CoQ10

Last night while waiting for Desmond to pick me up from Vivo, I decided to shop around. Lately, I am so crazy over skincare and have been eyeing on this Korean cosmetic and skin shop at the basement of Vivio. I decided to buy some mask sheets from the shop to try. Thought mask sheets are rather convenient cos unlike my Sothys wipe off mask, I can just use the sheets and then throw away. Super duper convenient for a busy mum.

There was a great selection of mask sheets, all of different ‘flavours’. Red wine, vitamin C orange, aloe vera, ginseng, mud, etc. All their masks contain CoQ10. CoQ10 works as an antioxidant. They can ‘eat’ up all the harmful free radicals. . Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but environmental toxins (including ultraviolet light, radiation, cigarette smoking, and air pollution) can also increase the number of these damaging particles. Free radicals are believed to contribute to the aging process as well as the development of a number of health problems including heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants such as CoQ10 can neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause! I first knew of CoQ10 from 女人我最大。
Ok, back to the mask sheets. They cost between $4.90 to $6.90 each and when you buy 5 sheets, you get one free. In addition, if you spend more than $50, you will get a free facial worth $167. Needless to say, I got my free gifts!!

When I went home that evening, I tried the vitamin C orange mask excitedly. First impression, smells good and hmm..i can sense traces of AHA cos it feels “prickly” on my skin. After a while, the “prickly” feeling went away. I removed it after 15 mins. Nothing impressive can be seen on my face except that it is moisten by the serum. The next morning, my face is not as oily (usually my t zone will be very oily upon waking up) and it seemed brighter. Tonight I shall try the red wine mask sheet.

Bored

I am feeling bored, so I decided to change my blogskin. Kinda therapeutic right, watching the little boats sail pass...

Consumerism

I was introduced to this book, Michel Ende’s Mo Mo by one of my colleague. Nice story. It is about the concept of time and how it is used by modern societies.. The theme is something which we can relate to. However, I find that it is a bit too profound to be labeled as a children’s fiction. Nevertheless, the situation that Ende described in that world is so similar to our world. Work so hard, no time left to yourself and your loved ones and unable to appreciate the things in life. The characters in the story had their time sucked dry by the time thieves. Although their first intention was to have more time for other times and trying to deposit time (saving their time) with the Timesaving bank. The irony of it is that they end up having lesser and lesser time. Taking a step deeper (or what sociologists term as sociological imagination), is it really about time saving? I would like to think that it is more of human’s greed and their insatiable desire for material comforts. And the root cause of this? I think it is consumerism. I am too a slave to consumerism. However, I will definitely make time for my loved ones and family. These ties are just too precious to be torn apart by the big C.

Experiences

Isaac had sore throat, cold, cough and fever yesterday – yes, the flu package. Fortunately, he is feeling better now, after eating the medicine. Falling sick for babies is part and parcel of their growing up and their body’s natural way of building up immunity against bacteria and virus, just like experiences are part and parcel of building up our life’s immunity. Experience, 经验 ---–人生的肥料。 它 灌溉和丰富人的生命， 没有了它，人生就不会那么多姿多彩。 无论是好的或是坏的，它都能让人得到启示，从中吸取经验。人在每一个生命的阶段都会有不同的经验。 是酸是甜是苦是辣， 就有代寻味。所以我们一定要放开胸外，享受它的过程！

So Romantic

A nice song from 刘耕宏

窗外开始下起毛毛雨
云遮住了星星
夜生了还没有睡意
翻来覆去的想你
时钟滴答滴答的声音像在说我爱你
转过两点三点到六点 恨不得快点见到你
幸福的距离 就算万公里 在你眼里有我想要的勇气
从南极飞到北极 南京到北京 你的笑胜过那些美景
我们勾勾手就一言为定 我会傻傻得好好的爱你
你的名加我的姓 永远在一起拥抱多国千言万语
什么是爱 是需要是习惯是无奈
还是碰不到的梦幻
长夜漫漫而我却无力平衡伤感
一次又一次不断
看着声明随着呼吸转化成为遗憾
不想再让回忆推向失落的尘埃
就算希望退败幸福到不了现在
被隔离在外
不自觉还有些期盼
就让心穿透时空布幔
脱离现实的错乱
在此和你相伴直到永恒的星海

Miss Ya

I have not been to the theatre for so long. My last show was “Cabaret” and it was like so many months already. I am interested to watch ‘Happy Endings, Asian boys Vol. 3’ because of the content and because one of my ex NSF is in the show. I wanted to show my support for him and see him shine in production. I always knew he has talents in this aspect, Keep it up, PG!

I love to watch Ivan Heng, Beatrice Chia and Eleanor Wong’s production. Controversial, hilarious and thought provoking. Hey my Charlie angels, when shall we go and watch a play? I miss theatre, I miss my weekly mahjong sessions and most importantly, I miss you gals!

Take stock and buy more

Last Sunday, I decided to sort out my shelf in the master bedroom toilet. The shelf is full of my cosmetics and my skincare products and of course, not to mention, my stash of free gifts. I packed, shelf by shelf, discarding all those that were past its expiry date (hey hey, more excuses to buy new products again); putting the same category of products together. First shelf will be my daily usage products; second shelf, my cosmetics; third shelf, my perfumes and hair products; fourth shelf, my skincare and lastly, my manicure/pedicure set and the nail polishes. So happy, now that I have taken stock of my possessions, I know what I need to buy liao.

