I’ve not looked at my page in such a long time and I realized that we’re halfway done with 2013. It’s been a rough couple of months, but I’m really excited I’ve gotten this far.

2013 has been ridiculous. On top of my ridiculously hectic work schedule, I’ve learned so much more about myself, relationships and of course, made new besties along the way. What woman in the 21st century wouldn’t appreciate that?!

Two more months and I reach another significant milestone in life – turning 23. Well, it’s nothing like turning 25, or 30, but I think celebrating a new age is something worth popping bottles of champagne for. I feel like I’ve achieved more in my life after turning 22 than I ever did. On top of getting promoted to senior writer at Lipstiq.com, I’ll be seeing myself as the Editor soon. I think this calls for an epic celebration on my 23rd birthday.

Little vacations help too! I planned a trip to Bangkok with a friend of mine and it was possibly the most fun I’ve ever had in months. Spending hours under the sun by the pool, having Pad Thai on a daily basis and giving my eyes a chance to absorb all that veritable eye candy.

2013 has shaped up to be a real adventure. The adventure I never thought I’d find growing up. Also, did I mention I cut my hair pretty short? Yes, welcome the second half of 2013 in style and hope you don’t tumble and fall.

Let’s raise our glasses to the month of June, with hopes the second half of 2013 takes it easy, although I highly doubt it. But oh well, wishful thinking, right?

Blame it on the revival of Lisa Frank, or the never-ending rise of Hello Kitty and being exposed to it, but I have to say, I’m beginning to get a little a little excited about pink everything. Pink nail polish is an eternal classic, but with the colored hair craze, I’ve started experimenting with shades of pink.. on my hair… with food coloring.

Oh yes, I went there. Didn’t matter that my laptop’s already smothered in kissable pink decals, and opting for equally crazy pink workout-headphones, but I decided to give the blonde side of my hair, a drench of pink! And because I can’t really afford Manic Panic and I’m too afraid to damage my hair with more pigmentation, I figured a little food coloring will be a little less intimidating (it washes off anyways).

Let’s not forget studs. Studs are pretty important too – they add a little edge to my sudden liking of pink. I’ll do my very best to avoid pastel makeup to avoid looking like an over-burnt macaron.

A new time for new adventures, new discoveries, and more importantly, new feelings. I was honestly not enthusiastic about welcoming 2013, but realizing how eventful 2012 was, I reckon it was time to just take a deep breath, put my best food forward and embrace what the world has in store for me.

Now, I may have missed out on a Christmas post, but let me just express how I’m really enjoying some time off from my laptop. As much as I love my darling laptop, smothered in fingerprints, grime and dead ants (I have no idea how…), my eyes need a break. And it’ll just be soon until I end up looking like the “IMMA CHARGIN..” internet meme.

Speaking of memes, I’d like to indulge in two seconds of your time, showing off how I spent New Year’s Eve.

How I wish I spent New Year’s Eve. .

What I really did on New Year’s Eve..

So..That’s that.  Oh, yes. All sorts of no-good activities involving female genitals. I kid, I spent New Year’s Eve indulging in sobriety, karaoke and the company of Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart. It’s been 13 days since that night, and I’m still recovering from the intensity of that song. Absolute magic!

January Finds

My makeup bag also decided to give itself a change of scene. I should let you know just how much I’ve been raiding Topshop lately, especially the makeup counter. I’m obsessed with their lipsticks and everything they have, so I went on a rampage and bought a load of lipsticks, an eyeshadow palette (to replace my Urban Decay’s Roller-girl Palette that miraculously disappeared and left my heart broken), and a lip crayon of crimson sparkle.

I also picked up a Mulberry-inspired handbag over at Topshop. It’s a solid piece, and can I just say that it’s the first handbag I’ve ever bought in over a year. Extremities! I could sleep with it. And I have. But I’m going to be a total sweetheart to share the swatches of my picks with you.

One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to bless myself with healthy skin. And while my face is quite alright with the exception of ingrown hairs on my eyebrows, my pits needed care. Armpits. You read it right! I learned how deodorant can actually increase your risk of breast cancer. I believe it had something to do with nodes and circulation, so I’ve opted for a natural deodorant from Sukin that smells like spa. Truly the best way to start the New Year, right?

