Mental Health Well-being

I blogged about starting to exercise before. By now, I've made it a commitment to do it every single day except the weekend. The things that it does for my overall well-being is just short of amazing.

I don't know how to NOT make this sound like an advert but gosh. I just needed to say something somewhere. When I say exercise, it's actually short 10-20 mins bursts of HIIT. So it's quick, intense but so so effective.

So my morning routine goes like this:-

6.45/7am - Wake up, gets kids ready for kindy & daycare, breakfast
7.15am - Hubs send oldest to kindy & goes to work
8.30am - Send the toddlers to daycare
9am - Reach home, vacuum the house, feed cat, water plants, feed fish & tiny home touch ups
9.30am - Start HIIT. I LOVE Pamela Reif's
10am - Short shower
10.15am - Start work

I've been doing it consistently almost everyday since early of the year. I don't even think about my weight anymore because doing this, you get toned up so you don't really care anymore. Most days, I work on abs because hello three kids really mess up your middle! But yeah omg if you work on it everyday, you start seeing the muscles toning up and you start losing anything extra.

Plus it's so motivating when you start seeing some parts shrinking and lifted!

It sounds so simple, I started with 10 mins only, but the key word is EVERYDAY. Well, weekends for me is impossible because kids climb on me when I'm planking, so no thank you.

On the days that laziness start creeping in, I quickly remind myself that I have this amazing time in the world that I didn't have just one year ago. If I'm not using this time to get in shape, then what useless piece of meat am I? I choose to work flexible hours so I get to do things I can't normally do if I work 9-5. So I do have lazy days but I'm happy to say to I've been fairly consistent.

What's the aftermath besides feeling fit? Being in my line of work, you tend to get more rejections than yesses, so being fit also helps me feel a lot more positive. You also get less tired and more energetic. You sleep well.

I don't know if this is a plus, because you have to spend money (!) but I've swung from S size to M size but now definitely back to true S size.. so alot of my M sized clothes are baggy on my frame now.

So there you have it.. some of my friends have commented that I looked the same from uni days, but it isn't true because if you've gone through pregnancy, giving birth and nursing (x3) you are definitely NOT the same. It's a conscious effort to keep fit and to control eating habits. But I'll share that next time. 

30s Skin Woes and Sheet Masks

I've never been one with perfect porcelain skin ever. In fact, I'm that person who struggles with imperfect, blemished skin since I was 14. My skin is high maintenance and sensitive. My best skin record was when I was on Accutane in uni.. imagine that. Second best was during all my pregnancies, funny enough!

So entering 30s, I don't know what to expect. And because I've always had difficult skin, I really make it a point to wear sunscreen at least, everyday. But after giving birth to Hassan, I noticed my skin had red blotches that never went away. This birth, coincides with me turning 30, so I don't know whether it's because of my third pregnancy or is it just me turning 30.

Another thing I dislike about my skin is the pores. I naturally have big pores man. They get clogged so easily. How I long to have baby skin like my babies! But alas...

So this year I started looking for serums and lotions and whatever that could improve my skin's overall appearance. I'm currently taking vitamin C. That's not much but it's better than not taking anything, right? Plus vitamin C is an anti-oxidant. Anti-oxidants slow down or stop the processes that damage the cells in our body.

My plan is to actually attack this skin problem inside and out. The vitamin C was the "inside".

On the outside, I found this skincare range The Ordinary which like it's name, is very basic, and each product is a no-frills active ingredient that works directly to correct a specific the skin problem. I like it so far, I can see minor improvement on my skin. It doesn't break out my skin, so that's good. I just have to be consistent using it I guess.

Then, most recently, I thought of sheet masks. Actually, me and hubs were watching a Shark Tank episode where someone was pitching a sheet mask when it occurred... to hubs. He was like, "how come you never tried sheet masks? You're always complaining about your skin yada yada."

