Ohai there! How are you doing?

My week was rather out of the ordinary – a lot more fun, more beautiful and yet unfortunate LOL.

It's a given, I like to doll myself up whenever I attend events.

My busy week began with Winnie dear's text; inviting me to a very glamorous event in the Grand Ballroom of Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa. Without hesitation, I told her I'd see her there, for sure! 

Jul 10, 2013 | Excited for tonight's #gala! It's renown #Italian haIr brand, #Medavita's 50th anniversary dinner! by imthejessicat on Keek.com

Medavita's 50th Anniversary gala dinner and hair show was a very, very compelling one! 

It was themed 'From Black to White'. Needless to say, I came dressed in black and white from top to toe! 

It also featured duo Urban Nation and hair maestro Mauro Lulli from Italy performing hair transformations..

Full blog feature soon!

Winnie and I 

She was on stage performing an elegant hairstyle transformation too!

Everything was fine and dandy this week, been keeping busy and whatnot but it all fell apart when I was involved in a serious-but-not-so-serious-but-extremely-damaging-to-my-pocket mishap.

So apparently, while I was speeding down the highway, my car tyre exploded. A LOUD rattling sound was heard and before I knew it, I was veering towards the right.  Terkejutnya aku! Tiba-tibe je…

I tried my best to slow down and detour towards the left side of the highway before we called for help.

Help arrived in 10 minutes (but it felt like forever given the sticky situation).

Thank goodness for SPRINT Ronda's efficiency! 

Sent my poor baby to hospital. It didn't only damage him but caused a huge dent in my wallet too.

Why do Ford cars only use special Continental huge, high quality tyres and not regular tyres? 

Another thing causing such an uproar this week amongst my friends is the Minion craze.

Yeah, I don't get it either.

Remember my previous post about the McDonald's minions? 

And what about the children? Adults storming McDonald's to buy and sell those minions at 12am?

I have one thing to say.

Word.

Anyway, that's just my opinion. No offence to the legions of minion-fans out there.

Asalkan sesiapa gemar, ikut suka hati sendirilah!   Whatever floats your boat. 

Perhaps someday I'll find a collectible that renders me crazy too 

In the meantime, here are some workout/progress shots in the gym and my usual post-workout meals.

Flexing those guns after bicep and back day. It's scary when they pop so much! 

Tuesday Tri-set day!

Roasted chicken, cauliflower & carrots and egg white scramble with sauteed spinach!

Seven nut granola with bananas, blueberries and cinnamon!

Honey roasted corn, brocolli & carrots and wholewheat organic fusilli!

Homemade guacamole, cherry tomatoes and pumpkin kernals on toast!

Mashed potato with eggs, bayleaf and black pepper

Roast chicken fillets with homemade hummus, baked potatoes in bayleaf and brocolli & carrots

Proatmeal, sunflower seeds, pumpkin kernals and blueberries!

Snacktime! 3 hardboiled eggs, lettuce, yoghurt and banana!

Muesli with milk, green apples and blueberries!

That's enough food for now. Not sure if publishing food photos by day is frowned upon or not.

Dahla tu, tak elok la kalo banyak sangat gambar makanan semasa bulan Ramadan.

Minta maaf ye, kalo tersinggung! 

Let's move on to other things that made my week instead.

I got my hair done at my favorite hair salon – the undisputed, bar none, A Cut Above!

My new ombre-red hair thanks to A Cut Above! 

After consultation, Winnie told me that my hair was finally ready for red pigments again. 

After the massive hair tragedy that burnt my long red hair, by a hair stylist from a hair salon whose name I shall not disclose (because I don't feel nasty today), I had to be on almost a year-long hiatus from red hair.

The red-head Jessicat is back for the 6th year! 

Full blog feature of my red-head return soon

Had my eyelash extensions done thanks to Pink Passion The Signature Salon

Will be posting up a discount code specially for my readers. Full blog feature soon!

Since it was the weekend, I figured imma shimmy down and have some fun in the city.

