In Memory - En. Hashim Mohammed

Today is a very sad, sad day for me and many of us who lives were touched by this wonderful person - En Hashim Mohammed.. He was my ex-boss, the greatest mentor I've ever met that no other words could described about his great persona. Sesungguhnya Allah lebih menyayangi dirinya..He passed away peacefully today at about 11am in Damansara Specialist Hospital... Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas rohnya dan moga arwah ditempatkan di Jannah, Aminnn. Due to my condition right now, I couldn't pay my last tribute to arwah and visit his family... hanya doa dari jauh yg dapat aku sampaikan (moment that I got the news I already lost my appetite uhuk2)

I knew him for a long time since I was still at school because he and family was our neighbour at Bukit Antarabangsa. But back then, I used to addressed him as Uncle Hashim and his wife as Aunty Jasmin :) I still called his wife as Aunty Jasmin though... Aunty Jasmin and my mom used to car pool since her kids went to the same school as my brothers (both were still at primary and I'm already in secondary school). Back then, En Hashim was working with Shell.. and he started joining TM as Group Chief Internal Auditor in October 2002, the same year I started working with TM after graduating from MMU. 

I joined GIA in year 2005 and it was during the interview he noticed that I was his neighbour's daughter. However, the fact that he knows my parents doesn't hinder his professionalism to treat everyone fair and equal. He is indeed a great leader and very2 brilliant... for 5 years being his staff, I've seen he brought the best out of people and leverages on people strength. He is a visionary man and many of his protege have left GIA to be leaders in other companies and GM within TM. 

A handsome and charismatic guy.. in the background is Dato' Sri Zam - TM GCEO 

He started falling ill towards end of 2010. It was in early 2011 when he became very sick and was hospitalized for quite sometimes and later was diagnosed as having blood cancer :(( he officially left TM in June 2011. The whole department was devastated when he left but our pray always goes with him as we respect his and his family decision.

My 1st year in GIA (2005) during GIA Jumpstart and Team Building at Fraser's Hill a.k.a En Hashim's 'olde  English'... guess, which one is me??

En Hashim, you are truly an idola.. you have left a legacy that will be treasured by GIAans and GANs always. Thank you for touching my life, sharing your thoughts, your vision and giving me the opportunity that makes me a better person I am today. Hilangnya dirimu tiada gantinya :( Doaku sentiasa mengiringi mu, semoga arwah tenang di sana.. To his wife and children - Aunty Jasmin, Shazana dan Adri, semoga tabah menghadapi dugaan Allah SWT. 

One of his glory day - always an active sportsman, proud of his team achievement in Oxbridge Harvard Boat Race in 2008 

BIG BAD WOLF 2012 HAUL - *Awoooooo

I'm heavily, heavily pregnant n yet masalah mengidam buku has been for quite sometimes since BBW announced their sales date sometimes in July this year. I've been to BBW sales for the past 3 years and never quit since. In fact my budget for books and alike will go to once a year BBW sales only... it's all so worth it :)) I'll have some 'wish list' prepared but sometimes not all da titles are available but at least I already have something in mind and to certain extend planned my spending (well, 80% planned la.. but some buffer for impulse buying hehee) and since I'm entitled for a preview pass to BBW 2012, how could I miss this once in a lifetime opportunity? It's my first preview ever and hopefully would not be my last one too.

After getting days of eat and sleep routines (I need a lottttt of rest since my baby is wayyy too small and he measured couple of weeks behind according to my gynea) I need to move around as well and get some healthy walk especially when my due is gonna be very soon. After getting a good friend of mine to accompany and Danial tagged along to help me pull the trolley, we were off to the preview day.  

