The art of not giving a (blank)
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
The art of not giving a (blank).I left it blank on purpose so you can insert anything you want. Whatever you are feeling right now. Just to be clear, I haven’t read the book yet, this is purely speaking from my personal feelings.
I thought of writing this post for the longest time but I just couldn’t find the motivation to do so. I was really inspired after a long talk with a close friend of mine. I felt the need to pen down this thoughts so I can look back in the future.
I think one of my biggest lessons in 2018 was that I cared too much, I took everything very personal, even when it doesn’t deserve any attention. It made me easily bothered by a lot of things, I was really beaten down multiple times. I bet some of you find it very hard to not overthink and let go of certain matters, don’t worry, I struggle for a very long time too.
I mean this trick of not giving any (blank) wasn’t discovered just today, it was something that people around me kept advising me to do so but I was just so stubborn. I felt like it was really unhealthy and it has taken a toll on my mental and physical health. I felt like shit for the longest time, now that I’m looking back, it was definitely not worth it.
So about this art, it works wonders. It works on love, family, friends, work, basically everything. I’ve finally learned and it made my life much easier, I’ve been much more free and easy. I’ve managed to walk away from so many toxic situations that I may have dwelled for a few days in the past. I’ve made my own choice not to listen to the voice inside my head or let the monster take control of me. It wasn’t instantaneous, I took a long time to adapt to it but I’m glad it works for me now.
How to start? Here are 2 simple baby steps to take;
i) Accept that some things are out of your control
Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, people would not like whatever you do. People will have their own opinions about you, will draw their own conclusions, they won’t understand you like you want them to. It’s normal. Just accept that there is nothing you can do to change their mindset, you can’t change these situations. Even if they are misunderstandings, don’t fight for closure, don’t ask for explanations, don’t chase for answers. You just have to let go.
I’m also slowly learning that life is better when you don’t center it on what’s happening and the people around you.
ii) Loving yourself more
Like RuPaul always say “If you don’t love yourself, how you gonna love somebody else”. It’s your life, you make your own decisions.
It’s recognizing the things you don’t like about your life and finding the courage to change them. It’s walking away from situations where you are not happy. It’s signing up for classes you are excited about. It’s standing up for yourself and knowing when is it worth your fights. It’s following your heart, making your own decisions.
There are times when people will try to talk you out of some decisions and you are worried that the outcome, it’s not bad taking a leap of faith, you might be surprised.
x x x
If you are feeling the same I felt, you are still struggling to let go of the littlest things in life, your emotions or feelings, just know you can do it as well. And when you really let go of these unnecessary undeserving situations that are out of our control, you’ll be free.
I hope this piece may bring some sort of hope to whoever is reading it. Choose you, your own self.
My Eczema journey | Cetaphil
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Hi everyone ♥ It's been some time since I wrote here. One of the reasons I'm writing here again is because it's been a roller coaster ride in 2016 and 2017, I really want to share one of the obstacles I've overcome so far.
My skin has always been really sensitive to different products, but it became worst.
My problems started some time in the end of year 2016, due to some reasons, I've started to get really sick easily. I used to have a skin allergy - "Hives" when I was younger, and it came back again, stronger than before. On top of that, I started to have something called "Pityriasis Rosea" that lasted for almost 3-4 months and "Eczema" on both my hands, lips and torso area for a long time.
I was really self-conscious and I've tried many ways to cure them. It really affected me, I didn't want to meet friends or even wear any clothing that shows my dry skin patches! The more I stress about my problems, the more skin patches appear. Eventually, I went for a consultation with a dermatologist in Gleneagles, I was told that these were caused by a weak immune system, chemicals in the products I use and stress.
I didn't take much pictures, I had to look through my whatsapp conversation with a pharmacist friend of mine.
During my consultation, my dermatologist also recommended me to switch my beauty products to hypoallergenic brands as it might be one of the causes of my skin problems. He also recommended brands like Cetaphil as it cleanses and moisturizes the skin while at the same time combating skin irritations. I'm sure if you follow beauty youtubers, you have already heard about this brand.
The texture of the Gentle Skin Cleanser is an almost gel-like egg white color. It's really easy to spread evenly across your face and doesn't leave a tight sensation after a face wash. Moreover, the cleanser has a balanced pH level to help facilitate barrier repair for even highly irritated and acutely inflamed skin. This helps to improve the dryness of the atopic skin and to ease skin-itching.
