Part Time MBA Survival Tips

Hi Guys!

I am so happy to share that I will soon be graduating with an MBA degree! Can you believe it? After 2.5 years, I can finally say that my postgraduate studies are behind me! (And now, I can focus and channel all my energy for my baby).

I started my MBA degree on a part-time basis in September 2012 at a local public university. specifically chose this university because:

• I am an alumni – did my undergraduate Engineering degree with this university so I am very familiar with the system and environment;

• It is the ONLY public business school in Malaysia to receive an international accreditation from The Association of MBAs (AMBA).  Accreditation is very important, especially for an MBA program. It seems to me that these days every Tom, Dick and Harry can graduate with an MBA but it is the accreditation that sets one program apart from another; and

• The university offers weeknight classes instead of weekend classes. When I decided to take up Master’s degree I made it a point that I will not sacrifice having a “decent” life for the next 2 or 3 years of my life.  I wanted my weekends to be free. I didn’t want to miss any of my friends’ weddings, family gatherings and other important events so I’d rather exhaust myself from work and study during weekdays than having to work on weekdays and attending class on weekends.

The classes were from 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. on weeknights and the frequency depends on student’s flexibility. Students are given between 1 .5 years – 4 years to complete 51 credit hours (10 core subjects, 5 elective subjects and 1 research project). Because I wanted to complete the whole course within 2.5 years, I spent 3 weeknights (usually Mondays to Wednesdays) attending classes every semester.

Boy, doing an MBA on a part-time basis when you have a full-time job IS NOT an EASY TASK! However, at the same time, it is also NOT IMPOSSIBLE. If you are thinking of doing a part-time MBA, or currently pursuing one, read on for my version of Part-Time MBA Survival TIPS...

• Have a Positive Mindset and Understand Your Goal

Juggling work and study is NEVER EASY and most of the time it is very tiring too. Before you embark on this journey make sure that you understand your goal and purpose to take up an MBA – be it for career advancement, personal accomplishment, or whatever your life goals may be. You should always stay motivated, keep positive and have a strong will to pursue them. If you don’t have any of these, there is a high possibility that you will drop-off mid-way and never finish your MBA.

•       Make Sure Your Boss Supports Your Decision To Pursue Post-Graduate Studies

I do not suggest taking up a Master’s degree behind your boss’s back because there will be times when your work and study obligations may conflict. You may need to leave early from work on certain days, take time-off to attend an important presentation, or you may need to take a couple of days off to prepare and sit for your final examinations. Hence, it is important that your boss understands and fully supports you throughout your MBA journey.

• Get Financial Aid

An MBA course from a public university usually costs around RM25, 000- RM30, 000. The fees may double if you opt for private university. There are plenty scholarships available out there to help you fund your studies and save you from painfully forking up everything out of your own pocket. Some of the options available are:

• My Master

• Offered by Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) under the MyBrain15 scheme. Offers up to RM 10,000 for tuition fees and up to RM3, 000 for thesis allowance. For more info visit MyBrain15 website. https://biasiswa.moe.gov.my/MyBrain15/v2/index_mymaster.php 

• MARA

• MARA offers convertible loan to help you finance for your studies. The loan will be converted to a scholarship if you graduate with CGPA above a certain threshold. Do checkout MARA website for more information.

• Corporate Scholarship/Education Assistance Program

• Most companies offer scholarship/education assistance program for their employees. Talk to your Human Resource Department to find out if you can leverage from the scheme.

• Other Scholarships

• If you’re not interested in the first three options listed above, you may visit Pendidikan Malaysia website to checkout all other available scholarships for Postgraduate studies.

• Buddy Up and Make Friends with your Seniors!

It is important that you have a strong support system to keep you motivated throughout the program and the best way to get support is from those who are currently experiencing the same predicament or from those who have experienced it before you do! So make sure you have a few good buddies where you can share notes, study tips, ask questions, who can help you catch up on classes you missed, or to simply rant about stuffs. It helps to have somebody who understands what you’re going through. 

Seniors on the other hand, have been through it before. Therefore, they are your most useful source to obtain sample assignments, past year questions, second-hand books, and give you tips and tricks on how to score for a certain subject or manage a difficult lecturer.

