TOP HIGHLIGHTS OF OCTOBER

1. Been wanting to fix my brassiness for months now and I finally did it! Ombre of brown, ash and grey hair.

My 10 Guilty Pleasures

I think in life you have to have little guilty pleasures to help you get through this horrible, cruel world. It doesn't have to be a lot. It doesn't have to be expensive spas, trips or holidays but just little everyday things that excite you. It would be lovely to go for a spa every time I feel stressed or plan a trip anywhere in a short notice, but reality hits. I can't do that. However, I found a few things in life that gives me so much pleasure and happiness. I believe it's the simple things in life that gives us the most happiness!

Here are my 10 guilty pleasures...

CHECK OUT MY PHOTOLOG

Did you die a little inside when you looked the photo above? I DEFINITELY DID. I woke up one morning, sat down at my desk, push up my laptop screen and was welcomed with this sight. Panic washed over me and I started frantically trying to fix the white screen of death, calling Don, calling every mac tech geek friend i know, google and researching how to fix this... I had no choice but to go to the shops to figure out what happen.

What Do I Miss

One of my favourite past times is looking back at old photos of my loved ones and memorable events. I take hundreds of photos monthly and it can be quite hard (and annoying) to store them or go through them. When Facebook came out with their “On This Day” feature, I was a fan! I even went one step further to work on keep track of old photos by downloading the Time Hop app on my phone. A couple days ago, Facebook brought me back one year ago to my graduation day!! I can’t believe it has been a year since I graduated and moved back to Malaysia. As much as I enjoy being in Malaysia with my family and friends, but there is probably not a day that goes by where I don’t miss something about Perth. My second home. It made me miss some of the best things I enjoyed in Perth, so here goes nothing...

What To Expect on Blushingkay

Over the past couple of months, blushingkay’s readership has grown tremendously! So, I thought it would be a great idea to reintroduce myself (again) and share a little about what blushingkay is all about. For starters, my name is Khaira. Hello! Welcome to my humble blog.

When I first started in Blushingkay in 2012, it was a place for me to write about my daily antics, beauty reviews and share my film photography. I want it to be my escape and a place for me to document my "creative" journey. I blogged on and off, and only decided to take blogging more serious in 2014. I am so glad I decided to take blushingkay more seriously because I have met so many amazing people through this blog and have been given so many opportunities. Thank you!

Top 10 highlights of August

1. I am moving into a new office

#LDRNBblushingkay Part 1

Click on the photo to see upcoming IG photos of #LDRBNblushingkay

If you are an avid reader of Blushingkay (i hope you are!), you might have noticed that some of my posts state "Inspired by this LDR Writing Prompt" that is because I am one of the influencers for this LDR community called LDR Blog Network. It's a platform for couples in long distance relationships to support each other and share our stories. 

It's really great to see how other couples go through their long distance relationship. After reading their stories, I feel realllllly blessed to just have Don a 5-hour plane flight away, no time difference and had some sort of a feel on being a normal couple. If you have some time to spare and enjoy good love stories, check out the website! They recently launched an Instagram challenge for LDR couples. My favourite social media is Instagram, so i didnt need any convincing to join. I love designing my photos and editing them. We're 3 days in the challenge, you can keep with my challenge here and check other LDRBN bloggers' photos here. 

HAPPY 2015!

So, a day before i left for Perth, my company had our Christmas dinner.  <jumping off topic>  One of my directors' mom made the softest, mashiest and most delicious mash potato EVER. It was so good, i kept thinking about every day right up to Christmas - hoping that Don's family would have mash potato on the menu, sadly, no mash potato :( Okayyy... </end topic>. During the dinner, the directors announced that... they were going to close the office on the 26th of December and 2nd January!!!! Giving us... 2 weeks of 5 days weekend!!! What a way to end the year and start the new year. 

Celebarated the new year with my forever gedik girls. This by far has been my tamest and most laid back new year celebration. Quiet dinner with the bunch - we had dinner at 9pm, everyone was hungry, no conversations, just eating. 

