I know I haven’t written a blog entry in a while since this post, and it’s majorly due to work & other priorities. I hope this post breaks the routine for me and I’ll be back in action and blogging regularly for all of you again!

For those of you who are following me on Instagram, you would know what I’ve been up to every day. Namely, work, gym, cooking, being a plant mom, being a kitty mom, TikTok-ing, Instagramming, writing and more writing.

I have a full-time job and numerous freelance jobs – sis works hard for her monies, ya know what I mean?  And if sis doesn’t make money, sis can’t shop online and that will make me a very sad sis 

Speaking of online shopping, it’s that time of the year again. And no, I’m not talking about Christmas, but the annual 9.9 massive online sale! It’s where everyone makes huge purchases online, bulk purchases, hoard more cute (and sometimes) practical stuff, buys random gifts for others and (admittedly) buys things they want but don’t need.

So, where do I shop online, you ask?

Oh, plenty, my dear. I’ve also been recently introduced to a really cool shopping platform, and that’s what I’d like to share with you today.

What is PG Mall?

Although less popular than its more well-known and highly-advertised-to-death competitors like Shopee and Lazada, did you know that PG Mall (www.pgmall.my) is actually Malaysia’s No.1 E-commerce platform, established in 2017? 

It is the only Local e-commerce platform in Malaysia and is ranked as the Top 3 E-commerce sites on an insight report by Iprice!

Being in the digital marketing line myself, one of the main plus-points an E-commerce website should have is the variety of options available in their payment gateway. PGMall accepts all e-wallets and payment methods! Yes, from GrabPay, Touch n’ Go, Maybank QR Pay, and many more.

E-Penjana Discount Promotion

PGMall is also running a promo for E-Penjana.

From 10th August to 30th September 2020, new shoppers will get RM25 off with a minimum spend of RM80, while existing shoppers will get RM20 off with a minimum spend of RM100. 

PG Mall’s 9.9 Sale – Discounts & Promotions

Everyone also gets RM8 OFF their shipping fee during PG Mall’s 9.9 Sale! And if you’re an even more gung-ho shopaholic, get your hands on exclusive Facebook Live rebate vouchers given out on PG Mall Malaysia’s Facebook page. It runs several times a week on their LIVE videos – so keep your eyes peeled!

As it’s our National Month of Merdeka & Malaysia Day period, the best part of PGMall being proudly local is that it’s built by Malaysians for Malaysians.

With their ongoing campaign, we can all shop for essentials like home & living products, groceries, kids & babies, health & beauty, automotive & sports, electronics & appliances, and even fashion pieces at cheaper prices, from July till December 2020! 

Made in Malaysia. Belilah Barangan Buatan Malaysia!

Support the local industry during this pandemic – #kitajagakita – right? #BarangBaikBarangKita in PGMall’s Proudly Local campaign comprises only Made in Malaysia aka Barangan Buatan Malaysia products!

What are you doing still reading this during 9.9? Shop now! It’s time to get your smartphones & wallets (or e-wallets!) out to play! Think bigger savings and take advantage of their massive online discounts, promotions in this mega sale.

I don’t know about you, but by the time you read this, I’m probably glued to my phone hitting the ‘Add to Cart’ and ‘Buy Now’ button on PGMall already. So do sign up for an account via this link and I’ll see you in the next post!

P/S: It’ll be a review of my delightful staycation, courtesy of Avilion, Port Dickson.

Contact information & get in touch with PG Mall via:

Their Official Website | Facebook | Instagram

#PGMall #onlineshopping #shopping #MalaysiaNo1ecommerceplatform #ecommerceplatform #Shopnow #Shoponline #ByMalaysiansForMalaysians #BarangBaikBarangKita #PGMall4u #Cashback #points

So I’ve heard that the latest Bond movie has been delayed to 2020 instead. 🙁

But hey, isn’t Daniel Craig worth the wait? Pretty sure we’ve all watched him in Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall and of course, Spectre.

We know that Danny Boyle, best known for Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire, is directing and writing, as well as that it’s almost definitely Daniel Craig’s last go as 007. But guess what?

Due to the former’s departure, we’ve got a new director now – Cary Fukunaga.

Really, it could make or break Craig’s tenure when we look back. So far, Casino Royale and Skyfall have been regarded as two of the finest Bond films ever made – but Quantum Of Solace and Spectre were seen as at least mild disappointments.

Which was your fave? Mine was Skyfall. 

“Bond 25” as the next instalment is temporarily being called, can break the tie, so to speak.

Right now we really don’t know much about the movie though.

We can guess at its style, and Boyle has said that the #TimesUp movement will inspire aspects of the film. Otherwise, though, we have no idea what we’re going to get. And that almost makes it more fun to go ahead and start kicking off speculation about who might play 007 when Craig is gone.

I have some thoughts about this…

A Black Or Female Bond?

For a while, one of the hottest rumours on the internet was that we’d be seeing our first black James Bond.

We can all agree minorities need more representation in major Hollywood films, so it would be a positive step. However, it’s starting to seem less likely. Idris Elba was the name typically attached to the idea, and he’s now 45 years old.

By the time Bond 25 comes out, a new casting decision is made, and Bond 26 is in the works, he’ll be a little old to be starting a run as the world’s greatest secret agent.

The idea of a female Bond has caused a similar stir, and may actually be more alive. Just this April, betting sites on the internet slashed the odds of a female lead to follow Craig, indicating that a lot of people were betting on the possibility.

