I WANT THIS BAG!

Za, I hope you managed to buy this bag in Japan!!!!

DAMN! I missed the Anya Hindmarch "I'm Not A Plastic Bag" bag launch at the KLCC store. And I read this on the Anya Hindmarch website:

"Due to the unprecedented demand for I’m Not A Plastic Bag in South East Asia
and our concerns for our customers safety we will be cancelling the launches at
the following stores: Anya Hindmarch Beijing, On Pedder in Shanghai and On
Pedder in Jakarta"

People go bonkers over this bag! I thought the KL crowd was pretty docile though, - saw it on the evening news... They looked quite tame and not really the fashionista crowd I would say! Oh well, I'll just make do with my Cold Storage and Village Grocer shopping bags. Yes, I have gone green and no, I didn't do it after watching the Incovenient Truth. I was a self-professed greenie years ago, actually during my junior year in uni. Liberal arts major, what do you expect.

Today, I'm not half the greenie I used to be. Heheh. Nevertheless, I've used much less plastic bags nowadays, whenever I can afford I'll buy organic (fertilizers are bad for soils!), I make sure everyone in the house turns off the taps when they brush their teeth. I recycle plastic containers. I monitor my tyre pressure more often and use energy-efficient appliances. My next mission would be bringing my own containers when tapau-ing food (a bit hard la this one).

That's quite okay for an average Malaysian, I think! Everyone should go green, a little goes a very long way :)

'tis the season...

...for Annual Reports!

Ever year, come end July until end September I will need something that has a prozac-like effect. For those of you who don't know, I coordinate the Company's Annual Report production (and copywrite parts of it as well - like the President's Review!!!). Last year I got a bit of a panic attack since everything crucial was happening during fasting month. That was when I managed to shed all that post-pregnancy blubber. (Well not ALL, but some). Well that and something else a bit more traumatic.

Yesterday we had a Knowledge Mgmt Steering Committee meeting at Avillion PD - it was held on the last day of a Management Retreat, hence the lavish venue. And since everyone's there I thought we might as well call Mr Ho (the official photographer for ARs) to do a management shoot. This year it's all individual poses - they were quite cool at it I must say!
Mr Ho working his magic on Haji Din

Taking 10 years off you takes 10 seconds... Photoshop it, baby!

Maybe just one more before the meeting starts... :)

Zin all aglow after his photoshoot

I've been procrastinating on the second draft of the Chairman's Statement. I know, I'm guilty as hell. Urgh.

Anyhoo. looking forward to host dinner for you guys on Saturday.

Ok ladies, tell me what should I cook for Saturday's dinner - you guys up for Spaghetti Marinara and Bruschetta? Don't even think about my Italian meatballs, I ain't got the time and the energy!

are you a dumper or a dumpee?

Honestly, I've always been the DUMPER.

I've never gotten dumped before (except for that one time with this MCOBA guy but that wasn't really officially dumped, it just didn't happen the way I wanted it to be). And because I've always been the one who dumps the boyfriend, that was a very unsettling moment in my life. Like there was never a proper closure, so I hold this grudge until today, even. Not la grudge in that sense but that little, tiny speck of ketidakpuasanhati that I have.

Why do I dump people? I dump people because I have to do it before they do it to me. I know that sounds selfish. Oi, MY EMOTIONAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT OK!!! A friend once asked me (a friend ok, not A Friend...sheesh...) how do you actually dump people and make it look so easy. She was referring to my pre-marriage days la. I had quite a reputation back then. Lemme tell you, it ain't that easy.

Wanna know how I do it? Once I detect some kind of anomalies in the relationship, I right away jump to Step 1:

Step 1. The Emotional Detachment Phase
Dumping someone is a gradual phase. To properly dump someone you need time. When I say properly, I mean dumping and not turning back and say... "Oops, I actualy didn't mean that!" Don't think you can do it in the blink of an eye. First you gotta slowly emotionally detach yourself from him. Don't expect his sms'es, don't wait for his calls, learn to do everything on your own. Know that you CAN live without him. Learn to leave without him.

Step 2. The Finding Fault Phase
If you find Step 1 excruciating, jump to Step 2. Find the things that you DETEST about him. It might be his nasty habits, his laziness, his stupid comments about a certain movie, his awful song preference, etc. Then AMPLIFY the negativities. Talk to your girlfriends about it if it helps. Think, "Ewww... how could I go out with someone like that!!!"

Step 3. The Getting Over Him Phase
This is the hardest part, trying to ignore the songs that remind you of him, the places that you guys go to, the first kiss you had with him, the smell of his perfume, his favourite words, the look on his face when he says he loves you... SNAP OUT OF IT! Find distractions. What I do is probably get a new hair colour, have a total makeover (buat la threading eyebrows tu...) go for a facial, look hot! Retail therapy works well too. By the way, you still gotta do Steps 1 & 2 even at this stage so you don't go into a relapse.

