Sayonara Charlie & Hello Muggles. (wrote this on 23rd dec)

Shoulve wrote a better title, this sounds like... I replaced Charlie just like that. Wish it was as easy as that. But it was not.

On the 5th of October 2013, Charlie & Cooper was born. Its Chloe's first time giving birth, first batch of unexpected babies! Their father, luckily was our neighbour's bengal cat (which is neutered now because he couldnt stop getting the ladies!). All this happened last October:

They grew up beautifully, strong and loving. They were fun to watch, Id wake up everyday calling their names instead of checking my instagram. When i came home from college, i'd search for them first instead of my mom. They both would try squeeze onto my lap so i could hug them. They were so dear to me.

 You see, my house compound is very clean, beautiful trees, pest-free gardens. 7 years i lived here and weve never had a single virus because there wasnt any stray cats around. take a walk around...a bengal there a flatnose there siamese here. I have a pure breed Siamese whom is 18 years now (90 years old human life) who weve stop vaccinating at about 5 years old and still living healthy and well. I was just like, if Pratunam, my siamese cat is ok, means environment is ok. So yes, it was my fault I underestimated, I admit, I didnt get them vaccined. With little knowledge at the time, I also thought a bengal is a very strong breed. 

Charlie is more of a whinger and was attached to me more. Cooper was more independent. Charlie wants attention all the time, like theyre personality are the total opposite of each other but they have such a strong bond. They would be together all the time! Where cooper goes, charlie goes. Cooper goes up the tree, Charlie would try his best because he was abit fat. vice versa.

One day Charlie was weirdly quiet and didnt want to move from this corner on my study table. He likes to keep me company. He just curled up in a ball, and didnt want to eat and all. We knew instantly, something was very wrong. because he usually is so loud and cheerful. At 11pm, we brought him straight to the Animal Medical 24 hours Hospital. He was infected with a virus called FPV/FIV.

Lets fast forward, Charlie made it, he was admitted for a week and I visited him everyday. However, Cooper's body was found after 5 days suspected due to the virus. I cried for a week. So I busied myself looking after Charlie, he was recovering so well. He had to stay in the room for 2 weeks, I hand fed him, made him swallow 5 pills a day, kept him company, play with him, love him, tell him how strong he is everyday, thanking him for being a  champ. I said to him, "your my hero, be my hero". Everyday. 

Day 1 after recovery. Charlie got to smell grass, he started climbing trees. My neighbour texted me: "Glad to see Charlie around again, alive and happy!". Everynight he would make sure he slept by my side or by my toes, we bonded even more during his recovery. Day 7, Charlie did not come home. 4 days missing now, still no sign. Flyers, calls, check all vets, security rounds, knocking on every door, 500 RTs on twitter, searched for him on a bigger scale, tears every single night before i sleep, waking up hoping" i might see charlie again today", sleeping to "its okay! tomorrow might be the day charlie comes home".

Today marks 1 month he's gone.

The 3rd week was when i lost abit of hope and I was full on with depression,although I hid it quite well except in my prayers. I did absolutely everything I can honestly, and I just decided that now I'm leaving it up to Allah swt. Animals are His, we cant communicate or simply call the cat up, but Allah swt can. Allah swt is All-knowing, All powerful. If He wanted Charlie to return to me, He would. But Charlie is just not coming back. Someone claimed to have seen him, but he never saw the cat again. To me, its God's sign of dont loose hope but its not time for charlie to return to me yet. I still hold on to that small pea-size hope.

I couldnt let go of Charlie, but I was so tired emotionally and physically. I decided that I wanted to divert that "seeing my cat again" energy to a new cat. Divert "wheres my cat" to " wheres my new cat". Diverting this energy to something tangible. Invisible Charlie was driving me insane and unhealthy. But i COULD NOT settle for anything less. Charlie was so very special. A normal cat wouldnt do. I might sound snobby. If the cat was average, I would compare him everyday with Charlie and I wouldnt love him as much as I loved Charlie. And ontop of that depression, i would blame myself.

So thats how I decided to get Muggles, short for MisoJunji-Muggles. Hehe.

We actually cancelled to buy him because I thought i wasnt ready. 3 days later, My mum was thinking about him one night, the next day we called the owner asking if he was still available, we were lucky to catch him 30 minutes before he was to be transferred to be sold at petshop for triple the price! It was such a coincidence. God's plans :-) Alhamdulillah.

