Converting your Philippine driving license to Malaysian license

I just love the system here in Malaysia! Well, I am a foreigner married to a Malaysian and I have been staying here for almost 3 years now. My son was born here and he automatically got his IC. Greatest thanks to the staff of the Philippine Embassy and to the friendly, helpful employees at JPJ (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia) for the speedy service in issuing my driving license.

For other Filipinos living in Malaysia and want to drive around here, I've got great news! As long as your Phil driving license has not expired beyond 3 years, you can get a Malaysian driving license. Here are the steps:

1) Submit the following documents to the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia - #1 Changkat Kia Peng, Kuala Lumpur (+603 2148 4233) Mon - Fri 9:00am - 11:30am/ 1:00pm - 4:00pm

a) 2 photocopies of your driving license

b) 2 photocopies of the Official Receipt of the driving license 

c) 2 photocopies of your passport

d) 2 photocopies of your visa

e) payment of RM96.25

2) After 3 working days, you can claim the endorsement letter for your driving license from the Philippine Embassy (make sure you have your receipt as you need this to claim; don't lose the receipt)

3) Proceed to any JPJ branch (Maju Junction, Bandar Sri Permaisuri, Setapak), bring your original driving license and passport, documents from the Philippine Embassy and 2 pcs 25mm x 32mm photo

4) Get a number, fill-up the JPJ L1 form (you can get this from the counter), submit your documents upon your turn. The staff will ask you to proceed to an officer to get an approval then come back to his/her counter. Don't worry, this is just fast. 

5) Pay RM30.00 for 1st year license. You can only get a longer validity upon renewal. 

6) And voila! The staff will laminate your card and give you your Malaysian driving license. The process in JPJ will only take around 20 minutes if the queue is not long. Nevertheless, they are very fast and efficient. 

So thanks to Malaysia and thanks to JPJ!

Tips for Applying Liquid Eyeliner

I started applying eyeliner when I was 16 years old. Surprisingly, during my time, most of my friends are not yet applying makeup, save for the lip gloss or flavored lip balm and the face powder. Well, I've always been conscious of my eyes. I find them small and at a young age, I've been fond of big eyes with luscious eyelashes.

So for 15 years now (OMG, I'm that old...), eyeliners have been a basic part of my make-up kit. Applying liquid eyeliner on your eyelids will take some practice and steady hands. Mistakes cost a lot of time (and frustration when you're late for work or for a meeting) and can be very messy. I would like to share some tips with you on successfully applying liquid eyeliner:

1) Choose your liquid eyeliner carefully. Take a look at the applicator and make sure that the tip is pointed and not a thick brush. I personally use KATE liquid eyeliner in black.

2) Check the viscosity of the liquid. It should not be sticky or it means the stock is old. A sticky one will be harder to apply and will be thick on your eyelid.

3) It is best to apply the liquid eyeliner on top of your eye shadow to maximize effect. But if you are scared to mess it up then you need to re-apply your eyeshadow again, you can start with applying your eyeliner first then your eye shadow. Once your confident in applying, you can put the eyeliner on top of your eyeshadow. Make sure that you also have your eye make-up remover on-hand as liquid eyeliners are very challenging to remove. You can use baby oil or petroleum jelly if you don't have an eye make-up remover.

4) When applying, lean your elbow on the table if you're sitting or against the mirror if you're standing. This way, your hand will be more steady while applying.

5) Start from the inner lid then swoop your eyeliner outwards. Try to create one smooth outline first, don't worry if the line looks thin or very light. You can re-apply on the outline you have created to make it look thicker. You can also choose to create a cat-eye effect by extending the line to the end with an upward curve. 

6) Wait till the eyeliner is dry and try not to blink at all. Then you can apply your mascara.

Burt's Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion

For several years now, I have been facing difficulties in finding the lotion that will satisfy my legs. Yes, correct, for my legs and not my feet. I have tried so many different brands - cheap, expensive, branded, not branded...and somehow, my legs always get itchy. It's weird that this is the only sensitive part of my body when it comes to using moisturizers. You can even raid my vanity closet and you'll see several bottles of lotions there due to my continuous trials. The thing is, if I don't put lotion on my legs, it then gets too dry, resulting to an even itchier state! Aaaarrrghhhh. So there goes my dilemma. Damned if I do, more damned if I don't.

