I miss you dear sister...

I think she looks just like the Japanese kiddies

This is truly a cliched shot but beautiful nonetheless.

It's been a little over 5 months since my younger sister Yuni stepped unto the plane and headed for the country of the setting sun, Japan. For the next 3 years she'll be a resident of Tokyo, pursuing a Master's degree in Japanese-English Translation.

Nothing can describe how proud I am of my little sister and how much I, surprisingly, miss her. I say suprisingly coz whenever we got together there was always some sort of argument or another. We were like water and oil... as much as you try to mix us up we can never mesh. Safe to say that to avoid arguments we tend to keep out of each other's way.

Seems like distance has brought us closer. We now talk regularly through YM and exchange news and pictures at regular intervals. Once in a while we'll get cool packages with the Japanese postmarks. And once in awhile we'll pack a box of goodies and send them her way. A far cry from the relationship that we used to have when we were living in the same house. But I believe that the change that distance has brought to our relationship will be permanent and I look forward to having my sister back here, together with me in the same country.

Ramadhan is here and for the second time in my life another member of the family is missing. But thank god this time the absence is only temporary. Looking at my mum happily planning our 'buka puasa' menu I suddenly realise that she is missing having her kids all together. Somehow I see the significance of us eating together at the same table for all our meals. It makes my heart ache to have to move out to start my own life but I know that I can't postpone the inevitable any longer. I need to move on to the next phase of my life.

But back to my dear sister Yuni, we're glad that she is safe and sound and having fun living in a strange land. Ramadhan without her is strange but it must be much harder for her to fast when no one around you is not. To prepare your 'buka puasa' dish on your own and eating alone is truly a sad thing indeed but I'm hoping that she is coping with what her oversea student identity entails. For sure it's gonna be hard for all of us come Syawal but thank goodness for digital technology. For now, we'll have to make do with pictures and videos as a substitute of what we are missing.

So here's a shout out to my dear sister Yuni, who's all the way in Tokyo. We all miss you... and we're always thinking about you!! Selamat Berpuasa!!

Glad to know my lil sis is having fun :)

FEMALE ROOMMATES WANTED ~Putra Villa~

As you all can probably tell from my last post I got screwed over by some girls so now I'm in dire need of new housemates. I found myself another apartment in the same apartment complex so if anybody is looking for a place to live then maybe this is the place for you.

Brand New Condo Putra villa ~Good location~

*Master room & Middle room available

*water heater, k.cabinet, fan

*Near IIUM , TAR College

*near Terminal Putra LRT station (5 min walking distance)

*Bus service to Genting highland

*swimming pool, Gym Room, Mini Market, restaurant

*24 hours security

*Parking available

*rental Master room RM550, Middle room RM 450 (both rooms can comfortably fit 2 people)

*available for October

I've personally seen the place and its great. Its spacious and the environment is great. You can also save up a lot on transport too if you're work place is close by any Putra LRT station. If you're interested then do contact me via email lishaznia@gmail.com. I dont feel right letting the whole world know my mobile number ;)

When it rains... it pours!

Talk about being screwed... I got it big time today! And not the sexual kind either.

In a matter of an hour I lost potential housemates, a place to live and now my well-organised living plan for the rest of the year due to some selfish bitches who just couldn't make up their minds! Screw the fact that its fasting month... I'm pissed!! Pissed at the owner for wanting an extra rm100 for some lousy fans and some kitchen cabinets. But more so pissed at these selfish bitches for wanting to hold on to a prime apartment even though they're still not sure if they even wanna live there!

Gawd!! F*** you people!! Hope you die and rot in that apartment.

Ramadhan... a month of "excesses"?

Welcome O' holy month of Ramadhan. A month of goodwill and blessing. Of peace and serenity and of freedom and abstinence. The last bit was a bit contradictory there but its true nonetheless. For a whole month all Muslims and believers are free from the evil clutches of the devil and any naughty doings or bad deeds are blameable to no other but yourself. But we ain't totally free. No no no no no... it is throughout this holy month of Ramadhan that we Muslims are given our biggest test. Abstinence of spending. Yeap thats right... every year during Ramadhan Malaysian Muslims are guilty of overspending. Temptation proves itself to be powerful thing indeed and it comes in many shapes and sizes. But througout Ramadhan its ultimate guise is the Ramadhan Bazaar.

