Garage 51

I'm not a coffee addict, but a coffee shop addict. Haha. I love to go to coffee shop, because it gets me all relaxed and forget bout the world just a bit. I love looking at the face of people chatting, how they laugh and share happiness with each other, the baristas with a serious looking face of making that perfect cup of coffee, smiling waiters and waitresses to take the order, and everything under one roof. 

Garage 51 is one of the coffee shop that I wanted to visit most in my list, because of its interior, because of their good reputation, because of I went once and it was closed! Haha. I guess human do want something that they couldn't get. So I went there the 2nd time. It was 10pm, bad time for caffeine I must say.

Bout their garage concept interior, it was brilliant! 3 symbols painted on the wall which is the patterns of bolt head, modified oil barrel sofa seating, and we're being seated on top of a modified cargo kitchen. It's a wonderful concept I must say! 

Modified cargo kitchen, and I love sitting on top of it!

What a beautiful scene!

Garage 51 is another concept cafe by Coffee Societe, hence the similarity of the menu and drinks. I went to Coffee Societe few times, but not really fond of it like how I were for Garage 51. Maybe I'm superficial, I don't know, because they are serving the same stuff, right? Yeah, therefore I really think I'm just being biased. Haha.

Mochatella it is!

Ordered Mocha, Mochatella and a piece of Red Velvet cake. The Red Velvet cake was soooooooo nice! One of the best I've eaten recently, so moist and rich and the cream cheese topping tastes just nice too. Mochatella is sorta fancy kind of drink: Nutella + Mocha Ice Cubes + Milk. The taste was good, maybe because of the Nutella, so everything with Nutella won't go wrong. lol.

Mochatella

Oily face.

Light bulbs, flowers, coffee, essential of life.

Love how these light bulbs reminds me one of Zedd's MV - Stay The Night

It was basically a good visit experience to Garage 51, friendly waiters, baristas, we stayed till 11pm which is the closing time of it (1030pm last call, kitchen closed at 10pm), so don't come late. I love the atmosphere, one of the cafe that I surely will visit again.

these wall art will be awesome to look at in the morning.

For more info:

51, Jalan PJS 11/9, Bandar Sunway
46150 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia


Business Hour: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm (Last call kitchen 10pm, drinks 1030pm)

Closed on Monday

Garage 51 Facebook Page

Bonne Saint-Valentin 2014

Ran out of idea (and cash) for a good Valentine's Day present, so D.I.Y stuff would be the best option to show our sincerity. This year, decided to bake (again!) for our Valentine at Peiyue's house. lol. Decided last minute what to bake after some quick browse through of cake recipe at bookstore. Muffin is our first choice, and biscuit is our back-up plan. Thank god we made it for the muffin. Haha.

So here are just some photos of the progress, nothing much. Spend two days to get all these done. From deciding what type of muffin to do, to buying the ingredients already costs us a day's time. So in total we spent two days for these heart shape chocolate muffin just for the sake of Valentine's Day. lol.

Split everything into two portions, as the first portion is for "testing purpose". lol

It's already been yearssss since I last bake, can't believe I still able to find the urge to bake. Maybe I do like baking from the bottom of my heart. Well, which girl doesn't like baking for the one she love, right?

Anticipating...

Smells good!

So yeah, we baked numerous of times because we only have four heart shape moulds. Can you imagine, four moulds and we baked 32 muffins? Each time baked for about 20 minutes. So yea, you do the maths and able to tell how many time we've spend on baking these lovelies.

Cooling down

I seriously salute those who bake cupcakes for living. Baking is one thing, and decorating is another thing! I wonder how you guys manage to come out different sort of decoration idea using the same concept. I think until my head wanna burst already! Lol. But nonetheless, feels ultimately contented when I see the box of muffin filled with all these heartshape muffins with different decorations.

Chocolate chips, Nutella, marshmallows and edible flowers for the decorating purpose. Well, not too childish isn't? It was such a good baking experience, and he ate all these 12 muffins! Haha well thank you very much for your support! I shall bake something else next year. lol.

White Valentine's Day a.k.a White Day is coming, have you thought of what to buy for the girl you love? 

Bon Anniversaire, L'Occitane Malaysia

Thanks to Xavier, got invited to L'Occitane Malaysia's 10th Anniversary. It's already 10 years since L'Occitane first started the business in Malaysia. How time flies! So glad to be invited to this joyful event with all the lovely people around.

L'Occitane Malaysia 10th Anniversary
10 years of love!

two huge bouquets with a figure "10"!
So nice!

A lot of 10s! 

