WOMEN GONE SHOPPING

Weeeeeeeeeee~~~

This is officially the first time that I got back to our first home feeling HAPPY and EXCITED! Worn out? Oh yes. Always. But this time, it is a little bit different. Do you want to know why?

Psst.. Come, come. Let me tell you...

"BECAUSE WE'VE FINALLY FOUND THE PERFECT DINING AND SOFA SETS FOR OUR NEW HOME TODAY WOOHOOOOOOO!!!"

Hahaha. Pardon my excitement.

But this is serious!

I mean, SERIOUSLY OH-SEMMMMM!

*does the moon-wave*

**moon-wave. hihi. get it? you know, instead of moonwalk.. i use my hands... like, you know.. the wave thingy.. with the hands.. instead of... oh never mind**

xxxxxxx

So long story short (I hope), it wasn't that easy. We went in and out and in and out and in and - okay this is going to take forever - countless of furniture stores since yesterday until the three of us wiped out. It was hard! And I know I might sound like I am exaggerating things but gosh, furniture shopping is BRUTAL. It sure is fun though to the fact that you have much freedom to make your own selection of colours and styles and theme and whatnot especially because you get to pick out lots of humongous things for your own house but to be able to find that one particular furniture set that meets your personal taste and needs is no joke.

And since the power of making decision was given to the perfectionist ME, the process was even harder. We went to almost 10 to 11 stores (or maybe more, including today) just to find these two friggin' dining and sofa sets. From Ipoh to Sungai Siput to Kuala Kangsar, basically EVERY furniture store we could find. Fussy? No. Perfectionist? Yes. Now not that I am complaining, but these two days of furniture-hunting was done "under the hot burning sun" (like extremely hot), with literally no food nor drinks *err.. it's fasting month? duhh* so that seemed to make everything feel way, waaaaay too exhausting.

The humidity, the thirst, the going in and out of the hot suffocating car, the clashing ideas between mom, my sister and me, the "too small" "too expensive" "too outdated" "too heavy" and all kinds of "toos" you don't wanna know, it was all too much that we almost gave up.

But heck no. No way that would happen because we NEED them. The house is empty with literally nothing except for the kitchen cabinet we bought one or two months back as to avoid dining out every time we spend our nights there. In fact, Hari Raya is just a week away so we hope not to serve Lemang and Ketupat to our guests and relatives on the floor like we normally did. Haha. Sorry guys!

Hey, I said eating ON the floor, not OFF the floor! 

Spit it out! Spit it out! Ptuih! Ptuih!

Alhamdulillah, the hard work finally paid off! We found the sofa set at the last store with much much cheaper price for such an expensive price tag (the taukeh *owner* was so kind he even gave us a nice coffee table for free even after that huge bargain! Love you-lah, uncle!). Then we bought the dining set at the second last store after we bought the sofa (well we kind of went to some stores a few times to compare prices) and alhamdulillah, both main things-on-the-list are now settled! WOOHOO!

*again with the moon-wave, but slightly different. well, only if you can tell. get it? no? what? no, look at the hands.. it's different. see, the hands.. i do like, ... oh never mind*

xxxxxxx

Looking at how I took things very seriously by helping out my parents finding the best furniture for their home (YES. THIS IS THEIRS! Haha. I know what you're thinking!) somehow makes me feel even more excited to buy things for my own. Well I rarely take important matters for granted, that's just me. What I am trying to say is that I can now picture myself furniture-hunting with Boo Boo, doing all the "too common" "too plain" "too flowery" thingys. Hahaha. 

Oh, for the record, they all LOVE what I picked!

Well...

*blows nails*

Something that looks similar to this. L-shaped, black with pink stripes, but longer and definitely waaaaay better!

ALHAMDULILLAH..

---disclaimer: didn't know it could be this long!---

"IN" THING

Mismatched colours?

I'll take that as a YES.

It's spring season, so why not?

Ain't that right, Yuna?

"Be yourself, and don't be afraid."

OH YES.

PEOPLE vs CELEBRITIES

"When a celebrity wears something no matter how ridiculous it looks, it's FASHION. But when a regular person wears something similar, it's a CATASTROPHE."

Has anyone ever said something like that to you? Or maybe you have heard or read it somewhere, you know, from any sources? I bet you have. What ticks me off is the fact that WE, this so-called "regular people" have to have that some sort of barriers of what we want to wear while celebrities get that extra privilege in wearing anything they like. Mismatched colours, baggy outfits, street fashions and mix and match styles, well just to name a few.

Say, Rihanna.

A cropped electric blue jacket, a purple Sonia Rykiel jumper, and a yellow handbag. Like, "Whatever right? I think this combination looks great and I LOVE IT!"


Look at Tyra.

A girly pink, green, and blue one-shoulder colour block catsuit!
"Hello, talk about boldness and confidence!"


Heidi Montag?

A buttery maxi dress and a fuchsia handbag! Whaddya say about that?
*though I have to say, that bag looks FAB!*


Oh wait, how about this?

Obviously this one screams, "WHO CARES??"


Imagine US, in such outfits.
Oooh I hear whisperings...


