Phy: Bookworm Reinstated

Hi all...

All of my life (well, at least ever since I could read) I had been known among friends and families as a Bookworm. All I do is read. All. Day. No joke. I would live in a library if I could.

However, the past few months I haven't been reading a lot of novels. I've been reading a lot of magazines instead. This week something compelled me to pick up a novel that I had been reading half way through which is Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

It had been months since I've read it and I anticipated that I might be a bit lost when I start reading it again. Amazingly, I didn't! It just confirmed what I knew all along and that is Elizabeth Gilbert is a talented writer with the gift to pull you into her story. I felt as if I had only left my book for a few hours instead of a few months. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

The next book is also something that I read a little less than half-way through before having to put it down and it's Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. It's a very easy read but the main character in the book is doing such embarrassing things and getting herself in deeper and deeper trouble that I just had to put it down until I stopped cringing. It took me months to do that too.

I finished reading it on Thursday and was happy that I did because I liked how it worked out. I even shed a tear because I could completely relate to how the main character felt towards the end but it was made right again. I find that the Shopaholic Series have the same pattern in their stories.

The main character would embarrass herself and get into deep trouble, tell lies to cover up and get into more trouble because of it and spin MORE lies to cover that lie and wound trouble tighter and tighter around herself until it becomes unbearable and THEN comes the relief where everything would work itself out. I have a feeling that there would be at least another book in the future for this series.

I'm currently reading the Ivy Chronicles. I bought it at a book fair at 1 Borneo. It was quite a bargain at RM20. Oh, I bought the Mini Shopaholic at that same book fair too. So far I feel that the story is very loose and 'hoppy'.

When I say 'hoppy' I mean that the writer kind of hops over the details of what I would count as the important parts or phases in Ivy's life. It's getting more detailed as the story progresses though so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

What novel have you been reading recently? Do share. Happy Monday folks. Cheers!

Phy's Essential Items To Go Shopping

Hi y'all,
In today's post I will be sharing with you the essentials that I bring with me when I go shopping. Now, I don't necessarily bring all of these items every time. It really depends on what I'm shopping for and whether I am shopping on a normal day or during crazy sale season. If you want to know what they are, keep on reading..

Spagetti Strap Tank Top
I'm not a fan of showing cleavage so I would bring /wear an SSTT in a basic color (beige, white, black) for when I try on tops that have an overly daring neckline. I find that not all tops with plunging necklines look nice with an SSTT underneath so it helps to have one handy so that I can actually see how it looks together.

The SSTT is also useful during crazy sale season. Just wear it under a cardi and you won't need to wait in line to try on tops in the changing room. You can just take off your cardi and try the top over your SSTT. Just make sure the SSTT is a form fitting one so it doesn't add bulk to your frame by bunching up in odd places under the top.

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Cardigan
I don't like sleeveless tops  so if I wear one I would always wear a cardi over it. When I go shopping and see a  sleeveless top that I really like, having a cardi on hand to try over it is very useful indeed. Like SSTT, not all tops look nice with a cardi over it, or at least, with the cardigan that I might have. It helps to see how it looks like together before deciding to buy the top.

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Leggings
Leggings are super comfortable and are form fitting. I highly recommend wearing them when you're shopping for jeans during crazy sales. Why? Just like the SSTT, wearing leggings enables you to try on jeans without going through the hassle of waiting in line to go into a changing room. Since leggings are naturally form fitting, it won't add bulk to your frame so you can try other types of 'bottoms' over it such as shorts, skirts and etc.

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Sling Bag
If you don't know what a sling bag is, it's just a bag with really long straps that can be slung across your body. I love using a sling bag while shopping because it free's up both my hands to browse through racks or sift (claw?) through the clothing bins that are forever unorganized.

The straps of the average handbag tends to slide down my arm at the most inconvenient moments and I find it really annoying. A sling bag also allows me to position my bag in front of my body so it's safer and reduces the risk of me being a victim of pick-pockets.

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Heels
A pair of black heels to be exact. I would only bring these with me when I shop for long dresses or 'bottoms' such as jeans and long skirts. The reason is that I would go shopping with flat sandals or ballerina pumps. If the length seems just right when I'm wearing flats, there is a chance that it would hang a bit awkwardly when worn with heels but not necessarily always. Having a a pair of heels on hand would help me to see how it works out.

