April 2014 Favourites.

Why, hello there, May. It's shocking how quickly the year seems to be slipping by. Anyway, April has seen the resurrection of my blog (hooray!). April has also seen me in total desperation when the temperature fell below 10 degree Celsius on certain nights when I just so happen to have missed the last operating tram and had to walk 30minutes home. FYI, that walking home thing happened twice. 

Sad story aside, here's what I have been loving the past 30 days! 

Click to enlarge.

Shoulder bag from Forever New 

Although I am not a huge advocate of light-coloured bags (too high maintenance), I am absolutely in love with this new buy! It's very versatile and comes with a detachable gold chain shoulder strap. 

Also, because of the limited space available, I am forced not to lug around unnecessary garbage, which is something my shoulders will thank me for in the long run. 

Escada sunglasses

I hardly ever buy designer shades. Simply because I am a klutz and will destroy them after a week. But when I do get one, I make sure it's big enough to give me bug-looking eyes. So much more flattering on my chubby face. 

Btw, tortoise shell frames are the way to go. Black is too plain, sorry.

Soap and Glory The Righteous Butter

You can never go wrong with S&G. The scent of this is to die for! Please check this out if you get the chance. Rub this on after a hot shower and you'll smell delicious for the next few hours. Warning: it doesn't taste as good as it smells. I would know (; 

Tresemme Heat Tamer Protective Spray
After hearing so many YouTubers rave about this on and on, I caved and got myself a bottle last year while on a trip to Bangkok. Never really got round to using this before coming to Australia, as I seldom use heat on my hair back in KL. It's a different story altogether here in Melbourne. Should you decide to step out of the house with dripping wet hair, you will freeze to death.

Not 100% sure if it works in terms of protecting your tresses, but this shizz definitely smells ahmayzing.

EOS lipbalm in Sweet Mint

The packaging is cute, but impractical. I mean, how does one fit this in one's evening clutch without it ending up with awkward bulges? So for that reason, this egg-shaped lipbalm doesn't get the privilege of being toted around by me. Instead, it earns a permanent spot on my nightstand. 

Maybelline Baby Lips in Berry Crush

I was running out of my other Maybelline tinted balm and decided to give this one a try. I just picked the reddest of the bunch and went straight to the cashier. Didn't swatch it at all but ended up loving it! It's really pigmented for a drugstore lipbalm and pretty moisturising as well. 

Sportsgirl rollerball perfume in In a Daze

This has been my go-to fragrance in April. I normally layer it on top of VS's Secret Charm body mist, but this smells good if you wear it on its own too. The only way I can describe the scent is: summer in a bottle! In a Daze is light and fruity and sweet :D 

Danone Greek yogurt in Raspberry and White Chocolate
Cannot stress how delicious this tastes! The texture is super creamy and you get bits of raspberry in the yogurt. Danone has other flavours like Honey, Apple & Rhubarb, Strawberry, etc but this is by far my favourite.

Sherlock kissing Molly
In case you didn't already know, I have been binge-watching Sherlock.
And I present to you my favourite scene:

*swoons* That coat fix. *hyperventilates* That hair ruffle. *ovaries quivering*

You have no idea the amount of times I have hit replay on that scene. 

Now here's me selfie-ing with my tortoise shell sunnies.

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Dolce EDP by Dolce & Gabbana Review.

It's Summer 24/7 in Malaysia, so I always love me a nice and light perfume for everyday use. You know, one that is suitable for both work and play. Oh, and also to spritz around my room. Am I the only one who does that? 

Cue Dolce & Gabbana's latest fragrance. 

Dolce is like a fresh bouquet of white flowers with occasional whispers of fruitiness and a warm dry down of earthy musk and Cashmeran accents. It opens with a sweet-smelling burst of Neroli leaves and Papaya flower, dissipating into an opulent combination of White Amaryllis, White Daffodil and White Water Lily as the core of the fragrance emerges. If you love fresh florals, Dolce will probably capture your attention.

The elegant packaging is reminiscent of a vintage flacon, while the clear glass and softly curved lines lend a contemporary edge to the bottle. 

