Back To Gym

Back to the gym after unknown number of years... thanks to DC! He introduced me to the cycling class. I also read somewhere that it was effective to raise the energy level and even suitable for old people.

Knowing that it was an intermediate class, I went easy with myself...

How did I feel right after the class? My legs went jelly right after I stepped out of the bike!

How am I feeling now? Ouch! I was unable to walk properly, first day it was just my thighs and on the next day, even the calf muscle ache! Fortunately, the chewzies were very sweet, A held me around and B didn't request for me to carry her for long! :)

Will I go back again? Yes! Definitely but maybe will stick to the beginner's class first. hehe...

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Hair Cut

Finally found time to go for my long overdue hair cut!

My hair has grown too long and limpy. Plus, I'm now going through post-partum hair loss, it doesn't help that B loves to pull it. I wanted to make it lighter and shorter!

So, I went back to my usual hair stylist who sniped sniped and sniped my hair to a much shorter length (still long hair)...

Here's me after the hair cut.

It's not the usual cut. If you noticed, there are two different styles on each side of the face. The stylist told me that this was modified from the latest permed hair. I like this hair style!

The old friend said me that I looked much better than my last pregnancy. That makes my day! :)


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Long or Short?

Two years ago when I was pregnant with A, I cut my hair short. Well, not quite short... slightly above shoulder length.

Now that my hair has gone out of shape, I was considering whether I should cut it short or leave it long. When I did my confinement two years ago, I was always sweating and feeling hot. My colleague, who is also pregnant also advised that long hair is better as you could tie up the hair and that would take the heat off better. Hmm...

Today during lunch, I went to my hairstylist and as expected, he suggested to just trim 2-3 inches. Somehow, he doesn't think that I'm suitable to have short hair. I gave in and let him decide what to do.

Back in the office, my colleague was telling she's seen me in the different hairstyles - long hair, short hair, permed hair, straight hair, long fringe, short fringe, coloured and non-coloured hair. Come to think of it, I was quite adventurous... I even inspired a vendor to cut her fringe short! Ha!

A thought arose... I dug out all my different hairstyles that I had these few years to recap and share. Some of them looked so funny now! :)

2008 Jan: Curly hair with short straight fringe


2008 Dec: Trimmed long and straight hair with long fringe


2009 Jun: Short hair with trimmed fringe with parting


2010 Sep: Long hair with short straight fringe


2011 Jan: Long coloured hair with long fringe


The above hairstyles all eventually evolved into this long straight with long fringe, my usual look until I go for another haircut:


I actually secretly thinking maybe one day I could give this red and short hairstyle another try! :P



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Rashes Unleashed

I've been wondering why I've been having bumps (round, raised, skin colour and individual like mosquito bites) all over my body lately and I thought it's due to the few feasts I've been to. Those times, however we did not order sharks fins, my usual allergen... so I assumed that it's one of ingredients or seasoning used in one of the dishes that caused the allergy.

Today, I found my answer. Not in a very expected way but in a rather familiar way. A different type of rashes appeared on my body today. They are small, red and many like little goose pimples that covers quite a big area. It's a deja vu feeling and I knew I had the same set of rashes at the very spot (actually area) previously! It strikes me then that I had the rashes during my pregnancy... but it was DC who later enlightened me that it was caused by my new antibiotics! Yes, makes sense... the dates match... and I had the same antibiotics during my pregnancy!

I looked at the elements in the medication.. Amoxycillin and Clavulanate Potassium... which one was I allergic to? I'm guessing the latter cos I've taken the former before I took this course of medicine. But, I'm not sure if the dosage matters... I think I better check with the doc...


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Colored Hair Once More

It was ages since I last colored my hair. I'm itching for a change! ;)

I was so bored and hungry (skipped lunch) after 6 hours of hair time. I only had a bubble tea that my sis bought for me (Thanks SIs!). The only consolation is the discount for the birthday gal (that's why I always cut hair during this period!). :)

Tata, my new hair colour that cost $300+:


And the process was sooo long and ugly...




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Shining Star for Shiseido Service

I've something good to share! :)

Ladies, where do you all go to shape your brows? I just found a great place!


I've always shaped my brows during my facial sessions but since after Baby's birth, I've stopped going there even though I still have one more session left...

Recently, I walked into this shop at Suntec and love the skillful lady who served me then but sad to say, the shop closed down last month...

