Voices of Eve

National Women Day - Inspirational women

2010-08-27T04:38:00.001-07:00

It was Malaysia's National Women Day on the 25th of August.
It is a day to remember the important women in your life or in the country, and also to be inspired by them.
It is also to celebrate for women; and for what we have done =)

I would like to highlight four women whom I admire and look up to here in Malaysia; four women who deserved the compliments and to be called role models for all the young and aspiring women out there.

They are personally my inspirations, being these powerful and confident women who represent Malaysia.

Who other than someone my age; Datuk Nicol David

Need I say more, she's made it to the international records for squash and consistently on top.
At the same time, I am impressed that with that much traveling and tournaments/trainings, she could still do well academically! =)

Tun Dr Siti Hasmah

Our First Lady for the longest time, she did not only depend on her husband to make a reputation for herself.
She was a doctor herself, and she had made significant contributions to the society, and up close, she was just an amazing warm-hearted person.
Academically, she is also the chancellor for the country's advanced Multimedia University.

Of course, and also her daughter, Marina Mahathir

She's really witty, and I loved her articles and thoughts; her courageous attempts at addressing social issues and how she distinguished herself, establishing her whole own identity with her given skills.

Finally, Datuk Michelle Yeoh

Our very own Bond girl, who has worked hard and made it to Hollywood and international fame.
Way to go!

Cheers to all the women in the world, may we all be inspired to be as strong and powerful as them, if not better.

Happy National Women's Day, and continue to cherish womanhood like everyday is Women's Day! ~~

MARRIAGE

2010-08-26T18:58:00.001-07:00

Just read one of the most amazing stories on the above topic and really wanted to share it here; it is really heart-warming and inspiring...

The whole story is quoted as below; as this is not my own written text, but a beautiful piece written by the author below.
I think this is a really good one to share, as it truly teaches us about the pillars of a marriage.

Hope you enjoy it =)

MARRIAGE

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly.

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company.

She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane.

When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day.

She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside
the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me.

On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy.

I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart.

Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead.
My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband....

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you.

If you do, you just might save a marriage.
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

A CHRIST-CENTERED MARRIAGE IS A MARRIAGE THAT IS SURE TO LAST A LIFETIME.

So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. Matthew 19:6.

By Stephanie Halmilton

Temporarily BACK~

2010-08-26T18:55:00.001-07:00

I have just renovated the blog; by giving it more of a facelift and major color refreshment =D

Anyway, it is available temporarily with major links to my new girly blog.
This blog will be maintained as one with major heart-to-heart talk on women-related social issues and also more mature topics compared to my girly blog which is all about anything that is cute and well, GIRLY.

Thanks for the patience and support, and thanks for all the feedbacks, if there is anything you would like to see on this blog, just send me an email or drop me a message here, and I will try to work it out =) (As long as it is within my means or approval on the appropriate topics, LOL! ;)

Again, thanks, and here's to all the EVEs in the world!

Blog Maintenance

2010-07-11T20:57:00.003-07:00

It has been a while and I thank everyone for your support for this blog.

I am planning to revamp the blog a little and to give it a fresh concept and as such, there will no posting on this blog until further announcement.

Feel free to check out my other blog; Get Girly with Christy for girly stuffs and to get updates on the progress of this blog.

Thanks and I look forward to a brand new look for this blog very soon!
Stay tune!

Vanity UN-masked!

2010-04-07T22:41:00.000-07:00

Have you ever come across people who are actually vain and obsessed with their own looks and appearance and yet are too coward to admit it to others?
In fact, they even go to the extent of telling and showing you that they do not really care about the way they look or dress and that they are simple and practical girls.

Well, don't be deceived by these people as I have been by a few; one of them being a friend of mine whom I cannot reveal much (pseudonym used here)

Marie* was about the same age as me and the first time we met, she was this plump lady without make-up nor was well-sustained in terms of her apperance.
She wears loose shirts (some faded from long wear) and just jeans which were quite tight.
The funniest part was when she met me and told others that she thinks I was a lot thinner than her.

Then as we made our acquaintance, she started telling me about how she does not put on make up which she does have but do not use, and she does not put much attention or detail to the clothes she wear when she walks out of her house.
I guess the point was pretty proven as her outfits were nothing spectacular nor trendy, to say the very least and were just as plain as Jane's, if I may say so.
She also confessed that she takes less than half an hour to prepare to go out as she will just put on one outfit which is practical and comfortable and she is ready to go.

She even tells me that she loves eating and can never go on diets; unlike some of those superficial girls out there who were making castles in the air, dreaming of the day they could be supermodels like Kate Moss or Cindy Crawford. Point noted, as I could see she does loves eating and her appearance does fit the bill.

After a while of knowing her, it then started sometime towards the end of last year where she suddenly cut down on her food intake.
She was suddenly on this particular fibre drink which she introduced to her other friends and claimed that it helped to make her feel full and purge whenever she takes oily foods. She believed that it was truly beneficial as it will help to control her diet and nutrition intake.

Then she was slowly losing weight and even start telling people how she needs to put on a belt to her used-to-be-tight jeans.
Oh, it was obvious as even I noticed that she was certainly losing weight.

She even eats very little when we were out together and I noticed how she kept an eye on the amount of food I take and tried to get out of me, what I eat or don't eat.
It was funny how a person who claimed to not worry about her weight and appearance could all of a sudden, become so conscious of herself!

If that is not dramatic enough, she has even started to take an interest in clothes and has even mentioned that she wanted to go shopping.
(She used to say that she prefers buying kitchen appliances or wares compared to vanity shopping)
She has added color and variety to her attire, and she has even started to wear her hair long, like how I used to!

She is definitely on the watch on her diet, and sometimes it freaks me out to imagine whether she is another of those Single White Female.

I just cannot imagine why girls like these are unable to just be public about how they enjoy being vain as well.
So what if you are conscious about your weight and appearance?

Every girl is the same, it does not make you look out of the way when you admit this.

I just dislike how one has to masquerade their true interests and pretend to be another in front of others to make themselves look outstanding.

I believed she did not want to be seen as too girly or materialistic, but deep down inside, isn't she just the same?
It may not be good to be materialistic and vain girls prancing around with mirrors or compacts at all times and seen in the best-looking clothes, but at least these ladies were not ashamed to show it to the world.

Some even openly admit to people, "Yeah, I am on a strict diet, so what?"

Yeah, so what?
At least they have the guts to do that; unlike some who made them appear to be such brave people but are actually cowards and also pretentious people who just whines to be the same as others but are too chicken to face it.

I say, get a life and live it on your own!

The Path to Singledom

2010-03-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

We often hear of marriages, relationships with happy endings, but flipping to the other side of the coin, there are those which do not end with the desired fairytale ending.

I have friends who have broken up with their boyfriends or almost-fiances and struggling to return to their original path of singledom.

It is hard, I know, when you have been together for so long with a person whom you may already viewed him more than a boyfriend but rather, a lifetime soulmate only to realize that it was just an illusion when the mirror just broke before your very eyes and your dream of a perfect ending has gone down the drain.

Jane, 29, broke up with her boyfriend of 7 years when they started to discuss about marriage.
They were planning to get married earlier but when they sat down to work out the details, arguments pursued and she realized that he was not the man she thought she knew. In fact, his true colors turned out to be so ugly that she announced that she wanted to end the relationship immediately even though it was a very difficult decision, and the memories of such a long relationship will plague her mind.
She cried herself to sleep every night, but she knew it was the right thing to do, and she told herself and us, her friends, that it was better to know about his true character rather than find out when they are already married with children.
It took her a while to get over him, and of course, she is now better and she enjoys her freedom so much and has regained her own identity, compared to when she was in a relationship where her boyfriend nagged her about managing her finances and her lifestyle.
Sure enough, she is a happier person today but she does admit that she still feels the pinch in her heart when she hears about engagements, marriages, etc.

Linda, 29, was also heading towards the aisle when she broke up with her boyfriend of 5 years. It was a mysterious affair as none of her friends knew about it, only that she transformed from her former self to a more adventurous and partying girl. It surprised all the friends when she even performed a double eye lid operation which gave a dramatic change in her appearance. She has also started talking about how it was better to remain single compared to being in a relationship; which passed off as hints to all her friends of her break up.

May, 24, was happily in a relationship with a rich and charming young man whom she adored and grooved about in her Facebook and blogs, professing her undying love for him almost every other day. She was really happy and proud of him and was looking forward to a long relationship after her past 3-4 relationships. They were together for more than 3 years; which set the record after her past relationships and they have gone traveling together and appeared inseparable in front of all their friends.
Six months ago, they broke up, and it was a discreet affair as the duo just untagged themselves from each other's relationship status and stopped all the swooning and messages on Facebook and blogs and that was how people started to find out about them breaking up. May acted normal in front of everyone, but she has started with all her status messages on Facebook and blogs on how it was much better to be single, and how it is always tough to make decisions.

Carrie, 35, then 28, ended her marriage with her husband when she found out about his affair with another woman. It was a devastating decision from her side at that time as she had two children to tend to and she was still in the days where it was all about fun and enjoying life to the fullest. She had to fend for herself, and also her young children, aged 6 and 3. She still chose to end the marriage and moved back to stay with her own mother and family, and found different odd jobs to support herself and her children. It was really a tumultous road at that time as she was not a highly educated person and only had her Form 3 certification and also no prior working experience (her ex-husband was a rich businessman who financed all her luxurious spendings) and she was discriminated against by most of the people around her. She gritted her teeth and moved on, and despite the conservative talks and stares behind her back, she ignored them and stood tall, for the sake of her children.

All these are just simple examples of marriage and relationship failures; and the not-so-successful stories.
It is never easy to deal with the reality; especially when your partner turned out to be someone you never imagined, as in Jane's case, or your partner cheated on you, as in Carrie's case.

Sometimes, you may not even know what happened, but it just ended, like Linda and May's case.

However, what is most important on the way back to singledom is how each and every one of us cope with the reality.

For instance, take Jane and Carrie for example, they chose to face it with courage and not shy away from friends and relatives. They have decided to make that decision and they will stick to their decision, at all costs.
They are scared and yet they were ready to face the criticsms and perceptions by the public and even their own relatives, because they believed in their own decision which was right. At the same time, they do not want to indulge or invest in a relationship which they knew was going nowhere since they could no longer trust that particular person whom they called a partner.

No one is perfect, as we have all learnt, in one way or another and it does not take a moment to wipe off a long trail of lovely memories we used to share with a special someone.

However, when things come to an end and we are back to being alone, we have to learn to get a grip on ourselves and tell us that we deserve better.
It is always easier said than done but the first step must be made somehow, no matter how much effort it takes.

In this crazy world, wounds need to heal and life needs to go on.
We don't own our lives to only that particular person whom we thought the world of, as look around us, there are others who thought the world of us as well.

Before that person made an appearance in our life, who were our world?
Think of your loved ones, and you will find it motivates you to live, for them =)

Old-fashioned as it may be, sometimes, time really does the trick so, just let time and nature takes it course and in the meantime, take pride that you have made a wise decision and that you will be a strong person in no time.

We all have it in us, a hero who lives within, we only need to unleash the hero =)

When a Man Loves (Not) a Woman

2010-03-12T00:46:00.000-08:00

It is funny how big of a difference a man can behave towards a woman when they fall in love and OUT of love with her.

It is just a whole deja-vu experience when you look at how fast they change their attitude towards you when they have moved on and realized that you could never have them in your heart.

I find it all too bizarre and at the same time, an interesting thing to learn. I am not sure whether it works for all men or just a small test sample of men that I have seen, heard or encountered?
No, to give credit to my admirers, most of them are not like that because we all end up as good friends and are still keeping in touch until these day (excluding that one bad stalker guy)

When a Man Loves you or falls for you,
1. He will want to see you everytime; and look forward to meeting you at all those big group gatherings so that they can have a chance to talk to you

2. He will take time to drop you a text message on IM or your cell phone and is especially excited when he sees you online or when you send them a text message first.
He will not waste time in immediately inviting you for a quick chat

3. He will send you emails and will reply your emails even when yours is long and wordy like you are writing a thesis on English literature

4. He will ask you out, relentlessly, and try to find out your availability on weekends or even weekdays to have some alone time with you. (Using excuses such as movies, lunch/dinner, hiking, exercise, etc)

5. He will be anxious when they hear you are sick and sends you text messages to cheer you up and telling you to take care and get well soon.

