Wardrobe Clearance!

So follow up from my previous post (which I actually drafted before the new years but only posted it this week!:P) I cleared out my closet!! And it was perfect timing coz my german 'adek', Sandra,  was in town. The perfect person for me to hand down my collection.

Arrgh..forgot to take piccas of the clothes I purged but I managed to clear out TWO HUGE SHOPPING bags worth and based on Sandra's testimony.."This is like shopping to me, now I have summer clothes to wear in Sydney!" I do have pictures of me wearing those clothes before..but ermm..I think better not! Nanti sensasi sgt tetibe masuk ohbulan!:P

Honestly, Malaysia doesn't have good places to send off old clothes. Been reading a lot of crafty blogs and most of them are from US, but they have access to places like Goodwill or Salvation (army) - i think there are Salvation Army outlets but I don't know if it's limited to Christians only - where they can send and get these pre-loved items. For me, most of the time, my cleaning lady gets dibs coz I just put it in the Refuse Chamber (yes, that's what they call the garbage room!Sounds grand!) at my place.

But these specific items, I was a bit heavy-hearted to just let the cleaning ladies take dibs. Plus what are they going to do with my old clubbing stuffs??hahaha!

So Sandra came over on Wednesday coz the crazy girl's flight leaves for Sydney the next morning! So she took out the stuffs and I told her to choose what she likes first and separate them. Instead of going through them together with her bf's sisters and not being able to get first dibs. So she did and we had loadsa fun  seeing her struggling into my itty bitty mini skirts (and micro too..god!I was soo daring), skinny jeans (sizes 0/24inch waist), bareback tops..hahah! you get the idea! And there were even tops and we used to wear together (she borrowed mine) back in 2005 or 2006! Sadly we BOTH lost the pics we took when we wore them..:( and they were really cute stuffs too..

Sandra: Babe!Take pictures of you wearing your 'new' clothes..esp the pink dress so I can put proof of purchase here!!:)

I even gave Sandra 2 jewelery pouches worth of dangly earrings and I think about 4 pair of shoes (including my fave boots which I know I will never wear)..I left out a few more shoes coz the shoe rack got blocked by stuffs in the store room. Oh well..it's ok! Will just wait til she come back next time..

Hey Sandra..if you're reading this..I hope you'll have as much fun with those clothes as I did before! I'm glad they've found a new home with you..I sleep better at night thinking you will be wearing them instead of some cleaning lady ..*drama*

Okay..let's go shopping!

Wardrobe Essentials

So part of my turning 30 list is 'Be more Presentable' which also means a wardrobe makeover. I was browsing around the web and found some useful tips for Wardrobe Essentials. I can envision the listed items to work with my style. Mind you, the items are just basics.

So first thing to do this weekend is to purge my wardrobe! I have stuffs I haven't worn in years (not only because of the post-baby weight gain..) Some are even from my high school years. No..no..time to let it all go. So who wants to come over and take them off my hands? I have a lot of accessories I wanna let go too. And I have A LOT (especially earrings..remember those 3 for RM10 earrings? I have loadss of them and I never wear them anymore. Plus I'm scared CKD will pull them off my ears when I do wear them.) I also have clothes that I've NEVER worn. Any takers? And oh..some of my bags has gotta go too..

I have a feeling I might be left with almost nothing once I'm done purging my wardrobe. Come the New Years..IT'S SHOPPING TIME! I've got the items listed and I am all excited.


Wanna see my list? These are my 'Need' List (it's from the Wardrobe Essential page actually) and I tweaked it a bit to suit my needs (and weather..:P)

Tops & Sweaters
- White button-down dress shirt
- Basic tees - v-neck, scoop neck, round neck (secure with camisoles, tank tops or t-shirts - short and long sleeved)
- Dressy blouse/shirt (might just get one more, but this will be pushed to my 'Want' list)
- Cardigan sweater (bought a plain black cardi from Tangs, Empire, on 50% sale for RM50)
- Wool v-neck/scoop neck sweater (maybe a thin knit sweater. Wool might be too hot for our climate)

Outer wear
- Denim jacket (need a new one)
- Boyfriend blazer (dark and light neutral)

