Hark! Who goes there!? 

A strange electromagnetic force must've swept through my residence because now there's…

Two of me.

I kid.  Was just playing around with a new photo editing app and realized it gave me this effect.

Pretty nifty, ey? I'll keep making better ones in due time!

My last seven days kept me rather occupied. With New Year's Eve parties, New Year's Day celebrations, running errands, heading out and about, blogging and so much more.

Before that, a shout out goes to my buddy Tammy, for turning a year older on the 1st of January! 

Two kittehs!  Your birthday cake is still in my fridge 

Happy Birthday gurlie! xoxo

For her birthday, she celebrated it with a movie treat – Les Miserables, the musical! 

I've always wanted to read the book first but looks like it'll have to be the other way around now.

Luckily, Konzy has that novel so I'm just going to borrow it from him! 

Loving the movie to bits!  Apart from reducing me to tears at the end of the three hour showtime, I walked out of the cinema hall feeling touched and inspired by its very poignant scenes!

Immediately after the show, I found myself talking to others in a sing-song voice and singing out my responses whenever someone talked to me – leaving them raising their eyebrows in bewilderment. LOL

Musicals, in particular, tend to have that effect on me. The bulk of Konzy and I's interaction throughout the day consisted of lyrical and melodious conversations as well as dramatic hand gestures.

I kid you not.

It started to get really funny at some point – until we ran out of lyrics and the effect, gradually wore off. 

By the lake in KLCC park

We decided to adjourn outside; towards KLCC park where it was hot and sunny.

Wouldn't want to waste a lovely weather like this, yes?  Lunch was at Chinoz on the Park.

His: Pappardelle Meatballs

Hers: Caesar Salad with Smoked Salmon

 It was decently tasty, but commanding such a hefty price for such a simple fare?

That's city living for you, methinks.  We were at the Petronas Twin-Towers KLCC after all.

Just a cute photo of us on the escalator. 'Nuff said 

We were fooling around, talking about everything under the sun as usual and he dared me to fist myself.

Now, now, hold your horses and don't let your thoughts wander off too quickly! 

This is his attempt at fisting himself which I found frightfully amusing 

I wasn't going to do it anyway, but Konzy showed me that it was humanly possible LOL

Over the next few days I was really caught up configuring, setting-up & syncing my brand new, shiny toys.

My new laptop runs on the new Windows 8! Geez, I felt so computer illiterate when I first laid hands on it. 

My new 15.6" ASUS laptop (where I'll be working most of my writing on)

& SAMSUNG Galaxy S tablet (as my PDA/organizer/planner)

This baby has such high-tech fluidity, impressive user interface, works with different commands, new features, new settings, a new Microsoft Windows AppStore where we can download apps too!

Plus, it has a dual OS (Operating System) where I can choose to switch in between Windows 8 and Windows RT whenever I feel like it.

Oh, sweet, sweet, technology.  

Dinner was at another one of my all-time fave restaurants – Food Foundry @ Section 17, Petaling Jaya

His : Wild Mushroom Soup and a Club Sandwich

Hers: Chunky Tomato Soup and Prawn & Eggplant Spaghetti

Regardless of where I live, I will never fail to pop in every so often just to buy my favourite Mille Crepe cake. So the Vanilla Mille Crepe cake you see above, was of course, mine 

It's just one of the things I can't – forgive me – share. Really 

****

Something triggered my motivation and my moods were clearly elevated when I was told that I was featured in the media again.

No, not in a cinema ad nor a billboard this time, but in a newspaper and a magazine :

In Kwong Wah Yit Poh press (a Chinese newspaper)

In The Opinion (a monthly magazine pull-out of The STAR Newspaper)

With me, it is no surprise. My seven days also included, the imperative gym sessions!

Ran 3.15 miles in 35 minutes and the usual weight-lifts & floor workouts

The next morning was a very early start for me – for a change! 

Who wakes up early on a Sunday morning anyway?

Being the night owls we are, it was a total spur of the moment.

But I soon realized that I actually liked waking up at daybreak! Konzy and I then headed out for a very hearty yet healthy breakfast at 8 o'clock in the morning.

To one of my fave food spots in Bangsar, Antipodean Cafe

which serves New Zealand & Australian coffee roasters & cafe cuisine

For him :  Big Breakfast with hash browns, sausages, a fluffy omelette, grilled tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms and a slice of wholemeal bread.

