What I wear lately

Haven't really bought anything new since I am unemployed. As compared to when I was still studying in college, I tend to gravitate towards comfortable (loose pajama like clothing which hide fats), quality pieces and also work friendly style nowadays. Right now I'm digging linen pieces and basics. 

So different from college where everything has to be pretty, tiny and body hugging and I have to workout my ass off to look good. (Nowadays I workout but still look like a hippo fml)

Anyway, here are some outfit photos on what I have been wearing lately.

Beanie - Taobao

Linen Navy Maxi Dress - Love Bonito

Bag - Night Market in Vietnam

Bought this dress when I was visiting my sister in Singapore. It has a zipper at the back. I envisioned pairing this dress with a nice pair of heels and wear this to an evening dinner. My sister seems to think this is too casual for an evening dinner though. Love Bonito is cheaper in Singapore and they have more variety of dresses!

Bagpack - China

Basic Brown Suede Dress - Pull and Bear

Kicks - Nike

If you know me, I once had a similar pair of black kicks from Nike which got stolen when I went to gym in Celebrity Fitness a few years ago. I was really upset. After that, I got another replacement shoe in washed grey, but it wasn't really aesthetic/basic enough so I didn't really love it enough. Went to GPO one day and they were having sale so I grabbed another black kicks for myself and never looked back.

Red Sweetheart Dress - PADINI Concept Store

Bag - Night Market in Vietnam

You would never guess how much is this dress! Got it at a really reasonable price. The buttons are covered by my flowers but it has this trendy beetle buttons (you've seen in over most dresses in 2018/2019) and it definitely floats my boat.

Mustard Cap - Taobao

Dress - ZARA

Birkenstocks

Bag - Charles and Keith

Black Cap - Taobao

Long Sleeve Linen Shirt Dress - MUJI Malaysia

Bagpack - China

Birkenstocks

MUJI is a great place for quality and comfortable clothing. It may be pricey, but I would suggest that you wait for it to go on sale before making your purchase. Also, I own 3 of the shirt dresses above in different colours. I love it that much! 

The cap is a birthday gift from a friend. He gave me 4 of the same cap in 4 different colours. I've been obsessed with wearing them out because its so easy to style plus it hides my roots.

Black Cap - Taobao

Navy Blue 3/4 Linen Shirt - UNIQLO

Navy Blue Culottes - UNIQLO

Birkenstocks

Striped Green Dress - PADINI Concept Store

Square Rattan Bag - Night Market in Vietnam

Kicks - Nike

Dress - Love Bonito

Pouch - Mom's

Heels - Vincci

There is just something about Vincci's work heels. Despite them not being able to last for very long (I have to get them replaced every 2-3 months), I still buy them because its stylish and comfortable to wear for long hours.

Also I have a lot of blue dresses but trying on other colours of this dress just doesn't work for me.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed this post, and I shall try, try to blog more often.

xx

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Niko Neko Matcha @ Lorong Maarof, Bangsar

Decided to place all the photos first before typing my wordy blogpost simply because I think all the minimalist white photos look better together.

Anyway, growing up since young, I am both a tea and coffee lover. The main reason why I suffer from acid reflux is because I used to drink green tea after school on an empty stomach. From this episode, I always made sure to eat something first before drinking green tea.

A few months ago, my sister who is based in Singapore suggested me to visit HVALA Singapore in CHIJMES, a green tea specialty shop. I fell in love with that place due to the minimalist zen vibes and yummy green tea latte. I went back to that place two days in a row. One of my friends told me that I should try the green tea specialty cafe in Malaysia too. They actually are the matcha powder distributor to many other cafes in Malaysia.

I've been seeing photos of Niko Neko Matcha on the gram, and what caught my attention is Niko the Odd, a white cat with different eye color. It totally fit into the minimalist theme of the cafe. Unfortunately, during my visit, Niko the neko wasn't around.