Bottoms
- All season dress pants - dark (MNG factory outlet at RM36) & light neutral
- Dark colored jeans (one more pair (indulged myself with a new pair of Levi's!Most expensive purchase so far!)
- Black and neutral pencil skirt (or maybe A-line, but i like pencil skirts better) - sewing project?
- Black day-to-night skirt (circle or tulip skirt) - sewing project?
- Denim skirt (50-50 on 'Need' or 'Want' list actually)
- Leggings (padang besar @RM18 each. I got 3 - brown, black & grey)

Dresses
- Little black dress (maybe it won't be so little laa..:P)
- Basic tee-dresses (makeshift as tunics)
- Sun-dress
- Casual dress that can be make-shift as a work dress (paired with cardigan/boyfriend blazer)

Jewelery and Accessories
- Diamond stud earrings (doesn't have to be the real deal, but the real thing would be nice)
- Diamond pendant necklace
- Pearl stud earrings (inherited MIL's collection)
- Pearl necklace (inherited MIL's collection)
- Hoop earrings
- Gold/silver bracelet (gold MNG factory outlet @RM15)
- Metal dress watch
- Wide belt (MNG Factory outlet @RM20)
- Skinny belt - (got TWO for RM10/each at Tangs, Empire. Bought them in tan and light maroon-ish)

Bags (this is more of giving away my current bag collection rather than buying new)
- Casual everyday handbag (hobo leather bag)
- Tote handbag (dark neutral - classic styles) - wonder if my new Charles&Keith count as this..strike-off la.
- Cross body bag (maybe my Coach sling counts as this?or could this be a reason to buy a new one *evil grin*)
- Evening purse (black m)phosis clutch)

Shoe Essentials
- Ballerina flats (i NEED one in red)
- Black (Hush puppies mary-jane pumps) and nude pumps

So there you have it. I think I will update on where and how I got them when I get them. :)

Any tips on where I can get them for cheap but good quality? Lemme know!

My 'Want' List? Let's just deal with the 'Need' list first..So who wants to go shopping with me?

Signed Up! Time to Train!

I've signed up and paid for it. Now I have no choice but to train for it....and turn up for the event of course!haha!

'Be more Active' enough?

The Vanity Bag

Ta daa!!

I have been meaning to put this up for a while now but I just don't seem to have the inspiration to write about it. Oh well.

Anyway, I burnt a hole in suami's pockets a few weeks ago while I was shopping for new work clothes during the I-setan sale. Hehe! We were in KLCC and estee-lauder was having a promotion at the concourse area. At first, we were just helping tariq out to get the make-up set for his wedding hantaran. But then, I wanted one for myself too!

The offer couldn't come in a more appropriate time (ceh! Kononn!!). I mean, the complete set was going at RM220(purchase with purchase) when the normal RP was over RM1000 (input from tariq coz he surveyed it a few weeks back). The set came with:

eyeshadow pallette
blusher pallette
4 sticks of lipstick
dual lipgloss
3 crayon eyeliners
a set of brushes
make-up remover
Make-up bag, pouch and mirror

All we had to do was buy a mascara (RM90) and the set was ours at the promo price. I call that a steal!

This is a steal don't you think so?

So FINALLY! I have a proper make-up set! The great thing about this set was it even came with a look book and simple tutorials on how to put on make-up..very much needed for a make-up noob like me! All these while, when I do my own make-up it will only involve a compact powder, eyeliner,mascara and lipgloss (with lipstick if rajin! :P)

Look Book

My mom was happy, can't say the same with suami!haha! I have been putting in extra effort in dressing myself up. I TRY to put on some make-up when I go out. Suami is complaining.."You pakai cantik2..sekarang I pun kene pakai cantik" and frowns! Hahaha! Well, good that he feels that way!

So, that's another Be More Presentable added to my list!

Make-up, check! Next is wardrobe!

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device.

My New (old) Yellow Dress

So I have been collecting inspirations these past few weeks and I stumbled upon this blog New Dress a Day about this girl who's been making a new dress a day, EVERYDAY from clothes bought from thrift stores and only on a $1/day budget for 365days. She has about a month left before her project year ends.

Since following her crafts and creations, I have started to excessively bloghopped to blogs that are dedicated to sewing, refashioning clothes, crafting etc. And have regretted giving away suami's and my old clothes..there were some nice shirts that would've made GREAT crafting/refashioning materials.

