Tea Pairing Dinner

I was invited to Twinings tea pairing dinner by a friend of mine.

How could I say no? I love teas, and I love Twinings. I love most things English. Some people like Japanese culture, some people follow Korean Pop culture... Well, I'm a tea-drinking English girl at heart.




There was a workshop talking about making the perfect cup of tea, which was REALLY enlightening. Maybe I'll talk about it in the next post - on how to make a perfect cuppa.




Stephen Twinings was there too, yes you guessed it, he's related to the founder of Twinings - Thomas Twinings, back in the 1706 when the first Twinings tea room was first open in London.


Stephen Twinings is the 10th Generation of the Twinings empire.


It's amazing to meet someone from such a land standing legacy.

He talked a lot about tea, drank a lot of tea too.

One of the most strikening news was that Earl Grey tea is only legit for Twinings, since Early Grey tea was commissioned to Twinings by an EARL, named Charles Grey, and the tea was so welcomed it was named after the Earl. *surprised!*







I never knew tea pairs well with certain food, like wine, but it didn't surprise me that it could. Afterall, certain tea does taste better with certain variety of food.




Like black teas are good with scones, tiramisu and quiche of the sort.



My guess is that they're better with savory or slight savory desserts: some also say it's good with veal, chocolate macaroons and cheese.


Or like the green tea is best served with light food, like finger sandwich, seafood and salad, etc.




Now you know your tea, enjoy a cuppa.










Yum.

Find a cozy/scenic place, your tea will taste even better.


haha I actually got dragged out here to pose for cameras. wtf so random.


Anyway, thanks to the event, now I have enough tea to last me for the rest of the year.

Unless of course I drink it everyday then it would only last me for four months.




Dinner was held at Saujana hotel - Senja restaurant where we had tea, and wine ^^, during our evening meals. YUM.





my favourite dessert of all time!!! for now.





My favourite drink that night was the Strawberry and Mango Infusion, it's by Twinings and not exactly a tea. But really yummy when prepared with sugar.

I had like five glasses that night.

OD-ed T_T

Softening My Shower Water

The water at my apartment is extremely sulphurous.

How do I know this?
Well whenever I left my washed plate on the side of the sink to air dry, after a day, you will see white coagulate stains around the plate.

It’s really annoying. Sometimes it stains back my plate and I have to wash it again before using it.




But since I drink purchased bottled water, it doesn’t really bother me consumption wise.


But imagine this is the water I use to shower, to wash my delicate face, hair, scalp and skin. God knows that else they put in my water, chlorine perhaps?

I learnt about hard water the first time I travelled to the UK for study.

The British had so much stuff in their water (limestone, chalk), most kettles or boilers in any normal household has this tough, stony, off-white crust left at the bottom; it’s called limescale. Sometimes, when pouring direct from the kettle, you will end up drinking of those crusts. YUCK!


The metal rod was not meant to be white. -.-


When I was offered to tryout Coway Spa Water Softener, I jumped at the opportunity.

Yes, yes and yes please.


I didn’t need them to tell me the goodness of having soft water.
Supple skin after shower, no more dry outs, no more skin surface cracks.

Oh the torture I went through during student days, despite the amount of lotion I splatter on myself, it was never enough.




Basically, the Coway Spa Water Softener does two things:
1. Remove harmful and floating substances in tap water to minimize irritation to skin
2. Cation ion exchange resin – to rid of water hardness (i.e. to soften water la)


So not only it filters, you add these special “salt” to the tank when it’s finished to soften your showering tap water.




And it comes in a modern slim tank.


Nice design right?


All for RM70 monthly for a rental unit (with free product maintenance every 2 months up to 5 years).
Or buy it back home, all yours for RM1,900 (free 1 year maintenance, every 2 months).

And if you’re sceptical, try this:
14 days free trial (first 1000 units), no hidden charges, just call up 1800-888-111 or visit www.coway.com.my .

It’s totally easy. The installation guy came and went in 15 minutes flat. I hardly notice his existence.


Technically, it’s only been less than a week that I’ve started using Coway “soft water”, but as a result:
1. more bubble when applying shower gel
2. easier to wash hair
3. hair become less dry after shampooing
4. skin feels softer

You might think it’s too soon to tell, but if you’re the type of person that pays A LOT of attention to your skin like I do, you will notice the difference just after one wash.

