Like every other year that was, Chinese New Year meant heading back to Penang & Ipoh to celebrate with my family & friends back home.

This year was no different. With theboyf sending me off again with a farewell lunch date, he watched me adjourn to Penang for a week of R&R and festivity.

See ya real soon, baby!

The moment he sent me off at the airport, guess who I bumped into at the departure hall?

What are the odds – my very own cousin Maddy! 😀

We were on the same flight but many seats apart, unfortunately.

Nevertheless, caught up for a bit!

Touched down in homeland Penang. Greeted to home-cooked food. Ahh.. bliss.

1st Round of Reunion Dinners have always been just the 3 of us.

It’s the 2nd & 3rd Round that are full of relatives

Read on to see what we did at nightfall! 😬

It’s exactly 1 month after Christmas and I just realized I haven’t blogged about Part 2 of my Christmas celebrations yet. Whoops.

So today will be all about my Christmas celebrations in WEIL Hotel, Ipoh with la familia!

Just like every year, we’ll either head back to Ipoh or Penang to spend Christmas eve all through the Christmas weekend together.

Not for religious purposes, Christmas, to us, is really just an annual ‘year end’ family thing we’ve always been doing since I was a kid. Fast-forward decades later, I’m glad this family tradition never changed 🙂

But first… tonight’s OOTD! 

Outfit of the day/night would be this beautiful, elegant dark fuchsia dress and nude heels.

If you haven’t already realized from my Instagram photos and recent blog posts, I’ve (almost) completely revamped my wardrobe.

Slowly but surely, my style has gradually changed from being a tad too revealing & low-cut, to more of an elegant & classy yet decent one… simply because I’ve learned that a woman’s beauty and purity lies in her modesty.

Dress by: Dorothy Perkins

Gladiator nude heels by: Steve Madden

Accessories by: DIVA

Back to the story!

It wasn’t a long drive there, about a little under 30 minutes from my folks’ place.

One thing’s for sure though, we were starving already. Certainly couldn’t wait for the feast awaiting us! Teehee.

Mom & I – selfie from the backseat

Read on to find out where we went and how we celebrated!

As we bid adieu to 2015 and welcome 2016 with open arms, the one spot I’d love to be on New Year’s Eve is on a rooftop of basically anywhere.

Why? In case you didn’t know, I’m an absolute sucker for fireworks. 😀

So this year, I found myself atop View Rooftop Bar at GTower Hotel in Ampang Park for the countdown to the new year with moo and two of our closest friends, Bilal & Nickee.

But first! Before the night began, New Year’s Eve started in the mid morning with a homemade brunch at the comfort of our home.

Some of our favorite homecooked breakfast essentials.

Buttered toast, scrambled eggs, mushrooms and of course, strawberry milkshake!

After chomping down breakfast, Moo and I practically did nothing all day except rest, basking in each other’s company and binge on TV series. Take it as some sort of a recharge for the impending hectic night out to come. Heh. Heh. 😛

But before we get too comfy (or lazy!) at home, we adjourned for dinner at TGI Fridays, Wangsa Walk mall.

Looks like it was a sweater kind of day for us,

when we both happened to be wearing sweaters that night.

So… what’s for dinner? 

We indulged in Fish & Chips (for me), and a Beef Bacon Cheeseburger (for him).

Not forgetting both our favorites – Chocolate Silk Shake & Fried Mac n’ Cheese for sharing, before zooming off to our New Year’s countdown party. *burp*

Arriving at a little after 9pm, Bilal and Nickee were already there at GTower’s hotel lobby waiting for us 🙂

Without further ado, it’s up up up we go! Somewhat a little thankful that the queue wasn’t unbearable, despite not booking or planning our night in advance. Guess we got lucky!

With moo, Nickee & Bilal at The View Rooftop Bar!

Is this our first double date in 2016? Oh yes, it is 😘

Read on to find out how the party went!

Hi there! Missed me?
It’s been a long time… I’m fully aware.

The longest absence it has ever been away from my blog, ever.

4 months would be an eternity away from something this close to your heart too. Trust me.

Just in case you’ve forgotten how this blogger looks. Haha!

Nah, it’s actually just an excuse to chuck in a selfie (or two) here.

It’s a rather common excuse to say this but, I speak in all honesty – the main reason for my 4-month hiatus was because work got in the way.

Exactly 4 months ago, was the day I got promoted at the office. Since then, I’ve been too preoccupied with meeting higher expectations, adhering to even stricter deadlines, striving for perfection for not just myself but my team, and working late nights in the pursuit of building my social media career.

So when I rose to the ranks of an Account Manager, my blogging mojo took an immediate backseat, much to my dismay.  Collateral damage, ya’ say? Haha.

Thank you for believing in me, Vocanic & GroupM.

I simply wasn’t able to commit juggling two of my greatest passions together – the demands of a social media strategy & management profession during the day and the diligence of blogging by nights & weekends.

