So the other day I got this in the mail.
A care package from ! (I like to think of it as my birthday present, it being Audruary and all. Hahahaha.) Thanks for the package team! I’m normally super boring and only stick to tried and tested brands so this is a great opportunity for me to test and review new products. Ok ahem review starts nao.
Can’t ever say no to new cleansers!
Squeezed out a pea sized amount and used. It’s a cleanser (as opposed to a face wash) so it’s equipped with makeup removal properties. As expected instead of squeaky clean and dry, it left my skin feeling like a slight moist layer was over it. Verdict: 7/10
Alpha-H Liquid Gold
This is a “skin resurfacer”. Apparently a bestseller, it uses a low PH delivery system to remove or prevent the proliferation of sun damage, pigmentation, and wrinkles. It’s supposed to be like an overnight facial that revitalizes the skin to get rid of tired and aging skin cells to greatly improve the complexion.
To use, you soak a cotton pad with it and gently run it on your face. I’m all up for skin revitalization! But I have crazy sensitive and dry skin so the glycolic acid which is a key ingredient, stung a little bit. Verdict: 6/10
Light Time Open Eyes is supposed to do just that – tighten your eye area for a more refreshed, awake look!
Love the packaging too. It’s a tube with a metal applicator fixed to the top. You squeeze the product out, and dab it on your eye area. And use the metal applicator to gently spread the cream under and above your eyes. I really liked this! I think my eye area after that did look a bit firmer. Verdict: 8/10
Sephora personalized brushes
Possibly my favorite items in the package! I loooove personalized items! Totally didn’t expect my name to be engraved on them too omg I will never throw them away no matter how ‘chui’ they get hahahaha.
From top:
Foundation stippling brush
Shadow brush
Blush contour brush
Winged liner brush
Foundation stippling brush
Of course this is great. I already like Sephora’s in house brand and their quality is assured. The brush feels good and heavy and bristles are soft yet strong. Blended my foundation well! No moulting issues hehe.
Verdict: 9/10
Marc Jacobs Brow Wow Defining Longwear Eyebrow Pencil
The shade they sent me was Taupe 2 which is great to match my bleached hair hahaha. I’m a fan of the packaging, so elegant and luxe looking.
Unfortunately I am super fussy with brow pencils. I prefer more pigmented ones so it’s easier to draw my sparse brows, and this Marc Jacobs one is too light for my liking. I have to keep sketching for a very light effect. Of course, if that’s what you prefer, do get this. Verdict: 5/10
Shadow Brush and Winged Liner Brush
Same comments as for the foundation brush! Both brushes feel solid and high quality. Shadow brush’s bristles were soft and great for blending. As for the liner brush. I normally use liquid eyeliner (either brush or pen type) so my gel eyeliner dried up a bit wtf. The brush I used for gel eyeliner was really small too so it was a big change using a biggish brush like this one. The bristles felt soft to the touch but when I dipped it into my half dried gel liner, I think the gel stiffened the bristles a bit FML. Became quite prickly leh! Until tears sprang to my eyes wtf.
However, the effect is gorgeous! My eyeliner skills are quite amateurish la, like if my hand shake a bit you can see a crooked line already wtf. This brush suddenly made it look like a professional makeup artist did my eyes hahahaha. Like my eyeliner was subtle yet made my eyes pop. And the way the eyeliner went on really blended with the eyeshadow so it looks like my eyeshadow darkened until the rims of my eyes naturally.
It was gorgeous.
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Another look at my eye makeup. Verdict: 9/10
Eyes done, time for cheeks!
Sephora Collection Colorful Blush
This is Oh My Gosh.
Okay holy mama this blush is PIGMENTED. I had no idea and used the Blush Contour brush to really dip in and swirl. When I started to apply on my cheeks I got a shock cos look like monkey backside hahahahahaha. Faster rubbed away a bit hahaha.
