Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Ridsect vs Mospell Vaporizer



Been having mosquitoes problem lately so tried a few counter attack measurements.

My first option was Ridsect mosquito aerosol spray. Just what I needed but after using for 2 nights, I realised I will personally die first from inhaling the insecticides before it have any effect on the targetted prey. That's cos the smell was way too overpowering.


Next option is supposed to be a natural remedy with 24hours protection. Selling for RM9.99 in Giant and RM9.90 in Sogo.

The supplier list it as:-
Herbal extracts Aromatic, therapeutic, air refreshing
Last for 60 days. Area covers up to 37m2.

Mospell Vaporizer-230ml  is a natural, therapeutic and effective way of repelling mosquitoes It is a unique formulation contains natural herbal extracts which have no side-effects, environmental friendly yet-effectively repel mosquitoes.

The aromatic essential oils found in Mospell Vaporizer are aromatic, therapeutic with air refreshing properties.

check out their link:- http://webflexx.com/clients/airefresh/prod_mospell.html


VERDICT

PRO:-
Been using it since early March 2011 and must admit there are less mosquitoes, almost none.

Did not really notice the air refreshing properties but when I do smell the product, it's a pleasant "serai" smell.

CON:-
This product works by soaking a sponge-like material into the liquid. So this pad tends to dry up meaning I have to tilt the bottle to re-soak the sponge from time to time.

It works best in an enclosed room setting so you may need to buy 2 if your room is too big.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

IKEA's RM2.30 clock









Just bought a clock from IKEA. Only RM2.30 so really cheap.

Note that the original "version":-

1) does not come with a "second hand". So the picture from Ikea is not really accurate.

2) has silver hands (I painted them with pink nail polish so that it's easier for me to tell time) and I cut the alarm hand cos it's almost as long at the minute hand so I was constantly confused by them.

Initially I was a bit concern about the "ticking" sound but was pleasantly surprised that there were none.

Unfortunately my joy was shortlived as after 2 weeks or so the clock began to "tick". And tick it did until I had to move it from my room to my bathroom.

PRO: price
CON: noise

Monday, March 28, 2011

Makeup Base - Dior vs Shiseido




Running out of makeup base soon, so asked for free samples from Dior and Shiseido as both just introduced new makeup base.

Dior is the UV Shield BB cream with SPF 50 (about RM170 for 30ml)

Shiseido is White Lucent Brightening Spot Control Base [new formula] with SPF 35 (about RM155 for 30ml)

Tried both but on half side of the face each. After a few days of use, my VERDICT:-

Personally (as different people may have different skin types) Shiseido is better as easier to apply and I prefer makeup that are fragrance free. Dior smells a bit flowery.

But most importantly Dior BB cream leaves my skin - especially the eye area a bit dry at the end of the day.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Turkuaz Fashion Spread - Dara.com






Turkuaz latest 4 pages fashion spread in Dara.com magazine April 2011 selling at RM5.00 (West Malaysia).

At page 50 there are a few good tips for wearing scarves.

Do check out page 147 onwards where they have included a special segment named "dara.com xx-tra" where you can find many useful tips from simple body workouts to home DIY as well as many mouth watering simple-to-do-recipes for desserts.

Family Brand Fly Trap




Been having flies trouble in the house lately. Found this Fly Trap (3pcs for RM4.80). So there I was very enthusiastic with my new "toy" hoping to catch me some flies.

Even my sister was so happy and surprised to see so many flies trapped. I was momentarily ecstatic too until I realised she must be referring to the printed flies and lizards on the paper. Bummer marketing gimmick.

RESULT
DAY 1 - Only manage to catch 1 fly (yes not plural)
DAY 2 - same old fly still there. So add a small piece of bread as bait. Got me 2 more flies. Yes finally!
DAY 3 - same group of 3 flies :(
DAY 4 - added small bits of anchovies ("ikan bilis")
DAY 5 - 3 more victims (a fly, a small fly and a yellow color water bug I think)

VERDICT
At the same time, my dad bought a fly swat. He's been exterminating about 10 flies every day.

Fly Trap 6 : 50 Fly Swat
Fly swat wins hands down. So save your money and buy a fly swat instead. You'll even get a workout at the same time ;D





Monday, March 21, 2011

New Jubah Pantsuit - Nabila


Nabila is a very chic design with lots of piping at the neckline and from shoulder down to knee.

It comes in 3 different kind of japanese imported fabric. Sizes are from S - XL (code 330-1109) and comes with matching pants.