• Don't Study At Home

I get too distracted when I study at home. There are always the TV, the fridge, the internet and other forms of distractions at home. The best way for me to study is to get away and study with a couple of friends somewhere where there are minimal distractions, peace and quiet. Some of the places you can go around Klang Valley to study are:

• Sasana Kijang Knowledge Management Center

• My favorite place to study is Sasana Kijang Knowledge Management Center. They're open only on weekdays, the facilities are well-maintained, and it is not like your typical library - you don't have have to leave your bags outside and allowed to bring in food and drinks. They have comfortable prayer room as well as a couple of cafes for when you're feeling peckish. 

• Perpustakaan Raja Tun Uda, Shah Alam

• Located in the same compound of Kelab Golf Shah Alam. Opens from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on weekdays and until 9 p.m. on weekends.

• KL Library

• Beautiful view of KL City, but reeked the smell of old books.

• Kinokuniya Cafe

• On the second floor of Kinokuniya Bookstore, KLCC. Can be noisy around lunch time

• Know Your Limits

Understanding what are your life’s constraints and knowing your limit will help you pace yourself. Some of you may have young children and other family commitments, some of you may have flexible working hours and have to travel often for work, or some of you may work in a company where the hours are crazy especially when datelines are near. Once you know your limitations, you will be able to determine how fast or how slow your pace is in completing the MBA. Some may prefer to take only 1 or 2 subjects in a semester and spread the whole course over the maximum allowable limit or some may want to complete the MBA as soon as possible. From my experience, you must also be smart enough to not take all the difficult or killer subjects at once. Always combine tough subjects like Economy with “lighter” ones such as Information Systems or Ethics. This way your load will be more balanced and this may also increase your chances to score an A!

The past 2 and a  half years have been a roller coaster ride for me. In between those years, I changed jobs, fell in love, got married and got pregnant! There have definitely been times when I question myself, “What were you thinking?” or “Why do you do this to yourself?” But at the end of the day, knowing that that I have worked very hard, pushed myself to the limits, and overcame all the challenges that come along the way, I can now say that, it has been worthwhile and it is an indeed a rewarding experience.

Before I end my post today, I will leave you with the magic quote that kept me going all these while...

"There is no such thing in life as sacrifice, there is only choice"

Till then, Good Luck!

Liv

It's Not Rocket Science

Hi everyone,

When Liv and I decided that we would start a blog together, I was super excited. I’m the kind of person who has an opinion on everything (yeahh, I’m annoying that way!), so a blog would be a cool place for me to share my thoughts with others. But I didn’t realize it would be this HARD, guys….If you haven’t noticed, ever since this blog was born,  Liv has been the one coming up with posts (such a show-off that girl, hehe).

It’s not that I don’t have anything to write about. There have been countless times when I’ve said to myself, hey, this topic would make a great blog post. But when I sat down at my keyboard, the words simply just wouldn’t come. If there’s such a thing as a novice blogger’s block, then this must be it. *sobs uncontrollably*

So after the tears have dried up for the umpteenth time, I gave this blogging thing some serious thought. I’m guessing the reason it’s soooo difficult for me to write is because I’ve been approaching it all wrong. Maybe what I need is a more structured approach to blogging. I should start by knowing what makes great blog-writing.

I turned to my BFF, Mr. Google and lucky for me, he had a lot to say. So I’ve picked the top 8 tips that resonated most with me and shared them here. Hopefully they will come handy to those of you who are thinking about writing your maiden blog post:

Tip #1: Start With A Great Title

Very important tip since the title will determine whether your posts will be read or not. You need to grab the reader’s attention in the first instance and a great title will help you do just that. So if you guys want to know what’s behind the title of this post, read on. *winks*

Tip #2: Blog From The Heart

Ask yourself, what are you passionate about? Is it fashion, travel, sports, or everything else in between? Pick a subject that you enjoy and pour your heart into it. If like me you are interested in a lot of things, then I suggest you blog about a different topic each time.