Whether or not that ultimately means anything remains to be seen, but if you look around you’ll see actresses like Emily Blunt and Gillian Anderson listed right alongside some of the hottest male contenders.

Tom Hardy’s Role To Lose?

The odds on the next Bond actually fluctuate quite a bit, but for the most part, Tom Hardy has appeared to be in the lead. He’s extremely popular, tends to earn critical acclaim, and perhaps most importantly is a little on the rugged side.

That is to say, he could be a natural follow-up to Craig’s Bond, who does as much with his legs and fists as with guns and gadgets. The only issue here may be that Hardy just signed on to what could become a major franchise. He’s playing the role of Marvel’s Venom, and judging by the trailer views people are pretty excited about it.

I personally think Hardy would be wonderful for the role,

but I can’t help feeling it’s not his cup of tea.

Dark Horse Favorites

The idea of a “dark horse favourite” is something of a contradiction, but it’s certainly one way to phrase things looking at the latest lists. Aside from Tom Hardy, two of the actors who are receiving the best odds to act as the next Bond are James Norton and Jack Huston.

Norton is a 32-year-old British actor best known for working on shows like Happy Valley and McMafia, while Huston is known primarily for appearing in the HBO drama Boardwalk Empire. Neither would be high on the average fan’s list of guesses, but both appear to have a real chance.

It’s always nice to give unexpected actors a chance to shine, so for that reason, I’m curious about these two. But I can’t say either would excite me and Huston, in particular, doesn’t even look the part.

Other Famous Figures Aside from all of the men and women listed above, there are a few more major figures who tend to come up in Bond conversations.

One is Henry Cavill, who plays Superman for DC and Warner Bros. With no disrespect to Cavill, this is one of my least favourite possibilities; he’s an incredibly good-looking man, but a rather stiff, stern actor, lacking the 007 charisma.

Tom Hiddleston is another name that comes up frequently, and he would seem to be a fine choice.

(I honestly really hope he would act with his British accent LOLOL ) 

And then there’s the weirdest idea out there: Harry Styles, who made his acting debut in last summer’s Dunkirk. Styles did a fine job in the film (and even Christopher Nolan was impressed by him), but his casting might almost be too distracting given his pop star career.

All in all I’m hoping this comes down to Hardy or Hiddleston, but across the board there are some interesting ideas. Now, let’s all countdown to 2020 for #Bond25 to be out. *squeals

Been missing from this space for a while. Was extremely tied up by personal matters for the last few months as I was going through a very rocky stage of life with bouts of emotional moments.

Times like this were akin to withdrawing into my shell or being a complete hermit. 

But you’re probably gonna say that I look happy on my Social Media platforms, right? Social media does lie, let me tell you this. 

Would you rather share your happy moments & beautiful photos on your feed, OR upload photos of your swollen eyes which can only speak volumes of your sunken face, after bawling your eyes out the night before? Nup.

Glad to say that I’ve emerged alive as they say, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. 

What helped a lot was my reconnecting with my love for health & fitness.

Admittedly, I have put that on the back seat in the past, overshadowed by other priorities in life, but this time round, working out and eating clean had reclaimed its rightful place on the higher rungs of my table of priorities

One of the many obstacles…

Speaking of fitness, I’ve just recently completed the Viper Challenge 2019 (Sepang) in February. One photo per now as above, but more about that soon! 

But first, I would like to share a really cool and upcoming marathon that I’ll be joining next.

I gotta go train for the half marathon now, so, catch you later at the finish line!

We’ll be wearing the same, bright, neon tee!

Honestly super excited for SCORE’s Run the Night as I’ve never officially competed in a 21KM before.

If you’re keen, check out my blog post about the last time I joined the Penang Bridge International Marathon and the Zombie Run that I joined previously too.

 

Don’t chide me – I’m more than aware I’ve been gone for almost a year.

Not giving up and will at least pen a few stories before the year ends. But hey, at least you’re following me on Instagram (@imthejessicat) I hope; I didn’t go completely MIA just yet!

OOTD for the night:

Dress by Sarah Joe | Heels by Pedro | Bag by Chanel

Currently working on two blog articles and this is just one of them. The other one is taking a wee bit longer as I’m making a video for that staycation experience too.

I need way more discipline and speed to get back into my old blogging habits. 2019 Resolution maybe?

Dear readers, how I’ve missed you.

How I’ve missed writing and sharing my experiences with all of you!

There’s so much to update since my absence and so many stories & thoughts to share, but here’s one for today in the spirit of Christmas. This festive season, I had the pleasure of tasting the Christmas & New Year’s Eve Menu of Signature and took in the beautiful sights of Stratosphere – all thanks to the good folks of The Roof.

When I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised with the renovation and revamp of The Roof.

The last time I dined in there was a couple of years back and I thought it couldn’t look any better than it initially did! Great job buddy Roen, Dax and team!

Soon after, the waiters ushered my date and I to our table. I was taken aback – enthralled by the table decor.

Honest to God – I was not expecting such an elaborate table setting!

This photo was actually taken after dinner. Apologies!

Was too excited and I didn’t manage to shoot an aerial view of the table before dining.

Isn’t it lovely?

Those elegant candles on a menorah, rose petals, faux crystals and faux grass on the table that truly embodied a beautiful and romantic modern garden ambience. (Yes, I know I’m easy to please)

Right after I was seated, I was first presented two signature cocktails.

The first was my old and all-time favourite, the Watermelon Slush.