Currently entering the third day of Muggles in his new home, he gets the guest room all by himself! He's starting to recognize my smell now. But still very shy but he loves belly rubs. He is truly beautiful and the most adorable thing ive ever seen. A big fat furball. I think its harder and takes a longer time to bond with adult cats rather from small. Hope everything goes well insyaAllah.

 Im thinking of Charlie less now, but he still remains in my heart. 

M.A.C Technique's Workshop Review

A night before, i did a research just to know what it would be like. And pictures of conference-like tutorials popped up! So i was prepared for that. Little did I know.......it was something way more intimate!

Usually to get a 1-to-1 class, you'd have to buy a RM250 M.A.C. voucher. Feel free to ask any mac counters when they have these classes, i go to the KLCC one! Theres specific times. BUT, the voucher is fully redeemable after the class! So, the class is actually free! Better yet, now you know what to reach for than just trying out stuff and being to shy to ask about their products. So save a little and i really recommend going for the class. Yes, im well aware you can learn from youtube videos, but i think you need to understand your face structure before-hand or else you'd create a mess! Like you really need to understand your face. Thats the main reason why i wanted to go for the class. It really helped me and from there I could apply what i learned from youtube according to my eye shape etc.

I got an email from M.A.C saying they're giving me a complimentary class as a treat for the holiday season! I couldnt be more happier!

I was abit late, arrived at the Estee Lauder Office and they served breakfast! Then i was prepared to enter a conference-like room, in my mind it was like alot of chairs and a big stage infront. But to my surprise, there were 3 big round tables with about 6 fully equipped make up tools setup and a whole lot of mac makeup in the middle of the table!

They first introduced themselves and all you could hear was "Senior", "manager", the room were filled with make up artists who've been working with mac for over than 10 years and I am so lucky to be in the same room as them!!

The senior make up artist that was teaching us on that day was Haritha Shan. She was teaching us the Femme to Feline look which was about how to create a smokey eye look, professional tips and tricks and how to change from day to night. She would demonstrate step by step then we would be given 15-20 minutes to do it ourselves with the aid of the helpful team! The one who helped me was Hing :) she taught me extra tips like mixing eyeshadow colours and mixing lipstick with gloss! I have never been a fan of lipgloss because i didnt know how to use it, but now i am, because of her!

Me and Hing

I learned that your base (meaning whats under your foundation) is very important. Haritha Spent 20 minutes on eyes and lips but ONE HOUR on base and face. And it literally made my face have a natural glow. When I first put it on, I went abit like woooh my face looks like it has alot of stuff, theres like almost a mix of 5 products on your face, its just like, woooh. But after it settles on your face, my my, did i love the end result. Theres not much technique to this,its just about the products you use. Which are listed below in orderly form. The formula in each product literally works wonders. Also, formulated for all skin types.

I was also taught the right and easiest way to contour which is using the number 3. Yes just draw a number 3 on the side of your face, but i have a small forehead so, I just did a half-3.  (this is why classes are so important, because u need to understand your face, make up gurus on youtube might have different shapes as you!)

TIP - if your going to put heavy make up, always use water-base moisturisers or a serum as it immediately absorbs into the skin. 

There were so many things i learnt! I wish I could share everything, I really want to share. But demonstrating it would be so much easier! When i'll do a haul, ill try make a video and explain everything!

For concealer, you can go to the counter to ask how use the concealer palette! Heres another tip for covering dark circles,  cover your blue dark circles with a warm tone first because if you dont, in a few hours, your undereyes will look grey-ish. But the aid of 360 photo app, well you can just delete it :P Then afterwards you mix with a cooler/lighter tone colour.

Lastly, always drink water right after you wake up. After a whole night in aircond, your face will get dehydrated!

Here is the end result after an hour! (with no filter)

The list of products I used was:
Lightful Softening lotion
Prep + Prime Moisture Infusion
Charged Water Moisturizer
Fix+
Matchmaster Foundation in No.3
Studio Careblend Pressed Powder in medium plus
Studio Careblend Pressed powder in Dark to use as contour
Smoulder eye kohl
Prep + Prime lip primer
Candy yum yum lipstick
Love Nectar lustre gloss.
The blush was a very bright peach pink.
Eyeshadows, eye brow pencil and blusher that i didnt take down their names sorry! But ill recreate it and let you guys know, if you do want to know ;)

Thats the eyeshadow palette i used!

