Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Valentine's is near

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I love chocolates
More than you!

Our salon is coming up with a Valentine's Day promotion and it starts tomorrow!


It's actually almost similar to the Chinese New Year promotion except that rather than giving free haircuts, we will be giving out heart-shaped Ferrero Rocher chocolates!


Nicely wrapped up and ready to go =)


The chocolates that we are giving away. So, how do you get these? You just simply head down to Abiey Salon (the salon is right next to JnJ Cafeteria, Tabuan Jaya) and either make a booking or just walk in and ask for the Valentine's Day promotion. By the end of your session, we'll hand you one of these, for free! It's that easy!


To love and being beautiful. 


xoxo Mrs Fashionista

Monday, January 30, 2012

Pre-Wedding Hong Kong

Ahhh... Finally.

I know I've been saying that I had a pre-wedding session in Hong Kong but I've never really had the time to upload and post the photos. Now that most of my work seems to have been settled, I've finally had time to sieve through the photos that was given to me by Nazar (my pre-wedding photographer) and so, here they are:


The photoshoot was taken at Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong. We deliberately chose that location due to the beautiful Hong Kong skyline at the back.


If you're thinking of going to Hong Kong, this is a must-go to place. There's a Symphony of Lights show every night at 8 pm. Unfortunately, we missed it just by minutes and had to make do with whatever that was available. But I would still have to say that the background is absolutely beautiful and if you're thinking about having a pre-wedding photoshoot, this is a helluva great venue for you to consider.


Avenue of Stars is actually located at Tsim Tsa Tsui district of Kowloon. The easiest way of getting there is by using the MRT. Stop at East Tsim Tsa Tsui Station and take Exit J. Alternative modes of transportation are available [here].


We are terrible at posing, and our poses are kinda lame, heh..


I absolutely love night shots. That's why if you noticed, my first pre-wedding in Singapore in Orchard Road was also done at night. Why? I love lights and I do think they make the best background. However, don't get me wrong, I also love day shots. I'll post our wedding outdoor photoshoot by Ise Razak which I find to be equally beautiful.  




The pose that got hubs teased by his friends. Sorry, hubs, I kinda like this pose =).



During the Symphony of Lights show, you'll also find boats parading the length of Avenue of Stars. Since we were late, we weren't able to capture the boat parade. Luckily one boat was left behind. In Malay, we'd call this boat Tongkang Cina (I think). If you want to know more on Avenue of Stars, the official website is [here].


This shot was taken at a traffic light t-junction. Still, main theme for our pre-wedding photoshoot was lights and movement. 


One of my regrets, not dieting before the pre-wedding photoshoot. Lumps were visible here and there, but then again, hubs loves me with lumps and all; it doesn't really matter to him, but in my eyes *ouch*.


So for those of you who are getting married, I would really recommend you to go for a pre-wedding photoshoot. Why? Well, let the photos speak for themselves, and the best part is, you'll keep the photos for the rest of your life. You only have one chance for a pre-wedding (unless you're thinking of getting married more than once, or you're thinking of having more than one pre-wedding like we did) and once the actual wedding day is over, there'll be no excitement for the wedding anymore, it's over and done with anyway. So, why not make your wedding as personal as you can (like I did); sharing the pre-wedding photoshoot was one of the highlights of our wedding reception and it gives us an opportunity to share our love with our friends and family.

To love and weddings.


xoxo Mrs Fashionista

Just for Today


Just for today, I will be happy.
This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that "most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Happiness is from within; it is not a matter of externals.


Just for today, I will try to adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires.
I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.


Just for today, I will take care of my body.
I exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse it nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.


Just for today, I will try to strengthen my mind.
I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for today, I will exercise my soul in three ways; I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out.
I will do at least two things I don't want to do, as William James suggests, just for exercise.

Just for today, I will be agreeable.
I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, not find fault with anything and not try to regulate nor improve anyone.