Went there on a weekday last week, and it was sort of easy to get a parking as Niko Neko Matcha is located at the quieter side of Bangsar, which is the shoplots opposite the popular Telawi McDonalds. Niko Neko Matcha is located on the first floor. Upon entering the premises for the first time, you will feel quite confused because you enter into a shop full of plants. I learnt that Niko Neko Matcha shares a shoplot with Taman Hati, selling succulents and house plants and then I was led to a white door with Niko Neko Matcha's logo on it. 

I told the barista that I was there for the first time and he asked me on my preference of drinks. I told him I wanted an iced green tea latte, and he explained to me on the variety of green tea available, Ren Matcha, Yuri Matcha and Kiku Matcha. The difference between the three is that of the bitterness and umami profile and it totally depends on your preference. I went with the Kiku Matcha green tea latte (RM12) which was in between, both bitter and have a balanced umami creamy flavour and the drink was so good.

From the menu, it is mainly drinks and they serve the pastry of the day. From their instagram, I've seen green tea croissants but unfortunately on the day I went there it was not available. Would definitely preferred if there were more choices of food available at that place.

Seating is quite limited, only 3 tables available (perfect if you go 2-4 people), but when I went there on a weekday, it was pretty quiet. Was able to sit, enjoy my drink and the minimalist setting of the place. But if there's no space to sit, it's okay to go outside and sit in the leafy green compound of Taman Hati as well.

As seen above, Niko Neko also have their matcha and hojicha powder on display as well as equipment needed to make yummy matcha such as green tea whisk and stirrer.

From what I know, Niko Neko is quite responsive to photos tagged on instagram and if you write a review on their Facebook and show it to them, you could receive your next drink at 50% off. Would totally revisit this place, not just for the discount ;) but for more yummy matcha drinks and hopefully
catch Niko this time!

Niko Neko Matcha

82A, Lorong Maarof, Bangsar Park Kuala Lumpur

Opening Hours:

Tuesdays to Sundays: 12pm to 7pm

Closed on Mondays

Website:

Niko Neko Matcha

Instagram:

nikonekomatcha

Facebook:

Niko Neko Matcha

   

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The job that didn’t happen.

A friend of mine shared with me a video on Facebook, basically mentioning that it helped a person to achieve his/her goals through the process of journaling. And I realized how much I missed writing down my thoughts... And keeping it all in my head isn’t really going to help me. The question is not what is your goal, more of how to achieve your goal? I haven’t really thought out on what’s next, honestly.

When I was still in my previous job I was really at a unhappy point in my job and needed the courage to leave my job. It’s okay to be jobless, I thought to myself. I could always pursue my sort of dream to become a barista. One of my ex colleagues even asked me, do I like the idea of being in a cafe, or actually working in one? I wanted to try out working in one. But honestly it will not cover my monthly expenses and it cannot be a long term thing, unless someday I would want to start something on my own.

In fact, I applied for one of the more reputable cafes near my house, the owner was a popular roaster in Malaysia. The interview was really funny, language doesn’t matter. I thought I screwed up when the manager’s first question was “华语可以吗?” I replied very honestly, 我的华语有一点cacat ,但是还可以讲和听 and proceeded to explain to her I won’t feel awkward as most of my friends in college speak Mandarin to me. I got the job. But I didn’t have the balls to tell my mom. Dad was cool with it, just mom.

A lot of people would probably say no guts. Still living in my mom’s shadow. But if you walked the pathway I walked, you would probably understand why I made this decision. Growing up, I always thought that my parents/family don’t love me enough. My sister was the rebellious child, and probably why mom always have a tighter control on me. I didn’t understand why she was being such a control freak over everything when it comes to going clubbing during college days, or letting me stay over along with the rest of the bunch. Occasionally, when there were disagreements, there were silent treatments of a few months long. Believe me, those months were hell to me, not talking to my mom. Getting treated as if I was invisible. It was a horrible feeling. But I do believe my relationship with my parents have improved over the years, especially after I shared more about my life to them, and spent more time with them. Getting into another huge disagreement is simply not worth it. And on the week before I started the job, mom was in such a good mood and I didn’t want to ruin it, she even gave me extra money to go to Singapore for holiday. So I turned down the job offer.

Or maybe I simply didn’t want it enough.

