HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing all of you a Happy New Year!

I only have one new year resolution..

To try and be a good mother...

Exclusive for WW magazine

For the December issue of the very stylish WW magazine,
I wrote an exclusive article about Highland Towers
which happened 18 years ago this year.

How time flies and yes, 18 years is a long time,
yet I can still remember it like it all happened yesterday.

I have never written an article like this before. Special thanks to Wirda Adnan,
editor of WW magazine who has always been very supportive of me for the
opportunity to share a very personal story with her readers.

This issue also features beautiful fashion photos taken in Malacca.
Below are two of my favourite images. Congrats to the team who did this shoot!

Looking forward to future issues of WW magazine !!

have you packed your bag yet?

Last week when I went to visit my gynae, she asked me,

'have you packed your bag yet?'

'ummmm.... no.... why?'

'you should... anything can happen anytime..'

aaaaaarrrggghhh! ok, don't panic...

to all mummies who read this blog, any suggestions?

what should i take?

Merry Christmas!

Enjoy the long weekend!!

Cool video and song...

This video is to the song Days go By performed by Dirty Vegas.

I think it's a cool song, and i also love the way he dances.

Although I don't know of anyone who walks around with a
huge music player like that anymore.

Winners of Bobbi Brown Giveaway

All the winners of the Bobbi Brown giveaway have now been notified directly via email.

If you did not receive reply to you entry email,
please don'tbe disappointed, because as you know,
there is always more coming!

Craftmanship

A beautiful short video I found showing the detail and craftmanship that goes into making high end luxury brand items like Chanel. One of my favourite documentary series is currently showing on 'L.I. Life Inspired' channel called Signe Chanel, documenting all the behind the scenes work that goes into a collection. A must see for any fashion lover!

too cute!!

little kittens that want to be dj's.... hahahahaha!

makes me feel so sad too....
cause all 3 of them look like my darling kitten
Tanger who is now in cat heaven.

Eventhough I am sure he is happy there,
not in pain anymore, but I still miss him terribly.

Bobbi Brown Mineral Make up Giveaway!!!!

When my sister first told me about mineral make up, I was interested because she told me despite it being a loose powder, it gives very natural cover, it doesn't look like you are wearing make up and gives great coverage. The result? Very natural looking skin.

I tried it and not only was my sister right, my skin which usually becomes more and more oily as the day progresses, doesn't when i wear mineral make up foundation!

So I want you to try it too, and thanks to Bobbi Brown Malaysia, I have a giveaway for you!

For a chance to win Bobbi Brown's Skin Foundation Mineral Makeup SPF 15, email in to sasha_a_b@yahoo.com
a) full name
b) postal address
c) IC number
d) contact number

The best way I have found to use this make up is first, put a little bit of the product into the lid. Then using a big brush first, buff it onto your face in circles. Then for your whole eye area and on any spots, blemishes or pimples, use a smaller brush, like an eyeshadow brush and brush it onto those areas. If you feel you need more coverage, just add more!

I have also found since using this, my skin doesn't get dry, like how it sometimes does after using powders or foundations. That's because it consists of a vitamin and mineral blend that is triple coated with vitamins, minerals, moisturisers, conditioners and film formers. It's then triple milled into fine particles and that's how the product gets the silky smooth finish.
It's the best thing to use daily!

Email in now! You want this in your make-up bag!

Chanel Pre Fall 2012 collection

The pre fall collections are slowly being shown. This time, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel has gone Indian themed.

As always, beautiful collection and awesome set, but I would have loved to have seen more Bollywood influence in the clothes, like some nice sari themed dresses.

The most touching book I have read and seen...

I found this book on amazon.com, read the description as follows, and thought 'This sounds interesting. I'll get it..'

Where Children Sleep presents English-born photographer James Mollison's large-format photographs of children's bedrooms around the world--from the U.S.A., Mexico, Brazil, England, Italy, Israel and the West Bank, Kenya, Senegal, Lesotho, Nepal, China and India--alongside portraits of the children themselves. Each pair of photographs is accompanied by an extended caption that tells the story of each child: Kaya in Tokyo, whose proud mother spends $1,000 a month on her dresses; Bilal the Bedouin shepherd boy, who sleeps outdoors with his father's herd of goats; the Nepali girl Indira, who has worked in a granite quarry since she was three; and Ankhohxet, the Kraho boy who sleeps on the floor of a hut deep in the Amazon jungle. Photographed over two years with the support of Save the Children (Italy), Where Children Sleep is both a serious photo-essay for an adult audience, and also an educational book that engages children themselves in the lives of other children around the world. Its cover features a child's mobile printed in glow-in-the-dark ink.