I like the color though, it’s coral-ish and makes my complexion look very healthy! I would recommend setting your foundation with powder first though so the blusher gets blended better. And definitely use a light hand because it’s super buildable! Verdict: 8/10
Laqa & Co Lip Lube
It’s a lip balm! At first I wasn’t sure cos it’s also quite pigmented for a lip balm.
This shade is Honey Pot. It comes off a nice sheer pink so you don’t look like you’re trying too hard at 2 pm wtf. There’s peppermint in it too. ^^ Verdict: 6.5/10
Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Gloss Lip Lacquer Lipgloss
Layered this Marc Jacobs lip gloss over the Lip Lube and it comes off very natural and pretty! I think it’s a polished yet simple look suitable for work or every day wear. I normally don’t really like lip glosses – hair sticks to it, too sticky, some sting my lips wtf dunno why. This one is pretty decent though. The shade is French Tickler. Verdict: 6/10
Nude Stix Lip Pen Gloss
I like nifty packaging like this! It’s basically a pen brush and you twist the bottom to get the gloss flowing into the brush. Swipe the brush over your lips and you’re done. I received the Nude Stix in Nudity so it’s a nude shade. I approve of the creamy look of it and the nude color! I think like 7-8 years ago I was super into nude lips and bought the nudest of the nudes wtf until I looked sick wtf. This shade is like a slightly rosy brown which complements my skin tone wonderfully. Verdict: 7.5/10
OMG this is the prettiest color of all. T_______T
This lip color is called So Sofia and it’s this gorgeous rich shade of bright orange + pink. They say everyone looks good in red lips but I don’t think red suits me all that much.
I like pink but besides fuchsia, other pinks either make me look pale or damn dark wtf. And orange on its own is just weird.
This color is the perfect shade for my skin I love it. T___T It’s bright and fun, makes my look that much more interesting and my skin looks wonderful hahaha.
The lipstick glides on smoothly. It’s creamy and matte and just damn cute la hahaha. Matte lippies can sometimes be drying but this one isn’t. Lasting power also very good, stayed for hours. Doesn’t rub off on my teeth. Hahaha. Super super love it. Verdict: 10/10
So which look is your favorite? The reason why Sephora so sweetly sent me a care package is because…is now online in Malaysia and Singapore!!!!
IT’S ABOUT TIME YO!! is finally here!!! This will be the death of me (and my wallet). Many times I’ve gone to a Sephora store only to be disappointed that some items are out of stock so it’s awesome I have the option of purchasing online now without needing to go out. 🙂 Purchases will be delivered internationally between 5 – 6 business days. They already have a decent selection available on and the variety is slated to expand over the coming months. I’ve heard a lot about Moonshot so I can’t wait for it to come online too!
Complete product list
Balance Me Collagen Boost Restore and Replenish Cream Cleanser
Alpha-H Liquid Gold
This Works Light Time Open Eyes
Sephora brushes
Marc Jacobs Brow Wow Defining Longwear Eyebrow Pencil in Taupe 2
Sephora Collection Colorful Blush in Oh My Gosh
Laqa & Co Lip Lube in Honey Pot
Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Gloss Lip Lacquer Lipgloss in French Tickler
Nude Stix Lip Pen Gloss in Nudity
Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Cream Lipstick in So Sofia
This post was written in collaboration with Sephora Online
I know it’s after Chap Goh Meh but happy belated CNY guya!
So what did everyone do? Us, we spent it in Penang like we do every other year, doing things that everyone else does on Chinese New Year. We actually extended our trip to 1.5 weeks so that Fighter and Penny could spend more time with their grandparents.
With so much time on my hands, it got me to thinking: my BFF this Chinese New Year is my phone hahaha. Not that I have no friends ok hahaha its cos I didn’t grow up in Penang*defensive wtf.
While my phone is my constant companion every day, here’s why it was especially useful during Chinese New Year.