All in all, i enjoyed every bit of this experience! It's really worth it. This workshop is suitable for beginners and professionals too! You really do learn something. As MAC do not have sale or discounts like in the overseas, they give complimentary classes like this as a token of appreciation for their valued customers. I really learned alot. If you do go for their classes, ask alot of questions, even the tiniest things like how to hold a brush or what kind of eye shape do you have or how to tell differences in tone colour or how to differentiate a mascara type etc. Be a dumb blonde, and you'll learn even more! Thank you to the MAC team for sharing me tips and teaching me from a-z! Had soooo much fuuuunfunfun.

Haflin and Haflins.

As my hand was about to press the doorbell i ran back outside the gate to check if i had the right house, took a deep breath and Ding-dong! Her helper opened the door with her handphone in her hand taking a picture of me looking amused. We both giggled.

 I was then greeted by long flowy ombre hair, the biggest smile, offers of food and tea. 

Born in Kelantan, Haflins served us a kelantanese "LakSe" (not pronounced lakSa), rich chocoalte brownies, creampuffs...okay i am not here to talk about the food.

Among the elites, her name is quite familiar. But maybe, this might be your first time hearing of her. Haflins was a complete alien to me, ive never heard of her or her brand ever before but that maybe because i dont read the local magazines that often. So i absolutely understand, why youre intrigued, because i was so veryily was. I got to know her from Fashion Valet.

Im going to first describe her and later on talk about her brand. Why? We'll get there.

Who is she? What do people dont know about her?
The first thing i realized about her while sipping on the yummy kuah laksa oops! Lakse, was that she is so humble. Not the type where its like robotically humble according to time and place. Hmm how i put this as an image to your head.. She's like the nasi-lemak lady i buy from every morning infront of my college who never fails to call me sayang or darling and ask me what im going to do today and why dont i eat more and gives me extra lauk. This kind of humble! But inside a graceful figure that is. She dosent even need to try. A 5 minute chat and a look into her warm eyes is all it needs to shake off the nervousness of meeting someone so respected and looked upon.

She is also noticeably fun while still being poised, if you have a 10 minute conversation with her, she will point out or make or say something that makes you laugh. With her gleaming ambience, she is a very bright and a charismatic young woman. It really does enlighten a room when she's in it.

Last one, there are glimpses of that she can be meticulous of many things. Like, how determined she wants to listen to your opinions or just maybe about your life,where you heading and who you are. Her ears are yours for that moment. She make sure everyone is comfortable.

Also i had a chat with her about how she started her brand, she really took the time and own effort to find the perfect and precise material. It wasnt like "just take any material". While some overlook this, she took it very seriously. From Guangzhou to Indonesia, she went through it all and it certainly paid off. It really is remarkable. However, the public seems to not show so much appreciation on types of material used. Let me try change your mind. A Chanel Tweed Jacket is not a Chanel Tweed Jacket just because its Chanel, its because of the unique material. Its going to be in the same state in 10 years time whilst others will bore you in 3-5 years. So when you think your stepping away from Haflins because of the 3digit price tag. Divide the price by 10 years. Some things are just worth investing in.

All this is reflected and radiated into her brand, Haflins.

I havent told her personally, but i hope she reads this (Hello Haflin!). After i ate, i took time admiring her clothing. It started with.. i want this..and this, omg this one..This one too..can i can i can i.. okay you get the picture.

Looking at her fall collection as a whole, the first thing i thought of that it screamed bold and humble. Why? Im not talking about the bold Mary Katrantzou or Jeremy Scott prints here. Look at the whooole rack. Its filled with staple colours like bright red, bright yellow,white and black etc. In a bold sense that its easily noticed. In a sense that if you saw this colour on the streets, its the boldness of the colour is what you would be attracted to. Not her nail colour, not her hair, not her shoes. This colour would be the first thing you'd noticed. 

Having said that, the humbleness comes from her luxurious material, texture and the way she balances ordinary and unique. Look at the rack, you wont turn your back from it. Humbleness is what draws you to it. The material is not overflowing and uncontrollable, its in a way that it stays put, like..jelly. Its not as stiff as neoprene, but how the material rests onto your body, it settles on humbly.  The material does its justice to the design. The same design with different material, would turn out into a whole different thing. You have to feel the material for yourself to truly appreciate it. Ive never seen another local designer play with this kind. Different kind of feeling when it touches your skin.