Cheers to 2015!

Blood is thicker than water.

We clicked for our mutual love of being active. We clicked because you were genuine and i like being around you. We clicked because we shared a mutual hate/dislike for the same people. We clicked because whenever we were homesick, we would talk about the food we missed. We clicked because we constantly found things to do. We clicked because we could talk for hours about everything. We clicked because you always listened to both side of the stories whenever ‘we’ fought and somehow felt like you picked my side. We clicked because our desire to be fit lost to our desire to eat. We clicked because you loved life as much as I do. We clicked because ‘adventures’ were part of our life motto.

Whenever i think of Perth i associate it with you and Faldo. Most of my Perth adventures was with you. I thought we formed a friendship that could survive despite what happened. I was foolish and naive. Blood is thicker than water. 

Hey stranger

How are you doing? Its so weird addressing you in general. We havent spoken in months nor have i seen a single impression of you on social media. Given that you blocked me off all social media, after our last conversation. I felt pretty safe, leading life on my social media. It was until I was in my 2nd instagram account when i stumbled across your photo. You forgot that account. When i scrolled past your photo, my heart skipped a beat. Wow. It's you. I felt this overwhelming feeling of...sadness.

Its okay to want.

I am driven by goals. By achievements. By excel sheets and everything black and white. I can be a little straight. But! haha, if the rules and regulations dont go my way, i will work my way around it. I have a life plan and know what i want.

Had a very interesting conversation with my brother the other day. I hardly get to hang out with my brother - him having a VERY active 19months baby girl and recently a new baby boy. He is busy with work, tired and overwhelmed with two babies in the house.

We were in the car on the way home and he asked me.

Black Feline

Was told to wear all black on Halloween at work. I have so much black coloured clothes, that i was spoilt for choice on what to wear! So many choices, so little time! After much deliberation, I finally resorted to wearing my cut off shoulder sheer shirt. Pei Yee (my beloved colleague from Zalora and now C27) who sits next o me - said that from the corner of her eyes, it looked like my arms are amputated. -____-" Thanks Pei! 

THANK YOU

I have never been good with receiving compliments. Every time i uploaded a photo on Facebook - whenever someone compliments me.

omg, you look so pretty!

Aww, no lah, its just the filter/camera/angle/position.

OKAY

Finally got around to finishing Fault in Our Stars. I knew it was a bawling-your-eyes-out movie and i wasnt ready for it. It took me two tries to finish the movie and i was done. Cried my eyes out and told Don, he is not allowed to get cancer!

10 things i need to start doing

Sometimes we get so caught up with things around us, that we forget little simple things in life. We go through a monotonous routine without realizing. Today i had a reality hit conversation with my mom that made me re-evaluate some things in my life. I forced myself to sit down and write down what i needed to do for myself. This is just basic daily things i need to remind myself to do. Personally, i think having little reminders like this helps keep you focused and happy. Hopefully by doing the things above, i will lead a more fulfilling life. 

TEAM #MK

Been feeling off lately, nothing major, just a little off. Like i needed a pick me up or do something for myself. Its funny because work has been good, my weekly activities has been great (winning at futsal, how can that not be good???), family is good and healthy and girlfriends/relationship have been good as well. I had no reason to feel off, but felt sooo shitty, crappy, emotional and needy. At first, i thought i was going through PMS but no, this is a whole different level of PMS. Then i thought... I am a girl, i dont need to justify WHY i am feeling all of the above unless... people around me are complaining (i hope not). Don told me to do something soulful for myself. Like yoga or tai chi -_-" i told him... ice-creams are good for the souls. It was his turn to -_-" 

Screw diets (for now) I got my long-craved coconut gula melaka (brown sugar) gelato!!!! i swear to god, it is sooooo good. #sogood 

Ice-creams are the best mood swings killer. 

OHSHITmoment!

I think every girl has this sentimental part in her where she likes to keep her girlfriends, boyfriend, family and things they love close to her. 