Like I always notice the difference taking a shower in Malaysia right after a week long London trip.

True story.

*heart* H&M and Highest High Heels

I've been doing a lot of shopping lately.

It's not normal for me to shop when I travel, but this trip to the Middle East was too overwhelming I just couldn't resist myself.

So many temptations in Dubai, so many brands Malaysia doesn't have, so many things that I love.




H&M for one. I still cannot believe there isn't any H&M brand in South East Asia yet. Yes yes I know it's coming into Singapore end of this year (yay!!!), but the fact remains there isn't any store available in the whole of SEA right at this moment!

Just so you know, H&M was/is one of my favourite brands in the UK (back in my student days).

I bought two dresses and a jumpsuit.




I wore this out today, pairing it with my gold Aldo heels.




I had another in baby beige pink polka dot. Cost me 79 dirhams, only RM65. Too cheap! (Thanks to ringgit for being so strong during my travels, for once)

The jumpsuit I got is the same one Gisele wears in this photo,




but instead of brown I bought it in olive green because the brown ran out of my size.


I also bought a pair of floral print heels from Forever 21, declaring it to be my highest high heels ever owned.




It's exactly.... a total of.... 5.5 inches tall!!!!




Making it officially my tallest high heels (tallest, highest, whatever).




They're so gorgeous I can just melt in it.




After wearing it, I would be 185cm in height. So intimating, me likey.

The heels cost me 95 dirhams which is around RM80, which is really cheap considering Forever 21 in Malaysia sells their heels normally at RM129. That's 40% cheaper!

Another brand that Malaysia doesn't have is Bath and Body Works; which is a brand from the US. Which is the nicest body lotion ever~!

I'm totally into the Passionfruit scent atm.




I smell so delicious after I applied it after shower everyday. My host in Dubai was using it everyday and it made me wanna eat her every time I smelt it on her.

Nom nom nom. Mmmm....

It's like 45 dirhams which is like RM37, more expensive than the price in the US, but hey, beggar can't be chooser.


Speaking of the states, my friend Bryan just got back from the states lately and along with him brought back my bestest buy this first half of the year (so far).

Coastal Scents Make-ups!!!!!




All five palettes of them!!!

You know Coastal Scents, right?

The one that all the major make-up gurus on Youtube are using it.

People like Michelle Phan and manwomanfilm (her username on youtube, she's a super talented Japanese make-up guru) are using them.




They're famous for their 88 Color Eye Shadow Palette.

I also have their

88 Warm Palette.
88 Ultra Shimmer Eye Shadow Palette
88 Metal Mania Palette

and their 6 Contour Blush Palette




The end.

I officially declare myself BROKE for these two months.
(especially after a secret purchase I made this morning, tbc soon)

Final Verdict of Marie France

Weeks ago, the day before I left for Taiwan trip, I went for my final session at Marie France.

12 sessions.

3 months.

Done.


It was such a relief.

It was such a relief because I have never felt BETTER in my life.




I've actually lost quite an amount of weight, even though that was not my initial target when I entered the salon, the sights of cellulite on my thighs have diminise tremendously.

YAY!

It's not obvious on the before and after photo so I shall tell you in my words that I have received lots of remarks everywhere that I have been looking better, and better.


Photos here are not edited, only sharpened because my hands were shaky when I took the photos.





Over the span of three months, not only I have learnt how to:

take care of myself better,
understand how my body works,
become more aware of how my body, and fats, functions;

I've actually have a better diet, and a happier looking skin.

Surprise surprise.




To entertain you with my results, I have lost:

1. 7cm each on my right and left upper thigh
2. 12cm each on my right and left lower thigh
3. 4cm each on my right and left calve.


I had wanted to lose more on my calves because I have really thick calves, thanks to my older backpacking days, and it's really hard to get rid of.

But as the sessions went on week after week, the treatments I received have seemed to shift towards my thighs and hips.

I could have asked them to spread the treatments evenly across my calves and thighs and hips but I was worried spreading the treatment time and cream/serum/solution might also reduce the effectiveness these treatments have on each section of my body.