As for the flower stopper, the design is carefully handcrafted; the petals fan out in three rows, with colours graduating from milky-white, through to cream, and soft pink at the center. (My photos do no justice T.T)

The overall packaging is just so girly and romantic.  

This is an EDP with reasonable staying power. It lasted about 7hours on me before needing another spritz. Having said that, Dolce is one of those "lighter" EDPs. It is a feminine and complex blend but still unoffensive and undetectable unless at close range. Very suitable if you're in a professional environment. 

Psst, if you spray this around your room, the entire place is going to smell like a garden in Spring!

My attempt going all floral! :D

For those of you out there with sensitive olfactory receptors, this might be helpful:

Top notes: Neroli leaves, Papaya flower

Heart notes: White Amaryllis, White Daffodil, White Water Lily

Dry down notes: Cashmeran, Musk, Sandalwood

The Lineup

Dolce Eau de Parfum 30ml RM244

Dolce Eau de Parfum 50ml RM331

Dolce Eau de Parfum 75ml RM439

Dolce Perfumed Body Lotion 200ml RM160

Dolce Moisturizing Perfumed Shower Gel 200ml RM148

Dolce by Dolce & Gabbana is available starting April 2014 in all major department stores and perfumeries. 

Disclaimer: Product sent to me by Dolce & Gabbana as PR sample for review consideration. As with everything on my blog, my opinions remain 100% honest.

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Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System Review.

WOOHOO! This much awaited review is finally live!

The Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System. Is it any good?

Ever since my post on the Olay Aquaction Long Lasting Hydration Gel Moisturiser, I've been getting a lot of requests to review Olay's dupe for the insanely expensive Clarisonic. Thanks to Olay, I got sent the product so here's my two cents!

This is what you'll get for RM99.90:

• A brush head
• The device
• 2 AA batteries
• A 20ml tube of the Olay Regenerist Skin Renewal Cleanser

In terms of size, this thing is quite handy and easy to travel with. The only complaint I have is that there isn't a case to store the brush head. Without a proper container, the brush head might get squashed in your travel bag and then the bristles will go all wonky :/

Before getting to test this baby out, I spent about 10minutes trying to open the battery compartment -.-
IT. IS. A. PAIN. IN. THE. BUTT. TO. OPEN.

This may seem like an easy task, but it's sealed so tightly that you'll have to pull and yank and wiggle the battery cover before it pops open. It does get easier after the first few times though.
Why is it fitted so snugly? Because the device is water resistant. Yes yes, you multitaskers can use it in the shower.

To install the brush head, you just have to press it onto the connection pin until it locks into position. You'll hear a click sound. For the Cleansing System to really work, be sure to replace the brush head at least every 3 months.

I like how the device has a smart memory component installed. Once you set a speed, the Cleansing System remembers your setting, so you'll start with the speed you last used.
A word of caution: The HIGH speed is quite cray cray. Be sure to start off with LOW first. Don't be overenthusiastic!

Speaking of over-exfoliation, Olay recommends you use this no longer than 60seconds. To make your life easier, I've created this guide. So whip out your phone and set the timer!

Also, while Olay says it's alright to use the brush morning and night daily, I'd suggest you don't go all gungho in the beginning. Save it for nighttime use, okay? Over-exfoliation can cause your skin to go berserk.

Another thing is that the brush rotates in a clockwise motion. Why is this so important for me to point out?
Answer: If you place the brush too near your hairline, your hair WILL get caught in the bristles and swirl around your face. You'll end up with wet, sudsy hair. All over your face.


How to use the Cleansing System?
Dampen brush head slightly. Dampen hands. Dispense the Regenerist Skin Renewal Cleanser on palms and massage over face. Switch on cleansing brush and move it around face for 60seconds according to face diagram above. Avoid the eye area!
Rinse face and brush head with water.

Oh btw, the Skin Renewal Cleanser contains micro scrubby beads. If you find it too harsh, you can use your regular cleanser instead. It also has a creamy scent, if that makes any sense.