My girlfriends and i have been friends since primary school. We were close, but it was one small incident that happened on June 15th 2005 that made us even closer. Since then we called each other the "circle" and when we turned 21, we decided to get a necklace to represent our friendship in a circle symbol. BUT of course, girls being girls... we couldnt decide on a single design, hahaha! So i decided to just get my own necklace to represent my forever girls. 

I got a cliche initial necklace to represent Don and i. Got a significance amount of teasing from my friends for wearing that necklace but hey, i like it, screw you guys! 

The earrings i am wearing in the picture above were from my parents for my first graduation present. I say first because i have been to THREE graduation ceremonies!  I was pleasantly surprised when my mom told me that she was going to buy me diamond earrings because i survived 3 years in Melaka (think city girl who has never been away from home thrown into Malay government university 2 hours from home) without complaining. Ever since i got them, i have been wearing them almost every day... 

I had an OHSHITFUCK moment with these earrings in Perth. Don and i were watching TV and i dont know, i just had this feeling to touch my ears. OHSHITFUCK, my left side earring was missing!!!! I panicked and had a thousand thoughts going through my mind... omg omg how the hell am i going to find my earring???? its like a needle in a haystack in house!! why are the floors freaking carpeted!?! omg what happens if it dropped in the shower?!?!? and went down the drain!?!!?!! 

After minutes of frantic searching, we found it in the shower!!!!! The scariest part about the situation was.. I had my shower first. Then Don had his... it could have washed away with his shower water...into the drain *horror* I was so overwhelmed with emotionS that I broke down crying. Don had to make me chamomile tea to calm me down and gave me tight cuddles. 

MORAL OF THE STORY: LISTEN TO YOUR MOM WHEN SHE SAYS TAKE OUT YOUR JEWELRIES BEFORE YOU SHOWER. 

SLEEP MORE

A quick one before i have to eat and get ready for futsal!!!! I arrived KL three days ago and getting back into my routine. I start a new-ish job next week, my schedule is pretty free, so i am soaking up whatever free time i have before i become a slave to 9-5. In my case... 10-6! 

Yesterday i met up with Azian at Publika for brunch. Publika's parking lot is the ONLY parking lot i get lost at. I have been there so many times, i walk back to my car the same way i came in, i always get lost and cant find my car. Publika's parking lot system is so confusing!!! Sometimes...i valet park because i cant be bothered to go through the frustration of losing my car. So, today (honestly... i dont know why i never did this before) i took a picture of my location. Found my way back. >.<

Its so nice to talk to Azian in person, we are constantly talking to each other on Whatsapp - sending random pictures of cats, handbags, baby updates, screenshots of things and etc. She is the one person i talk to every day and it feels odd if i dont hear from her for a few hours. 

Azian was craving for pancakes - so we went to Red Bean Bag! I had Cheese on Portobello mushroom on pancakes with poached eggs and tomato chutney. SOOOI GOOOD! One of the best meals i had in a while where i was thoroughly enjoying my meal without feeling full after a few bites. #sogood 

Right after Publika, i went to BSC to meet up with Rudy and Hurriyah at La Bodega. I ordered a hot mocha. It was gross and overly sweet. Naturally, food/drinks i cant finish i would pass it to the next person to me = Rudy, even he couldn't finish it. When the bill came...the mocha was RM17!!!!! Rudy looked at me and said, "You better finish it!" I had to scull the mocha :( and chase it with water. Yuck! No more Mochas from La Bodega. I had time to kill, decided to go to Digital Mall to find out how much does it cost to upgrade my mac. Don has been breathing down my back and complaining how slow my laptop is. "Its frustrates me that you tolerate how slow your computer is!!" I didnt notice my laptop is slow until he was on it and gave me a list of things i needed to upgrade. RM700 is how much it cost to upgrade. Not including a 24" screen i want to get so i can watch my tv series/movies while i do my work. #technerd I swear, everytime i go into Digital Mall, i want things i dont need - Photo-printer, MP4, selfie tripod, pink mouse, pink power bank and etc.