So I decided to let them focus on my back thighs and hips in the end.

And I'm loving the results.




I'm not saying I'm perfectly pleased with how my body looked yet, but I have never seen a fitter me in a long time and I am definitely feeling supremely confident how the way I look these days.




I've been religiously rubbing lotion after my shower every day now on my thighs and calves, I'm determine to get my calves to shrink now that I am no longer attending treatments at Marie France.

But Marie France has helped me achieve my ultimate goal.

To know that I can still lose, get fit and eliminate those wrinkly skin I thought was forever.

To know that I can get rid of all these, if I work on myself more.




A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do eh?

One day, soon enough, I'm going to achieve my perfect figure.

Maybe one day, I can always return to Marie France for more advanced tech aid.

;)


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


SMS For a free 60min slimming session (worth
RM380)

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3 weeks illness

This has to be the longest illness I've ever suffered since puberty.

It's the 4th week of my coughing and if you were to tell me coughing would cause me so much pain three weeks ago I would not have believed it.

I had not been able to function properly anywhere outside the threshold of my apartment or my parents house (was back over the weekend).

Lost count of how many nights I have not been able to sleep due to consistent coughing and I have tried endless remedies. So far I'm finishing four bottles of cough syrup (most disgusting thing ever), a bottle of chinese 'pi pa gao', a session of antibiotics as prescripted by the doctor (useless thing), fever pills, lots of panadols (had on and off fever caused by coughing), had a blood test, and saliva test, had those chinese herbal thing that my mom fed me with: ling yang jiao, yang sheng xu, etc.

And I'm still coughing like a hyena on the loose.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Due to my sickness, I have put aside almost everything including my work and social life just to mend myself right. But nothing seemed to work.

After three weeks of absense, I returned to Marie France last friday with my phlegm throwing coughs and decided to finish my sessions.

I could have sworn three weeks of lying in bed doing nothing but eat and sleep would have made me gained a painful amount of kilos.

When the consultant asked me to step on the weighing machine, I closed my eyes and stopped breathing. It was the scariest moment of my life.

Well not really but you get my point.

Then... she said... the most unexpected thing...

"You lost weight"

I shot my eyes open and looked at her blankly.

"Huh?"

Really?


Well turns out I lost water, and 1kg of muscles, if one were to be precised.

Duh, what else would I expect after lying in bed for three weeks eating praticallly nothing unhealthy at all but doing none so whatever work out either.

As for my fat? Well, I did lose some fat, all but 0.1kg of it.

Damn it.


I proceeded to let the therapist perform all those treatments on me, one of the two was HMA - I think it was where they attached these little patches all over my body and let the electric current did the work. I did pass motion the next day. So I guessed it kinda worked, since being sick has made that difficult too. @_@

Next I did the ALT - sea scrub and hot blanket. I wasn't paying too much attention as I was coughing in between my sleep.

Weeks of sleepless nights make you sleep during any time of the day.

Good massages from the love Marie France therapist helped.

zzZzzZzzz.......


~*~*~*~*~*

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RM380)

type MFB NICOLEKISS Name send to
32996

Getting Away to Krabi

So I sat at my computer three nights ago looking through the list of hotels in this region: Thailand, Phillippines, Indonesia, Singapore, etc.

It was the day after I learnt that my baby was going to go away for a week to fabulous Australia on an assignment, and he couldn't bring me along, that I decided, well, since he could get away, so would I.

Besides, I don't want to stay in KL all alone without him. Most of the friends I have then are either travelling, overseas working, sulking about relationship or couple friends. And hanging out with couple friends without your partner would just... well.. be awkward.

And while it was the weekdays I had to endure, why not endure it in a more sunny happier place.

So Koh Samui came to mind instantly.

Hey I don't like to be alone. I know, ironic since I always travel alone. But that's entirely different. Exploration is better off alone, it's sort of like a soul-searching expedition. And most of my solo trips have always been very fulfilling to the mind.

So as I was going through the list of hotels in Koh Samui dreaming about my impulse getaway, it suddenly dawned on me that... erm... there are no cheap direct and fast way to get to Koh Samui, easiest way would set me back RM860 on Fireflyz from Subang. And I've already way over-spent for this month after a weekend in Hat Yai and a week of shopping in Bangkok. I was already planning an impulse trip, no point having an impulse splurge.

