy hair and fuller boobies sound much more tempting than minute bulges to you?

So it’s nice to see other brands poke fun at their peers be it for some harmless fun, or just for some good ol’fashioned rivalry – we think it adds some edge and dimension to an otherwise brand-eat-brand world. And honestly? It appeals to the inner anti-consumerist in all of us.

Let’s face it, some of us are brand loyalists; and we buy just about anything our favourite designer coughs up in the next season regardless of how unflattering or unattractive it might be despite that hefty price tag. Come release dates, every item is picked up and made unavailable within minutes – creating a higher demand, even heftier price tags, and an ever-growing black market supply. Rinse and repeat.

This is how cult-like status is achieved; as we Instagram our prized winnings in the face of losers who swear they’ll get “the next one” – It gets ugly, and creates a lot of depression. True say, there’s even a study on it!

Which is why we applaud Parody T-Shirts. They’re fun, they’re a jab at cult brands and just have an overall sense of tongue in cheek humour. After all, happiness shouldn’t have to come in the form of an overpriced t-shirt (unless it’s one making fun of an overpriced t-shirt – yup, Shirtception!).

Take a look at some of our favourites:

1. SSUR vs Comme des Garcons

Photo source: Hypefolks.com

Probably one of the more mainstream parodies is skate brand SSUR’s spoof of Japanese label Comme des Garcons – you would’ve seen many  ”Comme des F*ckdown” beanies and t-shirts around KL (yes, there are even parodies of the original parody).

2. Reason vs. Celine / Hermes / Chanel

Undoubtedly one of our favourites, we love Reason Clothing’s cheeky take on French House Celine, by replacing Paris with Dion underneath the logo. Other parodies include Hermès to Homiès, and  a rather crude message to Chanel.

3. Mala New York vs Maison Martin Margiela 

Now that H&M has made Martin Marigela a household name, Mala New York has offered to educate the public on pronunciations by coming out with its own line of phonetic spelling t-shirts ie. “Mar-Ghell-Uh”.

4. G-Dragon vs Givenchy

Photo source: pinkfashionninja.com

Even celebrities have taken to this trend and we’re loving K-pop’s G Dragon’s spoof of Givenchy – aptly named Giyongchy (Ji-yong is his Korean name).

5. Yolo KL vs Chanel

Photo source: streething.com

Closer to home, we have Yolo KL that gives designer names a Malaysian twist. Chanel’s double C’s now stand for Cincai – gotta say, that’s pretty brilliant!

Is imitation the highest form of flattery? What do you think – would you buy one of these parody t-shirts?

Lah’ Lah’ Land (Lot 106) is located on the 6th floor in Sungai Wang, next to the Family Entertainment centre. Though not extremely long in the fashion scene, Lah’ Lah’ Land has quite a number of loyal customers. And we can see why. This fashion forward shop invites individuals that are looking for unique, fun, loud and bold pieces. Having a hard time visualizing? Think Lady Gaga and and G-Dragon music videos!

Why we <3