The Fault in Our Stars.

I was browsing through goodreads.com (a reliable source for book lovers) and found this interesting book called "The Fault in Our Stars". The rating was tremendous with 4.5 stars. I downloaded the e-book for a preview and was instantly touched! I read up to chapter 8 and decided that I must get the book! The real book! I went to the bookstore and asked the counter for it. While I was waiting for the staff to look for the book, a boy approached the counter and looked for the same book. When he said the title, I thought my brain was talking. What are the odds, such a coincidence. 2 strangers looking for the same book at the same place and at the same time. It must be a real good book.

Here is the synopsis:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

The first half of the book was so heart wrenching. I could literally feel the pain that Hazel had to fight everyday. Struggling everyday just to stay alive and couldn't afford a normal life despite such a young age. I felt how cancer patients felt at that moment. Then I stopped for nearly 2 weeks because I was waiting for the book to be launched in the bookstore. Maybe that was the problem, the ache I was feeling was gone. I felt the last half of the book wasn't that "into the spot". It just couldn't pinpoint my sad spot. It was OK, but very far from Jojo Moyes' "Me Before You". I thought I have found a contender for Me Before You, but no. The ending gave me so many question marks. I think the author, John Green was pulling a "An Infliction Affair" by Peter Van Houten which he raved about in "The Fault in Our Stars" itself. What happened to Hazel after the letter? How long did she lived? Probably John Green wanted his fans to act like Hazel, fly all the way to wherever he lives and knock on his door to ask for answers. Just like what Hazel did for "An Infliction Affair" in the book.

Nonetheless it is a good book with quite a few quotes worth pondering upon. It gave you a food for thought to love and live to the fullest. Even cancer patients live and love hard, leave alone people who is healthy and normal. What excuse do you have?

This particular quote touched me so badly. A relationship isn't judged by the span of time we spend together. But the things we do, the words we say and the love we give. 

Some readers even made some fan arts which I find super sentimental.

Here's my verdict:

1st Wedding Anniversary.

I am officially married for a year. Can you believe it? I certainly don't. My wedding day is still so fresh in my memory I can hardly accept the fact that a year has passed by. The first year anniversary is very important, simply because it is THE FIRST. Our wedding rings are not similar. His is a band while mine is a solitaire diamond ring with a line of small diamonds at both sides.

So the husband got me an anniversary ring, the female version of his ring from the same range.

With engraving marking our first year together.

After ring shopping, we went to book ourselves a trip to Korea for next year Chinese New Year. Another huge KA-CHING!

You can see how stressed out the husband was from the way he devoured the chicken wings during our dinner, LOL!

We should have gone for a weekend getaway because our anniversary fell on Sunday. But instead, we just went out with friends till late on the eve of our anniversary and slept through Sunday morning. Nothing extra special for the rest of the day, just a nice simple dinner at Blu Med, The Gardens.

The place was almost empty and all ours!

Delicious chicken wings!

Braised whole chicken leg.

Spaghetti Bolognese.

The husband checking my newly polished wedding ring.

Us. After a year of marriage, and hopefully more to come.

Never let go.

And of course, last but not least my outfit of the special day. Love this dress from Viris Zamara, an aspiring designer from Bangkok. Bag from Michael Kors. Shoes from Vincci.

A day in my life.

After sharing with you my beauty regime, let's go more in depth and share with you my daily routine during the weekday which I usually wake up in the morning unwillingly to work. If you think your days are mundane, you are not alone. Ordinary people going through ordinary lives, this is just part of life. Let me humor you with a day of my equally mundane life.

Wake up in the morning feeling like P.Diddy....NOT!!!

Skincare and make up in the morning is a must, or shall I say mandatory. Going to work with a bare naked face is like...going out to the street naked.

Can't live without my trusty Cellnique Pro Sebum Gel.

After making up and dressing up, it's time to get into my car for a dreadful drive to work. The husband made me wear the seat belt for my bags. So it doesn't risk getting robbed and fall off the seat.

Hello kitty! Buckle up!

Morning traffic is not something that I look forward to.

Reached Uptown and went into the parking lot. I usually park at level 8 and every level has 2 floors. Everyday I need to turn 15 times to reach my parking spot =_= I wonder if I should pity myself or my tires.

Inside the parking lot.

I park at Uptown 7 and my office is at Uptown 2. That is like the other side of the square which is a 10 minutes walk. I wanted to walk in the morning as a small exercise but the sun isn't co-operating. So I usually take the shuttle van that takes people who go around Uptown.

