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Showing posts with label living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label living. Show all posts


Everyone need a simple makeup do whenever they are in a hurry or they just want to appear simple and sweet without over doing it. Fret not, we did a simple and easy makeup tutorial to help you with that. We hope you like the makeup look and don't forget to tag us if you did a redo of the look. Can't wait to see the results on you!


Pinterest worthy hanging planters never looked so cool. Decorate your room by hanging your plants instead of having them on the table. We tried DIY-ing it and we’ll tell you that Macramé can look super complicated at first glance (we thought so too) but you’d be surprise on how quick you can make it.

You will need:

A spool of yarn/string/old t-shirts (thick enough to hold the weight)
Scissors
Potted plant

Step 1: cut your strings to 8 equal lengths. We made about one arm’s length. Have them longer so you can have extra length. Don’t worry if it’s longer than you’d expect, we’ll tell you later on.

Step 2: Gather them together and tie a knot. This will be your base.


Step 3: Divide the strings into 4 pairs.


Step 4: Our pot is small so we went about 10 cm down from the topknot. Tie the same knot for each pair.


Step 5: Now to create a square base, you’ll need to tie a knot on a new set of pairs by splitting the original pairs. Go down about 10cm from the previous knot. 

Knot the second and third string together, the fourth and fifth cord together an then knot the first cord to the last one to create the base for the pot.


Step 6: Tie a loop at the remaining strings. Adjust them to how long you want it to hang. Cut off any excess.

Step 7: Place your potted plant on the base and Voila!






Here's a simple tutorial on how to do a beautiful and unique dreamcatcher. You will love it since it is very simple to create and you can put it around your house, in your bedroom or even in your car. The things needed to do this dreamcatcher are very easy to find. We bought most of the supplies at Mr. DIY. We hope you guys enjoy the video and happy DIY!




Tiruchirappalli also known as Trichy is one of the states in Tamil Nadu-- a small city situated in central south-eastern India. Trichy is vibrant, filled with friendly people and colourful flat-roof buildings. Not to mention the super fine cigarettes, tasty street coffee and delicious poori!

The view from the top of Rockfort
Most famous for Rockfort, Trichy is not a common destination chosen by travellers unless they are planning to perform the pilgrimage at the holy temples here. With temperature between 25 to 32 celsius, Trichy is a bit dusty due to the absence of cemented roads. It is possible to walk around town if you don’t mind the sun but no worries, the public transportation here are easily accessible. From taxis to tuk-tuk(s), to buses and trains. There are loads of them waiting for you to take a ride!

And let’s be honest, it is no surprise how people are extra cautious when it comes to travelling to India due to the hygiene reasons and clean water supply but I assure you Trichy is actually cleaner than the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia.

To deal with the clean water issue, you can ask for your hotel to provide you with mineral water and carry them around while you’re out. Make sure to check if the cap is still sealed and the bottle is brand new.

Gandhi Market
Now you may wonder what is so interesting about Trichy? As mentioned earlier it is most famous for the Rockfort Temple which stands on 273-foot high rock. There is also a 24-hour Gandhi Market where you can see the locals sell avalanches of onions (yep, onions) and other vegetables from across Tamil Nadu. 

An elephant casually walking down the streets at Srirangam
Another must-visit location is the Srirangam Temple besides the St. Joseph Church and College. So yeah, you may think it’s not much but wait until you see the sarees!!! Two days are not enough for you to soak in the overwhelming amount of sarees being sold at extremely cheap prices.

“Where can I get them?” you may ask. Fret not, they can be found along the streets and at the textile houses located around Trichy. So here’s a heads-up, buy extra baggage access for your flight home, trust me on this.

Enough stalling and stop hesitating to include Trichy in your upcoming travel plans. I guarantee you it is worth your time and money.

A (cute) planner


Photo via iheartorganizing

The most essential back to school item that you need is a planner. Yes, and a cute one too. Who wants a boring planner, right? (But it’s okay if you have a plain planner. You can always decorate it yourself!) A planner will help you stay organize throughout the semester. The way you organize it is totally up to you. Do it your way, what’s best for you, AND stick to it. Keeping a planner will not only help you getting the grade that you want, but it can also help others too. It shows you are a reliable and responsible person; giving others good reasons to trust you and even depend on you. You can achieve a lot of things by keeping your life organized. Don’t worry if it doesn’t go as planned, it’s still important to have a plan in the first place. Good luck!

