HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, MALAYSIA!

Selamat Hari Merdeka, Malaysia! I am so proud to call you home. 

6 Things To Do By Yourself When You Are In Long Distance Relationship

Don was in town for a few weeks and we had the best time! We hung out with each other, ate amazing food and even went on a weekend trip to Bangkok. But all good things have an end, my baby had to return to Australia for work. So, it's back to single but in a relationship life. Back to doing things solo. I have no problem doing things alone. It may feel a little weird to be having a meal or doing something solo (like doing a day trip) but it's actually very gratifying. There is nothing wrong with hanging out on your own rather than choosing not to go out with your friends on the weekends. Having a few hours or a whole day to yourself once in a while to recharge and spend some time to get to know yourself can be good for your soul. Being independent and learning to love being in your own company, especially when you are in a long distance relationship can tremendously help your relationship, here are six things you can do by yourself.

Top 10 highlights of August

1. I am moving into a new office

10 Things To Do When You Feel Like Crap

Been crappy and upset over something that I have no control over. I hate that being in a situation where you feel so helpless and there’s nothing you can do. I hate it when I feel down because people around me will get the wrath of unhappy Kay. My poor friends and poor Don! When I am feeling down, I try not to dwell on the feeling. I think being unhappy does not benefit anything! I always find things to do or surround myself with happiness and positivity. Like below...

Wearing A Ring On My Unwed Finger

It all started when I was scrolling my Facebook feed and came across an article from Refinery29 about stackable rings. I usually don't pay attention to ring because I have fat knuckles. I feel really self-conscious wearing them. This all started when I was 16 years old, I asked for a ring from my parents for my birthday. I wanted something symbolic and long lasting to commemorate me becoming a pre-adult. LOL. I was happy with any ring from a jewelry store, but my mom surprised me and said I could pick a ring from Tiffany & Co. I picked out this ring from their Please Return To Tiffany & Co New York. 

Frustrations of a Long Distance Girlfriend

Let me warn you that this post is going to be a rant. Give me love after you're done reading.

5 Ways To Stay Motivated When You Are In a Fitness Rut

I know working out can sometimes feel like a chore. It's so hard to get yourself motivated and feel good about yourself. All you want to do is curl up on your bed, cuddle your cat and watch Netflix. I know how it feels. Once upon a time, that was me. I have a big problem. I love food. I love eating good food. Most of the time my definition of eating good food also means... accidentally eating too much. I am very much aware that abs are made in the kitchen, but life is too short to be eating ONLY healthy food!! I want my Nasi Lemak breakfast. I want my beef bowl for lunch. Tom yam with hot rice for dinner. After that, rub my belly and go into a food coma.

Well, such is life. But I can't. I have this thing called low metabolism stopping me. In order for me to eat, I must work out. I either play futsal, yoga or random fitness classes on KFIT. Even though, I play futsal daily. Sometimes, it's really hard for me to say "IN" when the organiser asks me (to play futsal). It's really hard to stay motivated to staying fit, but over the years, I've made friends with my coaches, yogis and instructors. They are wonderful people are always helping me stay motivated and pushing me beyond my limits.

Guest Post: 10 Questions My Mom Asked When She Found Out About My LDR by Diana Marcos

It is always nice when your parents are being supportive of your romantic relationship. When your parents are like that, it feels like you have nothing else big to worry about because you know that they've got your back.

My mom has always been very supportive in everything I do or want to do. She does not always like what I want, but she does not stop me from getting it or doing it. She is that kind of parent who would always be apprehensive, but would still let you do things on your own.

In the beginning of my LDR, I did not want to tell her about it because I know she would not like it. But what did they say about moms again? Moms always find out. Moms always know best. We can never successfully hide the truth from them. They are like our personal FBI.

When I was back in Hong Kong on the second month of my LDR, she told me she knew about my LDR from the start. I was shocked because I thought I was doing a great job at hiding it. I couldn't say a word to her, and she was only standing there, smiling diabolically at me.