Danial's happy face.. his 1st time to BBW

Lt. Black Paw ride.. he's sooo cool ritee

nice plate no. :))

Apparently they have this launching earlier that day where the theme was superheroes cos' we could see characters like Batman and Wonder Woman when we were there. Well, the fact I always went to BBW for at least 3 times throughout their sales.. so same goes this year.. I didn't get all books at one visit, but only to cover small section at a time and later came again to for more quality search. To rummage through all 3,000,000 books in a day can be tiresome and you couldn't find what u really want after 2-3 hours top! Believe me, been there done that (in fact last years' books were lesser).  Plus, I have an 'extra' baggage to carry around with me (my bulging tummy of course) I shld not be pushing myself hard and to have frequent breaks in between from walking and know when to stop. I am very lucky indeed this year cos' I got mostly the books that I need... in fact after few years of visiting BBW, my selection this year wasn't that many and some were just carried forward from last year's 'wish list' that I didn't managed to get from BBW. 

cloth books for my baby.. got this during preview day

some of Danial's comics.. no more SpongeBob or Toy Story for him.. he wanted these instead.. anak Mama dah besar!

my most valuable treasures! been wanting these since last year... i still couldn't believed I got this during my 3rd visits after  going through from one table to another. Worth the effort :))

Another from 2011 wish list - Wally Lamb .. saw only few books during 2nd visit

love, love Jane Green.. managed to get 3 titles this time round (including Promises To Keep which is not in pic).. already have Jemima J, To Have n To Hold, Mr Maybe, Straight Talking, Babyville, Dune Road and Beach House - all from previous BBW

after Sparkles, decided to try out few others of Bagshawe's books

i need Safe Haven sooo bad.. didn't get one earlier, and so lucky BBW restock these RD's Select Editions during my 2nd visit.. see the last title?? n only RM10 for 4 titles! so satisfied...

these one kirim from my friend after having a second thought to get the more Select Editions 

these are for Baby Ayra - my brother's daughter .. got these during my 3rd visit

Lauren Weisberger title is Last Night at Chateau Marmont.. x nampak plak title dia..

great sets! couldn't resist the Gossip Girl (although I'm too old for that hahaha)  and see those ring binding books on top?? those are notebooks.. they are super cute and pretty too

they have a lotss of designs but I really like this one.. and it's only selling for RM2 each!!!

There is another one not in picture i.e The Lucky Ones (Nicholas Sparks). I didn't get any non-fiction this time around cos' I don't need anything specific. But I still couldn't find Too Dark No Star (Stephen King) since the preview day and kinda hoping to see lots of Jodi Picoult's but there wasn't any :( and only realized that today they announced on new available titles - Diary of Wimpy Kids series!!! these are in fact in my 'wish list' for 2012... am not sure how many stocks do they have cos' been reading comments in fb that many people couldn't find those books.

Anyway, for those who still haven't gone to BBW 2012, the sales are still on-going until 23 December 2012. Check out their website and fb for daily updates. My personal view is that, compared to last year, there are a lot of downside in this year's event: 

• Venue - last year was MAEPS and this year is MIECC. Traffic is heavier and getting in and out of MIECC is not easy... especially in the afternoon, after office hour and even weekend cos' it's just next to Mines Shopping Center where the crowds are always there. I remember during last year's visits getting in and out from MAEPS were so easy and no traffic at all!
• Paid parking but not so great car park facility - although it's only RM2 during weekdays and RM3 during weekends, but last year in MAEPS it was free and the parking space are huge. Not to mention that the elevator at the basement carpark is slow and sometimes only 1 out of 2 elevator is working (we have to queue for lifts everytime..).
• Cashiers are too near to the books sections - compared to MAEPS, the layout this year has the cashiers too close to the books sections and without the snake line queue being implemented, there were times when the payment queue was too long up to the books sections. Noted that during last week Mission 63 (the 63 hours non-stop book shopping period) my friend has to queue for 2 hours from 2-4am to make payment... kesian kan...

But apart from that, BBW has done a great job by having the event this year and the staff are always helpful and friendly. It's a great thing that they have the non-stop shopping hours during weekends (they having it again today, this weekend at this exact moment) and I just hope that they learn from Mission 63 drawbacks/experience and make it better this time around. BBW mmg terbaekkkk lah!

