Merry Day, Merry 2013!!!!

I broke my eyeglasses. Is that enough to justify the reason of my MIA? 

Don't throw tomatoes on me, please! 

Please accept my apology!!! 

I swear by the moon and the sun in the sky, I did not get caught up with my addiction with mangas or Running Man or anything that spell FUN! 

You know how the end of the year was the most stressing and busiest time in the bank. That was how I was, accept I did not work in the bank. Lol! 

Okay~ That is not really funny at all. I was busy with my boss' promotion. Yay! My boss was not the only one who got the promotion's burden, I got them as well. 

Oh yeah! HAPPY BELATED CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

Another year has passed and I got great news! My weight is 65-freaking-KILOGRAMS! So my actual height is 5ft 4in with 65kg of weight. My doctor said that I need to loose another 3kg or 4kg to have a normal BMI. But I like aiming higher.Thus, as my 2013 resolution, I would like to loose 6 or 8 more kilos before the end of the year. I have threw a wishing coin in a well - all happened in my mind, ONLY!

And since I lose my weight, colleague from the other departments had been praising that my acne problem had calmed down. Something that I have been thanking God these few days since New Year.

I have finally bought some new blouse because I am finally happy to buy some. 

I am still busy with my works at office and went to sleep as soon as I reach home. That is probably one of the many reason I lose weight. Therefore, you'll expect me to post lesser this year. I hope this fatigue-ness and busy-ness is just temporary. AT LEAST only on this first quarter of the year. But I doubt it~

Till then,

xoxo

NB

NicaBell: I Need Some Opinions

Hey there peeps.

So I have been thinking these past few week but I just can't make up my mind about this.

This blog is a beauty blog but I put some personal stuff, opinion, rambles and rants in here which I think is not quite appropriate. So that makes me think to open another more personal but still anonymous sort of blog. It's personal because I will blog about how I feel about certain things that interest me or current issues as well as about my hometown, Kota Kinabalu!

But the issues are:

1.      I don't know what blog address & name should I use.

• I have been thinking to input the word "sumandak" (young girl/virgin gir/not married woman/) but if I am going to be married in the future, obviously the word "sumandak" is not going to be suitable for me any longer.
• Jesselton is Kota Kinabalu old name before Sabah joined Malaysia, before our independence. I always like the name Jesselton and have been thinking to include it in my blog add. But I am worried if people would think the blog is about some  romance chick who is obsess and going  to talk about her boyfriend all the time whose name is Jesselton. You got to agree, the name Jesselton sound like a very good looking man with good upbringing. 
• putting KK or Kota Kinabalu or just Kinabalu or probably Sabah? But people will thought that it is a blog about traveling and tourism in Sabah. I don't people to misinterpret the blog address and then disappointed that the blog is actually a personal nags of a chick. =.="
• Kept my original alter ego - NicaBell/NB. Just gonna replace the 'iam' with either the above  options or another one?

2.      Should I even need another blog? Boyfie said I may not be able to manage both blogs. While I think I can manage because there is always a schedule feature here for my beauty blog. I can stock up review posts and haul in advance, right? So does the new blog?

3.      Using the same account with this blog or make a new account? 

• Making a new account will be a hassle. If I use the same account I can control and manage bothblog easily. But boyfie mention to me about hacking problems. Though I love that boyfie is my voice of reason, his clever mind irritates me sometimes.

So what you think?

Updated 13 September 2012: I forgotten that I have a Tumblr account XD. So I decided to use the Tumblr account iamnicabell.tumblr.com as my personal rant blog. I love Tumblr. It is not really a micro-blogging site and not quite like a regular blogsite. A niece once describe Tumblr as a blogsite for the young hip teen. Gah! Who care?! So check out my Tumblr and follow me if you have one. wink!

xoxo

NicaBell

NicaBell Personal: My 5 Personal Update!

Hey ya!

I have several news to share! 

FIRST:-

I have only weight myself this early evening that am 67kg. Last week, on Thursday I think, my weight was 69.5kg. Yes. My weight gone up from 68kg to 69.5kg and down to 67kg! How bad and turns great was that! *patting myself* Good job NB! I stop drinking Passion Slim for week last week because I was sick and only resume back today. I guess I doesn't necessarily need the drink to slim down, huh?

SECOND:-

Then there is this one friend of mine who work in the same building with me insisted that I should try this another slimming drink. I tried to say no but she doesn't seem to take a hint. I just have to give in and bought it. Haizzz.... 

THIRD:- 

I have schedule many product reviews. Most of them are affordable and great to use even though I cringed when I actually saw the ingredient list. I also will be reviewing these three items in the next coming month. 2 of them are FOC. No, they are not sponsored. I got one of them from CLEO mag (my fav mag~) and another one are from buying a combo pack of pantyliner.

FOURTH:-

I am in a process of gathering, searching, studying, learning, doing, and errr...... typing away to build a beauty glossary.

