M.A.C goes Glamour Daze

With the festive seasons around the corner, I can imagine a lot of you ladies will have your schedules filled with parties and gatherings and undoubtedly, you want to look your most glamorous. M.A.C (not the maker of iphone, mind you) has just launched its annual holiday collection yesterday with an event befitting of the new range's name; Glamour Daze.



The Holiday collection.

Held in the spotlight of KLCC center court, the event was attended by the likes of media members, very loyal customers (coughdatinscough), celebrities and....your truly (who was a friend's plus one). As soon as we entered the area, we lunged  helped ourselves to macaroons, sandwiches and mini tarts being served by very cute waiters. Several makeup stations were set up for guests to touch up their makeup or try out the new collection with the help of a professional makeup artist.



M.A.C launch at KLCC.

The Glamour Daze collection features soft pastel colours and subtle shimmers that radiates classy and elegance which is perfect for all occassions from day to night.

The fastest touchup I've experienced.

Got a tea party in the afternoon? Then opt for the all-natural brown or light blues for your eyeshadows and nude lipstick for finish the look. For a dinner function after, just darken your eyes with purple hues or jazz it up with silver and accentuate your lips with a darker but still natural tone.

The new collection also makes the ideal Christmas gift as it also consist of an adorable leapord print makeup bag/purse in light teal and pink. MAC also offers a complete brush kit that comes in a matching pouch.  



Photo-taking fun with old friends.  

To kick off the launch, the Glamour Daze dancers took to the stage and performed a French-song-and-dance which no one actually knew what the song was but was nevertheless mesmerised by the ladies and their 60s hairdo and 'puffy' dresses. After the performance, we were given the opportunity to take pictures with them...which your truly did.

Glamour Daze performers.

To end the night, M.A.C generously gave us a small goodie bag each with random products of the new range which my friend and I immediately tore into as soon as we reached the car.

M.A.C eye and lip range.

Just what I needed. A new purse and eyeliner. Thanks, M.A.C!

For more info on the Glamour Daze collection, head down to your nearest M.A.C outlets or check out their official website.

For more event pictures, head on to my M.A.C Glamour Daze Launch album on FB.

Christmas is here...at Starbucks!

The Starbucks X-mas collection has finally reached our shores and stores!
(Haha. Get it? Shores and stores. *insert crickets chirping* Right, moving on...)

Starbucks Amcorp. Thumbs up to Barista Jason for the decorations!

For a country that doesn't have winter, we're awfully excited about a coffee brand's X-Mas collection, aren't we... Anyway, Starbucks fans (like me) have much to look forward to as Starbucks have brought in two limited edition cards (can be purchased with a reload of RM30 minimum), a variety of red, white and silver tumblers and mugs, new desserts and three fan-favourites drinks.

 

The long-awaited Starbucks 2013 planner has also arrived but I didn't get to snap a picture of it. It did seem bigger and simpler though compared to last year.... I wonder what vouchers they have inside. Like previous years, you'll need to purchase 15 handcrafted drinks by 15 January in order to redeem your planner. Alternatively you can just buy it over the counter at RM138.

 

On to the Christmas collection!



Cupcakes for the season.

Instead of cakes (or maybe they have yet to bring it in), there were sweetly decorated cupcakes on display: Black Forest Cheese, Choc Cheese Minty, Carrot Coconut and Caramel Green Tea. Priced at RM5.50 each. I wanted to try the Caramel Green Tea but because I am still recovering from a 3-week long cold, I had to pass. For now.

Pretty red, white and silver collectibles.

My family and friends always complain that they don't know what to get me for my birthday or for Christmas. Here's a hint: a Starbucks tumbler would be nice. Despite being a diehard Starbucks fan, I never really got around to collecting its tumblers and mugs because I just know if I started, that would be the end of my bank account. But presents and gifts are welcome.



Fan favourites are back!

It's good to know Starbucks do listen to their fans and brought back last year's popular drinks: Toffee Nut Latte, Toffee Nut Frappucino and Peppermint Mocha Frappucino. (or maybe they're just too lazy to come up with new drinks this year but hey, why fix something that works)

Although I am going to miss its Salted Caramel Frap and Earl Grey Tea cheesecake (please bring them back next year along with the Valencia Frap!), I could do with a change in flavour this season. Once my cold is gone,  Peppermint Mocha will be the first frappucino I get!