The Signature Watermelon Slush that I’d totally vouch for!

Creatively served in a half-watermelon, the Watermelon Slush is refreshing and not too sweet.

Definitely something worth enjoying at any time of the day!

I wonder who’s POV this is.

The second cocktail was this year’s Christmas Cocktail – the Red Rudolph.

Whilst not being a fan of cocktails in general (probably due to the amount of syrup – read: high amounts of sugar! – and artificial flavourings in most cocktails) this one was different. It tasted rad!

Particularly amused by the marshmellow decor which was made to resemble Rudolph’s nose.

This photo was taken by the Samsung Note 8.

I rue the day there was ever a photo of me using a Samsung device. We’re sworn enemies.

Being such an Apple fangirl, there was no way I’d ever be caught dead using an Android.

But I guess that’s about to change… 🙂

The Mixologist of the night was so gracious to come over and say hi too.

She was super sweet and attentive to us as well.

Thank you Latz for your really cool cocktails! Keep it up

After a couple of shots around the beautifully decorated table, the main courses were already served before we knew it. We was served all four mains, which was great, because I was then able to feature all the mains of this specially crafted festive menu.

Staring hard at you my dinner.

Signature at The Roof’s Festive menu comes with a buffet of starters, soup, desserts, a carving station and a choice of one main course.

The Chef of the night, Danial Thorlby, had made the effort to come round our table to explain each and every one of his specially crafted dishes too.

Thank you, Chef Dan, for being so gracious and welcoming!

In the exact sequence of arrival, the first to be served was the Chargrilled Lobster.

Seeing how much I loved seafood, it was no surprise that this dish was one of my two favorite dishes of the night. This is probably something all Penangites can relate to. Our undying love for seafood.

The meat of the lobster, as the name depicts, was deliciously charred.

The dry heat imbued its meat with the taste of the natural juices seeping from the shell, giving off a smoky, more complex and caramelized flavour.

The interesting combination of veggies at the side was such a good accompaniment to the lobster as well.

The second dish was arguably my favorite of the lot. Clearly, Jessicat loves her fish. 😀 😀

It was the Pan-fried Codfish. The skin of cod was fried to a nicely golden brown – so crisp!

The flesh remained soft and tender beneath and seasoned to perfection. If I could eat Cod for every day of my life, I would. 😛

This dish also came served on a bed of creamy mashed potatos and clams at the side.

I gulped down this dish in a flash. Whoops – not sure if I left any for my date to enjoy. When it comes to fish, it’s mine. ALLLL MIIINNEEE. 😛

The third main course I tasted was the Chargrilled Ribeye Steak.

Meat lovers, you’re in for a treat! The steak was rich, juicy and full-flavoured.

It came as a surprise when it was served medium-well to well-done; just the way I liked it. They didn’t even have to ask!

Cross section. Yes, yes… I’m aware that the best way to eat steak is to have it medium-rare, but being squeamish to blood got me not opting for the latter. Oh and, I was also overjoyed when I saw Brussel sprouts amidst the two rounded slabs of Ribeye.

The mushrooms, broccolini and purple carrot were a fantastic pair to the steak as well.

The fourth main course selection which had me reeling was the Lamb Shank.

Now, being quite a lamb person, I was quick to dive headfirst into that dish.

It didn’t disappoint at all! The lamb, cooked in its own juices, rewarded me with the most succulent and meltingly tender bite to taste.

Also served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, it was paired with one of my favorite veggies of all – asparagus. The world needs to cave into more veggies, one asparagus at a time.

Oh, and don’t get me started on broccoli.

Was so satiated! Took a break from all the food and photos; headed over to the balcony for a breath of fresh air and the unparalleled view, amidst the breezy night sky.

By the time we came back, it was already time for dessert!

Apart from the above mains, the Dessert buffet also features a Christmas log cake, gingerbread house, festive tarts, mini cakes and many more!

Here’s what I managed to taste.

I was glad to have tasted all the four main courses and share my thoughts about them with you, in hopes that it will help you decide on your main course this festive season at Signature, The Roof.

Although I didn’t get to taste the starters, soup or carving station, I’m glad I didn’t as I was already so full to the brim after indulging in tonight’s palette pleasing dishes! 🙂

You can also head up to Stratosphere after dinner for an uninterrupted 360º view of the suburb!

So, if you’ve not made your Christmas or New Year’s Eve plans yet, you still can.

With such a modern garden interior boasting a cosy festive ambience and a sumptuous feast, what’s there not to love? Countdown to 2019 with their festive buffet overlooking a panoramic view of the city as you wine, dine and be merry in the spirit of this joyous season.

To all my Christian friends, here’s to wishing you a very jolly Christmas ahead!

And to the rest, Happy Holidays and have a wonderful New Year’s ahead. Feast and be merry!

Available on: 24th & 25th December

For more info: 03 8605 3388 | www.theroof.com.my

Opening Hours: Weekdays: 10am-10pm | Weekends: 4pm-10pm

Socials: SignatureAtTheRoof | fb.com/SignatureTheRoof

Address: Sky level, 1 First Avenue, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

So, where will you be celebrating New Year’s this 2019? 🙂

Fast-forward to 2018, you are reading my thoughts via a brightly-lit screen on the verge of ruining your eyesight. And no, I didn’t write this. But clearly, I typed it.

It often dawned upon me that the novelty of personally dedicating a handwritten note or a card to a loved one has long dissipated with the times. Have we all forgotten the meaning or significance it carried? How far has technology brought us off the beaten track?