I am building it for you, my dear dear readers. It is for your reference on what each beauty/cosmetics/skin cares' ingredient and wording. It will be added and changed from time to time depends on new studies and new found ingredient that I have done learning of or as requested. So when the glossary is up, I am hoping that every one can check it out and comment if I have given any wrong information so I can improve and update the page.

Oh! Here is the FIFTH:- 

I have made a Facebook Page, Twitter Account, Tumblr and Formspring. 

I am still new in the Facebook page thingy; not very familiar with Twitter and is trying to grasp the new social web; Not much posted in Tumblr & Formsping yet. 

So add, follow, ask, like, love, comment, and do what every thing nice you can do. I love interacting and sharing information as well as making new friends with people. I am not always on the net but I will try my best to be.

So that conclude the post and.. 

That is all for now!

xoxo

NicaBell

NicaBell: Cupboard or Organizer Boxes

Hey dollies!

Most of my friends and family members would definitely agree when I say I am not a neat person.

My room is a pigsty and its no secret. I don't like it if my mom try to clean the room either. It is not like I am proud that my room is a mess. But it's my mess and I remember where my things are in all those mess. So if she come and organize my room, she will throw away things that not suppose to be throw and organize my things to... I don't know where. So my mom does what she does best, nag! She kept nagging how a girl should be neat and tidy and clean and the list just goes on and on and on..... But she is the one who kept putting useless things into my room! Even the bicycle, not mine, was put in my room. How ridiculous is that!? Not to forget a baby crib when we don't even have a baby under the roof and it is not even ours to begin with.

I always joke that I am adopted and I sleep in a storage room, which sometimes is how I feel. There was this one time, I packed and put all those useless junk outside of the house. My mom was angry but I ignore her rage and explain that now my room is bright, neat, clean and look wider. She comes to agree but when there were new useless junk she kept putting and pilling them into my room again.

Anyway, I am in a process to clean my room currently - one of my brother is amused but say nothing about it. I want to rearrange and reorganize my room because I want to change myself. Since I am leaving my unhealthy body image and now slimming my weight down, I decides to reinvent myself. I want to build a good habit. Another reason is that by rearranging and reorganizing my room, I'll get a valid reason to put all those junk out of my room once and for all. I begin my work with the cupboard

I rearranged and reorganized my clothes from what was done by my mom to how Linda Koopersmith from the Beverly Hills Organizer done. I know mom will be nagging on how wrong the folding is and should be done like this, etc. But she'll come around. After rearranging it, I cannot say I am satisfied. I love that my cupboard is neat now but somehow, it did not reach to my satisfactory. And there are 2 compartments my mom use to put some junk as well.

Since I am not satisfy with my organization and arrangement, I'm thinking to buy a new cupboard. Preferably a larger one. But then again I found an old Cosway catalog in my room and saw these amazing pages!

COSWAY catalog: 25 Dec 2011 - 24 Jan 2012, page 86 & 87.

This got me thinking whether I should buy some organization boxes or a new cupboard or both? 

Decision~ Decision~ 

Till then.

UPDATE 18 August 2012: As requested by msaudreyc, here I present you my not-so-perfect clothes organization.

I do not use a lot of hanging space. I only iron my clothes the day before or on the day I need to use it. If I haven't use it, I fold them to save space and to make sure my cupboard do not look messy. I only hang my late granddad's sweater. I wore his sweater when I miss him at night time. It is the most valuable treasure in my cupboard, so far. I fold and separates each clothes in the main storage area. Jeans are fold and pile in one pile, dresses, trousers, sweaters and jackets, and some tees that I use regularly are in there.

I do not put that basket and the shoebox on regular basis. I just made a room for it there for the purpose of this picture.

I usually put this basket outside of the cupboard with a plain fabric to cover it so no dust or insects will climb onto the clothes I have here. Inside are my under garments, skirts, boxers and a track pants I regularly wore.

In this shoebox, I store some boxers, shorts and leggings that I rarely use. It is easier to store this way so when I want to use the shorts that I want to that is stored in here, I can easily find it. I store this shoebox together with the basket above.

This cupboard only have two drawers. I intended to put tees for going out and work wear at the top drawer and house wear tops in the bottom one. But since my house wear tops are not that a lot and those I used to go out is a lot more, I just use the bottom space to fill my nice tops.

See? Baju kurung also in the bottom drawer.

So there goes my cupboard organization. I need to remind that I used Linda Koopersmith from Beverly Hills Organizer. Her folding techniques are just awesome!

One of the examples:-

The inspiration!!!

Even so, I this I need a bigger storage space.

xoxo

NicaBell

Girl Power! Pandalela Dives For A Medal!

Pandalela Rinong Anak PAMG.

Every Malaysian should remember this name because she is a legend. She have made a history by being the first Malaysian female athlete to grab an Olimpic medal last night! You go girl!

Pandalela is a native Sarawakian and brought back the second Olimpic bronze through her 10 meters platform diving event. It's freakin' Olimpic ya'll! she is the third best  in the world for her diving event. Diving! not badminton! That's got to be a phenomenon!