Just for today, I will try to live through this day only, not tackle my whole life problems at once.
I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.


Just for today, I will have a program.
I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests, hurrying and indecision.

Just for today, I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself and relax.
In this half-hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.


Just for today, I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.

by Sibyl F. Partridge

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Chan Family 4th Reunion Dinner

Being a descendant of mixed parentage, I always look forward to a family gathering. It's interesting to see the hodgepodge of cultures (we're all so different and unique) coming together. Here's a photoblog of our recent Chan family (surname inherited from my great grandfather, the late Chan Chian Swee who was from China) reunion dinner.


Sibling love! My grandma is the third eldest. The eldest and the second eldest have passed away years ago. Flanking grandma is her stepsisters and stepbrothers with their partners. In case you didn't know, my grandma is the one with her head covered *duh*.


They look like twins, don't you think?


They're singing a Happy Chinese New Year song (funny eh?). And no, that is not a birthday cake, that's a Happy Chinese New Year cake.


Make a wish grandma!


Us, the Bujang family. No, my grandma's name is not Bujang. It's Saptuyah. Just that Bujang (my late grandpa's name) is easier to remember.


Aww.. Don't they look adorable?


FYI, my grandma does not know a single Hokkien word (our family's dialect) and her stepsister does not know an inch of Malay. How they communicate with each other is a complete mystery to me. 


Yeay! I got angpao and a bottle of wine!


The descendants of Chan family.


We couldn't all fit onto the first frame, so this is the second frame. 


Gorgeous cousins =)


Baby love! 


I swear he's the main attraction of the night. Hehe =)


These two are such romantics! I hope me and hubs will be like that when we grow old *ameen*.


Me and hubs. 


Hubs purposely wore this dragon jacket for the dinner. We got it during our holiday to Beijing in 2010. Certainly is appropriate for this year of the Water Dragon.


My outfit for the dinner, pearl white sequined scarf by Butik Alia, Gold Mandy headband by Sereni & Shentel, dark brown kaftan inspired dress that I got from Samarinda, Indonesia, and watch by Marc Jacobs. What do you think? If you're thinking what I'm thinking, no, I am not pregnant. Not yet anyway. Oh okay, I'll start jogging first thing tomorrow, no need for the hint *jeez*.


To love and family.


xoxo Mrs Fashionista

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Noooooooooo

Sereni & Shentel will be increasing their prices starting from 1st February 2012.


Poster released on their blog and Facebook page yesterday.


Nooooooooooooo!!!!! Oh, screaming in front of the laptop is not such a good idea (and my head hurts). Breath in... Breath out... Now let's do some calming yoga poses, downward dog...

Eh, wait, the price increase will start from the month of February, so you have from now until 31st January 2012 to make your purchase (if you don't feel like paying that lil' extra) and before you start running to S&S in panic, not all headbands are affected. Yeay!

The headbands that are NOT affected are:

Akeem
Bunny Ears
Charlotte
Mandy
New Money
Party Hat
The Queen
Zamunda
Borneo Mandy

And the headbands that ARE affected are:

Blair - from RM120 to RM129
Block Party - from RM51 to RM60
Mini Block Party (I think this's new) - RM60
Bow Down - from RM201 to RM207
Hen's Veil - from RM201 to RM207
Ice Ice Baby (Matte/ Shiny) - from RM150 to RM156
Ice Ice Baby (Luxe) - from RM162 to RM168
Kuching Cat - from RM129 to RM135
Ice Ice Baby Mini - from RM120 to RM126
Borneo Blair - RM120 to RM129
Borneo Block - RM51 to RM60

Now, that's not too bad, isn't it? Some headbands will not be affected and those that are affected, the price increase is not that unreasonable. The reasons for the price increase is due to rising cost in materials and labor.