At my one and only favorite playground – Zouk Club KL. 

Are we ready? We sure are 

With my girl Pam in Zouk's Phuture instead of Mainroom, for a change. 

Shishatime with Marc – afterparty? More of after-chilling after all that partying.

Random selfie in the mirror

Being a good host to my foreign friends (and no, I am not blowing my own trumpet. If you do know exactly how many foreigners I have brought around KL and Penang over a span of say, a year, you would think I am working as a part time tour guide, I kid you not.), I decided to bring them to one of our less "city" spots in KL. 

They didn't come all this way to Malaysia just to see…… shopping malls. 

Most of my foreign buddies yearn for a taste of culture, something off the beaten track, one that they won't ever see in their homeland. 

And thus, we meet again, dear ol' Batu Caves.

I wrote a blog post about my previous Batu Caves visit here. Trust me, you'll like it. 

As usual, attempting the 300 odd staircase climb with a foreigner is something I deem quite a "hobby" now.

With Frenchboy Marc this time. Say hi 

We all had a great deal of fun!  Watched monkeys, pigeons and…

COCKFIGHTS! Yes, I'm not joking. Actual, cock fights. 

Jul 13, 2013 | Bringing ze #French guest around in #KL, #Malaysia! We've just finished climbing to ze top of Batu Caves. by imthejessicat on Keek.com

Lunch was at Tony Romas Steakhouse Restaurant. What can I say?

I love the ribs at Tony Romas and gave it a five star rating. Check out the previous blog mention last week!

Mine: Lamb RIbs and Bountiful Beef Ribs 

Rating: ★★★★★

A 10 oz. medium-well New York Strip

Rating: ★★★★★

He prefers medium-well too, just like I do!

I think I'd grimace while eating a steak that is cooked anywhere beneath medium. Ugh. 

Gobble gobble.

The ribs were so good; I just had to leave my propriety under the table and eat with my fingers LOL

It's time to shake, rattle, rock n' roll with some strawberry mojitos!

Spent my Sunday in Hard Rock Cafe!

Ahhhh good ol' classic rock, metal and rock n' roll with local rock band 'N the Boys'

Hot Fudge Sundae.  

Rating: ★★★★★

Song of the week. My current earworm; on loop for about a million times now.

Moving on!

Konzy returned from his trip to Hong Kong and bought me these goodies!

Just by looking at the gifts, it's obvious he knows me well. Thank youuuu dear! 

My favorite. Say hi to my new Hello Kitty 'Circus of Life' Magician edition, from Hong Kong!

To end this week on a more serious note, I'm currently in talks about making a very crucial decision. One step closer to my goals. (But I really can't disclose anything yet as of now)

A girl can only dream, yes. But my dreams will not work itself towards me. It is I, who should first be unafraid to take risks and plunge into the depths armed with a level head and no regrets.

If this is what I really want, then hear this from me – I will make it happen.

Yes, I believe in dreams, no doubt.

 I believe dreaming gives you, albeit an altered sense of reality, a strong desire and visions of happiness and success. When one dreams big, one harbours omething to look forward to. A motivation, an inspiration and a drive to work hard towards that very dangling carrot. 

Without dreams and goals, one will be more likely to just fleet aimlessly in the wind. 

As Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady of the United States, once said,

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams". 

Pure hard work, dedication, commitment and determination. This are what dreams are made of.  

And I'll get there.

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 photos were posted instantly on my Instagram, Twitter, Facebook & my LIVE Blog. 

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

“Charity . . . is the opium of the privileged.” ― Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah.

Tonight certainly made that old adage crystal clear, as A Cut Above Group of Salons was set to deliver a night of love, music and kindness in its finest grandeur.

I was honoured to be invited to this philanthropic celebration, known as 'A Musical Evening for the Children' in Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa's Grand Ballroom.

My look tonight is influenced by the grace of Greek goddesses.