The fact that she is a Borneon, I feel proud for her. And reading article about her being an ex-acrophobic, i can't help but to be amazed with the young girl even more.

I don't know anything about diving sport event, but i pray and hope that she'll keep doing what she had been doing and move ahead to improve her work for the better.

And about that boy who said that he will cut his penis if Pandalela won any medal, shame on him. But I don't dare to demand him to really cut his penis. That's encouraging suicide attempt! just hope these kids stop typing and posting mindless statements on Facebook and Twitter for public to see how rediculously idiotic it is to do so. yeah, you'll be famous. but you'll be famous for being stupid. it is definitely not something anyone want.

Anyhooooo, congratulation Miss Pandalela! Your contribution will be remembered:-)

p/s: this post is made on my tablet. forgive my grammar and spelling mistakes.

Updated 12/8/2012, 10:57am:- (on comp^^)

I took this pic from 1SS Facebook wall photo.
Mr Johari Pain has apologized but netizens insist that he kept his promise.
It's a mindless mistake and he doesn't deserve the publicity.
Leave Britney ALONE!! Opps! Leave Johari Pain ALONE!!!

till then.

xoxo

NicaBell

Emaliza Lizaema. The girl who angared Sabahans

Hiya peeps! 

My hand got an itch to talk about the recent controversy related to my hometown and a not-so-bright girl from the other side of Malaysian map that, I think, pop out just last night.

There is this girl call Emaliza Lizaema (Ema) from Negeri Sembilan, one of the state in the Malaysian Peninsular, have post a status update on her Facebook page as seen in the picture below:-

About two years ago, there is also a boy, well practically a grown man with a mindset of a boy, name Luca Lucas who have also post several (or should I say a lot of) incriminating comments that angered Sabahan on a Sabahan (I think) Facebook page. He had since apologize to all Sabahan. I, as a loyal Sabahan have forgiven him on the day he apologize. But he will never be forgotten because he is one of the first few pioneers to say such irresponsible and unacceptable things to belittle Sabahan and Sabah as a whole.

Here is the thing about my beloved state, Sabah may be the poorest state in Malaysia (before Kelantan as it is said - not by me, as poorer than Sabah). But that doesn't mean that we are really poor. Our state is deemed poor because the lack of development, not much of good facilities and infrastructures. Our state have a lot of poor residents that classified as 'miskin tegar' by the government, but that doesn't mean that we are completely poor & hungry.

Those Sabahan that deemed poor, own at least a piece of land and use the land either to grow crops & palm tree, rubber tapping or some might rent a small lot to communication company such as Celcom to build their 'tower' or whatever they are called. And food is always accessible for them. They don't need to pay taxes (but there are land tax I was told) or any sort. They still able to keep money to wed their children. Some children might not be able to go to school, not because they couldn't afford school (government does supply clothes, shoes, stationery and books), but because school are far away or they don't see how important education is. They rather learn practical lesson than education. I am not saying their way of thinking is right, but you would not have much option either if one of the several reason is when the school is 3 or 5 hours away on foot from your home.

Sabah is also one of the 4 state in Malaysia that produces oil & gas. OIL & GAS for Godsakes! And some illiterate dimwits dare to say us poor? If any of you readers are curios as why Sabah is still listed as second most poorest state in Malaysia when we have such expensive resources, let me tell you here: 95% profits from the oil & gas from Sabah will go to Federal Government or many of you would know 'Kerajaan Pusat'. Sabah will only get 5% of the profit to build every single thing we have on this land. I won't say further on this topic because I promise myself not to talk about politics in my blog.

Despite of our lack of development, Sabahans are still happy that we have one of the biggest virgin forest area in the world - not to forget, one of the oldest! Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak in Malay Archipelago (place 20th in the world) and stood proudly on the crocker range of Sabah. Protected as Kinabalu National Park and a well known as well as acknowledged World Heritage Site. Huge varities of discovered as well as undiscovered flora and fauna, marine life, and sceneries to explore. Sabah is ugly place to be? That gave me a hefty laugh! Would all those lao wai (foreigners) come here just to see ugly land, full with ugly people that have ugly manners and ugly hearts? I wouldn't say we don't have people with ugly heart in Sabah because there should be several in every place on Earth. 

Oh yeah! Not to forget, we have plenty deep sea fishing spots that all those crazy deep fishing goers are willing to spend thousand just to experience deep sea fishing experience in Sabahan's sea. Pulau Tiga, one of the most beautiful and unique island that became the first selected spot and filmed for the first season of the USA's reality show the Survivor series. 

Another unique island that is so spectacular, though I myself haven't been before, is Pulau Sipadan. Said to be an untouched natural art, the island formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone that took thousands of years to develop. God is in a mood of art when He created Sipadan!!

We are not sure yet if Miss Emaliza Lizaema's Facebook page is hacked or impersonated by some irresponsible party. I would really hope it was an act of treason by irresponsible party and not Miss Emaliza Lizaema herself. Such beautifully sweet looking lady wouldn't be such foul-mouth or in this case, brainless. Right?