What are things you’re holding on to for New Year’s?

Hello again to all my lovely readers out there! I want you to take a quick 5 minutes from my sleep and work to introduce you to John, my first guest-blogger, who will be sharing a little something about the importance of your hearing. Don’t forget to check out his blog and show some love!  In the meantime, you can keep up with me as I write my articles on Lipstiq.com or follow me on Tumblr!

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Hi my name is John O’Connor, I am a father, outdoorsman and passionate about living a healthy lifestyle.  Over the past few years I have become more and more interested in hearing loss.  My father and grandfathers, who are and were all hunters, are affected by hearing loss.  I feel that there is a general lack of understanding around the issue and it is our job to spread awareness where we can.  Check out my new blog at bloggingwjohno.blogspot.com!

Hunting, Loud Noise, and Hearing Loss

When you are out hunting, the last thing that you may be thinking about is protecting your ears. But just like you make sure you’re wearing appropriate clothing and bringing the right gear, you should take precautions to protect your hearing as well.

Our ears work basically by capturing sound waves and transferring the signal to the brain. The outer ear, which is the part we can see, brings sound waves into the ear canal. Sounds vibrate the eardrum, a tiny thin tissue that separates the canal from the inner ear. The eardrum in turn vibrates three tiny bones (or ossicles), which magnify sounds and carry them into the inner ear. The cochlea, a spiral shaped fluid filled chamber, has tiny hair cells inside that turn the sound vibrations into neurologic signals that the brain can understand.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when something happens to damage the hair cells or the nerves in the inner ear. This type of hearing loss can lead to deafness, and is often permanent. There are several causes for nerve damage in the ear, but a major reason is acoustic trauma, which is damage caused by loud noise.

Acoustic trauma can be caused by sounds such as from your hunting rifle, or constant listening to loud music or machinery at work. Loud noises can kill off the nerve endings in the inner ear.  The more that die, the worse hearing becomes. And once they’re dead, they’re gone – the nerve endings don’t grow back. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, sounds louder than 80 or 85 decibels (about as loud as traffic on a busy street or a subway) can damage the nerve cells in the ear if it’s constant. They list the sound of a shotgun at about 170 decibels.

Ringing in the ears is one sign that the nerve cell endings are damaged, but you may notice a gradual worsening in your hearing over time. It may become harder and harder to understand what people are saying, or your family may complain that you are not hearing them. If you notice a change in your hearing, talk to your doctor or health care professional about getting a formal hearing test.

If you have hearing loss, a hearing aid may help. Your doctor may refer you to an otolaryngologist or an audiologist to make sure if, and what type of hearing aid is right for you. However, preventing new or further damage to your ears every time you hunt or are otherwise exposed to loud noise is as or even more important. One form of ear protection is snugly fitting earplugs. The other is the earmuff type that fit over the ear, making a seal to keep sound out. These are available in pharmacies, hardware stores, and your hunting supply shop.

I have to apologize for that dreadfully long blogging hiatus I’ve taken. To be fair, I’ve really missed blogging. I miss the process of drafting and publishing, and checking out my first ‘Like’ and ‘Follow’ which led me to stalk your awesome blogs and keep myself inspired.

Should I introduce myself again? Maybe I should…It’s been months, after all!

Hi, I’m Evie. My real name’s Genevieve, but I seem comfortable with Evie since it’s a syllable shorter than the real name. I turned 22 in August, and my celebration was null. If you’ve yet to turn 22, don’t bother celebrating your 22nd birthday.Instead, celebrate your last day as a 21-year old with a bang. No, don’t get into trouble.

I recently found myself a job that I am in love with. I left my job as a copywriter and now write for a Malaysian women’s lifestyle portal, Lipstiq.com. Yes, I’m officially a writer and I have blogging to thank! If you wanted to make money out of blogging, get that outta yo head! The right way of saying is “building a career out of blogging”. Now, I don’t want to sound preachy, so instead, I’m presenting an itty bitty Instagram collage of the things I’ve been up to during my social hiatus.

