The Bug's Working Overtime

Yup. Was kaypo-ing around Facebook earlier this afternoon when I noticed a whole bunch of friends updating their status updates – almost simultaneously, I might add – about being sick. :-/

@_@

Whoaaaa... Too many sick people around these days lah, seriously. The flu season, kononnya. That time of the year when some mutated flu bug runs amok, wreaking havoc across town. I was at the hospital last Friday and the amount of coughing, sneezing, sniffling folk walking around and waiting outside every which clinic was just horrifying. I wish I had an Oxygen tank to breathe from instead of having to share their germ-filled air. :-/


Having said that, you better take care, guys! Pop those Vitamin Cs, eat more fruits, drink more water and get enough rest to stay healthy. Oh, and if you've already had the misfortune of being been bitten by the flu bug (so sorry for you) do us all a favour and be sure to cough into your hand, sneeze into a tissue, and if possible, wear a mask to save us healthy folk the trouble of falling sick, ok? But don't just take my word for it. Listen to your friendly neighbourhood doctor. =p

Been Awhile...

...since I messed around with Photobooth.

Yup, that's me, having a little bit of fun

with Photobooth on The Husband's* new toy

– his iPad 3 – before bedtime last night. =)

* The man says lah that the iPad is for US. Even engraved my name alongside his on the back. But... yeah, right. We all know that boys never share their toys wan. *snorts*

Red Eye

Busted some capillaries in my right eye yesterday morning. Goodness knows how I did it also. Didn't hurt but it annoyed me for a little bit. Felt like I had a lump of stubborn eye sai that I couldn't get rid off, smeared across my outer right eye for the most part of the day. But other than that little bit of annoyance... I wouldn't have noticed it anyways.

Took that shot with my Easy-Macro™. =p

Mind you, it wasn't an easy shot to take, okay!! 

It was night time so I had to sit in front of my table lamp to get good light, with a pocket mirror open in front of me so I could see my iPhone screen reflected in it. Then, I had to hold my phone with one hand and keep my eye on the reflection while I focused the shot with my other hand. The cherry on top was that I also needed to look away from the screen so the right part (read: the busted part) of my eye would be in the pic, before I snapped. Phew!! So much work for just a little bit of macro fun.

Easy-Macro™ For iPhone

New toy in da haus, courtesy of Dee. =)

Theoretically, it works a little like Jelly Lens but the results are sooo much better. (Price different so quality also different lah, right? Only to be expected. Haha.) I also like that it isn't a stick-on lens. Instead, you attach it to the top of your iPhone with a fuss-free rubber band that fits perfectly.

Dee had been taking pictures of anything and everything under the sun with his own Easy-Macro™ long before he passed me mine. And I've been privy to the many pictures that have appeared on Path and Facebook, but had no lens of my own to play with. T_T So when he f-i-n-a-l-l-y came around to handing me my own Easy-Macro™, I was super excited and eager to start shooting away. =D

Only problem was...

Yup. I didn't know where to start!! Hahaha. Cos... well, I've not really been going out and there isn't really anything interesting or inspiring at home for me to shoot. So ended up taking his advice and shooting whatever jewellery I had on hand to test out my new toy. Haha.

Earrings.

Engraving on my wedding band.

Wedding band.

Engraving on my engagement ring.

Engagement ring.

Wedding band and engagement ring together.

My watch.

And then I got bored and decided to look

for other less metallic stuff to capture.

Banana.

Cornflakes.

 Scotch tape holder.

 Fingerprints!

A small nick on my forefinger's nail from a pen knife accident.

Overall, I think Easy-Macro™ is awesome and easy to use. Only gripe I have is that my hands need to be really, really steady to ensure a good, clear shot if the ambient lighting isn't great. But I'm not sure if that's an iPhone problem or a general macro problem. Could be either one and not Easy-Macro™ for all I know. *shrugs* But that aside, I had fun playing around with it. Just gotta find more cool stuff to shoot like bugs or something. Haha. 

My iPhone with Easy-Macro™ on. =)

NOTE TO INTERESTED PARTIES: As far as I know, Easy-Macro™ is not (yet?) available in Malaysia but you can get yours online at easy-macro.com =)

October 11th

Today's post is written in honour of

my favourite kiddie movie of all time,

The Parent Trap (1998)!