1. To ‘chup’ Chinese New Year goodies
Beech, these only appear once a year ok.Peanut cookies, pineapple tarts, nga ku galore, but they come in (mostly) limited supply especially if you’re gobbling them down for breakfast, lunch and dinner. *shifty eyes
So I do what I have to do. Nonchalantly place my phone on top of a jar of snacks and automatically people reach for another jar. Voila! A whole jar of your preferred snack to yourself. Hahahaha.
2. To call to coordinate who has reached relatives’ houses already
Very useful! Instead of waiting around for people to visit, can just call them up and check ETA. Penang is crazy jammed every CNY so I kept calling my parents also — whether they arrived at my grandparents’ already, whether they’re at the temple for prayers already, where to find parking etc.
3. To discreetly check Reddit/Huffington Post/Whatsapp/Dayre
Erm when relatives are all still talking but you’re between conversations and everyone else is busy, I discreetly position my phone under the table and scroll through my messages hahahaha. Uh not very encouraged though because CNY should be a time to focus on reunion and family. But it got me through some boring spots hahahaha.
4. For everyone to call and text me Happy Birthday!!!
Go shorty it’s my birthday!!!
My birthday sometimes can be quite sien cos half the time it falls around CNY and everyone is too busy to really celebrate with me.
But my phone was my lifeline to friends and it was really nice to receive posts and texts and calls from friends and family and to know I’m remembered. 🙂
5. To take CNY OOTDs and family pics!!!
Actually I was one of the weirdos who didn’t love CNY. I didn’t like the heat, the traffic jams, the stress of rushing from visit to visit, and the pressure to ‘give face’ to relatives, juggle time with different families and relatives etc. But this year I’m actually growing to like it more.
Maybe because we have a ‘complete’ family now and seeing how Fighter was so happy to be around his grandparents and cousins, and how the both of them brought so much joy to everyone. Everything seemed less obligatory and more because we wanted to, everyone had fun and ate a lot and it was nice. 🙂
And the best part is…. got two kids and their CNY outfits to take pretty pictures of!
I guess like I said we have a complete family now so it was sooooo much fun planning their outfits and dressing the kids (and myself; Fatty can handle his own) up and taking lots of photos to commemorate Penny’s first CNY.
As you all know, my rose gold Huawei Mate S is like the ultimate selfie and OOTD phone cos of its awe inspiring beauty mode wtf.
See? Thanks to technology I look like I’m 15 hahahaha.
Spamming CNY pics now! Really put my phone camera to good use cos I went snap crazy this CNY.
CNY chor yat family photo! Everyone in obligatory red.
Mommy’s qipao: Kiss and Tell
Penny’s qipao: Tesco
Fighter’s samfu: Tesco
Daddy’s shirt: Super Dry (Dad is the most atas one wtf)
Chor yee!
Mommy’s qipao: Azorias
Daddy’s shirt: Uh recycled from Day 1 *shifty eyed
Fighter’s shirt and shorts: Poney (Sogo)
Penny’s qipao: Tesco
Chor sam was my birthday!
We didn’t do much but Fatty got a cake and I blew candles at home with my three favorite people.
Mommy’s mandarin collar top: Kiss & Tell
Mommy’s mom jeans: GYDA
Fighter’s tshirt: Next UK
Fighter’s jeans: Beau Hudson
Penny’s outfit: Poney (Sogo)
Haagen Dazs ice cream cake hahaha.
Asked this fella to selfie with me on my birthday but he purposely closed eyes hmph.
Okay that’s better! Hehe taken on chor yat. Made him take pics with me cos we’re in traditional clothing but actually he daaaamn grumpy about wearing this; he wanted to wear tshirt and shorts. -_- Had to keep tantalizing him with ice cream if he wore this.
With my pretty Penny. OMG my genes are really good she’s so cute (although she looks nothing like me wtf).
With my Fats.
More OOTD pics of the kids. These adventurous duo twinning in Baby Gap rompers.
Fighter comforting Penny cos he thinks he wore it better.
Both of them going crazy snacking on love letters. Too bad they got no phones to chup their kueh kapit hahahaha. Matching outfits from Baby Gap as well. OKAY MY TURN TO OOTD NOW.