Tip #3: Write Like You Talk

This is a great piece of advice. If you write the way you speak, your readers will feel like you are having a conversation with them and this helps you build a better connection. It’s ok to use a little bit of slang or informal English occasionally if it makes your writing more relatable.

Tip #4: Make It Entertaining

I like this tip a lot. Some of the more well-written blogs I’ve come across have the ability to engage their readers through humour and wit. If what you’ve written puts a smile on someone else’s face every time, then they’ll keep coming back for more.

Tip #5: Use Pictures

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Make your blog visually attractive by using pictures to illustrate what you are writing about and enhance the reading experience for your readers.

Tip #6: Consistency is Key

It is entirely up to you to choose the frequency of your posts but decide on something reasonable and stick to it. If you are inconsistent and your readers have to wait ages for your next post, you will risk losing them.

Tip #7: Be Responsive

Encourage your readers to provide feedback or comments. When they do comment, respond to their comments and keep the interaction going. Use your blog as a platform to reach out to your readers and build a sense of community.

And last but not least…..

Tip #8: Practice, Practice, Practice

A great skill takes time to grow and this holds true for blog-writing. Don’t expect to be an overnight success but if you keep at it and not give up, you’ll get there some day. Learn from other bloggers, develop your own style and make mistakes along the way. After all, this is blog-writing, guys, not rocket science....

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to put the tips to the test while you guys check out these hilarious cartoons on blogging. ‘Till next time, byeee!

Lotsa Luv

What You Need During the First and Second Trimester of Pregnancy - Part1

Hi Guys!

So, I have just graduated from my second trimester and now I am in the awkwardly-protruding-belly-button trimester (read: third trimester). Since, I've been having this thing called "pregnancy brains" where I have trouble remembering things I thought I should pen down some of my thoughts and experience from my first and second trimester before I completely forget them.

This post is going to be all about first trimester and I will write a subsequent post to describe my second trimester experience.

I was super blessed and did not experience any morning sickness at all.  However, my blood pressure was pretty low during the first trimester, which is actually absolutely normal during early pregnancy hence I was pretty much exhausted and dizzy all the time. But other than that, Alhamdulillah,  my first trimester went on really smoothly.

What do you Need during the First Trimester of Pregnancy?

• Pregnancy Apps

As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I immediately downloaded Pregnancy Apps on both my phone and on my husband's phone. Pregnancy Apps like babycenter Pregnancy, What to Expect and BabyBump help track your pregnancy, provide you with a lot of information, tips and tricks and allow you to join community social groups so that you can connect with other expecting mothers all over the world. It is absolutely helpful especially for first-time moms.

• Set your first appointment with your preferred OB/GYN and get started on prenatal supplements

Getting a good doctor is very important during pregnancy. This is the person who will see you through your pregnancy, provide medical advice and most importantly will be the one responsible for the safe delivery of your precious baby (with Allah's will). Throughout your pregnancy, you will need to go through various examinations and tests as well as sharing intimate details about your body. So choose wisely. You need someone you're comfortable with instead of being intimidated by.In choosing a doctor, do also lookout for their historical delivery experience and it is important to choose a doctor who will support and honor your birth plans. Good doctors in Klang Valley are highly sought after. Some would actually take a few months before you get to secure your very first appointment. So as soon as you know youre pregnant start asking friends and family for references and recommendations as well as do your research online and once you have decided, call to make your first appointment. Meanwhile, get advice from your current doctor on prenatal supplements. Most doctor will recommend taking Duphaston and Acid Folic during the first trimester. You may also need a progesterone jab to strengthen your uterus if have mild bleeding during the first trimester.

• Stock-up on Pantyliners

Without being too TMI, basically the hormonal changes in your body will cause increase in discharge down there. It is very important to maintain cleanliness to avoid infections. Even more so for Muslims as we need to ensure that we are clean every time we pray, five times a day. Normally, you will need multiple pantyliner changes in one day. So always carry a few extras in your handbag!

• Stretch Mark Creams

I was told by many that stretch marks prevention must begin as early as the first trimester. So one of the first things that I bought during my first trimester was Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula for Stretch Marks. I diligently applied the butter on stretch marks prone areas (tummy and thighs) every night before I go to bed starting from 8 weeks.