Oh well..no point in crying over spilt milk.

But I did manage to salvage something..My dress here..

I was 5 months preggers when I took this

This dress was soooo comfy to wear when I was preggers. But post-baby, it just looked plain frumpy. After seeing 'magic' done by Marisa of New Dress a Day, I was inspired and knew that I didn't need a miracle (or a sewing machine..please note..I don't have a sewing machine, YET!)

So I took off the last tier of the dress, gave it a new hem and rocked it in Bali!

Better eh? I still need to 'trim' those double-chin and chubby arms tho!

I have plans for the extra fabric I took off for CKD..

oh suami! Please! Please! PLEASEEEEE get me a sewing machine for our anniversary..PLEASE *bat eyelashes*

I have a few more stuffs in my closet that I haven't worn for the longest time, but has sooo much potential thanks to all those blogs I've visited and inspiring me soo much! Just you wait til I get my sewing machine!

You must be wondering since when did I ever learn how to sew..hahaha! Honestly, the only sewing lesson I ever received was from Home Economics (Kemahiran Hidup - Ekonomi Rumah Tangga weyy!) that I took wayyyy back when I was 13 or 15! But I'm VERY confident I can do this..plus my mom is ever willing (and i think she's secretly just as excited) to teach me the ropes..yeah!

And that is my 'Be more presentable' and soon 'Be more knowledgeable' Turning 30 added to my list!

Welcoming the 30's

Today has such nice digits - 20-10-2010 so I thought of unveiling this plan that has been cooking up in my head for quite some time now. In fact a sneak peak into the plan has already made an entrance in my previous post.

I'm turning 30 next year..

It's a big milestone for most and I guess me too. I remember when I was entering my 20's I couldn't wait to turn 21 coz it was the legal age to go into clubs (not that my first time to clubs was at that age! :P) So it was not really inspiring to turn 20. But 30..although I may not have enough wisdom, but I think I may have enough maturity.

So here's my "Turning 30" list.

1. Be more active
2. Be more charitable
3. Be more presentable
4. Be more productive
5. Be more knowledgeable

Notice that my list is not specific THINGS to do? Coz I think, it is more important for me to GROW rather than just doing stuffs. Plus I didn't put specific number of things to do coz maybe this would be my -things to achieve in my 30's..I have a mission here..and my mission is to become wiser with style! LOL!

Anyway, here's why I came out with my list..

1. Be more active
I have been such a couch potato these past few years! Nothing! No sort of physical activities! I mean, I used to be such an active person..sports, outings, *clubbing* :P! And I walked everywhere when I was in uni! (Ok..maybe that was bcoz I didn't have any car..) And I was sooooo skinny! (Borderline hot!*perasan*) Now I'm just lazy and fat. And I hate it! So, my first attempt is let's be more active! Already I have a few plans up my sleeve (kan bikjah kan?) I will most definitely blog about my be active activities!

2. Be more charitable
This is very subjective..charity doesn't mean donating money to a shelter or what nots..it could mean anything! But it doesn't mean I won't get involved in charity events. So for this part, charity events I join will definitely be blogged..but charity of the heart, maybe I'll try and share in a more discreet manner. Don't want to come off as being insincere about my charitable gesture now do I? Also, a plan is on its way with this one!

3. Be more presentable
Owhhh! My mom has been nagging me left and right about my appearance and dressing. She feels that I am just letting myself go. I feel so too..I mean, I'm fatter than I used to be, I can't fit into my pre-baby clothes no more (need a new one anyway!I have clothes from when I was in high school!*cue wardrobe makeover!!*) And I hate!hate!hate! to doll myself up! I mean I do dress appropriately for functions or events, but I need a makeover..I'm no longer a twentysomething student-single person..I'm turning 30, a wife, a mother and a professional (ke?!?). I need to look the part..a stylish one at that too! So my experience in my wardrobe options and personal grooming experience I shall share here!

4. Be more productive
NO..not baby making productive! LOL! Tho the idea is not chuck out entirely either!haha! But productive in the sense of achieve more in life..owh! You'll understand what I mean with being more productive when I tag my be productive activities (clue: sewing machine!)

