It's Sunday again! This week was busy as usual. So much I want to blog about but so little time.

If only I spent 15 minutes to prepare an entire blog post, that would be great! JOY.

But no, I take more time that that as I not only edit ALL the photographs to perfection, I also write the article with conviction and ensure in-depth detail.

I really do, and it takes a hell lot of time! Grrr.

But sometimes I wished I didn't. Le sigh!

I think you can tell by now (after 7 years!) that I'm not the sort of blogger who posts up a few photos and several sentences and call it a blog post.

Since when has blogging ever comprised copy-pasted facts and a stock image?

Quality control has always been the key! 

But I do realize I must stop this "perfectionist" attitude from hindering my efficiency & timeliness

It may be my strength, but it can also be my weakness! 

So I just drew up a near-impossible schedule this morning to make the rest of my December even busier.

It's a challenge.

Far-fetched or not, I gave myself incredibly tigjt deadlines to meet everyday in order to clear off all my back log of 30 blog posts!  I can, I must!

In the meantime, my kitty can keep me company all curled up on my lap

while I slave away on the keyboards 

Have you noticed that we are more inclined to be productive and things actually do get done if there is a target, a goal or a dream ahead of us?

If there's none, well, instead of procrastinating, set yourself those deadlines to push yourself!

It's the same principle I apply for my gym workout routines.

If I get complacent, I'll stop taking it seriously and then there will be no point, no drive, no motivation anymore

Moral of the story? If there is no push, there will be no results 

Anyway, here's what I've been up to this week.

Attended the launch of NIVEA's Pure & Natural range at Delicious! Even Kate Middleton uses them

So glad to bump into Nadia, it's been a while  She was the MC for the afternoon too

*full blog post soon!*

Thursday night being serenaded by Vince Chong during the Merry Guinness christmas dinner

at Dirty Nelly's @ Life Centre by Guinness Malaysia

*full blog post will be published on Christmas day!*

My Friday coordinate comprised earthy and neutral shades!

Jessicat wears : Corduroy cropped jacket in brown by Voir | White Paris graphic tank top by TopShop |

Grey denims by TopShop | Metal feather necklace a gift from Konzy |

Buckled leather heels in brown by Pedro | Armbag in white by Seed

Attended the launch of the iPhone 5 in Malaysia on Friday morning

Made lunch! Organic Durum Wholewheat Spaghetti with Haricot Beans, Mushrooms

and lots of freshly chopped garlic, onions & oregano 

Grabbed some dessert at one of my favorite places – Circus KL @ Pavilion KL

Had a Lez 3 Chocolat (it's a special… off the menu!) Thanks Ralph!  It was delicious

Noms & chilltimes with Ralph, Louise & Konzy. Love yall! 

Chilling at The Pressroom Bistro @ Pavilion KL

Konzy had something called Fancy Sencha Tea while I had Bellagio Hot Chocolate

I loved my Hot Chocolate by Bellagio! None of that watered down crap or typical Cadbury sachets

This was rich, thick and the aroma was amazing  The Fancy Sencha Tea? Well, it was good but we didn't find anything too fancy about it… as its name suggested 

Had a lunchdate with Konzy at Teppanyaki Express @ Food Republic, Pavilion KL

He had a Sliced Lamb set (bottom left) with Squids for the sides

while I had Salmon Fish set (top left) with Mushrooms

I've never had teppanyaki made right in front of me with an iron griddle by our own designated chef!

Both our sets came with rice, clear raddish soup, beansprouts and green leafy vegetables 

I loved it. T'was a new experience & a hearty meal! Thanks Konzy  Definitely recommended 

Had a healthy lunch yesterday at O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bar @ The Curve!

I've recommended this joint before in previous editions of The Sunday Times.

Konzy had his usual fave Big Club Sandwich (above) while I tried something new today, the Chicken Slice, Swiss & Guacamole (below). This is one of our choices if we're feeling healthy!

Here's my current song of the week by the way 

Do take a listen to my current fave dubstep track that's been on loop on my iPod all week!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vLFnx2udp0

Might wanna check 'em out 

Before I go, I have some good news to share. I will be roadtripping and making my final drive to Penang with my trusty ol' white Kelisa to make the switch this Wednesday.