It’s not #motionootd but it will do. Hahahaha.
Outfit details:
Top and skirt: Monki
Shoes: Nike
Phone: Huawei hahaha
Dress also Monki hahaha erm what happened was I was really bored and there was a sale at Monki.
So there you have it. My BFF hahaha.
Still cannot get over how pretty it is too!
This post was written in collaboration with Huawei.
My birthday came and went! It was smack in the middle of Chinese New Year and we celebrated the best we could.
Actually I didn’t really feel like doing anything big this year — Fatty already threw me parties the last two years. And my #competitiveaunties Bobo, Careen, Hui Wen and Wei Zhi threw me a “surprise” birthday dinner the week before so I’m already feeling the love hahahaha. I actually just felt like spending time with Fatty and the kids — and going shopping wtf.
So we just did that – had lunch (so Penny could join) and cut cake.
Birthdays really mean less as adults. (and my kids’ birthdays – and Fatty’s birthday – suddenly seem a whole lot more important hahahaha).
I turn 31 this year. Am I where I thought I would be as a kid?
Actually, quite! As a kid, I vaguely visualized myself with two kids – a boy and a girl – but only because my mom had that combination hahaha. I thought I might have a good, fairly successful career (dunno doing what though) and while it’s not a career I have a fairly successful blog la wtf.
And a very good husband. 🙂
And healthy parents and brother wtf.
I don’t think I could ask for more this year than what I already have. Very cheesy but when blowing my candles, all my wishes were for my family. Cos everything for them is for me now wtf. #noble
For Fatty’s business to grow well, for him to have less stress wtf, for the Oois and our babies to be healthy and happy. And for Fighter to grow taller HAHAHAHA.
It’s our first Chinese New Year as a family of four!
We do all the same things everyone else does of course — put on new outfits, give out red packets, go visiting, have friends over, spend time with family and friends, and EAT ALL THE CNY SNACKS.
HAPPY YEAR OF THE MONKEY!
This is very high up on the most fun ads I’ve ever written list. Hahaha.
I think some of you guys may already know from Dayre and Instagram but recently I’ve been collaborating with KL .
Sogo is a department store chain from Japan. Did you know it was established in 1903 as a retailer of used kimono? :O
Anyway Sogo has been in Malaysia since 1994 but with the number of malls we have in KL, I’d forgotten about it. When I was a kid though, my parents would take me and my brother there on weekends; I remember standing in the lobby watching this huge magnificent cuckoo clock slash mechanical dancing dolls and animals contraption ring out the hour while my mom shopped.
But since working with them, I’ve visited the store and found out Sogo still has a lot to offer – ranging from assorted brands of kids clothing to kitchen wares to cosmetics –they literally have a lot of offer.
Fighter in the Disney Princess dressing room wtf.
Which is why this post! I want to show you guys what is available at KL SOGO and that it’s a pretty good shopping destination (especially for kids stuff cos that’s where I spent the most time hahaha).
The children’s section at 4F has a good number of brands under them. From Pumpkin Patch to Disney Babies to Poney to Philips Avent.
Fighter trying out a Ducati jacket.
Before Chinese New Year, I made another trip there to get new outfits for the kids. 😀
Wah got sale everywhere!
Let’s face it. Our generation (in Malaysia at least) isn’t used to shopping in department stores. It was more our mothers’ thing but honestly, department stores (with good selections) can be very convenient. Different brands and choices all in one place and it makes for very easy and quick shopping.
These qipao style dresses are from a brand called Peter Rabbit. I’d never heard of Peter Rabbit before but their stuff are nubbad leh! And after 50% off these qipaos are super affordable. Fabric is good too – some sort of brocade for the bodice, and chiffon and tulle skirts.
Regret max cos I bought dresses for Penny from Tesco already by then. D:
Love this top and cardigan combo! Snapped it up for Penny.
Which shirt is the nicest shirt?
And then I spotted this.
*stifles scream*
Super duper cute la!!!! But I got dilemma.