6. He offer to drive you home when you did not drive on that particular day or they can even pick you up from your home anytime and claims that the distance is negligible although there are probably a few hills to get through before they reach you

7. He remembers everything you say that you like/dislike, what are your favorite food, and what is your favorite pastime.

8. He agrees immediately to any activity if they know you are going to be there.

9. He will always back you up in unjust situations, and speak up for you whenever they feel you are being unfairly judged

10. He is interested in everything you say, no matter how boring your life is.

When a Man starts to fall OUT of love,
1. He pretends that he cannot see you even when you are there at a function or gathering, and just walks away from you

2. He replies your text messages in a curt and business-like manner, and even if it slips his mind, he just ends your text conversation abruptly or chooses not to reply your text or call at all.

3. He replies your email with a short, "Noted, thanks"

4. He will avoid all activities with you in it, with excuses that he is away or engaged with something else.

5. He does not even know when you are sick or pretends that he does not know about your sickness at all.

6. He will leave early with some excuses so that he will not be alone with you under any circumstance

7. He still remembers what you like/dislike but it does not matter to him at all, and he tries to show you that he has forgotten about it, or does not even care about it

8. He is busy everytime there is an activity with you in it

9. He says nothing for you anymore, and does not even make any eye contact with you at all, avoiding you at all costs

10. He loses his interest in everything about you and all that you have to say about yourself

When a Man falls OUT of love with you, he really does not care about you anymore.
It is sweet when they are truly and fully in love with you, but when they totally lost that passion and love, you are not just no longer in his heart and mind, but you are not even in his eyes anymore.

They can make your heart warm when they fall for you, but they can also break or crush your heart to pieces

They can make you smile so sweetly, but they can also make you cry so bitterly

That is all it takes; when a man changes from loving you to loving you not...

Happy International Women's Day

2010-03-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

Here's to all the women in the world; old or young, big or small....this is a day to commemorate all the great things which we are in the eyes of the world.

March 8th is the International Women's Day; and feel proud because you are a woman and not ashamed as we were back in the old centuries.

Women are recognized as important figures and contributors to the society today and be proud!!

Have a great day with your nose high up in the air! =)

It's PARTY time!~

2009-11-11T22:04:00.000-08:00

It is that time of the year again; where you receive invitations to parties, annual dinners, weddings, etc and your schedules are all packed!

You are excited to circle all those dates on your social calendar and also to go shopping again for all those party and elegant evening dresses to flaunt yourself and to have those who you share cubicles at work or work in that same department go oooh-ahh when they see you at the party.
Isn't that a nice change to be like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman once in a while; living all those glamourous dreams and luxurious fantasies instead of being Ugly Betty at work; all hidden behind that thick stacks of paper in front of you?

Yeah, that once in a year to make that impression and then it's stuck for the following year with those whispers when you walk by, "Hey, she's HOT"
Snap out of your dream; as you run through the fabric or pieces of clothing hanging in your cupboard and nothing looks good enough for you (or so you think, so that you can have a good excuse to go shopping!)

Well, if you are looking to update your wardrobe which is always a welcome anyway, there are a few pieces that you can probably consider for your evening wear or that fun party that you plan with your friends.

I have done a quick spy on the following brands and their cute and attractive dresses in store which you can splurge on for that much-anticipated event =)

Store: Forever 21
Prices range: USD22-24 (MYR79-159)

Duotone tiered dress

Suitable for: petite to medium-height ladies
The tiers of waves will add a light volume to the body and hide the unnecessary details.
This red attire is best suited for a fair and light skin-toned lady.

Goddess Chiffon Dress

Simple, and yet is classy and elegant.
Suitable for: Medium height to tall ladies
The dress with its slightly flare bottom accentuates the legs of ladies with height.

High Sheen dress in fuchsia

This is a tricky one.
Worn correctly, this is one elegant piece.
Suitable for: Tall ladies with lovely legs to parade in heels/stilettos

Rose Sheen Bubble Dress

Suitable for: petite and small-figured ladies
The bubble style adds volume to slim ladies and creates an adorable look. At the same time, the length of the dress could very well create a slimming effect and elongates the height of the legs of the wearer.

Sequin Ruffled Dress

An elegant number for a wedding, cocktail events where you want to be simple and yet formal.

Single shoulder strap dress

Suitable for light evening cocktails or parties.
This is recommended for ladies with medium height/build with fair-skin tone.

Sweetheart party dress

Not too formal/casual, this is one simple piece which every girl should have in their wardrobe=)

Topshop (MYR 120-250)
One shoulder slinky dress

A body hugging number with a wrap-alike texture which can create a slimming effect and exude elegance to the wearer

Dorothy Perkins (MYR 150-270)
Petite Blue Sparkly Velvet

Suitable for petite and small-boned ladies.
The flares at the sleeves will create a slight volume effect to the thin arms of the wearer and creates a more balanced effect.

Rise pink embellished dress

Sweet and feminine, this is suitable for all occasions without screaming over-dressed.

Rise Red scoop neck dress

Simply elegant; and suitable for fair-toned and medium height ladies

Warehouse (MYR250-MYR390)
Fan pleat halter neck

Sexy, sassy, chic and elegant, need I say more?

One of the new trends; Jacquard prints on party dresses
Forever 21 (MYR119)
Lace Accent Jacquard dress

Warehouse
Animal Jacquard dress

Recommended for petite to medium height girls who want to look chic and sophisticated;)

For longer and more elegant black-and-white-tie affairs, you can try local boutiques like Nichii (price ranges from MYR79-250)

If all else fails, well, a black dress never goes wrong...after all, what do they say about how every girl ought to have a little black dress in their wardrobe, oughtn't they?

So, with all these delicious-looking dresses, are we ready to go shopping? Erm, I mean party... =)

**All photos are properties of Forever 21, Dorothy Perkins, Warehouse, Topshop and Nichii respectively. They can be located on the brands' respective websites**

Gladiator Heels are back!~

2009-10-29T21:57:00.000-07:00

I am starting these heels back in action; as I flipped through some of fashion magazines or female blogs which highlighted this as one of the 'In' thing now.

I guess it does make a fashion statement when you see folks from Tinseltown donning them and strutting in style onto the red carpet, eh?

(For illustration, taken from web)

At the same time, I've also noticed that the latest heels are carved to be slightly wedge-shaped with a broader tip at the bottom.
It's like a chunky bit at the bottom of your shoe.

These shoes look good with dresses, I must say, as these stars proudly show off
(Pictures do not belong to me, taken from web for illustration)

I used to think that these shoes are just like nozzles for dogs; and are not too flattering on feet. Oh, I don't know, to an extent, I find it weird to put them on although I do have a pair at one point or another.

Now, I am wondering, since these look so good, is this a cue for me to get myself a pair of Gladiator heels too?
(That's a glamourous name!)

Psst...that guy's gossiping!

2009-10-29T21:11:00.000-07:00

It is a common scene to catch a woman engaged in a heated and exciting conversation with another woman at any time of the day or in any corner/place you may be; or as we say, gossiping about other people.
Typically, we just nod it off while our guys would probably roll their eyes in our face and give us that, "Why are girls like that" kind of look.

Well, it is part and parcel of a girl's life; just like maternal instinct, these are like primitive natures in them where they just tend to love to share stuffs with each other.
I am not really into the gossiping part, seriously, there are girls who are not into gossiping about other people or celebrities where we just love to moon over their dirty lives.
When we are talking or whispering to each other, we are NOT always gossiping or sharing dirty bits about others' lives.
Puhhh..lease, we have other things better to do than that.

It has become such a general or rather, stereotyped perception that each time girls gather and huddle closely to each other, whispering into each other's ears, it means we are Gossiping.
Perhaps we are sharing some news or updates about each others' lives or something which concerns another friend which is to be discussed in private and not to be publicized.
Either way, it is still generally accepted that women gossip.

However, when men do it, it seemed like a whole new thing to us, I don't know why.
Perhaps we have been conformed to think that we are the superior gender who owns this privilege and priority that it is hard to imagine that our male counterparts are doing the same.

Just the other day, I was having dinner with my friend in a coffee shop and I did not mean to eavesdrop as this guy did not make an effort to keep his voice down anyway, but I couldn't help hearing how he was telling his friends about this b*tch at work.
I was surprised and totally taken aback by this kind of talk coming from a guy.

He was totally making a big story out of it all; and the way he described the woman and calling her names just made me feel so disgusted with his behavior.
I mean, no offense, but that is certainly not how a gentleman should behave in my own standards.
It was a loud and clear statement that this other woman whom he was working with had angered/annoyed him but there is still no reason to call others' names; man or woman.

Besides the fact, I was also surprised to find that men too, indulge in an activity which they frown upon when it's done by the fairer sex.
Then, it dawned upon me that MEN do gossip, and probably love it as much as the women do.

I still remember how some of my guy friends often shift closer to us girls when we start to lower our voices to share some tiny secrets.
They would also edge towards us to huddle together when they hear names mentioned; and want to know, Who's with who now, who broke up with who, and what, how, etc.
Well, that was pretty normal since that's probably part of the fun that they want to participate in.

However, THIS, is different though; where the guys are the ones doing the gossiping and with other guys.

I could barely imagine,I mean, what kind of topics would they talk about?

Alright, that whole b*tchin' thing about some other women at work/home who annoyed them but what else?
We've always thought that the topics which interest guys are (besides women and sex) football, cars, sports, finances, investments, properties, or all practical topics.
Perhaps we are wrong, but it just seems equally wrong to have guys discussing about how good Brad Pitt looks with Jennifer Aniston, etc.
Don't even dream of them sharing a hobnob on how romantic the scene is where the guy told the girl he loved her in a particular Korean drama.

It's just something which is unique; girls gossip about almost everything. There are so many topics which interest them; from make-up to beauty products, to clothes, accessories, family, work, friendships, celebrity news, dramas/movies, books, shopping...the list is almost to infinity.
It is just so easy to strike up a conversation with a girl which could probably go on until the cows come home.

If you are wondering how we girls can do that; chatting and hopping from one random topic to another/gossiping, well, it is again, back to the natural instinct in us and the enjoyment from the activity.
To us, it means spending quality time with our best girl friends and catching up with each other.
Where you catch up on sports and cars, we catch up with our girls on the latest happenings in our lives..and that of course, involves other people in our lives and their other people in others' lives.

You see, we girls are just highly networked that we can weave everyone's life together into one picture and sometimes, it is just so amazing.

For guys though, I am trying to picture the topics you discuss and dismissing the giggling part to maintain a macho image of the guys.

I am not trying to stereotype here; but just as guys always setting a certain standards for us girls, in the roles of childbearing, mothering, feminine, ladylike, soft-spoken, etc, we too have some unspoken standards for guys.
For instance, guys are expected to show courtesy by offering the seats to us, taking our heavy grocery bags, holding the doors open for us, etc.
Just as how guys do not like holding hands with each other or crying in front of us, it is also the same with gossiping.

It is considered a girl-thing, too, right?
I mean, there is nothing wrong when guys do want to share their juicy finds with other guys or b*tchin about others, but it is not honorable to be at the top of your voices in public places, ain't it?
Even we girls do not do that!

The whole concept about gossiping is about keeping it low, as we do respect others' privacy as well as the person we are talking about. Don't go washing all these dirty linens in the public, we say.

So, we have nothing against guys who would like to gossip, but for Pete's sake, before you indulge in our so-called 'sport', please learn the rules and be subtle about it.

Could you please keep it down a little?

New Pantene Pro V Hair Mask

2009-10-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

I've just read about this new product launched by Pantene; which claims to be the handy and convenient leave-on hair mask for us.

It is supposed to protect/shield your hair from the environmental damages or harsh assaults from the UV rays, dust, etc and envelope your hair with a protective layer to preserve it until you wash it.
It's supposed to be great for folks who are often outdoors (or whenever you need to go out) and your hair would be softer or more manageable after application.

There is no need to rinse it off after application and leave it on when you go out.
You can wash it off during your next shampoo/bath.

The compact size makes it handy to be carried around in our handbag for that quick fix you need wherever you are.

Sounds great, right?

I've not seen it on the shelves yet, and I am thinking of giving this a try but I've read several not-so-good reviews which claims that it can leave your hair turning into dead-grass like o_O

Anyone who has tried this before?

(Illustrations not available)

Back to more girly issues...