It looks like she approves, right? Hah. We will see about that. I have been in an LDR for a year and a half now, and within those months, my mom has only said a few words about my relationship.

Storms Don't Last Forever

Don was here in KL to visit after being away for 5 months. He has since left me to go back to work. When he was here, we did so many things - catch up with family and friends, eat, hang out with each other and even went on a short weekend holiday. After spending weeks together 24/7, letting him go back to Perth, Australia was the hardest thing. We've visited each other many times over the course of our long distance relationship. I've learned to turn off my emotions and not burst into tears. I went on a staycation with some friends. I mentioned that I wanted to kick off my wanderlust, but really it was just a distraction for my first weekend alone without Don. It was a long drive back and the van we were in had a complete tv and good sound system. Is it, me or do you watch the most random things on road trips? Haha, on the way back, we watched Adele Royal Albert Hall concert on DVD. Of course, that triggered many unforeseen emotions. Oh, Adele! The things you make me feel..

5 Benefits of Dating Someone From A Different Culture

One of the many perks of dating Don is that he is from a different culture. We gain this new view of how the world works. Not only that, we get to learn about their values, the food, religion and each other's country. Ever since Don and I started dating, I feel like our relationship has broadened my eyes from this little bubble in living in, if not overall made it better. 

Let me tell how... with the first being my favourite!

5 Tips To Take Better Photos With Instagram!

I recently wrote about Apps to help with LDR, so I thought I'll do one for my favourite photography app! Taking photos and editing is one of my favourite past time. It's no surprise that Instagram is my favourite app. I've only actively been on Instagram for two years and I have uploaded close to 500 photos (and more, I've deleted a few photos to protect people's privacy). I try to make my instagram page aesthetically pleasing. Haha, well, not many people will appreciate it but it's for me. 

Here are a few of my favourite apps and some Instagram tips!

How To Plan A Holiday With Your Long Distance Boyfriend

Being in a long distance relationship has many perks. One of them includes traveling to your partner's hometown or going on a holiday together. When you finally decide on a time to meet or go on a holiday, planning in advance helps! After months or even years apart, you would want to make every moment and second count. Having a good itinerary really helps make your trip easier and save you so much grief (and fights with your partner). Don booked his flight to see me a month in advance. That gave me plenty of time to plan out our trip!

Wearing White Jeans

I toyed with the idea of getting white jeans for the longest time. White pants are very intimidating (to me, at least). You have to have a certain level of discipline and the love for fashion to don white jeans. My fashion style is comfortable and practical (which can equal to basic) but wearing white jeans gives me a sense of sophistication and chic. I stayed off white jeans for the obvious reasons...

#1 - White jeans = disaster in the making. I am a clumsy klutz. I spill everything! I unconsciously wipe things on my jeans.

#2 - I have child bearing hips. I have hips that don't lie. A big booty. White shows them off even more.

4 Things I Hate About Long Distance Relationships After A Visit

Every couple going through long distance relationship will try to convince you that their long distance relationship (LDR) is valid. We're a legit relationship. We're real! I've had many conversations with friends and family that we are real. We try to see the good in our long distance relationship that we  tend to overlook the things we don't like or hate. Don was here recently to visit me after 5 months apart. We had a wonderful time together! The both of us spending this time together here in Malaysia, my hometown brought our relationship, a step closer to where want to be = being together (forevaaahhhh) in the same place. I was so used to looking forward to his visit the past 5 months.  Then being with him 24/7 for a few weeks. It's now back to long distance again. It effing sucks. 

I am going through the "I hate this stupid distance" phrase and below are the 4 things I really hate about long distance relationship after a visit.

Becoming A Morning Person

I often find myself wishing there were more hours to the day, so i can do more things. Things like hanging out with friends and family, finishing up my work, do different kinds of exercise, spend time with Don, etc. I would complain to people around me that I don't have time to do anything because the minute I wake up > shower > breakfast > go to work > lunch > go home > rest/play futsal > sleep > REPEAT. When in reality, I do have time! Work doesn't start until 1030am for me. I am blessed to work (for myself) with flexible time. I waste a whole morning by waking up at 9-930am and only give myself enough time to get ready for work. If I wake up slightly earlier, I can clock in a yoga class, a blog post, make an awesome breakfast or read a book and even have a long morning Facetime session with Don.

