Taking a pause from all the cooking/eating posts and I’d like to talk about a few things tonight before the year of the Dragon draws to a close. Had our very healthy reunion dinner tonight (including a revamped version of Yee Sang), will blog about it in the next day or two.

2013 has been a pretty good year so far, considering the furry of activities I’ve been through so far. And it certainly hasn’t shown a sign of slowing down even over the festive period. I will be away in Bintulu and Sibu next Monday to Wednesday but will come back for two more gigs next week.

I’m quite excited about this gig as this will be my first time doing a public jazz gig (previously had been weddings and events) in a prominent venue. So if you haven’t secure any bookings for your Valentine’s day dinner you might want to check this place out! On Friday, we’ll be doing our usual high-energy gig at Show House, Sunway Giza.

So that brings us to the next thing I’d like to announce: I’m now #11 on the Pop Chart on Reverbnation!

When I first changed my location from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur I was sitting somewhere in the 30s. This is quite an achievement and I wouldn’t have done it without my supporters. Thank you all! Silent, or physically present at every gig, you are the best.

Last week I had a little photoshoot and it was interesting channeling the doctor’s image again. To paint you an image, I was one of those girls who wore fashionable dresses and heels to work, and hair down too (unless needing to do procedures, though very rarely in Psychiatry as you can imagine). Well I must say, they did a good job with the styling. Although I didn’t use to wear quite as much makeup to work. Hah!

I must say that I could not for the life of me remember the last time I ever wore turtleneck. Well, for the Malaysian media, a little sacrifice I guess? I’ll reveal what this is for in due time. All I can say now though is that I’m going to be a brand ambassador of sort.

Just before I start to sound like I really love myself (well, it’s a bit hard not to sometimes…. *cough*), I’d like to say a big thank you to MIVVA Box for the little present I received the other day. Beauty boxes are all the craze nowadays and there are so many for us to choose. What I love about MIVVA box is that most of the brands they’ve engaged are quite organic. You’ll see why in a minute.

Quite a few things I like here. First being the Nature’s Lab Refreshing Body Whip.

I have pretty dry skin so I have been a loyal customer for Palmer’s Cocoa Butter formula for many years. The beauty about this product is that not only it’s made with Cocoa Butter, Shea butter; it also contains Grapeseed and Chamomile Extracts. It’s also non-oily and non-sticky, perfect for hot and humid weather. I love the fragrance and the fact that it’s very quickly absorbed, though I’d prefer it to be richer.

This is one of the full size products in the box, packed with Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Black Pearl Extract, NMF Sodium PCA and Hyaluronic Acid (hydrating component) and Vitamin B3 (brightening component). It has a lovely scent too. I could alternate this with my SKII treatment clear lotion (treatment essence is something I will not skip though).

I don’t usually use Lipsticks and stick religiously to Lip Balm. But this cream lipstick is not drying at all. It contains LevensESSENTIE Gold (a 100 years old, time tested, holistic extract made from 22 certified organic herbs) and natural plant oils for the extra moisture. The only problem is the shade I got (maple) is a tad orange. Maybe I could mix it with another shade of lip gloss.

I’ve used the Exfoliating Mask and I must say I love the intense minty cooling effect once I’ve applied it on my skin. After only 2 applications, my skin actually does feel smoother. Good stuff!

Skin79 White Reviving miniature were also given to me, yet another brightening product. Perfect for my mildly sun damaged skin. Besides the skin products you might have noticed a little flowery brooch and a packet of heart-shaped marshmallows. Well we all know where the marshmallows will go. A very lovely touch indeed.

If you are interested in the March MIVVA Box, you can subscribe here. They delivers every first week of the month and you could even order in bulks for party gifts. Now that would be an excellent idea!

Happy Lunar New Year to all! May you all have a prosperous year ahead and may all your dreams come true. Eat to your heart’s content but don’t forget to have balanced meals. Fruits and vegetables are good for you.