Sneakily snapped a photo with sleepy people sitting quietly in the van.

Finally reached the office and the first thing I usually do isn't work. It's breakfast!

My healthy breakfast! Bananas and a gigantic burger!

Inside the gigantic burger are papayas! Ah-ha! The burger is just a container, cute right?!

Time to work! I have 2 computers. The iMac for design work.

The Windows computer for emails.

After a few hours of computer tapping, brain straining and drama fighting, it's lunch time! Sometimes I go out lunch with my colleagues nearby. Some other time when I feel fat I'll eat oats. 

Today is my fat day, so it's an Oat day.

 The company has recently started to implement breakfast and tea time catering in our office pantry. After another few hours of work, it's tea time!

Fresh Code is fruit juice without artificial sugar.

After another few hours, time to go home! I usually don't wait for the shuttle van to take me to the parking lot because the sun is not so glaring anymore and sometimes we have to wait like forever for the shuttle van because the driver snake at the parking lot, smoking and chatting. One day I shall take a photo of them snaking and send to the management!

That's me. Dressed prettily carrying a Hello Kitty backpack. So not age appropriate LOL.

Don't make me start about the traffic back home. Blood draining!

Salary day! Bills bills bills and more bills $_______$

Dinner prepared by mother in law.

A little bit of TV time with the husband before he goes off for his night jog.

When the husband is gone, laundry time. I'm a good wife.

Laundry and painting, I scored No.1 in the boring people list.

Painting accompanied by music is so....inspiring.

I always wait for the husband to get back before I sleep. I can't sleep in peace if I know he is not back. More cookie points for me! 12 something and he is finally back, time to hit the bed to prepare myself for another equally mundane day tomorrow.

Zzzzzzz.......

My Beauty Regime.

I have been receiving compliments about my complexion lately. Trust me, I had my fair share of skin problems few years back. I used to have white heads, black heads and pimples all over my face. There was once I had severe skin sensitive, my face became reddish and white bumps filled with puss conquered all over my face! It was so itchy and painful because it was inflamed! It was then I started going for facials and invest in high end skincare products. Now I live by the mantra, "Cheap no good, good no cheap".

I would say my sister played a big part influencing me about skincare. She told me to start using anti-ageing products earlier, better to prevent than cure! She started using anti-ageing products in her early twenties!

Now I managed to maintain my skin condition, with the occasional pimples. My skin still tend to get oily by mid day. But thank goodness I have no sign of wrinkles and fine lines *touchwood*. There are only 1-2 tiny brown spots on my cheek.

So here is my skincare regime that helps to maintain my skin condition.

DAY TIME

My skin is considered oily and living in such humid country, I prefer to put lesser skincare products during the day to avoid my skin from looking like a frying wok.

Some people skip this step. They said they already wash their face, what's the point of toning. Trust me, toner makes a lot of difference. Just tone!

I can't live without this product. If they decide to discontinue this, I think I shall discontinue myself from living as well. This product helps to control my white heads, black heads and all the imperfection. This works wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better than many many many many many many other high end brands that swear to control oil secretion. I swear by this product!

Even oily skin needs moisturizing. Just opt for a lightweight moisturiser like gel.

At my age now, eye care is very crucial! It's either you make it or break it by the time you hit 30!

Living at such hot country where the sun shines bright like a diamond, UV ray plays a huge part at skin darkening and aging. You won't see it now, but few years down the road you will see brown spots, wrinkles, fine lines and uneven skin tone, all thanks to the sun! So shield it like it's your precious!

NIGHT TIME

At night, it is when your skin rejuvenates itself and your cell renewal is at the most active period too. It is vital to apply all the necessities before you sleep so your skin can drink up all the nutrients while you sleep. Sleeping in air conditioned room, I opt for heavier skincare product.

Same, tone tone and tone.

Applying a pre essence boosts everything you apply afterwards by triple!

I put on this for the sake of finishing it. I seriously don't think it does any difference to my skin.

Like the rest of your face, your eyes need the TLC too. Your face deserves some serum, so are your lovely eyes!

I apply both of this together, they are called SUPER SERUM when combined together. A pump of each and mix well together before applying all over the face. I tend to skip moisturizer if I put these 2 serums.

If I skip the super serum, I will apply anti-ageing moisturiser.

Of course, eye care! I use the same eye care I put during the day.

If I have pimples, spots or pimple scars, I will apply these little helpers.

Pffftttt.....! Imagine I need to slap almost 10 products on my skin every night!!!! It's so tiring to be a woman!