I was aiming for purity, grace and elegance and attended the evening donning white and gold

Here's what I wore to the event:

Accessories in gold & the white sequinned toga dress is from a boutique in Melbourne, Australia

I arrived the venue and was already amazed by the first thing I saw; the decorations of the building!

All set for an ethereal night ahead!

Upon entering the Grand Ballroom

The moment I arrived, Winnie dearest, the Chief Creative Director & Founder of A Cut Above had just begun giving her welcoming speech.

Great! Just in time 

Winnie Loo addressing all her guests

She spoke of her aims of this ball & ultimately wanted us to enjoy our evening with her.

Just by listening to her speak, I knew she had high hopes for tonight and I could also forsee that it will be a successful evening; leaving us with beautiful memories and warmth in our hearts.

I was ushered to my table and took my seat

The celebrity emcees of the evening – Chui Leng and Baki Zainal

He had a really epic hairdo!

It was all shaved around the sides but had some sort of dreadlocks tied up in a long ponytail.

Before gala began, there was a cheque presentation to the Malaysian Children's Aid Society (MACAS)

As expected, the contributions, donations & sales from the charity was a success! 

If you can't see from the mock cheque above, the amount was an impressive figure of RM312,000!

That's an amazing figure, don't you think? But that's not all.

An auction for an exquisite piece of jewellery was held at the end of the gala! More on that shortly!

The main VVIP table

The very first entertainment of the night was a graceful performance of ballet dancing!

The children were decked in adorable animal outfits dancing in a nimble, yet sensual & languid motion

Moving to the rhythm 

These lovely children were from Karen Barnes Dance Studio, who danced to 'Symphony of the Forests'

Their moves were smooth, synchronized and executed in perfect harmony. Well done, kids! 

Next up, was our favorite nine year old songbird Crystal Lee!

She belted out several renditions of popular songs, ranging from the oldies/classics to the contemporary.

It was wonderful to see her wide range of vocals at such a tender age! 

This little songbird wowed us all with her confidence and melodious voice.

She actually looked really tiny singing her solos all alone on the huge stage!

See what I mean? 

But she wasn't going to be alone any longer.

Her mentor, violinist Dennis Lau joined her onstage and performed an incredible duet with his prodigy!

They brought down the house with a mind-blowing version of Jessie J's Price Tag!

I couldn't help but to bop my head to the rhythm & sing along with them too!

A photo with Dennis and Crystal 

A stark contrast of musical entertainment soon followed.

Heavy bass filled the air! All produced not by the speakers or the sound systems of the event, but by the mere sounds coming from one's throat. 

I'm sure you've heard of beatboxing 

Koujee the beatboxer amazed the crowd with his remarkable and rather rare vocal talent.

Koujee beatboxing!

He then burst into a duet with Dennis Lau who once again, made his appearance on stage.

Their breathtaking combination of both vocals and instrumental talent got the crowd roaring for more! It was a very peculiar medley of beatboxing & electric violins but it worked so well! 

Koujee & Dennis Lau performing a duet

Among the tunes I managed to catch were Black Eyed Peas' I Gotta Feeling, Benni Benassi's Satisfaction, PSY's Gangnam Style and several more others all mashed up together in a seamless duet.

They even got down from the stage towards the crowd and personally entertained some of the main tables

We were next serenaded by Enfinity Academy's 14 student choir group of all ages!

After their heart-rending choir, the Glitterama Ladies Charity Group then stole the limelight.

They were dressed to the nines in embellished and flamboyant ball gowns with decollete necklines! 

The 24 beautiful ladies stood before us, ready to sing their hearts out in unison

Winnie was part of it too! I loved her ravishing mustard-yellow ruffled and bowed ball gown

It reminded me of Belle from Beauty and the Beast

These stunning ladies dazzled with us with not only their alluring beauty, but also their diversely distinct vocals in belting out various alto and baritone/soprano notes 

Singing with passion

We were captivated by their renditions of 'Phantom of the Opera' and a Whitney Houston medley of 'Greatest Love of All', 'Saving All My Love for You' and 'I Will Always Love You'. 

