By now, we all have heard of xiaomi. If you haven’t, you will know. You may check out their website here at www.mi.com.my

So, two months ago, i’ve posted about my new baby rosy (note 3) which is my personal phone and then I was using my old s3 as my work phone which ended up with issues. (it kept restarting by itself non-stop like it’s on loop) so i couldn’t do much work. Hence decided to sell it off and get a cheaper decent phone. I was actually looking at the asus zen5 or zen6 which was cheaper and also decent enough. Until one day i say xiaomi’s ad on Facebook and just randomly clicked knowing the mi3 is out of my budget cz it’s at least 769MYR. but, when i went into the website i saw that they actually had the redmi note at only 509. no joke!

So i started looking at the specs, checking our reviews everywhere and even on youtube comparison and etc etc. Even asked my friends who had the mi3. So on Hari Raya they had their opening sales which usually [apparently] 5000 units will be sold out within minutes or even seconds! So i decided to give it a shot.

well, I WAS DAMN LUCKY! Actually when i was reading up some reviews they had some trick to do it quick. You have to pre-sign in earlier and make sure you’re on the page. And start refreshing 5 minutes before the opening time. cause who knows your clock may be later. LOL. And while i was refreshing i was just staring at the “out of stock” button. Once it changed to “add to cart” i quickly clicked it. And oh yea. i wrote all my details onto notes then i just copy paste into the form. LOL.YES I BOUGHT IT. 

Okay, anywhere. Here is the review.

So asides having the brand name, it has an 8 core processor at 1.75GHz and other technical stuff that apparently is just faster than a cheap phone.

The battery capacity is 3100mAh.

Now, some people have asked me why didn’t i get the mi3. Asides the budget, it’s also the size and the battery. I guess after you are using a note3, any other phone smaller would just look small.

So the redmi Note comes in
5.5inch display
IPS by the whole assembly process
1280×720
multitouch

 

see a comparison between note3 and redmi note

It runs on Android optimised with MIUI [Miui is amazing. I think i'll need another post about just that]

Full Specs of the Redmi Note

Now, what are my thoughts about it?

1. I was damn excited and i was waiting for it the whole week. It took 5 working days to arrive to me despite the Hari Raya holidays. well, Chinese don’t really bother about Hari Raya and no holiday for them right?

2. It reminded me of my iPhone 3gs. The plastic back cover along with the curvy edges. And yes, the removable back cover is a plus point.

3. I like the over MIUI system. It’s like iOS combined with Android. you could see in the image above how the redminote arrangement and the apps and theme format is like the iPhone. Where you can place widgets like the Android.

4. The no home screen button (replaced with a touch button) is very different to me. Interested indeed.

5. It has a very nice grip and the resolution of the screen is amazing.

6. I wouldn’t say this is an AMAZING phone and start telling you what special features it can do. But i can say “it’s like an iPhone, just bigger and cheaper“. So what is it that you are looking for in a phone? If you want all those fancy stuff like air gesture or smart stay or hologram or finger print scanning or air command and all that, you better stick with samsung. But ask yourself, how often do you actually use those?

7. Battery life is amazing. Despite it being my WORK PHONE. from 9am till 7pm i still have 50% battery after whole day of texting, calling, what sapping and internet browsing as well. (see comparison below)

See how the display of the theme and apps are? Like iPhone right? LOL. Well, I took this screenshot at 11.33pm at night as you can see. And see the green line above? That tiny green horizontal line. That’s my battery bar. LOL. So you can see it shows about 50% or maybe more. Could be like 55%. You can have the option of having the standard battery icon with the percentage. But this was different. LOL.

Even with the note3’s extra 100mAh at 3200mAh, at the end of the day, 11.33pm at night, i only have 16% left of battery usage. Wel, previously i thought even having 16% was amazing enough. But now the redmi wins. This is also because samsung has a lot of features like air command, air gesture, motion gestures and all those, If you turn those off the battery wouldn’t be used up so quickly as well. (extra tip for you)

The thickness of the phone isn’t too bad. It weighs 199g and has a depth of 9.4mm

I’ve got a colleague who actually asked me “eh? Can use in malaysia meh?” cause she thought that xiaomi’s phone being a china phone would be in chinese and there wouldn’t be any english or it would be insufficient. but no she’s not. So her question might come across some of your minds. It’s the same as any android or iOS phones. it runs on google play store. cause it is actually on ANDROID, it’s just that the default theme is modified.