After Digital Mall, i wanted to go to Fuel Athletics to renew my membership, but thought i could do with a cup of peppermint tea first and sat at Mollydookers. Managed to get some work done as well, replied a few emails and whatsapp messages. Didnt need to go to FA because FA came to me! Haha, while doing some editing, Matin (Head Coach) came in Mollys for his coffee fix and sat down with me. #1 They are opening a bigger gym! #2 Made me download an app (Myfitnesspal) after I told him how much chocolates and timtams i ate in Perth and #3 forced me to go for class on Monday. Ill be going on a futsal binge after 3 weeks of "resting" my sprained ankle this weekend. Watch out for #sorebody tweets this weekend. 

Wore my brogues, havent worn these babies in such a long time. Many kisses and hugs to Don's housemate who got me sockets - which are below-the-ankle socks. Definitely made it more comfortable and easier to wear my brogues out. If you can see the white thing on my left foot, those are the sockets. Love them!

Got home, had super early dinner (530pm!) with my parents, niece came over, played tea time with her and got bored. I told myself i would be the "cool, hip, young" aunty but i am turning to be the opposite! My sister is the cool, hip, not-young aunty!! Whenever she drops her toys, i will give her a stern look and make baby-friendly scolding sounds, oh boy... get ready for ear plugs. Gave her a big squeeze goodbye and went off to get my measurements done for my bridesmaid outfit for Laila's wedding. Her wedding is in February and i told her i cannot guarantee that i will maintain this weight until then. 

Rushed to Helium & Konfetti's HQ (Haha!) to see Nash to discuss wedding details, while Laila talked about her colour themes, the invitations design, door gifts, (hot) photographers, wedding halls and etc, Nash and I were...astounded by wedding costs. Kahwin di masjid je la. Kena set up tabung kahwin sekarang, kalau nak kahwin in 10 years. #badjoke #tilljannah <- bahahahahaha! i crack up whenever i see couples hashtagging that.

Got home close to 2am, brushed my teeth, washed my face and straight to bed for 8am dentist appointment the next day. Mental note to myself to never set a dentist appointment at 8am EVER again. In my state of drowsiness, i told the doctor the wrong side of my toothache which lead to taking a wrong x-ray which means...... i have to go again on Monday! 

xxx

SUNDAY

Last Sunday, while editing on the post below, Don sitting across me working on his assignment, looked up and announced "Its sunday! Lets go to the beach and have an afternoon drink!" I hate leaving things half way but i am a sucker for beaches, off we went! 

Such a lovely day, it was sunny and windy. I forget how much Perth has to offer. I didnt take much photos of the beach (like i usually would) because #1 Don and i were having a conversation about start ups/businesses and nerdy stuffs and #2 The sun was so bright, i was wearing dark sunglasses, my iphone screen was too dark, it was too much effort to take 'artistic' photos. There i said it! i get lazy sometimes to get take photos. 

Here is a cheesy photo of Donny and I. I got asked if Don is really his name. No its not, it just a nickname he gave himself after Don Draper from Mad Men. He is a good guy, pushing me to go over my limits, good and bad. 

Wearing Mac's Rebel to give a pop of colour to my usual black and white outfit. Havent worn this lipstick in a loooong time, i love the berry maroon-ish colour. Rebel is a satin finish, dont wear it if you plan on kissing your boyfriend. Unless you want to make your mark on your man to shoo off other girls! I am also wearing Tarte's amazonian 12-hour blush in Natural Beauty - love this blush as well.

Sundays are supposed to be doing things you love with the people you love!

HALF A DOZEN IN PERTH

1. Khaira and Faldo back in Perth together again! #Perthie
2. Don made me coffee with his own coffee art. Priceless. <3
3. Playing Destiny - I am a loyal Iphone gamer and slowly converting to PS.
4. 60% annoying 40% loving  = Don
5. Spring is out and so are our matching (not really) converse.
6. Made chicken noodles (Bihun sup) for dinner, i have to say, it was pretty good. Probably one of my best attempts!