Research your fact before saying something that you've never know about and regretted in the end. This controversies have nothing to do with race or religions. But there are people, especially those with stinking racist/discriminating/ignorant mind out there will not help themselves but mentioning how this girl with Hijab but don't have the proper manner to pair with the religious covering. But if I have not known better, I would be thinking the same. But in Sabah, all race mingle with each other very well. Well with exception of immigrant (PATI/PTI). So I have quite a knowledge (though not perfect) to understand that your action does not necessarily portray your whole race and the whole faith community of your own.

If anyone with racist/discriminating/ignorant mind would comments on the girl for example 'wear a Hijab but doesn't have the fitting attitude and brain to wear one', read this. I have once ask a dear Muslim friend of mine about Hijab and why Muslims women wear them. She said with a serene expression that awed me and had it stuck in my head:-
Hijab is not necessarily a must wear costume for women in this country but absolutely a must in Islam. Every woman who wear Hijab is not only showing respect to her husband or future destined, but also showing herself respect not to flashing awrah (aurat) to the public. Women who wear Hijab are good women. Though some woman will use Hijab not to cover themselves but to cover their evil, sins and wrong doings. They might not be necessarily a good person, but definitely a good women. After all, nobody has the purest soul but Allah (God) Himself.
- And this agree. Part of her words about Hijab are almost like the expression of the phrase "no amount of makeup can mask an ugly heart". But her words are more meaningful and serene. Since then, I do not view Hijab as something that Muslim women were force to wear. But a pride for themselves and as a part of who they are. With the understanding, I come to respect them even though how bad the girl with Hijab would be towards other people.

p/s: I wonder where is this favorite friend of mine went to since we part about 5 or 6 years ago.

With that I conclude my post.

UPDATE 24 Aug 2012: Just found & read a blog post saying the Facebook account of Emaliza Lizaema was indeed hacked and compromised by an irresponsible unidentified person/people. The blog is a Bahasa Melayu and click here to read. A police report had been made by the girl but police advised her not to upload the report for some undisclosed reasons.

Here is what made me more curious, whenever a Peninsular girl/guy 's Facebook or twitter account was hacked, the hackers will angered Sabahan with some irresponsible statuses. Were the hackers actually is the same person? Why made Sabah as a target anyway?

Until next time.

xoxo

NicaBell

NicaBell: Therapeutic Fragrances

One can't see without eyes;
One can't listen without ears;
One can't taste foods without tongue;
One can't feel touches if numb;
One can't smell without nose.

Sight, hearing, taste,touch and smell are five human sensory system. Of all five senses, smell is the one sense that people take for granted. Even myself, when asked by friends and family members: of all human sensory system, which one I can live without? I would say smell. I have even continue saying: Hey! If I can live few weeks on flu, unable to smell, I can live a lifetime without it.

Choi! Choi! CHOI!!!

As I turn 21 and earn my own money, I started investing myself with some beauty product. I spend my money on skincare, makeups, hair care, body care, etc. Within my whole 21 years living in this round earth, I have only bought like 5 perfume for myself. Not that I don't like perfume, I just view it as unimportant thing to spend on.

I didn't think (or believe) that perfumes or smells could give any effect on my life. I do have favorite aromatherapy shower gel when I was in high school, but I never thought that there are any scientific explanations of why I always felt happy or energetic when I use them at the time. Words like 'Soothing', 'Anti-Stress', 'Vitality', 'Sensual' or 'Revive' are just some heavily marketed claims the company put on the bottle. Besides, I don't like scented beauty product. Most scented product that I have used previously made my skin itchy, dry, redness, tight and uncomfortable.

Just few years ago, I came across with websites regarding scents and the effect it could give to our moods, mind and body. I was doing online search on natural alternatives I can use to cure my headache and migraine I was having frequently - due to work & personal stress. So I tried buying room fragrance gel that smell lavender for my room. To my surprise, it works! I can sleep much better, less fatigue in the morning as well!

I have just recently buy another fragrance gel for my office. I was always alone there, with my bosses in their own room. I think keeping a peach smell will make my day much enjoyable. And my bosses also love staying around my area because their office made them stressful. They do not have any idea or even realize the fragrance.

It may be odd to think why I should spend a dime to make my office smell nice because it's not even my home, just office. Well I think of it as an investment for my happy space^^

I love:-
~ Air Wick Aroma Gel - Peach, Lavender, Green Tea (sadly, discontinued)
~ Air Wick (FreshMatic) Automatic Spray - Citrus Zest
~ Ambi Pur Car Odour Eliminator - After Tobacco
~ Ambi Pur Crystal Gel - Lavender
~ Badger Focus Balm (Which I bought from Syiok Sendiri Sisters' spree!)
~ Johnson's Baby Bedtime Oil (quite hard to find nowadays)
~ Palmolive Aroma Therapy Shower Gel - AntiStress, Vitality, Sensual(fav!)