How she played and portrayed fall into her collection was dynamic but with a hint of attitude. Fall is also all about thickness, Spring is usually soft and light. You wont miss the thick-look here! And were always in air-conditioned malls most of the time! But i can ensure you, the material is too good. I find that Haflins clothes would be one that I'd work around with, i mean id pick it out and then find things to pair with it. The staple colours makes it so easy to work with, alot of fun too.

Some designs are meticulous. This is seen in her detailing. The cut-out details of the flower was not separately made and sewn on like what you usually see. It is cut from the material itself and flipped outwards, exactly like how real flowers are, the whole thing is made from one piece. I always admire a person who makes the most out of one piece of cloth into something surprising.  Also the detail of the pola, the way the cloth is cut, the volume of the cloth and then joined all together.



Also i must add that I love amount of her pleats seen in her skirts, pants and sleeves. It creates just the right amount of fullness in her garments. 

Each piece has more fun than what people could dream of. They just dont know it yet or just shy. These pieces are fun to experiment about. You could achieve a neutral look or rock it out as you wish. If youre too shy to ask anything about Haflins, you can always come to me and ill tell what you want to know. It would be my pleasure. Let me know if you decided to buy Haflins after reading this! You can get Haflins from Fashion Valet or by ordering from Haflin herself through instagram. To see this on the streets, I cant find a better example than the daring fashionista, @haflinsfashion (instagram) herself. She lives in her own clothes plus her style is something to admire about!

The modest dress she's wearing is from her new collection! Check it out on FV. I am so satisfied and contented with the Embroidered Top and the Skirt I bought! Cant wait to style them out. So busy with college and uni application these days, had no chance to see the sun!

Thank you for reading! Next post is about Dreamcloud by Natasha Hudson! 

 P/S most of her pieces includes pockets!

A shoot for ShaElaizaGalleria at the Wilayah Mosque.

Had an escapade with ShaElaiza again for her brand! If your looking for kaftans, you can definately find it at ShaElaizaGalleria . Im not one who's all, give me that and ill do it idc what it is. I met her,  end up learning so much from her and fell in love with her creative direction. It was actually a more of, i am blessed to be given the opportunity for working with ShaElaiza, and i love how she is involved with every step of her brand. Its all her. From carefully picking designs to delivering it your doorstep.

Moving on, thiis plaaaace is amaaaaaaaazing. It is beyond beautiful subhanAllah and it was my first time here! I loved the arches and the detailing on the ceiling. As you can see in this picture below. Although its me in it, when i look back at it, it really dosent look like im in Malaysia!

Lets just admire this piece can we? In up to bottom order, so you have this pearl thing going on which i think, carries the bold statement. The upper bit looks like its structured, then you come down to this flowy and bits of elegant lace that puts everything together. What do i mean? Imagine the top without the lace. Not so interesting. Now, imagine it without the pearls. Too plain. See, isnt it so unique?

 Yes, this was definitely somewhere in Istanbul guys...

When you have a lazy day and you want to go out looking fah-bue-lahs. Thats when superkaftan-man comes to the rescue. Also, you know how holidays are a time for you to relax, and your not bothered to put in effort but you want to anyway..for the pictures atleast. Just pop em Kaftans on like you pop em tic tacs. Because, it seriously is as easy as that. You go from a normal daily Kristen Stewart to a red carpet Kristen Stewart. 

 I think kaftans are something that you should invest in, also if you take good care of it, it can be passed down to your daughter, grand daughter, nieces and even when you get that call from your good friend saying hey!! i have nothing to wear to this event!! can i borrow the kaftan you wore at.... Kaftans are always eye-catching, with all the detailing, some wont even know you spend around just 200 bucks on it! Have you ever been curious when someone wears a kaftan to an event and you end up just staring and wonder, where do they get it? or an Instagram Post of someone in a kaftan. Is this from Farah Khan? *clicks comment and hope they say no its from....so you'll get your answer* I know i do. Because why? Simple, because maybe you have yet to own one and wishes it was in your wardrobe.

While some play with prints, you play with intricate detailing of gleaming jewels.