So I went to Watson's and just FOUND OUT that there's a whole section dedicated to JUST sheet masks. I'm so left behind! Apparently the korean skin care craze is currently hitting Malaysian shores and sheet masks are part of them. They're also so cheap! RM10 for 4 pieces really?? Well it depends on the brand but the pharmacist showed me two of their popular brands.. one is Dr Morita and another one is Noblesse.

I'm using Noblesse because they're dirt cheap but I get to use it 4-5 times a week. Have to say.. I love these sheet masks! They actually brightened up my skin and those red blotches I was talking about? They slowly fade away with each mask I use. Unbelievable.

Which made me think... so all this while my skin problem is dehydration? I guess so, I've always thought it's something to do with the sun exposure.

For now, these are my staples. And I will continue using them because they make my skin feel so good! 

2019 and Burpees

I started becoming serious about exercise/working out since last year, after giving birth to Hassan my third. At the time, I felt like I lost myself physically and emotionally. I didn't recognize myself in the mirror. I was outwardly fine, but I had inner demons. Exercise helped me a lot.. improved my mood. Made me happy to see fat shrinking and everything tightening up.

Along the way, I slowed down, started feeling useless then started back. The body does not bounce back after 2 consecutive pregnancies I tell ya. It's hard work and diet. And you have to keep reminding yourself to correct your posture, because after literally being pregnant for 2 years, you just get used to slumping. It's all the nursing, the bump-carrying and the baby carrying.

Yeah I'm so jealous of my husband because he doesn't understand how much my body is being used! It's something that husbands will never understand. It's the mom's inner circle secret. And by the way, having the first child at 26 vs 3rd child at 30 doesn't sound like much difference but OWH the difference it makes. 1st child was a breeeze.

Anyway, point is, going into 2019, I'm gana up my game. Ganna stay consistent with 3 workouts a week at 20 minutes. How do I workout? There's plenty of workout videos for women out there.. I used to like Zuzka Light.. but then found Pamela Reif and I'm loving that at the moment. On top of that, we also walk around the park for 3-5km during weekends.

I would love to start swimming again at least once a week. We started cutting out sugary drinks this year.. I'd continue doing this.

Most of all, I wanna teach my children the healthy and active lifestyle from when they're little. So it becomes second nature to them.

So yup I just told you guys my health goal in 2019. Nothing too ambitious. Something to counter mommyhood and life fatigue :)

Happy 2019. May the new year bring renewed hope and success to all of you.

What’s in Your Makeup Bag?

Last weekend, I decided to reorganize and recount my makeup collection. Though I’m not actively seeking to add up to my collection now because let’s face it, makeup is expensive!

I laid them out and behold:



I thought I had loads more, but I threw some out so I’m left with only these. Not much but this is my personal collection. I don’t share this with anyone, nor am I a makeup artist of any sort (so maybe I did a friend or two).

I collect more brushes than anything else because I believe that the tools are more important than the makeup itself. Plus they last a lifetime. Plus brushes don’t make your face break out or turn red.
Second most important in my book is foundation. Foundation covers most of your face and depends on how you apply it, they can appear cakey; or, they simply blend in like second skin. On normal days, I skip most of the makeup except foundation (after moisturizer).

For me, it’s important for the foundation to have at least SPF 15 because my face burns easily and I hate to endure people asking ‘why you so red’. After a week, the face turns ashy and I have to answer to questions like ‘why you so tan, you went holiday is it??’.

I keep 5 foundations because I tend to change color alot so yeah. 

Also I looove liquid and gel blushes!! People can’ t tell that you’re wearing one, they think it’s natural!

Owh and I just bought a new brush set by Real Techniques via The Fashionette. By the way, they’re SUPER affordable, you’ll be surprised. I’ll review them once I’ve got my hands on them.

After much blabbing about makeup, naturally I’ll have to show you my go-to look.

It looks like this:


Believe me, this look can go far. I’ve used this to go to kenduris, gatherings. I even used the same stuff for my wedding! Except for more foundation, eyeliner and mascara for added drama.

So that’s it for my what’s in the makeup bag post. Usually I carry a small bag containing only essentials. Talk about that next time!

Till then, xoxo!