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Camera
When I'm window shopping or am in the mood to experiment, I would try out a ton of clothes (and I mean a ton) with different shapes and silhouettes to see how they look on me. When I find a shape that I like, I would take a picture of me wearing it from different angles as reference. Don't do it openly though, most shops are a bit icky about people taking pictures of their merchandise. Come to think of it, I hope nobody working in retail, especially in Nichii, is reading this blog. Hehe..

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Snacks
This is definitely an essential when you're shopping during crazy sale season. Combing through the racks and going through the clothing bins is not a small feat and could take hours. A snack would helps to fuel me until lunch or even longer.

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Bring more nutritious snacks if you're planning on skipping lunch (not advisable, but it's your call). Unsalted nuts, crackers, etc are great snack options. Skip sweet snacks as from my personal experience, they tend to spike your blood sugar level for a limited time then plummet, make you feel more famished than before.

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Small Bottle of Water
Ditto as above, water is crucial during crazy sale season. I just sip throughout the day to avoid having to go to the loo every 5 minutes. Of course, it's best to drink lots of water and just bear with the frequent loo visits as it is better for your body but I personally hate having to go through that inconvenience so I opt for the former instead. It's just one day after all.

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So there you have it, my shopping essentials. The key for me is knowing what I was intending to shop for, where and when. My fave would be the SSTT, cardi and leggings ensemble. The cardi would have to be a long one though because of the legings. I don't think I need to say why.. Lol.

I hope you enjoyed this and found it useful. Don't forget to leave a comment below on what YOUR shopping essentials are. Cheers!

Should We Pursue Security Or Passion?

Hi y'all..

This question has been playing on my mind for the past few months now and that is in terms of our career, should we pursue a job that is secure or pursue what we love to do?

For the sake of simplifying things a few factors will not be taken into account such as family circumstances, education level, family support, etc. This means that those who are limited in their choice of work because they are the sole bread winner of the family with younger siblings to support, lack education, or whose parents don't support their interest (you get the picture) are exempted.  

The pros of those choosing a secure job is that they will not have to worry about being laid off at the blink of an eye and have a stable/fixed income. Ah, bliss... The cons however is that because those not doing something they love are more susceptible to the feelings of boredom, demotivation and unenthusiasm. This might effect the quality and effort they put into their work.

On the other side of the grid , the opposite might happen to those who pursue their passion. That love for what one does gives one the drive to do their best in their job and enthusiasm runs high even in the most difficult situations. As one's interest might be in the conventional line of work such as being a nurse, doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc, instability of income is not necessarily an issue of concern. However those who love what might considered to be 'unconventional' careers such as being a magician, painter, musician, etc would most definitely face this flip-side.

For me personally, I'd choose the latter. If what you love to do happen to be in the conventional line of work, then you are certainly very lucky. For the unconventional ones, it's still possible to pursue your career under one condition; be the best in your field. Wanna be a musician? Take classes, practice, gain experience by performing every chance you get and be open to constructive criticism. Basically, do whatever it takes to be the best of the best.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no career coach but one thing's for sure, I know what it feels like to be the former. Feeling your whole being drying out and dying a slow and painful death is not very pleasant. What do you think dear readers? Which would you choose?

Phy Is Back.. And More First Experiences...

My, my, my... It's been such a long time since I've blogged. For some reason, everything just ceased to have meaning in my life for the past few weeks. Facebook felt boring, Twitter was 'aiso mo mo' (as my late great grandfather used to say when he insulted my then-10 year old mother's cooking), and I didn't have the energy to blog.

So what has been going on with my life? Here are some updates:

I've been under what can only be called a mild depression these past few months because I wasn't happy with where my life was headed. I've been toying with the idea of resigning but was afraid of making any rash decisions.

Lo and behold, a blessing came in a form of a local celebrity. I had the opportunity to chat with him over Teh C Special and he mentioned that he was once offered a music-related position in my sector. He did thought about it, took into account of all the benefits that he would get and everything as it was a lucrative offer but in the end he turned it down.

Now he and his business partner operates a business doing music classes for keyboard, guitar, drums, etc and he couldn't be happier. How's that for inspiration? It certainly gave me the courage to take other options into consideration.

So my second update is kind of in sync with my first one and that is I've applied for a position that is suitable for my qualifications at a major, MAJOR organization in Malaysia. Wish me luck! I'm keeping everything crossed at the moment and not only my fingers. Lol.. 