Actually. I do. So much. But yeah what has happened has happened. I still have not grown the courage to visit this cafe again. Before I asked for the job, I usually frequent this place for the cats and the iced mocha.

Now what?

I honestly have no idea.

The idea of finding another office job right now is simply terrifying. And from this thought, comes the realisation of how very very burnt out I was from my previous job, being an overworked machine, stretched to the maximum capacity.

Meh. That’s all when it comes to the career related aspect of my life currently.

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Change

Haven't checked in in awhile and yeap, have some thoughts to spill again, hence I'm here.

I've been drafting this post again and again and I just can't seem to write down how I'm really feeling about everything.

Currently sitting in a cafe for a work trip in Kuching, honestly there's nothing much to do here. Not sure is it because its the city centre and I have to get out of town to do the nature nature stuff.

Anyway, it feels like I'm going through a difficult time in my life right now. *not being dramatic*

Just feel lost and that I'm not doing what I like to do at the moment. Need to remind myself that if I'm not doing anything about it, then I'll just stay in the same miserable pit hole.

I don't feel the same way about certain things in my life right now, ie. what I prioritize, what I want for myself..... And I'm trying to come to terms with that, that it's okay to feel this way. Taking the plunge into the unknown where I'm not sure what or how the outcome will be like... But I do know that I will be much much happier.

I'm not quite sure of what is the trigger of me starting to feel this way where I feel that what I do on a daily basis may not add any value to my life anymore, or neither does it gives me that sense of achievement anymore.

Perhaps its... Growing up and finding that my world doesn't revolve around my career, to the extent where you miss out on life where you don't get to have time for yourself - like watching that TV series everyone is talking about, or even feeling good about yourself - dressing out, going out, working out, or even having time to spend with your friends and family. Time doesn't wait for anyone, and as and when you grow older, you feel that time passes way too fast and there is only so much you can do in a day.

It's scary being at this age where we are supposed to feel secure about everything - getting a degree, having a career that you work your ass off to buy a car, buy a house, buy properties. But like the internet quote says, did anyone really wonder, if a person works so hard to achieve these things, is the person in a good state of mental wellbeing? Is the person happy?

So I went to one of my regular coffee stops one day to catch up with one of my friend, where I saw the barista previously posting on instagram about how his life nearly ended because he got into a total loss accident. So before I left I had a short chat with the barista, and asked him how was he? How did the accident happen?

Instead it became a conversation about me. About how obvious it is that I am really really am so unhappy with where I am in life right now. And its good that I have that awareness on what I want for myself in my life ie. to do something which I'm happy with, and find it fulfilling. He mentioned that if I know what I wanted, why not just try and go for it? Rather than slave my life at a job and at 40 or 50 years old, regret on the things that I have not done. He mentioned where I am still young, if things doesn't work out then I could always go back to current job.

Another thing which I really found spot on which was where he said, you probably am thinking about judgment from other people. How people will judge you if you left your job. How people will judge you if you started a business. How people will judge you if you failed at your business. But why.... Why do I need that validation from other people and why am I always searching for it? Who the fuck cares what they think?

It's honestly tough to not care about what other people think about me. But I'll try to improve on this.

I know that from what I'm writing here it totally sounds like a eat, pray, love moment, but it's not. I'm still aware that I need money to support myself for my remaining lifetime, pay my car installments as well as to support my family.

2018 was a year that was quite bad for me, in terms of my emotional state of mind. I've been finding ways to deal with it where I binged on whatever food and drinks that gave me temporary happiness, and whether its drinking it up during the weekends so that I could just not deal with whatever that was going on with my life. Or going to gym. Or staying at home to nua for the weekends after working my ass off on all weekdays. Work was well, honestly, not giving my 100% into it, but I still have to press on because I still have to be responsible, suck it up and do my job and get a pay cheque at the end of the month. Or not let other people clean up after my shit (where I hate cleaning up other people's shit at work too). But it really added on to my unhappiness a lot.

But 2018 was also the year where I met a few gems, got closer to some people whom I didn't expect to be close to, and drifted apart from some people who I felt like I couldn't relate with or was too emotionally draining for me. Initially, I felt quite bad about this, but after talking to mom about it, she said that I have tried my best as a friend, and it happens.

