So yesterday I attended the BeingME conference held at PICC, Putrajaya.

To be honest, I was a bit nervous prior to the event - I guess you've known I've made a commitment to myself to really reflect this year and make something different - so for me, this is like among the first steps into that direction.

I'm also ashamed to say I've never attended any Islamic talk ever since I came back to Malaysia for good (I knoww), so I was worried that this event won't be at par in terms of my past experience. I guess I just really didn't want to be disappointed; I've attended some usrah held at Hiroshima before so I've had some gist in knowing what to expect out of these ceramah.

But I can safely say that this is the most brilliant decision I've ever made this year.


Alhamdulillah, it was so great and moving. I've always had this skeptical opinion about these occasions - where sometimes the presenter isn't really concern about your feeling or your doubts in general, but rather being extremist which can come across as judge-y - but this event, MasyaAllah. The speakers were all so professional and amazing, from Malaysia's own Prof Dr Muhaya to international known Alaa Elsayed; they all have great experiences to share to women in general.

I now know why people raved so much about last year's conference. 

I can't speak for other people, but as an 'amateur' I really feel this event delivers. Sometimes you feel like there's a big hole needed to be filled deep inside but you just didn't know how - and hearing these talks really helps me at least ease my fear, if not fill it completely. I know I have a long journey to take, and it is certainly not easy what more in the society where people tend to judge you, but it is still your own journey and the most important thing is you know you're doing something to please your Creator. 

And it's all that counts!

Went to the event with a colleague who was so sweet to get me an early bird ticket. Heck, if I knew it would turn out to be so good, I'd have paid full price without regretting it.


Some notes I took during the talks (forgot to bring my notebook -____-")


 Yep, I had to highlight the brand conscious one. Where it really hits home pffft.


So many things I can relate to - always stressed out, how to tackle your anger, how to handle others' opinion about yourself. I kept tapping on my phone so fast to make sure I didn't miss anything and the girl sitting next to me kept turning, probably thinking "why is she texting when she's supposed to be listening?!" lol.

But I have nothing else to say except I'm really thankful I was given a chance to spend my Saturday at this event and everything that comes from it. And you know what's amazing? The main hall at PICC where this conference took place apparently has very veryy limited 3G coverage (for Maxis users) and I basically didn't get to check my emails/FB/Instagram/Twitter at all so I was cranky at first, asking God why at the first 15 minutes, already thinking if I should've brought my laptop along.

But since I have no access to internet, later I found myself listening to the talks way seriously and effectively (look at the notes lah haha). I literally didn't have any contact with internet at all throughout the day until the night and it surprisingly felt so good!

(Not sure if I want to do that again for other occasions, though.)

I may still make mistakes after this, everyone sins afterall - but somehow now I sort of know my direction and I know I will be working towards it with all my might, insyaAllah. Baby steps.

(Read here if you want to know more about the event - let's make it one of the many events to look forward to next year insyaAllah!)



So I've been using Mac for the past few months (yes, am still a noob) and among the very few apps I've installed, for now I know to whom I'm going to send my hugs and kisses to.

Whoever invented this app called Caffeine.

As ridiculous as it sounds, I've been cracking my brain to figure out how to leave my laptop on without it turning into its sleep mode where you have to log in again to use it. Yes, you can also adjust how long before you want your Mac to go into sleep mode, but they don't have the 'forever' option on the list.

I seriously hate logging in again and again, especially when I just go out of my room to check on something in the kitchen, and when I come back to the room again, my Mac would lock itself up (sleep mode). And I have to log in again, which is something I have to do about a gazillion times a day when I go to the toilet, or to the bathroom, or to the kitchen, etc. I love leaving my laptop on usually playing the series I'm currently watching - Friends, Gilmore Girls, The Vampire Diaries, etc - and just doing my stuff even though it means I'm not watching it! Yes, I'm more of a laptop girl rather than TV.

Don't even know what's hot on the TV now.