For her : Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, radicchio lettuce, cherry tomatoes, a slice of wholemeal bread, sauteed mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and a piping hot glass of skinny latte.

I've said this over and over again, but Antipodean Cafe is certainly one worth recommending several times!

(You know, people forget…) 

I love this place so much that I even celebrated my last birthday here!

We even managed to have a quick chat with Kiwi-born Alun Evans, the owner of Antipodean Cafe. 

****

Throughout this week, I've also been consciously switching from radio channel to radio channel lately, departing from the usual, repetitive trashy tunes that they call contemporary mainstream pop.

HOW ON EARTH DID lil miss annoyingly-in-your-face Nicki Minaj, Flo-Rida who is apparently a pro at teaching girls how to "blow" his "whistle", a close-to-30-year-old singing bubble gum pop hoping for someone whom she just met to call her, superficial outlook to life of a materialistic "Primadonna Girl", and yes, let's not forget whiny, spirals of despair from Adele, permeate the airways?

Really. It's a million dollar question. 

Come to think of it, it might be the aimless commercialization and lack of substance in today's "music" that has put talented, real musicians and independent artistes to shame. 

Yup, what's new? It's all about the $$$.

Which is why I'm sharing five of my favourite hits from the 80's which I happened to come across during my radio channel surfing AWAY from the likes of contemporary – often unoriginal -mainstream pop music.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqTkxFJHrNw

Christopher Cross – Best That You Can Do

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsdj9NRzqC4

Starship – We Built This City

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFPajU-d-Ek

Belinda Carlisle Heaven is a Place on Earth

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk

Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up

Like it?  I do. Despite mocking "oldies" music as a rambunctious teenager back in the early 2000s, I now I finally understand how mom, dad, my uncles, aunts and late grandfather came to love and appreciate the music of their era, even till today.

As for me, I wouldn't be proud to say I came from the Justin Bieber-Adele-Nicki Minaj era. 

I don't rant very often on my blog, but when I do… it's about the garbage they call music now.

I ended my weekend by sending my third round of recycling materials/recyclables ever since I embarked on a lil personal project of being more pro-environmentalist and taking the green initiative whenever possible.

To reduce, reuse and recycle! 

I carried four boxes of recyclables – paper & cardboard, plastic, metal and glass.

They took everything BUT ACCEPTED NOT EVEN A SHARD OF MY GLASSWARE!

HEY! If you didn't already know, glass IS recyclable too! 

I was visibly upset but still wasn't given an answer as to why glass is unpopular in recycling efforts

On another note, it's already the second week of 2013!

Schedule's looking pretty busy already.

Have you been keeping to your New Year's Resolutions so far? 

If not, it's not too late! Endeavour to succeed in them throughout the next 51 weeks!

Much love,

Jessicat

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The Sunday Times is a weekly series; published every Sunday night to recap the highlights of my week, capture what piques my interest and to briefly highlight my recommendations for to-go and to-eat places!

Some of the photos in this edition are posted instantly on my Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr & Facebook

Do follow to get instant updates and pretty photos of the sights & sounds all around me!

Speed blogging from Ipoh right now as we speak.

So I drove back to Ipoh – in the goddamned rain! – last night to attend an event right after an event in the city. 

ELEVATE hits downtown Ipoh @ Sensation of Sound (S.O.S)!

*Full blogpost coming soon*

Talk about a back-to-back schedule on a Saturday! Geez. But it was all worth it.

Coming back to the place I spent half my childhood in is always something to look forward to 

Heck, it's practically my first time partying/clubbing in Ipoh! 

Was taken to supper after the party! I shall eat what the Ipoh-peeps eat 

Popular for their Bak Chiok (baby octopus) & Yuet Gong Hor (Raw Egg "Moon" Koay Teow noodles), Restoran Tuck Kee along Jalan Yau Tet Shin is the place to go.

We also had Braised Chicken Feet – I didn't eat it but the others did! – , Herbal Boiled Eggs & Pork Balls

People patronize them during dinner and it's also the to-go place for "after-clubbing" hours.

Coming back to the comforts of home means being spoiled by comfort food as well.

A gift from granny. Kieldsens' original Dannish butter cookies! 

Discovered excellent news that made the raver in me jump for joy!

The legendary God of Trance music, Armin Van Buuren will be making his way to Sepang, Malaysia for A State of Trance (ASOT) 600!

