End of the year updates

My monthly update stopped in August haha because I was too busy updating my travels and wedding related posts. But it's the last one for this year so thought I'll just lump the last few months in one post haha

The last few months were super busy with wedding related planning and with our new house renovation. Well, the house renovation can be a whole new post altogether *laughs* The headache, the designing, the contractor, wow, superr busyyyyy!

But, let's eat first =)

Somehow, due to so much planning to do during the weekend because that's when both of us can meet and plan together, I have suddenly stopped running in the park as well as my HIIT. I just couldn't find the time or motivation rather. Instead, I've decided to eat healthiER haha in order to control my fat mass and still stay lean for my wedding.

I've then resorted to acai bowl and poke bowl. Love the acai bowl from Goodness Green Cafe, TTDI.

And my fave poke bowl from Wonder Poke, Wonder Tea, Sunway. 

Re-visited this place many times.

I've also tried a new poke bowl from Fin, Publika. One of the cheapest poke bowl in town for only RM15. But they have quite limited ingredients.

But then there are also cheat days HEHE

There's this hype about this nasi ayam kicap cili from Tiga Budak Gemok. Find them on instagram. We went to their stall at Hartamas. Boy, were the queue long but luckily we reached early. There was a freaking long queue for nasi ayam ok! What's so special? You gotta eat it to find out. The ayam and cili were super spicy I was crying while eating haha But, man, it was damn good and spicy! I wouldn't revisit because of the queue though as they cook there and then and were quite slow. But definitely worth a try!

Had a feast at Las Carretas, USJ Subang.

Mmm...steak! Soft, melts in your mouth and juicy.

Oyster in cream sauce. I drank the sauce like soup! I'm not a fan of oyster but this one, I gulped it all!

Hugely recommended.

Another feast at Baan Thai 2, Kuchai Lama

Squid was gone within minutes. Spicy, chewy and very flavourful

Tomyam fish.

Green curry.

Seafood tomyam.

Thai omelette.

Overall, no complaints. Food was good and we were all very satisfied!

Had crab cravings one of those days and kari ketam it was!

Raju's Jalan Gasing!

Just for me =) Superr yums. Cravings satisfied.

Found a cozy cafe in the heart of KL. Mil Cafe & Lounge, Jalan Kamunting, KL

Good coffee.

Even better food. They mainly serve Asian dishes and this prawn noodle was very tasty and the broth was just nice with little bit spicy, sweet and savoury. The set lunch was also pretty reasonable.

Finally tried The Alley Milk Tea.

Had their signature. The pearl was chewy but still doesn't justify the price though.

Had Souka cakes, SS15 back to back one of the weekends.

Chocolate cheese yums.

Caramel burnt cheesecake. I had a craving for this and the nearest to me was Souka. Didn't disappoint.

Oreo mint choc. My fave mint in a cake. One delicious goodness.

But the best cheesecake of all?

THIS!

6th Avenue Cheesecake from The Tokyo Restaurant, Lot 10.

Didn't disappoint at all. In fact, very willing to spend RM20 on this and still felt it was worth it HAHA. The best and would come back for more if it was not so far!

Opps this is overly cheating already. I really should start exercising LOL

#bittersweet

This Christmas tree was with me ever since I could remember. My last time putting this up in my home as I will be shifting out soon to start a new life ='(

Christmas carols! Never gets old.

Some pampering time at Beaute Library.

Wee~ Rose bouquet from Happy Bunch from the fiance <3

Watched Bohemian Rhapsody and I was totally amazed by this movie and their performance. The songs were beautifully sung. Who doesn't know Queen's song? You will definitely recognise a few from the movie. We sang along, laughed, teared and it was such a great movie. The only thing was that Malaysian cinemas cut quite a bit of scenes.

A Star is Born wasn't as good but I did love one song from the movie which Lady Gaga sang with Bradley Cooper. Lady Gaga could act and Bradley Cooper could sing!

Oh Aquaman was THE movie of the year. I absolutely recommend watching this. 2 and a half hours gone by just like that because you don't get bored at all watching the underwater world and its amazing CGI. The storyline, the actions, the beautiful underwater nature and everything was fantastic! 5 stars from me and I never give a movie a perfect rating!

The new house is in a bit of a mess at the moment. But I could forsee my vision coming true soon enough. Very excited and can't wait.

Did my bridal nails and it was very bling that it's hard for my phone to capture haha:

Oh and by the way, I also got myself a husband this year *laughs*

 Yes, we are now legal! Next planning: shifting house and getting married customary and in church.

Althea Pore Purifying Serum + Body Mist

Wee~ This Christmas season is so exciting. So many new product launches from Althea Korea. So many gifts from them too. I am really so blessed to be part of the Althea Angel community.

Coming to the end of the year is 2 new products from Althea's home grown brand.

The Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser and Althea Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist.

PORE PURIFYING SERUM CLEANSER (150ML)

When I heard of its name, I knew this would definitely be for someone like me with oily/combination skin. Due to my skin type, my pores are slightly enlarged and need extra TLC otherwise my pores will clog and will turn into blackheads. So when I heard pore purifying, I immediately can't wait to try it.

Dampen the skin and apply on a small amount. Gently massage onto the skin in circular motions for 5-10 seconds before rinsing off with water. 

First impression: texture was very watery and it's translucent in colour. It does not foam up. You couldn't even differentiate if it was water or the cleanser haha. But do not underestimate it's lightweight texture!

Ok digress abit. You know how Tesco, Giant and the likes of Watsons and Guardian have their own home grown brand as well? I have tried those home grown brands and honestly, their qualities are not as good. If you have tried Tesco tissue brand, you wouldn't be able to compare with Premier tissue brand. Just like Giant panty liner is not as good as the Carefree brand. So, truth be told, I wasn't sure if Althea's home brand was up to par initially when they came out with their own products.

But to my amazing surprise, Althea has not failed me yet and I am not bias but they are really good. My favourite product these days do come from Althea brand itself like the Petal Velvet sunblock and how much I have been raving about their Primer Water and their Skin Detoxers.

And come to this Pore Purifying Serum, I must say this products fits my skin perfectly! On first try, it melted away my makeup instantly. This beauty superhero whisks away makeup, dirt, and oil with mint extracts while ensuring the skin stays cool and hydrated throughout thanks to a dual moisture cell system that combines water and oil in overlapping layers that gently yet effectively remove makeup and dirt residue.

It prevents the skin from drying out and effectively minimizes enlarged pores, keeping it smooth to the touch. This product also helps to balance the pH levels of the skin to keep it working in tip-top shape! Best of all, it's gentle on the face and suitable even for those of us with sensitive skins. After washing, my skin does not feel dry but moisturised as this serum cleanserr creates a protective barrier on the skin.

Ingredients include:

Mint leaf extract - Cools down the skin and soothes irritations with a cooling effect that lowers skin's temperature and calms blemishes

Jojoba seed oil - Deeply moisturizes any dryness without feeling heavy

Tea tree leaf extract - Has antibacterial properties that purify the skin

In my previous wishlist, I was just talking about getting a makeup remover. And my wish is now granted in Althea's Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser. So, I don't need to get the others already haha This can be a makeup remover as well as a cleanser. I use this after work to remove makeup and followed by Althea's Bare Essential Contour Cleanser. Yes, I am using the full range of Althea products LOL And in the morning after I wake up, I use this to just cleanse my face mildly. Perfect for my day to day cleanser. Oh, it smells heavenly too!

STAY FRESH BODY SPARKLING MIST (100ML)

Althea’s latest collaboration is with Indonesian celebrity Titi Kamal producing the Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist which is a sparkling mix of sweet orange and peach, followed by an ever-graceful echo of rosy floral notes. Not overbearingly strong, this gentle perfume lingers on the body for a long-lasting scent. It also has a non-sticky formula that feels comfortable on the skin, and it embodies the elegance and beauty of Titi in a bottle, perfect for the urban femme.

Titi Kamal is an Indonesian actress and singer with a knack for fashion and style. Best identified by her luxuriously long black hair, she's a beauty icon that's captured the hearts of fans all across Southeast Asia.

Spritz all over the body in a light layer before you head out the door. 

Take with you in your handbag or purse and use as and when. Lightweight and portable packaging that fits easily in any handbag or purse

Ingredients contain:

Damask rose water - Keeps the skin hydrated and gives a gentle fragrance

Sweet orange oil - Refreshes the senses

Elder flower extract - Cools and soothes the skin, while giving out a feminine scent

This fresh daily body mist fits with any style, from a classy romantic look to an everyday casual.

This floral fruity fragrance is gentle and long-lasting. When I sprayed before I leave home for an event, I still come back with a lingering rose scent. Best part? My fiance loves it too. I think it'a a scent that is very easy to match any occasion. It's not overpowering and very easy on the nose. Suitable for all ages I must say!

Ayamas Kitchen Dim Sum

QSR Trading Sdn Bhd (QSR) through its shelf brand 'Ayamas Kitchen', has recently launched a range of delicious halal frozen Dim Sum varieties to cater to food lovers.

The frozen dim sum offers convenience to all who wants to enjoy the specialty, even when they are too busy to prepare it in the conventional way. Apart from five star hotels, not many restaurants serve halal dim sum. The Ayamas Kitchen's halal version will now allow Muslims to enjoy the dish in the convenience of their own home.

The launch of Ayamas Kitchen's dim sum range.