These are crib shoes so not like can wear them for a long time. She’s nearly walking already some more. But but but they’re so cute! I posed this question to my Dayre: To buy or not to buy?
Ohai dere. *furtive look*
Sorta went crazy in the shoes section. On the bright side I got everyone’s shoes settled. Including mine wtf.
The black and pink Nikes are mine! The good thing about being 4’9 is that I can wear kids shoes which are cheaper. *smug
Got these super swag pair of limited edition Adidas Superstars Star Wars for Fighter!
Okay fashion show time. Let me show you guys what I got.
Penny in this teeth achingly sweet top from Trudy and Teddy.
*beauty queen wave*
Peter Pan collared crop top from Peter Rabbit.
My pretty baby.
Fighter’s entire outfit from KL SOGO.
Shirt and shorts from Poney
Shoes from Adidas
I love this outfit! Especially for CNY!
Also love how Fighter has accessorized it HAHAHAHAHA.
Shirt from SEED
Another shirt from SEED! Their sizing quite small cos Fighter is wearing size 3 here. Other brands he can still wear 18 months lo. -_-
Twinning (sort of)! Both in white and neutrals.
Penny’s blouse and cardigan around her shoulders are both Poney.
Her khaki skirt is Trudy & Teddy.
I got these matching jackets for them! But Fighter the Horrible totally refuses to wear any jackets. -_- So I have to do flatlay wtf.
Unrelated but here’s Fighter pooping HAHAHAHAHA.
And that’s it for CNY. (I got so many for Fighter especially he hasn’t finished wearing also :X)
Happy Chinese New Year from us!!!!!
This post was written in collaboration with KL SOGO.
It’s the week before Chinese New Year and I’m running all around getting errands out of the way before we leave for Penang.
All in between the usual ferrying Fighter to school, getting the kids fed and bathed and alive.
This is how a typical dinner conversation with Fighter and Penny goes.
I don’t think I’ve blogged about this before but the thing is, Fighter has mad constipation problems. -_-
He never used to! When he was fully breastfed he pooped twice a day, and even when he started formula he had no issues and pooped daily.
What happened was I switched him to level 3 formula meant for toddlers. Maybe the formula is more ‘kau’ or ‘heaty’ or something because from then on he had major issues fhl.
Every time he needed to poop, he’d strain and cry. He’d clutch some piece of furniture and say pitifully, “Mommy, go away.” Because who needs to be watched while doing a mega poop right.
We resorted to lactulose (a synthetic sugar used to help in constipation) but he’d cry even more when taking it. It’s sweet so not like it’s super torturous but I think he just thinks its medicine therefore it is evil wtf. When lactulose is spat out, thrown up or just plan doesn’t work, I resort to a laxative suppository. This one never fails but I hate using it!
I mean, who likes violating their own child like this wtf. And Fighter is so terrified of this that he refuses to let me apply diaper cream on his butt anymore because he’s so scared I’ll stick another laxative into him. 🙁
Trust me, I’ve tried everything else I can think of before turning to medication. The trouble is, Fighter doesn’t really like fruits. -_- No pears, no plums, no peaches, definitely no apples or oranges. As a baby he liked bananas but also grew bored of them. The only fruit he really likes is mango and while mango is full of fiber, it’s also considered ‘heaty’ and doesn’t really seem to help.
The only veggie he really likes is spinach. And potato leaves and broccoli. But spinach while very healthy is also full of iron which can contribute to constipation.
I tried putting a dash of Ribena in his water bottle to make him drink more. Giving him ice water. Giving him Milo and juice. All to make water more appetizing. What works the most is pure persistence though – lugging around his water bottle and offering it to him every half hour at least. I try to make it a game – I make him take at least five sips and count 1 to 5.
So now his constipation is at bay, but just barely. Sometimes it still comes back so I’m always on the lookout for a solution.