I’ve been wicked tired lately, so much that I can’t even be bothered to put on any pants. And oh, I’m single and back on the market. I found myself back on OkCupid again, and it’s also where I met my ex-boyfriend, Kevin. Life is sad, sometimes.

1. Submarine’s an awesome film to watch when you’re heartbroken.
2. First day at the new work place!
3. Delightful invitations – Opening of the first H&M store in Malaysia!
4. Got as close as I could to Prince William. <3
5. First look at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Oh lala!
6. Interviewing British boy band, The Wanted. They were such sweethearts!
7. Met Malaysian indie sweetheart, Yuna.
8. Mystery Jets Live in KL. First gig in ages!
9. Drinking classy mineral water, because I apparently needed proof.

10. First dibs on H&M in Malaysia
11. Best breakfast I ever had in weeks. Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon and Hollandaise sauce.
12. Meet my new friend! He needs someone to adopt him by the way!
13. Post-Margarita Bailey-infused Brownies. Absolute class.
14. Someone’s got legs!
15. iTunes Playlist Redux.
16. Fantastic show by British indie outfit, Spector.
17. Interviewed Rockapella Finnish rock-gods, FORK.
18. I finally put something in my piercing that was absent for 5 years.

In the meantime, due to a hectic schedule, I’ll do my very best to blog every weekend. I miss you all so much!

I’d just like to let you know that I will be taking a blogging hiatus for a bit. All’s good, but I just need some time to focus on my uni assignments that I seem to be putting off.

All is well. I’ll be back soon with some very special announcements.

Until then, have a lovely weekend. I’ll see you all very soon.

I’ve also jumped on the Tumblr bandwagon and I usually put up quick posts on there, so feel free to catch up with me there!

evienereal.tumblr.com

Until then, my precious swans.

Stay beautiful.

I’m currently in love with with this online shopping trend. It can be a risk shopping online for clothes and shoes, especially when you can’t really tell if it fits, but with return policies, can you resist? Trendy Confessions, Friendly Fashion and Zalora Malaysia are my current haunts. I’ve got browser history to prove it. With so much colors, scrolling and clicking to do, it makes it hard to put my Macbook down and continue my assignments! With that obsession, I’ve decided to compile numerous items under RM100 to help you ladies revamp your look! I know it can be hard and sometimes expensive, but all you need is something bold. That’s my take anyways!

Colored-Blazers

A serious investment, if you ask me. A colored-blazer can take you from work to a night out with the girls and minimum effort is required. I truly believe in the power of a colored blazer – It’s tailored to look sharp and professional and it makes a rugged, rock-star look a little smart. I can’t say no to blazers and it’s personally style philosophy to me. It would be a great item to have in your closet especially when it seems like you have nothing to wear. A dash of color will take you from Blah to Woah. Here’s a couple of pre-loved ones from the members of Friendly Fashion!

Bright and Bold in Pink (RM50)

Crisp & Clean in White (RM65)

Flirty with a Scalloped-Twist in Grey (RM40)

Live it Loud in Floral (RM30)

Galaxified Everything

I know everyone’s picking up on the Galaxified trend. I stumbled upon it and actually thought it was a pretty cool idea! It’s probably the inner nerd in me who like Battlestar Galactica and random space skittles, but honestly, I think it’s neat.

Assuming you’re pretty happy with what you have, but you feel like doing something a little out of the ordinary, and don’t really intend on going through the hassle of buying a new pair of jeans and waiting for it season..You could just grab a pair from your closet and leave it to Nadee, a maven that takes your shoes, jeans and bags into a galaxy far, far away. If your pair of beloved skinny jeans are beginning to fade (and not in the good way), post it to Nadee and for RM40, you can get your pants Galaxified! If you’d like it a little discreet, how about buying a pair of Galaxified shoes for only RM40?

Nadee also does Aztec designs!

If you would like more information, please visit Nadee’s blogshop Nadee’s Shoes .

Nifty Accessories

I’m still learning the ways of accessorizing but I’m slowly getting the hand of it! I find that it helps to pick out something that’s really bold to help amp-up a simple look. It would also mean that I would not have to pile up on more accessories. I can do without the arm candy once a while, k? But anywho, here’s my pick of pretty little things I’d like to get my hands on courtesy of Zalora Malaysia!