When I received it last week, I didn't expect that it would bring me to tears many times over as I read about the stories of children from around the world.

I will show my children this book one day as I think it is one of the best portrayals of the differents lives people live around the world, how different they are, in both a good and bad way.

Some children were born into privileged families and the places where they sleep reflect this. Then you turn the page and see a totally different photo in a totally different scenario, living in poverty and will probably continue to live in such conditions until the day they pass.



My only disappointment with the book is that there are no children featured from Malaysia.





What are the solutions to the social and economic situations these children face? I have no idea, though I wish I knew. I know there are many others who wish they knew what to do to make this world a better place too.




Til then, my prayers are with them..... always....

Thank you James Mollison for sharing these photos with us. We need to see them.

Stopped by Zara after work.
I always find items I love in Zara, but when I saw these shoes,
I knew I could not leave the store without them.

Only one problem.

My usual shoe size of 37, now feels a bit small.
I always buy size 37 shoes at Zara.
But then again, when pregnant, feet swell right?

As I'm standing in Zara, wearing these shoes that feel small,
I call one of my most trusted friends who is
now pregnant with baby number 3.

"Hi, random but important question.
Feet swell during pregnancy right?
So theoretically I should buy my usual shoe size so after baby
I can wear them cause my feet will go back to previous size? "

"I have heard of people who's feet don't go back down,
but I think yours will. If you can't get your feet into them at all
then maybe get next size, but since you're wearing them
and they just feel a bit small, should be fine" my friend assured me.

So now these shoes are waiting at home in a box.

I'm noticing this style of shoe is coming back. A nice alternative to the platform style
popularised by Louboutin designs that has been worn by fashionistas the world over.

Eventually, everything changes. One day all those expensive Louboutins will be stored in storerooms somewhere where they can't be seen as they have gone out of style.

Few years later, it will come back then...

That's fashion...

few more weeks to go!

slowly but surely, time is passing and i'm getting closer and closer...

but it still feels so far away!

aaaaarrrrggghhhh!

patience.... sabar.....

oh how i miss you!

now, i have about 6 long black maxi dresses and they are the
only things i am comfortable wearing now.

I look at all the clothes that have not been used in months and i think,

'oh how i miss you!'

i can't wait to wear all of you again!

tomorrow..

another baby scan tomorrow. can't wait!

every step i take.....

Every step I take is now killing my back!

Aaaargh!!!

Few more weeks to go...

Can't wait!

another chocolate recipe!

Ingredients

100 gram icing sugar
100 grams cooking chocolate
70 grams cream cheese
chocolate flavoured rice / coloured rice / shredded coconut

melt chocolate then stir in icing sugar and cream cheese. put in freezer for 10 mins so mixture hardens. Then remove from freezer and roll mixture into small balls and cover in whatever topping you like.

then put in fridge to harden.

super easy to make and very sweet!

picture is of actual ones i made...

Winners of Michael Kors Vouchers!

Congratulations to the 2 winners of the Michael Kors vouchers.

They are Noor Aishah Kamarzaman and Nik Syafiqah binti Nik Ibrahim

They will be sent out to you by this week.

To everyone else who didn't win this time, don't worry cause there will be more coming!

Michael Kors RM200 voucher giveaway!!!

Haven't done a giveaway in a while, but here is one again!

This time it's for Michael Kors RM200 voucher to be used at the Pavillion store!

I have two to give away.

To win, please email to sasha_a_b@yahoo.com

1) your full name
2) postal address
3) contact number
4) title of email - Michael Kors voucher

winners picked at random. Good luck!

actual baby scan

picture of actual baby scan taken today. you can see the face a little bit...

Flourless Chocolate Cake with raspberries

I made this! woohoo! Recipe as follows..

Ingredients
7 eggs
1 cup caster sugar
1 cup double cream
500g dark chocolate melted
raspberries
icing sugar to decorate

1 - preheat oven to 170 celcius
2 - mix eggs and sugar. beat until well mixed
then mix in remaining ingredients
3 - grease and line 20cm tin with baking paper.
pour mixture into tin and bake at 170 celcius for 50 mins
4 - allow cake to cool down fully before removing from tin
5 - sprinkle icing sugar on top and then add raspberries

it taste's great! if i can do this, so can you!

Boy Chanel... I wish!

One of Chanel's latest bags is called the Boy Chanel.

LOVE IT!

I want!

Sob!

But can't get it now....

Michael Kors at Pavillion K.L !!