The clearest answer is PRUNES! Fighter quite liked prunes for a while which worked fantastic for me. But then he also got bored of them and the most eat like half a piece only. -_- So I decided to hide prunes in the what he likes… biscuits and cookies and cake and muffins. Opted for Sunsweet prunes which are the most popular brand in Malaysia. Prunes are not only good for constipation; recent studies show that they are a god source of iron and antioxidants, are good for preventing osteoporosis, as well as controlling blood sugar levels and more. Sunsweet prunes & prune juice are made out of 100% natural fruit with no added sugar. And Sunsweet prunes are produced using a technology which removes prune pits without ruining the fruit, hence their prunes are fuller and juicier. So this is a recipe for… Banana Prune Muffins Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 1 cup mashed banana
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup chopped pitted prunes
- Preheat oven to 175 degrees C (or 350 degrees F). Grease a muffin pan, or use paper liners.
- In a large bowl, combine sugar, butter and eggs. Beat until smooth. Blend in banana and vanilla. Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, then stir into egg mixture until just moistened. Mix in the prunes. Spoon into muffin cups.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
I got my sous chef to help out too hahahaha. It’s been increasingly hard to bake with the both of them always clamoring for attention when they’re awake, but now that Fighter is older and has a bigger attention span, he seems interested in helping me bake!
Got all my ingredients together.
Fighter be like, “Don’t forget the prunes Mommy!” 
Sunsweet is the most obvious brand for prunes hehe. They come seedless but whole so I chopped them into quarters before using them.
Baking is an awesome activity to do with toddlers I think.
I prepared all the ingredients beforehand and got Fighter to pour them into the mixing bowl. It’s great practice for his fine motor skills (which he honestly quite sucks at hahahaha). He did well though, didn’t spill anything! Although he was slightly obsessed with the cinammon powder and kept wanting to put it in first wtf.
When he’s older, I’d get him to measure out the ingredients and practice counting and math that way too. ^^
And then halfway this food thief wanted to sample the ingredients hahaha. Luckily he didn’t try to eat the raw egg or else salmonella wtf.
Asked him to show me what was in his mouth – the prunes hahaha. 
After mixing everything, he helped me line the muffin pan with paper liners.
And I scooped muffin mix into the cups. 
Macam yes ahahahah.
Then we popped the muffins in the oven and waited! Actually after ten seconds Fighter decided there’s better things in life than wait for an oven to ping and wandered away wtf. 
Muffins are done!
I always ask him to use utensils instead of his hands to eat but this is really taking it to the next level. -_- He loves muffins so this is right up his alley! He dropped crumbs everywhere but happy to say he ate it all up. 😀 I guess the moral of the story is, don’t give up when it comes to kids’ diets and nutrition. Glad I found a way to finally get some fiber and natural laxative into Fighter and, on top of that, we have a fun and educational mommy-son activity to do together. 
This post is in collaboration with Sunsweet.
Guys, I’m angry.
I’m mad because I don’t know where to send my kids when it’s time for them to enter formal education.
A couple of weeks ago I went with a mom friend to visit a private elementary school for Fighter.
I know! I know! Fighter is only two and a half and I don’t know how much more kiasu I can get. But the truth is, it was the other moms in Fighter’s class who were talking about school visits and school fees and I got pressured and my kiasu level shot through the roof wtf.
Fatty and I have been talking about this for ages — even before we had kids — and we never got anywhere.
I’m mad that because we don’t have decent public education, parents of our generation are forced to consider alternative options — private school, international school, or even home schooling.
A friend met the principal of one of the international schools in Malaysia who said she felt sorry for us. “Decent education should be a right,” she said. “I feel sorry for you that you have to pay so much for it.”
And we do, that’s why I’m so angry!
I didn’t want to believe it because I’m a product of Malaysian government schools and I turned out just fine, as did most people I know. Sure, I faced some difficulties speaking up in class when I went to a US college. I had to learn how to think critically – which was never taught – instead of memorizing facts, but thanks to being a huge bookworm, I had no problems with language or articulating myself.