However, after finishing the whole tub I decided to do more research on stretch marks and found out that cocoa butter has not been proven to reduce stretch marks! Disappointed by my new findings, I turned to my colleague who has been pregnant twice but is still slender and fabulous. She told me that Olive Oil and Virgin Coconut Oil worked wonders for her so that very same day I went to the nearest pharmacy and bought Palmer's Olive Butter Formula. They smell nice and are less stickier than the Cocoa Butter. The results? Ask me again after I give birth. 

• Pregnancy, Childcare and Parenting Books

As first-time moms, we are clueless about anything and everything. Knowledge is power, so don't be stingy in investing on good books to keep you informed on what is currently happening to your body and what to expect in the time to come. Many said that the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book is the Holy Book when it comes to pregnancy but having personally own the book, I feel like most of the content and information in the book can be found online. Personally, I prefer books that are more graphic/pictorial. There are plenty of books in the market currently so choose one that you find interesting and will not make you doze off after reading the first few pages!

• Research & Book Confinement Lady Services

Most Confinement Lady services are pre-booked way in advanced especially if you're around Klang Valley area. So make sure, researching, considering and engaging with conversations with the service providers early. Some of them require 50% deposit to secure bookings.

Things to consider when searching for Confinement Lady:

• Budget
• Stay-in/Daily Visits
• Length of Stay/Duration of Visit
• Location and Transportation Costs
• What services do you need? Do you need food to be prepared, clothes to be washed, or extra care for your newborn baby? Do you need confinement care set to be provided?

Here are some Confinement Lady options around Klang Valley you can choose from:

• Kakak Adek Confinement Therapist.  Offers various confinement packages from 3 days - 14 days. Additional fees for baby care and transportation. Contact Eni at 0176759218
• Siti Aishah Confinement. Early reservation required with 50% deposit. Fees are on per-session basis. One downside is we can't choose our preferred Confinement Lady visitation hours, as it is based on availability of Confinement Lady.  Contact Puan Mira at 016-2278421
• Jemari Tradisional. Offers stay-in Confinement Lady services. Packages can be viewed at http://rawatanbersalin.blogspot.com/. Contact Puan Rozita at 012-2431966
• Shadira Post Malay Natal Treatment. Also offers stay-in Confinement Lady. All packages can be viewed at http://shadirabeauty.com/blog/category/services/ , however I must say that the packages are a bit pricey. Contact Shadira at 012-2141 780 
• Sri Wajah Ibu. Their packages include complete postnatal set and can viewed at https://www.facebook.com/RahsiaSriWajahIbu. Contact Farhana at 013-671 1961

During the first trimester, there are a lot of things happening and changing within our body, internally without us noticing. Physically/externally, the changes can be minimal or less visible. If you don't have your morning sickness chances are there are days when you don't feel pregnant at all. Be careful and do not over exert yourself. First trimester is when your pregnancy is the most delicate so always ensure that you have plenty of rest and take things slowly.

If you are currently in your first trimester and experiencing bad morning sickness, hang in there! Keep your spirits high and always remember no good deeds go unnoticed in the "eyes" of Allah. So think about the rewards that Allah is blessing you with in exchange of the discomforts you're currently having. InsyaAllah, better days will come soon!

Till then, Keep well

Liv

My Pregnant - Hammam Experience

Do you remember the days when our moms used to bathe us? Well, my mom would get to every nook and cranny of my body and I would leave the bathroom feeling really clean and fresh. It was kinda different if it was my dad who bathe me, though - all I can remember was some quick splash of water and fighting not to get shampoo into my eyes and 5 minutes later I was already dressed. Ahh.. the good memories of childhood!

Anyway, if you ever felt like reliving your childhood memory of being bathe by someone else you should definitely head to Hammam for a Hammam and Gommage session!

What is Hammam? You may ask. Well, Hammam is a traditional Moroccan version of a Turkish Bath. Hammam in Arabic means "spreader of warmth" and you can trace its roots from Ancient Greek Roman bathhouse culture.