As much as I enjoy being a workaholic, it dawned upon me that as I’m being overwhelmed with work, I’ve begun to forget living – my own dreams and my own hobbies.
The question is, am I able to dive deep into the latter again?
The burning passion of writing, of retelling tales from wonderful experiences and fun opportunities that huge brands have given me, putting my kaleidoscope of opinions into words, stringing sentences together and penning a story; is something I live for.

This blog is where I’ve always been running to, armed with the wildest, wandering thoughts in my mind. After all, the pen is mightier than the sword. 

Or in this case of an era, the keyboard is mighter than the pen, of course. 😉

With my brand newHuawei Mate S in gold

I would go on a spiel to catch up on lost times and where I left off – my ‘The Sunday Times’ episodes, my 2014 recap (it’s already the end of 2015 now!),  my food & restaurant reviews, my event/party coverage, all my product reviews, my holiday travelogues, coffee hunting guides, and so much more, but that’s a challenge I’d like to undertake come this 2016.
On a lighter note, it’s Christmas! So… obviously, tis’ the season to be jolly.

I’ve got so much to share and to tell you, but in the meantime, let’s relish at lavish food, festive music, great company and spread some Christmas cheer this year end, shall we? 🙂

Despite having things really fast-paced and hectic at work, I’m lucky (and thankful!)  to have amazing colleagues & bosses.

Christmas at the office.

Dear designer, why did you put those swirly borders around the photo? 🙁
*stares at edwin*

Read on to check out my Christmas party pictures!

Today is Australia Day and here I am sitting at my desk thinking about my one-year stint in Aussieland back in 2011.

Oh how I miss it. Those were the days where I could be a carefree student x wild child without a worry in the world – except for academic stress of course, but then again, that has never been an issue for me. *dusts shoulders 😛 😛 😛

How I wish I was sitting right on this very sunny lawn in university right now

instead of being here at this cold, freezing office 😛

I love doing throwback posts & flashbacks. I was meaning to write a post about Australia some time back but I never saw a connection or a proper timing for it. So… what better day to churn out this blog post about Aussie on Aussie Day itself, eh?

Let’s travel back in time in 2011 to the land Down Under!

On my 4th week in Melbourne, Australia, Monash University decided to take us all to Luna Park in St. Kilda Beach as part of their orientation program for the exchange students & freshman year students.

Waiting for our bus!

Just a few of my observation whilst in Australia – Aussies love sitting on the grass.

I hardly see that here in Malaysia!

En route to Luna Park. Woohoo!!

For some reason, I didn’t have many (East) Asian friends whilst I was there.

Laura & Vanessa were among my favorite girlfriends who were fellow Asians too.

Lauz & I

Van & I – take one!

Van & I – take two!

Can’t remember how long the bus ride took, but we arrived before we knew it 🙂

HELLO FROM LUNA PARK!

Admittedly, the entrance gives me the creeps.

See what I mean? 😛

We arrived really early in the morning just before the doors open.

LUNA PARK ALL TO OURSELVES!?

That can only mean…

Yup. Gonna be ridin’ all day, yo. 😉

Ferris Wheel!

At the carousel! Time for a merry-go-round!

With the RAs (Residential Advisors) Alia & Laura.

Playing with mirrors at Luna Park

Don’t we look short & stout here? HAHA

Everything was so merry and filled with people!

3 of my beautiful housemates!

Everything is still vividly in my mind. We were the girls of West 9.

That’s Elizabeth, Narelle and Camille. Camille used to leave me little cute notes on my door addressed to Jessicat, whenever I wasn’t home for days. Thanks for making my West 9 days a memorable one, ladies!

And my girlfriends from the house next door. Were you girls in West 8?

Not sure what we were doing at this point, waiting in line for a ride, I reckon.

Rollercoaster rides! Truth be told, I’m no daredevil.

Although I’m terrified of it, I’ll shut my eyes, scream my head off and enjoy the ride.

Likewise, for the Ghost Train, I’m pretty frightened of it as well but I don’t chicken out.

I endure the entire ride with my ears closed and eyes half-shut.

Here we are on some 3D ride thingamajiggy.

Fire-twirling demonstration!

Lining up for the rides with Mossy & Jade

Laura joined us soon enough!

And around the world we go!

One for the road with Lauz before we left!

Wildchild quirks of 21 year olds.

So dear Australia, on Australia Day today, let me take a moment in retrospect and reminiscence to say a few words.

Thank you for..

Being the drop-bear on my road and the chill to my coat

The Gold to my Coast and the vegemite on my toast

The sea to the sand and the VB in my hand

The Kanga to my roo and the barbie on my que

The Harbour to my bridge and the lamingtons in my fridge

The grog in the trams and the TimTams to my slams.

The surfer boys to my beach and the Uggs to my feet.

You can check out my other tales & chronicles during my one-year stint in Aussie, tagged under The Australian Diaries in this blog.

I’ll always be eternally grateful to such an enriching and fulfilling experience. And to all my bestest Melbie & Gippy friends, thank you for making me feel like home – you know who you all are. If given the chance, I would do it all over again.

HAPPY STRAYA DAY, TO ALL MY MATES, C*NTS & YES EVEN THE COUNTRY BOGANS WHO THREW TRASH AT ME FOR BEING ASIAN.