Many people have also asked me “eh! Nice to use ar?” My answer? yes, and it’s sufficient enough for a phone compared to many others. I haven’t even gone through the camera as well. having it at 13mp back and 5mp front? That’s 5megapixel for selfie!! my note3 is only like 1.9 or 2mp for the front. So like i said previously, if you’re not looking for air gesture or whatever function then why not? You could even get this for your younger sister or your parents.

So what do you think? If you have any questions feel free to ask. :)

Two months ago i reviewed a local Malaysian brand Covo Cosmetics on their Timeless Eyeshadow Palette. You may check it out here. Remember i mentioned about Julie Wong, the brand creator of Covo? She ACTUALLY emailed me two weeks ago to thank my review and invited me to meet up personally. I was so happy and thrilled but at the same time didn’t want to put in too much hope into it. later kena ffk or email conversation was a auto/one way response kind.

But…

Nope. Not fake.

I managed to meet up with her at the One Utama Covo Cosmetics counter and even though it was a short meet up. I felt like I really got to know her and it was such a great experience. First time I’ve ever gotten the chance to be so up, close and personal with someone who has been such a long way and successful.

She has introduced me more about Covo and some of the products which I will review later on. :)

yes. I’m feeling all the good luck coming in. :D

Not everyone is as fortunate as you and me. There are many children in the world that are underprivileged with nobody to help. Children are the innocents, and sometimes, they can’t help themselves. You can’t expect them to start working and be business people or study smart with nobody to guide them. They have not even develop their knowledge well enough. SO many of them are left uneducated and not knowing the bigger world out there.

Amante Nail Spa & Body Care will be hosting a one day charity fair on the 7th September 2014 (Sunday. yay!) from 10am to 6pm. Who is the charity for? GOOD SAMARITAN HOME – a non-profit community to help out the poor and needy children since 1999.

Amante’s mission of the day is to raise RM80,000 to help the children achieve a better future and 25% sales proceed will go to Good Samaritan Home.

Show your support to Amante Charity Fair which will happen :

Date : 7th September

Time : 10am to 6pm

Venue : Amante Nail Spa & body Care, Kota Damansara @ Sunway
Level L3, Central Park – Car Park (Multiparking ) No. 3-03, Jalan PJU 5/13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Telephone number : 03 6141 7613 / 018 285 5244

Come and join us. It doesn’t hurt to help out just a little bit. You don’t need to be a millionaire to help.

Dad use to tell me about this aunty selling duck at the roadsife in Taman Mayang. But I never really gotten the chance to try it out cause
1. Timing (im usually at work during weekdays and out during weekends)
2. Company (I use to be alone so I camt be buying a duck and eating a whole myself in my room with my soap dramas right?)

So one weekend i've decided to buy half a chicken. 

So this is the stall. Thats it. This old lady will be chopping ducks in pieces for you in halves or wholes if you want it. Imagine this poor old lady in her 70s / 80s doing this everyday.
Everyday she will come at 2.30pm and start chopping and selling till 6pm or 7pm until she runs out of duck.

This roast duck is soooo good. I totally recommend it.

It might look a little dodgy and dusty being at the roadside and open air and all that. With all the haze and dust and all. But thats not the only food open aired. So if you are picky? Then im sorry this aint for you.

Chopping my half duck.

She does a very neat and nice job too. Wrapping them up for easy disposal.

The duck was amazing. We bought half a duck, and I think I gobbled up 80% of it. LOL.

If you are into it. You should give it a try.

Pricing
RM19 half duck.
RM38 whole duck.
(Not expensive right?? Outside whole duck also cost up to RM50)

Opens 2.3ppm till 6-7pm till duck finishes.

This took me a while to actually think about what to write for this. I know i could easily just come up with anything within a minute and write something, but this time i really took a deep breathe and a few moments to really figure out and wonder about this whole self-awareness campaign “Who is the best of you?”

I used to be rebellious girl who does not give a shit of the world, or anything around me. Regardless if it is friends, university, school, teachers or even families to say. I once came to a point to wonder what life is all about and thinking about ending my life there and then feeling useless and pointless of my very own existence. I know this isn’t any big deal and most of the people out there would be thinking “oh! another emo girl”. Well, to you i may be, but to me, it is a big thing. Everything was just in my head and i couldn’t think straight.