Although... in a way fasting folks actually dont stand a chance against the irresistable pull of the bazaar. I mean how can a hungry person withstand the allure of all that food. Especially those exotic cuisines that seems to be synonymous with Ramadhan and Hari Raya like the 'bubur lambuk' and 'rendang'. Suddenly there goes your will power and you NEED to buy that tasty titbit and that mouthwatering snack. Come Maghrib you wonder how your stomach is gonna fit all that food. tsk... tsk... tsk... thats temptation for you.

Temptation does not limit itself to merely the consumers. Lets talk about the businessmen. Why is it all of a sudden the price of a measly fried chicken shoots up from rm2 per piece to rm3? The chicken piece doesn't seem to be any bigger... nor is the recipe any different. What's that you say? Oil prices went up? But didn't it go down again just a few weeks back? hmm... curiouser and curiouser. Moving along to the next stall the mystery deepens. The prices are the same, yet the meal looks like it has been cut in half. tsk... tsk... tsk... how much of a profit margin are we talking about here?

Closer and closer to Syawal temptation's magic grow steadily stronger. Malls are bursting at the seams with people and somehow everyone and everything seems to be spanking new. New clothes, new curtains, new car, new furniture... the list goes on.

Somehow all these "excesses" seem to be part and parcel of Ramadhan and Hari Raya. It's the Malaysian culture, take that away then Ramadhan and Hari Raya will never be the same. So out with the "excesses"? I say nah! Coz the fun part is after Hari Raya itself. Look around and you'll see the true drama actually beginning. So stay tuned for the aftermath of raya. The drama of widening girths and thinning finances". It should be one heck of a show ;)

One day... One day...

In the hopes of perhaps owning my own shisha bottle anywhere in the near future, I have kept this video at hand. That "near future" was uttered about a year ago. *sigh*

Going at upwards of RM150 for a decent bottle, I think I'll shelf that "need" of mine to farther along in the near future. But I'm not letting go of that dream yet. Someday I will own my own bottle!!

Red Earth All-in-One Concealer Kit

My latest purchase (or should I say splurge)... Red Earth's All-in-One Concealer Kit RM55.

If you're skin is anything like mine (oily, temperamental, will break out at a moment's notice) then you will definitely appreciate this little kit. Sometimes even concealers need a little help.

At RM55 the kit definitely beats buying the separate bottles of corrective concealers and whatnots which can range from RM25 to RM100 per bottle. Plus... what if your face decide to grace you with different kinds of problems like blemishes, dark circles and redness all in one go? I for one do not believe in lugging too many products around when I'm on the move so this kit rocks! Plus the compact looks cool so its another excuse to whip it out whenever you can.

So far I've only needed to use the pink and the yellow corrector together with the creamy concealer. I'm pretty happy with the results but I'm waiting to give this baby the ultimate test soon... out all day in the hot blistering sun. Okay maybe not in the blistering sun, probably an air-conditioned mall or something but longevity is the key to a product's great results.

Next item I have my eye on is Red Earth's Eye Perfection Primer (RM45). It is a base meant to prolong eyeshadow's staying power and prevents them from creasing. Since Urban Decay's Eye Primer Potion (the ultimate eye makeup base) will not be in Malaysian shores anytime soon I've been scouring pretty much most cosmetic brands for a substitute and I came across this item in Sasa's summer sale catalogue. Online reviews from users have been pretty harsh but users are 50-50 concerning this product. Hence I shall try it out when the opportunity comes. I'm still waiting for my Urban Decay's Eye Primer Potion to arrive *please let it be soon!* but once I'm done with that, this little baby will definitely be at the top of my to-buy list.

Selamat Pengantin Baru ♥Azreen Zaharin & Saniboey Ismail♥

Congratulations

Azreen & Saniboey

16th August 2008

Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.
Author Unknown

Skinfood Apple Liquid Eyeliner

I have hit the motherload!! After numerous purchases of crappy liquid eyeliner that just makes me look like various species of pandas and raccoon... I have finally found the best liquid eyeliner ever!!

Waterproof... CHECK!
Smudgeproof... CHECK!
Liquid smoothness... CHECK!
Colour vivacity... CHECK!
Easy-to-handle brush... CHECK!
Compact packaging... CHECK!
Affordable price... CHECK! *it's only RM25.50. bargain!!*

I am so sticking with this eyeliner until kingdom come!