2009-10-29T20:53:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've been away from this blog but I'm back, armed with a load of interesting topics waiting to be posted soon!

For those who have been following this blog, I apologize for the lack of updates and promise to be back as soon as I can with more juicy stories, articles and reviews of products to be shared with all you lovely ladies out there =)

Stay tune for more...this November...and thanks for the patience and support!~

Mega Sale/Merdeka Sale is here!

2009-08-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

It is again, the season for sales (actually I think the whole year has been lined up with sales!)

Starting from end of last month towards mid-September, it seems like everything is on sale.

At the same time, knowing us girls, it is also the time to keep a good eye and hand on your cashflow and not just buy anything which you think is nice or you just fell in love with it.

Of course, it is still good to go shopping and oogle at everything which you will want and desperate to buy.
Well, that is, if you have a really fat paycheck to pay all your bills and not go hungry by the end of the month.

Stay tune to the next post on spending during the sales, and the shopaholic inside you...coming soon!~

How HEAVY is your handbag?

2009-08-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

Handbags are often the best friends of a girl; as they hold most of the stuffs which we want to carry when we go out of the house.
It is what we carry around; sometimes to flaunt off that designer bag or the unique design which we are sure no one else would have in their inventory.

Most of the basic items that can be found in our handbags or bags are as below:
1. Purse - cash, credit cards, membership cards,photos, coins, vouchers, etc
2. Coin purse - coins or small items
3. Cell phone - some may have 2-3 phones
4. Mirror - this is a vanity item which I am sure most girls will carry
5. Keys - House/car
6. Tissues
7. Access Cards - office/home (if you stay in an apartment)
8. Lipstick - chapstick, lip balms, lip gloss, etc

The above are basically the essential items and most commonly found in our handbags.
They are things that we believe are important and are must-bring items.
(Obviously, duh, how else are we going to pay or check our look or clean our mouth or even drive our car and get into our house/office)

Essential as they are, they actually add the weight to what we have to carry on our shoulders and our hands and could cause immense pressure.
Some of us may complain of back pains, shoulder pains and stressed arms/wrists.

Reason is the extra weight that we have to carry in our hands which have put an underestimated pressure on our spine and also our skeletal system.

"Oh, it's just the basic items and they are all so small! How much could they weigh?"

Much as I would like to agree on that, unfortunately, that is not the case as some of our handbags can be a few kilograms heavy (or even pounds) - no joke!
These little items; accumulated, could actually sum up to a weight which could lead to strains on our muscoskeletal system.

Furthermore, recently, the trend of large handbags are in and we see more and more girls carrying those huge handbags.
This is a trend which we are thankful for as it allows us more room to fit in stuffs which we want to bring but couldn't in those sling bags or clutches.

However, this is also another dangerous trend to follow as we tend to overload our bags to the limit and end up suffering from the pains.

Referring to the article published by The American Chiropractic Association here, carrying a bag with a delectable weight of more than 10 percent of your body weight could pose risks to your bone and muscle system.
When we put the bag on our shoulder, it interferes with the natural balance and movement by our limbs as we try to balance ourselves to adjust to the weight we are carrying.
This in turn could cause the spine to slightly bend towards the weight; and is definitely unhealthy.

It is really a scary statement; to me at least.
I know we do need to reduce the number of items and weight we have to carry inside our bag; and we MUST do it.

So, stop using the excuses that "I need this" or "I need that" or "It's just so small, it probably doesn't weigh much"

We need to stop all these excuses and re-review all the things that we are currently carrying in our bags.
If you are carrying a cute purse, check all the items in it and make sure that you remove some of those outdated vouchers or receipts and also the cards which are not necessary.
All these little cards, or small sheets of paper actually add considerable weight to the purse itself.

There's also the vanity case you are carrying, which probably includes your lipstick, mascara, compact powder, etc....do leave those at home if you can help it. Put them on before leaving the house and don't carry them around, it does not just add to the weight of your bag but it could also affect the quality of the cosmetics when you carry them around in different temperatures.

Keys, cell phone...you can carry them but make sure they are only the needed ones.

In short, make sure you accessorize..and re-arrange everything.

When I look at the contents of my bag, I know I have a lot of work to do!!

Can Women Pack Light for Travel?

2009-07-16T22:48:00.001-07:00

Is there any woman on this planet Earth who can actually pack LIGHT for travel?

If you have heard of that question thrown by your dad, your brother, your spouse or boyfriend, then welcome to the club, you have officially made it to the statistics of another woman who need to re-organize their priorities and take Light Travel Packing 101 lessons.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a really good light packer myself...and not exactly one either, although I know I have to learn this myself, to PACK LIGHT!

My Daddy used to tell me this all the time, priortize and travel light.
It is always good to travel light, he says.

Sure it is, but it is not as easy as what one thinks.
(I know someone will probably lash back and tell me that it's not as hard as what I think either)

If that comes from a guy, then I think you need to hold your tongue as I list out the reasons why we face this dilemma all the time.

1. We do not own monotone types of t-shirts and pants.
Admit it, guys only have 3 types of shirts: a Polo tee, a T-shirt, and a ironed work shirt.
Variants? Of course they have their assortment of patterns
Striped, checkered, plain
With or without pocket
With or without buttons
With or without logo/brand on the right side of the shirt

That's it! Of course it's easier when it comes to packing. You don't even have lots of variants in your pants/trousers either.
Jeans or slacks....and light or dark-colored.
Shorts or bermudas.
You pack one of each and it goes well with everything.
I know some do that even on long period of travel!

We have blouses and tops (frilled, lacy, knitted, crocheted, wool, cotton, cheese cloth, silk, puffed sleeves, linen, etc)
Then there's skirts to go for formal occasion and those for beach, and some are only meant for light walks.
Dresses for light summer wear or evening wear
Shorts for the pool or the beach, bermudas for cooler weather, mini hipsters for beach wear, khakis for jungle trekking or adventure, jeans (boot cut, tight, acid-washed), tight leggings, slacks...the list goes on.
They all go for different occasion; and we like to be prepared for any occasion without buying on the spot.

2. We have definitely more important toiletries besides a toothbrush and a toothpaste.
Some of us can't even use the shampoo or shower gel and lotion provided by the hotel due to the sensitive skin and scalp we have.
We have to bring our own; and that adds to the load.
Then there's those facial cleanser (totally a different thing from shower gel and soap!), moisturizer, toner, masque, day cream, night cream.
Then there's those lotions; lightweight and heavyweight...for different times of the day
Shampoo, conditioner, hair masque, hair oil, tonic, etc

I think this list already beat the ones that a guy have on his list
Toothbrush, toothpaste, shaver, shaving cream, comb?

3. We do not use one pair of shoe for all occasions
Thongs, sandals and slippers are different! So are sneakers and loafers.
Every girl will pack at least one mid-height heels for any occasion they may need to go with the dress

4. We need to have our accessories
Cotton buds, cotton pads, nail clipper, brushes, sanitizer, etc..

Of course, all those can be emitted and much as we would like to defend ourselves, to a certain extent, I have to admit that we are guilty as charged.
Most of us who wanted to or even had the slight intention to pack light always end up packing more!

Women are naturally a cautious lot, and we want to be prepared at all times. We do not want to arrive at our destination and regret that we did not bring this and that.
I am sure most of us have had the experience where we deliberately leave something which we figured would not be useful just to find that we actually need it when we are there.
Talk about irony.

That's where we could have kicked at ourselves for leaving that behind, and just wonder and imagine how lovely it would have been if we dropped it into the suitcase at that time!

Another point is the tendency of us looking at each thing to pack as one that is small in size and easily fitted.
"Oh, that bottle of shampoo is just so small, it should not be heavy"
"I reckon I should bring my nail clipper and emery board too, it does not take up too much space"
"I think I need an additional pair of socks in case it gets really cold there"

All these extra bits of stuffs we need end up in a large amount when compiled together, UNFORTUNATELY!

If you are travelling with a mother, do not blame her for not being able to pack light as it is a mother's nature to make sure that everything is complete to provide for her children.
They will fuss over the amount of milk powder to bring, diapers, clothes, medicine, etc.
It is in the nature of being a mother.

Another thing to remember is to inform us how many days we are travelling; whether it is a short or a long vacation.

"As if it makes any difference!" someone once snorted at me.
It does, actually, the bulk is slightly smaller.

I have learnt to travel light; since I have to fly frequently on business trips and sometimes they are really short.
I have to make sure I do not pack too much stuffs, and make sure that it is not too heavy.

Reason is due to the weight I have to lug behind me in airports upon arrival which causes so much pain. Furthermore, it creates a lot of inconvenience when I want to travel from place to place, or if I need to take a bus/train and having to watch over the many luggages around.
Even if it is only one suitcase, the weight could be unbearable and it is embarassing for me to be seen tugging hard at my bag and avoiding all those stares.

I have learnt my lesson; bitterly.

It is not easy, but I have slowly enjoyed the privileges of travelling light.
However, there is still one part I need to put in mind,
I may need extra weight after the trip, because of the newly bought things!!

So, you see, even when we try to travel light when we are heading there, you have got to be mentally prepared that we may need another luggage when we come back here because of the things that we buy.

Of course, we can always be controlled in terms of whether to buy or not, but sometimes, they are just too adorable to resist and after all, we have already flown so far and for so long to that place, how could we not bring back something for a souvenir?

It is a never-ending argument on packing light, but it is still a good practice to start which motivated me to pack light too.

For a start, perhaps a simple list would help
1. Pack only essentials.
Ask yourself whether you really need that extra dress, skirt, blouse.
Count the number of days, and add an additional shirt will do. Try to bring light-weighted clothes.
If you are expecting cold weather, bring ONE thick sweater.

2. Request for travel packs when you buy your cosmetics/toileteries.
When you buy your regular sized toners, cleansers, moisturizers, etc, ask the counter if you could get a sample size or even the travel packs, do so.

3. Bring one pair of sandals and a pair of sneakers.
If you can help it, get either one pair of sneakers/loafers for walking purpose.
There are lots of footwear designs out there which are suitable for multipurposes.

4. Try to avoid bringing too much accessories
You just have to leave that pair of earrrings or that necklace at home. Drop as much accessories as possible, go with only the essential.
bring the most versatile set, and that's it. Only ONE set.
After all, it is risky to be bringing so many. You don't want to lose any of your precious earrings, don't you?

5. Go easy on the jeans and those heavier material clothings.
These outfits put a toll on the weight you have to lull behind you; not exactly a desirable sight.

These are all the tips and pointers, just bear in mind that you want to travel in style, sashaying your way through the airport and those stations to your hotel without panting all the way.

So, start Packing LIGHT!

The She-Language

2009-07-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what a girl truly is thinking about or what her actions and words really mean?
I found this nice to share...

When a GIRL is quiet ... millions of things are running in her mind..

When a GIRL is not arguing ... she is thinking deeply.

When a GIRL looks at u with eyes full of questions ... she is wondering how
long you will be around.

When a GIRL answers ' I'm fine ' after a few seconds ... she is not at all
fine.

When a GIRL stares at you she is wondering why you are lying.

When a GIRL lays on your chest .. she is wishing for you to be hers forever.

When a GIRL wants to see you everyday... she wants to be pampered.

When a GIRL says ' I love you ' .. she means it.

When a GIRL says ' I miss you ' .... no one in this world can miss you more than
that.

Life only comes around once make sure u spend it with the right person ....

Find a guy .. who calls you beautiful instead of hot.

who calls you back when you hang up on him.

who will stay awake just to watch you sleep. Wait for the guy who ... kisses
your forehead.

Who wants to show you off to the world when you are in your sweats.

Who holds your hand in front of his friends.

Who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares about you and how lucky he
is to have you.

Who turns to his friends and says, ' That's her!! '

Have you found that right Him?

Review: Dove Dry Roll-On

2009-06-15T23:45:00.000-07:00

I do not have a habit nor have I ever used a deodorant at all in my whole life.
So, how do I end up with a deodorant with the brand of Dove?

I remembered this came along with one of the Dove shampoos I bought, as a free gift during that promotion period.
Since it was free and it's Dove (I trust certain brands only, since I am highly sensitive), I just decided to give it a try.

It's a roll-on type which is actually a little more convenient compared to the spray type. However, I do feel it's a little unhygienic to roll it onto the skin over and over again.