Friends used to laugh and talk around me where I used to be the left-alone anti-social girl. I do not deny i have “friends” but how many would actually go out with me and have heart-to-heart session? Maybe because i was this rebellious girl who didn’t give a shit, i was different than all the other girls who wanted to laugh and talk and go out. They never bothered asking me, so i never bothered joining them. (typical girl next door story right?)

Fast forward to now and why I am bringing all the past back to my topic of “Who is the best of you?” There is two person. My father and My Fats (i don’t mean literally fats, but my boyfriend).

Thos who knew me would know how much this two person mean to me. I use to hate my dad and even ran away just cause i couldn’t stand him. But all this, he made me strong for who I am today. How i am picky with words and questions, how i speak, how i talk, how i think and even how i communicate. That is all because of him. I wasn’t always a daddy’s princess or a daddy’s little girl because he had never spoilt me. If not I would be living maybe in Solaris and driving a BMW already right?? But because of his strict disciplinary, I have became part of him. So i sometimes can be quite anal at certain think (Fats clearly understand this). Dad has told me “Life is a never ending journey of lessons”, we learn new things from the day we were born till the very day we die. He says “Well, we learn to walk, to talk, to laugh and to cry, and upon everything else, we even learn how to die right?”

The same as every other girl who says “my dad is my hero”, mine is extraordinary. I am proud to have him as my dad, and i hope one day, he would be proud of me as well. I go out meeting people and whenever i say his name, they all know him and start praising what a great man he is or how he has helped them, or someone they knew once upon a time. I hope, that one day, he would be able to go out and hearing from others how i am and he would be proud of me.

My fats, oh this fats, is someone who changed my world upside down. He was the reason, i went home more. He was a younger version of my dad, just maybe some of the personalities and opinions, he still has to grow. But when it comes to stubbornness and certain jokes. They are the same. They always say “Find a guy who is like your dad”, well, i found mine. When i met him 7 years ago, I have just left home for university, and to be honest and embarrassed, i did not go home for almost 9 months. It was because of him, I went home more, and learnt to communicate more and accept more things than being a rebellious b****. I learnt anger management, i learnt to be less grumpy and agitated (i still am now. just less).

Fats is also a very curious person, so i would always read up things, ask things and learn things so when he ask me I can answer him or explain to him. Because I want him to be proud of him and 7 years ago, i didn’t want to lose him. LOL. Had to fight with the other girls out there right? So how?? HAHAHAA.

I am who i am today, thanks to the both of them. I started my makeup obsessed because of fats, i started learning up more because of fats also. My strength is them, my weakness is also them.

I improve myself everyday in every different aspect because of them. They are the one who brought the best out of me. So who brings the best out of you? Who pushes you to be the best or has inspired you in certain things or ways that you didn’t realised it. Even the smallest things matters.

I only have ONE photo of fats and dad together. in these 7 years,. LOL need to take more.

So this is just a short writing of who is the best of me. So who is the best of you? Join this self-awareness campaign now to appreciate your accomplishments and people around you. AND, by joining us, you stand a chance to be at our exhibition at THE CURVE on the 28th October till the 2nd November. It is the many seemingly small (and often unnoticed) everyday actions that reflect the best of you, and are monumental and worth celebrating. If you take time out to reflect, you will find #thebestofyou

Find out more at http://the-best-of-you.com or athttp://www.facebook.com/JuliesTheBestOfYou

WHO IS THE BEST OF YOU?

This is a self-awareness movement (known as a campaign as well to some others) where one reflects on their-selves. How often would you actually sit down and do a self-reflection session? How many of you actually still keeps a diary the old-school way. (When i meant old school, I meant pen and paper kind, not digitally)

If you don’t, here is a chance for you to join this movement and be a better person.

Julie’s, the biscuit manufacturer who has since become a household staple for quality biscuits and snacks, wants the public to ask themselves the question: “Who is the best of you?”. The question is part of a movement that aims to promote personal affirmation within individuals and encourage people to recognize and celebrate the trials and tribulations that punctuates their lives.

Launched on 1 June 2014, ‘The Best of You’ movement aims to inspire its audience into taking the time to think about themselves and their personal experiences. In so doing, it hopes to further spur people to take stock of their lives and appreciate the circumstances that have brought out both the best in them, and the people around them in everyday settings.