That was how I ended up in hotel suite in Krabi.

Sleeping my mornings away in a king size bed, and taking evening dips with Sex and The City season replay on my laptop in a big tub.




So far, I've walked 2km to Starbucks and spent the rest of my afternoon reading erotic novel in the air-condition cafe, had my favourite toasted 7-11 sandwich for lunch and walked bare-footed along the beach on the way back.

Then spent the rest of the evening dipping in the tub and finishing season 1 and half of season 2 of SATC.

Productive.

Will try to edit some photos tomorrow, after the pool, after the gym (maybe) so I can blog.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Just before I left, I went to Marie France for a quick session before my beach departure.

Truth be told, I have skipped a week of session before that simply because I was swamped with deadlines, or perhaps I was putting it off. Either way, once I stripped down, I was welcome with a most unpleasant comment from my therapist.

"Oh, you're getting flabby" while looking intently at my thighs.

I only have myself to blame, week long of absence and negligence of my diet and work-out regime (not that I have one, since travelling are mostly my work-outs and I haven't been doing much walking during the recent travel trips I've made), I looked at my rear in the mirror and was emotionally brought down by a not-so-toned-anymore sight.

Since my fifth sessions with Marie France, I have come to realise that beauty takes effort, constant effort.

People go to slimming and beauty salons wishing for a miracle. And when they couldn't get one, they blame these salons for slander, cheat and money ripping programs.

The thing is, like our hair, or nails, our body and skin need as much constant taking-care of. You didn't do treatment on your hair once, and after a month it became brittle and dry again, you swore that hair treatments were useless and you will never go back again.

Like our hair, nails and every part of our body, fats can continue to develop if you never control your diet, our body age and skin lose its elasticity.

A one time session even at the most pretigeous beauty and slimming salon won't get you miracle, just as a 12-session program won't guarantee you youth and slender beauty the rest of your life. In fact, if you're not careful, as short as one month after the treatment, you could grow twice the size from when you stepped out of the salons.

Don't blame it on effective-less treatments, blame it on yourself. For not taking care of your own body.

And I have myself to blame. It's been 9 treatments and after the 8th, my thighs were looking great, and then I have to take less interest in toning up and keep a watchful eye on my food. It's only sad that I have 3 more treatments to do before the end of my program.

Though I have been thinking, ever since my 3rd treatment really, to actually sign up for a life-long program with Marie France. Make it a regular thing.

Like I've always said, beauty does come at a price. But if maintenance is as important to you as it is to me, then this price is all worth paying for.

I've once asked that a 40-session program could fare between RM8000-15000? Or more (depending what sort of treatments you're looking for). Well, a 12-treatment program lasted me slightly more than two months.

Spread it out and it would just be like setting aside a small portion of my income to spend maintaining my body. Sounds fair.

Like how we spend RM300 average on our hair, RM100 on magazines, RM1000 on clothes, or RM30 on nails every month.

It's all part of being a woman. ;)

Well, I guess the next time I visit Marie France, I'll ask if they offer long-term program. Till then, wait for my good news.


xoxo

~*~*~*~*~*~

For try-outs:

SMS For a free 60min slimming session (worth
RM380)

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I Look Good In Heels!

This was totally random but I felt that I had to blog about it.

A week ago, my baby said he has made reservation for dinner and asked me to dress up fancily for the night.

It was our 21st month together. *heart*

What an achievement considering how fleeting loves can be in KL these days.

I didn't know where he was about to bring me, and it wasn't everyday he can plan a good surprise, so I was surprised that he actually made effort without me finding out! Wow.




I've thrown on an orange dress and Aldo shoes (total love) and led my baby drove me out to town for an indulgence night.

Turned out he brought me to Sage, at Gardens.




Sage was a lovely restaurant, with a simple concept of a menu and pricing. Chef Daniel was lovely and willing to prepare anything out of the menu for us.

Halfway through dinner, I decided to head for the ladies. As I stood up and made my way towards the left side of the entrance, I walked passed a wall with a ceiling-tall mirror.