On to how well does the Cleansing System work! 
Here's a test*. As you can't see, I've drawn an invisible line down the middle of my heavily made-up face. I've also labelled the two parts A and B respectively.

Part A will be removed with a regular cleanser, while Part B will be removed with the Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System.
Both sides will then be wiped with a cotton pad.

Cleanser X vs. Olay's Cleansing System!

After the "experiment", here's what's left:

SHOCKING RIGHT?!

SO AMAZING. I actually spent quite some time rubbing cleanser A over my face. But check what remains :O
For B, look at the brush hahahah. Most of the makeup/dirt/grime got caught in the bristles. The cotton pad is relatively clean.

*Test done without makeup remover. Yes, I know this isn't the correct way to remove makeup. Bear in mind that this is just to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Cleansing System. Don't flame me for not using a proper makeup remover. Results would have been be harder to capture on camera if makeup remover was used.


VERDICT?

I SUPER LOVE THIS THING!

Apart from giving your face a thorough cleanse, the brush leaves you with nicely exfoliated skin as well! Products you use will also be better absorbed too! :D

Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System is available at selected Watson pharmacies and is priced at RM99.90.
Extra brush heads can be purchased separately. RM25 for a set of 2 brushes.

Product sponsored by Olay. 

PS:
Are there any products you'd like me to review? If so, leave a comment in the suggestion box over in the sidebar! 

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I AM BACK!

Hello there, lovely readers of this blog. This very much abandoned blog.

First of all, I believe apologies are in order, so.. AYAM SORRY. I know I've been on hiatus for two months.

Now on to the big question: WHY?
Well, for those of you that do not know (obviously because you bunch don't follow me on Twitter & Instagram - shame on you! :P), I am now a university student.

Yeap. I'm currently living the hyped-up, once-in-a-lifetime university life. Translate: no sleep, shitload of assignments, caffeine, instant noodles, negative bank balance and cereal for breakfast/lunch/dinner/supper.

That's my main reason for being MIA. Settling in and being independent for the very first time while juggling coursework and homesickness is no easy feat. It feels damn shitty coming home after a long day and still have to do your laundry, cook, read pre-lecture materials, etc.

Education related excuses aside, I haven't exactly been happy with my site's design and layout before this. Took me quite a while to finally get it to look the way I want. Will write more on that in an upcoming post.

Anyway, I'm currently on a one-week Easter break, so I foresee a couple of entries getting published over the next few days! :D (no promises though!)

Short story shorter, I hope you guys will give poor me a second chance at reviving this dead thing I call a blog.
(And maybe a third chance in future as well, cause you know what they say: third time's the charm!)

SO GLAD TO BE BACK!

PS:
What should I blog about? Any thoughts? Leave an idea in the suggestion box over in the sidebar if you wanna! (:

x

Kai Zen Japanese Restaurant @ Bandar Puteri.

Ahh, Jappie food. I love Jappie food.

Read on to find out what Kai Zen has to offer!

First of all, I'd like to remind everyone that looks can be deceiving. Prior to entering Kai Zen, I was a little sceptical bout the restaurant, since the sign board umm.. Has room to improve. It doesn't do Kai Zen justice.

Anyway, the moment I walked in, I went all @@
What sorcery. The interior does not match the signage at all.

The Ground Floor. 

I personally prefer the First Floor as they've recently renovated it. Very comfy and spacious, with huge mirrors to take #ootds!

First Floor: The interior is not your typical Japanesy bamboo decor. 

Kai Zen has a large menu. I do not know how well do they cope with that, but should be alright since they've been in business for 6 years.

Ocha! 'Coz that's what I always drink at Jap restaurants.

Their wasabi's shaped like a ball. Reminds me of green tangyuan haha. Quite unique.

Here's a display of the different types of sashimi you'd usually get:

I have no idea what's what except for 5 of them.

Thanks to the Head Chef, Danny Chua, I had the opportunity to sample a few of Kai Zen's bestsellers :D

How can one have a Jap meal without ordering sashimi?