Now, many would be lost, confused and be wondering “How would joining this help me be a better person? and how would any of what this girl is saying making sense?” some may even wonder what is the whole purpose and campaign of this.
It’s the same that goes to your worldwide HIV campaigns, Breast-Cancer campaigns and all that, you can’t prevent that, signing up your name, or liking an photo on Facebook and sharing it out DOES NOT help with any of these campaigns. WHY THEN?

When i meant liking and sharing on Facebook, I don’t mean those post where they do “Like this photo and BillGates will donate $1″ kind. That’s a whole different level.

In this generation, we are all connected digitally rather than socially. (I’m not saying that I’ve got an issue with that. LOL because i’m literally one of them)

So this is simple. Take some time out to just think what or who brought you to where you are today. Your achievements and your success and accomplishments for today, who has been there for you physically or mentally, who has changed you into a better person? Many of us take things for granted and this is something that would let us stop whatever we are doing and think about it to avoid taking things for granted and start appreciating and realising who it is that has been around us. It may not come to your mind now, but take some time to think about it.

This could be done in four different ways.

 

It could be someone who influence you, you may post a photo of them, or write a poem of them. If it isn’t someone, but more like something, then you can post it, like a photography, or design and arts. Or be it a video or music form.
First you gotta upload it online, photos can be on Facebook or Instagram, videos and music can be on Facebook or Youtube. Writing and testimonials can be on Facebook or your blog.

Don’t forget to #thebestofyou anywhere you upload them.

Once you have uploaded your story online, you gotta fill in the form at the website here atwww.the-best-of-you.com to complete your submission.

Submit your story now and share it out to your friends and families.

So it’s pretty easy once you understand how it works. So take some time off and join us.

You may also check out my story here. It’s not a big deal.

http://the-best-of-you.com/submissions/community-others/gwendolyn-malaysia/

Today, I’d be reviewing on a new palette.

The covo timeless eyeshadow palette. This retails at MYR145 but I bought it at a 50% sale. The Timeless eyeshadow palette comes in two different shade. “TRUE NUDE” and “VIBRANT”.

It is a collection of 14 versatile and timless shades handpicked to flatter any woman and almost any occasion. It has a mixual of both matte and shimmer colors. Highly pigmented ans enriched in vitamin E and minerals and other nourishing ingredients that improces your fine lines and wrinkles. (Thats what they say)

I purchased the TRUE NUDE palette because I would use that more than the vibrant colors. The vibrants color are pink, yellow, orange, purple and so on. Which I already have two colorful palettes. Each palette are the size of 1.05gm. So thats quite a standard size also. I hate those mini tiny 0.5gm or less palette. So not worth the money.

What attracted me wasnt the brand or the packaging or the shade color. But the saleslady was telling me that its minerals with vitamin E and its pigmented.  I didnt believe it at first because everyone tells you their stuff are pigmented. So swatched it. And OMGGGGG it wad so smooth and buttery and creamy and pigmented. It reminded me of urban decays formula and colors. (Well, nothing beats urband decay)

But this stuff was amazing. With that 50%, I was sold. LOL. I also bought a mascara for RM14 and waterproof eyelinear at RM17 for both 70% off. Will review those next time.

I know COVO isnt a very famous brand yet. But its founded and created by Julie Wong(local malaysian) and her commitment is to bring luxury cosmetics to consumers but at a friendlier price tag. Luxe for Less. Together with Kerrie Hess who is a brand illustrator based in paris, they aim to bring cutting edges and high standard beauty products (for vogue, tatler, chanel and others as well). So you can see the similarity illustrators with the brands as well.

New brands in the market are always interesting,  and especially when it is local, I tend to concern about their quality and they have to compete with the other bigger brand players out there. But to know and see, test and tried their products. Its amazing to see how good they are as well.

Back to the palette. Overall, I think it delivers very perfect. The packaging is slim and its not very chunky or heavy. Its magnetic though, and the downside of it is to have the chance of the palette opening up in ur makeup bag. But as long as you dont keep it lose in ur bag it shouldnt be a problem.  As I said earlier, the colors are damn pigmented. And they are easy to blend, and I used it together with an eye primer, the color has lasted me the whole day without smudging or disappearing. Removing the makeup isnt difficult as well, so I didnt have to rub and dig into my eyes.

Would I recommend it? Yes.
My rating overall for it? 7/10 stars.

Have any one of you tried any other covo cosmetics? What are your thoughts on local brands?

