You can pretty much relate pregnancy with wrinkles, eye bags, dark circles and what comes with it. You don't have to wait after giving birth to your baby. Getting sleepless night during pregnancy is enough to make sure look like someone has punched you in the face the night before.

2nd trimester is definitely a slight challenging phase. Your baby starts to learn how to do somersault routine and other acrobatic moves in your belly. Not knowing when is daylight and night, they think your bedtime is their sunrise. Can't blame them cause it's always 'night time' in their world.

I've always been conscious about the way I look especially my skin. I hate plain H2O, hence my skin has that uneven tone, freckles built over time, dull skin, breakouts. Let alone fruits. I started to eat healthily, like really healthy, as I enter my 2nd trimester. I had to cause my blood count went lower every time during check ups, I have bad constipation problem for the past few weeks. So I changed my routine and it works. I can now poo happily but still, my skin needs the extra nutrient from a good skin care apart from the food I consume.

I waited patiently to invest in a good serum cause I know serum plays an important role in prepping your skin before applying your moisturiser or make ups. I have never spent more than a RM100 on skin care except for this time around.

Been eyeing on this brand for the longest time ever since I was in college but never had the $$$ to get it. But since I have a generous husband who spoil me on certain things in life, I can't say no. Hahaha.

It was on 50% discount during the MyCyberSale, I can't resist but to get it!. I love the texture that doesn't leave oily and sticky feeling. My skin is definitely smoother but it doesn't help to tackle the freckles much. But I know it's not easy to remove freckles permanently.

So what is this product all about?
Elixir 7.9, with 7 plants and 9 anti-aging patents, delivers all its concentrated power to your skin with one single drop. To be used every day, morning and evening, under your usual day cream to greatly increase its rejuvenating effectiveness or, as a 1-month intensive treatment 2 to 3 times per year, when your skin needs it.

Paraben-free formula, tested under dermatological supervision.
Suitable for all women and all skin types.

PROVEN PERFORMANCE

Elixir 7.9 has been tested and approved by nearly 200 women during 1 month.
They noted visible rejuvenating effects on their skin:
- Smooths wrinkles,
- Refined skin texture,
- Boosted radiance,
- Intensified and revitalized skin.

Further details of this product on Hermo Malaysia

*Results from the use of Beauty product above may vary depending upon the individual and will depend on multiple factors, including your age, gender, skin type and condition, use of other products used, health history, lifestyle, diet and others

Recently my interest in grooming myself came back.

I started to put on makeups on a daily basis. Even to the office. Knowing me as someone who don't bothers to put on even a simple lip tint or lipstick, let alone putting on foundations, I made it. WITH medium coverage foundation TOO. Surprised myself too.

So I took the advantage of the recent Malaysia Cyber Sale to get myself a bottle of good serum. I'm turning 32 this year, so my obvious concern are wrinkles. Not that I have them yet. While searching for one, I kind of stumbled accross this foundation from Innisfree. I'm crazy over this brand, not sure why. I've purchased a few range of their skin care product and I kind of like them. I don't buy foundations online because the risk of purchasing the wrong shade of your skin is high but I gambled it anyway.

I don't have fair skin anymore like I used to back when I was in my 20s. Mainly because I was exposed to outdoor activities a lot during those time and not bother to apply sunblocks. Cause I though being tan was cool. I developed freckles on my cheek bones as a result of that.

This foundation comes in 3 shades.Light Beige, True Beige and Natural Beige. I took the True Beige one. This version is recommended to those who has oily skin and if your skin texture is thin and sensitive. It's not a full coverage foundation. If you love natural makeup and want to keep the flaws and freckles on your face medium covered, then go for this. I love the fact that it didn't leave my skin oily after a few hours of application. But it comes ONLY in 15ml tube so it won't be enough for hardcore makeup users. I use them mainly to cover my dark circles (pregnancy makes you develop dark circles -__-). I didn't notice my dark circles until a colleague of mine pointed them out. Uurrgghh.

Innisfree Smart Foundation Water Balancing SPF30 PA++ contains Jeju mineral and green tea ingredients that makes the skin look healthy and alive. Get them today from Hermo Malaysia

**Results from the use of Beauty product above may vary depending upon the individual and will depend on multiple factors, including your age, gender, skin type and condition, use of other products used, health history, lifestyle, diet and others

So where did we stay in Taiping?

Juan been telling me about this hotel that we should stay. Which is by the lake with 2 views you can choose, the back lane view or the lake view. If it's peak season and with luck, you might get the lake view. We got ourselves a housing estate view. Boleh la kan.

It was supposed to be a surprise for Juan but knowing me who can't keep surprises to herself, I had to tell him 2 days before. Nak rahsiakan nama hotel pun tak jadi.