I am sure that I am not the only one that love to invest in therapeutic fragrance. Why not? If I can avoid popping pills that may lead to kidney problems in my later years, I would do it anytime.

P/s: in case you're wondering, Choi is a Cantonese word to be said when someone wish you or you imagined yourself in bad luck. Like the western folklore of touch/ knocking wood to avoid bad fate

xoxo

NicaBell

NicaBell: Ingredients List. Do you read them?

They are there for a reason you know. I started to learn to be aware of the products' ingredients about 1 and a half year ago. Reason? Since my skin developed from oily to combination. Plus, my skin's sensitivity (which I still can't figure out toward what, yet) and acne prone.

Hello gorgeous! 

So here some story: Growing up, I never use sunscreen and the freaking teachers & headmaster at my (primary) school said: "the sunshine is good for you. It provide vitamin D." Thinking back now, huh! Good my a**. Vitamin D is good. Yeah! I get that. But exposing the skin to the blaring sun as punishment or for an hour of school assembly? My mother didn't even know there are product to protect your skin from sun exposure even existed! Though I never blamed my mother for her lack of knowledge/ information, I do have some grudge toward my primary school teachers and headmaster for the sun thingy. To much of sun damage on my younger days have resulted discoloration mostly on my arms. I only started to use sunscreen/ sunblock after I finished high school, about 18. 

You might think and cringe that me, being acne prone skin, cannot use sunscreen. Well now, I might not be a beauty expert or dermatologist, but believe when I say: Yes, we could use sunscreen only if the ingredients in the product does not contained any ingredient that can cause inflammatory to the skin. 

So what does my topic with sun exposure story have to do with each other? 

- Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)

Titanium Dioxide is often used in sunscreen for its effective ability to protect the skin from UV light (sun exposure). And most sunscreens that are designed for people with sensitive skin, are often based on Titanium Dioxide. Because Titanium Dioxide believed to cause less irritation tan other UV absorbing chemicals.

If you have acne prone and sensitive skin, I am a living proof to tell you that TiO2 is the one ingredient you should avoid. In my previous post,  a review of the Dr. G Gowoonsesang Brightening Balm SPF 30 PA++, you will read how I said it broke me out. It got even worse if used in a long run. The product itself is actually good, if only it uses other alternative as UV protector. But I'm no scientist, they might have their reason on why they prefer TiO2 in their product.

I learned through my research online, that Titanium Dioxide can clog pores, and both nano or non-nano version of TiO2 can be inflammatory due to their propensity to release free radical. The best alternative for TiO2 that is also suitable for sensitive skin is Zinc Oxide (ZnO). Zinc Oxide is actually good for acne for its anti-inflammatory benefits.


There are other ingredients to avoid when you are going out to grab a sunscreen if you are acne prone skin. And when the product said "Oil-Free", I wouldn't be so fast to believe it either. Because some product do not contain anything oily but still felt greasy on your skin; they use BEEWAX! Beewax is good, but not good if its greasy. This link will lead you more information of what to avoid.

Till next time^^

xoxo

NicaBell

NicaBell: Rules on beauty? Wha..?

Do you have beauty rules? Or are you following any beauty rules?

Apart from the 3 steps regime, I don't have any particular beauty rules.

You don't need to stick on one face wash day and night. You can use 2 face wash: one in the morning, another one at night. Pick a simple, gentle, mild, non creamy one in the morning. I use Simple "Kind To Skin" Refreshing Face Wash or Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser. Then you can use a heavier one, creamy, chemical scrub, etc in the evening. I use Hada Labo Tamagohada AHA+BHA Face Wash- chemical scrubs. If you are super oily, you can wash your face 3 times a day. I used to do it when my face was super oily. But I use the same face wash I use in the morning and never skip toner and moisturizer after that.

If you have dry skin, you can skip this one because toner usually make your skin drier. However, if the idea makes you cringe, not to worry, you can always opt for the Japanese lotion like the Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Lotion for example. It moisturize the skin so well! Oily peeps can use it also. But I opt for regular mild soothing toner like Simple "Kind To Skin" Soothing Toner and double with Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion when I need more moisture.

I have 2 moisturizers that I use back and forth depending on the condition of my skin.
When I have dry patches, I'll use Simple "Kind To Skin" Hydrating Light Moisturizer.
But regular basis, I'll use my new favorite Simple "Clear Skin" Oil Balancing Moisturizer.
When I feel like I need more moisture I'll use my Garnier Aqua Defense Non-Stop Moisturizing Essence as my serum.

Who say oily peeps can only use clay masque to reduce oil. Oily skin doesn't mean your skin are hydrated enough. You still need hydrating masque, just make sure you pick the one that suitable for oily or acne prone skin. I use my Beauty Diary Apple Polyphenol Mask one a month or when I have time!