In 2018, I started to talk to my group fitness instructor, like after 2 years plus of attending his class. Personally find this person so so passionate about his job where he has been teaching for 10 years and when you attend his class he makes sure you give your 100%. Not every instructor teaches with such passion. Still damn shy of talking to other people in class, but yeah I shall try working on it this year. Attended classes on a consistent basis too after coming back from Vietnam and settling down with my weekly routine again. It's something I look forward to at every end of the day, and somehow for this year my target is to finish the whole class as in do the lunges, squats and push ups properly wtf. Hope to keep up with this this year!

Speaking about passion, I really hope to find out what I myself am very passionate about where I will give my all in doing, and want others to have interest and enjoy what I do too. How to find out what I like to do and what is my passion, guess its time to embark on this trial and error journey, time to explore. But I'll have to remind myself that a journey like this is definitely not going to be easy.

2019 will definitely be the year of changes, for the better I guess....

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One Half x Ilaika Select Store @ Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya

Finally, about time I'd written about this favourite coffee place of mine.

Hmm, started visiting this place late last year, and before that, this place has been around for a while but I never got around to visiting it. But from one visit, I fell in love with this place and with subsequent visits, I got addicted to this cozy space in Taman Paramount, PJ. It's actually located beside Awesome Canteen and same row as the famous duck rice in Taman Paramount.

One Half started from a pop up store at BRATs, and they closed down after awhile. Subsequently opening two other stores, Random Food Store, beside Village Park Nasi Lemak in Uptown, and then this co-shared outlet with Ilaika Select Store, which sells locally curated items like dried flowers, cute plants, ceramic homeware, scented candles, leather card holders etc etc.

Didn't manage to take a picture of the bar area, but yeah, One Half is pretty much at the back of the shop, where there is ample natural lighting during the day. They have coffee, tea, kombucha, self made wine, orange juice, self made banana loaf, self made sourdough, tartines, sandwiches and a variety of cakes. 

They do have the usual selection of milk coffee and black coffee. And also filter coffee, which I have never tried before in the past. For filter coffee, or your black coffee, you get to select the type of beans they are serving for the day, and somehow, there is really a difference where different coffee beans have different taste notes, as a result of the type of beans, all the way up to how the coffee is roasted. I don't really know how to explain it here, but do ask the friendly baristas if you are somehow interested in finding out what is the difference, haha.

Personally prefer visiting the Taman Paramount outlet because it has individual tables and a hipster ambience where it's a good place for people watching ie. checking out other people that dress up. But if you do visit the outlet in Uptown it is somehow a different concept where it serves hot food and the table is somehow a shared table where it encourages you to connect with other people.

So far I have been loving the long black (all time favourite order), cold brew coffee where they add a dehydrated grapefruit/lemon slice to it, cold brew tonic (cold brew + tonic water), black tonic (black coffee + tonic water), coffee lemonade (coffee + lemonade), sourdough (with brown sugar, with marmite), and the mushroom tartine.

As for milk coffee, at first, didn't fancy the latte at all because I find it too milky. Highlighted it to the barista and she recommended me to try flat white instead which is more balanced and that's my current favourite order for now.

If you don't know what to drink, just ask the barista for recommendations and they would be glad to help you make the right order, and they're usually up for a friendly conversation as well.

This place has minimal tables, so on certain days, it can get pretty crowded, but there are both indoor and outdoor seats. The indoor seats can get quite cold sometimes but the outdoor seating area are always full of smokers and can get pretty warm on a sunny day.

Besides that, I'd say this place isn't really suitable to work as the chairs aren't that comfortable for sitting long hours, and there are minimal plug points. It is more of a place to catch up with your friends, or where you want to have some quiet time alone.

Anyways. hope to be able to convince you to visit this cute place with good coffee (and hopefully not break your bank account).

Signing off for now.

One Half x Ilaika Select Store

 Address:

17, Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, 

46300, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 

Opening Hours:

Monday to Sunday

8am to 10.30pm

Facebook:

One Half x Ilaika

Instagram:

onehalf_ilaika

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