Today I felt that it was high time for a trim and decided to walk into one of the beauty counters at Tangs and was in for a surprise when the first two counters that I stepped into rejected me! The third don't do eyebrow shaping but recommended two other counters... I tried my luck at one. (Yes, I was quite desperate then!) Fortunately, the guy there accepted me (although he has another appointment!)

He was pretty professional about the job and understood my requirements perfectly. After shaping the brows, he offered to apply cleanser, softener, moisturizer and sunblock on me at no cost! Why not? I gladly accepted the offer. If time permits, he might have done the full makeup for me as well! :P Seriously, I'm satisfied with his service.

It's a blessing in disguise that I've to thank God for as the first counter would have earned my $15 but this one doesn't cost me any cent! I later learned that they provide free makeup service as well! *Like*

You can consider going Shiseido next time when you feel like shaping your eyebrow but please do give them (or any other beauty counters) a call to make prior booking and oh, they don't do tweezing.


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傻瓜

My latest hairstyle:


Yes! I tried the 傻瓜头 again! :P



DC brought Baby to the salon when I was halfway through the haircut. I was worried that Baby did not recognize me cos he did not show any reaction when he saw me. Thank God my fear did not come true, he warmed up after he came to realize that I'm his mummy! :)


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Conditioning the legs for CNY

It's way past the time for me to maintain my tired legs. My dry and cracked legs were in such poor condition that I feel bad looking at them. Today, I finally sneaked time off work for a well worth pedicure and medicure! :) I topped up lots of add-ons and spent a whopping $95 on my feet. Now, they are clean and polished and with a new coat of colour, i'm all ready for CNY! I felt rejuvenated after the intensive treatment! :)


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Quick Fix for Greasy Hair

DC bought this for me on Mon after he heard about it:



Though I know he hated the grease and can't wait to get rid of it off my hair, I must say that it was still very thoughtful of him to have spent the effort searching and buying the non-rinse shampoo for me! :P Thanks!


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Once Bitten, Twice Doubly Alert!

Just came back from my facial session.

As my facial package is almost used up, the consultant wasted no time in persuading me into signing a new package today. Too bad, because this was the very consultant that has cheated me into getting my current package, I refused to sign any package today. Not with her...

I was convinced that her words could not be trusted, especially after countless of sessions where the therapists told me that the dead sea whitening spa does not suit me! Guess what? They all recommended me my previous facial package as that, they said, suited me better! Ha, so much for converting to a more expensive product but did no wonders to my skin condition at all. She definitely has lost all her creditability.

Hmm, I'm thinking of switching to another place after my package ended... but, where to?


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Face Spa

The consultant recommended a special treatment for my so-called sensitive skin -- a series of dead sea products done on the face to soothe the troubled skin. The exfoliator did not feel beady and the mask felt icy cold on my face but the effect was pretty good after the session.

Needless to say, it's a round of sales talk after that... (what I hated most!)

She first tried to sell me $5,000 for 20 sessions. I rejected flatly.

Then, she reduced the number of sessions to $2,500 for 10 sessions. I continued to decline the offer.

After that, she counter offered $1,900, $1,600 and $1,500 for 6 sessions after offsetting the remaining sessions from the existing package. "No thanks." I fought on but was very tempted.

Finally, she gave a final offer: $1250 plus one free session. There'll be 11 treatment sessions in total...

The consultant was really very persuasive. She eventually got the better of me and I ended up signing up for it. DC thinks that I was conned by her. I actually had the plan to finish up the remaining sessions then say bye bye to them... I don't understand why I allow myself to buy too.

Anyway, I'm going to give the dead sea product a chance... Let's see if it's as miraculous as claimed...


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New Fresh Look

Went back to my former hairstylist this time. Didn't dare to try out any other stylist after my last failed experiment. This one knows which style suits me best but, when I saw him waved the scissors and started snipping my fringe off, I couldn't help but to worry that it'll turn out just like the last time. Phew! Thank God, my hairstylist was in control and the outcome was a delightful one!



This is the first time I tried rebonding my hair. Previously, I've never had the need as it was always straight. It's quite amazing to think I would need it now to straighten my permed wavy hair.

I like my new hair style, I like the fresh new look it gives me. I look younger now with straight hair compared to permed hair. The only thing is: short fringe is harder to maintain. Knowing my concern, my hairstylist generously taught DC the steps to trimming my fringe. DC as my fringe cutter? Hmmm, we'll see how it goes when the time comes...