And finally, the one thing(s) that will have people rushing to stores this week: the limited edition Starbucks cards. Like last year, there are two lovely designs but I quite like the red one more because it looks glamorous for a card. Again, these aren't mine because I brought them for my aunt from Singapore who collects them.




Tis the season to buy Starbucks X-mas edition cards!

I know it's early but thanks to Starbucks, you have two months worth of Christmas to enjoy!


Pasta & Cakes @ Food Foundry Review

 

It was a cold rainy evening and my sister and I decided to head over to Food Foundry, Section 17 PJ for dinner, simply because it was nearby, had good food and ample free parking. This little cafe has been around for the longest time and I just love their food and cakes so it only seemed about right that I dedicate a post to them.

I love their new quirky and cute deco. Sorry, no pictures because the lighting was bad and there was just so many people there. Think I have to get used to invading people's privacy for interior pictures in future.

The front sign. So cutesy.

Food Foundry is known for their mille crepe cakes but their food is quite good too especially their western and pasta dishes.



Spaghetti Carbonara.

My sister had the Spaghetti Carbonara (RM18) and there was a generous helping of beef bacon slices and creamy sauce. The portion was just right that you don't get sick of its creaminess after licking every last drop of it.

I opted for their duck confit pasta (RM19). It's like aglio olio with dried chilli and duck meat. Make that very tender and juicy duck meat. Considering it's a meal saturated in oil, the pasta is not at all oily and goes down quite nicely.

Duck confit pasta

 During a previous visit, I had their dory fish pasta which was like a combination of grilled fish and carbonara. I was initially a bit wary when it comes to fish because I once ordered their pan-fried fish with cream sauce from their old menu and the fish came out smelly. At least they were nice enough to change my order then. But when I ordered their new fish pasta, it was really good and I definitely recommend it too.

As it was a Saturday night, both lots of the cafe were crowded with people and the cake counter was no different. I went to see for myself what cakes they had and there was a trio of girls making their order. There was also an auntie who kept giving me the glare because she thought I wanted to jump queue. Chill la, lady. I just wanted to take pictures of their counter.




Look at all those cakes.....

Poor guy trying to accommodate everyone.

Food Foundry is pro-earth!
 

I don't know if it was because I had a bite of the strawberry mille crepe cake first or because I had latte to drink but my vanilla crepe cake was, well, tasteless. The texture and creaminess was the same but I just could not taste anything! My sister tried it as well and commented that it wasn't as sweet as it used to be but was still nice for someone who was not me with an insane sweet tooth.

Vanilla (left) & Strawberry cream mille crepe cake.

Well, tasteless cake or not, Food Foundry still has the yummiest cakes, desserts and food in the area. The quality may not be consistent but just let their friendly waiters know and they will be more than happy to do something about it, be it change your order or take it off your bill.

For more info:

Happy Food Foundry! ;)

*Not a paid review. Every comment and rant is the writer's own.

Joanne Kam & Tony Eusoff are Romantic Fools (PG16)

So tonight I managed to catch the 120min comedy play, Romantic Fools by Rich Orloff starring the one and only Joanne Kam and the ever handsome Tony Eusoff as the leads. Direted by Reza Zainal Abidin, Romantic Fools features several skits depicting situations of love with impressive cameos from Chelsia Ng, Iedil Putra, Megat Sharizal and Sarah Shahrum.



 

 

For that entire two hours, the entire cast had its audiences, this writer included, hunched over in laughter with their fluid delivery of humourous line and committed facial expressions. Joanne Kam is still as funny as ever in playing the woman out for love. Tony offers the image of the ideal man in various situations as both goes deeper into the interactions of men and women relationship.

Thanks, Anitha for inviting me :)

After all, what comedy play starts off with a caveman who drew a piece of meat from under his coat?