Yes, I have finally have my bangs back. After 4 years of side bangs froma request from fats. I have finally gone back to my bangs.

I had my hair done at number76. I know its not cheap, its not my usual hair salon. But one thing I can say is “professionalism”

They are so pro! See my hair straight away know what its been through. And I love how they werent pushy with their treatment or haircut ot rebonding or coloring or whatever. lemme tell you, my hair is bleached damage, color off and curly roots. Usually hair salons would try to persuade me to do something else other than a hair wash. And even after saying no many times they are still pushy. But what I like about them is that they werent pushy at all. #thumbsup

So are you ready for something big??

On monday afternoon,  we were invited to Astro Big Event at Hilton. I tell you one thing. I love Hilton. LOL

When we registered, we were required to pick one sticker out of four choices. And I picked the hashtag one cz im just obsessed with hashtags. LOL #hashtag

When I walked in I saw this. O_O. I do not really idolize chinese or hk actor or artist. Thanks to fats who always watch tvb and got me hooked up. Theres just something about this kid. LOL. Carol says he looks like fats. LOL!!! Maybe thats why.

Event was suppose to start at 3. But I arrived at 3.30pm and it still hasnt started. At about 3.45 near to 4, the doors opened and we went in. Sat next to the red carpet aisle. Then. …..

These three guys walked in. I was like omg wtf omg wtf omg wtf. LOL took my phone out. Texted fats with excitement and sent him this photo. LOL
Fats was suppose to be there too. But his senior wasnt nice enough to bring him. Hmph. Those u out there,  be nice to your juniors lah!

Yes we camwhored and took selfie and wefie while waiting. And because they had the instagram contest again. So im not gonna miss it this time.  The last astro event I missed it because I was down on battery with an empty powerbank and sighh..

And more photos

And more…

And also more…

Then show started.

That girl, shes great. Apparently she is the no 1 host in malaysia. Or at least no 1 in astro. Hahaha. She spoke canto,  mandarin and english loke a machine gun but u could hear every bullet clearly #jelly

Some random flower. LOL wait… not random flowers. .. four roses sitting on a table. LOL

After the show. We had buffet. Oh! Hilton buffet is good. Thumbs up!

And guess what. YES!!!! I won the instagram prize. LOL just a tbv buddyz . Nothing much.

My instagram event photo haul. LOL. Theres more. But I gave some to my colleague and some was given to me later on.

So this event is a private function for invited clients, agencies and VIP’s.

#gwenatwork

To my new readers, you wouldn’t know this. But I am a shoe-lover. BUT, i don’t just buy shoes for the sake of buying them. They are a few things I check off my list before actually paying for them.

Now, Jane Holli is in town, and how amazing is that? For those who do not know about her, here is a little something.

Jane Holli (a sister site of hishop.my) is an established ladies handbags and shoe brand in Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong. With over 25 years experience in the leather-crafting industry, Jane Holli sets itself apart with original and easy to match designs. It would be of uttermost pleasure to have you embrace the classic everyday wear pieces from Jane Holli by writing about them.

I went through their website, and i found a pair that i love.

The loafer design which is known as J Colby.

I love how all their designs have each different names for it. For example they have three different loafer designs and they gave different names such as J Anna, J Colby, J Maggie and etc. Interesting isn’t it?

Why would I pick the J Colby design as my choice? Because loafers are in now. They have been for a really long time, then they became “so-yesterday” and now it’s back in again. Well, what goes around comes around ain’t it? I would have usually go for heels and wedges and all that, but then it’s not just the design and the colour I look for but the quality and the durability of it as well. And, now I would actually think twice and carefully wonder if I would actually wear it.

I once went to Morocco, bought a pair of killer pair spiked studded royal purple pair of lace heels, I only wore it once. LOL. This is what i meant as practicality. Only buy if you will use it.

With this pair of J Colby, I can wear them to work, to events, from casual to formal it works well. What i love about it is that, it is leather. I learn my lesson to not buy PV or Plastic, they give your feet blisters and take like a million years to “break-in”. (Plastics don’t break in) I would prefer the white one, cause I just feel they are classy.

Now you can shop online for it too! at Janeholli.com.

AND!!! my dear readers, there is something in for you too! There is a RM20 cash Voucher offwith a minimum purchase of RM99.

Don’t forget to like and follow Jane Holli at

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneHolliMsia
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/janehollicom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janeholli
Instagram: http://instagram.com/janeholli