Me and my free gifts

I was talking to one of my colleague last week about my obsession with sale and free gifts. I love free gifts. In fact, I succumbed to this marketing gimmick 2x last week.

The first one was at Crabtree and Evelyn. I originally set out to buy a roll on by Crabtree and Evelyn. This roll on has a super duper cool case. It is silver and is longish, just like a 泡泡茶straw. I saw one of my colleagues from another centre was using it and was immediately drawn to its casing. I stepped into the store, selected the fragrance for the roll on and the salesgirl said, “oh, it is the Great Singapore Sale (GSS) right now and we are having a promotion, if you spent up to $100, you will have $30 dollars discount.” Not bad right, that means a 30% discount for my purchases. I scanned the shop and decided to buy a powder of the same fragrance (layering will make the scent last longer, haha), 2 bottles of organic jam (hey Desmond, I did not forget you in my shopping) and 1 tin of biscuit (yes, the yummy double chocolate biscuit!). So my purchases totaled up to $104 and I paid $74. Very satisfied with my purchases.

The second one was at Body shop. I was supposed to buy a cleanser and body foam for Desmond. He told me to get from NTUC but heck lah, it is the Great Singapore Sale, so I decide to get someone nice for him over at Body Shop. I chose the aloe vera cleanser for sensitive skin and the lemon and lime shower gel for him. Two of my colleague also bought the showering gel which was on sale. We made our way to the cashier. The cashier started to say, “As part of the GSS, we are giving this set of free gift to purchases of more than $65 dollars.” Not bad, a chamomile makeup remover, grape seed shower gel, vitamin E cream cleanser, lip-gloss and vitamin E cream. So I decided to get this chamomile facial blotter to make up the shortfall and I GOT THE SET OF FREE GIFT!!!

Desmond and I posing in front of the ballroom

That’s the three of us posing in front of “Just Married”

From this moment

Sunday was my cousin-in-law’s customary and wedding. Her wedding celebrations spanned across two Sundays, two islands and two hotels. In case you are wondering she must be some tai tai..hehe..no lah..She is just a simple SWEET girl who wants nothing but the best memories for herself, her hubby, her family and her friends.

3rd June 07 – She had her ROM over at Rasa Sentosa..by the beach…so romantic…She arrived at the solemnisation venue in a buggy, driven by her daddy. The weather was sunny but thankfully breezy. She then had her wedding lunch in the resort’s ballroom. It was like a mini wedding dinner with all the march in as well as the video shows. Very typical of all weddings but so sweet. Ok Ok, I am a sucker for weddings.

10th June 07 – Customary and hey hey…it was my first time being offered tea by the newly weds. It was a very funny experience. Standing there (we can’t sit when they offer us tea cos we are of the same generation), being called ‘da ge’ and ‘da sao’ …it is so hilarious and we felt so important. For this occasion, I even bought a ‘life baby’ romper for Isaac with the word 喜喜 at the side.

Dinner at Conrad International. It was extremely nostalgic for Desmond and myself. Reason being her march in song was the same as what we have chosen for ours 2 years back. It brought tears to my eyes as I see the newly wed, walking in slowly, in tune with the song. So happy for the couple. May they be bless with eternal bliss ….

i decided to share some notes on the skincare and makeup products i've used thus far... Check them out at http://zhupa.multiply.com

Warped logic

I am disgusted, utterly and truly disgusted.
Background of scenario:
A bought B a birthday gift. A loves the gift so much that she asked if B would like to exchange the gift. A will buy B another one and will keep the original gift she bought for herself. B agreed since she prefers the other gift. C who is supposed to buy A her birthday gift, heard of this ‘exchange’, decides to then, out of convenience, ‘buys’ this original gift from A. So that she will not need to crack her head and spend time buying it. But the policy is that you can only claim $15 from the amount. Anything over and above, you will have to fork out from your own pocket. So C asked if everyone in the office wants to share. So out of nothing, the rest got to pay for it. I am pissed! Not because I have to pay the amount, pissed because of the rationale behind it. Just because of your convenience, the rest got to fork out money.

Just like counter duty. I am pissed not because of the fact I need to do but because of the rationale behind it.

I felt liberated.

For the whole of last week, I felt guilty. Guilty because I submitted my resignation. Weirdo right? Why should I feel guilty? That is what my friends and colleagues have been asking me. Maybe because I felt guilty leaving my work behind, guilty about leaving research just like that in Research Unit (Cos I am the one and only one there), guilty leaving my colleagues (we are a fun bunch, we have mother support group, auntie support group and also a closet tai tai support group)…..But I guess all good thing will come to an end.

Somehow, I felt liberated this week. Free from all the guilt. I guess I have finally rationalised and straighten out my thoughts. No one is indispensable in this world. I tendered, someone will replace me and carry on what I have been doing. Life in office will still carry on. As for my colleagues…well…we can always keep in contact via msn …dinners and oh, of course, I signed up as a volunteer with them.

Super duper sian

I am very sian. Maybe it is lack of sleep. I haven't had any uninterrupted sleep for the past 6 months...I am so tired...If only I can have one day of uninterrupted sleep, that will be a complete bliss....maybe i should go for a whole day spa soon...time to apply for leave....