I booked through Bookings.com and it was on promo, RM168 inc 6% tax and breakfast for 2.

What I expected? By the name itself, I expected that the hotel will be as exclusive as Gurney Hotel but in reality, it looks more of a 3 star rated hotel but t's clean and quite spacious. But the walkway to our room were not well lit with only wall lights instead of ceiling lights. Breakfast was good (because they served real Koko Krunch, not those bought from food supplier). I tend to go for cereal first every time during my hotel stay. I just love cereals. My favorite part of this hotel is the bathroom. It has this retro touch with black and white tiles. It looked more of a 70s and 80s kind of bathroom. The bed was spacious but there were no closet. It's just a railing with hangers for you to hang your clothes.

When you were young, you dream of someone as handsome as Brad Pitt to be the love of your life until you enter adulthood. Snap!!! By then you realize that handsome can't help you with the house chore, washing the dishes, do the laundry, cleaning your baby's poop. Well, looks are just fantasy we put our mind into. In real life, that doesn't help much especially in marriage.

Looks can change by time. Those man you see handsome will grow old someday and so will you. And then what? Plastic surgery to get back the shape you used to have? Don't think so.

Me and Juan spent our last weekend in Taiping. I've been to Taiping before, years ago but never really explore the place. Just a short getaway before the baby pops out. I needed a break and Juan just recovered from a 'bad' week. He was down with fever and swollen ankle. So I thought it would be a great thing to do. Since we can't travel long distance, this will do too. Just a 1 hour drive from Penang.

It was nice of Juan to bring me out for a brisk walk at the famous lake garden, an iconic place for Taiping residence. Clean, with LOTSA hawker food, children playing at the playground. But try to avoid night and late evening walks. The place can be a little dark with mosquitoes.

Small gesture like this makes me think of how bless I am to be married to a man who has so much patience, helpful (although sometimes he can be annoying), respectful and gave me some sense of freedom to do the things that I like. So I wouldn't be worried much to have someone to help me with the baby once she's/he's out. It takes 2 to make a marriage work, honestly. With both husband and wife working nowadays, the role of a husband does not stop at work place. It now extended to household too and women are not contained in the kitchen, it extend to the outside world. Both parties has their own role and responsibilities and it gets tougher with a baby on tow.

Which husband doesn't make his wife crawl up the ceiling at times? Well, those are the ups and downs that comes in a package when you're married. No marriage is perfect, if there is, I will find it first, don't worry. You want to grow old together NOT half way through the journey. My dad always advise us that PATIENCE is what it takes to make a marriage work. Cause I always wonder how can my dad married to a woman who always nag 24/7. My mum always has something to bring up even smallest thing like cutting the onion in an irregular sizes. Horror I tell you.

Find man who can accept you at your best and even at your worst. With this kind of man, you don't have to worry of waking up without your make up on. The one thing I kept thinking about was 'Will my husband still love me when I'm sick?' Sick in the sense that he still loves you even when you're laying down on your death bed. That was before I got married. But now, I know that my husband will always be there through sickness and health, anytime of the day. Just as my father was there for my mother:-)

Looks VS A Man Who Can Do Housework. You choose.

Hijabster like me has one thing in common....hair fall. Don't lie if you said you don't have this problem. You hair is cover up for the whole day and it could trap oil and heat in there that causes hair fall. My mum even asked me if I was balding the other day. Cause I have think hair in nature and with this hair fall problem, it doesn't get any better. 

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye:

Well, at some point in life you think you've lost your best friend because you used to be on constant meet up and phone calls. But as you grow up, phone calls becomes lesser, let alone a message.

A real friend is never lost. When you need them, they'll appear. Just like fairy god mother. The definition of best friend is when you feel sad, you best friend comfort you and gives you pep talk. When you're in trouble, she gets into trouble TOGETHER with you. She doesn't judge you when the world seems to walk away from you. She stood by you through storm and rain. You both fought and make up. Best friends always seem to have something to talk about. Even when both are in silent mode, your body language does the talking.

I have a best fiend since high school and although we stay far from each other and rarely see each other, We've never actually lost in touch. Whenever I need her, she always there for me. Vice versa. She's the definition of a real bestie. We don't say 'I love you' in front of each other but through messages. Ego I guess or something that we're not used to. But what's important, I know that she's there when I need her.

It's hard to come by true friend nowadays. People are becoming more materialistic. They don't go the extra mile for a friend. They leave when things are hard.

Dear Alla,
Thank you for being a sister and family to me. Thank you for all the trouble we got together, all the wild night we had. Most importantly, thank you for being the best of friend to me when no one else did.

For more details on SAFI Sahabat Sejatiku, visit their Facebook page here.