As a writer, I’ve always been propagating the importance of personal touch in every gift or gesture… and that can be achieved with your good ol’ friends – the pen and paper. In line with my personal conquest, I was glad that The Techy Hub & The Inkredibles invited me to their launch event, aptly named ‘Relive the Print’.

Read on to find out who I sent postcards to!

It was a lovely Sunday afternoon when I made my way to the event. Colorful balloons greeted me at their entrance!

It was no surprise that the walls of the walkway leading towards the event was decked with origami/art & craft with white paper.

I received a wonderful (and heavy!) surprise gift the moment I walked in.

Inside, I was enthralled! A huge arch stood tall indoors – fully made of paper planes! (Yes, the same ones you used to make in school and throw them around the classroom when the teachers’ aren’t looking!)

You will see it in the video later as you read on.

There was also an impressive collection of notebooks, journals, postcards, greeting cards, tutorial books, wire-bound notebooks, sticker books and so much more on display!

I know one of my besties, Anis, will reel in delight if she sees this. She’s a notebook hoarder!

There was a photobooth that prints out photos too! (They fully DIY-ed the machine). That’s Kurwin and I. He’s their digital marketing guy – super techy & awesome at what he does!

I had my fair share of fun.

So glad I got to take the prints home!

Did you know that Letterpress/Relief/Typographic printing is the oldest form of traditional printing techniques? I had the chance to stamp my very own blank notebook with letterpress!

Unleashing my inner Picasso with these tools of the trade!

It’s been so long since I’ve last drawn, painted, sketched, doodled and created something.

I remember I used to be so immersed into Arts & Crafts back in Elementary & High School, that I would get A’s for the ‘Pendidikan Seni’ subject. Before I started to earn my own money, I used to write poems, letters and hand-make my own gifts for my (then) love interests, as opposed to buying gifts off a shelf in a commercialized store.

In fact, I still have my handwritten poetry and photos of my artwork & cardboard crafts, as I always snapped a proud photo of it before I gifted them away. (Maybe I’ll show you, if you guys are interested!)

From 3-dimensional cards to perforated books containing amazing surprises, print will no longer be a dying art, as long as The Inkredibles are concerned.

Check out the short video I made!

These creative minds even DIY-ed a post box that looked EXACTLY like the real ones on our Malaysian streets! :O

The very moment I saw that, I knew this was my chance to send out handwritten postcards to my loved ones & closest friends. So here goes…

Ready, set, go! But without practice, I believe the aesthetics of my handwriting would have long gone to the deep dark corners of the earth.

I was given options to select my favorite photos from my iPhone and have it printed as a postcard, or choose from their quirky designs. Obviously, I chose both!

Apart from the fact that the lack of practice had cramped up my fingers & palms after 45 minutes of non-stop writing, the joy of being able to write something personal for my nearest & dearest felt like no other!

It’s a wonder how we used to sit for 2.5 hour examinations back in school where we did nothing but write and write and write for the entire duration.

I think I made, printed and wrote about 10 postcards!

I can’t wait to see the joy on their faces!

They actually caught me in action just as I was about to drop off my postcards!

Thank you for an eye-opening experience, folks!

I’m all for supporting your cause – re-instilling the true meaning of connection through print.

From personalized gifts to quirky stationeries, The Inkredibles aim to bring back the nostalgia of flipping through physical pages of books. Be Inkredible, bring their products along on your adventures, craft new stories and create new memories with them!

Details & Contact Information below:

Official Website & Online Shop: www.TheInkredibles.com

Facebook Page: @theinkrediblesmy

Instagram: @theinkrediblesmy

Note: This post was supposed to be published in June 2016 (last year!) but it got stuck in my drafts and never saw the light of day! 

So let’s begin. As most of you all know, I’ve been a redhead for the longest time.

The moment I graduated from high school, it was the day where I no longer had to stick to the confines of being black-haired, as the school rules dictated. So, ever since I was 17 years old until well… just before today, I keep turning myself into a redhead with every visit.

Old photo of me circa 2012

Back then, I refused to let any of my hair sponsors dye my hair with any other colour.

Yup – only bright, crimson red. And nothing else. 

Read on, to see how a redhead turned brown for the first time!

Having red hair was my signature; almost like a trademark of TheJessicat. That red-haired blogger, where all my friends fondly refer to. But as I grew up, those angsty flames that were my full head of red gradually toned down to ombre red instead.

Yes mom and dad, I do realise you can’t really take a 27 year old adult seriously in a corporate working environment if they have a full head of red hair.

LOL. To think that I would never change my hair colour in a million years – that remark sure sounded like a long time ago.

And now, today, those million years have long gone and I’m now a brown-haired girl.

I know brown is a relatively common colour. But Davis of The Scissors Palace gave me a fresh, chestnut brown cascading down to purple – that I absolutely adored.

Here’s how my very first brown-haired experience went…

You can still see my red ombre tail here!

We started with a consultation, with Davis the Hair Ninja.

If you didn’t already know, Davis is one of the most popular local celebrity hairstylists as he has worked with many well-established and famous celebrities, commercial shoots, brands & magazines. His portfolio include Men’s Health Magazine, Harpers Bazaar and Hanger, to the likes of styling local personalities such as Sazzy Falak, Yasmin Hani, Azrel Ismail, Azwan Ali, and Joey G, to name a few.