Ps. You can find cute and affordable planners here; notbooknotbuk.



The Lucky Pen


When college comes to mind, the only thing I make sure that I'm equipped with is my lucky pen. I'm no superstitious chick or anything, but this pen deserves to be called lucky because I found it on a table in an empty classroom one morning, thus being lucky enough to be given a home by yours truly. There was a goal to be met last semester when I decided to not use money to get any stationary. I survived solely on this pen to do all the writing for me and I am so proud the ink is still bearable for me to still use it this semester. You readers might think this is ridiculous; not getting stationary to go to classes, but I call it the ultimate college experience. Try it now and save money for other essential things like going to the movies, or food, yeah, to live. or just movies. Remember, where there is a lonely pen in empty classrooms, make a home for them in your pencil cases. Have a great new semester!




Your Own Personal Wifi!



Being a college student means that you need to have access to the internet (Especially now since the world has gone high tech). No matter if you are using a smartphone or a laptop, internet is essential. Most places offers free wifi to their customers or students. But as we all know, free wifi sucks. It’s great for people who are travelling since they don’t have to buy a new sim card but is it good for students who are rushing to send their assignment at the 11th hour? So the easiest solution is *drum roll please* A WIRELESS BROADBAND! Now, almost every telco company carries at least one type of wireless broadband that you can purchase. Browse through your options because some comes with a contract, some offers faster internet or some gives you a higher quota. With the numerous amount of telco companies in Malaysia, finding the perfect one for you is easy! And an added benefit of owning this awesome device is that you don’t have to purchase mobile data for your phone anymore since a wireless broadband allows you to connect to up to 10 devices at the same time! (Cool right!) So get your ass moving and head on over to any telco company and start looking at your options!



Your trusty water bottle.






Bringing a bottle of plain water everyday to college should be one of your necessities. It’s always a good idea to sneak in the extra 8 ounces of glass water that you should actually be taking a day.  You can infuse the water by adding a slice or two of lemon, grapefruits, oranges, cucumber, strawberries . . . the list is endless. Not only will it aid your digestion but it's a good way to lose a couple of kg's.  It can also help you save a couple of bucks, you could always go to the water cooler for a refill. The thought of saving the planet by reducing the number of plastic bottles is not a bad idea. 

The first and only edutainment centre in Malaysia, Kidzania has recently invited us to be a part of their annual event “Back-2-Kidz” where adults are allowed into the fun zone to unleash the kid in them for three and a half hours. The purpose of this event is to give exposure on how beneficial and educating Kidzania is by letting the adults engage in the activities provided. Normally, adults can only accompany the children but not this time.


We were welcomed by the Project Manager of the event, Darryl who told us that by letting the adults to experience the activities themselves, they will realize how important it is to expose the young ones to involve in interactive learning as one of the measures to help develop their passion at an early age. 


Personally, we were amazed at the interior of the building or as they called it “city” because the simulations look VERY real and it would leave you in awe and somehow, that instant, the kid in you will be dying to get out! You will be given 50 kidzos upon entry to be spent but there are also activities that will pay you such as the Poslaju delivery or being a surgeon at KPJ Specialist Hospital so you will get a taste of the real job.


The staffs there are all very friendly, cheery and high on energy to keep you pumped throughout the day. We didn’t see anyone who was sad or reluctant to participate; everyone was having a good time! There’s no denying that Kidzania probably is one of the places that gives people positive, happy vibes.

Kidzania offers a well-rounded experience for visitors because they provide various choices of activities that one can do. The activities can be divided into few categories: Services, Food & Beverages, Retail, Motor Industry, Media, Culture, Transportation, Utility, Education, Residential, Entertainment and Fitness. So there are supreme court, theatre, police station, art school, factories, supermarket, bank, airport and many more. All these to tailor your interest and passion for the actual occupations.


In a nutshell, this experience was filled with exposure to the career world for the young ones. Kidzania is truly a helpful place to prepare your children to build their confidence and to see a glimpse of the adult world. The interactive undertakings in the Kidzania City is a power tool for the fresh generation.


What are you waiting for, grown-ups? The next event will be held this 29th of August so make sure you won’t miss it! We guarantee you will have so much fun. For more info you can contact them here.