But everyone says that the standard of public education in Malaysia has plummeted until it’s now notorious. Horror stories and photos of wrong facts taught to students circulate on social media. Friends in Teach for Malaysia who have actual experience with teachers and students today say they’re disillusioned with the ministry and how things are run. That schools today are nothing like they were “back in our day”. That if they had the money, they’d opt for private education.
This is not merely hearsay. We’re not imagining things. Take these actual pages from an English textbook. Or these results from a PISA education ranking. Malaysia scores dismally (near the bottom in fact) for not only creative problem solving, but also math, science and reading. -_-
Which is why, guys, I’m angry.
I’m angry that our government has let our education standard slide until if we want something better for our kids, we have to resort to paying much more (for something which in my opinion should be a given right as taxpayers), or opt for less than ideal education plans.
Right now we have two options, government school not being one of them. One is Chinese vernacular school (whether government or independent), the other is international school.
Chinese education is thought of to churn out hardworking, disciplined students, who will confirm be very good at Mandarin, it being the medium of instruction.
But the downside is
- lots of homework (until no time to do anything else but homework),
- a kid who may not be encouraged to be different or think out of the box,
- extra classes to develop creativity, other skills, English, etc that Chinese school may not focus on — meaning kids may be deprived of a childhood in which they play rather than going to classes all the damn time
International school is attractive cos the syllabus is thought to be generally superior to the Malaysian one. It will hopefully facilitate learning as something fun rather than something compulsory, creative and critical thinking, and develop our kids as well rounded individuals over kids who spout facts from memory.
The cons are
- supercalifragilisticexpialidociously expensive (like can be up to RM1 mil per child, and that’s not even inclusive of university)
- kids may turn out snobs and subject to peer pressure cos with the prices, students will probably be all from rich families
- Pay so much, the school may not be good also. The certifiably good and established ones are also the most expensive.
Private education I’m not sure if it’s an option for us because while cheaper than international schools, private schools offer the local syllabus. Thus we’d be paying quite a lot more for our kids to follow a syllabus I don’t consider that good either.
Other people have also talked about home schooling, but I don’t know; I want our kids to have a proper school experience, not go to school in some office unit.
The irony is, maybe if we had less money, this would not be a dilemma, to put it bluntly. Private education would not be an option at all and we would make do with what we are given.
But because we may have the ability to provide better for our kids (the keyword is “may” ok, cos really dunno if we can afford it for their whole school lives) we debate and deliberate over whether this money is worth spending. Whether we should settle for a lower standard of living to give our kids a “better” education. Whether that education is worth that huge sum of money, whether they will turn out to be greater, cleverer people because of that, or whether they will be spoilt, ungrateful brats.
Or if we opt for Chinese school, whether we are depriving our children of real childhoods, where they learn and socialize through play. Whether a bubbly personality like Fighter’s will be stifled. Whether a child’s natural wonder at the world will be buried under a mountain of homework. Whether instead of a love of learning and reading, my children will instead learn to hate school.
Which is why I’m angry.
Some mornings, Fighter and Penny barge in to my room and wake me up. They are possibly my favorite alarm clock system ever!
Penny (and Fighter) loves marker pens but she can’t uncap her pen. Baby rage ensues.
Chinese New Year is coming up so that means everybody gets a new haircut. I was keeping my hair long but Penny thinks she’s the prince in Rapunzel and keeps pulling on it to pull herself up and I’m already balding enough as it is. So I chopped my hair and changed the color up!
Thankfully she can still recognize me.
Bonus: She’s (nearly) walking now!
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So the story goes like this. A few months ago I was having problems with my phone. The power button was stuck or something and I couldn’t wake up my phone at all, much less turn it on.
I sent it for repair but in the meantime I had no phone to use. And I cannot have no phone!
Fatty happened to have an older model Huawei that he wasn’t using because as you may know, he’s currently an ambassador for Huawei. They loaned him the phone to try out to see if he liked it before he took on the ambassadorship.
So I took on the Huawei.
The truth? I hated it.