Oh and check out their mascara too. Simply divine. The best I've used to date. There's 2 types
1.) Chestnut Lengthening Mascara
2.) Mini Curl Mascara.

I've tried the first and its perfect for those who'd wanna lengthen their lashes and yet wanna keep their lashes look as natural as possible. Just remember to curl your lashes first though. Will check out the second one as soon as my current mascara is done. Mascara is also selling at RM25.5o. Don't you love this company or what?!

Neutral Makeup for People Wearing Glasses

Finally!! Panacea (Lauren) * my fave makeup artist* has replied to my request to do a simple everyday look for people who wears glasses. Check it out...

Contrary to what I believed... people who wears glasses aren't supposed to wear shimmers! Oh woe is me. I'm a shimmer and glitter type of gal. But at least lining my eyes is okay. I dont think I can go without eyeliner now that I've finally mastered the use of liquid eyeliner :P

Update: I have new glasses. Its purple. It was an impulsive decision in an attempt to make myself look younger and cool. I dont know if I managed it. Lemme know...

RESULTS!! M&M Cru vs ACDC on Teen Choice Awards 2008

The Online Dance Battle *LIVE*

Wow... they're actually going live. No contest on who's actually gonna win this thing. *shrugs*

The meaning of LOVE

What does love mean?

A group of professionals posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds and the answers that they got were much deeper than anyone could have imagined:

‘When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.’
Billy - age 4

‘Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.’
Karl - age 5

‘Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.’
Danny - age 7

‘If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,’
Nikka - age 6

‘Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.’
Noelle - age 7

‘My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.’
Clare - age 6

‘Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.’
Mary Ann - age 4

‘You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.’
Jessica - age 8

And the final one:
The answer that touched everyone was from a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, ‘Nothing, I just helped him cry’

How to Make easy English Trifle

Made this today. Thought I'd share the how to...

Things You’ll Need:

• 1 pound cake (pre-made or freshly baked)/ swiss rolls
  
• 2 cups chilled heavy whipping cream
• 3 cups custard
• 1 1/2 cups chopped strawberry / 1 large can fruit cocktail
  
• 1/2 cup strawberry preserves/ flavoured jelly
  
• Large glass bowl

Step1

Prepare the bowl. Line the bowl with slices of pound cake.

Step2

Brush strawberry preserves onto the cake and set aside. If using jelly, jelly mix must be prepared beforehand. Melt sugar with some water and moisten cake with the sugar water. You can also substitute the sugar water with syrup from the can of fruit cocktail. After the jelly you have prepared hardens scoop it in thin layers onto the cake.

Step3

Spoon one layer of strawberries or fruit cocktail (make sure it is evenly spread out), and then 1/3 of cold custard on top of it.

Step4

Add more cake layers and repeat step 2.

Step5

Repeat step 3.

Step6

Create as many layers as you wish.

Step7

Top final layer with 1/3 of cold custard, chopped strawberries or fruit followed by whipped cream.

Step8

Leave to set in refrigerator. Serve cold.

Women's Rules

Men are like...

The Craziness that is English...

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies, while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce, and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So, one moose, 2 meese? One index, two indices? Is cheese the plural of choose?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

In what language do people recite at a play, and play at a recital?

Ship by truck, and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? Park on driveways and drive on parkways? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? How can the weather be hot as hell one day and cold as hell another?

When a house burns up, it burns down. You fill in a form by filling it out, and an alarm clock goes off by going on.

When the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And why, when I wind up my watch, I start it, but when I wind up this essay, I end it.

Happy Birthday, Aimee!

Aimee is now 17 years old!! My lil Sis aint so little no more.
I love you Aimee!!

Also a shout out to my rawr-riffic pal, ~Zetty Amny Zainal Abidin~
She's also celebrating her birthday today and the lucky lass is now 25!!
woot! woot!

To all Malaysian political leaders!!