Also, he recently made the list of Top 100 most Influencial Entrepreneur of the Year 2016. Congrats! 

But when Davis isn’t busy being glamorous, he can be found being super hands-on in his very own salon. 

Go catch him if you can!

You know how almost every customer requests for everything under the sun in hopes of the hair stylists to conjure magic for their hair, just like the glamorous crowning glories we see in those glossy pages of fashion magazines?

Davis very professionally burst my bubble when I wanted the impossible – especially when I didn’t know what’s actually good or damaging to my hair in the long run! I also wanted back my short bangs, but he very confidently told me to trust him and to do away with the bangs for once.

I agreed and let him work his magic 🙂

A wash + head massage; imperative before any hair service

His accomplices, the young padawans, Jayden & Daniel assisted with the dyeing.

They were such a fun & friendly bunch! I had a superb time chatting with them.

But they weren’t the only companions I had while waiting for the colour to set in…

Have you met… Davis’ beautiful white, fluffy cat, named Princess? 🙂

After washing & blow drying, it was now time to pass the baton back to Davis to cut & style it.

He also put a purple dye on my ends!

In case anybody doesn’t know, Davis has just opened up a branch in Penang too, dear homies!

The salon’s name is HEADLINES and its located in Butterworth.

Here he is, giving my hair voluminous curls with a huge barrel tong

Looking serious with his tools of the trade.

I was so excited to what the outcome would be, that I did not realize that I was already running slightly late for the MARKies Awards 2016. Here’s a quick selfie the very moment it was done.

To save the best for last, Davis came out in time to help me take a much clearer photo of the results.

I was amazed – haven’t gotten my hair this glam in a long time! 

Loved how the chestnut brown turned out and cascading into purple.

Thank you for bringing life to my hair again, Davis!

Davis’ professionalism & pleasant nature makes him such a joy to be around. No wonder the celebrities who turn to him for their hairdo, keep coming back!

Also, i’ve made a short video on the highlights of my session at The Scissors Palace.

You know what’s cool about this video? The fact that all the footages were filmed by chance as I had accidentally left my Live Photos turned on in my iPhone. Little did I know that I would end up with so many footages to make a little video compilation! Enjoy 🙂

And that’s a wrap! Thank you for making my hair look beautiful. So glad I dropped by the afternoon before the MARKies Awards 2016. It was indeed of perfect timing.

Oh and, Davis has just launched a new branch in Kepong too. Visit him there!

Oh and last but not least, don’t forget to say hi to Princess the cat for me if you’re in Hartamas! 😛

For more info about The Scissors Palace:

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/scissorspalacehairsalon (You can PM the page for appointments!)

Contact number: 03-6203 1810 / 011-1260 2428

Opening hours: 10am – 10pm

Address:

• Hartamas branch: No. 1, Plaza Prima Villa, Jalan 19/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur
• Kepong branch: 3-7A, Jalan Desa 2/2, Desa Aman Puri, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Penang branch: 6, Lorong Tanjung Aman 2, Taman Tanjung Aman, Butterworth, Malaysia

Ciao! It’s not often that one gets to enjoy work and passion in the same session, but at the stroke of luck, fate and a little bit of pixie dust, today happened to be one of them! 🙂

I was working on an important beauty & wellness project by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in collaboration with Bologna Fiere and Cosmetica Italia, called the Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna Presentation Kuala Lumpur. Although we started working on it on a short notice and within a tight timeline, I’m glad we all managed to pull things together for a great day.

Joanna, Shini & Myself at the foyer of the Malaya Room, just before the seminar began.

This presentation was held prelude to the world’s biggest international trade show for the beauty industry – Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2018, from 15 – 19 March in Bologna, Italy.

Read on, if you’re keen to fly yourself to the land of pasta, pizza, olive oil and high fashion! 

Managed to snap a picture of my outfit just before I entered the venue, The Westin Kuala Lumpur

White blazer & black stilettos from H&M | Black blouse from Sally Fashion

Leopard print high waisted skirt from River Island | Bag from Michael Korrs

It was held for the first time in Malaysia to help beauty brands around the world to boost their businesses and achieve greater visibility abroad!

Best part is? It’s in support of MATRADE (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation). Way to go!

I was helping out at the counter for our guestlist of beauty industry experts & media!

At the request of my team mate & close friend Joanna, who hated her candid facial expression,

I replaced her with a cute cuppa 8 bit coffee 🙂 Hey!

In all seriousness, for over 50 years, Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna is the world’s leading trade fair and 360° worldwide event dedicated to all the sectors of the professional beauty sector and international platform for the cosmetics and wellness industry.

From perfumery & cosmetics, natural products, nails, raw materials, hairdressing & salon, packaging, machinery, beauty & spa – you name it. They’ve got it!

Our Italian Trade Commissioner, Dr. Samuele Porsia, and our Ambassador of the Embassy of Italy, H.E Cristiano Maggipinto, welcomed all the guests & media as early as 10.30am with an introductory speech and light banter.

“Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna is the only exhibition in the world where more than 2,500 companies coming from 69 countries and 250,000 professionals of the beauty industry develop new business relationships.

The show collects the beauty industry under one roof, and the international appeal of this exhibition is recognized by the whole beauty industry. We are glad to have the support from MATRADE in this presentation,”

said Dr Samuel Porsia, Italian Trade Commissioner of Kuala Lumpur during his opening remarks.

When all the formalities were over, here comes the part that everyone has been waiting to learn from!