For the Love of Curves

Now, a little something for my plus-sized beauties, Trendy Confessions will be giving you beautiful ladies a little treat this month! Since it’s a month of various festivities, the sisters behind Trendy Confessions would like to pamper you to their clothing that’s sweet as candy. A discount for new arrivals AND items on sale, how could you resist this sweet, sweet deal. (Please note that discounts NOT APPLICABLE for corsets).

With a new range recently launched, here are my top picks that I am seriously hoping to get my hands on for my birthday! I’m seeing whimsical chiffon, flirty, vibrant hues and batwing-sleeves! I’m so in love! Je t’aime!

PS : They’re all under RM100!

I hope this posts gives you a little inspiration to go out there and do something to take your look to another level. As this is just a little teaser of what I love, definitely look at the things you like and start compiling your wishlist. It’ll give you some ideas as to what will work for you and suits your personality.

Until next time, m’dears!

Peace and love!

On my way back from Melbourne, I got my grubby hands on a copy of Australia’s Cosmopolitan magazine. I needed some pink to read on the flight back. A quick glance led me to a “How To” about budgets. I’ve been through a lot a budgeting articles, but apart from my lack of commitment, a lot of them are just a bit to challenging for me. Maybe it’s my inner dumb-blonde (no offense to blondes) but I think a daily step-by-step plan is what I need to start saving.

Change should be a life-long habit to me, especially when your mind has it’s own version of ADHD. Brain’s all over the place! I’m also an impulsive person, which would result to me being an impulse spender. Most days, I think about buying a dozen pair of shoes to go on top of my existing dozen. Same goes with tops and jeans. And maybe lipstick. Lipstick is probably the best investment for any woman to make and it’s even better when you have variety. Pardon me, but I wear colors on my lips according to my moods.

So, with that weird anecdote, it’s quite obvious that I have a financial problem due to my twisted financial philosophy. Let’s not forget the urge to even buy the magazine. I’ve decided to commit to Cosmopolitan’s money makeover. Charting and sharing will be necessary, so to see how I’m doing, please drop by every week.

Each week, I will expose 10 daily challenges proposed by CosmopolitanAU. So, drop by every week!

Be Richer

by the

End of the Month*

Day 1: Make a list.

Creating a checklist is a first step to recovery. Work out what you have and what you owe and note down interest rates for any loans or bills. I’ve created an organized checklist, prioritizing debts of the largest sum.

Day 2: Note your expenses

I think this is where I need to start using my weird skill for details for the greater good. Every little thing, including the set of stamps to the cup of bubble tea, to the emergency cab will be written down. Add it up and subtract the figure from take-home pay. Combine with yesterday’s figures to get your monthly budget.

Day 3: Make a virtual money mood board

“Get past the day-three-detox-slump by focusing on your end game: do you want to pay off your debts, buy a car, go travelling, save for an apartment? Swap your iPhone screensaver for a pic that will inspire you to stay in the saving zone”.

I found this lovely quote after some intense Googling. It’s definitely a great reminder that all the hard work and easy-living will pay off! Perhaps doll it up with some pretty effects with Pixlr-o-Matic.

From this…

…to this!

Day 4 : Shrink your debt.

“If you have a lot of debt, consider moving it to zero per cent balance transfer credit”.Hrmm..Considering I do not own a credit card, I’m gonna skip this one.

Day 5: Spend nothing.

This might be a little tricky since I never leave home without my wallet, and you never know when an emergency arises. But Cosmo advises to leave the wallet at home, pack lunch and feel proud that a dime hasn’t been spent. I will be carrying a 10 just in case, though.

Day 6 : Be credit savvy.

Custom cards – Do you REALLY need them?

This activity, also meant for credit card users, suggests confirming the interest rates and annual payments of your cards. Think hard about the rewards points. Unless if you travel a lot, I would reckon signing up your credit card for the airline rewards like Malaysia Airlines do. Every point counts, and a good accumulation would lead to a free flight. As terms apply, I reckon doing some homework before you start shopping as this article IS about saving. So, maybe give it a miss?

If you’ve cancelled your cards, how about doing cutting them into guitar-picks and give it to some hungry musicians or donate them to a children’s music school. Or sell them for a dollar at a flea market.