My third update is that two Sundays ago me and boo went to Tg Simpang Mengayau for the first time. We had wanted to go there for a long time but never had the time and on that particular Sunday it became an impromptu trip armed with nothing but my phone for a map.

When faced with conflicting signs like this, always go with the newer looking one..

It rained all the way and when we stopped over at Kota Marudu for lunch we contemplated on continuing with the journey but decided to push on anyway. It only rained harder and didn't stop even when we arrived at TSM. We took pictures in the rain, enjoyed the scenery, ate prawns fried in batter and mayo and drove back. to Tuaran. Crazy right?

Floating coconuts...

The relentless rain made the water rise in certain places, so much so that it was impossible to see the road. Coconuts floated along the road, even crossing it in places where the flood was particularly bad. Lesson learnt? 

Ask those who have been to the intended destination for info such as gas stations, and stop-over places along the way.

Bring adequate food/snacks and drinks especially water.

Check the weather forecast.

Service the car if bringing own transport.

The view was still gorgeous in all it's stormy glory.. 

Hehehe... Going old school with the poses.. 

A second visit is a definite must...

Fourth update! I've tried wearing leggings for the first time. Bahahahaha... I know, I know.. Just goes to show how 'fashion forward' I am. The trend has been around for years but I just never got around to buying them. To be honest, I didn't gave them the time of day because I don't like them at all.

My first encounter with these stretchy thingies was borne out of desperation. I was going for a movie after work and I knew I wasn't going to make it to KK if I went back to my house an d change so I brought a change of clothes with me, only to realize half-way to KK on the bus that I had forgotten to bring a pair of jeans with me *hand on face*.

Thank goodness my top was a long one so I bought a pair of leggings from Soxworld as it was a much cheaper alternative to buying a pair of jeans. Needless to say I like it. I don't LOVE it but I like it.. It's lighter than jeans. I might wear them again with my dresses. We'll see.. 

So this is all for now. I might update this post with some pictures from our trip to Kudat. Cheers!

Phoebe-Loves-Makeup Is Back!

Hi y'all!

Phoebe-Loves-Makeup is back in operation full throttle. It's better and will be including quick tips and tricks related to beauty and makeup in addition to hauls and reviews.

Follow to support and any feedback, comments and questions are appreciated. While you're at it, check out my new post on how to make your mineralized eyeshadow show up more vibrant here.

My First Experience Changing My Blog Design

Hi y'all! How do you like my blog's new look? I'm liking it a lot! If you follow me on twitter or if you are my friend on Facebook, you'd most probably known that I was unsure of which design to pick. These were my options at the time:

 Cosmetics Girl

I wanted this because it has cosmetics on it (I am after all, a makeup junkie) and it's pink! I wasn't in favor of the layout though because I'm used to my 3 equal column layout unlike this one.

Reading Books

I was thinking of getting this design because I am also a bookworm and this has a girl reading on it.. It's blue though so I didn't really feel like it reflects me for who I am and what I like.

Woman Talk

I wanted this one because it shows women having conversation (and we know when women come together, there are almost no off-limit topics even with those we just met!) and I do feel that my blog is about almost everything under the sun.

I was worried that something might go wrong so I experimented with my beauty blog that's been inactive since I've decided to do my beauty-related posts in this blog and it turned out okay. I then confidently tinkered with this blogs settings and guessed what? The templates kind of became awry.

For some reason I had 2 headers or 2 blog post body and I spent at least 3 hours trying to find a way to rectify the problem. The silver lining to the whole thing is that I have 'upgraded' from someone with zero knowledge with coded characters to someone who knows a little bit more than before.

On a side note I might start doing my beauty-related post in my other blog again. Last time I decided to just do it all in one blog. I've already changed the layout of that blog into the Cosmetic Girls' design which I think is very appropriate for what that blog is all about.

By the way, all the blog designs above are available here. However the one that I'm currently using now is by btemplates.com (search through Google please). I chose this because it's pink, it has a girl reading a book and the notebook page reflects how I am constantly writing on my notepad on any ideas that I may come up for this blog.

It's Sunday morning now and I'm getting sleepy so will see you in the next post. Cheers!

Phy Has A New Video...

Hi y'all...
I have a new video up on Youtube. Just an simple update vlog. Excuse the bland (read: unattractive) background, it is a rented room after all. Oh, and look our for the naughty runaway piece of paper in the background. Lol..

Check it out here...