The International Marketing Manager of Cosmoprof, Mr. Mattia Miglio himself introduced and presented all the whats, wheres, whys, whos and hows of Cosmoprof Worldwide in Bologna, Italy.

“Following a process started in the past editions, Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2018 will continue its evolution to a “tailor-made” event, thanks to a clearer diversification for areas and initiatives according to the professional profile of our visitors. Exports to Europe and issues on taxes are also dealt with for smooth operation,”

said Mattia.

His presentation was indeed valuable for the beauty industry, professionals and trade businesses to promote the export and import of cosmetics and beauty products!

More importantly for SMEs (Small Medium Enterprise) to pay attention to, The Director of Lifestyle, Life Science & Medical Devices and Pharmaceutical Section of MATRADE, Mr. Abu Bakar Yusof also shared how one can go global with MATRADE.

He also announced that MATRADE will look into considerations to build a Malaysia Pavilion at Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna in 2019 to leverage greater opportunity for Malaysian business to tap the European market through Italy.

For OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to take note of, Puan Mawarni Hassan from FMM Malaysia Cosmetics & Toiletries Industry Group (FMM-MCTIG) spoke about the Halal Perspective in terms of OEM manufacturing.

The term “halal,” as it applies to cosmetics, simply means products that have been manufactured, produced and composed of ingredients permissible under Islamic Sharia law.

The advantages of being in Malaysia is that obtaining a Halal certificate for Malaysian beauty skincare is much easier than those in non-Muslim countries too!

The final presentation of the day was by Dr Baskaran Kosthi, President of the Malaysia Association of Wellness & Spa (MAWSPA)

He shared MAWSPA’s plans to brand our own Malaysian Massage known as Urutan Malaysia. They have finally combined a Massage technique

With Malaysia being a multi-cultural country, they have finally stirred the melting pot and concocted a massage technique that truly represents Malaysia, and will be launching & promoting Urutan Malaysia in the international market!

Fun Fact:

Italian exports of cosmetics to Malaysia amounted to EUR 8.1 million in 2016, making Malaysia the 57^th largest importer of Italian cosmetics (out of 177 countries considered by the Italian National Institute for Statistics). In particular relevance are the Italian exports of perfumes, which in 2016 registered a growth of 5% compared to 2015 and amounted to 35% of the total value of Italian exports of cosmetics to Malaysia, with brands like Prada, Versace and Bvlgari.

Moreover, in 2016, imports of cosmetics from Malaysia reached EUR 1.6 million, with a 326% increase compared to 2015 which strengthened the already sizeable trade between the two countries in the sector and made Italy a more important destination of Malaysian cosmetic products.

Guests looking through the brochures provided for more information

Cosmoprof is not only in Bologna, but also in Las Vegas, Hong Kong and, from 2018, Mumbai.

Cosmoprof has signed joint venture agreements with international organisations to create new top-level trade fairs throughout the world, a testament to the company’s internationalisation strategy: Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna, Cosmoprof Asia (Hong Kong), Cosmoprof North America (Las Vegas) and Cosmoprof India (Mumbai).

The Cosmoprof network today is a huge global community, made of:

• 6,600 beauty companies from 160 countries
• Over 360,000 professionals from all over the world
• $70 million of total revenues in 2016

After the Q&A session, it was time for lunch!

I’m pretty sure the VIPs, media & guests enjoyed the buffet. I sure did!

Being an Italian event, I wasn’t surprised that the spread was relatively inclined towards the likes of the Italian cuisine as well. Thank you for the amazing food! We particularly loved the Beef Lasagne and the Smoked Salmon.

One of the many Stories I posted on Instagram during the event

It was indeed a fruitful session, and I’m glad my guests found it inspiring and informative!

If the above hasn’t convinced you yet, here are 10 REASONS TO TAKE PART IN COSMOPROF WORLDWIDE IN BOLOGNA, ITALY 

1. Cosmoprof is the leading B2B platform on the international beauty scene for industry professionals and operators.

2. The only event to gather together all sectors of the beauty industry under one roof.

3. An international hub that brings together all the relevant distribution channels, from the retail market to trade professionals and digital.

4. A meeting place for professionals and decision makers where developing business, creating new partnerships and keeping update on the latest trends in the beauty world.

5. To take advantage of Cosmoprof brand awareness, equity and knowledge internationally, developed over 50 years in the beauty industry.

6. To find new market niches and new trends.

7. To build relationships with the exhibitors, your prime potential suppliers/clients.

8. To meet high profile buyers from the major emerging markets.

9. To communicate with press, television, web.

10. To benefit from a strong marketing and communication plan before, during and after the events.

The 51st edition of Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna will take place in Bologna Fair District, Italy from 15th – 19th March 2018. Head over to their official website, Facebook page or Instagram page to stay updated!

Keen to join? Get in touch with them at:

• General Enquiries: info@cosmoprof.it
• Visitors Information: visitors@cosmoprof.it
• Buyers & Distributors Information: buyers@cosmoprof.com
• Exhibitor Information: exhibitors.secretariat@cosmoprof.it

See you there! Or will I? 

Hi guys! How’s it going?

Popping in to share my thoughts on a recent situation and habit I’ve decided to adopt.

I’ve been toying around with the idea of taking public transportation every day for work, to and fro. But alas, this thought never came to fruition. Whether it was procrastination, or being so pampered by the convenience of my car and ride sharing services, I simply never got round to it.

So last week, it finally happened.