Hammam has been my annual birthday ritual for the past couple of years except for 2014 because unfortunately my birthday fell on the "National Mourning Day" and I thought it didn't feel right to spend the day by indulging myself with a Spa Session.

I visited the Bangsar Village II outlet recently for a Hammam, Gommage and Moorish Body polish session - I thought it will be a nice way to start the new year as well as a good way to reward myself after spending a couple of weeks studying for my MBA exams!

 

The Bathing Area (Picture credit to thestar.com.my)

Why I love Hammam? Well, A Hammam and Gommage session isn't like any other of your typical body spa session where the therapist will slather scrub all over your body and then let you soak yourself in a bath tub filled with 7 different kinds of flowers.

During a Hammam and Gommage session, the therapist will literally bathe you like a kid. To give you a better idea, let me walk you through a typical Hammam and Gommage & Moorish Body Polish session.

Before you begin, you will be taken to the Locker area where you will given disposables to cover your vital parts, a bath robe and a pair of slippers to change into. If you're not comfortable wearing disposables, you can also bring your own pair of bikini. After that, you will be brought to the Moroccan style "bathing area" which is a warm tiled room with a water trough.

Hammam and Gommage

During a Hammam session, the therapist will pour warm water all over your body and then slather you with the "Beldi Black Soap". The Beldi Black Soap is made of olives and is meant to prepare your skin for vigourous exfoliation during the Gommage session.

During the Gommage session, the therapist will use a special glove and scrub all over your body. She will get to all the nooks and cranny of your body -including the back of your ears, the folds of your legs, your armpits, so technically, every single part of your body will be covered and  all the dead skin cells will be scrubbed away! At this point, you can see literally see rolls of dead skin cells laying around  all over and around your body. It is a bit gross but very invigorating at the same time! Your skin will feel much clearer and smoother after a gommage session.

Moorish Body Polish
After you're all cleaned up and all of your dead skin cells have been removed, the therapist will then slather volcanic clay all over your body. The volcanic clay is mined from the Atlas mountains and is used as a hair and body mask to thicken hair keratin, remineralises, detoxifies and soften skin. After about 20 minutes, the therapist will again pour warm water all over your body to rid of the body mask.

Once you're all done, the therapist will then again bathe you with soap and shampoo and get this, will also pat you dry and help you put your robe back on! Once you're done with the whole session, you will be taken to the lounge area and served a nice hot mint tea and Baklava dessert to wind down.

The Lounge Area (Picture credit to thestar.com.my)

 

Things to Consider

• The bathing area in Bangsar outlet can accomodate 2 person at a time, and having someone to bathe you means that you will need to expose parts of your body to the therapist and potentially another stranger in the room. But thankfully, most of the time I was there I got the room all to myself. But if you're uncomfortable exposing yourself to total strangers then Hammam is definitely not for you.
• The bathing area can be quite warm, so it is not recommended if you're in the first trimester of your pregnancy. Always check with your OBGYN and your Hammam therapist if you plan to indulge in a Hammam session during pregnancy.
• Having said that, the therapist will take extra pecautionary care when dealing with pregnant ladies. They will ensure that you are in a comfortable position, provide support when needed and most definitely, you will not be asked to lie flat on your tummy! I also felt like the Gommage scrub was also more gentle this time around.

If you're interested on booking an appointment, you are advised to contact either their Publika or Bangsar Village II outlet at least 3 days in advanced as they usually run full. For more info, checkout their official website.


Till Then, Happy Hammam-ing!

Liv

Liv & Luv at Lunch - Red Lobster

Hi Guys! Welcome to the first episode of Liv & Luv at Lunch where we will take you guys along with us on our monthly gossip session lunch adventure.

For the month of January, we have chosen Red Lobster at The Intermark as our first Lunch Venue to feature. Every Mondays to Fridays from 12 noon - 3pm, Red Lobster offers Value Lunch Set which comprises of one soup, one main course (6 options to choose from), and bottomless drinks.