Day 7: Go shopping.

Photo credit : Paper Pastries

Not the kind of shopping where you treat yourself to a pair of earrings because you’ve done such a good job at not spending, but the kind of shopping to help keep your finances balanced out and organized. “Buy cardboard folders for all your bills and statements, and put everything in separate files”.

Day 8: Pack your lunch.

“Cook a big, hearty soup filled with beans and veggies and freeze into five one-portion servings for the coming week”. I love this idea. I like packing something good to work so I don’t feel so pathetic when I’m slumping in my desk while everyone’s out for lunch. I love making Pea and Ham Soup. It’s so hearty and the flavors are intense. But here’s a little something unique by my favorite culinary maven, Joy The Baker.

Roasted Garlic Soup with Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

Day 9 : Go cash-only.

I guess this is a habit that I really need to take seriously. Simply allocate a budget you NEED for the next five days and take out the exact amount in cash and not spend a cent more. Sounds easy, but easier said than done. But let’s rock this anyways!

Day 10 : Plan your petrol-buying.

I don’t drive a car, but as a driver, do you keep track of the daily fuel price? If you don’t, maybe it’s time that you do. But if you’re like me, depending on public transportation is fairly manageable, but there are days when things aren’t going so smoothly, and you might need some emergency cab money!

* Content from the August ’12 issue of Cosmopolitan AU.

This is the end of Part I so be sure to drop by next week for more tips!

Peace and love, beautiful people!

But before I excite myself with all those future plans, let’s focus on the weekend. I’m lethargic, there’s a storm in my belly and all I can think about is streaming Breaking Bad without lags. But as Malaysian internet is as gnarly as KeI$ha’s everything and as predictable as dubstep, I’m just gonna publish a pic-heavy post about my cravings. Pinterest satisfied me today with the awesome selecta today. Also, I’ve got a Period-Mixtape to make for someone. Oooh yeaaaa….

Also, it might be time for some new ink.

It’s the weekend, people. Now, repeat after me..

Today is a brand new day

A fresh start

Replace any negativity with positivity

Think happy thoughts

Exercise

Drink lots of water

Fill your body with fuel

Heathy is happy

Inspire yourself

Create

Laugh

Play

Go for a run

Do some sit-ups

Give someone a compliment

Make a new friend

Tell yourself you are beautiful

Spread love

Be kind and create good karma

Take chances

Experience

Photo Credit: Luella & June

Do you see that big “Vote For Me” sign on the right? Do click on it. If you’re required to sign up, just do it! Not because of the votes, but Friendly Fashion is all about giving/swapping/selling your old goods to someone who’d like to show it some love. And that’s amazeballs!

If I do get a chance to be the Top 15, I’d love to be one to represent Malaysian plus-sized women and to also share my passion for cruelty-free cosmetics and beauty products.

Being one of the Friendly Fashion’s 15 Bloggers would also entitle me to awesome perks such as:-
Attending various events that  FF has been invited to.
An Official FF Blogger kit.
Readership of over 20,000 visitors a week.
FF promoting your blog in our social media channels
A chance to be officially associated with DiGi WWWOW Awards Online Shop of the Year.

If you follow my random rants on Twitter and seen my “tasteful” tweets about getting your vote. But really, your votes mean so much to me. I’ve always wanted to write when I was a child. I used to hide behind my pile of my fan fiction written in those exercise notebooks we kids used in school and here I am, writing and publishing my work over the internet. This blog has taken a long way. Heck, it’s even a legit source of a writing portfolio for job applications and it’s helped guided me through a good path.

With that, I have to thank all you bloggers out there for being that source of inspiration to me. They inspired me not just to commit to writing, but touching on fitness, humour, entertainment, beauty, etc. Show these blogs love some. I’m serious!

 Commander In Chic
Janis Wings
Into Mind
Care By Me
Funk’s House of Geekery
Travistation
SheerGlitz
Gnostic Bent
Frances Cannot Write
Fat Girl, PhD

So, please please vote for me as your favorite blogger so that I can give people a voice. I’m no politician, but I do hope to represent something I feel strongly about. That’s always a win, right?