Besides that, the worst thing about Eczema is the itching! My dermatologist recommended me to keep my skin moisturized in order to help ease itching and to prevent eczema outbreak. I'm a person who hates sticky skin lotions, so far I really like the Moisturizing Cream from Cetaphil. It's very light and can absorb into the skin easily.
With love,
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
My skin has always been really sensitive to different products, but it became worst.
My problems started some time in the end of year 2016, due to some reasons, I've started to get really sick easily. I used to have a skin allergy - "Hives" when I was younger, and it came back again, stronger than before. On top of that, I started to have something called "Pityriasis Rosea" that lasted for almost 3-4 months and "Eczema" on both my hands, lips and torso area for a long time.
I was really self-conscious and I've tried many ways to cure them. It really affected me, I didn't want to meet friends or even wear any clothing that shows my dry skin patches! The more I stress about my problems, the more skin patches appear. Eventually, I went for a consultation with a dermatologist in Gleneagles, I was told that these were caused by a weak immune system, chemicals in the products I use and stress.
During my consultation, my dermatologist also recommended me to switch my beauty products to hypoallergenic brands as it might be one of the causes of my skin problems. He also recommended brands like Cetaphil as it cleanses and moisturizes the skin while at the same time combating skin irritations. I'm sure if you follow beauty youtubers, you have already heard about this brand.
99% of users agreed that Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser gently cleans and moisturizes, without stripping skin's natural oils, for all skin types.
The texture of the Gentle Skin Cleanser is an almost gel-like egg white color. It's really easy to spread evenly across your face and doesn't leave a tight sensation after a face wash. Moreover, the cleanser has a balanced pH level to help facilitate barrier repair for even highly irritated and acutely inflamed skin. This helps to improve the dryness of the atopic skin and to ease skin-itching.
Pros of using Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser:
- Fragrance-free, soap-free & lanolin free
- Gentle even on baby's skin
- Non-comedogenic
- Helps skin retain moisture
- pH balance
- Use with/without water
- Doesn't sting the eyes
- Removes light make up
Here's a simple skin regime on how I care for my Eczema skin:
- Start with a gentle cleanser, gently work the cleanser around your face and rise!
- Use a moisturizer before applying a thin topical relief cream, these creams will cause skin thinning.
- Apply daily sunscreen to protect the skin, you can also try Cetaphil's UVA/UVB Very high sun protection sunscreen.
Overall Thoughts:
I'm really loving it so far and it doesn't cause my skin to break out! If you have skin problems like me, I suggest you give it a try!
Cetaphil Malaysia
Website: https://cetaphil.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cetaphilmalaysia/
Lazada: https://www.lazada.com.my/shop/cetaphil/
Shopee: https://shopee.com.my/cetaphil.os
Website: https://cetaphil.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cetaphilmalaysia/
Lazada: https://www.lazada.com.my/shop/cetaphil/
Shopee: https://shopee.com.my/cetaphil.os
Flowers to Use in Skincare
Friday, March 30, 2018
Flowers aren’t just beautiful to have in your home as decor, they also have many healing properties, which is why they are used in skincare products and perfumes. Ask your favourite online flower delivery and they will have plenty to say about the advantages of flowers all around. There are plenty of flowers that do wonders for your skin, just as a high-end product would. Keep on reading to find out which flowers should be included in your skincare routine, as well as why.
1. Dandelion
2. Marigold
With love,
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
1. Dandelion
Dandelion is jam packed with nourishing vitamins and minerals that enrich your skin with all it needs to be smooth and healthy. If you’ve never heard of dandelion oil, you have to give it a chance, because it’s going to make your skin super silky. It’s also great for sensitive skin that’s dry or if you have issues with your eczema, as Dandelion face wash is going to work towards soothing the skin.
2. Marigold
Besides vibrant, edible petals and teas, marigold has anti-inflammatory properties that may help sensitive skin that is prone to breakouts. If you want to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes as well as clarify your skin, Marigold will do wonders. You can easily DIY your own paste or cream, or go for natural products that contain marigold.