Award winning ballroom-dancers, Cecilia Yong & Alfred Choo complemented the Phantom of the Opera moment

It was plain to see that all the guests of the evening were having a ball of a time. 

What could be better than an exclusive gala of friends, food, music all in the name of good faith?

Sipping on my 3rd pint of Kronenbourg amidst all the chattering and catching up 

The next two notable singers to steal the show and wow us with their impressive voices were Vic Teo and Dina Nadzir of Malaysian Idol (Season 1) fame.

He had a very Michael Buble-cum-Il Divo vibe about him when he sings!

His deep and velvety voice worked the soul, swing and jazz numbers in perfect harmony

Dina performed a very cheeky Malay classic song & vocal pop

She executed it so well, befitting her bubbly personality!

I would know! As I religiously followed Malaysian Idol and loved her voice and demeanour since 2004

I was getting even more and more captivated by the line-up of entertainment for the night. 

It was such a luxurious and sophisticated ball of magnificent talents! 

Dama Orchestra soprano Rachel Tan performing the symphonic 'Think of Me' and a classical 'Time to Say Goodbye'

Just when you thought the next act would be another fine vocalist, the night surprised us with a twist

Next up, was a special appearance by the 16 finalists of the Miss Universe Malaysia  2013 pageant.

They strutted down the runway in a catwalk featuring the elegant, chic and feminine fashion designs of Bill Keith's latest collection. 

Sashaying down the stage

The winner of the Miss Universe Malaysia 2013 was Carey Ng (left) by the way!

She will be representing Malaysia in the Miss Universe pageant next year to compete with other winners from other 89 countries. All the best, and make us proud, girl! 

A bright red expression

The next highlight of the evening was a one-of-a-kind, show-stopping hair & fashion show.

Not even a slight hint of exaggeration! See it for yourself 

I held my breath when they walked precariously on those killer sky-high heels!

The eccentric hairdos I saw left me shell-shocked. They were very unconventional and was certainly a bold prophesy of future fashion conventions and standards. 

This could very well set the bar! 

This avant garde fashion showcase left me feeling like I was in some alter-universe of a galactic fantasy.

It was bold, and many never-seen-before gender-bending styles were brought to life.

The MCs of the evening then announced the results of the silent auction

Throughout the dinner course, a silent auction of an 18K Gold South Sea Pearl Necklace Set With Diamonds from Flower Diamond were being bid for. 

I don't have the exact photograph of the resplendent pearl neckpiece in question, but it looks similar to this

The final call of RM34,800 by Dato’ AK Nathan won the bid, 

contributing another immense amount of money to the proceeds!

He was personally called up on stage by Winnie as she publicly acknowledged his kind, colossal contribution

Winnie's & MACAS' gratitude towards him was expressed with a warm bear hug 

Spread the love!

Here are some photos of the night with friends and associates 

We had a superb time catching up over dinner and the stellar entertainment!

Edmund and I 

Ben and I 

Leo and I 

Gim Ean and I 

Joshua and I 

Leo, Casey and I 

A night of music, talents and merriment steeped in love, kindness and compassion, was all what I had expected from A Cut Above's 'A Musical Evening for the Children' charity ball & gala dinner that night.

And true to its aims, the night was, hands down, certainly a memorable one. 

Here's a short video I made of the night! Watch it 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ7XihjSwnQ

Enjoy!

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” 

― Mother Teresa

Winnie dearest and I   Doesn't she look stunning?! 

(She's wearing the same pearl necklace auctioned for RM30K+ earlier)

I'm so glad all her hard work & efforts with her team was well-worth every sweat & toil for the past few months in planning, coordinating and executing a spectacular night for us all to commemorate 

Tonight was elaborately celebrated, but its sole aim was simple, charitable and remained truest to the heart.

Congratulations to the A Cut Above Group for raising RM346,800 in total,

instantly catapulting this charity gala ball to greater success!