Dedicated to the Malaysian Political Scene

(Please do not sing this to the tune of the song... some of the word don't fit. Read it as a poem ;P)

Where have all the good men gone?
what's happening to our PM?
Where's the street-wise politicians?
To fight the rising odds
Would there be another Tunku
That'll cater to all our needs

We need a leader
We're holding out for a leader 'til the next elections
He's gotta be firm
And he's gotta be smart
And he'd better not stick things up the butt
We need a leader
We're holding out for a leader thats not covered in mud
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
larger than life

Somewhere after the elections
In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
Was a country living in peace
no bombed model, no bribery,
no politicians who were somehow always in heat

We need a leader
We're waiting for a leader that'll know what is right
who'll know what is wrong
who's not in it for the cash
who wont go skulking in the night
we need a leader
we're holding out for a leader who'll fight right
who knows what to stand for
we're hoping it's gonna be soon
we're hoping he'll be larger than life
Larger than life

Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
we pray that there's someone somewhere
who is indeed he (or she ;>)

Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
we know he'll try to fix all these things
and once again make the nation proud

A Message from ACDC to M&M Cru

I'm getting more ice cream...

Stresses of having tresses

Don't you just hate scissor-happy hairdressers? You tell them to snip off 1cm and they turn around and snip off an inch. @#$%!! *mumble grumble* You yell at them for not listening to you and they yell right back saying I had damagaed ends *mumble grumble some more* Well if I did have damaged ends TELL ME ABOUT THEM BEFORE CHOPPING OFF MY HAIR!!

Whew!! Well now thats out of the way I can get back to talking about my hair *pats newly shortened tresses*. Yes, as much as I hate the hairdresser I undeniably do have some damaged hair ends. it is the result of a not thought through hair experiment. I said it once but I'll say it again... Asians do NOT look good in with blonde hair! I repeat... Asians do NOT look good with blonde hair!! No matter if you're Malaysian. Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Indian etc. etc... blonde hair is a no-no. Take it from a person who had to endure blonde-ness for an entire week. Even after a year of hair growth and a whole bottle of blue-black hair dye, my hair-y blonde mistake still shows. I'm blaming it all on my dumb blonde moment.

As a punishment for making my hair suffer so much peroxide, I now have a problem of dry ends but with oily scalp. Please don't tell me to chop off all the dry ends because I am already doing that. Although gradually. I want to grow out my hair so chopping it off is not an option. It's already half way down my back so I'm pretty happy *lovingly strokes hair (o_O)V* After months of struggle and wasted money on hair products, I have found my solution!! All it takes is 3 simple products.

PRODUCT 1: SHAMPOO
After months of searching for the right shampoo for oily scalp that does not dry out hair, I have finally found the motherload!! Clear's anti-dandruff shampoo for oily scalp!! Although I don't have dandruff I figured I had nothing to lose from trying it. I might even prevent dandruff from forming. And it works!! I don't even need to use much. After a vigorous shampooing my hair came out all oil free but soft and silky. And this I used without a conditioner. I am loving it! No tangles. Dry ends are manageable and soft and less hair loss. Woohoo! I am sticking with this shampoo for a long time.



STEP 2: CONDITIONER
Everytime I step into a hair salon all I would hear from the hairdresser is "Your ends so dry one... you need to use more conditioner. If not I just chop off for you lor." Enough with the chopping people! You hairdressers get a kick from chopping off people's hair is it? Anyways, to look for a good conditioner for a person with oily scalp is not easy. It needs to be moisturising enough for your hair to be soft and manageable but no too moisturising that you'll look like you just poured a whole bottle of hair oil on your head mere hours after you shampooed you hair. So my perfect solution is... Tresseme light moisturising conditioner!! Its exactly what I needed. Just dab on a fair amount at the ends of your hair (stay away from the scalp, people) and voila! Lovely, soft manageable hair. It only sells in bottles of 500ml so it lasts longer. The one that I'm using is light moisturising but there's different kinds of moisturisers designed for various hair types. You can guarantee its quality because Tresseme is the official haircare product provider for Project Runway! How fierce!

STEP 3: LEAVE-In CONDITIONER
This product is actually not a must-have but I feel its important to be added in the list. For times when you wanna go out and wants to make sure your hair is all glorious, then leave-in conditioners are the way to go. I've tried various over the counter brands like Pantene, Sunsilk, Rejoice etc. etc but none of them works. So I went a little upscale and found... The Natural Source. Definitely pricey for a leave-in conditioner but money well spent. All you need to do is spray it on evenly on hair (again, stay away from the scalp people) and hurray! Lovely hair!




So these 3 combinations are my ultimate weapons for my hair care. Don't know if it'll work for you guys but it certainly works for me! No harm in trying eh?

I LOVE MY HAIR!!