Anyway, true to its name, it is dry and didn't leave me feeling sticky all over after the application. It kept me feeling confident and comfortable for the whole day as well.
Initially I was a little not used to applying it, and I still don't apply it on like a must-apply-daily but I must say, this product does not irritate my sensitive skin nor does it makes the sweating worse.
After all, it is an antiperspirant deodorant.
However, I am aware that there are effects from deodorants in the long run, and therefore, I don't think I will be buying anymore deodorants, not because this product is no good.

For anyone looking for a mild deodorant and safe to use, this may be one good choice, in terms of size and convenience.
It is just my personal principle to stay away from deodorant :)

Bestie, will you date my ex?

2009-04-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

Now, I have put up a poll up here on my blog which is supposed to run until the end of the month on the topic before this; check the last post titled "Will you date your best friend's ex?"

Besides the poll, I've done a quick survey and interviews (chit chat) with some of my close girl friends and of course, my bestie herself on this topic and I have decided to sum it all up in conclusion here.

Thank you for all the participation, and also for being honest about your own personal feelings and stories as well; I really appreciate that.

It's not a big project or something, but it's really interesting to explore a touchy subject like this.
I have mixed responses on this but the results show that the majority voted for "NO".
Majority, means there is still a minority who will choose "Yes" and that, my dear friends will be the first part of this post as we explore into the perspectives of those who said yes.

Rest assured, I will not reveal identities or imply any characteristic of the party who have so kindly shared her opinion with me.

Cherry (*not her real name*) has told me about her perspectives on why she would consider dating her best friend's ex boyfriend.
(The following context will be narrated from her point of view)
"I have had a best friend for the past 10 years or so, and we have known each other since high school. We are really close to each other and somehow, we are so similar to each other that people tend to call us 'twins' back then in high school.
In reality, we don't even look a bit like each other and no, we are definitely not doppelgangers or those weird people who just carbon-copied their best friends in terms of hairstyle, apparel, etc.
Due to our similarity, we became closer and it was just like reading each other's minds when we chat with each other. It is so creepy and yet exciting. We never hide anything from each other, if I had flunk a test, she will be the first person I go to and if she gets asked out on a date, I'd definitely be the first to know.
As it so happens, there was this once we both liked the same guy in school and we found out about it. Not exactly weird, since we already share same interests in everything but this is something we cannot share. We decided to just let nature takes its course, and not pursue him in particular. It is after all, not our culture to be so 'proactive' particularly when you are a girl.
Suddenly, my bestie gets asked out on a date and she was so excited about it that she told me all about it. I was happy for her of course, but I can't lie and say that I am not disappointed myself.
It went well and soon, my bestie dated him and my crush became my bestie's beau now.
I was a little more than crushed; which was totally unexpected. I thought it was just an infatuation or nothing more than a crush. However, as I spent more time with them, I realized that he was a really nice and sweet guy and we get along really well. My bestie was really happy and she went over the moon; she simply could not stop talking about this guy in her life.
My bestie is pretty emotional at times and she can have a temper too. There were times when they had arguments and she would come running to me, "I don't want to talk to him"
He, on the other hand, took it well in the beginning and turned to me to ask for my help to calm her down, which worked most of the time.
However, as things start to get out of hand,during this one really ugly argument they had, my best friend kind of blew it when she just yelled Break Up and he just snapped. He could not take it anymore; with my bestie constantly blowing her cover and putting immense pressure on him that he just agreed and stomped off.
It was truly the end; even when bestie came to her senses, she refused to step down and admit that she regretted her words. They do not really talk to each other anymore, and it all became history.
As for me, I was still friends with both, as I was innocent. I also found out that he was seeing someone else a year later (after the breakup) and he was happy. I was happy for him and yet, I still had this quick heartbeat thing each time I saw him. My bestie moved on as well; and found another great guy who was so fun and patient with her.
It was about some time when we graduated from high school and university and came out to the working world.
I was still single and there was this once, I bumped into him at a mall and we ended up having drinks together. Apparently, he was single for a year now too and we had a very nice chat with each other and exchanged phone numbers and emails; and I even gave him my bestie's contact in case he wanted to keep in touch with her as well.
We met up once in a while for a drink or a meal, and forwarded those really funny emails to each other, and one day, I received an email from him which was on relationship and at the bottom of it, he asked me for dinner, in a rather casual way.
I went, and we again, engaged in an interesting conversation as we talked about everything under the sun.
At the end of dinner, he said to me, "We should do this more often" and I nodded, as a casual gesture to his statement.
The next few times, he asked to pick me up and then we started going out even to the movies and then he popped the question, "Hey, do you think you'd like to be my girlfriend?"
I was stunned, and I tell you, I was feeling so happy inside that I wanted to call my bestie there and then and tell her, I am going to have a boyfriend!
But, then it hit me, that's her ex-boyfriend we are talking about; I didn't know what to do, I know it's more than years they've had this relationship but I didn't know how to tell my best friend about this.
I gathered all the courage to mention it to her and she went all wide-eyed. Of course, she laughed after that and told me, "Remember how we used to like him, like, together?"
I recalled that time and she told me she was totally fine with it and besides, she is getting married soon to the love of her life. I still was not convinced although I have started going serious with the guy. Yeah, I have agreed to be his girlfriend even before my bestie gave her approval because you see, I really liked him so much after all those years and it just can't be a crush.
It is all clear now, and bestie is even fine with it. I didn't cause them to break up nor did I stand in the way. In fact, it's years AFTER the break up that we got together and I really loved him.
All is fair in love and war, isn't it?
If it's meant to be with my bestie, they would have been together till this day, right?
I don't feel weird when they meet because I know I love them both and I'd trust the two of them. We go out once in a while and bestie is all lovey dovey with her now-husband so I don't think there's going to be anything weird between them anymore.
So, yeah, I did it, and I have dated my bestie's ex and it's all in the name of love.
I get to keep my bestie and the guy I loved, how cool's that?"

I find this really interesting, and insightful.
Perhaps there is no harm, and after all, it is most important that we know what's it going to take to keep us happy.

On the other side of the globe/coin, there's some of us who are really dead against the prospect of being with our best friend's ex-boyfriend.

It'd just be weird and awkward when we even think of being close/intimate with our best friend's ex beau.

"It's just like some sort of betrayal to my bestie, especially if they broke up due to some argument"

"I can't take it that my boyfriend's ex is my bestie!"

"How are we supposed to go on double dates? I can't take it that they used to be a couple! I shudder at the thought"

"There's lots of other guys in the world, I think my bestie's ex is best left as a part of history and we can still be friends. Dating, erm, no for me"

"My bestie must have broken up with him for a reason, and if he's not good for my bestie, I don't think that highly of someone who would even consider moving to his ex's bestie"

"I'd like to know what his motives are; is he purely looking for a rebound, or a revenge at his ex? If purely for relationship, why me? Isn't it weird for him as well?"

Summarizing all of these points, being in a romantic relationship with the ex-boyfriend of our closest friend whom we call our best friend, who probably knows everything there is to know about us, including our roots of origin to Darwin's theory, is something that some of us just cannot accept or live with.

I do agree that to a certain extent that it's going to weird when you want to share some details with your best friend and then, you had to hold back, because you don't want to hurt her. Furthermore, what if she hears some of the things you tell her that you do with him, and she goes like, "Yeah, he's like that" or "Oh, remember, he doesn't like this..."
That is bizarre, and it feels like sharing the same guy with each other.
Not just you but the bestie who have broken up with the same guy, I'd say I share her sentiments as well.

I know true love sometimes conquers all, and this is no wrong and right thing but the very first thing is to get past the guilt, the history, the bizarre feeling and the feeling of betrayal when you go out with an ex of your bestie.
I don't really care how many guys my bestie have moved on to, an ex remains an ex and to me, it just feels weird too.

I thank you for all the stories and insights, and the feature story for this topic.
It's interesting, and don't feel bad if you were one who would have said yes, because, it is YOUR life that you are living.
After all, life is short, so do what you think is right, there is no law to govern anything.

=)

Will you date your Best friend's Ex?

2009-04-20T19:15:00.000-07:00

How far would you go in love?
If there is a choice, would you date your best friend's ex?

Now, exploring this from a girl's perspective, I need to do a little research and find out from some of the girls around

Approaching the issue alone, of course, being girls, some would first question the depth of the friendship
Of course, since I have mentioned best friends, the first question is answered
Best friends, are no doubt, CLOSE and really mean a lot to each other.

Being best friends means you are able to TRUST and to see through each other
So, when your best friend broke up with her boyfriend who now becomes her ex, will you ever consider dating him?

Let's look at it from the following different scenarios:
1. You've known him first and you have been having a crush on him ever since. He somehow goes after your best friend first and you were crushed, but your feelings still remain for him and yet you have always been careful to tread on the relationship and have been happy for the two of them.
Now that they have broken up, he seems to have taken an interest in you, will you consider him as a romantic potential now?

2. You knew him through hanging out with the couple; as introduced by your best friend.
You have always found him charming and funny; but never thought of him that way until they broke up. You were unsure whether you can still be friends with the guy who broke up with your best friend; although they broke up on a mutual agreement and they both think it's for the best.
Do you see him as a potential?

3. You have been close to him because of your best friend. Over the time, he treats you like his buddy, and he just confides in you when he faces problems with your best friend; just like how your best friend does. He asks you for advice and solutions to work things out with your best friend.
Your close friendship suddenly dawns upon him after they broke up and he approaches you after 6 months following the breakup to rekindle your friendship.
He asks you to be a friend and yet continuously asking you out on dates and tells you how comfortable he is with you.
Will you see him in a new light now?

4. You, him and your best friend were buddies ever since high school and all three of you were very close. He pursued your best friend first, and you remained their confidante (similar to Situation 3)
When things didn't turn out and they find they are not compatible, they went back to being friends and you guys were threesome again. Then he asks you out, and what will you do?

These are the 4 common scenarios, give it a thought and share with me your opinion.
At the same time, I will do a quick little research/survey with some girls and see what we get back on

Stay tune for the answers/ stories from the girls....and let's hear it from all the Eve(s)!

Dove Hair Fall Therapy - Works?

2009-04-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

Hair is often termed as our crown of glory; and regardless of gender, everyone is anxious when hair fall comes into the picture.

In addressing this issue, most of the consumer products' brands have come up with multiple types of Hair fall prevention shampoo or hair care range.
I think right now, almost every brand has their own hair fall therapy range.
Before we breathe in relief, there is a question "Do they really work?"

Now, I dare not say for others, as some may work for some and it may not for others.
Reason is due to the different factors we all have with regards to the hair loss; and to fully combat the unsightly effects, we definitely have to hit the root cause (which is the key in which most of us are not sure).
Hence, as end users, we continue to be fascinated (and baffled) by the wide range of products which claim to offer the solution to our problem.

Being girls, we are definitely used to a little bit of hair loss here and there; but a little much more is a cause for concern.

Anyway, I have always liked Dove's range of products and find the shampoo and bath equally satisfying for my bath routine.
When Dove came out with their range of Hair Fall Therapy, I decided to give it a try.

For a bottle of 400ml, which is the medium range of the Dove's shampoo, it is priced at RM13.40 (look out when it's on offer, it could be cheaper).
It is hard to miss this bottle; which is slightly arch-shaped at the top and its brownish-orange color with the Dove printed on it.

The scent of the shampoo was the same as the normal Dove shampoo range.
Even the texture of the liquid when you pour it onto your palm is the same in color and weightage as the others.

It is recommended to use along with the Hair Fall Conditioner and the serum.
I am not sure whether it was the missing conditioner which I excluded from the regime or was it my scalp itself, this definitely did not work for me.
In fact, continuous daily use left my hair a little too moisturized and oily on the scalp.
At the same time, I didn't see any decrease in the hair fall as well.

The Dove Hair Fall Repairing serum was another product in the range which is supposed to help prevent hair fall during the brushing or combing action of your hair.

Priced at RM26.90, this small little bottle of serum is not to be belittled.
It was really concentrated and when you pump it out of the bottle onto your hand, you can feel the concentrate and the thick liquid.
One small squeeze should do the trick by the way.

It is always not recommended to brush or comb your hair when it's wet; since it is rather weak and tends to fall of more.
However, this serum can be used whenever you want but I'd say it works best when your hair is dry or frizzy.
You just need to apply this serum onto the mid length of your hair to the end of the hair and then you comb your hair.
You will notice that there will be less hair fall when you comb your hair then.