Mark your calendars fellow EDM-kakis, for March next year will be so fun!

Cuddles & playtimes with my babyChivas 

He's the best cat in the world, my one & only –  I love him to bits! 

If you can ever read this, lil one, mommy loves you a whole lot

So what else did I do earlier in the week? Let's see..

Woke up early to have quite an elaborate breakfast Tuesdate with boyfieKon

at La Bodega @ Bangsar Shopping Centre

I fully recommend the Club Sandwich, Big Breakfast and Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon on Toast.

It was sucha hearty breakfast and much chattering over coffee & hot chocolate. 

Tues outfit of the day! Casual with an edgy hint on a day out 

Fri outfit of the day! Played it girly with a childlike, Japanese touch. Matched my iPhone with my outfit too!

Oktoberfest with the buddies! 

Drink up on a Friday night to kickstart the weekend 

Made Organic Wholewheat Durum Spaghetti with Roast Chicken,

Button Mushrooms, Chopped Basil & Asparagus for dinner

Breakfast like a king! Had O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bar @ The Curve

The Big Club Sandwich & Classic Triple Decker Sandwich were real winners! 

Brunch! Fruit & veggie platter of mangos, watermelon chunks and celery

Dinnertime. My fave mix of oven-roasted Zucchini, Baby Potatoes, Australian Carrots, Pumpkin,

Shallots, Garlic and a generous amount of Rosemary & Black Peppercorn seeds

Dinner again! Organic Wholewheat Durum Pasta Carbonara with Broccoli,

Button Mushrooms, diced Carrots with lots of onions! 

Replaced cream with a healthier alternative – a nice blend of low-fat yoghurt, egg-whites & milk.

And when I do decide to eat out, Japanese food has always been at the top of my list.

Check out the Grilled Gindara Codfish in Teriyaki Sauce I had at Sushi Zanmai @ The Curve

Another one of my all time favorites – the Caterpillar Maki Roll, also from Sushi Zanmai 

Can't ever say no to Grilled Unagi (eel), Omelette & Avocado 

Imma let you in on a little secret 

You know how I always share the healthy, clean food that I either homecook or when I eat out, right?

Truth is, that's as close as I can actually get to my ideal diet.

A whole lot of my sweet-tooth snacking, overindulging & unhealthy food enters my system too. 

Hey, I'm only human – just like you.

But the very moment I've set my mind to propagating health & fitness, by inculcating this idea and motivating all of you, I have to first set an example. 

One always have to practise what one preaches, right? 

And I'm glad I've managed to drive this point home, from the feedbacks I've received and by mere observation. I see more and more healthy eating & an obvious increase of a fitter lifestyle in all of you.

So proud of ya'll! 

My favorite bowl of Mac & Cheese. Just one of the many sins I indulge in. Don't we all?

I hope this doesn't demotivate you, but rather motivate you even further with the truth.

So don't be discouraged or think you've failed and have to start all over again, whenever you succumb to that burger, pizza, chocolates or nasi lemak – I do too. 

The moment you make an attempt, you're one step closer to your idea lifestyle, ya hear me? 

Oh and yes, some good news to share!

I've been invited to a fully-sponsored trip to Cambodia to attend BlogFest Asia 2012 held in Siam Reap! 

Simply cannot wait – Angkor Wat, here I come! 

Before I go, as usual, a song of the week for your listening pleasure 

Got this one stuck in my head since last Friday at David Guetta's rave party . 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8aaR6jo4VA

The lyrics. Just six sentences, but means so much. Just… yeah. 

Have also been plagued by an alarming, inexplicable occurrence in the household that is seemingly responsible for my missing belongings and finding those said missing belongings in the possession of others 

There is a fine line between having absolute trust in someone and

having to believe in the supernatural. I can only choose one. 

No matter. Whatever it is, I'll have it dealt with. SMILE! That's all for this week's wrap-up.

Have a lovely seven days ahead of you!  I will too.

Sleep well, ladies and gents. Let your dreams take flight *yawns*

Much love,

Jessicat

———————————————————————————————————————————————–

The Sunday Times is a new once-a-week series; a personal piece published every Sunday night to recap the highlights of my week, capture what piques my interest and to share recommendations for to-go places and to-eats throughout the week.

Check out the entire series here : The Sunday Times edition.

Some of the photos are posted instantly on my Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr & Facebook on the go.

So follow me to get instant updates and pretty photos of the sights & sounds all around!