Until I came across Burt's Bees at The Gardens, Lower Ground. I actually didn't bother much about the brand before but I got a voucher for free lip balm so I went there with my baby on the stroller. I'd say I am quite attracted with the natural look of the shop, the products, the packaging and all. So I went around and checked out the products, which all smell nice by the way. And the Baby Bee is just sooo cute and clever. 

Anyway, the sales staff sampled some of the moisturizers on my skin and I got captivated by the Peppermint Foot Lotion. It smells nice and it's cooling to the skin. I asked if it would be okay to use it on my legs as well and she said yes. So I did that night.

And...voila! It was so liberating to finally not itch on my legs! Not only does it smell nice but the Peppermint Lotion was really soothing. Plus the toothpaste-like texture really makes it nice to spread on the skin. It's not watery like most body/foot lotion products. It comes in a soft-squeeze tube so it's light and travel-friendly as well. It would be nice, though, if they have a smaller size available. 

Hoorah! My legs don't itch anymoh!

Burt's Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion description:

The perfect treat for tired feel, this all-natural formula combines pure peppermint oil, parsley leaf oil, and menthol to soothe and calm tired feet. Sunflower, wheat germ, and coconut oils deeply moisturize, while emollient beeswax and vitamin E soften rough calluses and heels. It's the perfect pampering spa treatment for the feet. Go ahead, you deserve it.

RM50, The Gardens, LG

For more info, visit http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/body-hands-feet/

I love my Braun Buffel bag

I still remember when I bought my first Braun Buffel bag just last month---NORIN in copper. I love the feel and smell of the leather, the long straps and the additional body sling strap. The sling strap is just soooo convenient when I need to carry my baby while walking. It makes it easier to take out stuff from my bag without struggling. Quite a smart embellishment to this design. And the metallic color is just adorable. It goes well with any dress or shirt color and it matches my beloved copper shoes. I am kinda lazy to keep changing bags for work just to match my entire getup so I really love my BB Norin bag. It was really worth its price of RM1179.

Outside there is a mini purse where you can actually put your Touch N' Go card, haha! Or your coins if you don't like digging into your wallet just for small change.

I was also very happy with the sales girl who assisted me at Braun Buffel, The Gardens. She was quite informative and told me about the current promo of HSBC & The Gardens wherein I get this free reusable bag for a minimum purchase of RM300. Plus I also got entitled to a free membership on TGC (The Gardens Club) since my purchase was worth more than RM1000. Normally, I think you need to pay RM200 to be a member of TGC. I also got the free membership of D Guild, this is Braun Buffel's own membership club. You get entitled to all-year discount and a higher discount on your birthday month. Well, what do you know, I got a lot of other stuff from my purchase of 1 BB bag! Now I'm waiting for my birthday month, which is very soon, and maybe grab another item. Probably a wallet and other leather accessories for my husband on Father's Day.

If you are interested to see more of Braun Buffel collections, you can visit their website http://www.braunbuffel-asiapac.com/collections.html

Better yet, you can check out their boutiques. I highly recommend The Gardens.

Ideas for Mother's Day

It's amazing how despite the super advanced technology and fast lifestyles that we now have, expressing our sincere love and appreciation to the special people in our lives has no exact answer. I find this fact valuable and I hope that most of the people out there can still set aside some of their precious time to give back to the person who gave us life, the person who carried and sang lullabies to us for hours everyday just so we can sleep sweetly, the person who tirelessly took care of us and loved us despite our mistakes and wrongdoings, the woman who selflessly pledged her whole being to our very existence...our LOVING MOTHER.

It doesn't always need (so much) money to make our mother, mommy, mum, mak happy. Remember that it's the time and effort that counts. But, anyway, here are some ideas on making Mother's Day memorable:

1) Dinner with mum (and dad). While we are busy growing up, going to school, having fun with friends, or working, it is inevitable that we don't really get to chat with mum, just for fun. Talk about whatever nonsense. Check out new eating places. Spending some dinner time with mum outside the house would be a great way to show your love. You don't have to bring her to an expensive place if you're on a tight budget. Just bring her to nice, clean restaurant (or even a mamak shop) and have time for her.