*************

So those are about colours.

You know, I'm not saying that their styles are wrong in fashion. Who am I to judge? One thing is for sure, fashion is about showing your individualism. It is about choosing things that you think are fashionable, and that fit your personal sense of style. And trends, too.

Okay, so let's move on to an even tricky business like sequin dresses.

Three words: Shiny, Jazzy, and Classy.


Traditionally, this outfit is worn at night as an evening wear, during a very special occasion. Not anymore. It's the ultimate bling, yes, so it has to be paired with caution - to avoid looking like a walking Christmas Tree. Well, I sure can talk about this for days but that's not actually my point.

Take Beyonce, for example.

A sequin dress, a casual top and a leather jacket.

Or Paula Patton.

A gold sequin Moschino dress, a small black belt, and a leather jacket.


Oh, how about Heidi Klum?

A sequin tank and scarf, a blazer, dark skinny jeans and black patent pumps.

So what say you? Do they all look stylish to you? Of course, right? Because they are celebrities. Whatever they wear looks perfect. Like, so in, so cool, yadayadayada.


*************

Why do you think I bring this subject up, anyway? Say thanks to this one particular MAKCIK (aunt), whom I happened to walk past her once when I was shopping at MV. Or was it Sunway? KLCC? Oh never mind. Good thing I have already forgotten her face. See, that day I was wearing my black sequin dress. Here's another confession: I'm not a fan of anything sequin-y but I thought I should have at least one in my wardrobe so I gave it a try. I used to wear the dress before when I was going out with boo and my friends and I'm telling you, they all LOVED it!

A black sequin dress, a cropped open puff sleeve blazer, black skinny jeans, a cute ruffle crossbody bag, and gladiator heels. "Glam rock, baby!"

Since I'm a hijab-er, I opted for that look. I think I looked chic, decent, definitely not OTT. What could go wrong with that, right?

The second time I wore this dress, I paired it with my favourite Hello Skinny jeans, just for experiment's sake. Yes I only have one sequin dress, hehe.

SADLY though, there was this typical traditional lady who, I don't know, thought that sequin dresses are only for clubbing and parties commented about my style to his husband. I didn't hear her well because she kind of mumbled it but I could hear her saying, "Ey, nak pergi kelab ke.." and I was like OUCH!?

If I could translate that in English, she'd probably sound like this: "Ew, WTH is she thinking? If you wanna go clubbing then this isn't the place!" Like WHAT THE HECK, right? It was a mall, lady. Not Pasar Malam or some sort. And it's not like I wore the dress alone? Worst of all, we were so close. How stup*d was that? So I literally turned around and gave her a sharp look, which made her startled.

I wonder what she'd say if I wore this.

Looks pretty, indeed. But I won't wear such bottom. Reminds me of snakes.

*shivers*

I'm fine with criticisms but that was utterly rude. How could you accuse someone who wears the same kind of headwear as clubber? Typical Malays. You know, even if you disagree with someone else's sense of style, it's best if you keep it to yourself first. Or at least think before you speak. Boy I was boiling, that I couldn't handle. I swear because of that nasty comment she made, I sulked for almost two hours. It bugged me so much. Then I thought "Well, let's just assume that she doesn't read enough magazines."

*************

The thing is, what is it that differs the PEOPLE and CELEBRITIES in terms of styling? What makes them special in a way that "regular people" don't?

Why can't the PEOPLE wear shades in a mall, but CELEBRITIES can?
Why can't WE wear mismatched colours outfit, but CELEBRITIES can?

One day you are dressing up Harajuku style, people might call you crazy. Then they see Gwen Steffani rocking it, they call it pretty.


I'm just saying.

Style is style. You either have it or you don't. If you can't take the heat then stay out of the kitchen. Just because you dislike an outfit or someone's entire style, doesn't mean that they are doing it wrong. But of course there are the rights and the wrongs in styling (err... Gaga?) but why do people always think that only celebrities can make an outfit pretty? It's basically the same ideas. Even brands, maybe! So why is it that the style of a celebrity is actually FASHION and ours is just TRAGIC? Hm?

Something to ponder.

WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING!

YOU'RE ENGAGED!

YAY!

❤

And of course, like any other women, your first thought may have been:

"What to wear? What am I going to wear on my big day?"

From that moment onward, you know the pressure is on. You can't tell whether whatever you are thinking at that time is actually a blissful excitement or simply sheer panic. Let's face it, choosing the best wedding dress is utterly stressful! You have so many things going on in your mind considering whether the dress is perfect enough to woo yourself, what's more your guests! The fact that all eyes will be on you and the photos that will be around forever, you've got to admit:

That's a lot of pressure on one friggin' dress!

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Or so I thought.

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GOTCHA!

Hahahaha.

Yes, I am not talking about myself.

No, I am not yet engaged.

No, is it not me who is going to get married.

Boohoo.

I was actually referring to my one of my dear friends.

I wish it was me, though. Ops.

Moving on....