So when I discovered the Caffeine app, it's been my lifesaver. You can turn it on/off easily and it won't even mess up your system!

There, my first review on apps for Mac. And yes, this is a totally pointless post if you're not interested in Mac or if you're not as anal as I am.

Went out today and braced myself to go through the haze blanket in KL to get my shampoo in KLCC.

Ran out of the Bain Miroir a few days before and my substitute shampoo just won't cut it. My hair felt extremely limpy and not healthy that I wonder if I depend on the shampoo too much; or maybe because my current substitute is for anti-dandruff without doing anything to the hair.

Couldn't leave my hair like that what more in KL weather nowadays, so decided to look for the shampoo. Apparently the one place I'm rather familiar with (KLCC) got one salon that carries the Kerastase line!



I've been using Bain Miroir for so long now that I couldn't imagine switching to anything else - but somehow realizing my hair is no longer colored, it might not be suitable anymore. Though it's been serving my hair so well all these time..

Googled and found out that Centro Salon in KLCC carries the Kerastase line, so I went to pay the salon a visit. The assistant there was nice and very attentive, he even offered consultation for what kind of shampoo that'd suit my hair when I told him I wanted to switch.

He suggested this Bain Substantif line by Kerastase which helps treating mature/fine hair and even have collagen as a bonus compared to Bain Miroir. Reviews on this one is great so I decided to try.

To be honest, I'm not sure whether I'd really like this one considering I've tried the other line - Bain de Force, the one in green bottle - but didn't quite like it. It kind of made my hair more oily than usual and oily hair means even limpy-er hair!

So far, it turns out great. Since the shampoo can last me quite a few long months, am crossing fingers it'd do my hair good.

Started working has really changed most of my perspectives about life.

What more in a corporate world; where most people aren't what they seem to be on the outside. You can't trust literally anything - so if you've found yourself a good circle where your colleagues are cool enough for you to convert the relationship into "friends" - you can happily count yourself as lucky.

For me, I am lucky enough to have dependable colleagues.

But that's how it is - you'd always have those few moments when something would trigger your alarm and your brick wall is suddenly back on.

For me, it's how my lifestyle is the constant issue - somehow, if it's not my eating habit and weight, it's my non-existent "gym life". Or my shopping habit. Or more recent, and more ridiculous, my anti-social lifestyle.

If I'd have given it much thought, I swear my working life would be sorely affected. But thing is, I just don't believe in changing people according to a certain mindset because every human being is different.

I've lived 26 years of life, so that is one of the reasons why I couldn't be bothered about the ridiculous accusations - how do you know a person is what she seem to be on the outside? How do you know that she's just isn't acting dumb on the outside, just to humor you? Just to see how far you'd go in judging a person? How do you know that when she is uptight and focus during office hours, but when the clock strikes 5 she's off to spend quality time with her other friends having the time of her life?

That's right, you don't.

One of the tips given to me to survive the corporate world - choose happiness over status. It's a given that some people would always put you down, but you can choose either to let it affect you or to just continue what you're doing. Your performance is driven by your willing to work - and to work effectively, do what makes you happy.

Try not to take things personal; and for me, I'd rather just shut up and do what I'm happy doing.

But just for the sake of it, I think these are among the common issues :

1) "You're skinny but you're not fit because you don't exercise - you're not healthy"
2) "You should pay more attention to politics"
3) "You don't socialize enough"

Do you have these comments thrown at you at certain point of life? How do you deal with it? Do share!

So I seem to spend a lot of time on my phone's iTunes lately.

You see, it's vicious cycle. I want to download the albums I want off the internet, but my internet provider is so stingy I'd run out of my monthly quota once I started downloading anything - and I'd get pissed off having to topup so regularly. 

Then I'd have to buy the CDs which cost me at least 30 bucks - and I'd feel guilty whenever I see the CD in my car, unused after I've imported the songs into my iTunes. 