You can even send a small cake for dessert and greet her "Happy Mother's Day" or give her a bunch of flowers with that small teddy bear after eating. Aaawwww, aren't you the sweetest?

Or you can plan to cook her favorite dinner at home and just let her sit while you're busy at the kitchen. Make sure you wash and clean everything after. Mum should not do any chore for her day.

2) Send mum to a pampering day (or programme) at the spa. Mum has been working really hard to take care of us, cook us lunch and dinner, go to the grocery for our everyday needs, wash and iron our clothes, clean the house...But when did she ever get a whole day to relax? Housework is never-ending and it would be great to give mum a pampering day. Let her have a Thai massage, do her hair, get some manicure and pedicure, and feel like a queen! Make sure that you drive her to the spa and pick her up after her day to complete your gift. 

If you are not sure which package to get for your mum, check out the websites of the local reputable spas or visit the spa and ask the beauty consultants. Make sure that the spa is also accessible from your place. It won't be nice to travel too far for a relaxing day. Book her schedule early so she won't need to wait. 

Spa suggestions:

Cres Wellness - Stress Relief Aroma Therapy http://www.techmondo.org/clients/cres/

Sothy Paris - Digi-Esthetique Massage http://www.sothys.com.my/

Slimming Sanctuary - Le Sense - Heavenly Bath Bliss http://www.slimmingsanctuary.com.sg/heavenly-bath-bliss/sake-bath-soak/

3) A high-quality print of an old photo of mum on a beautiful frame. Now, this one will require you to dig up those old photos and be a bit more creative. Find a photo of a very memorable event in your life or her life. Maybe your 1st year birthday, her wedding day, a photo of you together at the beach having your first swim OR her photo with her own mum. Revive it at a photo studio and come up with a digital print on A4 or A3 size then frame it nicely. Put your message at the back, wrap it with plain paper then put a red ribbon. 

This will let her know how much you value precious times together. If it's her photo, she will see that you understand how much she treasures her memories as well. A picture can express so much with no word at all. Let her go back in time and recall those sweet moments.

4) A personalized mum and me shirt (or other stuff like mug, necklace, key holder). Personalized gifts are probably still the most endearing items that you can give to anyone.  This one is similar to idea #3 but this time, print it on an item that both you and your mum can use. This shows that you love her and that you are proud to have her as a mother. Nowadays, it's very easy to create personalized item using photos. There are small shops where you can do this quick and easy. Midvalley Megamall has at least 2 personalized gift stalls, 1 is at the 1st floor and 1 at the 3rd floor going to the cinemas. They have a wide variety of items where you can print photos as personalized gifts, souvenirs or for your personal use. I also came across 1 stall in Sunway Pyramid where they print digital photos on necklace tags, key holders, acrylic frames and other stuff. It's actually a simple yet endearing gift for a mother.

5) Bring her to a holiday trip. If you can afford to do this, it would be a great idea to give your mum a few days off either from office work or house work. With the very affordable airfares now from AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines and Firefly, it's gonna be easier for you to plan a trip. It doesn't have to be international to be fun and enjoyable. Our own country, Malaysia, has numerous holiday destinations for the family. Go to Langkawi, Pulau Pangkor, visit the historical places of Malacca, check out the Snake Temple in Penang or go diving at Redang Island. 

OR if you don't have any budget for extra activities or gifts at all, you can make it pure and simple. On Mother's Day, let mum have time to relax and put her feet up while watching TV. Convince your brothers and sisters to help you do all the house work. Clean all your rooms, do the cooking and washing, throw the rubbish and don't let mum do any house work. 

And for all the following days, let's all do our part in helping mum around. It can be as simple as cleaning the bathroom, doing the dishes, just help her around. She's been doing all these for so many years and it won't be too much for us to do a bit of our part.

Let every day be your mum's day, even just a bit. Our mum has been there for us all the time and we can make this world a better place by giving back a few minutes of our time each day.

HAPPY MOTHER's DAY to all the wonderful mums! We love you!