Now that I have your attention once more, over all the entire sketch was lovely and the actors were just effortless in their scenes and transitions of scenes. Chelsia Ng, whom I had the pleasure of working with when I was with the magazine, was especially memorable as a high-end call girl who caters to a man's every fantasy including...dull sex (that costs RM900 btw. There's a high demand for it now. Add in another RM50 for her just to lie there)

Comedy Queen, Joanne Kam with a fan.

After the play, you can stay back and snap pictures with the casts who are more than willing to acommodate. Do talk to them too, they won't bite and for the ladies (and some men), Joanne might let you touch Tony :)

The play will be on until this Sunday for KL before the team heads up to Penang from Nov 9 - 11.

Details are as below:

KL Run

• Date: Wednesday 24 October – Sunday 4 November
• Time: 8:30pm (Tue-Sun); 3:00pm (Sun)
• Venue: Black Box, MAP @ Publika, Solaris Dutamas, KL
• Tickets: RM68 & RM58
• KL tickets available online via Ticketpro from 15th September. Alternatively, you could call 03-7880 7999 or their hotline at 017-330 5776 for more ticketing details.

Penang Run

• Date: Friday 9 – Sunday 11 November
• Time: 8:30pm (Fri-Sun); 3:00pm (Sun)
• Venue: Stage 1 PenangPac, Straits Quay Mall, Penang
• Tickets: RM68 & RM58
• Penang tickets available online via ilasso and PenangPac from 15th September. Alternatively, you could call 04-899 1722 / 04-899 2722 or their hotline at 017-330 5776 for more ticketing details.

* Suitable for ages 16 and above.

Have a great weekend ahead!







Frankenweenie made me almost cry

If you have yet to watch Frankenweenie, rest assure that this post has no major spoilers.

It's amazing how a black and white movie about a boy and his dog made me tear up mainly because it made me think about my own pets, the ones I have now and the ones I had. I have had cats and dogs (and fishes and turtles...) and I loved all of them dearly.

 In case some of you don't know, Frankenweenie is a remake of Tim Burton's 1984 short film and it's amazing how he can take something and make it so much better. Even though it had no Johnny Depp....or Helena Bonham Carter.

Only one thing annoyed me during the movie and that was the supporting characters. Oops, did I say one thing? I meant the entire town of New Holland. Especially that creepy Edgar and overdramatic Nassor and his stupid Colossus and the 'Luna Lovegood'-wannabe.... Asian kid was pretty funny though.

But all of that becomes background noise when it comes to the main character, Victor and his little dog, Sparky. Their friendship makes you wanna go 'awwww.' Which was why when Sparky first died in the movie, my eyes watered.


Aw......until the tail came off.
source: blogs.independent.co.uk

Of couse I know he'll come back to life, hence the storyline of the movie but it's just so sad, having experienced loosing a pet, it's tear-jerking.

So, if you 're like me and have a loving relationship with your pet(s), then Frankenweenie is the movie for you. Unless you hate crying in public then I suggest you run far far away from this movie.

My darling Cody, a PAWS alumni.

If you're interested in getting a pet, please adopt, don't buy. For every dog sold at a pet store, a shelter animal looses a forever home and puppy mills and backyard breeder have more reasons to operate.

Happy November!

Skull Island Halloween Party 2012 @ Zouk KL

Who would have thought that just going for Halloween party could be so stressful? It didn't help that I was doped up on cough meds, was the logistics person, designated driver and coordinator for my friends. And as of Friday, I didn't have my costume yet!

I went costume hunting on Friday since it was a public holiday and managed to get a gothic lacey pirate attire from Costumes N Parties @ the Weld for Zouk's Halloween Party. All the nicer ones were pre-booked so they only had three outfits left. Serves me right for doing last minute preparation.

Gothic pirate

Anyway, after picking up a group of my friends and meeting another group at the club, we spent a few minutes snapping pictures with the cool decorations that occupied the parking lot.




Pretty lasses all in a row.



My dearies.

My favourite was when a group of pirate zombie dancers performed 'Gangnam Style'. Made me wish that my group of my dance studio was here so that we could join in but half of them went for the Big Bang concert instead.



Hot zombie dancer

'I am flame boy!'