Instinctively, I looked at myself, in full view, in the mirror. Dress, shoes and all.

I thought my eyes were deceiving me initially, but i could have sworn I was looking at a figure with a paid slender legs, or rather, slender calves (it was a knee-length dress).

It took me 2 seconds to realize it was my own pair of legs I was looking at!

Now it wasn't the skinniest pair of legs I've ever seen, but growing up with a pair of thunder thighs (thanks mom for the gene) and thick-ass calves (thanks all the years of backpacking through cities and mountains), the reflection was showing me a pair of legs I never thought that I would own.

In fact, I wasn't even convinced at that point, you know how sometimes you walk to a mirror that actually showed a skinnier/elongated side of you than you really are, so I walked up further to another mirror ahead to confirm what I saw.

Still the same pair of legs I thought wasn't mine wearing my gorgeous golden Aldo shoes.

To the point that I even walked back to the entrance to stare at my legs in the dark reflection from the wine display shelves.

Before... O..M..G... set in.

My calves have considerably shrunk visually. All those visits to Marie France Bodyline have really paid off!




I still wasn't sure if it was just that day, or the heels, or the dress, but I loved the way my legs walked and looked that evening!


faster tweet about it


It was after the 5th visit to Marie France Bodyline that day.

And I was almost half way there. Finally, results were showing. I could not be happier!

That night, I allowed myself to indulge in a little bit of sin.




Perhaps not the wisest thing to do, but I was happy, really happy. 21st month and all.

The next day, I woke up with the jolliest mood and half-skipped myself when I stepped in to greet the lady at the front counter.




Marie France Bodyline.

Don't let me down now. ^^


~*~*~*~*~*

SMS For a free 60min slimming session (worth
RM380)

type MFB NICOLEKISS Name send to
32996

More Indulgence at Penang Airport

After three hours of shopping and running around the airport, I have to do a pit stop at the loo.


typical toilet camwhore


By the time I came out, I was hungry so I proceeded to the only place in Penang Airport where I can savour some local delicacies!




Located at the roadside outside the airport was Pinang Kopitiam.

Hah!

Don't say I never try Char Kuey Tiao while in Penang!




Behold! My Penang Char Kuey Tiao at the airport!




The boss was so nice he gave me staff price for the food, I didn't even ask for it.

Maybe he pity me for sitting there all alone eating. T_T




Penang airport is not as expansive as KLIA, but it has its own charm.




With beautiful lined corridor where the boarding gates lined at the international duty free.




Despite its limited space, there are quite a few fast food restaurant in Penang Airport, popular ones like McDonald.




Coffee Bean.




And a really swanky Kenny Rogers.




After a satisfying lunch, I went back to my shopping frenzy!

It was this moment I discovered my favourite shop in the entire whole airport, well, except for the Coach bag shop.




Called Dayana.

They sell bohemian style dresses and bangles and all sorts of accessories.




It was my first major purchase at the airport. This colorful adoring dress cost me RM89. Totally worth it!

Then I grabbed three bangles - two silvers and one bronze to pair with the dress.




And alas, just before I submit my credit card, I spotted something hanging on the side at the hats area.




A leopard print french beret!

OMG. I love beret! Especially one that fits my head. Which was rare.




Don't you think it kinda matches my outfit today too?


Anyway, by now I have spent enough to gain me a free RM10 voucher, as told by one of the cashier, who passed me a form to fill clipped with the receipt.




As long as you spend up to RM250 in a single or up to a combination of three receipts, you get a RM10 voucher to spend more!



Now I found out about this a little too late as I didn't manage to collect the other receipts (double copy, cause I wanted to keep one for myself) from the purchases I made in between so I only got the RM10 voucher when I was almost done the day.




Just as I was thinking what I should spend on with the RM10. A light bulb emerged.




I spent it on a GCB meal dinner at McDonald. Brilliant way to end the perfect day.

Though it was so insanely crowded during dinner time that I have to share a table with another guy. Love the chairs in the McDonalds here though, super comfy!




Then while eating I bit on my gum three times on the same spot. FML.

After dinner, I finally retreated to Coffee Bean to have some quiet time with the internet.

In the next post, I will share with you what I have bought at Duty Free. :D