Do you shampoo your hair after conditioner or the other way around? I always put conditioner on my hair first before shampooing. My reason is because I use anti-dandruff shampoo. And I beat the odds doing that! I know some peeps will say: "hey! dandruff peeps shouldn't use conditioner, it worsen't your dandruff prob!" Well I say: "What! a bluff!" I doubt that conditioner the cause of dandruff. If it does, why didn't my dandruff gets better when I quit using conditioner then? Any doubts that you have, put conditioner ONLY on your hair, NEVER on the scalp! Wait for a minute or 3 - brushing teeth or wash your face. Rinse the hair and shampoo your scalp. SHAMPOO YOUR SCALP INSTEAD OF YOUR HAIR. The lather will slide on it's own when you rinse.

Do you use lotion or body oil? I prefer using body oil than lotion. Most lotion are sticky or wear off after hand washing. I use Johnson baby oil (The feather white cap or lavender purple cap) after shower. I don't dry my skin with towel but put oil directly onto the skin.

I think that is all my beauty "defy the rules" rules. LoL! If you have your beauty rules or any odd rules or perhaps you have anything to share, don't be shy to comment here.

xoxo

NicaBell

NicaBell: Samantha Brick

Hello peeps!

I LOVE Yahoo!'s Shine~

Yes I really do. The website is very informative especially for the beauty column. I will read every beauty article every now and then. I even bookmark some article that I love (but found out some of them are already removed by now.)

The other day I was surfing on the website, I came across with an article Don't Hate Me Cause I'm Beautiful: Inside the Samantha Brick Controversy. So, I don't know who is this Samantha Brick person. I don't what she looks like but for sure she is some white lady.

Then, I went to Google to look for her DailyMail article here.

I read her article and felt like she is still living in high school. I mean she was discriminated by some of her peers and talked down on.

There are picture of her. She might not have the perfectly toned figure, elongated legs, the delicious full lips, etc etc; she is still considered as a beautiful lady. You peeps might say I am blind, which is quite true as I have spectacles; or that I haven't seen her face to face, well at least that mean she is photogenic. Right?

Oh! You might also say that I haven't seen a lot foreigners just because I haven't went out of Malaysia. But I always have the internet to see the bad, the ugly and the beast.

She might sound arrogant in her article but she sound like someone who is genuinely self-confident. Well that is what any beautiful, attractive ladies do.

It is shocking (for me at least) that this confident woman is hated by the netizens. Some even say " ...this woman is not even remotely attractive, at least by the standard of NY city."
Com'on man, don't compare her to those NY model like ladies. You'd make all other women all around the girl felt bad for ourselves!

There is also a person suggest Brick in the comment to invest in a mirror. If Brick really is paranoid, self-centered, so full of herself, believe me man, you don't want her to invest in a mirror. It will only worsen her narcissism.

I do not know her personally and I would want to. I want to know how she interact with people that resulted her being shun by other women. I would like to know if I would despise her for her look or her attitude.

xoxo

NicaBell

Nicabell Is Born On A Lucky Dragon Year 1988

Happy Lunar New Year everyone!

It is a new Dragon year! Wish that this Dragon year will do us all good! Weeeee~

Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year is celebrated by the Chinese people as it is the first day of a new year in Chinese Calendar. This is the day when The Chinese will wish each other with "Gong Xi Fa Cai" which means "Wishing You Many Prosperity" in Mandarin. 

This is the most anticipated day that the Chinese had been waiting. It is a glamorous day for the Chinese because we will decorate everything in our house in RED color! Red does not mean dangerous in Chinese community. It simply means prosperity. YES! We Chinese are obsess with money and prosperity. No we ain't. I was just joking! But everybody do wish to have a comfortable life. 

It is crucial to remember to not clean the house on the New Year's day especially using broom! Broom is always associated with bad omen in Chinese old folktale. There is a term in Mandarin saying Sao Ba Xing translated Broom Star which means Unlucky Star. It is kind of a nickname toa person who is said to bring bad omen or unlucky circumstances to anyone near him/her. 

Mandarin orange is the main fruit for the occasion. I don't understand much about it but I like 'em! 

There is another folktale regarding the Lunar New Year which has something to do with firework/firecracker! I hate firecracker but I love it when I was the one who lit it! LoL! Well the story goes in the ancient time, a lion-like monster from the underworld would come to the earth to eat the children. Thus, the people gives huge feast like offerings so the monster would not harm the human. But the feast were never enough. The monster would still devour the children to satisfy its hunger. Therefore, a wise man made firecracker, and lit it on the Lunar New Year when the monster came. The monster was so scared of the firecracker, it ran away! Thus the reason why the Chinese lit firecracker every Lunar New Year. Though the monster might not be seen in the present days, lighting the firecracker becomes a tradition. 

This post show how beauty of my Chinese tradition. I am so glad to be part of the Chinese community. I am a Sino-Kadazan - Part Chinese Part Kadazan. Both part of my ancestors tradition is beautiful. I hope that it won't vanish from the face of this world. 

xoxo

NicaBell

NicaBell: I Am Floating, I Am In Love~

Helloooooooo Bloggerrrr!

It is certainly refreshing to be back to Blogger! I don't hate Wordpress and it is one of  the best blogging platform that we have around. It is just me who had issues with it and it is too complecated for me to use it. I am an active blogger just recently so that must me the reason for my poor knowledge.
So enough of that...