4. The Replacement Phase
Since you've done all that you are so ready for this phase. This is the icing on the cake, the ciggie after a nasi kandaq meal, the ice-cold lemonade on a scorching August day. Trust me, there is no better feeling than to flaunt your newfound replacement to the dumpee. Trust me!

Go on now, you're ready to dump someone!

p/s: by the way, it will hurt. did i mention that already?

life, it ain't always good

Let me tell you something if you don't already know. Life is not a bed of roses. And the older you get, the more you realize this.

I come from an OK family, we were never poor but I've been taught to always be independent. I thank my parents for that (and my grandparents too!). Oh we were always treated lavishly when we were kids (ask my sister) - the Singapore trips, the overseas holidays, etc. But we were constantly reminded on certain things and I think we didn't grow up to be spoiled brats. If it weren't for this upbringing I would have been a complete mess by now.

But some people, some very fortunate people, live their lives without a care in this world. Everything is taken care of, everything is there, on a silver platter. You know I used to envy these people (note that i said "USED") - I envied them because I wanted what they had - the ability to have everything in life and love and work and all. But now I realize that I am much better off than them because if they were put in my situation now, I don't think that they can handle it.

Some people have said that I've been so strong handling this. So strong for persevering. In my tiny little heart I know that I am strong and no one can tell me otherwise.

And to those whose life seems to be smooth sailing, let me tell you, it ain't always good. You will have to face the things you hate, you will have to learn to roll with the punches LIKE A MAN (even if you're a woman), you have to learn to accept the realities of life, you have to learn to take in the pain and deal with it. Deal with it.

Hey you, I'm still fundraising!

the day i met my childhood crush...

Monsieur Shake, je t'aime bien toujours toujours!!!

Yesterday was one of the best days of my life. Dato' Shake actually came by to see my ex-boss DA (they're good friends it seems). And Zara (knowing that I melt by the mere mention of Dato' Shake's name) coaxed me into joining them... Embarassed to the max but I just had to see him in the flesh again after all these years!

Watching Dato' Shake perform in 1982 was the first ever watching a live performance. It was at Holiday Inn JB and after that he became one of my musical idols. In fact I've never liked a Malay singer as much as I liked him.

As soon as I entered the room I get all schoolgirly - giggly and giddy. And I actually said, "Sorry I'm a bit starstruck". I kinda regained my composure and joined in their conversation. He's actually going to hold a concert as Istana Budaya in November ("like Ahmad Jais" - oh but YOU ARE WAY HOTTER!!!) and he also spoke about not having wrinkles and it's not only his face but his entire body *wink* ("like Tom Jones who doesn't age" - oh but YOU ARE WAY HOTTER!!!). Ladies, he is already 57 with 5 grandchildren but if he'd ask me out I would say yes in the blink of an eye. Honestly.

So thank you ZZ for a bit of a push (I very de shy) and thank you DA for loaning his N95 for the pictures!

And I got an autograph as well ;)

By the way I AM STILL FUNDRAISING. At time of writing, I only have RM50 in my tabung.

i am fundraising...

I got a by-invitation-only email to attend the Women of Independence Conference on the 6th and 7th of August. They're giving out a special by invitation rate of RM990 (selling price RM1,490). I know the company's not even gonna think about paying for it but I REALLY WANNA GO!!!!!!!

This conference is all about empowering women and making them realize their potential in changing the world. My objective of going is to find ways on how I can contribute to elevate the status of women in Malaysia and how I can best optimise the skills that I have to further help my women friends!

So anybody out there who wants to contribute in realising my dreams to attend this?? Here's the deal:

1. Contribute RM250 and I will write you ONE PRESS RELEASE (or something equivalent to a one-pager);

2. Contribute RM350 and I will draft your COMPANY PROFILE (not more than 3 pages);

3. Contribute RM450 and I will cook for you for a whole week (groceries beli sendiri!);

4. Sponsor the whole RM990 and I will let you tap my brain for a whole month.

If any of the above does not meet your requirements, I am always open for negotiations. I can also clean, update blogs, weed your garden, give foot massages or babysit. I am also not ashamed to take any sympathy donations from you. At least it's towards a good cause.

give me your money. i will make a difference. and you'll feel good that you were a part of it.

vanity fared

I took the vanity test and this was how I scored:

You Are 41% Vain

You're a little vain, but more than anything you have a healthy amount of confidence. Thinking the world of yourself is great. Just don't think less of those who aren't as pretty as you!

How Vain Are You?

I was quite hesitant at first.... and I knew I'm not THAT vain. But then again I think the results are quite misleading lah. I don't think the world of myself and I definitely need a lot of confidence booster!!!! A Friend can definitely attest to this.