Since I've started advocating the benefits of Sereni & Shentel headbands (in comparison to other headbands) to my friends (who unfortunately, are S&S virgins) some have commented that their headbands are too expensive. I beg to differ. Why? Because I buy whenever there is a promotion. That's what financial experts call smart spending. So far for the month of January I have bought five headbands (I don't know what the financial experts would say about that, but that is beside the point).

Let me illustrate my own case:


Buy one Mandy, get one Ice Ice Baby for free. Total spending, RM180. Amount saved, RM150. 


Buy one Blair, get another Blair for free. This time I decided to share the promotion with a friend, so we get one Blair each. So, total spending, RM60. Amount saved, RM60 (because a Blair costs RM120). 

Promo #3: Australia Day Promotion



Buy one Ice Ice Baby Mini, 

(Photo courtesy of Sereni & Shentel)


get one Block Party for free. 

(Photo courtesy of Sereni & Shentel)


Total spending, RM120. Amount saved, RM51. 

So, for FIVE headbands; total spent, RM360. Amount saved, RM261


Wow! I actually save a lot (and no it does not matter that my saving is less than my spending). Take that you financial experts! Oh, I almost forgot, I am not affiliated in any way with Sereni & Shentel and they certainly do not pay me commission for every sale that I introduce.

To smart spending habits and me keeping my new year resolution #2, quality purchases over quantity.

Have a great weekend peeps!


xoxo Mrs Fashionista

Friday, January 27, 2012

The Silent Bayaan (Sermon)

As tweeted by @IslamicThinking on Twitter.


Photo taken from my trip to Masjid Islamic Centre, Samarinda, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia. 



A member of a certain mosque, who previously had started attending the mosque to perform his Salaah (prayer), suddenly stopped attending.

After a few weeks, the imam decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The imam saw the man alone at home sitting before a blazing fire.

Guessing the reason for his imam's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace... and waited.

The imam made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs.

After some minutes, the imam took the fire tongs picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone.

Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation.

As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The imam glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave.

He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire.

Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.



Photo taken from my trip to Masjid Islamic Centre, Samarinda, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia. 


As the imam reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, ...

"Shukran for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be attending masjid from tomorrow starting with Fajr Salaah, InsyaAllah."

Our best Dawah (invitation to Islam) is our example. Our actions speak louder than words. We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen.

Sometimes the best bayaans (sermons) are the ones "given silently".

Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah; and I am not of those who associate others with Him." (Quran 12: 108).

THE END.

Common Spelling Mistakes

Being an educator, it would be impossible to not encounter spelling mistakes that students make (here and there) when submitting their assignments, quizzes, exams and so on. So, as an effort to remind my students (and any other students out there), I hope you don't make similar mistakes such as these. The incorrect word is on the left and the correct word is on the right (just in case you didn't know ) and in alphabetical order, the mistakes are *drumroll*:

accaunt - account
acept - accept
adviseable - advisable
bangking - banking
bank office - bank
brances - branches
buy - by
card credit - credit card
ceitarn - certain
chake - check
cheaque - cheque
charges card - charge card
constrastion/ contraction - construction
convinience/ convienient - convenient
curriencies - currencies
dana/ modal - capital
defoult - default
depand - depend
developmer - developer
diriectly - directly
draf - draft
drown - drawn

easi - easy
easyly - easily
entrepenuer - entrepreneur
etcetura - etc, etcetra
finacing - financing
governmont - government
gurentee - guarantee

imediate - immediate
immidiately - immediately
individu - individual
instrustron - instruction
interes - interest
investement - investment
involvel - involved

lasee - lessor
literiture - literature
mecinery/ mecinary - machinery

oders - orders
overdraf - overdraft
overnite - overnight

pesonal - personal
pyment - payment
que - queue

recoznition - recognition
redraw - withdraw
reffer - refer
reqisted - requested
requrement - requirement

safty - safety
sistem - system

to banking money - to bank in money
transcation - transaction
trasfer - transfer
tredor - trader/ developer

widrawal - withdrawal
wont - wouldn't/ would not


I am not Little Miss Perfect. I do make spelling mistakes now and then. However, the objective of this post is to highlight the importance of spelling correctly, and if you are unsure of your word, refer to the dictionary. I do it all the time. Being an educator, I have a high tolerance level for spelling mistakes; unfortunately a majority of people don't (especially prospective employers and those in the industry).