In Chinese, there's a saying that 10 means perfect (十全十美), I guess this pretty much describe the party - perfect. Star-studded, lotsa local celebrities showed up in the party to give their support to L'Occitane, and bubbly L'Occitane staffs can be seen everywhere with a big smile on their face!

and balloons! I love balloons!!!

Win cute gifts for yourself by playing games at the party.

Bumped into Charmaine, Ponnie, Raine and some other bloggers at the party. Had some pretty awesome catch up time with each other. Even took photos at WOWPhotoBooth with Charmaine, our first photo together. lol. Good memories. The party started, it was a sunny afternoon, everything looks so well-blend together.


L'Occitane, founded in year 1976 by Oliver Baussan, is a company that not just focus on organic production methods, but also socially-conscious. L'Occitane products are never tested on animals and to my surprise, Braille labelling are on each and every L'Occitane's product package which allows the accessibility of visually impaired.



Olivier Baussan said: The sun smiles on Provence. Its warmth makes the soil generous and the people open-hearted. Its bright rays are reflected in the crafts, customs and traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation. The sun, the products of the soil and a love of nature are the essence of Provence. It is this essence that I wanted to share with the world. This is what inspired me to create L'Occitane. Well Monsieur Olivier Baussan, you made it! L'Occitane is now an international brand which can be found in over 80 countries and 1899 stores available worldwide. It is one successful story of an genuine entrepreneur which wanted the best for the world.

Beautiful performance kick-start the party

So, famous for its creamy shea butter collection and aromatherapy products, here are the 10 key milestones for L'Occitane Malaysia over these 10 years:

• The very first boutique of L'Occitane were located at KLCC, Kuala Lumpur
• July 2006, L'Occitane Malaysia brought 3 press members to Provence for an exclusive Lavender Discovery journey at the brand's homeland! (OMG I WANT!!!!)
• 2007, L'Occitane Malaysia branched out from Kuala Lumpur and opened its first outlet in Queensbay Mall, Penang, followed by another boutique in East Malaysia at The Spring, Kuching. Two outlets were opened at Mahkota Parade, Malacca and Suria Sabah, Kota Kinabalu.
• L'Occitane relaunched its best-selling anti-ageing skincare collection - Immortelle Precious formulated by its signature everlasting flowers - Corsican Immortelle in year 2007.
• Launched first premium anti-ageing skincare product - Divine Cream in year 2009.
• In line with L'Occtiane's CSR endeavors, the brand's first local charity fundraising initiative was launched in 2009. A total of over RM150,000 was successfully raised over the years and donated to the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) to equip the association's different projects to empower the visually impaired with knowledge. This noble effort has become L'Occitane Malaysia's annual affair where funds are raised each year to help the visually impaired. L'Occitane Malaysia was proudly be commended by Foundation France in year 2013 on its local efforts to help these people to have a better and brighter future.
• year 2010, L'Occitane Malaysia introduced its first eco-friendly green house concept Boutique in MidValley, Kuala Lumpr and eco-Refill packaging was also introduced to reduce the usage of plastic bottle.
• Melvita, L'Occitane's sister brand was opened in Suria KLCC in year 2010 and the opening ceremony was officiated by Mr. Bernard Chevilliat, the founder of Melvita. 
• In year 2012, L'Occitane Malaysia relaunched its popular hydrating skincare collection - Angelica. Selected members of press were invited to an exclusive discovery trip to Salagon Garden, Provence.
• In year 2014, From one humble boutique in Suria KLCC to 18 boutiques nationwide, from 10 staffs to a team of over 150 employees, L'Occitane Malaysia's success story continues to grow and flourish...

As some of you knew, that I've been taking French courses lately, and to be a part of this French-brand birthday party is really making me feel more close to France. I really admire the spirit of Olivier Baussan, and also the brand L'Occitane he created just to make everyone of us be able to get a taste of Provence in our own country. So whenever we walk into a L'Occitane boutique or outlet, it never fail to make us feels like we're at Provence.




Emcee Jonathan Putra invited L'Occitane's South East Asia General Manager - Nancy Ferriman share with all the guests bout L'Occitane. I love her smile so much, and things she said during the tête-à-tête session. "L'Occitane always show that beauty is more than just skin deep. It is not just organic beauty products that L'Occitane were promoting, but a healthy lifestyle that helps its customer to shine from the inside." Nancy said. You can really tell that by looking at the glow on her face.

Cake cutting session followed after, and Mr. Tan Seong Teck, the director of L'Occitane Malaysia were invited on stage to cut the cake with Nancy Ferriman.