Other than the Value Lunch Set, you can also choose from their Ala Carte Menu. Red Lobster is famous for their fresh Live Maine or Live Rock Lobsters. They also offer Snow Crab Legs, Shrimps, Scallops, Salmon as well as a variety of steaks, chicken and pastas dishes too. But we were not feeling too glutton fancy that day so we opt for something which is a bit simpler. The Shrimp Combo from the Value Lunch Set, the Lobster Pizza (this is actually listed under the Starter category but was quite filling) and Lobster Bisque soup.
 

 Lobster Bisque (RM11.90 per cup, RM19.90 per bowl

and

Mushroom Soup (comes with the set lunch)

Both soups were average and there's nothing to shout about the accompanying garlic bread either.

Lobster Pizza RM36.90

The Lobster Pizza has a very thin almost biscuit-like crust. It's generously topped with Maine Lobster pieces but again, taste-wise - average.

Shrimp Combo RM28.95

The Shrimp combo consists of 4 pieces of Butterflied Fried Shrimp fried to golden brown and 4 pieces of Parrot Isle Jumbo Shrimp hand dipped in Red Lobster's signature batter then tossed with coconut and fried to golden brown. It is served with their signature pina colada sauce, chilli sauce and fries. We were actually having different say on this one, I thought both shrimps were delicious but the presentation was a bit odd considering they mix normal fries and criss cut fries on the same plate. Luv, on the other hand, didn't like the coconut prawn thingy which looked savoury but was sickly sweet instead.

One thing we didn't realize until the point of writing this blog post as the description wasn't clearly written in the Value Lunch Set menu and wasn't advised by the waiter was their "pina colada" dipping sauce. We were not sure if the pina colada contains alcohol or was virgin. If you're a Muslim, this is definitely something you need to check with the waiter.



All in all, we had a good catch-up session over "average" food. No wonder my boss told me that in Canada, Red Lobster was just like another fast food chain restaurant instead of a "Fine-Dining" restaurant. The food was definitely of fast food chain quality, if not, only slightly better. We will definitely not be coming back to this restaurant anytime soon.



Our Overall Verdict:

Taste:5/10

Service: 8/10

Ambiance: 7/10

Presentation: 4/10

Value for Money: 6/10



Red Lobster has recently opened its doors at Quill City Mall, Jalan Sultan Ismail and Gamuda Walk, Shah Alam. Details of the Intermark outlet are listed below:

THE INTERMARK KL
Lot G-17, The Intermark,
348, Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur.

 03-2181 4855

Operating Hours:
Restaurant : 11AM - 10PM (Mon-Sun)
BarBar : 11AM - 12AM (Sun-Thurs)
11AM - 2AM (Fri-Sat)

For more information on Red Lobster, you may visit their Facebook page or their official website. 



Where to SHOP for Maternity Wear

Hi there! I hope it is not too late to wish everyone a Happy New Year! 2014 flew by so fast, I can't believe it's 2015 - the year that I will, insyaAllah, become a mother!

Anyway, in the spirit of new year, I thought I'd share some information on where to shop for fashionable (but comfortable) maternity wear. I have been delaying buying maternity wear for myself because I don't think I'll get much use of them after the pregnancy. I used the belly belt/extender for jeans or pants I could not zip up until my bump started to visibly show and growing bigger rapidly at 20 weeks and suddenly my jeans/pants started to feel really snug even with the extender! That's when I started scouring for Maternity Wear and discovered the boutiques listed below:

1) Mothercare

The easiest solution when you want to look for anything related to pregnancy and early motherhood. However, not all Mothercare stores carry the Maternity line but I know for sure that the one in BSC, KLCC and Midvalley do. I got a few of my work pants (the over the bump type) and jeans from Mothercare BSC whilst they're on sale - 40% off. I must say it was quite a good deal. Alternatively, you can shop online (though the online selection is quite limited) at www.mothercare.com.my

2) Camomile Spring

I have been to their quaint little store located at Bangsar Village II and they also have another outlet in Setia City Mall. They're collections are more extensive as compared to Mothercare and they also carry some nursing and baby products at the store. Their website is also up-to-date with plenty of selections so if you like to shop virtually, head to http://www.springmaternity.com/ 

3) 9 months

9 months offer fashionable and affordable maternity wear. I must say that their collection is quite extensive ranging from sleepwear to workwear to casual wear and most importantly they're not heavy on the wallet too! They have a few stores around KL - Pavilion, The Curve, Empire Subang to name a few or alternatively you can shop online at http://www.9monthsmaternity.com/ 

4) Mothers en Vogue

I personally have not bought anything from MEV but I have been to the store in Pavilion. The website quotes in SGD and I am not sure if they ship to Malaysia. Out of the other 3 options I listed above, by far, MEV offers the most stylish options but the collections can be quite expensive too.