Switch? Yes, the switch to my brand new dream car.

It arrived my home in Penang last week and I'm coming for it! 

If you're following me on Twitter, you would already know what ride it will be.

A bright red 1.6CC Ford Fiesta Hatchback Sports Edition that cost a whopping RM86K!

Probably not expensive for some of you rich kids on the block but it is, to me 

Looks like I'll be eating bread and water every month when its time for me to pay the installments haha.

Oh and, I've also paid off all my credit card debts of 2012!

I'm now debt free because I'd hate to carry any debts over to another year. Woohoooooo!

This is how my bank account looks now. Depleted 

Hang in there! I'll work even harder and be more prudent to get you fat and healthy again!

So if you owe anyone anything to anyone, make sure you pay them all off before the new year! 

Wouldn't you rather start your 2013 clean? You have two weeks… The clock is ticking.

On that note, always be prudent and have a lovely week ahead, dearest readers! 

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!

Good evening folks!

This week’s The Sunday Times had been delayed as I’ve been out of the country for that famed beach rave & turned into a hungover zombie over the weekend.

But yes, I’m back in Malaysia already and my past seven days have been a whirlwind!

The start of my week gave me a very invigorating experience. I’m honoured to be one of the select few to dine with a brand-new concept to hit Malaysia’s food & beverage scene.

I was invited to try the ‘Dining in the Dark KL’ by Werner’s on Changkat

*blogpost HERE!*

Spent some time in Pavilion KL and checked out Burberry’s latest Autumn/Winter collection.

Had been eyeing something in particular the moment I spotted it on London Fashion Week.

Wanna see? 

It’s now here in Malaysia! The Burberry Prorsum Alma Gold Fox Clutch! 

Had dinner with Konzy, Pam & Rama thereafter at Komugi Cafe in Tokyo Street @ Pavilion KL

I recommend the Pumpkin Soup served in a bread bowl & the baked marble cheesecake! 

Indulged in some Jap cuisine at Shogun Japanese Buffet @ 1 Utama for lunch the next day

Made time for my workout routines at the gym.

Don’t have time for gym? MAKE BLOODY TIME! 

Monday madness!

Wacky Wednesdays!

You’re running on guts. On fumes. Your muscles twitch. You throw up. You’re delirious.

But you keep running because there’s no way you’re not crossing the finish line.

It’s a misery that non-runners don’t understand.

– Martine Corstello

Can’t wait for the run at the end of the week!

Had some extra time on my hands and thought I deserve some pampering.

Gave myself a pretty manicure with my new nail lacquer from OPI!

A deep shade of red, aptly named Bastille My Heart.

Oh don’t remind me -_-“

Had a good breakfast the very next day…

Honey Oats with Roasted Almonds & a dollop of Peanut Butter!

And off I went to Singapore for an extended weekend of my annual pilgrimage… ZoukOut 2012! 

So much to say, show & share the footages in my next blogpost, but first here are two photos that somewhat summarizes both my days at ZoukOut!

ZoukOut 2012 Day 1

ZoukOut 2012 Day 2!

Surprisingly, I was supremely kind to my wallet (and bank account!) this time round!

I used to incur exorbitant expenses each time I’m in Singapore all because of the shopping at twice the amount of money; no thanks to exchange rates! 

For this trip, guess how much I spent in Singapore, in total?

Only RM250 for four days! Amazeballs, if I do say so myself 

The bulk of my expenses all went to commuting via public transportation and of course, good food.

If it’s something I’ve learnt throughout the years, it’s to never to be stingy on food.

Nothing more satisfying than a good meal of something you really enjoy eating! 

Here are some of the food I ate whilst in Singapore:

Teppanyaki Chicken McGrill from McDonalds!

Before you snort at my eating McD of all things in another country, it’s because we don’t have that in Malaysia!

Neither do we have pork bacon in our McBreakfasts, for obvious reasons. 

Ergo, I literally PIGGED OUT when I dined in Singapore!