For dark brown and black design
Price is RM399.90 but member or online purchase can enjoy special price of RM340/set with pants.
For light brown design
Price is RM389.90 but member or online purchase can enjoy special price of RM330/set with pants.

In total there are:-
30pcs for the dark brown (crepon georgette) with chiffon lining
10pcs for the black (chiffon material) with chiffon lining
36pcs for the light brown (poly mix) without lining

So both the dark brown and light brown available at all outlets. The black colour will only be available in Jalan TAR, Alamanda and online sale only.



Friday, March 18, 2011

Real updates on Japan!

Like Danny Choo in Facebook for instant and real updates on Japan, from Japan! Just click on the photo below for a link to Danny's Facebook page.

Full profile available here http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/25018 

You can also read his blog at http://www.dannychoo.com/
 
 

Thursday, March 17, 2011

When "ahs" are better than "ums"

Into my 2nd day of learning Turkish language. Lonely Planet Phrasebooks is smart enough to include some common errors, mistakes that could get you in trouble when experimenting with the language.

One particular one which caused my jaw to drop was found in page 38 (bottom).


The ums and ahs... When I shared this with my Turkish boss, he was so excited and surprised that I knew such a fact.

He shared that when he first came to Malaysia he could not understand why we have a bank in Malaysia called amBank cos in Turkish am means...(censored) and hence am bank would mean a bank or reserve of (am).

So whenever any of his turkish friends come to visit, he gets the same exclamation from them and many would make it a point to snap pictures of the bank. Yes it would indeed be a man's wildest dream come true if such a bank exist.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

No Yes? Yes No?

Lately been feeling kind of down after reading the news report on Japan.

So far the stories painted a very bleak outlook especially with the possible meltdown in the Fukushima nuclear reactor. Yahoo! news is not helping with all the sensationalized media reporting.

I stopped reading the moment I compare Yahoo! news with some blogs on how japanese are going about their lives as normally as possible. A japanese friend blog about how she attended a painting exhibition in Kyoto on 15 March 2011.

Anyhow to take my mind of the matter I decided to try and learn Turkish language - partly fuelled by the desire to understand my turkish boss and since I bought a Turkish phrasebook many years ago I thought why not.

The first few pages of the phrasebook were quite interesting and I could not put the book down in the first 20 minutes.

Here is the page which I find quite amusing cos I can see my boss doing it sometimes. So the next time you see a turkish guy nodding to your question - remember to check his facial expression as well cos it may well be a no ;D

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Dior or Shiseido?

Whenever bad things happen to good people we are often in shock and often times even question where is the logic or fairness.

So when a 8.9 hit Japan coastline, I guess this thought is on the minds of many.

For some they may even think that Japan deserve it for all the atrocities which they commited during World War II. I personally have no experience because all this happens in 1941 and now I am practically a fan of Japan and all things Japanese.

But I did hear stories about it and how my grandparents cope with Japanese occupation from my mother.

The most vivid is the story about my great grandfather (GGF) or great granduncle (GGU). The story is being repeated hearsay so many times that I am not sure of the actual details.

Anyway, him (GGF or FFU) being a very industrious person still managed to find food and money for the family but the currency at that time were forcefully converted to Japanese issued dollar. The locals called it "duit pisang" or banana money because of the motif of banana trees on the notes.



How many of you know of this piece of history of Malaysia?

Anyway my mother (as she hear it from my grandmother) continue to explain that prices of goods escalate like crazy and to buy simple things like rice, you have to bring stacks and stacks of banana money. Plus to hide the money from would-be thief, my GGF or GGU used to stuff the money into his pillow. He'll sleep on it every night knowing that his money is safe.

There's also part of the story which says he often count the money but now that I am older, I'm not sure how true is this part of the story.

Anyway for those who studied Malaysia history you would know that when the Japs surrendered the banana money was rendered worthless. So when this news reach him, I think he suffered a momentary loss of reason and sanity.

As for the pillows, I think he may have burn it in his fits of anger but burn it did cos most of my great grandparents stuffs suffered this fate when the corner shophouse they were staying in burnt to the ground one evening.

The only thing that survived were items kept in an old safe. Mostly land titles I was told. Guess the banana money was too worthless to be kept in the safe or too bulky to fit into the safe (me think the latter is more likely the case).



Apart from this inconvenience, other war time stories which I can remember were the ones on how my mother who didnt have much food to eat and feed her siblings had to steal sweet potato ("ubi") from neighbouring farms (my mother at that time were living in a rubber estate). So in a way she was shielded from much of the horrors of war as they did not have much contact with the outside world.