So if you guys are thinking of going down to hunt some good books at real bargain, below are few tips:

• Wear comfortable shoes.. u'll be walking a lot!
• Bring your own trolley/cart/luggage bag/shopping bag (big enough for you to carry around and plenty of it) cos' it realllyyyy helps to load on the books and to carry it around the place. They do provides boxes, but it's not easy to carry it around especially when u have loaded it with books. And once you have too much books in hand but still cannot get enough, transit those hauls to the customer service counter where they will keep it for you while u go for another hunt... toksah la dok heret kotak berat2 tu ke sana sini, it's tiring and u'll be bumping on other people too which can be dangerous.
• Bring a drinking water, it really helps although they do provides place to eat with plenty of choice on the upper floor which is another plus point this year :) kudos BBW!
• If you going to bring your baby, the best is to use baby carrier although u can bring in stroller... but wit lots of people around, carrying books there is a risk that the books can fell onto the stroller... better be safe. You could also transit ur kids to the playland area that is provided at the upper floor (again, another plus point!) But better still, leave your kids behind... I never think warehouse sales are good place to bring toddlers.

It's Backkkk - NOSE Warehouse Sale 2012

I went to this sale twice so far and to me it was a great sale! tak percaya?? tgk sendiri lah ye.. all the hauls below I got for RM10 each... if u can get for RM10, why pay more, right? And by the way, I am a size 5 or 36... most of the shoes last me more than a year except for one or two that tend to worn out too soon. But wat a heck, it's just RM10 shoes!

this was the one that last me only couple of months :(

one of my fav - got this in 2009 and it last me until 2011! very comfy despite the high heels.. wait, it got another color 

tadaaaaa... I love this color more but the above can match almost anything that I wear

these were RM10 each.. can u believe it??

I remember that they used to have the warehouse sale once a year but for this year if not mistaken they had it once early this year... I had enough since my last big haul last year. It's worth to go, the place not so congested and although it's in a warehouse, quite airy but my advice pls dont drag ur kids along... bukan apa, kesian nnt kat budak2.. For me warehouse sale is not a good place to bring along kids unless u come very early before the crowd building up. 

But do share wit me what u guys got for yourself if you are going to this coming sale! enjoy shoppinggg :)

BIG BAD WOLF 2012 - My Preview Pass *woot2

Time to show off my preview pass to BBW 2012! Hehehe jangan jeles u olss.... nnt I update the scene from 6th December 2012 ye :)) 

How do I get it? It was during the Aftermath Sale in 2011 where the early birds got the chance by just telling the staff in-charge a secret password (the password was announced in their blog or fb.. can't really remember). So last Saturday I got the email to collect the preview pass at BookXcess.

But don't be disheartened if you don't have the preview pass cos' BBW just announced that they will be opening for 63 straight hours from 6.30am on 7th December until 9.30pm on 9th December.. so be there at wee hours and beat all the traffic! Check this out

Main Main Makeup - NAKED 2 Eye Palette by URBAN DECAY

If you are a big fan of URBAN DECAY and everything makeup, NAKED eye palette is something very familiar to you. Ever since UD introduced the NAKED palette, it became sooo popular among makeup lovers as the best eye palette that features 12 never boring, warm tone colors.

As for myself, I've been wanting the NAKED palette for so long but willing to wait until UD came to Malaysia. So when Sephora opened, and after they brought it in it sold out immediately like hot cakes!! I really can't remember why I didn't grab the chance when my friend who is a make-ups collector cum addict - Aishah (hehe jangan marah ye if u read this) offer to buy it for me, I turned it down... then I remember later when I went to S'pore NAKED palette was also sold out at all their Sephora outlets.

It wasn't so bad not having the palette in hand cos' I have other palette and warm color swatches that comes in handy (btw, I always and forever will continue using Casino by MAC - my favourite bronze color swatch).  But when last month LivingSocial offered NAKED 2 eye palette with starting price from RM75 (if you take 2 units) I couldn't help but grab the offer! it retails at RM179 in Sephora and I could get it for RM75, rugi la kalau tolak... btw, the website claim the product is originally by OEM, in which I accept it in good faith :)

It took almost 1 month to be delivered and I got mine last 2 weeks.. dapat je, terus I tried it on my colleague yg eager to learn how to apply eyeshadow :) my pleasure dear...

it came in a box

revealing.. the palette (haish apsal la gambar ni load vertical plak.. it is supposed to be horizontal but  I cant change it lor)

Tadaaa... the real thing that comes together with double sided brush for shadow and  creasing/blending (the rounded end)

So, how does this palette different from NAKED? it has 5 new shades.. and there are so many reviews about this palette out there that you can read eg. here Some of my friends are eager to grab it with the same offer and lucky them I saw another offer at Dealmates.com .. it even comes with a free lipgloss :) so now they just have to wait for the item to be delivered.