Even though it was only 1130pm when we went in, Phuture was packed! The bartenders were running back and forth, taking orders from the many many patrons crowding/loitering at the bar. I just wish that they would just take their drinks and make way for other patrons. Prakash suggested flashing a boob or one of his guns.

We were bouncing between Phuture and Velvet for a change in music and that's what I like about Zouk; its many rooms and music choices. Unfortunately, the dance floors was just too crowded so we we ended up just bobbing in one spot the rest of the night while checking out the cute guys. Like this one below:

SURPRISE, MOTHERFUCKA!

Nevertheless, it was a fun and memorable night. I spotted Thor, mad scientists, a hippie, a gypsy and a cowboy who lost his way from Klang....



Lost cowboy, gypsy & a hippie.

Salute to Zouk KL for pulling off yet again one of the most happening parties in town. I think the crowd waiting outside the club at 2am just to get in will agree. And thanks to April for the free entrance passes (and congratulations on your bun in the oven!)

For more pictures to see what you missed out on, go to Skull Island Party album or to Zouk's official event album. Enjoy :)


Din Tai Fung Lunch Set review

My parents always complained that I have expensive cravings considering that I am currently surviving on a student budget and the occasional freelancer paychecks. I try to cut down when I can but sometimes the craving for good food is just too hard to resist.

Din Tai Fung's famous Xiao Long Bao is undoubtedly one of my favourites. I get cravings for it so often it drives my parents crazy every time I suggest Din Tai Fung for lunch or dinner.

Which is why I was so glad when I found out that Din Tai Fung had a lunch set. For RM23.90, I get to satisfy my craving for Xiao Long Bao along with one main dish and a drink (ice lemon tea or soya bean). Totally worth it!



Lunch set menu for Oct.

The mains can usually be shared between two people as they are huge! I love their shrimp and pork fried rice because they are very generous with their crunchy shrimps, six pieces tucked away in their yummy not-oily fried rice.

Shrimp & pork fried rice

And of course, the main reason I ever go to Din Tai Fung - their pork Xiao Long Bao. I have tried Xiao Long Bao from other places but none are up to the standards of Din Tai Fung, mainly because their dumpling skin is too thick or the soup inside is very little. You won't get that at Din Tai Fung.

Oh, glorious dumpling!

The recommended method of eating Xiao Long Bao.

source: www.malaysianfoodie.com

I prefer to drink the soup first before dabbing the ginger and soy sauce and eating it whole.

The lunch set is available only from Mon - Fri, before 3pm. Not available on public holidays or the eve of public holidays.

Hah, let's see my parents complain about my 'expensive' taste in food now! :p

Address:
The Gardens Mall,
Mid Valley City
LG207, Lower Ground Floor
Tel:+603 2283 2292
Hours: Mon-Sun: 10am-10pm

For more info on their other outlets, head over to http://dintaifungmalaysia.com/

*This is not an invited review. Every opinion here is the writer's own.

Halloween Costume Tips for Clubbers

It's that time of the year that I love the most! ...apart from Christmas, New Year's, my birthday, every public holiday available in Malaysia....

Where was I going with this again? Oh, right. It's Halloween!

This means that the most happening clubs in Kuala Lumpur will be throwing Halloween themed parties this weekend. If you are like me and have not prepared your outfit yet, you might want to start googling places to rent from.

Here are a few tips to bare in mind when selecting your costumes for a night of party clubbing:

1. No wings or big props. Imagine turning in a circle and knocking down everything around you including your friend's Flaming Lamborghini. Yup, that will make a great memory to remember Halloween by.

2. Shoes are a must. Even if you are coming dressed as a hobo, always include SHOES as part of your costumes. To share April Augustin (one of the brains behind Zouk's awesome parties)'s experience, "It's not safe to go shoeless in the club. One year we had a group of zombies who came in full character and we told them to go back to their cars and grab their shoes." Simply put, clubs are where girls strut around in sky-high heels, cigarette butts are flaked to the ground and glasses are sometimes scattered. Enough said.

3. No big bags. Is that your overnight bag dancing with you? No, I don't care if it is a part of the costume or that you got your handphone, Ipad, camera, makeup set, change of clothes and extra pair of shoes in there. No big bags to crowded clubs and this should be applied to every time you go clubbing. Not only are you an easy target for pickpocketing, your big trusty bag will probably annoy someone enough to push you into a drain.