Photos by: Sabrina Saharuddin

Homemade By Yayah is a new rising online business that offers natural, organic and homemade skincare products. It was officially launched on 15 January 2015 by the founder Adawiyah Rusli or better known as Yayah and her husband who is in charge of marketing, inventory, and cash flow. The Kelantan-born entrepreneur decided to take homemade skincare courses and started making her own body scrub in June 2014. After receiving good feedback from family and friends, she commenced to sell body scrubs and other product line according to demand. 

Up till now, they are offering 20 different products in three main categories; Body, Lip, and Face. Here is the list of products: 


1. (BEST PRODUCT!) Masker Face Scrub: One product, two functions. Customer may use this as facial scrub or facial mask. Targeting oily and acne prone skin, Homemade by Yayah Masker Face Scrub also contains the strongest clay for skin detoxification to ensure deep and total cleanliness. 


2. (BEST PRODUCT!) Beauty Drops Rejuvenating Serum: 100% plant based facial serum, specially formulated for mature skin (recommended for age 20 and above). This serum is very light in texture and high absorbent. It functions to erase the wrinkle line, lightening scar and dark spot, improve skin elasticity and tone, and able to treat dry and irritated skin condition. 



3. Body Scrub: Homemade by Yayah Body Scrub Variants (in best seller order): 
  • Coffee 
  • Chocolate Mousse 
  • Tea Tree 
  • Sweet Orange 
  • Fine Lavender 
  • Jasmine 
  • Vanilla 


4. Lip Scrub: Homemade by Yayah Lip Scrub Variants (in best seller order):
  • Strawberry 
  • Cranberry 
  • Grape 
  • Coconut 
  • Red Apple 
  • Caramel 
  • Marshmallow 
  • Vanilla 
  • Original 
  • Peach 
  • Root Beer 


5. Lip Balm: Comes in 3 variants (in best seller order):
  • Original 
  • Rose 
  • Cool Mint 


6. Face Mist: Comes in 2 sizes – Standard (125 ml) and Mini (10 ml). Three variants (in best seller order):
  • Tea Tree 
  • Jasmine 
  • Fine Lavender
What we love most about these products is that they are all homemade. Yayah is producing them as if she herself is using the products. She is very particular about the ingredients, cleanliness, and the effectiveness of the products. The second cute thing about it is that all the production process including label design and packaging are done in house in order to maintain the business identity as “homemade”, which provide “local” or “close to heart” feeling.

If you’re wondering whether the products are safe to use or not, fret not! Their products are 100% made of plant based, organic, packed full of natural goodness and are primarily based with essential oils. For your information, essential oils are naturally anti-bacterial and smell great. They believe that natural ingredients can take better care of us and the environment due to its gentle effects on our skin and body, and it is totally biodegradable.

The owner who is inspired by her grandmother said that there are no harmful chemicals or bleaching agents added and no preservatives, which explains why the shelf life is shorter than commercial products. Homemade by Yayah is free from SSLS & SLES, Paraben-free, Dimethicone-free, Petro Chemicals-free, Toxins-free and Phosphates-free. Fun fact; they are also against animal testing!

In terms of future plans, the Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS graduate aims to have her own business agents, and a physical store where customers can drop by to purchase and have a little beauty routine chit chat with her.

Good news, guys! They will soon introduce Combo Pack at a special price. So, what are you waiting for? Check out their Instagram at www.instagram.com/homemadebyyayah and contact them now via:

· Whatsapp: 013-3009466 – most active



Hiking is actually everybody's-thing-to-do. It’s seeking the body's limitation, heart determination and mentally's fitness. Building a strong relationship is the most important thing of all.

We needed to hold on to each other as we were just beginners. Fun is certainly what we were looking for but of course safety was kept in mind.

870 meter for start is quite hard to swallow. Gunung Datuk in my opinion it was the most slippery mountain to hike. It actually depends on the season itself. It wasn't really a smart idea to hike during raining season but with eagerness and determination, we decided to keep moving forward.

From Melaka we drove to Negeri Sembilan around 6 AM. I’m a full time diploma student at that time staying in campus, and I wasn’t sure if were allowed to go out from campus at dawn but since it was our last semester, why not give a chance to breathe a little bit.

Our drive there was breathtaking, especially with the air, view and away from tons of assignments. I was excited to arrive and start the challenge.

We were not monitored by any specialist, it was just us. As a preparation for us, I brought some medicine like Panadol, Vitamin C, oil, plaster, a rope and sharp knife in case of anything. I’m just preparing for the worst, being a girl scout an all in my school days.