Main Main Makeup - MAC Glitter & Ice Holiday Collection 2011

Haaa this post has been longggggg overdue.. almost a year in fact! teruk btul aku kan... nak hapdate pon payah. Padahal kat fb dah lama duk create album for this collection. Since I've mentioned about MAC last year's holiday collection in my previous post, so might as well I show you the real thing in case you are wondering.

I've created many looks wit da palette already but just too lazy to capture the results... urmm.. they have this 3 palettes and guess what?? I got it all 3! (haha if u know me it's not a surprise meh...) 

pretty packaging that suits the collection's name

Below are the content of the palettes:

Cool Palette consists of Howzat pale lavande (satin), Snowball frost white (frost), Warm & Smoky dull violet (veluxe pearl), Idol Eyes sparkling blue (lustre), Illegal Cargo jet-black (frost) and Set to Dance royal blue (matte)

Sultry Palette consists of Black Tied (velvet), Trax (velvet), Shadowy Lady (matte), Fun! pink patina (lustre), Lightfully white with pink shades (lustre) and Festive Delight wine-coloured

Warm Palette consists of Buckwheat dark brown (velvet), Gaelic Gold gold (veluxe pearl), Patina (frost), Magical Mist sparkling grey (lustre), Winterscape bright pearl brown (lustre) and Midnight Flurry black (matte)

From the 3 palettes, I love Sultry Palette the most! My verdict? very pretty packaging, nice color selections, worth buy too but slightly too small for my preference since it consists of 6 colors. As you can see the brush that comes together has a very short handle. I prefer it to be slightly longer for better control and bigger packaging.

Main Main Makeup - Bobbi Brown Caviar & Black Pearl 2012 Holiday Collection

Dah lama x buat update pasal makeup kan... cos' xde mood :( since I got pregnant, my skin is not in good condition and I just don't have the mood to wear anything even lipstick! but I do miss makeup and looking good and off lately I've started to gain a lot of energy and started to feel more like my 'real' self again :) 

Since December is approaching, I've always look forward what MAC and Bobbi Brown's Holiday Collection going to be for the year. Since last year I've got MAC's, this year Bobbi Brown's Caviar & Black Pearl eye palette really gets my attention.

Black Pearl -  complete your smokey look with this very practical palette 

Caviar - love, love the olive color (bottom most left)

Both palettes are very practical in which you could really use all the colors and they do have a pretty highlights and base color. I am very particular when choosing a palette. The first palette that I have and really satisfy was Chanel Les Ombres Quadra - 14 Mystic Eyes. But these 2 palettes proof to me that I will be using them a lot! The finishes varies from matte, shimmery and satin. From my experience of shimmer shadow, it does look very shimmery in the palette but it is subtle enough when it applies hence you could create the looks at all times using these palette.

10 minutes look using Caviar pallete and Bobbi Brown gel eye-liner in Espresso (sorry about the brow, few months without threading.. haishh) .. sesuai utk makeup pegi keje pon..

I got both palettes and the black gel eye-liner and got these free gifts! 

Clockwise from the top - mascara, eye makeup remover, eye cream and  lip palette.. oh not to forget it comes together with BB make-up bag 

My 1st lip palette.. love the soft colors and the shades are suitable for all skin tone

My verdict?? puas hati and worth it. If you love au-natural looks i.e Bobbi Brown's look, with warm/cool shades that is not over the top, these palettes are for you. The packaging is nice and about 3 quarter size of my palm. The swatches are adequate in size as compared to MAC that always have a very small palette.