So to all students (or anyone out there) be nice to your dictionary. If you don't have one, buy one! Or if you have a smartphone, download the free app =).

To being better.


xoxo Mrs Fashionista

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Happy New Year!!

For those who are not aware of the Chinese lunar calendar, Happy Chinese New Year! Or as they say in Mandarin, Xinnian Kuaile =).

This year, being the year of the Water Dragon, brings forth a lot of luck and prosperity (depending on your astrological birth animal) and it's also been predicted that there'll be a baby boom in China this year. For the article click [here]. For me, a Metal Rooster, I'm predicted to have good luck (not extremely well, but having luck is good enough for me) however me being me, I've never really depended on lady luck but if you'd like to read how your year to be like, the article is [here].


Fireworks show courtesy of my neighbors. The new year celebrations started with fireworks (and lots of it). The rain certainly didn't damper the mood of the festivities and living in a Chinese community, I heard (and saw fireworks) from 10 pm until way after midnight. 

I was still awake at midnight for the fireworks (I'm like a kid, I know) and since it's midnight, I went online to purchase another Sereni & Shentel headband; there's a Chinese New Year promotion, you see...

(Poster courtesy of Sereni & Shentel)

Buy two Blairs for the price of one! Yeay! My heart went into summersaults when I saw the promotion days earlier. Quickly went to Sereni & Shentel's website to decide on which Blair and also called up a friend (to share the promotion with). The headband is inspired by Blair Waldorf, a character in the popular tv series Gossip Girls.

(Photo courtesy of Sereni & Shentel)

And this is what I ordered. A Kiwi Blair. My favorite shade of gadong (gadong is a Sarawakian word for green).

(Photo courtesy of Sereni & Shentel)

And this is what I ordered for my friend. Can't wait for the actual thing to arrive soon. Yeay!

And in the true spirit of 1Malaysia, we went visiting for the whole two days (and ate all sorts of nuts, curry and satay in the process).

Spotted while visiting:


Mr Ibrahim and Madam Hazami's family at Madam Dorothy's place on the first day of CNY.


Mum, in Über-red (channeling CNY prosperity and wealth aura) with Assoc. Prof. Iris, also on the first day (lucky for us, AP Iris shared two amazing recipes for health and how she lost 12 kilos in 3 months). She looks amazing and I am going to follow her recipe for success *positive thoughts*.


On the second day, we went to Jason's and this is where we met this amazing couple who shared with us the places to see when visiting India. He even drew us a map! Now, India is definitely on my list of places to go to.. Hmm.. Agra.. Goa.. Chennai.. Delhi.. The list is endless! Thank you for your kind info sir and we will certainly bring your map with us =). 


Here's hubs in his red Armani Exchange shirt channeling the CNY spirit. I couldn't find any proper red attire to wear so I settled with a hot pink shawl topped with a black Ice Ice Baby Sereni & Shentel headband, pink nurse's outfit by Nicole and dark maroon pants by Benetton. 


My first day CNY outfit: abstract orange and brown shawl topped with a gold Mandy Sereni & Shentel headband, black Armani Exchange shirt, orange striped pinafore by MNG, jeans by Esprit, gold (for prosperity and wealth) wedges by Carlo Rino, and striped gray and hot pink Guess tote. 

Now that my visiting days are done, I am looking forward to our family makan besar (reunion dinner) on the 26th of January 2012 at Telang Usan Hotel. Will blog about that too! =)


Gong Xi Fa Cai to all!


xoxo Mrs Fashionista