The next meal I had was:

The popular Bak Chor Mee (Minced Pork Noodles with Pork Balls) from Bedok 85!

Fried Oysters with Eggs | A combo of both Black and White Carrot Cakes! (aka turnip cakes)

I was quite exasperated that night. Hear me out?

The stall owner refused to speak in English with me when I placed my order in English.

I tried communicating with her in English; only to be responded in Mandarin, again & again. 

Fine. Assuming she couldn’t speak a word of English, I mustered all the little Mandarin I knew and spoke to her quite terribly, after much struggle.

The next thing I know, when my Caucasian boyfriend placed his order with her, she smugly spoke in (simple yet fluent!) English to him.

Got trolled. JESUS CHRIST, WOMAN! You made me go through all that hassle for nothing LOL!

The next day, my lovely host & buddy June took us out to Octapas Spanish Tapas Bar @ Clarke Quay

As if the waterfront view isn’t fabulous enough, here are some photos of our scrumptious feast!

I had some personal favorites! 

Allow me to list my recommendations 

Among those which topped my list were: Bacon-wrapped Prawns with Tomato Salsa, Grilled Squid with Balsamic Vinegar Reduction, Leg of Lamb Stew with Courgettes & Aubergines, Beef Tenderloin Cubes sauteed with Olive Oil & Garlic and finally, the Pan-fried Cod with Poached Onion 

I had my first Vegan Burger at ZoukOut 2012 from Vegan Burg.

The patties were made of soy with plum sauce. Tasted rather odd and bland to me 

Perhaps I just wasn’t used to it. After all, it is a far cry from the usual meat & cheeseburgers!

Sorry environmentalists, looks like I’ll always love my meat 

The next night, we had Vietnamese baguettes from Bag★ette : The Viet Inspired Deli at Vivo City.

Chicken for me, and pork for him.

The baked cheesecake that came with the set was very light, smooth and soft to the touch.

The type that melts in your mouth! Would someone deliver it all the way to Malaysia? 

***

Apart from my extreme dosage of bottles and bottles of Meiji low-fat milk…

…which I never fail to pick up whenever there was a 7-11 in my immediate vicinity, I had my favorite Weissbrau mango beer with some friends, at Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant @ Raffles City.

Drink up! 

The final day in Singapore saw us having a goodbye lunch with June dearest 

I had Claypot Glass Noodles with Soft Shell Crab in Thai Express @ Vivo City

Well recommended! I loved this to bits 

Farewell Singapore!

Although I love your little country, I’ll always be glad to cross over the causeway back to Malaysia where I regain unlimited 3G data on my iPhone and where we can smoke (for smokers!) or chew gum anywhere we please without so much as a fine 😛

Dropped by Chilis Bar & Grill for some pub grub.

Cajun Club Sandwich for him & Southwestern Eggrolls for me

Needless to say, I had a splendid week! Hope yours was just as fun-filled as mine

Have a perfect seven days ahead of you! Seize every day like it’s your last 

Much love,

Jessicat

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

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!

I must admit that when I first arrived in Melbourne, I had a pretty hard time adapting to the weather.

It was temperamental and yet excruciatingly cold when the sun sets!

They say its very likely to experience 4 seasons in ONE DAY. That's how unpredictable it is.

The sun shines brightly during the day but the cold wind is enough to give you chills anytime

And you call that Summer? Yeah, I arrived in mid February – when it was in the middle of Summer.

I'm sorry, if ya think Australian Summer this year is anything remotely close to any other day in Malaysia, you're terribly wrong.

You would never want to be caught dead outdoors in the early mornings

it's FREEEEEEZING!

As mentioned, it's not too bad during the day but being typical Malaysian, I'm so used to wearing very

little clothes that I actually forget about how cold it is outside

A random mini green pinecone we found.

Whose palm is that btw?

 I spend the days indoors with my housies in the West

And my mates from the house next door!

Always up for a drink or two!

As fun as it is in the West, I spend more of my time in South now

I'm glad to have made an awesome bunch of friends there. Love them much!