Today I had the privilege of attending the launch of the Michael Kors boutique at Pavillion and Michael Kors himself was there!

As expected, there was a huge crowd in the store. Look to the right of the picture below and you will see Michael Kors taking pictures with fashion fans.

And I managed to get his autograph!! YAY!!! Third fashion designer autograph now in my mini collection consisting of Giuseppe Zanotti, Anya Hindmarch and now Michael Kors.

I saw some nice rose gold watches and leopard print clothes in the boutique.
Hmmmmm.... I must go back and have a closer look. :)

January. Boy.

I seem to be saying these two words a lot lately.

January. Boy.

:)

W.E - I can't wait to watch this movie!

I cannot wait to watch this movie which is directed by Madonna. I will be so busy looking at the clothes styling, I will probably have to watch it twice. Once to look at clothes, and once to understand the story. I will definitely be envious of the clothes. Being pregnant really limits your wardrobe choices I tell you!!!

Info about the movie :

W.E., directed by Madonna and co-written with her friend Alek Keshishian (who directed Truth or Dare), focuses on two love stories: that of Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough) and Britain’s King Edward VIII (James D’Arcy), who gave up the throne to marry the twice-divorced American, and that of a contemporary New Yorker named Wally (Abbie Cornish), who falls for a security guard at Sotheby’s and who identifies with that other, most sensational love affair of the 20th century. After Edward abdicated, in 1936, he became the Duke of Windsor. As his wife, Wallis automatically became a duchess, but she was denied the title Her Royal Highness. It’s not surprising that Madonna chose this topic for her first feature film as a director; for 50 years the Windsors were known for their rebelliousness, their extravagance, and their impeccable taste.

The fashions, modeled here by Riseborough and D’Arcy, were the special domain of Madonna's longtime collaborator Arianne Phillips. The Oscar-nominated costume designer worked with such labels as Cartier, Dior, and Dunhill for the 60 or so wardrobe changes in the film. “Wallis and the Duke both made a lifestyle out of presentation. . . . It was a beautiful façade,” says Phillips. “He said that because she never got a title he gave her jewelry to make her feel royal.”

Media Prima's yearly screenings

Media Prima's yearly screenings was just held on Friday, and as always, it drew in a great crowd with some unexpected things, such as playing 'angry birds' on a huge screen, and prizes such as tv screens and ipads. (aargh! wish i could win an ipad!)

Games at the Ntv7 booth, decorating cupcakes.

Going to be another big year for media prima.

Happy Deepavali !

Wishing Happy Deepavali to all celebrating this festival of lights!

I had one of the best Deepavali's this year.

Three fantastic open houses in one day, everyone in the spirit to celebrate.

One Malaysia, One World.

And these beautiful floor decorations were at one of the open houses.

7th month....

7th month ! still got another 2 months to go. another scan in two weeks.

I can't wait to actually see baby!

Baby moves a lot already. I assume that means baby is going to be very active.

Chocolate Souffle - I actually made these!

I am really not a good cook. Most of the time what I do in the kitchen turns into some kind of disaster. However, I surprised myself today when I actually made chocolate souffle.

The only little mistake I made is that the bowls / mugs were too big for the amount of mixture i had. But they still taste good. So here's the recipe so you can try it too.

Ingredients
115 grams cooking chocolate. semi sweet is better
55 grams sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
butter

preheat oven to 200 degrees celcius. generously butter four 125 ml bowls. put a little sugar in bowls and shake around to evenly coat inside of bowls.

melt cooking chocolate above hot water on stove. separate egg white and egg yolks. mix egg yolks, sugar and vanilla extract together and once chocolate is melted add to mixture. then beat egg whites until soft peaks form. add beaten egg whites to mixture.

pour into bowls, put in oven for 15 mins.

chocolatey rich and yummy!

I met Anya Hindmarch again!

In a very exclusive and small private event, I had the opportunity to meet one of my favourite designers, Anya Hindmarch for the third time.

She is here to launch her new store in KLCC and the exclusive Belvedere tote in limited edition gold which is exclusive to Malaysia. Each Belvedere special arrives in its own exclusive box with a tag embossed with your initials.

This time I came well prepared. I brought 4 of my Anya evening clutches and am sooooo happy that Anya was so kind to autograph all of them! Yay!

An example of her signature in one of my bags.

And a little note especially for me. When she saw my bags she said 'oh wow! you have all these!'


'Please do bags like this again!' I replied...

'There are plans too...' she said sweetly.


YAY!!!

And I am keeping an eye on her glittering Valorie clutches. So sparkly and pretty!