3. Jasmine
Jasmine is already a crucial ingredient for so many skincare products, because the benefits of this gorgeous blooms have been obvious. It can be used to make a wonderful, refreshing face mist, or added to your bath. It’s going to make your skin soft and bright.
Jasmine is already a crucial ingredient for so many skincare products, because the benefits of this gorgeous blooms have been obvious. It can be used to make a wonderful, refreshing face mist, or added to your bath. It’s going to make your skin soft and bright.
4. Carnation
You might not be too fond of carnations, as these flowers are known to have a reputation for being funeral flowers (which is not true at all), but that’s not a reason to recognise the benefits a carnation can have when it comes to skincare. If you are stressed and you feel like your skin is showing the signs of stress, carnations can help, especially if you use it in your bath water.
5. Chamomile
We’re all used to the tea, and you might have even used it to take care of your hair, however, chamomile also does wonders for your skin. Suffering from a little something called puffy undereye? Chamomile is going to do wonders for it.
The world of flowers is rich with blooms that can aid your skin for the better. If you haven’t already found a brand that relies on flower power, I highly recommend you do a little bit of research and find out how you can reap all the benefits.
P:s/ This article has been provided by a Guest writer.
P:s/ This article has been provided by a Guest writer.
Blue Whale Cafe/Maharaj, Bangkok
Monday, February 5, 2018
I have always been obsessed with the colour - Blue and everything under the sea. When I was this place trending on Instagram, I knew I have to visit it someday!
I didn't expect that day to come so soon. It was an impromptu trip to Bangkok with my girls because we manage to find some good deals for flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. So without much hesitance, Blue Whale Cafe - here we come!
The Blue Whale Cafe is situated quite a distance from Central world area so we took grab/uber there since we have 4 of us. It's way cheaper than taking the train if you are travelling more than 3 pax. This place is located in the touristy area along Chao Phraya River, with The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun in the vicinity. The famous temples in Bangkok you see almost printed everywhere. So plan ahead so you can enjoy all these in a day!
Upon arrival, the place is much smaller than expected but it is definitely as blue as you see in pictures. Every corner is Insta-worthy and the servers are dressed in shades of blue with hints of white and grey. I wanted to ask them do they stock up their wardrobe with blue clothing for this job. I'm pretty sure they do though.
The cafe is a 3-story tall building painted in blue, with balcony seats at the second level overlooking the street below and glass rooftop for that natural sunlight. It is really gorgeous and as pretty as I was expecting it to be.
We ordered everything blue on the menu and of course - everything Thai tea flavored! The food and beverages were affordable, not too expensive for a Bangkok cafe price.
I'm really obsessed with the mermaid scales wall and would 100% want this somewhere in my future house. We have to go up this narrow stairway to the second floor where there is only 4 tables here. We went on a weekday so we are really lucky to be able to enjoy a mini photoshoot session here.
We ordered the Iced Butterfly Pea Latte (THB120) which is butterfly pea liquid to milk, topped with edible flower and a cinnamon stick. The drink definitely looks much better than it taste. We also ordered the Hot Butterfly Pea Latte (THB120) which tasted more like warm milk to me. The butterfly pea liquid is kind of tasteless.
Besides that, we ordered the Blue Whale Sour (THB120) which was quite a surprise for us! It is this purple drink that is sweet, sour and really refreshing for the hot Bangkok weather! I really don't know how to describe it but it is good.
We also went for the Cha Thai on the beach (THB160) and the Blueberry, Caramel and Coffee mascarpone toast (THB180). The Cha Thai on the beach is really good, the thai milk tea is really strong but not overpoweringly sweet. They have crispy bits of biscuits inside.
However, Blueberry, Caramel and Coffee mascarpone toast was okay. Maybe we were expecting too much by the looks of it on the menu. I do have high expectations for cafes in Bangkok because I went to too many good ones.
Tip: There are very limited seats only so do visit this cafe on a weekday to enjoy the cafe and take good pictures.
A lot of people tend to ask me how I can afford to travel so frequent. One of my ultimate tip is to look out for great deals and do your research well. One of my favourite website is Traveloka Malaysia, they have tons of deals on flights and hotels. You will definitely get to enjoy some savings there!