Read on, to find out how this public transport newbie survived her first week!

What drove me to actually drag my groggy self out of bed earlier than usual to embark on a new journey of public transportation was this: The new exorbitant parking rates of my office building.

Given that I now work right in the heart of the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur,  the price tag of practically everything there should be sky-high, as expected. Expected, but not acceptable. Not to me at least.

Anyone who now parks in my office building is to pay RM20 upon entry. However, people who work there (like myself) can get an RM5 rebate off their RM20 at the end of the day. This process is slightly troublesome to me, as I’ll have to pay RM20 at the guardhouse daily, get it validated at the lobby upstairs and remember to collect my RM5 back when I exit (sometimes the guards even run out of small change)

What about season passes, you ask? Same price. A flat rate of RM300 per month.

Ergo, to spend RM300 from my salary solely on parking, wasn’t exactly up my alley. On top of that, was the issue of costly fuel consumption. The traffic gridlock during the rush hour – about 1 hour’s drive – had also been burning my fuel faster than a speeding bullet.

What could be a more feasible alternative?

And that’s when public transportation hit me. 

So why didn’t I think of it earlier?

Growing up in Penang, I never really had the chance to take any mode of public transportation. Dad hired a driver to take me to school and tuition classes. Right out of high school, I got my very first car to drive to college & university.

I never really understood what it meant when my friends used to say:

“Ok I’m leaving the house now. See you in about 1.5 – 2 hours”.

I’ll be like, What? Do you live 180km away? Only then I stop and think: Ohh… public transport. 

So for the most of my life, the thought of public transport never really crossed my mind, until I realized how much money and time I’ve been spending caught in the jam and paying expensive fuel & city parking prices. I could do so much more with that money!

There were no more excuses – I even have a train station right in front of my place of residence! Heck, it was the train station – amongst other factors – that convinced me to purchase this condominium in the first place. So why wasn’t I maximising its facilities? 

Perhaps the mere thought of thronging through the (sweaty) crowd with their arms raised (read: exposing their underarms directly towards my nostrils in full glory) during peak hours could very well be the bane of my life. And doing it in flat shoes, no less. Also, horror stories of getting pick-pocketed or molested in a packed bus/train.

So yes, I take the KTM and the LRT to work and back every day now.  It really was an eye-opening experience.

Here are some photos to encapsulate my public transport excursion!

Don’t ask me why I use two cards.

I think I got overzealous with the whole new idea, so I bought an extra card.

And another one 😛

I always, always take the stairs. Up and down.

Also, I head off straight to our new F&B business – The Desi Lab – almost every day with the LRT train too.

Things I learned and noticed while taking the KTM & LRT every day:

Sometimes, I encounter people like this.

Other times, my rides are usually rather zen.

Clearly, the advantages outweigh the downsides. The only disadvantage is probably waking up a little earlier and potential train operational failures/technical difficulties. Then again, to be fair, your car can break down too. 

The 10 major plus points I observed while taking public transportation in KL are:

1. I get to burn extra calories power walking and standing for an hour
2. In time for coffee runs in the morning and never running late for work
3. It’s so cheap! So much money saved!
4. People don’t line up. They need to be high-fived in the face with a chair.
5. I get to observe people from all walks of life
6. Chances to identify opportunities for advertising or what society could potentially benefit from
7. No creeps. Everyone was very civil.
8. I arrive work/home in less the amount of time being stuck in a jam
9. My feet hurt. I need new walking shoes.
10. I stink by the end of the day. If only I could carry a portable shower in my handbag

It was the first time I could actually smell myself. And then I learned how not to judge people with body odour. Trust me on this, you can’t help it when you’re walking for miles and sweating in the hot sun every day. 

Not everyone has the privilege to arrive all puffed and powdered in the comfort of air conditioning, or the luxury of being ferried to and fro everywhere they go.

Maybe if you take more public transport and save all the monies, you will get there.

A little goes a long way, hey? 

Thank you KTM Komuter Malaysia and RapidKL LRT for making Kuala Lumpur a better place for locals and foreigners alike! 

Saving money and congested roads one day at a time.

Edit: I got new walking shoes just yesterday from Skechers Malaysia! 

And they’re comfy AF.

Also, new best friends for my ride!

Yes, I know. In my last post, I wrote about my return but I went missing in action again for 3 months.

Guilty as charged! But hey, I’m still active on all my social channels – Facebook & Instagram primarily.

Pretty sure you know what I’ve been up to every day as I’ve divulged in my last post, but there’s another side project that recently kept me busy and working round the clock at night.

Read on to find out what they are and also my experience with the team at The Techy Hub!

Along with my day job, I am now moonlighting as an editor of a popular Chinese action-adventure novel, 纪元黎明. For my non-Chinese readers out there, it’s entitled ‘Epoch of Twilight’. Support us here!

I’m also working on a brand new novel, that arrived fresh off the boat the author’s hands in China. Can’t reveal the title yet though, as the NDA forms I’ve signed said so.

Before your jaws drop wondering how I’ve picked up Mandarin overnight, let me stop you right there. You are right – I can neither read or write Mandarin characters, let alone pen a story. The original text, obviously in Mandarin, has been loosely translated into English by a team of translators before it arrives my desk. My role is to edit all aspects of the story; be it spelling, grammar, syntax, fluidity, inconsistencies, expression, and etcetera, to perfection.

But hey, that’s not the point of this post today.