Then I'd have to download the songs via iTunes which cost me a few bucks cheaper than a CD - and I'd feel guilty too if the songs turned out so lame I won't listen to them anymore, and they'd be abandoned there in my iTunes list.

See? Vicious cycle. I can never win.

But tried limiting the guilt factor by trying a few options :

  1. Youtube-ing the album first and listen to the songs (if available, mostly yes lah) to see if I liked them 
  2. Reading the reviews of the album on the internet to get a rough idea in case my hearing is distorted that day, or something
  3. Google-ing the lyrics - they are important to me
  4. Running the idea past the other half - if he scowls/snorts/anything equivalent, I might as well forget about it because he possesses this crazy amazing taste on music I still think he's an alien.

So I was faced with the same dilemma tonight - this whole week, in fact. After contemplating, decided to take the number 1 option and gladly download the song off iTunes - got hooked after 10 seconds into the first song.


Because it's Ingrid Michaelson, baby.

When you decided to join the crowd i.e. colleagues for a round of property hunting and steakhouse dinner, you know your body tells you to slow down and take a breather.

I'm not usually up for any outings at night especially during weekdays partly because I'd be crazy exhausted and half asleep by 9 (which you'd probably have known by now), but the other day colleagues asked me to accompany them to go look at a potential new house and I just could't say no. Thought a bit of an air at night once a week might do some good!

Went to look at a condo near our office (about 20 - 30 minutes by car with traffic jam) and my colleague immediately set her heart on it. The place is undeniably beautiful! A pool, gym, hugeass car park (yes, IT IS important) and some trees by the pool - reminded me of some resort I've been to.

The view wasn't so bad either.


The lower floor even got a mini garden at the balcony facing the swimming pool. If only the location is different, I'd have MY heart set on it.

Later that evening, we decided to try the Laman Grill. Words are the steakhouse is owned by a Masterchef judge!

What I ordered. Sirloin steak.

Chicken dish I forgot the name. Colleague's.


I'm not a fan of lamb, so decided to try their sirloin beef. Colleague advised me to get it medium cooked  instead of well done, but considering how much I'd hate it if I saw any part of it still red/raw, decided to get it well done. Thank God it turned out delicious - soft, tender and not 'gummy' at all. 

And the sauce. Crazy good. I don't like black pepper so naturally I'd opt mushroom, and they have quite a number of sauce selection!

If the steaks are not good enough for you, you'd like the cozy atmosphere in the restaurant. Kitchen is proudly open-aired to the customers so you can practically see what they're hustling about in the kitchen (we suspected that they're just showing off) and there's even good music playing in the background.

Would totally come again to take him there the next time he's back in Malaysia. One potential dating place found!

Address : Laman Grill, downtown Seksyen 7, Bandar Baru Bangi



I don't know why but this song just makes me happy. A mellow tune I can see myself smiling all the way through it.

"If we're not making this as our wedding song, I don't want a wedding song"

I hate it when these occasions proved he has a (slightly) better taste in music than me.

Was having a random relationship conversation with my friend. (He's a guy)

"Most people I know, get married to their second best love"

I almost go WTF with my other friend (she's a girl), but we decided to just let him rolling.

"It's just how it is..even in movies"

I was surprised not just because of the statement, but because I've heard it before. And I remember it so well.

Wouldn't let the subject pass, I decided to let him know my 10 cents.

"Well girls just don't have a second love"



And a brief conversation I had with a friend (he's a guy) who has just broken up with his almost 3 years (I think) girlfriend.

"It's simple, because we were in a long distance relationship and she couldn't take it anymore"

"Why does it always about a girl can't be in a LDR? I've survived quite fine"

"That's because he's treating you like a princess"

Quickly Print-screen the chat and sent to him. Needless to say, he was a smug after that.


So this weekend is the first weekend we have without any public holidays on Friday/Monday that permits us the 3-day weekend bonanza in May. Did you guys even realize?!