I must have watched this movie a million trillion times when I was in lower secondary. (Don't believe me? Ask Mee!) I knew the plot through and through, remembered every word in the dialogue (including the different accents =p), and even learnt the quirky "hello" handshake made famous by Hallie Parker (played by Lindsay Lohan) and her trusty butler, Martin. I LOVED IT! So, here's to The Parent Trap! And here's to October 11th! =D

Giving Myself A DIY Facial

I've been itching to go for a luxuriously pampering facial for the longest time. Especially since the last few weeks have been somewhat emotionally and physically draining. But since I've been "grounded", I've decided to take matters into my own hands and give myself a facial. Haha. Thing is... no mask at home. (I don't buy masks cos I hardly ever use them.) So thankfully, I had my beloved Aesop sample stash to dig into. =D

The only mask they gave me was the Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque. (I'm not sure if there are other variants.) It's a purifying clay masque (mask?) with anti-oxidants and Vitamin E that works for "most skin types, particularly oily, combination or neglected skin." (I think I fall under the "neglected" category.)

To be honest with you, I was a bit skeptical when I read on the sachet that it was a clay mask cos clay masks tend to be drying for my dehydrated skin. But I was desperate for some pampering so... aiya, whatever lah. Just pakai hentam first and deal with the consequences later. Haha. I'm glad I went ahead though. Cos this clay mask smells H-E-A-V-E-N-L-Y.

Now, I'm going to show you some pictures

of myself with the mask on. Don't freak out.

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TADAAA!

BOO! Halloween coming soon. Hahaha.

I wasn't smiling for long though. Not because I wasn't enjoying the mask or its wunnerful scent, but cos the mask dried very, very quickly in my air-conditioned room. And like any other clay mask, it hardens upon drying. @_@

 A close up of the mask's texture. You can see every pore on my face!

Maybe that's how it "purifies" my pores. By opening them all up. :-/

Instructions on the pack were to leave it on for 15 minutes but... I personally think that's a little too long for my skin type although I would have loved to enjoy my DIY facial a little while longer. But I went with my gut and washed it off after 10 minutes instead. Better dun be so kiasu. Later get wrinkles then regret.

 Freshly washed face!

Closer up.

I personally liked this mask a lot a lot. Experience-wise, it was wonderful. The Rose-Geranium scent was very relaxing and it made me feel good and happy after. The after-effect was also very impressive. My skin was super soft and smooth after removal of the mask! Like baby's backside! I also liked that it was fast and easy to apply and wash off. 10-15 minutes isn't too long or too much to ask for a little at-home pampering after bath, before bedtime. =)

I've been told this mask retails for RM149 per 120ml tub. (I am more a tube girl than a tub girl so I'm not exactly jumping for joy with this revelation. :-/) Not too pricey if you consider the fact that a regular facial at any of your Dermalogicas or New York Skins or Bellas costs more than that per session already anyways. I think it's a good home-solution if you want a quick skin-fix that relaxes and works without spending too much time (or money) on it.

Maybe I should get myself a tub of this

the next time I pass an Aesop counter. =p

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OH WAIT! I just realised that I totally forgot to tell you all the other parts of my DIY "facial"! Hahaha. First, I washed my face with an AMWAY cleanser (just a regular one I always use) while in the shower. That was followed by the mask I just reviewed after I came out of the bath. I considered not toning or moisturising (cos I usually don't bother with skincare at night... and also during the day if I don't go out @_@) but thought the better of it since clay masks tend to be drying and I didn't want to suffer any consequences for my laziness after. So I toned and moisturised with AMWAY's hydrating toner and moisturiser. The end!

p/s: This is not a paid review.

A Spot Of Afternoon Tea

...without tea. Haha.

But then this Auntie Anne's Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Mama bought me more than makes up for any lack of beverage so I'm not complaining one bit. Wolfed this baby down in under 5 minutes. YUMS!

Sleeping Solo

I hate going to bed alone. I hate turning off the lights myself and then walking – stumbling – toward the bed in the dark. I hate that there's no one to say "goodnight" to. I hate that nobody says "goodnight" back. I hate the vast emptiness of that space next to me. I hate that cold, lonely feeling I always get when I sleep alone. I hate sleeping alone. Period.


I miss snuggling up right next to you before bedtime. I miss warming my cold feet against your always-warmer ones. I miss stuffing my face into your arm when you're up in bed playing games and I'm already ready to snooze. I miss waking up in the middle of the night to see your sleeping face lying just inches from mine. I miss waking up next to you. Period.