Just wanted to share with you the reason for my absence from this blog, for the umpteenth time. Why does something always come up? Where were we? Yes, the new facelift for this blog!

It used to look like this:

Much credit goes to my previous web & blog design sponsors! 

I used to love that blog design so much because that definitely represented who I was.

But after several years, I’ve grown up so much and now…. this blog grew up with me.

What you’re looking at now is an almost complete overhaul of TheJessicat.com!

Thanks to the folks at The Techy Hub, this transition from the old layout & skin to the brand new look & feel was seamless and made wonderfully possible.

I even got a new logo!

They were amazing to work with! From someone who only knew the basics of HTML, CSS and Flash from my Computer Studies 101 class I took back in college (Thanks, Shen Hoei!), I didn’t know the complexities of blog designing & the development behind it.

Me every day during that class.

I’d choose Add Math & Physics classes anytime over this, please!

From the ideation, the layout, the widgets, the artwork, the codes, the functions & features, the scripts, the SEO, and all the tech-talk I had to deal with for about a month with my ever-so-awesome, nice and patient tech guy who serviced me in this project.

Heck, if it was all Greek to me, it certainly made him spin in circles even more so. Trying to get me to fully understand the jargon has proven to be an uphill task

The Techy Hub really provided such excellent service and I must applaud them for their efforts to put it as plainly as possible for me to comprehend it in layman terms.

He was so patient with me, and even recorded his screen and voiceover-ed it so I didn’t need to have a hard time attempting to understand what he was trying to say. Allow me to share how a conversation between a techy person and someone of inferior knowledge of coding looks like.

I still didn’t understand

Oh acronyms….

Malware? Panic Mechanic time.

Plugin talk

Backlinks… crosslinks… crosseyed.

We brainstormed suitable designs and themes that would fit my current personality.

Yes, it’s astonishing how much I’ve changed so much over the last few years – no longer that wild, party girl with the red head anymore. So much has happened over the last 3 years that I’ll be happy to share, but that’s another story

Changes are inevitable. Embrace it.

Ergo, as an extension of myself, this blog had to undergo a makeover too LOL.

I hope you like it just as much as I do, but feel free to comment if there’s anything you think the page would benefit from, whether visually or functionally! I’m open to opinions.

But be nice

Oh and, since it’s still the holy month, I’d like to take this chance to wish all fellow brothers and sisters a very blessed Ramadan!

Ramadan Mubarak from bae and I 

May your fasting and deeds be accepted, your hearts be transformed, and your prayers draw you closer to our Creator. And may He forgive your sins, purify & strengthen your souls, protect you, and keep you on the straight path.

I’ve missed you. After a 9 month (labour, LOL) hiatus from my precious space – TheJessicat.com – a new blog is born. How’d you like the new look of it? 

In case you’ve forgotten how this blog used to look like, here it is!

But first! Before I go into the details of this brand new, revamped blog that you’re looking at, I think I owe you – my dearest readers – an explanation on why I totally went missing in action on you.

Read on to find out what I’ve been up to! 🙂

Honestly, when people asked me why I’ve not been blogging, the last thing I would ever want to say is that I “stopped blogging”, simply because I didn’t.

Call it a hiatus, a sabbatical, a break, call it anything you wish, because I wouldn’t quit for the world.

For the life of me, I wouldn’t ever, even if I ever had to! 

Keep your head high, and focus on the things that are aligned with your life goals.

In all honesty, I’ve just been steadfastly focusing on my career & life goals. #TypicalAsian #Overachiever

Right now at my age, and blessed at exactly where I want to be in this stage of life (praise be to God), I can now loosen the reins a tad bit, and return to doing the things that make me truly happy – blogging included.

So for the last 9 months, when my work-life balance began to spiral out of its ideal ratio, the hobbies that matter to me started to take the backseat and in time, was replaced by the dire need to work and sleep. Ergo, blogging, gym training, healthy cooking almost vanished from my routine.

But after 9 months being away from the blog, I’m back and I’m here to stay!

Allow me to also take this chance to share a few monumental updates in my life in this exact order:

1. Bought a property of my own! A cosy 2-bedroom condominium in Kuala Lumpur
2. Got offered a new position in a European digital & social media agency
3. Filled my heart with a new faith, strengthened my core values/beliefs and spiritual path
4. Got myself a GoPro (Yeah it’s no drone or something more epic, but hey, I’m really so happy!)
5. Finally undergone CO2 fractional laser for the old teenage acne scars on my face – will blog about this!
6. Put my fears of entrepreneurship aside, and became a business owner of a small restaurant

That’s all!

The next life goal and entry in my bucket list will be travelling to another continent and owning a new mean machine, preferably a convertible sports car (God willing). Yasss, a girl can always dream.

Been also shopping for new clothes of course. That goes without saying!

Bardot top from Zalora Malaysia, by Something Borrowed

Acid-washed jeans by H&M

Cross-strapped chunky heels by Charles & Keith

Bag by Burberry

Till then, will write all about the experience working with my blog-revamp sponsors in my next blog post.

There’s a funny story behind it… but most importantly, they’re really awesome and I feel really lucky to be hand-picked by them to undergo this change. Full story coming up soon!

Finally, to end this post, I’d like to say a very big thank you to all my advertisers, ultimately, for your patience.

I truly apologize  for not being able to keep up with the demands over the last 9 months when I was away from this blog and for all the sponsored content, products and services that you’ve been so kind to shower me with.

Hold on just a little bit more, and I promise I’ll be back on schedule!