At the starting point, we were excited but we had to turn our way back because when we read the instructions, it was stated that to start the journey we had to pay for parking and other things before hand. It was an hour of waiting and nobody showed up even when we contacted the staff's so we decided to ditch that and go on by ourselves.

It wasn’t a bad decision to make because along the hiking session we shared some things, jokes and most of all we took care of each other. At the first stage, things was pretty easy, we didn't need to hold on to anything and our pace was pretty quick.

But at the second stage, it got a little bit challenging because we needed to hold on to a rope to hike. At the first 600 meter, some of us took a break, we sat around, shared drinks as our supplies were very limited. After a few minutes we kept walking and never looked back because another 270 meter was waiting for us.

At last, the sign stating the Gunung Datuk height was seen on a tree, I was so relieved but it hasn’t ended yet, there was another three steps that we needed to climb up, but it’s optional since the condition of the stairs were quite odd.

Nevertheless, you will not regret climbing up the steps because the view is breathtaking. It was worth getting up early in the morning and to feel a sort of attachment with nature.

I like both lives, nature and city, but in the end, nature always has the upper hand. It’s not running from reality but rather a sweet escape.

And that was our sweet escape.

By Aqalili Azizan

Summer is almost over and we're coming into the rainy season, what better way to end it with a homemade ice cream. This weekend why don't you try and make your own ice cream. That's right, make your own vanilla ice cream with 5 simple ingredients
and you won't need to splurge on an ice cream maker.

Ingredients :

1 Cup of whole milk
1 cup of whipping cream
1/2 a cup of caster sugar
1 vanilla bean or 3 tsp of vanilla essence
5 egg yolks


Step 1

Over a medium heat boil the milk, whipping cream and the vanilla essence in a medium pot. When it's boiled run off the heat, cover the pot with a lid and wait for 10 minutes.

Step 2

While the mixture is being cooled, add the sugar into the egg yolk and give it a good whisk.

Step 3

Turn on the heat and set it to a low temperature. Add in the egg yolk and sugar mixture into the pot and constantly stir using a plastic spatula (5-10 minutes).

To test if it's ready run a finger down the spatula. If there is a clean slate or a clean channel, turn off the heat and proceed to step 4.

Caution: if you over heat the mixture the egg will start to scramble and we do not want that!


Step 4

Transfer the mixture into a heat proof bowl and place the bowl over a bowl of ice. This is too quickly cool down the melted ice cream before you place it in the freezer.

Step 5 

When the ice cream is at room temperature transfer it into your preferred ice cream tub and place it in the freezer.

Step 6

Since we are not using an ice cream maker, after 30 minutes in the freezer give the mixture a generous whisk and place them back in the freezer. Do this about 4 times (2 hours). This is to prevent the ice cream from crystallising, so you'll get a smooth ice cream texture.

And you're done!

I know it is a little time consuming but I promise you it's worth the trouble.

Tips:

- If you over heat the mixture aka scrambled it, don't throw it away, just continue the steps. After placing it in the freezer for the first 30 minutes, give it a stir and the texture will ice cream smooth.

- You could lessen the amount of sugar if you're not into the overly sweet taste.

- Try it with different flavours. Chocolate would be a good one, add the melted chocolates with the milk and whipping cream.

- Drizzle chocolate over it, nuts, fruits etc



Recently, being the good sister that I am, I decided to treat my brothers to tea. (It was actually just a reason for me to eat cakes!) Since Jakim recently revoked Secret Recipe’s Halal certificate, I had to find some other place for my cake fix. While going around Ara Damansara, I found this small café, so small, I almost missed it if it wasn’t for my brother’s sharp eyes.





What actually made me stop at Double A Café is that even from the outside, it seems to be calling me. Thanks to the husband-and-wife team Aiman and Alia, this café is designed to give the customers a homey and friendly feeling to the customers. Double A café will definitely capture your interest once you’ve stepped inside. While the shop is spacious, they made use of the space and created a cozy space for you to kick back and relax after a stressful day.






And while you’re at it, why not give their coffee a try? Ranging from RM9.00 to RM11.00, you can pick any kind of coffee that suits your mood. During my visit, I tried the Double A Dark Chocolate Mocha with marshmallow and even though I’m not supposed to drink coffee, this drink was really worth it. With drinks such as that and crème Brûlée latte, I’d say you’d have a field day, just trying to make up your mind!