It really worked for me.
This serum is supposed to act as a medium to prevent against the frizz or static when the comb/brush passes through the hair and hence, prevent the tugging of the hair against the brush which usually leads to hair fall.
I really liked this product and the light familiar Dove scent it had.

My rating:
Shampoo 2.5/5 - did not really work for me as a hair fall shampoo, but was okay as a normal shampoo
Serum 3.5/5 - worked and I love the smooth texture when applied onto the hair

Better in Time

2009-03-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

It's been the longest winter without you
I didn't know where to turn to
See somehow I can't forget you
After all that we've been through

Going coming thought I heard a knock
Who's there no one
Thinking that I deserve it
Now I realize that I really didn't know
If you didn't notice
you mean everything
Quickly I'm learnin'
To love again
All I know is
I'm gon' be ok

[Chorus:]
Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too
It'll all get better in time
And even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
It'll all get better in time

I couldn't turn on the TV
Without something that'd remind me
Was it all that easy
To just put aside your feelings

If I'm dreaming
Don't wanna let that hurt my feelings
But that's the path I've been living
And I know that time will heal it
If you didn't notice boy you meant everything
Quickly I'm learning to love again
All I know is I'm gon' be ok

[Chorus:]
Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too
It'll all get better in time
Even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
It'll all get better in time

Since there's no more you and me
It's time I let you go so I can be free
And live my life how it should be
No matter how hard it is I'll be fine without you
Yes I will

[Chorus: X2]
Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too
It'll all get better in time
And even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
It'll all get better in time

Lovely song; but such emotional lyrics.
I love listening to this song; and you could feel the strong passion in the person.

A post-breakup song and how she pulls herself together to be in one piece.
It's not easy of course, and I love the way how it was so realistically depicted on how tough it is getting over a relationship and to be used to being one instead of a couple.
It was so realistic that it hurts and you could feel the pain; that she has to deal with the fact that the break up is a reality and that she no longer has him in her life.
It is painful; and she knows she really loves him which makes it all harder to accept that she has to deal with it.

At the same time, it further went on that she knows she has to get on with life and she must be brave enough to go through.
She deserves it for herself, and time will heal....even though it will hurt, but she will definitely get better in time.
Things will be okay one day, and she will learn to love again....everything will be better in time

Truly beautiful and so painfully realistic and close to our life.
Leona Lewis was truly amazing with her vocals; and you could hear the emotion and pain she portrayed in the song (whether she really broke up or not, but this was good)

Is this only relevant only to us ladies?
Only women feel so painful and hurt when facing a break up?
I don't think so, although Leona was trying to describe from our point (after all, Leona is a woman), but frankly, I think it pretty much describes how anyone would feel post breakup.

It is always not easy to deal with the end of something beautiful; and that's what relationships are all about.
They start off beautiful; with blossoming and budding love between two individuals. Two people who are so eager to be together and to experience and savor sweet moments.
Of course, there are a majority of relationships which will end in happy endings; but how about those which turned ugly?
And those which had to be ended on a sudden note; even though one party is probably reluctant?

That's when the pain and hurt comes in and this, regardless whether you are a guy or a gal; you will still feel it.
Perhaps guy would hide their tears; but they are human beings as well, if they truly loved a woman, I think even a guy would shed his tears when he lost her, and he knows it's for forever.

I have once heard a saying, Love can be so healing to the soul but yet it can hurt so much too.
Have you ever loved someone so much that it hurts?
That is probably the first question you should even ask yourself, how deeply in love are you with him/her?
Love is not supposed to be all pretty and miraculous, it takes effort and courage to work out miracles.
That being said, it doesn't mean that you need to sacrifice and cut yourself to experience love.

To truly love someone, you will experience hurt when you love them.

You will worry when he/she's not well
You feel the pain when you see him/her in pain
You cry when he/she cry
You smile in relief when you finally see that smile on their face
You pray for them when you know they are troubled
You wish you were the one in their place when they are in danger/hurt/hospitalized
You are anxious when you see them stressed/nervous/worried and you can't do anything
You feel helpless when they are lying in bed and you know you are incapable of saving them

You see that smile on their face even when they are far away
At any time of the day, their face appears on your mind
No matter how angry/disappointed/depressed you are at the world, the minute you see them, all your worries go away
A smile from them erases all your unhappiness
All that matters to you is that person in your mind
Your biggest worry is seeing them unhappy and you can't do anything (you may be able to solve all sorts of problems at work)

That is love, that is when you are truly, deeply and madly in love with someone
So when this person matters so much to you, how could you bear to be apart from them?
Away from them?
No matter how much you know you need to be away from him
You still couldn't bear it

That's why love knows no boundaries
You could fall in love with a criminal, an international fugitive, a drug pusher, a guy who is truly bad out there and disapproved by your parents and you know, you have to leave him
But when you are truly in love, can you bring yourself to do it?
You HAD to, you know you'll be free and better off without him (as described in the song as well), but can you truly put it all behind?

It's gonna hurt more than you'll ever know, it's not going to be easy, but it has to be done
And once you have made the decision (break up), you have to learn to deal with it
Don't look back, no matter how bad it makes you squirm inside
You probably will cry buckets, even suicidal because the thought of living without him is unbearable
But once you have decided, you know better than yourself, that someday, that day will come when everything becomes history and you could finally hold your head up high

Same goes when you were the one dumped by him
Are you going to kneel, beg and cry, pleading with a guy who has decided to live without you?
He has decided; he doesn't love you anymore, do you want to use your love to convince him?
Worse still, if he has had a change of heart, is there a point to make him stay?

It hurts because you LOVE him very much; even though he doesn't anymore
For some reason or another, he has forgotten all about your love and all those sweet times you've had together
Is it worth your time and pride to beg him to stay anymore?

Gal, just move on
Cry if you have to
But tell yourself, you're worth more than that jerk
And that someday's gonna come
You have your dignity
Smile confidently in front of him
even though it hurts so deeply inside
that you are crying so hard
But you have to
Tell yourself, it is HIS mistake for not seeing you
Seeing the true and beautiful person you are
it is HIS loss, not yours
And that you are worth more than he thinks you are
you are going to appreciate the life you are given
And that God is always there for you

It will take some time
Time will be the key to heal your broken heart
And we all know that time is the essence
We will definitely get better in time
It's going to be fine
It's going to be okay

One day, just someday, we will hold our head up high and with our dignity, say that we are the best in the world
I am OKAY now
I am FINE without HIM

It will, it definitely will, just trust me, be BETTER in TIME......

Thinking of you

2009-03-17T00:15:00.000-07:00

'When I'm with him, I am..thinking of you'

The excerpt from Katy Perry's single, Thinking of you led all the guys in the world to face a question, 'Can girls fall in love with more than a person at the same time?'

Well, I am not an expert to tell you whether it is applicable to everyone or whether this a yes or no.
To be fair, I think regardless whether a guy or gal, we are prone to face ambiguous situations at one point or another in our life and that will not exclude love and relationships.

Indecisiveness? Perhaps.
Polygamy, not really accurate unless that same person is dating two people at the same time.

Back to the question, can we fall in love with more than one person?
Again, no sure answer but probably yes.

Sometimes, love can be really complex and it can be pretty hard to tell between deep feelings of love to affections of friendship/infatuation.
Just when you thought you have found the guy of your dreams but then comes along another charming and suave guy who just happens to treat you so great and so sweetly that you start to wonder, could this be the real one?

Unfair as it sounds, sometimes, we human beings are just complicating ourselves.
We are all granted with the gift of thought and when we indulge ourselves in all sorts of thoughts, that is when we meet with trouble.
Furthermore, love is no ABC subject, where there is right or wrong, should or should not.

It is tough when you are with one guy and another seem to occupy the back of your mind.
Kinda unfair to the guy you are with; but yet at the same time, things seem beyond your control.
You know it's wrong, but you couldn't wipe him out. Is it love?
At the same time, you also know that the guy you are with at the moment is another guy you couldn't lose and you know you love him very much.
Hurting him would be one of the very last thing on your mind.
Therefore, you let yourself into the mental turmoil of battling against the right and wrong and how should you proceed although deep down inside, you know the answer.
Some may realize that their true love is the one at the back of their mind and make a bold move; neglecting the hurt inflicted on their current partner.
Some will just play safe, why throw away the current stone in hand for another stone which is not sure whether will come in your grasp?
But most importantly, what do you want in the end?

Differentiating between love or not love, it is just a fraction of thin line.
Perhaps that is what makes indecisiveness; but one word of caution, we still somehow need to make clear our feelings at one point.
It will not be fair to be stoking the violin strings back and forth and not deciding the right tune to play.

Is He THAT into you?

2009-03-01T19:28:00.001-08:00

After a wonderful annual celebration of Love on Valentine's Day recently, I am sure most of us have been touched by the display of great affection and love that our heart still feels so warm that it ignites that constant smile on our faces.
For those who have even been carried to the realm of wedding bells, congratulations!

We women are just such emotional and light-hearted people; it is a lovely gesture to surprise us with flowers and yet we are touched to the core and the bottom of our hearts.
Of course, then again, there is also a different kind who prefers more practical things compared to all these minute momentary surprises.

Above all, I am sure, practical or not, we have somehow or another received our looked forward to little surprises and romantic rendezvous on the much celebrated festival of LOVE.

Back to reality, we are struggling to make our schedules meet in this huge crisis and also workload is draining us out of our energy. At the same time, we are also happy thinking of meeting that special someone even one day out of the five working days in a week.
Meeting physically may be exhausting during the busy period but for the sake of love, it will not be a chore to free some time out of the busy schedule to pick up the phone to call, just to hear your voice.

This is nothing controversial; or something that only a guy should do as it could work either way.
Since this is a female blog, let me explore this from a female perspective.

We are all busy, and let's say you have recently just started seeing this guy who is obviously interested in you.
Yeah, economy's all bad and job security is not that strong at the moment, we all have our share in the woes.

However, does it makes any sense when you haven't heard from him in a week?
Can a human being be this busy that it could slip his mind to even pick up the phone to hear your voice?Even God takes his break on the 7th day when HE created our world.

C'mon, if he's really that into you, he would be looking forward to catch that sweet voice of yours even if it's just for a while.
Should you pick up the phone and call him, you ask?
Well, we are definitely in a world where we are looking at the equality of both sexes; but reality is, there is a still a difference between both genders, otherwise God would have created us all to be transexuals or heterosexual....gross!

When you are in a relationship, a guy always is seen as the strong one and the one whose palm will cover the girl's, saying that 'I will protect you, you will be safe with me'
Not the other round where the girl inserts her hand into his palm to make herself safe.

Sounds feminist to you?
Even though I am a feminist, this is not what Greg said in his book and he is a guy himself.
He has done polls with other guys and 100% of the guys said they will always initiate the first move if they are into the girl and not the other way round.

A girl who makes her first move is not really someone of their first choice.

Any guy who is totally into you will never bear to make you waiting by the phone for the whole night and breaks his promise by not calling you when he said he would.
A guy who is also totally into you will never ditch you for his pals but will seek your understanding and work it out with you without disturbing the privacy of both of your own worlds with your friends.
A guy who is into you will not ever hide you from his friends or say that he's not ready for a relationship with you.
A guy who is into you, will want to see you every day, at any time he is able to slip out of his hectic schedule.
A guy who is into you, when travelling on a business trip, will pick up the phone to call and bear the exorbitant high prices of overseas call just to hear your voice when he can't see you.
A guy who is into you, will always want to hold your hand and bring you close to him so that you will always be protected by him and he likes you being close to him.
A guy who is into you, will never puts off his plans with you because he likes seeing you all the time.
A guy who is into you, will want to know all about you and he will find out by all means from everyone and everywhere possible and he does knows and remembers everything about you; even if he used to have the Dory-fish syndrome.
A guy who is into you, will never lie to you
A guy who is into you, will want to be with you ALL the time...no exceptions
A guy who is into you, will never have the qualms to tell you his feelings and how much he loves you.
A guy who is into you, will never make you cry or miserable by his actions
A guy who is into you, will never look away from your eyes.
A guy who is into you, is always there when you need him and calls you the first thing when something exciting happened to him; happy or sad. You're always the first on his mind.
A guy who is into you, will never never forget your birthday.
A guy who is into you, will always put you on his top priority.
A guy who is into you, will never ever deny his feelings for you in front of his/your friends when questioned. He will always have the sweet smile on his lips when your name is mentioned.
A guy who is into you, will always be proud to present you to the whole world...regardless of what people think as he only thinks of you.
A guy who is into you, will not cheat on you, period.