Bon Anniversaire, L'Occitane Malaisie!!!

All the celebrities that attended the party

Mr. Tan, Madam Nancy and the 10th year serving employees.

The party ended with a lucky draw session and guests who attended the party that day leave with goodies from L'Occitane and also a smile on their face. It was a successful party, and I'm glad I'm one of them to witness this blissful event.




Psst! L'Occitane is going to launch their online store soon! Now you can buy L'Occitane products online, anywhere, anytime!

Merci beaucoup, L'Occitane Malaisie!

For more information:

L'Occitane Facebook Page

L'Occitane Official Website

Reiko by Will Chong

Am more to the runway kind of model than those photoshoot kind. My looks doesn't suit the market of Malaysian photographers in general as their likings are more to the Taiwanese/Japanese kinda models. I'm no where near there at all.

Before I cut my hair short, I thought: Why don't I ask around the photographers that I know and see who willing to take photo of me before I chop them down. And Will Chong, a talented photographer decided to take my photos, it was an impromptu shoot, organized few hours before my appointment with the salon, and at that point, we have no idea what to shoot and don't have a clear idea of what's the concept too. lol.

So, I went to Will's studio with just two pair of heels, and a makeup bag. With an empty head. He wanted a different type of eye make for both eyes, so one I draw a massive black eyeliner and another one eye - smokey. Will search for props and costumes from his "treasure chest" and found me two awesome costume! So there begins our photoshoot....

Post editing. I like the dark blue costume with sequins. They reminds me of a gymnast. A fallen dancer or some sort. It was such a fun shoot despite we have no idea what's going on just moment before the shoot, and everything worked out smoothly, with all the wonderful photos captured by Will. The post editing was awesome too, all thanks to the brilliant usage of lighting at his studio. His professionalism is one thing that I respect!



Photographed by: Will Chong of 321 Project

Hair: Will

Make: Model's own

Costume: Will

Shoes: Model's Own



Do check out the 321 Project page to check out more of Will and his friends work, they are awesome! Thank you so much Will for this set of wonderful photos. You're one amazing photographer! Thank you ^_^

00:00, China House

China House, finally. 

Such a shame to claimed that my mother is from Penang and I have to go back to Penang every holiday when I was young but I never visited China House before. Or maybe China House wasn't China House before. lol. But anyway, I really love this place!

Meet up with my friend at E & O Hotel, she fetch me from there because earlier that day I attended a wedding banquet at the hotel and my parents left with the car. Besides, even if you give me the car, I don't think I know the road in Penang, they are so confusing!!! Lotsa buildings refurbished and road changed to single direction, if I overshoot, I have to make a big turn to get back to the same junction again, which I don't really guarantee I know how to go back to the same junction. lol.

But anyway, thanks to my friend Chrysanra who come to fetch me even though I know she was tired after finished her work at 10pm. Poor girl work so hard. Thank you so much for bringing me to China House, and introduce to me all the specialty of that place. It's been 10 years since I last saw her, we never meet up after graduate, honestly she didn't change a bit! Still the same old pretty and kind girl that I knew. Glad that time treated her with kindness and the world didn't pollute her kind soul for a bit.

We walked straight to the back (or front, depends on which entrance you're at) and there are tons of people singing and dancing to the live band performance. The place is so happening, too bad we're not in the mood for party, but for a quiet place to chit chat and catch up with each other as much as we could in a limited time. Chrysanra showed me around, first, we stopby at the upper floor of China House, which looks like a lounge area with cozy sofas and a pool table. So comfortable looking!

And wall painting everywhere!!!

and I love this most:

Yes, I am. 

There are different sections and interiors that caters for different kind of gatherings, people and needs. Al Fresco, Bar & Lounge, Reading, Wine Room, big groups of people can choose to sit in the 14 Chairs section, drawing section etc. Each and every section is unique, and I would love to try them all.

In conjunction of Chinese New Year!
Looks like a wishing tree. We even saw big mangoes hanging on the tree, waiting to be ripe.

Red red!!!

We choose to sit at the drawing section but have absolutely no intention of drawing at all. Busy talking and talking and talking until the café closes. Ordered Iced Mocha, Cappuccino and Chocolate Almond Dates Cake, the cake tastes good, I like it. Didn't really have enough time to sink into the atmosphere of the wonderful China House this time, definitely going to take more time and discover the wonder of it on my next visit.

So happy to get to see you again after all these years.

and also, see you soon again China House Penang!

Information:

China House

153 Lebuh Pantai, Georgetown, 

10300 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, 

Malaysia

+60 4-263 7299

www.chinahouse.com.my