4. The right underwear. Odds are you are going to be dancing and moving about a lot so be sure to wear the right undergarments (design and colour-wise) to go with your attire. We don't want to see your camel toe or even your neon coloured bra or Calvin Klein boxers.

5. Play the part. If you have gone through all the hassle to do yourself up like a particular character, then why not just embody the character and have fun with it? After all, it's just for one night. Let loose and don't shy away from the camera.

So where are you partying this weekend?

I for one will be heading over to Zouk KL on 27 Oct, Sat for its infamous Halloween party. Last year's party was themed 'Nightmare before Halloween' and it was awesome! Have a look-see here if you don't believe me.

This year's theme is Skull Island so expect many versions of Jack Sparrow and adult-rated Ariel the Little Mermaid. Zouk KL has a whole night of fun and entertainment lined up so hope to see you there!



WTF, Snake Enchanters??
(source: Zouk KL)



The treasure hunt between 9 - 10pm.
(source: Zouk KL)

Free Entry
Free entry to anyone in full Halloween costume. Judgment will be passed by the Captain of the Ship

Admission
TICKET ENTRY: RM48 Ladies / RM58 Men (inc 1 drink)
BOTTLE ENTRY: RM373 / 4pax (Before 11pm)
RESERVATIONS*: Please call 03-2171 2075 (12pm - 6pm) or 0163323191 (after 6pm)
*applicable to 21 yrs old and above

Address:
113, Jalan Ampang
50450, KL
Malaysia
Website: www.zoukclub.com.my

Map:

  

Happy Halloweeeeeenieeeee!!!

The Pork Noodle Post

Hey there, peeps!

So first post.
I am getting giddy just typing this. The start of anything is always the hardest....unless it involves stuffing my face with food. Just ask any writer or blogger. The hardest part of a story (or in this case, a blog) is getting started. So I am just going to diving right into it.

(You can skip this part if you're here for the food review)

Why Happy Days Ahead?
Because 'Iamloosebutterfly.blogspot' has already been taken. Just joking. I am starting this blog because quite simply, I miss writing for an audience and have been toying with this idea for a while now. This is not my first blog though. I had one or two in college but as you can imagine, the content is probably worthy of Stephenie Meyer's novels so let's move on.

I picked this name because it is going to be about everything (from places, clothes, beauty products to food and lifestyle) that makes a person, particularly me, happy. And why not share the happy? And no, I am not selling weed.

The url name is 'happydaysinc.blogspot' because 'happydaysahead' was taken. No, I am not joking. But I thought Inc had a nice touch. Like I am running a company that makes people (and myself) happy. Again, not selling weed here.

Anyway, I just thought I'll get this post out of the way by making it my first since it is one of favourite dishes and just had it recently.

The Obligatory Best Pork Noodle post.
Every other blogger in PJ and KL has probably blogged about it but that just goes to show how good this place is. Tucked away in a food court in Brickfields, Uncle Peter's Pork Noodles really does justice to pork. For only RM5, you get a mountain of meat types in your noodle along with a delicious egg, broken into and cooked with the soup as it is served to you piping hot. Crispy pork lard flavours the soup while a generous helping of pork liver, minced pork and sliced pork ensures that every bite is meaty-full bite. I am just salivating thinking about it now....



If I was on the death sentence, this will be my requested last meal.

Best time to have it is in the morning before 12noon as it gets crowded fast. (The Banana Leaf Rice is another crowd-puller but that's for a future post) Parking is also a bit of a challenge unless you're willing to part with RM4.25 per hour at the parking lot next to the food court. Better RM4.25 than RM50 saman I always say.

Pricing:

Small & without egg - RM4.50

Small & with egg - RM5.00

Big & without egg - RM5.50

Big & with egg - RM6.00

Address:
Peter’s Pork Noodles,
Mayflower Food Court,
144A, Jalan Vivekananda,
Off Jalan Brickfields,
50470 KL.
(right next to Legend’s Briyani House)
 Closed on alternate Mondays

Have a Happy Day ahead!