There were lots of questions answered by guys and of course, the ladies and these are not foolproof but they are definitely safe by the global gender standards which tells you whether your beau (guy or gal) is really into you.

It is always a safe sign and an universal sharing based on everyone's opinions although we have also been exposed to fighting for our own rights, letting the feelings grow, and search for your own happiness.
Yes, but it applies for both sides...as you and I know very well, love and happiness in a relationship can never be from a single party.

As a girl, we are always taught to have the feminism dignity in us and not to be trampled like some unwanted goods.
If you really like a guy and he shows no signs of being interested in you the same way you are, do you still want to make the first move and grab his attention?
What next?
If you think that feelings grow after a while, it's great that you are such an optimistic person and that you're proud of your confident posture and I am sure you've also been influenced by the saying that it's easier for a girl to pursue a guy than the other way round.

However, deep down inside, ask yourself this, will you ever believe that he is fully in love with you?
Will you not have doubts of his love for you when you were the first to approach him and you know his feelings for you is short of what you had for him?
Will you be assured that his feelings for you have truly grown along the way or will you always be haunted that he wasn't that into you in the beginning?
Worse of all, will you be bugged by the fact that it seemed like a fault that you were the first to initiate the move and not him, the gentleman when you compare notes with your girl friends?

It will always be a question mark which we can never answer and definitely one that we are not sure how to answer either.
We have brought up in the perspective world of dominating males in relationship and that guys should always make the first move. It is changing in trend in the contemporary world but then again, the questions which stem out will always be in our minds and I think most of us still find the whole notion of gal making the first move awkward and not fully acceptable; despite how modern we are.

Equality of the gender is fair and just but sometimes, we should look at the different aspects in equality.
If you were to dominate the guy in a relationship, where does the guy stand?

From a guy's standpoint, I am sure, if you're into the girl, you will not hesitate to ask her out anytime or make an effort to initiate her interest.
It is just as simple as ABC, if a guy's not interested in you, it's a waste of time and clearly, if he's not making the first move, is he really that into you?
And can you live with that for the rest of your life?

In-Laws Outlaws?

2008-12-29T23:24:00.000-08:00

I am sure most of us have grown up hearing stories about how mother-in-laws and how to deal with your in-laws when once you are married.
Dating back to those olden days, women are considered temporary property of their own birth families in certain countries and they are viewed as passerbys in the families.
The family awaits the day that their daughter is matched to a good suitor who will marry her and care for her until the day of her death, whereby the father will be fully released from his responsibilities for the girl.
At the same time, the family will also receive a monetary amount known as dowry for the hand of their daughter in marriage. This serves as some form of compensation for and as a token of gratitude for the upbringing of the daughter in preparing her for marriage.

This will then lead to the daughter being considered as part of the husband's family and shall no longer be under the family tree of her own birth.
It is a rather funny and yet depressing situation as this has distorted the whole image of having a daughter as your child, whom they view as being on the losing end - you raise her up on your own expense and to give her up to someone else (to take their surname).

It is rather baffling, really, why they ended up with such a mentality when they were related in blood.
Due to this culture and practice as well, most of the families rejoice when a son is born to them while they hang their heads low in shame when they found that they have a newborn daughter.
Daughters will be deprived of all the important essences in life; such as education, nurturing as they are deemed a loss to the family, whereas sons will be regarded with respect and importance for being the heir who will be succeeding the lead in the family.

Women back then was really lowly regarded in their status in the society.
In fact, due to their low status as well, they constantly had to tolerate insults and disrespect from people of all levels and they are not even allowed to say a word; which would be deemed as disrespect to the elders.

When they are married, they had to enter a whole new world with their life partner and this, usually ends with the husband's family whom they will have to spend the rest of their lives with as well.
The family of her husband are known as her in-laws and she will then have to display her proper manners and etiquette taught upon her by her own parents since young to impress her new set of parents in her new home.

During those days, daughters-in-law were supposed to be obedient and are not allowed to say a word to their in-laws; to avoid any issue of disrespect.

However, today, it is totally a different perspective as women start to regain their sense of freedom and independence, and they realize their rights in protecting themselves.

(Picture taken from movie 'Monster-in-Law')
Inevitably, when you pull two people of different background and generation together, you will not be hitting it right in bull's eye that it will be a perfect fit.
Disagreements happen and there is almost no right or wrong in everything, as both parties argue their way through.

Seriously, it actually puts you to the perspective to think, why is this actually happening?
Why are mother-in-laws making your life miserable?
Aren't they women like us, having been daughters and daughter-in-laws before?

Why can't they understand the situation we are going through?

The simple reason is the differences.
What differences, you may ask?

Take for example, if you put a dog and a cat together in a room, will they fight?
Rotate the situation a little, take the same dog and cat but they were sleeping in the same basket since they were born and as the owner, you have always brought them together on every activity.
Do you think they will fight when they are in the same room?

Highly unlikely in the second scenario compared to the first, right?

This is due to the conditioning and the environmental factor.
A dog is a dog; and the same applies to a cat.
You can never make a dog become a cat nor vice versa; and even if you do, it is still a dog.

Same concept; the differences in age gap and the upbringing environment is the key element here and it applies not just in this situation.
Let's put ourselves in the situation that we are newly married...

The woman who is important in your husband-to-be's life happens to be the last person you want to share your bathroom, let alone your secrets with.
Yet, you know if you were to whine and pine, you will leave your husband with a headache or worse still, his frustrations that you were making his life miserable.

To you, as a new addition to the family, you find everything in the household rather strange and unfamiliar to you. Everyone is a new face and every corner is a mystery to you.
You haven't even know the way to the bathroom yet or which switch is for the kitchen.
You tried to adapt to your new living environment; you were cautious to observe the way they do things around and at the same time, you incorporate a little of your own routine habit into the way you want to get your things done (cooking, laundry, housekeeping, etc) and BAM!
MIL comes in and tell you, no no, this is not the way to do it right.
You listen
She comes in the next time and the next and the next, and tells you HER way of doing it right.
You start to feel agitated, what's with her and her right way of doing things?
Are all your ways wrong? Have your own mother taught you nothing?

You can probably bear with it, but then you realize that most of the things you do seem to be wrong, or plain simple, nothing seems to be ever right!

You start to feel tired of pleasing and you want to tell your husband but yet, you're worried about creating unnecessary stress unto him and in the end, you bore all the stress yourself.
Until one fine day, you burst out during an argument that you hated the sight of his mother and he was just plain shocked and in anger, he accused of being disrespectful and inconsiderate.

Sounds familiar?

I think this is only one of the permutated examples that I am painting when in fact, there is so many misunderstanding out there; and they usually occurs between the mother and the daughter-in-law.
This gave them a reason to say that women are often trouble-makers!

Anyway, it is a matter of consideration and tolerance, as nobody can always be right; neither can one always be wrong.
Seniority is not a solution to an issue; understanding and patience needs to play their roles.

The best solution is always to opt for a harmonious surrounding; it is always good to be independent.
Once you are married, if you can afford it, staying in a separate environment can help to cultivate that loving feeling among the couple; not to mention privacy and at the same time, avoid conflicts among the family members.

When you are distant from your close and loved ones, you tend to have a better relationship as they often looked forward to meeting/catching up on all the good old times when everyone is around, no time for an argument anymore.

Furthermore, didn't they once say, 'Absence makes the hearts grow fonder?'

Let me know your thoughts on this, I sensed more sequels to this topic:)

Johnson's Baby Oil - Lite Formula

2008-12-28T23:24:00.000-08:00

I've recently developed an allergy to a particular baby product, surprisingly.
I started off using the original formula from the Johnson's Baby Oil with the pink bottle and since it was small little bottle, I purchased a larger bottle but I chose the fast-absorbing formula.

Unfortunately, I ended up with skin allergies and it was rather severe.
Even the doctor told me to stop using it immediately, and I was rather upset with the product as I have been a Johnson's baby since I was born!
Anyway, I suspected the root cause lies in the additional ingredient they had - Isoparaffin!

I think I am staying away from the baby oil for a very very long time....

Nails Hansen @ Queensbay Mall

2008-12-28T17:45:00.000-08:00

Remember that I was considering to do a nail job?
I meant, as in manicure and pedicure?
Well, I did my bit in survey and finally decided to give it a shot - not to waste unnecessary money but just out of curiosity and to learn from them directly and do-it-myself in the future.

I found this nail salon in Queensbay Mall which I've had my eye upon for several weeks.
They are offering manicure at RM35 and pedicure at RM45; using OPI nail polish and even promotion: 2 free nail art on your toes.
(I mean, not that it made much of a difference, but I still wanted to try anyway!~)

I was there early; and believe it or not, I did it on Christmas eve morning!! (Haha...a little Christmas treat for myself yea!)
I walked in and was served by 2 young Malay ladies; Fusha and Sha (I think).
Very very friendly girls and they told me that they can get on to the job immediately.

I was immediately led to a nice and comfortable big couch and laid my back against the soft cushion/pillow and the girls started carrying their tool boxes towards me.
They rested my hands/wrists on a little pillow while my feet were positioned into the sink below.
The two ladies started their job on both my hands and feet; and I can tell you, I felt so much pampered at that time - like some rich woman who has people tending to her needs; ahhh, like a real princess!!~

I was given some samples of nail polish color which I want for my nails after they are done with the initial part of cleaning and forming my nails.
The whole process of cutting, filing, cleaning, moisturizing and brushing with cuticle oil took about 30-45 minutes.
They started to brush the base coat across my nails (something that I'd always skip whenever I color my nails - probably explains why my nail color was never something to be admired about :(

They stood a little cute fan to blow dry the nails and before proceeding to lay the nail polish on the fingers.
I chose the same color for both hands and feet (I can never mix and match - having different colors for them, I just find it plain weird!)

I waited for 30-40 minutes for them to dry and enjoyed watching them do the nail art on my toes.
I was pretty lucky to be early, as a few ladies came in and some of them had to be turned away due to upcoming appointments and this salon seriously lacked in manpower - only 2 ladies to man the shop and imagine if every customer wants both manicure and pedicure, phew!

I was the lucky one - the early bird catches the worm, huh?:p
I get the luxury of having the whole area to myself and getting out with both my nails perfectly cared for

Although the RM80 was a little pricey, but oh well, once in a while doesn't harm, right?
I can't wait to get my hands on my little DIY manicure and pedicure set and start tending carefully to my little nails!!
Yahoo...welcome to beautiful nails soon *winks*

Jantzen Hair Salon @ Gurney Plaza

2008-12-25T16:18:00.000-08:00

Hair is the crown of glory for each one of us; and we go to extra lengths (literally) to take good care of our hair.

An occasional hair treatment, hair cut is inevitable to maintain your pretty mane of tresses.
Choosing a hair salon can be a little stressful though; especially if you are an amateur like me:)

Last year, I have decided to switch to a good hair salon from my normal hairstylist shop to try out a different hairstyle and also professional care for my mane.
I was cruising around Gurney Plaza (as I was in Penang) and I stumbled upon this Jantzen Hair Salon located on the 3rd floor; next to the Food Loft.

I was there last year for my hair treatment for the first time and then it left my hair in pretty good shape. It reduced the hair loss significantly although they only did a simple hair treatment.

This year, I tried another salon in Gurney (which I shall blog about it later) and they used much higher-end products and treatments; and it left my hair in a mess.
I decided to go back to Jantzen, which surprisingly seemed rather vacant most of the time.
I walked to the counter to a bunch of young girls who immediately got to their feet to answer my questions; in a very polite and friendly manner.

I was rather pleased and decided I wanted to do my hair treatment for a second time there.
The hair-stylist (a guy who was really really quiet and serious) came to me and gave a hair a good look; asking about my concerns and whether haircut is needed.
I explained to him and he beckoned to another young guy; to start with shampooing my hair and he will be around later.

The shampoo boy was another friendly guy who started up a rather chatty conversation with me and telling me about the techniques of washing hair.
He did a rather great job at the shampooing, layering my hair with the mask and treatment.
If I am not mistaken, they recommended a hair spa+ dehydration treatment for my hair.