However, they do not bake the cakes themselves. Rather, they create a partnership with several other bakeries such as Gulabakery, Gateauxlicious, Cake Jalan Tiung and many others. With these partnerships, they are never short of amazing cakes! Their cakes are ranging from RM11.00 to RM15.00 but take it from me, IT IS WORTH YOUR MONEY. The cakes will melt in your mouth and it comes in a big portion!





Other than cakes and coffees, Double A café also have more fulfilling meals such as pastas and sandwiches for those who thinks that cakes is not enough. (GASPS!) Their Pesto Cheese Melt is actually one of the recommended meals. This three layer sandwich, served with a side of salad is just enough for those who skipped lunch.





So for those hipster café hunters, there’s a new café in town and it needs to be explored. So if you’re looking for a place to catch-up with your girlfriends, I’d say give this place a try! Who knows, it might be your preferred hang-out place soon!

Double A Café
E-1-3, Pacific Place Commercial Centre,
Jalan PJU 1A/4,
Ara Damansara. 


Photo Credits TimeoutKL

No, this has nothing to do with Alice in Wonderland. In fact, this is better than that! 

HIDDENRABBIT founded by Amzary Omar in November 2014 is an independent movement creating merchandises infused with local culture for consumers. Based in Jasin, Malacca, this movement is currently consists of six people (or rabbits, as they like to call themselves) including Amzary. The other five are Suehaila Sharin, Helmi Tukimin, Nabil Zainol, Faheem Afiq and Hafiz Ali.

HIDDENRABBIT is enthusiastic about sharing their ideas and passion through their products. For the time being, they are producing three sub-products which are Soda Society, Cultivate and Eureka.



Soda Society has two line of product ranges. The first one is called "Authentic" which comes in four different flavours (Strawberry, Apple, Cola and Cream) whereas the second one is called "Premium Soda Society" which has mix fruits flavour and more solid packaging in terms of bottle design. 

As for Cultivate, they have organized a hiking trip to the legendary Gunung Ledang and a short expedition to Taman Negara Ledang in December last year as part of their first project. Fret not you rugged souls; more activities are coming up for you. 

Eureka 002
Eureka on the other hand is for HIDDENRABBIT’s clothing line and craft products. So far they have produced two designs of tee shirts: Jawi Jasin and the latest one, Eureka 002, an outcome of collaboration with local artist Fingerto. 

Follow them on instagram @hiddenrabbit_my for updates or contact Amzary Omar at +60166695239 and email at hiddenrabitmy@gmail.com for further information. 

Newsflash: HIDDENRABBIT also welcomes any creative and aspiring individuals from Malacca who wish to be a part of the collective movement!

List of cafes & vendors selling their products:

Café
Vendor
      ·         77000 Café
      ·         Loca Houz
      ·         Quadro Café
      ·         Leque Jonker
      ·         The Kedai Kopi Company
       ·         Cherita Vendeur
       ·         UiTM Jasin
       ·         UiTM Lendu
       ·         Leque Boutique
       ·         Violet Station
       ·         The Zara
Recently, I had the chance to travel to Turkey. To make it simple, the beauty of this country blew my mind. You can find underground cities, hotels that are carved in stone and most importantly, hot air balloons! Their mosques are breathtaking; so much different that the ones we have here and some of it have been built during the 16th century!



Even though most people only think of Istanbul when they hear about Turkey, this historic country has so much more to offer than just that. Pamukkale is one of the cities in Turkey which has been overlooked for so many years. Personally, I prefer Pamukkale more than other cities because it has the ruins from Greek times. I managed to visit the Hierapolis which used to be Apollo's temple. If you know greek mythology, you'd know that Apollo is the God of Sun. 




Another important place for you to visit is Ayasofya. What makes this so special is that it was originally built as a Church in the 5th century before Ottoman conquered the land. After the takeover, they transformed this well-known church into a mosque in the 15th century where it remained a mosque for 500 hundred years. In 1931, it was shut down for renovations and when it was reopened in 1939 as a museum. What makes it unique is that this is the only place on earth where you can find a calligraphy of Allah and a picture of Mother Mary and Jesus Christ in the same room. 




So the next time you're looking for a place to go, consider Turkey. If you are into history and ancient ruins, this is the best place for you. You don't know what you're gonna find out until you're here to experience it all.