Check them out at http://www.mothersenvogue.com/ 

5) Fabulous Mom, TTDI

I have not personally been to the store but found the website during my online research - http://www.fabulousmom.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=23_112. Apparently they have a few stores scattered around KL and also branches in Johor and Kuantan. 

The one nearest to me is the TTDI store, address and info below:

136A, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi
Taman Tun Dr. Ismail,
60000 Kuala Lumpur. 
Tel: 03-77296088
Fax:03-77297088
Email: ttdi@fabulousmom.com
Opening hours:10am to 8pm DAILY 

6) Nurita Harith for Modernmom

If you're up for a little bit of splurge, then Nurita Harith for Modernmom is definitely for you. I have a few items from this collection (the Iza Top, the Nadia Pants, the Anna Skirt and the Julika Dress - i love the Ellery Dress but they're a bit short for me) and I must say they're made of the most comfortable and flowy material that requires minimal ironing (an absolute bonus). They're priced between RM239 - RM399. I absolutely think that the collection transcends beyond pregnancy (with minor alternations, of course) so it is definitely value for money. The salesperson at Modernmom Midvalley told me that they are currently working on Aidilfitri collaboration with Nurita Harith. That is something to look forward to though I do hope that I won't be needing maternity clothes anymore during Raya.

Please also note that the Nurita Harith collection is available at major Modernmom outlets only - Midvalley, Sogo, Putrajaya, One Utama and Sunway Pyramid. If these places are bit too far from you, you may buy the collection online from http://modernmum.com.my/v3/index.php?route=product/category&path=59  or from FashionValet but I strongly recommend for you to check the measurements thoroughly before buying because the sizes tend to be different for every design. 

Till Then, Happy Shopping!

Liv

What's in my Travel Make-up Bag

I am currently away on business in Singapore and I thought I'd share with you - what's in my travel bag.

I am not the full-faced make up kind of person. I usually just go for the "my skin but better" looks, just so that i don't look like a zombie. So I don't really carry a tonne of make up products when I travel. But trust me these are the basics you need when you're on-the-go:

1. Laura Mercier foundation primer (travel size)

2. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude (travel size)

3. Laniege BB Cushion in Natural Beige (full size) - I used this interchangeably with the Tinted Moisturizer depending on my mood (this product works wonders too)

4. Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in No.4 (full size) - For under eye and spot corrections

5. Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color in Rose Bloom (travel size) - not highly pigmented but does the work to give you rosycheeks 

6. Chanel Le Blanc Compact Foundation in 22 Beige Rose (full size) - to set the moisturizer and give the face the matte effect

7. My trusty and the only lipstick I ever need in my life - my YSL lipstick. I am not sure of the actual shade as the description at the bottom of the lipstick has worn off (shows how much I overuse this lipstick). It is very moisturizing and has a glossy finish so you can definitely just leave your lip balm and lip gloss at home. Sometimes I double my lipstick as a blusher too - just dab a little on the apples of the checks, blend away and voila! Dont forget to mattify it with a bit of powder though. Did i tell you the lipstick smells wonderful too? 

I usually carry a miniature perfume in this bag too but I have ran out of one so i just carry my full sized DKNY apple perfume in my luggage. (Mental note: need to buy a few at the airport on my way back)

Notice I do not have any brushes in my make-up bag? That's because I am a firm believer that your hands are your best make up tool. The back of your hand is your pallete and your fingers are your brushes!

Before I end this post, thought I'd share with you a picture of the infamous Orchard $1 ice-cream sandwich (now $1.20 though). A must have when you're strolling along Orchard Road!

Ciao from Singapore!

Liv