My friend is tying the knot soon so she will be needing us, her awesome stylish all-single girlfriends (is that even necessary?) to help her find the right wedding dress. She is my ex-schoolmate from SSP; can't reveal the name yet since this is still a secret to the rest of our other friends. She has our mouths zipped. So thanks to the caffeine I had just now, I am more than happy to post something up tonight. Again.

So basically, the process of shopping for a wedding dress can a fabulous adventure. There is no doubt that it can be quite stressful and overwhelming. That is why I have to keep myself checked and prepared. Not that I need it now but it's true like what they say, "If you want peace, you must prepare for the war."

Hmmmmmm...

Okay that doesn't sound like it. But you get what I mean, right?

When To Start Shopping?

I think the perfect time to order or buy  a wedding dress is at least six months before the wedding. Obviously you will need ample time to make the right decision. Besides, more time gives you less hassle especially in terms of some rush charges.

A Dress That Fits Your Body Well!

Who doesn't want to look great on their wedding day? Know about your body type and what kinds of dresses generally look good on you all this while. Opt for a dress that has similar lines to your regular dresses that make you feel confident and beautiful.

Expensive Dress Is Not Necessarily The Best Kind

If money is an issue, go for the one that falls under your budget. You will need more money to spend on other things than just a wedding dress. Most importantly, always remember that it is your wedding day. So choose the one that makes you comfortable and feels like you. It should be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

WOW.

Still can't believe I will be doing this very soon.

I mean, for her!

Not for me!

*sobs*

IT'S GIRLS DAY OUT, PEOPLE!

I can hear the bell ring, already!

Ding~ Ding~ Ding~ Ding~

*is that how a bell sounds?*

OH MY SUNNIES!

What'cha think?

Screw guilt!
So here's the thing.
I've been eyeing a couple of sunglasses lately and I think I'm going for one.
*Whoa, that came out straight!*

Well, who doesn't love sunnies?
Not only they protect our eyes from damaging solar rays, they also make us look darn good wearing it! I love how sunnies get so trendy these days. They come in various designs, colours and shapes. Forget the old, boring look. Put them on, and voila! You're fashionably good to go.


What’s not to love?

And yes, we cannot just wear any kind of sunglasses – that will spoil the look. The perfect pair of sunnies should actually flatter our face shape AND balance our natural features out.


The basic rule is simple:
The frame should contrast with our face shape!


Now thanks to Google, (YOU ROCK, MAN!) 'cause I'm no expert so you might want to continue reading these. Get pretty, man! --- Ladies and gents!


OVAL FACE
Consider yourself lucky. Why? Because you don't have to worry about anything when it comes to shopping for sunglasses – most frame shapes will work for you! Round or square frames, oversized shades, aviators, and everything in between... Pick one, it's YOUR choice!

Sunnies for Oval Faces


ROUND FACE
It's all comes down to the basic rule. You need angular sunglasses to balance out the roundness. You also need straight lines to balance the feature so look for square or rectangular frames if possible. If you have large features and a large face, forget tiny sunglasses as they will only make your face/features look distorted.

Sunnies for Round Faces

HEART-SHAPED FACE
A heart shaped face is wider at the top than at the bottom. Your style is the Aviators. Man, how I love aviator shades! Good for you, they are super-flattering on heart-shaped faces. Also, certain rounded and rectangular frames work just fine too!
*Well, am I in this category?*

Sunnies for Heart-shaped Faces

SQUARE FACE
Those with square faces should stick to curved sunglasses – they help soften your facial features and downplay your angular face shape. Your strong jawline is the main focus so draw the attention away from it by choosing frames that sit slightly higher than usual on your face. It will help draw the eye up toward your eyes.
*Or this one? 'cause I do have strong jawlines?*

Sunnies for Square Faces

So which one are you in?
I'm excited.

HELLO BOB!

Hooray!
I've finally cut my hair... long!
*Haha*
SHORT, of course!


I thought I wanted to trim the bottom edge but nay, not worth it so I cut 'em BOB! Bob, bob. My favourite long angled bob to match my strong jaw lines.


Bob hairstyles have been around for ages but to me, the long angled bob hairstyle is way, way sexier. It is the simplest, yet chic fashion trend and is better than ever.

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This longer version of Bob is kawaii-ly hot and terribly gorgeous. The hair parts in the middle and the cut is at an angle, with a tad shorter in back than in front.


Similarly like Gwyneth Paltrow's


My hair is naturally straight and heavy, and is parted in the middle for a long time now. No matter how hard I try to have bangs and fridges, I just failed. Besides, I'm not a "free-hair" kind of person so that makes it even harder. I have lots of hair and it runs in the family. I have high cheekbones, strong jaw lines and bone structures, pretty much an athletic type of figure... *cough* model-like *cough*, if I may add.
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[PUKE HERE]


Shorter in the back than in front

So I transformed my hair from super long and "boring" to this sleek and edgy long angled bob. I'm always into this hairdo. Short Bob or Long Bob, I've done it so many times. I used to have long, VERY long hair during my teenage years. Haircuts used to be so traumatic but it's always nice to have a bit of a change now and again.


P/s: I just love how my head feels lighter after a nice haircut.