I am dedicating this post to the SyiokSendiriSisters (SSS)!!! d(=^_^=)b
They are an awesome online shop!! I have been stalking their blog since I-don't-know-when but never buy anything (I am scared of buying anything online). I love looking at their spree, sales, etc because they have many items that they sell that I never own (but I really want them!). So I saw this old post where they sold Brush Guard and make up brushes so I start sending them email and ask if they will ever open any spree or sales anytime soon. They reply me with much courtesy and we talk some opinions about this and that brushes. Talking with them (email) is very easy and I just felt that this is a sincere and serious type of people who are opening a business shop online. I can feel that I can trust them so I decide I could buy anything from this people if I ought to buy anything!

So I was checking my emails the other day and I receive an email from the SSS that they had just opened their Brush Guard Spree!!! My heart went wild and I knew that I have to have them! It is definitely hard to get them here in KK and I have been drooling, wanting them on my hands. These Brush Guard an essential, a must-have item to protect your make up brushes. I have a few brushes currently and they are quite expensive.

I own 4 brushes from The Body Shop (foundation brush, face & body brush, eyeshadow blender brush and line softer), a MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush, 2 Eliantos' (contour brush, lip brush) and a unknown brand retractable fluffy dome shaped brush that I use to apply blush.

Those from Elianto are very cheap but they are still precious to me. I value the items that I bought with my money so I will take care of my things. That is why, when the SSS open the spree, I told myself that I have to get it no matter what!

I also saw that SSS opened some Eye Lip Face (ELF) spree and I saw brushes are on the spree as well. It has been my dream to expand my brush colection and when I saw the ELF brushes on SSS spree, my heart literally stop! They are cheap!!! 11 ELF Studio brushes cost RM95 + RM8 (Sabah postage fee from West M.) = RM103!! It is definitely not easy to find good but cheap brushes around KK. but RM95 is very cheap considering that there are 11 brushes in there. [p/s: they have close this spree around 2 weeks ago.]

SSS allows their customer to make double payment method which means a customer can bank-in/transfer 50% deposits and pays the other half of the payment later but before they send out the items, of course. This is very convenient for me because it will not hurt my wallet!!

And this morning, I just saw a new post from SSS that they are selling a ready stock for Urban Decay items and my eyes just open up for the Primer Potion (Vintage Bottle)!! They have 2 types of UDPP, original and Eden. I never saw the Eden one but I have seen the original one but never have the intention of wanting to have one. Well just because the original UDPP look quite shimmery. May be not shimmery but more like mild sheen. But as a curious mouse I am, I went on Google and found this amazing blog that gives a good review on the  Eden UDPP. Guess what? I'm in LOVE!! It is an amazing matte texture and I really want one!! I have an oily skin so shimmery eye shadows sometimes help the shines to make my oily skin look WORSE! Okay, may be I am exaggerating things. I just don't like super shimmery make ups especially those you can literally see those chunks of shimmer.

Phew! SSS is a great online shop. I believe that there would certainly people who would agree to me on this.

Oh la la~ I am a shopaholic.. No! I am a e-shopaholic!! LOL!

Be writing again soon!!

xoxo
NicaBell

Nicabell: Update for my life about EVERYTHING! HAH! (02/2011)

Woot! Woot!!

I have finally moved my blog from wordpress to blogspot. I am sick and tired of deleting spams from my previous blog. It's not wordpress fault, no, I am NOT blaming wordpress for the spams.

I have used Blogger and have many good experience with Blogger for quite some times now. I think it is easy to use and I can easily connect to other Google's amazing product in a same email account. But it has some pros and cons to it though. The pro is that we can easily connect to other Google's products such as YouTube, Picasa, Google+, GTalk, etc.. However, the bad thing about it all is that, once you are hacked, all of your accounts in other Google's products might be affected.

But I don't think anyone would worry though. XD

In my opinion through me short short experience using Blogger and Wordpress, I find that it is much easier to use Blogger as a blog platform than Wordpress. The first time I was using Wordpress, all I can think about was what? where? how? Everything was confusing. Signing up, signing in and out is easy. But I have to take time to learn how to make a new post. I have to admit that I am not very bright when it comes to learning new things and adapting new environment. But Wordpress is like a whole new world to me. People say that it is user friendly. However, to me, it's more like experienced-user-friendly.

I am more comfortable using Blogger. Therefore, I decide to move my blog back to my root, Blogger!

Everything in this blogs will be about beauty, make-ups, and some personal details/information of mine. So, please do some comments here and I promise to reply you ASAP!

Cheers!

xoxo

NicaBell

Haircut! Anyone?

(Copied from my old blog iamnicabell.wordpress.com. I am moving my blog!!!)

I AM A PLUS SIZE AND I NEED A HAIRCUT!

Greeting season is coming, are you getting a haircut? I know I do!