The sashimi platter consisted of Shima Aji, Tai (seasonal), Toro Tataki, Salmon Belly, Bottan Ebi and Kapachi.
For those of you who would like to try, but are afraid of weeping upon seeing the bill, I'd suggest you try at least these two: Salmon Belly & Toro Tataki.

I guess it's an acquired taste to fully enjoy the rest of the platter. Especially the Bottan Ebi (fresh prawns). Don't get me wrong, everything's super fresh, but just not my cup of tea.

This isn't in the menu. You'll have to order it separately.

So fascinating how you can see the layers :O :O :O

This is the Toro Tataki I liked a lot!
They didn't serve it raw like they did the rest. For this, the Toro fish was briefly seared over a hot flame so as to enhance the natural flavours. Super juicy and yummy :D
Highly recommend!

I was extremely amazed by how fresh everything was. Heck, Kai Zen actually has a huge aquarium where they keep live oysters. 

These were DELICIOUS. The texture was soft and fleshy, yet crisp to taste. The lemon complemented the oysters perfectly. I cannot emphasise enough how fresh they were!


While we're on the topic of shellfish, here's another dish that made it onto my favourites list.

Huge scallops, prepared Teppanyaki-style, drizzled with Hollandaise sauce. At RM20 for 2, it may seem a bit overpriced at first, but trust me, these were so so so good! I loved how the meat was tender and succulent. The sauce paired so well with the scallops. FYI, I finished the remaining sauce. #noshame


On to sushi!

I suppose most of you are familiar with Dragon Rolls. They're everywhere O.O
This was okay. Nothing to shout about. Oh, and the cut pieces prepared were impossible to consume in one mouthful. Had to split into 2 servings. This proves that the portion is quite reasonable, yes? So you know you're getting your money's worth :P

Another roll! Man, aren't we on a roll?! (I think I'm so punny sorry)

This was more manageable than the previous one in terms of size. I like bite-sized stuff. At least you don't have to worry about the mess. But again, taste-wise, pretty ordinary. The homemade sauce was fairly pleasant though. 

For those of you on a diet or just want something light:

Fresh prawn salad. I enjoyed the homemade miso dressing. It was sweet and slightly savoury, with a hint of crunchiness thanks to the fish roe. There was a generous amount of prawn bits as well. 

  

Priced at RM26 for one prawn, this Ebi Mentaiko dish smelled heavenly upon serving. Unfortunately, I was busy snapping photos/camwhoring and the dish became cold. -.- So wasn't as yummy as it could have been.

Also, the prawns were slightly overcooked by a new chef, so the meat had stuck to the shell and it was a pain to remove.

If you're a fan of BBQ, you might want to try the Kobe Beef. Priced at a whopping RM50 for just 3 pieces, they were well-marinated and juicy. 

As for the pork, they were alright.

According to the staff at Kai Zen, customers tend to order the Shoyu Ramen. Picture above is just a mini version as the chef knew I couldn't eat anymore :P

The broth was tangy, savoury yet fairly light on the palate. The noodles could have been springier, in my opinion. 

At last. Dessert! 

This mango pudding was prepared by the Head Chef himself! 

It wasn't smooth like the more commercialised ones you'd normally find. This had more of a pulpy texture, as Danny blended pure mango. I found it refreshing and not cloying at all. The sweetness was just nice. Plus, I think the pulp managed to trick me into thinking it's a lot healthier haha! Human nature.

Okay, done with food!

Now on to other things I'd like to point out.

• THEY HAVE FREE WIFI.
• The toilets are REALLY clean!

It's awesome how they pay attention to stuff like that. Having clean toilets and free wifi makes a huge difference.

Taadaa! A picture with the Head Chef! He's got over 20 years of experience preparing yummy Japanese dishes :O 

30, Jalan Puteri 2/4,
Bandar Puteri,
47100 Puchong,
Selangor Darul Ehsan.

603-8063 5118

Business hours:
11.30am - 2.30pm
6.00pm - 10pm


This is a sponsored food review, but all my opinions are honest. The Teppanyaki Hotate was very good okay!!

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