Valen’s Vanity Square

I will be going for my fortnightly facial appointment at MidValley later. Was at the Central Station this morning, supposedly took the light rail train to my mom’s place first because the appointment is in the afternoon. Finally, decided to come to MidValley straight away, so that I can save on the traveling cost to and fro.

So I’m here now at Starbucks, checking my emails, replying client’s email, and writing this post.

You must be thinking that I’m having a relaxing and good time here, eh? Not really. I’m already having a headache, got worse now when I read my client’s email about a new project that has quite an urgent deadline! I foresee some busy weeks ahead. Even I will be going for a beach holiday mid July, I think I will become even stressed out after that because I need to meet a deadline just right after my holiday!!

Oh well, who can I blame? I need the money - for my holiday, for my facials, for new clothes and shoes, for the coffee in Starbucks, and most important of all - for the Asus netbook that I’m planning to get my hands on!

Yeah, wanted to get the Asus netbook; small, light, but with a huge laptop memory (compared to my current laptop) and long battery life.

I heard that there will be a pink colored model coming in (I’ve done my research already), I hope I could grab it as soon as I can afford to start paying the monthly installment. Currently, I have to let some of the installments paid off first before I start incurring debts again, haha!

I ‘feel’ so fat. My pants are getting tighter around the waist since last week. Quick! Can someone give me some fast action fat burner, please!

*Sigh* I have not been doing my regular Sunday walking session for two weeks consecutively. Plus, I have been quite bogged down with work, so I am desk bound most of my waking time. I don’t think I even walk 500 steps a day!

PLUS, I had Durian this afternoon.

There’s only energy input, but no energy output. I’m going to become a big fat woman in no time!

My emergency plan now is … … to do a lot of housework tomorrow! Wash the laundry, iron some clothes, sweep and wash the front yard, mop the floor - both upstairs and downstairs. At least I get to burn off the calories from today’s Durian first, haha!

While I’m quite used to shopping online for books and craft supplies, I never like the idea of shopping for electronical and digital devices, such as mobile phone, laptop or Mp3 player, from the internet.

It’s just this fear that I have (I assume most of you have too), worrying that I might receive a laptop with a broken chip, or not knowing where to send my mobile phone for repair if anything happens after that, etc.

But if I can buy a Mp3 online at half the normal price, then I might consider to take a risk after all.

That’s what I saw at Buy.com. They are slashing down the price of Microsoft Zune Mp3 players by more than 50%! Other brands of Mp3 players, new and used, are also selling at discounted prices.

Their offer looks very attractive. The only problem is, I’m not really an Mp3 person, I don’t think I know how to fully appreciate the joy of listening to music all the time. So, I may just forget about the idea.

I am spending a couple of nights at my mom’s while hubby is up at the Genting Highlands for a conference.

One year ago, I would have brought along with me an extra small bag just to carry all my precious skincare products, even if it’s just a two-night stay. Nowadays, I stuff just the basics in one toiletry bag and the cosmetics into a 8×5 inch pouch. And both go into my suitcase. No more large bottles and cans from Kose or Shu Uemura or Estee Lauder, just small canisters from L’Oreal, Simple, L’Oreal and Simple. Okay, may be there’s Elianto, the Ginseng Essence facial mask. That’s all. Really leading a simple life right now. Hahaha!

But l don’t want life to be simple. I want to get my hands on the New Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex from Estee Lauder. I’m using their Advanced Night Repair Concentrate currently. I didn’t buy it, it was a gift when I bought their other products more than a year ago. Haha! But I didn’t start to use it diligently until few months ago. Now, I use it every night, of course not for these few days because I didn’t take it with me.

I only discovered recently that the Advanced Night Repair Concentrate is doing my skin some good. It helps to lock in moisture better than just applying moisturizer alone. I suppose it has helped my skin to recover faster after the white head extraction process during my facial. I think my sometimes lackluster complexion has also improved, I personally feel that I look more radiant these days, haha! Even my beautician from NYSS told me that my face looked very much better when I saw her last week. Hehe… (So, is it the facial or the product doing me good? )

That’s why I figured that I should get hold of the New Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex, formula of which is now enhanced to further optimize night-time repair of the skin. I have not made any enquiry about this product at the Estee Lauder counter, but my guess is that it will cost more than RM200. So, I’m now taking in writing projects non-stop so that I can have extra money to pamper myself to this new bottle of beauty potion soon.

Was watching ‘Queen‘ the Taiwan beauty talk show at my mom’s. Yesterday’s topic was about weight loss products. It’s really ‘amazing’ to learn how actresses would go all their way to try different methods to lose weight!

From prescriptive pills and unknown supplements, to weird diets (e.g. eating a kind of oily fish and green apple together as a form of laxative) and acupuncture. Wow! And all I am doing is controlling my diet and exercise a couple of times weekly.

However, as the doctor in the program mentioned, it is okay to use weight loss drugs, but one has to first make sure a few things:

• What are its main components or ingredients?
• What are the action of those ingredients (e.g. appetite suppressant, oil absorber, fat burner)?
• How to take it (e.g. what time, how much dose, before or after meals)?
• Are there any temporary side effects?

For example, if you are recommended Stimerex ES by a friend, then you should first do some research about this product, either through the internet through professional advice. You want to make sure the product is suitable for you and fits your weight loss plan.

Of course, the best way to lose weight and prevent weight gain, as the doctor mentioned, is to consume less fat (so that you don’t have to take those oil absorbing pills) and stop eating after 8 pm. Eat a wholesome meal for breakfast, moderate for lunch, and the least during dinner. I think I’m doing it the other way round. No wonder… haha!

Woohoo! Our room reservation with Awana Kijal resort has been confirmed!

Unfortunately, their Deluxe single rooms (with King-sized bed) have been fully booked, we are given a twin bedroom. They are putting us on the waiting list though. Anyway, single beds in hotels and resorts are quite spacious. Hubby and I can always share a bed if we want to. Haha!

Now, I should start some research work to find out where to get good seafood around the resort area, and to plan our activities in the resort - pool (i.e. snooker, not swimming pool), golfing (driving range only, la), table tennis (I’m better than hubby in this game), spa (a full body scrub and massage, how exotic!)…

Can’t wait till July!