The route between West rez & South rez

Sunny days for the Summer, but it never gets anything close to 25 degrees celcius

Chilling by South 9's porch

At the uni lounge deck with some of my mates!

From L-R : Levan, Todd, Devin and Deanna

Without realizing it, the days of Summer are over and we are now in the midst of Autumn.

The leaves on the trees has turned yellow in preparation to fall

Bright yellow, vermilion orange and deep, scarlet reds beautifully scattered on the ground

Different trees shed their leaves at different times.

This tree, for example, was a tad late in joining the rest of his kind, but boasts a beautiful, burgundy hue.

Walking by this tree after classes, I can't help but to stop in my tracks

and admire Mother Nature's wonder

One morning, as the sunlight peeped through my window and in the near distance, I spotted a tree with bright red leaves.

Seeing that red is my favorite colour and the fact that I never once noticed this tree just outside my rez, I whipped out my camera and bolted through the door in my pyjamas.

Excuse the straight-out-of-bed face and hair!

I just had to take a picture with it immediately 😀

Here it is again. The rare, bright red ones standing out from the crowd.

Be inspired. I know I am.

As of now, it is nearing towards the end of Autumn and we are expecting Winter to arrive soon.

The days are even colder than before and the nights bring frost to the grass and mist to our mouths.

Every night hits below 5 degrees celcius and I spend all my time right in front of the heater now.

The roaring warmth helps to keep me from freezing my arse off.

Branches are left bare and empty for Winter

No wonder it's so cold. You can actually feel the chill in the air. I soon found out that it was already snowing at Bendigo, some 4 hours away.

I can't wait for my snowboarding, skiing and tobogganing trip up Mount Baw Baw with my mates in late June when the blanket of snow are inches and inches thick!

Here's to hoping it will snow in Melbourne city or Gippsland too! 😀

Not that I intend to freeze or frostbite myself to death, but simply because I've never seen snow before in my entire life!

Okay so who wants a new blackberry or upgrade their current ratty old blackberry to a newer one?
 

In conjunction with Chinese New Year, Celcom XPAX is giving away an auspicious RED Blackberry Torch 9800 smartphone everyday until 23rd February! Yet another generous promo 😀 Now that's the spirit!
 

So this year's CNY 2011 falls in the year of the Rabbit and flows very well with Saturday and Sunday, making it a very long weekend of celebration. What do you usually do during CNY?
 

Don't know about you, but I usually go relative a-visiting, gathering together with my friends and family over signature Chinese food and sending everyone my CNY wishes 🙂 For my loved ones who happen to be away elsewhere or overseas for this festive holiday, I'll keep in touch with them with my trusty blackberry.

· 

Thank you Celcom XPAX!
 

So if you can't meet them, XPAX Blackberry allows you to chat & message your buddies 24/7 on BBM, Twitter, Facebook for as long as you want. It's all unlimited! Pretty cool ey.
 

Here are the deets! In order to win that red Blackberry Torch for yourself, all you gotta do is to subscribe to the Blackberry prepaid access plans from XPAX.

Lemme show you their 3 different Blackberry plans to suit your different needs –
 

So what do ya think? Getting that brand spankin' new gadget  to show off to your relatives during CNY reunion dinners and big gatherings? 😛 😛 Nyahahaaha. This limited edition red Blackberry Torch 9800 will do the trick. Hey hey hey, it can even match your red CNY clothes too woots!

Like I said, sign up for ANY of the 3 Blackberry plans and you'll be in the running to own one of your very own

It's love at 1st sight to me!
 

HOW CAN YOU WIN YOURSELF A RED BLACKBERRY® TORCH™ 9800?

Go to http://bit.ly/bbcny and check out the BlackBerry® prepaid plans available.

Subscribe to any one anytime till 18 Feb 2011 and you immediately get your shot at winning that digitally sexy piece of gadget above

Next, just type BB<space>ON and send to 28882 to start subscribing now.

All my love and auspicious CNY luck to you! Here's to hoping you're one of the lucky ones.There are 23 more BB Torches left to giveaway so don't lose hope.

In the meantime, envision yourself being that lucky winner okie? Huat ahhhh!!!!