Just feel like showing off my cooking condiments. I feel that it’s a matter of pride that I have all these things in my kitchen, never mind that some of them still remain sealed in their packets. One reason is because Kim emptied out IKEA’s spice jar stock, another is because I’ve not yet started using those condiments.

Yay! Oh, and Happy Wesak Day :)

There’s a story about my mother that I never tire of telling.

In fact, I had to do a quick search on my blog to make sure that I’ve not shared it before. Doesn’t seem like I have. Even if I did, well I suppose you’ll have to read it again :)

As you may know, my mom has been a teacher all her life. There’s a reason and a reaction to this. The reason you’d probably know is because I’ve told you then followed by your reaction of, “Har? You don’t seem like a teacher’s daughter leh…”

To which I may answer, “Teacher’s daughter got look one meh?” or if I wasn’t in the mood, “Yah loh.”

My mom is now retired though she occasionally does contract teaching work. Kids flock to her like moths to a light. Some people are just that good with children. As my mom actually gave a rat’s arse about what she does, she became an excellent teacher. Yes, apparently it’s something to be learned.

One of the responsibilities of being headmistress was to give a speech during the weekly Monday assembly. It can be rather dull listening to the same things over and over again. I know ‘cos I went through many such Monday assemblies during my primary and high school years. Zzzzz…

Well, it wasn’t fun for my mom either as she was also bored of repeating herself. How many times can you remind the students to study hard, always attend classes and pay attention to their teachers? Sometimes she tried to do it differently, give it a twist so to speak.

One Monday assembly, my mom stood in front of her fellow teachers and primary school students, who were probably as uninterested in the Monday speeches as I was during my time.

“Bla bla bla announcements bla bla bla school rules bla bla bla…”
Low buzz arising as the kids begin to stir, impatiently waiting to get back to their classes.
“I want you all to be thieves!”
Silence. Har??
“… and steal your teachers’ knowledge…” my mom grinned.

Until today, I still think that was one of the funniest and coolest thing I’d ever heard.

Happy Teachers’ Day, Mama Lim! :D

Oh while we’re on the subject of my mom, I might as well tell you another story lah.

A couple of weeks ago, my mom called me on my mobile. I was a bit worried as it was 10.30pm and she’d never called me that late in the night before. She sounded chirpy and excited though, so pheww..

“Hey, I made an orange chiffon cake today! It was perfect you know! It rose beautifully, it’s all fluffy and puffy and spongy: perfect!”
“Har.. okay..”
“… but cannot be eaten one.”
“Har?? Why not??”
“‘Cos instead of putting 3 ounces of sugar, I put 3 ounces of salt HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.”
“HAR??? Why did you do that?”
“How I know why I have salt among my baking goods?!? HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!”

Damn cute la my mom.

In this long blog post, I’m going to talk about: facial stuff, waxing, sanitary pads and periods. Not the singular dot for punctuation, more of the monthly bloody kind. If that’s not warning enough for those who can’t bear to read about these kind of things, I don’t know what else would work.

How about this: STOP READING IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW.

A while back, Salmah of Precious Me contacted me, asking if I’d like to try out her homemade skincare products. She sent me a trial set of the “FLOWER POWER” 3-in-1 Facial Cleansing Powder and “REJUVENATE ME” 2-in-1 moisturiser.

Interesting eh? I’d never used homemade skincare products before. Of course I trawled through her website for details about the things that she made before putting it on my face. Apparently Salmah started making her own skincare products out of necessity than wanting to join the ‘natural crowd’, so to speak. If you want to know more, you could always ask her as it’s her story to tell.

The cleansing powder contains 5 types of flower powders (Lavender, Rose Hip, Calendula, Hibiscus & Pink Rose), 2 types of natural clay powders (Kaolin Clay & Dead Sea Black Clay), 2 types of gentle cleansing grains (Rice Flour & Organic Oats) and 2 types of plant powders (Sandalwood & Tea Tree).

As I’m rather impatient, I started using the powder as a mask. I think my skin did feel better after each application. None of the ‘tightness’ feeling, plus it kind of looked better. I would probably use it daily if it wasn’t powder-based (i.e. lazy). As for the moisturiser, I quite like the more prominent scent of sandalwood. Would probably help more if I used it on a more regular basis, but I’m the type who needs a kicking where the sun doesn’t shine.

If you’d like to give it a go, you can get a trial set for only RM32. Usual price RM40, this offer’s till end of May 2011.

Precious Me’s Natural Skincare Products
General Blog || Facial Cleanser || Moisturiser

I won a MSN Lifestyle contest and received a voucher for a free STRIP: Ministry of Waxing Strawberry Wax Virgin Brazilian treatment worth RM150. Expensive or not? I had one done before using soft wax which cost a lot less but that was years ago. Don’t really see the point of going full out, don’t have a baby complex if you know what I mean.