Maybe the new change also brings me some luck? Using the $250+ recipient, I participated in the shopping mall's jackpot game and was entitled to 5 chances... Guess what? I hit jackpot for the last 3 games consecutively! Ha! :)



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The Glow of Aesthetic Medicine

A glowing and growing industry it is with the increased demands on aesthetic treatement and therapies with the support of medical expertise.

Medical spas utilize lasers and intense pulsed light technology as well as medical microdermabrasion, photofacials, Botox and Restylene injections, medical peels and other medical beauty procedures. You can get also get traditional spa services like facials, massages, and body treatments.

I've got a list of the medical spas around (see below). Would definitely want to be treated and pampered at some of these medical spas set up by the medical professionals someday! :)


DRx Medispa
www.drxmedispa.com

In addition to conventional spa services, DRx Medispa offers radically different alternatives to relieving fatigue, stress or pain - all based on medical science and advanced spa technology developed by medical doctors.

The signature Mind and Body Rejuvenation treatment for instance, which aims to revitalise tired bodies and minds, is delivered with well-proven techniques.

Start off with Airnergy (an advanced oxygen therapy system to repair body cells), then relax in a shallow pool of Epsom salt solution in the well-documented Flotation REST system before ridding your body of any remaining tension through a 60-minute aromatherapy or deep-tissue massage.

For pain management, a revolutionary treatment, known as Ondamed, uses pulse electromagnetic fields to identify the source of any pain and discomfort in the body. It then delivers a temporary frequency to promote relaxation, muscle re-education, and offer pain and stress relief.

There is also the usual gamut of elective procedures with revolutionary new additions. One of them is Ultrashape, a non-invasive body contouring that permanently destroys fat cells without surgery, an alternative to liposuction.

The other is the Thread Lift, a minimally invasive face-lifting procedure involving the placement of special absorbable threads in strategic locations and tensioned according to the degree of suspension required. It works to ‘lift’ the upper, mid-and lower face, the neck, narrow broad noses, enhance nasal tips and receding chins.

Make sure you read the rules and conditions before you walked in (shoes, sandals and tank-tops are not allowed!)


The Wellness Lounge
www.thewellnesslounge.com.sg

One place that epitomises the reinvention of the conventional spa with added frills is the Wellness Lounge.

With Pacific Healthcare already a well-known speciality centre providing a host of medical services, the Wellness Lounge has tapped on its wealth of medical expertise to design the perfect aesthetic and wellness sanctuary which focuses on one’s health and cosmetic concerns. The result is a unique mix of advanced medical aesthetic treatments for the face and body.

Spa services here are provided in an innovative manner. The Wellness Deluxe Facial combines the latest in aesthetic technology such as microdermabrasion, cell rejuvenating Swiss serum, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Radio Frequency Foto Facial (RF).

The latest addition to the spa menu is the Medical Sleep Spa Therapy, using the latest dual radio frequency technology and unique pressure point dream massage for a much needed rest. This is an integration of the medical sleep diagnosis and treatment with spa relaxation therapy, ideal for those on the go as it prepares the mind, assesses sleep quality and thereafter, aims to improve the sleep quality.

The Sleep Spa Dream Massage with De-stress Therapy treats insomnia, stress and associated illness, muscle pull, migraine, poor blood circulation, slow metabolic function and tension headache, coincidentally issues commonly linked to business persons on tight schedules.

* Photo above from the Wellness Lounge


The medSpa
www.medspa.com.sg

Off the cuff, The medSpa seems like your run-of-the-mill spa, but there is definitely more under its skin. Its clients like the fact there is a consultant specialist here to look after them. Whether they go in for Botox, eye-bag removal, skin therapy or a simple laser peel, a specialist plastic surgeon always checks in on them.

However, the real uniqueness about The medSpa is that clients can come in after undergoing surgical procedures in the Plastic and Hand Surgery clinic next-door, to receive for instance, post-operative treatment to decrease swelling and accelerate healing if necessary.

Also, many visit The medSpa for StimuShape, a special treatment designed to complement fat-reducing procedures by further eliminating remnant fat tissues to maximise the aesthetic outcome. The medSpa was the first in Singapore to offer such transitional services.

With travelers usually staying between three to five days, such procedures or others like fillers to smoothen creases and fill in facial lines, skin-tightening thermage, and StimuLaser Therapy (electrical and laser facial stimulation) are popular due to the short downtime involved.



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Facial Analysis

Do you believe that each point on our face correlates to a corresponding organ and that we could observe clues of internal condition on the face?