But now as I read about stories how the earthquake and tsunami caused so much damage to Japan, I dont think anyone should bear grudges against them but instead pray for them to overcome this difficult times cos whatever that happens to them, affects us one way or another.

We are not isolated from them and they from us. We are bonded by history and time. So right now I have decided the one way I can support them directly is by buying Japanese products. So between buying Dior or Shiseido, needless to say I will buy Shiseido.

It may seem trivial to some but this is the least I can do for such a beautiful country which manage to retain its unique old charm in spite of ultra modernization.

Banzai Japan! (lit: ten thousand years) Long live Japan!

Friday, March 11, 2011

8.9

This will be a day that will be remembered forever in my memory and to think that at the hour when it struck Japan, I was about to have my regular lunch.

So when the news of the quake reach me, my first thought was Japan is more than capable of handling such crisis as they experience seismic activities throughout the year.

It was only later through internet and tv that I begin to comprehend the extent of damage. The next day I was again bombarded by these shocking images in the newspaper.

Being worried for the safety of my friends in Japan, I managed to contact them through emails. One of them mentioned that there is a circular going out advising all to conserve electricity as they need to send power to Sendai. So seeing that she is fine in Osaka I never reply.

The saddest news was from a friend currently in Tokyo who was formerly from Miyagi as she couldnt contact any of her former neighbours and friends.

This seismic activity is not isolated to Japan as on the next day, on Saturday I notice my office computer monitor being distorted the whole day, like a tv with bad reception or interference.

So let's pray for Japan as even a superpower nation needs God's power to overcome this challenging turn of event.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

New Jubah Gaun Design - Cinta Qalesya



Cinta Qalesya is a contemporary 2 layer jubah gaun design but matched with 2 different kind of fabrics imported from Japan. Note the special bell sleeve made famous by Dato' Siti Nurhaliza.

Sizes are from S - XXL (code 330-1106) and retails for RM329.90 but member or online purchase can enjoy special price of RM280.

In total there are:-
47pcs for the purple (chiffon material)
27pcs for the brown (chiffon crepon material)

So only the purple design will be available at all outlets. The other colours will only be available in Jalan TAR, Alamanda and online sale only.


Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Happy International Women's Day 2011

Happy International Women's Day to all our female readers!

Watched King's Speech recently and was overcome by a sense of pride and triumph at the end of the movie.

There was a scene where the King with tremendous trepidation walked into a room full of noblemen of England. All eyes were on him - waiting for the King to speak.

In my mind as I watched this scene unfold, I thought that only man can do this cos the pressure would be unbearable for a woman but then I remember Queen Elizabeth. She had been facing and is still facing the same crowd and responsibilities.

So who says that such and such a duty is for man or such and such a task is only for woman? Women's Day reminds us that God created human equal.

Monday, March 7, 2011

New 2-in-1 Scarf



Latest arrival @ Turkuaz and Gulyn are these 2-in-1 tudung cum jubah top which is very convenient for the wearer.

It comes in many different colour and material but since they are of limited quantity, they are only available for sale through any of our 4 outlets.

Prices for the tudung shown in photo 1 and 2 are RM89.90. Photo 3 is RM69.90 and member will further enjoy 10% discount.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

New Jubah Pantsuit - Summer Splash


Summer Splash is a very trendy pantsuit design with piping and lace accent.

It comes in 2 different kind of fabrics (imported from Japan) and is fully lined with plain chiffon lining.

Sizes are from S - XXL (code 330-1051) and comes with matching pants. Price is RM439.90 but member or online purchase can enjoy special price of RM380/set with pants.

In total there are:-
14pcs for the orange (poly mixed)
19pcs for the brown (poly mixed)
34pcs for the purple (soft chiffon material)

So only the purple design will be available at all outlets. The other colours will only be available in Jalan TAR, Alamanda and online sale only.


Tuesday, March 1, 2011

New Jubah Pantsuit - Honey N Bee



Honey N Bee is a very sophisticated border print pantsuit design with lots of piping from shoulder to chest to the knee.

It comes in 2 different kind of fabric and is fully lined with plain chiffon lining.

Sizes are from S - XXL (code 330-1044) and comes with matching pants. Price is RM449.90 but member or online purchase can enjoy special price of RM390/set with pants.

In total there are:-
35pcs for the brown (chiffon poly mixed)
17pcs for the grey (chiffon poly mixed)
15pcs for the black (poly voile material)

So only the brown design will be available at all outlets. The other colours will only be available in Jalan TAR, Alamanda and online sale only.