I have been donning layers for years now and I am thinking to cut it blunt! My reason is simple, layered hair is easier to dry out! My hair is healthy, I don't have split ends or yellowish hair ends or dried hair. But I do have that before and I will be freaking out IF I had them. Blunt cut will prevent those. But with my current body size, (I used to be skinny before), I found out that blunt cut would not flatter plus size body. So I might cut the U shape hair. But I often ask my stylist to do the decision for me in the end.

I would want a long bangs this time because my hairline is pushing up! EEEKK! What do you call that? thinning? Not sure! Haha! My last long blunt bangs was  on 2008 for couple of months and changed to side swept bangs till now. I think this is the time I should change my bangs for fresher look. I have a pair of beautiful eyes (at least I think so), So a long blunt bangs would make my eye POP! It also would gives a fresh young look!

I might not color my hair or straighten my hair this year. But It depend how my hair behave. I have naturally straight with a tiny bit if kinky hair on the hair ends. And if the kinks kick out, I will definitely straighten it. I am a perm virgin. I haven't perm my hair before. I am not sure if I would look good with perm anyway

>.<

xoxo

NicaBell

NicaBell: Perfect Sandwich~

(Copied from my old blog iamnicabell.wordpress.com. I am moving my blog!!!)


I was searching how to get traffic to my bog and past by this daily post blog. It gives blogger some ideas what to blog every day. So I think, why not! Today is about describing the Perfect Sandwich.

Oh! Talk about sandwich! I love sandwich that sold in this small shop at the end of the KK city. Just pass the Tong Hing supermarket, before the Sabah Port KK. They used white bread for the sandwich and they often squeezed either omelette or ham between the white bread with some slices of fresh tomato, cucumber, and a slice of cheddar cheese.

Ahhh~ just imagining it makes me hungry^^

However, what I think that will make the PERFECT sandwich; it has to be using wholemeal bread! But I have used the white bread that has corn flavour! It was oh-so-tasty as well! It is not as easy to find now though so wholemeal bread should be fine for me. I would prefer that there will be a thin layer of omelette in the bread, a slice of cheddar cheese and a salad leaf. It doesn’t stop there, I would really love it if the sandwich be steamed of heated a bit just so the cheese melt a little!!! It would certainly make my day!

Gee~ too bad that I still live with my parents and 3 other brothers. Every time I bought the ingredient, it will be finished before the next morning. How cruel and how big eater my family can be?

Properties are very expensive here in KK. And my pay is quite low while living in the city is expensive. That is the reason why I always in a tight budget. I can’t afford loans too because I am not a permanent employee!!

Boyfie, I’m not pressuring you to propose to me. So don’t panic now dear. ;-*
That’s up for now!

xoxo
NicaBell

I Hate Those Auditors! Grrrr~

(Copied from my old blog iamnicabell.wordpress.com. I am moving my blog!!!)


Dang~

I am too busy with my job right now! My office is in a process of auditing right now and there will be a closing meeting any moment now.

I was busy preparing my office (and myself of course) to look good! I clean my office so it look presentable. I learned that if my office is clean and neat, it will be quite hard for the auditors to discover any flaws in my office.

Well, at least that was what I think!

Got to go go go now!

I will prepare a blog about the lipstick I am wearing currently.

See ya!

xoxo
NicaBell

NicaBell is an addict of...

(Copied from my old blog iamnicabell.wordpress.com. I am moving my blog!!!) 

Yes I am an addict. I have to admit that my addiction is severe enough, my mom cannot stops me.

I am an avid Cabal Online Player. I am a CabalSEA player and I am not going to say which server I am in. I love playing this game so much, I have invested a tons of my hard earn monthly pay on this game. I never play WOW or DOTA, but Cabal is the best game I have ever played! I have played JIN O. , AIKA, Ragnarok, Atlantic, and some other that I don't remember the name any more. I must say, nothing can beat of Cabal so far. Of course this is just me lah.

I am also an addict for manga. I love Naruto, Kimi Ni Todoke, Alice Academy, Hot Gimmick, etc.

Picnic! I love picnic by the sea and river. But I love rivers better. I cannot stand the heat at the beach and the salty air. I used to go camping on my college years. But I stop right after college. I do enjoy camping but the mosquitoes are torturing me! I do miss camping though.

Sleepzzz.. Yes, I do have sloth in me. I love sleeping so much, sometimes I don't feel like go to work. But I have to! I got debts to deal with!!

I am addicted to the internet. I must have a daily dose of Facebook, Youtube, games, etc. If I would lost internet connection, I would really depressed. Or I could just sleep all day. Which is better than harming myself. XD

I cannot deal with going to the mall without buying one thing at all. I need to satisfy my crave of buying something home. At least a small packet of candies. Then I wouldn't eat it. left it for years and years and years till it expire. ROFL!

My boyfie. He is my chubby bunny! I used to be skinny and he could easily hurt me when he hugs me. But when I got into bigger size, he would hugs me without the need for him to be scared thathe will hurt me.

Haha! So these are my addiction.

xoxo

NicaBell