For instance changes in facial skin color or texture; puffiness or tight drawn areas; swollen or sunken areas; the appearances of broken capillaries on the surface of the skin; lines, pimples, freckles, or other marks; all reflect changes in the function and structure of the related organs.

That's why the Chinese physicians always advocate this: To know the state of your health, you don't have to have expensive tests, nor a doctor. Just start by looking at yourself in the mirror. You don't even need to work on the facial skin, but rather you work on the corresponding organ and organ energy system.

I've heard one of my ex-colleagues mentioned this previously and I think it quite make sense since everytime I had gastric problem, that particular area on my face will always be dotted with pimples. Wanting to find out more and to find a cause for my recent outbreak, I spent some time on the Net to search for more info on this subject.

I'm no doc, don't know how accurate this is but I thought the following info is rather interesting and serves as a good reference for me.

Facial self diagnosis - Area analysis

Area A: The conditions of the mouth, lips, tongue, mouth cavity, and area around the mouth show the digestive functions as a whole. This area also relates partially to the respiratory function, especially at its peripheral area.

Area B: The condition of the forehead and its periphery, including the temples and eyebrows, represent the conditions of the nervous system as a whole.

Area C: The side facial areas, including both eyes, cheeks and ears, represent the conditions and functions of the circulatory and excretory systems as a whole.

Facial self diagnosis - A more detailed analysis



The following general correlations can be made between the internal organs and your face:

- Lungs and cheeks.

- Large intestines (colon) and the upper and more peripheral portion of the forehead, and the outer section of the lower lip, and below the eyes (directly below the kidney points)

- Heart and tip of the nose.

- Small intestine and the lower and more central portion of the forehead, and the inner section of the lower lip.

- Kidneys and the ears, and a circular area encompassing the region above and below the eyes.

- Bladder and the top portion of the forehead along the hair line.

- Spleen and pancreas and the portion of the nose closest to the head and the left eye. The spleen also correlates to the temples.

- Stomach and the central portion of the nose, and the upper lip.

- Duodenum and the outer corners of the mouth.

- Liver and the area of the forehead between the eyebrows, also the right eye.

- Gall bladder and the area between the end of the eyebrows and the sideburns.

- Sexual organs and the area encircling the mouth.

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Back into Business

Yes, finally able to click and snap on my hp after many days without it! Quite missed the clicking photo-snapping sounds and the semi-touch screen actually! :P

I went for medicure & pedicure treatments today at a newly opened store. Quite satisfied with the service but kind of regretted the nail art design I've chosen the moment I got home... although the classic white flowers on the pink nails look nice, I think i now prefer to have some appliques on my nails, which is the vogue now! :( Next time perhaps?

DC got quite a shock when I told him how much I spent... to him, trimming and shaping nails esp. in a neighbourhood store should not cost much. He is wrong wrong wrong...I should have prepared him earlier. Guys, listen up! The minimal price to expect (for both medicure and pedicure) is $80! Yes, at least $80 and that is without any artwork done on the nails!


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My New Magic Wand

Got this mascara recently. I was told to use it everyday so that my lashes will grow longer and curl more upwards... Dunno whether this is true but I'm determined to try it out.

Hope this wand will do some magic to my drooping lashes!

Also bought this eye palette (I'm into neutral makeup, love these brown and beige tones) so that I could take the shimmery white bag home, hehe one more shiny piece to add to my metallic collection...



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New Additions to the Cosmetics Bag

Thinking that there is 50% discount for members during birthday month, I swept the following KOSÉmetics from the counter:



Then, I was informed that 50% discount is for facial & hair services only, not applicable to products! For product purchase, only 50% more POINTS will be given during my birthday month.

I decided to get them anyway. DC arrived just as I was about to pay. He saw red when he heard the price... a whooping $385, oops!

I did warn him beforehand and had his permission to buy whatever I want at no cap!

"I'm going KOSÉ to get cosmetics"... ok
"Sure you let me buy?"... ok
"Even if it's expensive?"... ok
"No upper limit?"...ok

So, when guys say ok, they needn't mean it too! To think that I almost ask him to reimburse me 50% cos he had said expenses will be on him this month!

What I bought:
ULTIMATION Day Serum, 30ml $68
ULTIMATION Liquid Makeup, 30ml $91
Loose Powder Makeup, $72
Compact Case, $20
ULTIMATION Powder Makeup, $74
Concealer, $60
... Ok ok, I admit it's indeed a little too much, some of them I could have do without but I got 2 bags as souvenirs in return!