I felt rather relaxed after the treatment and a few minutes under that rotating heating-tool when the hair-stylist came and started snipping away those extra lengths.
He then proceeded to blow and style my hair and I kinda liked the end results.

The price was definitely more pricey than normal hair salons in shophouses; but I liked the end results, service and their attitude.
I think I may have found the right hair salon for me in Penang.

Plus point: They won't push you into buying their products!!

Crabtree and Evelyn - Jojoba Oil Range

2008-12-22T21:42:00.000-08:00

During my final year's faculty prom night in university, I was really lucky to have won a gift set collection from Crabtree & Evelyn; a brand which was a real luxury for a student.
I won the best-dressed award and I was elated to receive the whole box/basket of goodies from this luxurious brand whose name I have heard and desired in the skin care.

Initially I was a little hesitant to try it; despite it being a gift.
Remember I had sensitive skin?
However, mummy told me to try a small amount, perhaps around the thicker skin area and fortunately for me, I didn't face any problem and then I could use the whole range:)

Now, let me reveal and review what are the products from this range which I got in the gift box:

1. The smallest item of all in the box: Lip Balm

Appearance: Small yellowish chapstick with the signature logo across it.
It was yellowish in color when you twist the balm to apply and it had a light scent of jojoba oil - which somehow reminded me of medicated talcum powder.
It was rather rich and a little greasy when you apply it on your lips but it was quite lasting and kept my lips moist and supple.
It can last for some time without frequent re-application or probably I didn't really re-apply when I was in classes:p

My opinion?
I love this lip balm and I kinda missed it now:(
Perhaps I should consider getting this soon? *winks*

2. Jojoba Oil Hair Shampoo

This came in a travel-size bottle but boy, was it thick!
It was really concentrated and you had to squeeze the bottle a little to get it out.
It felt so rich and creamy on your palm and you only need a little to apply to your hair.
If you have an oily scalp, you might want to apply it to the mid hair area.
It had a rather pleasant scent and my hair felt fresh and clean after washing.
Use it along with the hair conditioner which is equally as rich in texture

3. Hair Conditioner

This will really make your hair feel softer after wash!
No joke, I liked this shampoo so much that I kept it only for eventful or festive season...LOLz!
Or whenever my hair felt dry:)

4.Moisturizing Body Wash

Appearance: Thick and concentrated oil-like solution when flow into your palm.
Opinion?
This felt like pouring oil onto the body and initially, I felt it was rather odd as it didn't produce that much of a lather or foam as other shower gels.
But it did feel soft and smooth after use; I felt like there was a layer of film atop my skin after that. I think that's what they called the emolient effect:)

5. Moisturizing Body Lotion

Appearance: Another concentrated and thick texture, definitely only a small amount is needed!
Opinion?
When I poured it onto my skin, I already felt like it would definitely be nourishing for my skin. It was nourishing, yes, but I think this was slightly not too suitable for my skin as I felt it didn't have much effect on moisturizing or having that supple feeling.

6. Jojoba Oil Hand and Cuticle Cream

Appearance:
A very nicely scented and thick solution like cream.
Opinion?
I liked how it moisturizes my hand! It felt really nice and soft; I mean not overly baby soft or anything but I liked how it kept my hand moisturized.
I don't see much effect on my cuticle though; or maybe I didn't pay much attention to it then:p

I even get some of their bath accessories such as the body massager, brush, bath salt, etc to give myself a spa bath at home, yippee!

What can I say about Crabtree & Evelyn?
I am sure you can tell from my review (and also tons of other reviews out there) that I am pretty pleased with the quality of their products; and this is only the first range I have tried.

I'd definitely look out for more of their products:)

The First Move: Guy or Girl?

2008-12-22T20:44:00.001-08:00

(Photo from myspace.com)

Guy chase girl, girl feels happy, guy asks her to be the Girlfriend, girl smiles and nods, and happily they are the couple.

A scenario too common to all of us; and the courting process is pretty much standard in the overall relationship context and has been a norm at all times.
What if, I say, we reverse the process a little and picture that instead of the guy, the girl initiates the first move?

Okay, not easy to do that, so let me paint you the whole picture.
Say, a boy and a girl (or a man and a woman for those who wants to sound more mature) are going out together and they both like each other.
As in the above scenario, the guy should actually make the first move and ask the girl/profess his feelings for her, right?
Now, let's say, in this situation, this time it is the girl who makes the first move and asks the guy to be her boyfriend because, well, she loves him!

Am I gauging some frowned and shocked expressions around?
Probably, and maybe not as well.

Why are we shocked?
Is it because it is not right? Or is it too hard to believe?
And why is it not right or hard to believe?

Because this is simply out of convention, right?
When we break away from the routine way we do things, most of us will face difficulty in adapting and understanding the whole situation.
Of course, this is pretty subjective in this relationship context whereby there is no right or wrong in the whole scenario.
It just depends on how we think and what we want to do.

As a girl myself, I also will find it a bold move to be initiated by a girl - no sexism intended.
Perhaps, due to conventional ways, we often fall into the expectation that the guy will always make the first move.
But what if, you really like the guy and the guy shows no sign in making any move?

The controversial question here is, are you willing to make that first move?

Contemporary women are becoming more independent and definitely bolder. They have moved past the conservative times and the conventions to which they are bound to.
Nowadays, we often hear of ladies pursuing men as the women believe that there is no boundary or rule to say that women can't do that.
At the same time, they also want to prove that they are also capable of expressing their feelings openly and freely without the restriction of humiliation and gender-biased.

As I have mentioned, it is pretty subjective, really.
It is a decision you have to make yourself; and whether you are ready to face the consequences.
Like guys, there is always a possibility of straight-forward rejection right in your face.
At the same time, you may also be regarded as 'cheap' or desperate for asking or even initiating all the first step.

A choice to make and should this still be a convention or a breakaway?
What is your vote and what do you think?

Cetaphil - solution for sensitive skin

2008-12-22T18:39:00.000-08:00

I am a hyper-sensitive girl; not in the emotional context but rather, in the context of physical/physiological condition which can result in undesirable effects.
Due to easily agitated condition and my sensitive skin, nose, hair, etc, I have always been really cautious of my overall lifestyle and my skin care routine to avoid nasty end results.

As such, I have been accustomed to using specific skin care as advised by my dermatologist and also taking extra precaution in my diets or products that I employ in my daily routine.
It is not easy, and patience is needed in caring for a highly sensitized body.
Mild eczema, rashes, red spots are skin conditions which can appear should there be any reaction to the products I use/food i consume.

Due to my high chances of allergies, I have to be careful in selecting the right products for my skin care in particular.

I was introduced to a mild and gentle skin care product by my dermatologist during the period when my skin was highly sensitive in my teen years which was supposed to soothe the skin and at the same time, care for my skin.
It was a product which was recommended for my facial (or body) wash; and I was prescribed to use it
-- Cetaphil --

Now, this is not a sponsored post nor is it meant as a promotional ad for this company as I do not get paid for anything.
I am merely sharing an experience and also my opinion on the products that I have used or heard from my friends.

Cetaphil was a brand that I have personally used and which I can say that it is definitely safe and gentle for all sensitive skin folks.
A product from France, it contains no fragrance, color, lanolin or any ingredient which can cause irritation to the skin.

The first product that I used was this Gentle Skin Cleanser which was then prescribed for my facial routine.
It was a really gentle cleanser and suitable not only for the face but also for your whole body (that's usually the case with cleansers; if it is safe for the face, of course it will not be an issue to the body).

Appearance:
When you squeeze the gel out of the bottle, you will find that it is colorless; not to mention odorless.
It was a rather thick and mucuous-like texture; which looks like a concoction of corn starch.

Application: Apply all over your face (or your body) and you will find that there is foamy texture or rich cream forming like all other shower gels.
The reason is due to their excluded ingredient; lanolin which is responsible for all those rich foam you have in your shower.
Since it is a mild and gentle cleanser, they have removed all the ingredients which can be harsh or aggravating to the sensitive skin (I am not saying that all the other shower gels are bad but just not suitable for the highly sensitized skin).
You can slather it all over your body and it is like a a transparent film covering your body once you are done.
Rinse it with running water and your skin will feel soothed and relaxed.

My opinion:
For first-time users, you may be rather taken aback by the lack of foamy texture and the non-soapy nature as well which can make you think that your skin was not cleansed at all.
However, it does its job even without the foam and it is meant to gently calm the skin without removing the skin's natural layers. At the same time, it will also leave your skin feeling soft as it feels like a trail of emolient after the shower.
For fragrant shower lovers, this may be a drawback that there is no scent at all.
For sensitive skin, this is a good choice for your bath routine to avoid any complications on your skin should it react to any ingredient in any of your shower gel whereby most of them contains a little fragrance.

My verdict?
It is a great skin cleanser and I won't say it work wonders, but it is definitely gentle enough for all sensitive skin types.
At least I can say it is safe enough without worrying about any after-effects such as irritation on the skin.
I have stopped using it for a few years on my face and have switched to other more nourishing products for my face. However, recently, due to my skin irritation, I have re-deployed this product into my bath routine:)

Price: It is not a cheap shower gel either! For a big bottle like this, it's about RM40++. It used to be even more expensive when I first started buying, it was like Rm60++ back then.
They have it in 3 sizes; from big to the smallest carrying bottle for your traveling

It's available in all leading pharmacies like Guardian, Watsons, etc.
It's highly recommended by all dermatologists; and I'd suggest you to double check with your doctor on this as well:)

If you have very dry skin, they also have the Moisturizing cream which is meant for chronically dry and sensitized skin.
It is also available in lotion which will be slightly lighter in texture.
My pharmacist recommended this for a more lasting effect and for a richer application especially during the night.

Appearance:
It comes in a tube of about 100g and you don't need to squeeze a huge amount.
A small amount will do as the texture is rather rich and again, it is a white cream which is odorless but it felt rather creamy when you first squeeze it on your palm.

Application: Apply it all over your body or on the specific dry areas of your concern.
Again, you don't need a huge amount to do the work

My opinion:
This works to soothe irritated and dry skin, like almost overnight!
I noticed the red rash on my skin fading after I applied it the night before and I was pretty grateful to it.
I hope it will diminish those rashes which are irritating me!
I am starting to love this product and I recommend it to those who are sensitive and yet want to try a new product to moisturize your body.

Pricing: It is not cheap either; again, this retails at about RM44.20 and is available at all pharmacies or local drug stores.

I hope my article helps those who have the same predicament as me, possessing highly sensitive skin and would like to try some products and unsure of which brand or product to select due to the wide variety available out there.
However, I would also advise you to do a quick check with your doctor before purchasing anything as each one of us may be sensitive to certain things which others may not be.

Anyway, if you do have any interesting skincare products for the sensitive folks, do share with me your story as well:)

Hand cream for Christmas

2008-12-18T16:29:00.000-08:00

Dry skin is really a sight to look at; especially on a limb which is often visible to everyone.

Our hand is like the most exposed area thus the most vulnerable to sunlight exposure and also extreme conditions.

Most of the time, we tend to neglect the hand and feet while we splash our rich and creamy stuffs on our face and neck; which we perceive to be the most important part to be seen and presented to the world.

Well, take heed for the hand is equally as important and I do want a good hand cream too, to moisturize and maintain the hydration on my hand.

I have done a little research and found the following worth looking at; but since I have yet to buy or use any of them yet, I am not able to review on the quality and the results of each product.
(These are all results from the web and from other ardent users who have recommended and shared their penny worth of thoughts on these great products which tempted me to want one of them for Christmas:)

1. Body Shop's Almond Oil Hand and Nail Cream

2. Body Shop Almond Oil Intensive Rescue

3. Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector

4. Crabtree and Evelyn Gardeners Hand Therapy

5. L'occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream (***I heard this was one of the best!***)

If all fails, I can go back to the good old brand and try this

Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand and Nail treatment

They're all pretty pricey; which is why I listed that I want them for Christmas?
*winks*

Elianto Nail Polish - Great bargain!

2008-12-17T16:28:00.001-08:00

I've always loved nail colors; despite my tardiness in applying it properly.
I guess I just lacked in the essential skills and training :p

Anyway, I was doing some window-shopping a fortnight ago (well, it started out with that intention) and I stumbled upon the Elianto stall.
I have heard about this brand countless times from most of my friends who raved about the affordable prices and the wide range of products they have.
I scooted nearer to the nail polish section and I was enticed by the 50% tag they had on the little bottles!
(How easily fooled are women, you say?)