Made an appointment with the STRIP outlet at The Curve. Found out what my treatment meant: Strawberry wax means the hard wax that they use is strawberry flavoured. They also have a chocolate flavour, I suppose for the scent more than anything. When I first did it, it was the old fashioned way where hot wax was put on me then removed with a sticky cloth, along with the hair. This hard wax is applied directly to the spot, then it slightly hardens and the wax is removed along with the hair. From what little I remember, I prefer the latter as it’s less sticky and felt cleaner.

To answer your question, OF COURSE PAIN LA… It was also a rather humbling experience, nervous attempts at small talk while the girl is hovering over your privates. She was nice, friendly and rather assuring but still…!

I’m not familiar with these prices but if you’d look at their menu + prices, let me know if you think it’s reasonable or overpriced? The experience was good but perhaps I could get it cheaper + better elsewhere? What do you think?

Strip: Ministry of Waxing
Malaysian Website

(Again) A while back, I was sent some samples of the new Kotex Luxe. The pads were packaged in a tin box which unfortunately is not available any more. You can still get the Kotex Luxe pads sans pretty tin box.

They are basically thinner, apparently better pads which are a heck lot prettier. I do have to agree that the feminine designs ON the pads make them nicer to look at. Very pretty. Some people like those stuff on their sanitary pads. I don’t understand why. For me, I look at the functionality and effectiveness in making sure that I do not… errr, leak. Aesthetics be damned.

… Which Kotex Luxe seems to do a good job of. I used them a couple of times during my 2nd and 3rd days (on the 1st days, I always use Whisper. Always, always, always!), quite soft and comfy and holds up pretty well. Would I buy this again? Yes, and I have… when they were on sale.

Kotex Luxe Ultrathin Pads
http://www.kotex.com.my/en/products/luxe

Speaking of periods, mine didn’t arrive for 3 or 4 months. Har har no I’m not pregnant. Sorry mom to have disappointed you -_-”

So I wasn’t too worried about it because I’ve always been somewhat irregular. Sure, 3 or 4 months may be something to worry about, but I attributed it to going back to exercising (at that time). Hormonal imbalance and all that. It has happened before, may be the same thing this time.

Then my sister suggested that my Fallopian tubes may be blocked. Gulped, I seriously honestly didn’t think of that before! Screw having children (heheheh) but it may be a cyst or what-not, right?? I got paranoid, called my doctor to ask for her opinion on where I should get an ultrasound. She suggested the Sime Darby Medical Centre in Taman Megah.

Things I learned at a pelvic ultrasound: do not pee before you go, preferably go with a full bladder. Apparently the bladder is like a magnifying window to the rest of the stuff in your pelvic area. So I had a REALLY fun time drinking like, 10 cups of water trying to make my bladder full… not.

So I was complaining on Twitter about my bladder not getting full (I was dehydrated) and Dr Liew asked if there was anything wrong with my kidneys. Err… so I asked for an additional abdomen ultrasound also. Might as well right, since I’m there already.

Well as it turns out, there’s nothing wrong with my tubes. There’s a benign cyst in the right ovary but it is most likely follicles. I even have eggs, omg! I know I know, but having solid proof that you have eggs in your ovaries make you feel somewhat… empowered. At least I did. The doctor said that the non-bleeding thing may be a ‘trip in the system’ and it will come back soon.

Sure enough, guess whose period arrived one week after her ultrasound? -_-”

But life is a funny thing. In the report for my abdomen ultrasound, she wrote, “Fatty Liver”. I don’t know whether it means my liver is fucked or it’s a generic harmless fatty liver syndrome but I got a full blood test to check it out. The results aren’t back yet but at least I made the effort to find out (also after much probing from my sister <3 ).

If you have to link up stuff, I'd think that the non-period prompted me for a check-up which revealed something else that I may have to be aware of. Whatever the case, I'm rather thankful that it happened. Quite twilight zone in a way for me, but I do look at it positively.

So yes, in my sister's words, "GO GET YOURSELF CHECKED!"

Read up on: Fatty Liver || Sime Darby Health Care

Final girly stuff: RM33 instead of RM198 for Manicure + Pedicure + Underarm Waxing / Threading + Hand & Leg Paraffin + French Glitters at Nails Jewel, Aman Suria via MilkaDeal!

I’m getting this one as it’s near my office (same row as Betty’s Midwest Kitchen). RM33 for full mani+pedi is already quite worth it, this one includes underarm waxing/ threading, hand and leg paraffin treatment (to soften) and French glitters. I know it’s damn girly and not quite me, but I’ve a wedding to go to soon :P

You can buy this deal here, only about 1 day and 9 hours to get it though… fai tiiii arrr!

Websites for: Milk A Deal || This Deal Page || Nails Jewel