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I spent 4 hrs (from 5:45pm to 10pm) in the salon doing everything possible to make my 50% off ALL hair services birthday voucher worthwhile. Hair trim, perm, colour, treatment and hair product... the cost summed up to S$256 after discount.

I went to a new hairstylist this time. Despite my previous hairstylist's advice to keep the hair longer till March, I decided to had it permed today by the new hairstylist. I'm always wanting (for maybe past 6 mths?) to perm my hair... but he always tells me it's too short. I can't wait any longer...just had to do it today!

The end result was not something I'd expected... fringe was cut short short. Now, I looked exactly like that time when I had my hairperm in China in 2004!


DC commented that I look horrible...very dumb looking and like a 村姑!! He was downright angry and hated the fringe! :(


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Dress to Impress

Signed up for Grooming & Makeup talk conducted by Audrey Quek Image Consultancy and Shiseido respectively during lunch.

The saying always goes "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Hence, it's very important to dress up your body (with the right clothes) and face (with the right makeup) to create the desired impression. The talk covers topics like color analysis, wardrobe planning and coordination (tips to avoid faux pas and wardrobe must-haves) as well as basic makeup techniques in the day and evening (Tips on how to draw eye brows, apply mascara, etc).

Although the session was brief, I do find it beneficial. Both speakers sound confident and convincing. Does the name Audrey Quek sounds familiar to you? She's a beauty paegent queen 1999. Tall, slender and very well-dressed... I love the way she carries herself! She makes me motivated to dress up to work everyday.

Here's Audrey Quek giving the talk and the Shiseido makeup artist beside making over one lucky colleague:


Free Lunch was provided, I was so very hungry after the talk!

Out Whole Day

Yup, we were out the whole day today! It felt like ages since we last did that... thank God DC's leg is on it's way to recovery! :)

In the morning, DC brought me to a doctor's at Bendemeer for skin checkup. The clinic's exterior was in a state of neglect, brick walls and old discolored signboard... definitely not inviting; it's a wonder that anyone would notice the clinic esp. when it was obscured by the black tinted glass door. The interior was also old, but much better maintained. The consultation room doors looked new, a contrast to the records cabinets, the ceiling fans and the waiting area seats which were all in their first original states...


As we still had some time before our next appointment, DC decided to watch the movie "Michael Clayton" at GV Plaza. I find the movie slow moving, story only got interesting after 1.5 hr into the show. It is a thriller... Was I thrilled? Hmm...I don't think so. There were a lot of dialogues, little actions, and sometimes confusing. Overall the show was still watchable and the ending was good! Bad deeds were exposed and the murderer was brought to justice! :) Need reasons to watch the show? Here's two: (1) To see George Clonney as Michael Clayton, he still looks dashing in his late forties. (2) It's got 4 Golden Globe Nominations.

Read the synopsis here.


After the show, it's time for our facial. As usual, the session was good but they forgot to do eye treatments for us! It was promised that we would have eye treatment for every sessions... When I checked with the therapist and the aesthetitician, they both told me that it was not stated down in the package. When we were booking our next appointment, I saw the consultant whom we purchased the package from and brought this up to her attention, she confirmed that our package did come with eye treatments and the oops, reprimanded the therapist. Anyway, our next appointment would be a spa session. I look forward to it...


In the evening, it's back to GV Plaza for another movie "Elizabeth: The Golden Age". I enjoyed this show better than "Michael Clayton". There's both romance and war in the show. All the gowns worn by the Queen were very nice and elaborate, I like them all. There's a part that got me all confused: Who exactly does Raleigh (Clive Owen) like - the Queen or the maid?

Read the synopsis here.





We had late dinner at Secret Receipe. It was a satisfying meal as I finally get to eat the cheesecake! :) The last time we were there, we were told that the signature marble cheesecake was unavailable.

After dinner, we went to the info counter to make redemption and enter the CNY lucky draw contest. We were told by the staff to come back the next day and that the counter will close at 9:30pm. The time then was not even 9:30pm yet. Moreover, the shopping mall closes at 10pm and there was no notice that informs the shoppers that the counter closes at 9:30pm. Luckily DC and a man behind us in the queue fought for our rights, the staff had no choice but to allow the few of us in front to proceed. We were rather displeased with the customer service, it was also obvious there was understaff problem. When we got home, DC submitted an online feedback to the management of the mall. Hopefully, the situation would improve before this festive season ends.

Here's the notice that the staff hastily put up after we complained.