The company offers 10 varieties of Dim Sum which include Prawn Hakao, Chicken & Prawn Shaomai, Shrimp Dumpling, Chicken Glutinous Rice with Lotus Leaf, Curry Chicken Shaomai, Radish Cake with dried shrimp, Barbeque Chicken Bun, Chicken & Fish Beancurd Roll and Prawn Shaomai. 

The shaomai range. In my opinion, the chicken and prawn shaomai is the best.

The chicken and fish bean curd roll was the best!

The chicken glutinous rice with lotus leaf was not too bad also. Very good combo.

Hakao udang was good when it's hot but it became sticky when cold and stucked to the paper and plate and tore off.

Curry chicken dim sum. A bit weird though haha

Barbeque chicken pau was also very good.

Comes in frozen packs. They even have the Ayamas Kitchen Combo Pack Dim Sum.

Their products are made from fresh ingredients, packed with quality materials, using the latest technology and equipment so that our customers can be sure that they are 100% safe for consumption. The products are certified halal by Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), a JAKIM approved certification body.

The Ayamas Kitchen's Dim Sum range is easy to prepare through various cooking methods. The dim sum can be steamed, boiled, fried or microwaves, before the food is ready to be enjoyed. However, for the best eating experience, I would recommend it to be steamed the traditional way. The dim sum goes well with their Ayamas' chili sauce and Life's Hoisin sauce.

There were a few hits and misses but the ones that hit, I will definitely purchase them for party packs!

The varieties that are now available at Giant supermarkets nationwide, are:

Prawn Hagao (RM13.39)

Chicken and Prawn Shaomai (RM10.59)

Shrimp Dumpling (RM11.29)

Chicken Glutinous Rice with Lotus Leaf (RM11.99)

Combo Pack Dim Sum (RM12.79)

Althea surprise box

Althea as always love spoiling their angels and I am super blessed to be an Althea Angel. Received a surprise box from them with goodies!

Brought them and some other Althea products with me on my trip to Singapore!

Spotted this cute product? This is the A'PIEU x Rilakkuma Limited Edition Air-fit Cushion Blusher.

 How cute is the puff? haha

It's supposed to be a blusher but they had a brown variant too for contouring/shading. I received the one in BR01.

The liquid formulation supposed to give a natural complexion and luster and adds vitality and radiance to your skin tone. It brightens skin to help achieve a clear and moist natural lustrous makeup without feeling stickiness and heavy after applying it a whole day long. Containing Aloe Vera and Tea Tree extract that is suitable for people who has sensitive skin.

This brownish colour is more suitable for contouring/shading instead of a blusher. However, I find the colour too close to my skin colour to do any contouring. Plus, the puff makes it harder to shade. A brush would have been better and more evenly distributed. Therefore, I now use it to hide redness under my nose and to occasionally cover zits that pop out hehe

Unfortunately, you cute Rilakkuma, a pinker shade would have suited my skin best.

Innisfree Capsule Recipe Pack.

Bija & Aloe Night mask.

This is my first time using this capsule recipe. A sleeping pack which contains 100ppm of bija oil, 1,000ppm of aloe vera leaf juice extract and 1,000 ppm of aloe vera leaf extract specially for skin trouble and soothing care.

Looks small but it has a generous amount of gel in there.

Apply the desired amount and gently spread onto the face at the cream step. Leave on overnight and wash it off next morning. 

I brought this with me during travel as it was very convenient to just take along. I was surprised that although it's just a small tube, but it can last a few days for the both of us. In fact, I have been using for a week now and it has not finished yet. I love the gel-like texture that absorbs into the skin freshly and moistly. It feels a bit cooling and non sticky. Plus, whenever I travel, my skin is exposed to dry air and polluted air. So, it helped to control my acne and oily skin problem. Definite skin saver during travels! Would purchase this myself!

Another skin saviour during travels: Collagenic Aqua Volume Lip Essence by Mizon

Smooth on deep moisture and nourishment and reveal silky soft, plump lips with this innovative essence. The ultimate antidote for dry, flaky lips; this smoothing formulation utilises plant oils to form a protective, moisture-binding layer that keeps lips hydrated all day long. Enriched with collagen to hold onto hydration, granting a softened, plumped effect and UV blockers to prevent sun-related damage.

Easy application. Just swipe a generous amount onto lips. It is not watery so it's easier to estimate when you press the essence out. I popped this into my handbag during travel.

Because it is not watery which is perfect because watery lip essence tend to be runny. After application though, it was very moisturising and my lips was immediately moisten and was glossy. It can also be a lip gloss replacement because it was very shiny. It even has SPF 10 in it and certified for UV Protection. Oh, plus point is that it has a very nice scent to it as well. Another great product to travel with =)

So fortunate to receive this box just before I travelled the next day! Thank you so much Althea Korea!