Blue Whale Cafe / Maharaj
392/37 Maha Rat Rd Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand (Nearest Train Hua Lamphong)
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 8:00pm (Fri – Wed), Closed on Thursdays.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluewhalebkk
With love,
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
I didn't expect that day to come so soon. It was an impromptu trip to Bangkok with my girls because we manage to find some good deals for flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. So without much hesitance, Blue Whale Cafe - here we come!
The Blue Whale Cafe is situated quite a distance from Central world area so we took grab/uber there since we have 4 of us. It's way cheaper than taking the train if you are travelling more than 3 pax. This place is located in the touristy area along Chao Phraya River, with The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun in the vicinity. The famous temples in Bangkok you see almost printed everywhere. So plan ahead so you can enjoy all these in a day!
Upon arrival, the place is much smaller than expected but it is definitely as blue as you see in pictures. Every corner is Insta-worthy and the servers are dressed in shades of blue with hints of white and grey. I wanted to ask them do they stock up their wardrobe with blue clothing for this job. I'm pretty sure they do though.
The cafe is a 3-story tall building painted in blue, with balcony seats at the second level overlooking the street below and glass rooftop for that natural sunlight. It is really gorgeous and as pretty as I was expecting it to be.
We ordered everything blue on the menu and of course - everything Thai tea flavored! The food and beverages were affordable, not too expensive for a Bangkok cafe price.
I'm really obsessed with the mermaid scales wall and would 100% want this somewhere in my future house. We have to go up this narrow stairway to the second floor where there is only 4 tables here. We went on a weekday so we are really lucky to be able to enjoy a mini photoshoot session here.
We ordered the Iced Butterfly Pea Latte (THB120) which is butterfly pea liquid to milk, topped with edible flower and a cinnamon stick. The drink definitely looks much better than it taste. We also ordered the Hot Butterfly Pea Latte (THB120) which tasted more like warm milk to me. The butterfly pea liquid is kind of tasteless.
Besides that, we ordered the Blue Whale Sour (THB120) which was quite a surprise for us! It is this purple drink that is sweet, sour and really refreshing for the hot Bangkok weather! I really don't know how to describe it but it is good.
We also went for the Cha Thai on the beach (THB160) and the Blueberry, Caramel and Coffee mascarpone toast (THB180). The Cha Thai on the beach is really good, the thai milk tea is really strong but not overpoweringly sweet. They have crispy bits of biscuits inside.
However, Blueberry, Caramel and Coffee mascarpone toast was okay. Maybe we were expecting too much by the looks of it on the menu. I do have high expectations for cafes in Bangkok because I went to too many good ones.
Tip: There are very limited seats only so do visit this cafe on a weekday to enjoy the cafe and take good pictures.
A lot of people tend to ask me how I can afford to travel so frequent. One of my ultimate tip is to look out for great deals and do your research well. One of my favourite website is Traveloka Malaysia, they have tons of deals on flights and hotels. You will definitely get to enjoy some savings there!
Blue Whale Cafe / Maharaj
392/37 Maha Rat Rd Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand (Nearest Train Hua Lamphong)
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 8:00pm (Fri – Wed), Closed on Thursdays.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluewhalebkk
Makoto Japanese Cuisine @ Desa Sri Hartamas
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Makoto Japanese Cuisine - The First and Only Japanese Restaurant that has air flown live Unagi.
It's no surprise that I am a huge Japanese cuisine fanatic, and one of my favourites is the Unagi (Japanese Eel). The problem I'm facing is that I'm always too afraid to order it in Malaysia because it's really difficult to find a good tasting one. It's always too boney, has too much of a "fishy" smell (鲜味), just not fresh or they just don't know how to cook it the right way.
That is why I'm very excited to introduce this place to you guys because this is the only place I've tried that is on par with the ones I had in Japan. The best thing is that this restaurant is actually Pork-Free! This place is like a god sent to all the Unagi lovers in Malaysia!
The Birth Of Makoto Japanese Restaurant:
They were formerly known as Hikari-ya. In order to expand and perfect their skills in Unagi cuisines, so they collaborated directly with an Executive Chef of a traditional Japanese eel restaurant in Tokyo, which has more than 200 years history and has been loved by celebrities like top politicians and business executives.
The 4 of us opted for a cozy private room to enjoy our dinner. If you want a private room, remember to call ahead to book because they only have 2 rooms.