I wasn’t used to the interface, and I didn’t like that the camera took a while to stabilize, resulting in a lot of blurry shots.
Being a grumpy old auntie, I griped a fair bit about Huawei on my Dayre. And Huawei read it. :X
When Fatty told me, I fully expected them to hold it against me, and I felt terrible cos I thought Fatty would get into problems, being their ambassador and all that. I totally did not expect their response.
They called me up and said:
We hear you. The Huawei you’re using is last year’s model and the latest Huawei is actually very much better, especially the camera! Will you accept a phone from us and give us a chance to change your mind about Huawei?
Social media win T___________T They handled it with so much class and turned this ugly situation into an opportunity to convert a hater (me wtf) into a fan.
By this point I was feeling very pai seh already at their gracious response. They didn’t even pressure me — they knew I really liked my previous phone brand and they told me it was no strings attached — if I didn’t like their new phone either, I didn’t have to work with the brand or even mention it.
Then they sent me this.
The Huawei Mate S in Rose Gold!!!!!!!!!!!!11111
The way to a girl’s heart is through pink gadgets. HAHAHAHA. 
It is super gorgeous la! I’d already long given up hoping that phone manufacturers will make a phone in this delicate shade of pink, my favorite. Not to mention a phone that I actually like using. I’ve been using this Huawei Mate S for a few months now and it’s really grown on me. Initially I wasn’t used to the interface but it’s not the phone’s fault wtf it’s just different for every phone ma. I’ve gotten used to it and so here’s what I like about this phone. 
The Fingerprint 2.o!!!!
I’m very noob and had never heard of a fingerprint sensor before this. In fact, I was using the phone for a couple of weeks until Fatty taught me how to enable the fingerprint 2.0 function. *shifty eyed*
With Fingerprint 2.0, I can wake up my phone super easily! Last time it’s either I tap in my passcode or just swipe. But passcode is damn mafan and swipe is like might as well don’t put security. The fingerprint sensor is impressively accurate and I love it. It’s the perfect compromise between convenience and security..
From checking my phone 10,000 times last time I now check it 20,000 times HAHAHA.
Besides that, the three things that matter the most to me in a phone are:
Battery
Camera
Hardiness
(Also Color, but this one straight win liao)
Battery is pretty decent! There are other phones around with bigger battery capacities but considering that this Huawei Mate S is only 2.65 mm thick, it’s pretty awesome. I think one charge can last me until about 12 hours with heavy usage. 
Hardiness also A+. Fighter and Penny have thrown dropped my phone at least 50 times already FML but it’s still working fine!
Now, camera.
Took this today at an event. Nubbad right? The Huawei camera is really really much improved from the previous model I used. I really like the “coloring” of its photos too — some cameras come off a bit yellow in dimmer lights which I don’t really like and the Huawei’s “coloring” is pinkish and not too yellow. 😀
This is my morning view. 😀 Took this photo using the Professional Camera mode. It emulates a semi pro camera and you can adjust the ISO, shutter speed, AWB etc. But I don’t know how to really use it HAHAHAHA I just set it to auto WTF. 
Penny moving around today. Pretty good considering she was really squirming around and babbling here.
One more of my pretty baby hehehe.
Panaromic function. Quite accurate and realistic!
The highlight for me is really the front camera though. 8MP and comes with a soft flash that doesn’t make you look like a ghost wtf.
This is Fighter and me with the flash on in a dim hotel ballroom. 
This is us without the flash in the same dim light!
Aaaand the phone’s inbuilt Beauty mode is sooooo nice. So much so that I hardly bring out my magic selfie camera anymore cos I just use my phone.
You can set as a default the level of brightness, skin smoothening, and even face narrowing you want and the camera will use that default across the board unless you edit it. 
So for those of you who say I still look young despite two kids…. you have been fooled by Huawei hahahahaah. I do not look like this in real life but I appreciate Huawei saying so. Hahahaha.
Again, thanks Huawei for the great phone. 🙂
For more info, check out their Facebook page here.
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