#LDRBN Challenge: 30 days of compliments

If you have been following my Blushingkay instagram account, you would have noticed that i am taking part in LDRBN Community #30daysofcompliments challenge. This whole month, Don and I will be giving each other compliments every day! It's definitely a challenge because we want to give sincere, honest compliments to each other. So when you know what that you have to compliment each other every day. You start thinking ahead! Every week we're given different themes. So, week 1 is physical appearance. 

Bangkok Round Up 1: Temple Selfies

As I mentioned many times in my previous posts, Don and I went to Bangkok for a short holiday! It was our first time traveling together. To be completely honest, i was really anxious to travel with Don. He is laid back, I am not. I like to have a travel itinerary, he likes to with the flow. Don and I don't fight, but we bicker like siblings. I was worried that something might go wrong during our travels and one (me) of us would get upset. 

To my delight, Don is such an easy guy to travel with. In fact, I think he is one of the easiest and most fun person to travel with. I've travelled with many different characters. Don is  #1 on my list to travel with. It's not because he is my boyfriend, but he is really a fun guy to travel with. Whatever i had planned to do in Bangkok, he was okay and up for it. He let me make all the decisions and he just followed me. He didn't mind getting ripped off by the locals, while i tried to bargain to the lowest we could go. The only time Don decided on something was when he wanted to have Pad Thai for lunch, so off we went to get him Pad Thai. 

Coffee at DR.inc

Dr.inc in Bangsar was one of the cafes I have been dying to check out. It was no surprise after a visit to Central Market and Petaling Street with Don, we stopped by the cafe for a refresher. I've always known that Don is a big coffee drinker, but i didn't know how much he LOVES coffee. After one and half cups of coffee, i would get a caffeine buzz and need to drink lots of water to kill the buzz. 

Before our visit to Dr.inc to chill and relax, I took him to Central Market and Petaling Street. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that he enjoyed walking around Central Market and Petaling Street. Central Market is an emporium of stalls that sells traditional goods and local handicraft. It's also an historical landmark in Malaysia. It was an HOT hazy day, so it made a lot of sense to go a cafe to chill. Checking out cafes with Don is so much fun because of his coffee appreciation. Once he gets his coffee fix, he doesn't complain and entertains my photo taking antics. 

Travel Make Up Bag

Don and i did a little traveling when he came to visit me. We went to Bangkok! When traveling, i try to keep to my makeup bag light by only taking the essentials. I always struggle to figure out what make up items to bring me with me. I tend to over pack my makeup because i don't want to forget anything important! Don't you?? 

Love Don't Know What Distance Is

Don left a few days ago after weeks of wonderful, blissful time together. It was one of the best times we spend together. We have always been a close couple. We were friends before we got together, spending (a lot of) time together comes naturally to us. I think we grew even closer after this visit. I know a few couples who can't stand being around their partners for an extended period of time. Don is my best friend. Everything we do together is double the fun! Prior to the recent visit, our last visit was five months ago. It was too long. It felt like forever! I missed him so much that the word "miss" can't justify how much I was missing and yearning for him. The weeks, he was here went by so fast, I am trying hard to remember what we did so I can reminisce them. 

August Goals

Another August goal is to drink different blend of coffee every day!

I have decided to make this a monthly feature. It helps me stay on track with my goals and i can always check back on my progress to see how 'productive' i am and see what I've achieved. Can you believe that August is already here! Boy, you came along really fast. Can't believe it's 5 months into the next year and I can still clearly remember what i did on New Year's Eve. For most of July, I was really busy getting ready for Don's visit and sorting adult things like banking, preparing for Eid, servicing my car, etc. It was like i went on a 'holiday' and left things hanging. Technically, i was on a 'holiday' when Don was here, but that shouldn't be an excuse to not have things on track! 

Below are my August goals