In Makoto Japanese Cuisine Restaurant, Chef Hayashi - a well experienced Japanese chef will be preparing your Unagi-s as this is not a job many locals can perfectly do. He spent years & years of training in Japan and now lives locally to serve in this restaurant.
Since this place imports live Unagi-s and are only made to order, the eels are only "prepared" when the customer orders them. Thus, you can be sure that you are enjoying the utmost freshness of these Unagi-s here in Makoto.
Chef Hayashi is dedicated to even the smallest details by ensuring the Unagi-s stay alive by changing fresh water, ensuring that the water is at the correct temperature, grilling, steaming, preparation of sauce etc. All these are required to be able to serve the best charcoal grilled Unagi in town!
The Unagi-s can only stay still when they are in ice cold water. When they are exposed to room temperature, they still start to struggle and it is hard to handle. Only an experienced Chef can handle them without wearing any gloves.
What's even more surprising is that if the Unagi dies, they will be disposed and not kept to be serve to customers. This is why Makoto has so much pride & confidence in their star product - Unagi-s.
Apart from the Unagi dishes, you can enjoy other Japanese cuisines including the seasonal items! Remember to lookout for them on the white board as these items are not available on the menu.
Daiginjo Tokusei Gold
I'm not an avid alcohol drinker but I couldn't resist when I saw they had the Obama Sake! Yes, you heard it right, it's the sake shared between President Barrack Obama & Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a meal in Sukibayashi Jiro , Japan.
As you pour the Daiginjo Tokusei Gold into your glass, you’ll see cherry blossom-shaped gold leaves floating in your beverage. They are only 2-3 petals in a bottle and I had one!
UMESHU 梅酒グラス | RM25
Sashimi Platter | RM138
Shimaji(Mackeral), Akami(Tuna), Shake(Salmon), Kampachi(Yellow Tail) & Ebi(Prawn).
The sashimi on this platter is depending on what's fresh for the day.
Everything is edible on this plate.
Hone Senbei | RM8
I'm seriously amazed at how the Japanese can make use of everything! These are the Unagi bones deep fried into crackers and they are seriously crispy & not oily at all. People usually enjoy these while having a cup of cold kirin over chit-chats.
Tempura Moriawase | RM27
3 x Prawns and 3 x Vegetables served with salt & tempura dipping sauce.
I love that their tempura batter is very light and crispy compared to many other places I've tried.
Unagi Kurikara | RM38
These grilled eels on skewers are just seasoned with some salt and they tastes heavenly!
The natural juiciness and tenderness accompanied by the aromatic spice from the Japanese sanshō pepper sprinkled over the unagi makes me want more!
Kampachi Soup | RM28
It's the norm to see Miso soups in Japanese restaurants, but it's my first time trying Kampachi(Yellow Tail) soup instead.
They cooked it with dried Kombu and served with some kelp, mushrooms and Kampachi.
The natural sweetness of the fish was enough to bring comfort to my stomach and gave me a warm homey feeling.
Unaju (Small • Half) - RM100
The star of the night's meal, rice is also refillable for free!
The Unaju here is the best I've ever tasted, the Unagi is thick, tender & succulent, and it does not have the smelly "fishy" smell I hate.
Instead of the normal sweet sauce, it is served with the natural homemade sauce by Chef which is savoury instead.
* Big Size (Full) - comes with whole unagi and kimo liver clear soup at RM 185
Warabimochi (わらび餅) | RM15
And another highlight of my dinner in Makoto - Warabimochi. This is my first time trying this traditional Japanese dessert and I'm in love with every bite! This dessert consists of brown sugar jelly, matcha jelly and warabimochi topped with kinako. In case this is your first time hearing about this as well, Warabimochi is a jelly-like confection made from bracken starch(plant). It differs from the normal mochi made from glutinous rice.
Besides the famous Unagi dishes, Makoto also offers Executive Bento Set Lunch on weekdays, from 12pm - 2:30pm.
I really can't wait to go back for more!
Makoto Japanese Cuisine
54, Jalan 27/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas,
50480 Kuala Lumpur, WP Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel no: +6 03 - 6211 1409
Facebook: Makoto Japanese Cuisine
Instagram: @makoto.hartamas
*Tip: The place is small and they have limited tables, please do call if you going in a large group!
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