Well, I have sufficient knowledge to say that nail polishes are not cheap; despite what you think.
Even the most affordable ones range from RM5.90 onwards and can be as high as a few hundred dollars as well for those really high-end brands.
So 50% tag for the little glittery party colors which cost about RM5 is now only at Rm2.50!

Such cute little bottles and not to mention the price!

These princess colors also retail at about 50% off the original price; I think it was also about RM2.50 per bottle.

For the solid colors in slightly larger bottles, they are at 10% discount off the original RM5 tag; so it is only priced at Rm4.50 per bottle as well.

For the first time, I actually opted for the bold and daring colors such as these!
Ohhh, I do love those nail colors...and the affordable prices!

Last I remember, it was already more than 3 years since I have purchased any nail colors; not that I use them for so long, sometimes I do get free stuffs from my aunts and friends too, I know, lucky me:)

Anyway, since this is my first time using Elianto, I must say that I was pretty impressed by their easy application.
It was not thick nor gooey but relatively smooth on the nails when you apply them across the nail with one stroke from the brush.
Furthermore, it turned out really nice!
For the first time for me too; I rarely get my nail polish pretty...poor me:(

Anyway, as I was going to attend a wedding as well and since the theme of the wedding for us as the bride's sisters/bridesmaids, we were told to wear blue and I went into the hype of purchasing these blue nail colors; one in light sky blue and the popular hue of blue

Despite the low price, the application and the quality was really good and I must recommend it to anyone who wants to increase their collection of nail polish color.
This is a great bargain and I think it lasts until January only.

I am definitely up for Elianto next round as I've tried numerous nail polishes and most of them didn't turn out so good.
For instance, the Maybelline Color Shine, or was it Water Color Shine which I bought many many years ago when it was still new in the market...turned out to be such a messy nail polish that I was rather reluctant to use it.
However, I had no choice since it was my first nail color and it was at RM9.90 when I bought it, so I had to use it.

The color was not really that nice and it was pretty messy when I looked at my nails:(

The other range of the Water Shine Maybelline was not too bad; it lasted me for some time.

It was one of my favorite nail polish until today; I really liked this.
But the price was nowhere near Elianto of course; it's like double the price:)

This Silky Girl nail polish which I bought from Singapore was not bad though.

Ever Glossy, it was a really sweet color and pretty easy to apply smoothly!

And one cheap nail polish of whatever brand; which was about RM3.90 was rather thick and messy after a while.

It was really diluted in the beginning and the application was rather inconvenient, so I have kinda sworn off these cheap brands to protect my nails:p

Based on my reviews so far, currently, I am still intrigued by my new nail polish from Elianto, so, stay tune to more updates! *winks*

Manicure...Pedicure?

2008-12-16T16:12:00.001-08:00

The hype of Manicure and pedicure has long settled in our little country here and most of our girls have gone goo-goo-ga-ga over it, for a reason.
I never really paid much attention to my nails either; thinking that it's more of a luxury than a necessity and besides, what's so hard to care for my own fingernails, toenails and cuticles, right?

Well, I am not fully right on that part...
I have recently started to pay more attention to my nails after some loot of nail polish and noticing how lousy I am at applying those colors on my little nails; with much effort.
I did a little googling and found out more about manicure and pedicure than I have ever imagined!

For instance, if you were like me, and you thought manicure and pedicure is only about painting your nails and caring for your cuticles, well, I was wrong!
They actually give you a good massage and total care for your hands and feet as well.
This includes bathing the hands and the feet, exfoliating the dead skin cells which caused those harsh and callous feet and then moisturizing with thick cream or lotion.
At the same time, your nails will be clipped of course; gently and then filed - the professional way!

Oooo, so much luxury for this treatment...they even give you a massage on the hand and feet to improve the hydration and the blood circulation!
Then of course, they will paint your nails; again, the professional way with the base and top coat to strengthen your nails.

I am new in this and I am very interested; though the prices are pretty steep too.
Well, I shall share on my experience the next round, for now, I shall hunt for the best salon in town
Wish me luck, do drop me any comments if you know of any great nails salon...I know Nails Hansen was not too bad either:)

Water is skin's best friend

2008-10-23T02:59:00.000-07:00

(picture taken from the web)

I cannot recall the number of times we are told to drink 8 glasses of water a day.
Water is vital for our organs to function properly and maintains the body temperature, and also washing out the toxins in the body.
These are all the facts that we have been hearing for ages, and they have been proven from the medical and scientific perspective.

It is also not new that water is also strongly encouraged in the beauty and cosmetics world where water is the main agent which maintains the water level in your body and promote constant moisture.
At the same time, the detoxification part played by water also helps to ensure the skin looks healthy and supple.

Water is the best cosmetic product for everyone; drinking lots of water makes you look radiant and strengthen your body resistance without any additional supplements.
Hydration is vital to promote youthful-looking skin and to avoid scaly effects on our skin.
Lotions and moisturizers are external potions to be applied but no offense meant, these can provide temporary solutions if you do not make an effort to work on your skin.
Drinking plenty of water will promote hydration from within, and it works effectively on the outside as well.

Is there any doubt that water is your best friend?
Looking pretty is just a glass of water away, and keep those glasses of water coming!

Thing-keeper in a Woman

2008-10-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog, I meant it to be a portal for women-related articles or even something resembling an online zine (think a web version of women magazines)

Well, then I decided, hey, it need not be all serious right? I can inject more and more animation instead of constantly writing all about issues on discrimination, violence and how we should protest.
You and I may get bored, and I am probably getting lot more hate mails from the guys (LOL)

Anyway, this is one interesting topic I came across in the little book of laughter compiled by Readers' Digest.
It was written by a husband who shared his thoughts on how he observed women having this habit of keeping all sorts of things.
Reading his article (or story) made me laugh like anything because, funnily, it was hilariously true!~

Which woman you know who doesn't keep things just because she doesn't want to throw it away?
I can't think of any, seriously!~

We keep everything....and we always have some sort of excuses to make up for the reason why we are throwing them away.
My mum, my aunt, my bestie, my cousins, my friends, we all have certainly do have something which we claim to 'collect'!~

1. Paper shopping Bags - Gosh, how many of us have fallen prey to the unbearable thought of using that nice paper bag we got from a shopping mall during festive season or a really expensive boutique qhere you need to buy above a certain amount before you can get the bag?
We will take the items purchased slowly out of the bag and if there's a receipt stapled to the bag, you will remove it so carefully that there will only 2 minute dracula-punctured holes left.
Then we will fold the paper bag carefully (or probably flatten it ) and there it goes into the box for 'Paper Bags' (for all the bags which you have held captive over the years.

2. Boxes - Plastic, paper, anything that is used to hold things in which they were bought originally. It could be a gift from someone or it could come with food, sweets, chocolates.

3. Plastic containers - those that can be microwaved. You get them when you buy desserts and they charge you an extra of RM0.50- a ringgit for them.
I bet we can build the plastic version of Twin Towers if we were to stack them up!~

4. Bottles - that goes without saying. Plastic bottles and glass bottles, God forbid them if they were to contain perfume before they were emptied of their contents.
Ask any girl and she is bound to at least have one saved perfume bottle; even if she doesn't use perfume.
It is like a crime or a sin if a girl does not have one....so not cool!

5. Shoe boxes - this is definitely on the top of the list of reusable or recyclable items!
You will be amazed to find the amount of things we can do with these boxes!~

6. Strings - those strings that are used to tie up a box/parcel or anything. We will probably roll it up and store them in a drawer, telling you that you'll never know when you need a string

7. Wrapping paper - this is a hoot, I can tell ya. Nice wrapping paper, it goes without saying, into a nice box (which we saved from another occasion) to be reused or to be admired some time (whenever that may be)

8. Oh, and some of us do keep jars used to keep medicines, ermmm...perhaps it's supposed to be memorablia that we can use to remind us when we need to use this medicine, who knows, sometime in the future...

Well, forget about peeping into our cabinets or even store rooms for that matter, you will probably either be squashed when the stuffs on the top fall on you, and it's not our fault - we kept it in a perfectly calculated angle and geometric position and it could be that wrong degree you opened or held the door open.

If you even want to get started on the fridge, you will be amazed at what cost-savers we are.
We probably have some bag of raisins with only 2-3 raisin which we couldn't finish the last time coz we were too full, or even a plate of 3 bites of carrots/cauliflower for the same reason but to cut the long story short, we are not throwing them out and that's final, period.
We will definitely finish them off, someday.

Our geography on how we keep our things is yet another amazing thing; trust me, we are better than Ms Charlotte spider.
We can never understand why men can never understand our instructions when we direct to the drawer where we kept that traveling bag.

We just love the things we keep without being told that we are knocked in our head!~
My Christmas and Chinese New Year and even Easter decoration ornaments are right on the top of the drawer, and the brooms, mops and are somewhere at the back of the closet:)

That's how things are, period and yeah, men are from Mars

All About Eve

2008-09-24T00:34:00.000-07:00

I am a girl (or a woman as a matter of fact) -
Is that supposed to be a surprise?
AND.....

I am PROUD to be one.

Pushing those menstrual pains and grouchy times aside, I take pride and care about being a woman and all the gifts and parcels that came along with the tag.
Why?

Hmmmm....let's just say I like being able to wear dresses AND pants without being given the stare that I am weird, I can even put on a cap or even a tie and still being hooted at for being sexy and attractive.
I can even sport a crew cut or a short crop of a hair and will still be admired for my bold sense of fashion.
I can put on my dad or brother's old shirt and baggy pants or even their oversized shoes and walk around town because it's the IN-thing these days.
(I am not sure whether you guys can do the same without being arrested though!!)

Oh wait, I can cry in the middle of the crowd without being boo-hooed at (not that I enjoy crying in public anyway) but still, I can pass and yet still gain sympathy.

If I am short (which I am anyway), I do not need to worry about climbing the staircase to kiss the groom because all I need to do is to put on a 5-inches heels (and a few balancing and prancing classes, not to mention the conditioning of my toes, soles, heels and ankles after those poodle-prancing acts) and voila, I LOOK naturally TALL!~
Besides heels, I can put on a tall hat and walk like I am owning the world!

If you are tall, oh, that's not a problem (that's the groom's problem - he's the one who needs a chair anyway), you still get to lust after those amazing and beautiful flats which makes you look as attractive even without heels.
And you have the extra benefit of being able to be offered a chance to be in the running for beauty pageants' contests and if you're lucky, you may land yourself as a supermodel someday!~

That and many many more reasons I am proud and happy to be a woman!~

Women today are no longer underprivileged nor inadequate in the fields of knowledge.
You can longer use nonsense like "we do not know anything" or that "women are not supposed to say this, that, etc"
Because you'd better believe it that we are no longer our predecessors where you can push us around and pass us off as some women who did not receive education and denied our rights to speak for ourselves.
We have been kept quiet for decades or even, centuries and all because of the fact that we have not been given the opportunity or the equality of rights to be treated with just and dignity.
Education was never our priority, why?
Because women do not need so much education as they will get married when they grow up, and their priority will be their husband and family.
When they are married, they are not even given the right to decide on trivial matters at home, why?
Because the husband is the man of the house and women never did know anything anyway.
So when are we allowed to speak up?
It has been a suppressed situation during those times and thank God, times have changed and today, we no longer are without education. In fact, some of us are even more highly educated compared to some of the men around.
We are no longer financially dependent on men nor are we dependent on men in any way.
We have become independent and we stand on our own feet and are proud of whatever we do today.
We are no longer suppressed and that was the main reason I started up this blog; to survey and research all the thoughts and views from all women - to have a united voice on all issues especially on discrimination, equality and violence against women.
The true vision and objective of Voices of Eve.

That being said, I do not intend to condemn the existence of our male counterparts as I welcome your feedback and views as well; and share your thoughts as we journey through the discovery of our liberty and how we can make this world a better place to live in.

I have previously started this same blog with the intention of creating an online zine at this site
However, I have decided to port it over here to be under the same user profile for the ease of my update.

I do look forward to more fun; take note that it will not all be serious talk on issues but there will also be topics on women interests such as beauty, health, food, etc.
All in all, I want it to be a fun portal like my other blogs and I can concentrate on promoting an active feminism portal.

Welcome to Voices of Eve and drop your piece of thought and 'voice' here!~