First was election day (which Selangor benefits a day off MUAHAHA in your face KL!), then Wesak, then Gawai I think..not so sure of what festival it is but surely it's celebrated in Sabah and Sarawak cause my housemates took 2-week off because of that holiday, while I was left alone at home.

So what did I do? Dragged my friend to Jakel Shah Alam for the first time.


I swear, now I know why girls go bonkers once they're inside the store. Crazy awesome stuff, let me tell you - and I'm not even the sort of girl who goes crazy over fabrics. Mum would usually do the honor of picking out my Raya outfit every Raya till they left me alone in boarding school in KL and I had to figure out what chiffon is on my own - but I never really the type who'd pay fabrics store a visit unless I was forced to.

But Jakel is way big for a girl to be left alone.

And lesson number one, don't fall for things/advice by the salesgirls easily. I had to be very, very firm with my hands because everything that the salesgirl threw to me was so pretty - chiffon, crepe silk, french lace - I wanted to grab everything and just go home (my bank account won't allow, too..).

Lesson number two, always have a good, sensible girlfriend to accompany you so that you won't make silly judgement like "I want this lace color to match my fabric even if it'd just drown my whole outfit" lol.

And post-fabric hunting activity? Watched this really cheesy Korean drama back-to-back.


Was fasting today (Ramadan's cominggg yay), so I basically spent my Sunday wrapped in blanket in front of my laptop watching this handsome guy falling in love with a princess. Don't know why I've never watch this drama before it's freaking awesome I swear; and not just because of the McDreamy hero.

And do you know how awesome it is not having to berbuka in the car stuck in traffic jam at Jalan Tun Razak? Should really fast during weekend more.

Months ago, I was so bored so I decided to borrow some books I've always wanted to read, and one of them was Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

And today, I finally watched the movie version!

Keira Knightley as Anna

I can safely say, after Black Swan, this movie has come second as the most mind-blowing movie I've seen - and not just because I've read the book. Its dark plot, theatre-ly scenes, dark characters - all come together and guess what? Even the ending was brilliant. Even though I've already knew how it's going to end, I still wanted to see how they'd turn out in the movie.

And of course, the costumes. I. Can't. Even.

(source here)

Have always loved the big gowns, shiny jewelries and gorgeous hats.

Keira was great as Anna, but I would prefer someone a lot darker to play the role (in my mind, Anna should be a woman with a killer curves) but for all it's worth, Keira pulled it off easily. Don't really fancy the hair, though - why would they make her hair like an evil witch?!

And I'd marry Count Vronsky anytime.

"If you have any thought for me you will give me back my peace"
"There can be no peace for us, only misery, and the greatest happiness"

Had a movie date yesterday with colleague (GIRL colleague, oh the joy of being temporarily single lol) and MPH just happened to have their book sale up to 50% off!

My book craze antenna was up instantly; and we put off shopping just to browse through the books.

(Mind you, I still have a couple of books from the Big Bad Wolf last year unread.)


1) JK Rowling's The Casual Vacancy
2) Sophie Kinsella's Wedding Night

It's been so long since I last bought a chick lit, and Wedding Night is Sophie's latest book so my inner blonde just won't shut up about getting it. Finished reading it this morning (spent my Saturday at home reading this book while Norah Jones' album playing in the background - my ideal weekend) and now it's safely tucked in the cabinet. Not bad for Sophie Kinsella's standard; though I think she's switched her writing style a bit for this book - a bit more matured perhaps? Or maybe it's just me.

But hilarious nonetheless. Would highly recommend but maybe you should just wait till the paperback version comes out. (Let me know if you want to borrow mine; I feel bad leaving it in the cabinet despite just getting it yesterday)

Now onto the second book, and I must say The Casual Vacancy seems different from her previous famous HP series. JK Rowling won't disappoint, would she?

So if you're keen on new books, head to Alamanda's MPH for their book sale :) Will last till 9th June.

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