5. Be more knowledgeable
You can have knowledge but you won't necessary have wisdom..but knowledge is still essential to gaining wisdom. There are sooo many things that I have always wanted to learn, do and go..all which knowledge can be achieved. So yeah..put that on the list!

I will try to do as much as I can for these 5 items and we see how I fare on my next birthday (or should we give me a year + 1month - say 20-11-2011?) when I will round up all that I have done & achieved within that period of time? Sounds fair?

I would like to do one of those 365 things within 365days thingy..but I have to be logical here..like I said, I'm a person with 3jobs (Wife,mom,work!) Plus this isn't a race. Its more of a journey with a cause..I don't want to be a drifter anymore. I want to have a purpose in life where I don't lose myself in it, but instead, I find myself and hopefully make me a better person at it too!

So..bring on the 30's!! Hope I'll find more joy and happiness in it too!

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device.

Volunteer at the ZOO!

Gosh! It's been ages since I went to the zoo. I think the last time I went to Zoo Negara was in 1998. I had a gathering with my TKC friends after our SPM.

So last Saturday, my company organized a volunteer program at Zoo Negara as part of our Environmental Program. You can find out more about the program here --> Zoo Negara Volunteer Program It was definitely tiring..but FUN nonetheless. Since this time I actually got nice photos to share, I'll narrate through the piccas la ok?

Group Assigning

So we started our day bright and early! Assembled at the company at 6.45am and made our way to the Zoo by 7.15am. We had to reach the Zoo by 8.15am. Late comers will be denied to volunteer. Once we were there, we were briefed and asked to get into groups of 10 (there was 73 of us!). Then the supervisors from the various areas of the Zoo picked which group was going where..It kinda felt like a meat market actually!hahaha! They were going like "Haa! Aku nak group ni! Yang ni ramai orang laki" "Takyah berebut! Ramai orang kita boleh pilih harini!" Seriously!

 So we went out separate ways..

Going to the Bird Kingdom - all smiles before the work!!

Feeding them swans

Breakfast break - the nasi lemak at the canteen sedap..

Small snake..Thank god I wasn't assigned to the reptiles and amphibians..

Camel in the background..cool eh?

That is my Chairman giving instruction to people to clear out the roof!haha! haiya...out of the office also still giving orders..LOL!

Now you see me sweep & smiling...

But this 'friend' of ours is lurking in the cage..she cried after the pic was taken..apparently the puma was making some pretty scary loud noises..too much for her too handle! :)

This is my group - Mammal Kingdom. We're cleaning out the drain of the Hyena's Habitat. There was 2 Hyenas and them huge!!!

Hahaha!This one my MD, and other dept bosses (and a couple of staffs) kantoi curi tulang watching the show!:P

"You betta clean 'em well! *Roar*"

Happily cleaning the lion's den..literally!!

I like this shot..no narration here..

Haruslah enterframe kan?hahah! Clearing out the Porcupine's Habitat. They are soooooo cute!too bad no piccas when we were feeding em.

Binturong's Habitat..scaryy!!!you can't see them, but those are electric wires installed.

The Reptile Kingdom group

And this is ALL 73 of us after a hard day's work! FUN!

We couldn't take any photo's while we were doing our work but we could assigned one person to become our official photographer. I personally think our photographer had THE MOST tiring job! He officially made more than 3 rounds in the Zoo looking for us all!!heh! and he took nice pictures! So kudos to him! There are plenty more piccas but I'll load em up on FB la.

The day ended at 4.30pm but for most of the group, they were already enjoying the Zoo by after lunch..:P But that's our first 8hrs of volunteer work at the Zoo!

My take on Volunteering at the Zoo?? You should DEFINITELY try it out at least once! Go take your company there or round up a group of friends (group volunteer program needs min 10pax up to a max of 100pax, must be above 16yrs of age) or go as an individual. 40hrs of volunteer work there gets you a certificate or some sort of recognition. But to me..I don't need the certificate..this was my first volunteer work that I've done but it definitely won't be my last! *item for my "Things to do Before 30"*

I've already extended the idea to my TKC friends for this volunteer job..I think I want to ask the rest of my friends to join in the fun too.

So what are you waiting for...go book your date for the volunteer program already!!