My stress-level is exceptionally high at this point of time. Unbelievably, it has no logical correlation with the wedding. Speaking of the wedding, I'm super-duperly looking forward to it. The excitement is inexpressible. But the damn spoiler is my MSc dissertation!

Called it upon myself, didn't I? But in the end, I know the worth of my paper will be priceless. It has to be strong enough to support my next level of academic advancement.

But damn it, it's draining me out by the day. It's not an ordinary MBA-like coursework that you can finish in 12-18 months. It's a silent killer, I tell you. I've made numerous social sacrifices just to give in to its harsh demands. Ruby has been exceptionally patient thus far. Thanks baby :)

So anyway, I did a little something few days ago to combat my elevating stress-level. I decided to pamper my ride, Suzy, with a set of new rims & rubber. Seemed so bizarre at first but it proved to be a very effective stress buster :)

Actually, I had been toying with the idea of upgrading the rims & tyres for quite a while. After months of researching and consulting countless motoring experts, I settled for the following combination:

In just a couple more days, this sweet little Aussie tot will be down! :) This darling has grown so BIG in such a short time.

That's Makensie hugging teddy, a present sent by Godmother Ruby ->

Jessie's flying in with Makensie and Michael's expected to join us mid of next month. Can't wait to see the complete Olsen family! :) It has been almost two years since we last met...

Speaking of the turban, daddy dearest has done a fantastic job crafting it. The look and fit is just the way I like it. However, not all of you will get a chance to see me in turban as I'll be wearing it only during the wedding ceremony. For the reception, I'll be back to square one...


Here's a snapshot of the last dance rehearsal by the college Student Council.

It was so much fun watching their antics! :)

The choreographer is Andrea (extreme left, in blue top), a professional dance exponent. Krystabel, the SC president is hidden somewhere. Luv them both to bits!

Soon we will be making a trip to Subang Golf & Country Club (the reception venue) to check out the ballroom.


End of last month, Ruby and I had our studio photoshoot Victoria Bridal House in SS2 PJ. Unlike most people, we didn't quite shop around for best deals. This was the first Bridal House we walked into and signed up almost immediately!

I suppose being a photographer has it's perks too. The moment I exchanged business cards with the proprietor of the bridal house, she immediately revised her rates :) We dictated our needs and it was duly obliged.

Won't be publishing the pics! For private viewing only :)

Next month, on this date, around this time, Ruby and I would've already been pronounced man and wife. Yes, we're left with exactly one month and funnily, it feels like I just activated the countdown timer on the side bar (which was more 7 months ago).

Not a single day goes by without friends and family inquiring on the preparations of our upcoming wedding. Really sweet. My close mates are planning a surprise presentation during the dinner reception. One colleague, a broadcasting specialist, is busy editing my Project-H video. The student council members are actively rehearsing their dance moves and it excites me even more to know that they will all be there for the dinner reception.

And there are many more people, including some unseen souls who are also untiringly contributing just to make 19th of August 2007 a memorable day for Ruby and I. Just realised that almost every group in my social circle is involved in the wedding :)

The invites have been dispatched via snail mail and hand. At first, I was a little skeptical of our postal service. But the day after posting the invitation cards, there was an influx of phonecalls, text messages and IMs from so many people to inform us that they've received the card. Evidently, Post Malaysia is really good after all! :)

So yeah, we're pretty much set; just waiting in anticipation. 30 days and counting...

I was reminded of the old saying that "you cannot choose your family but you can choose your friends". And an extension to the saying would be, "you most certainly can choose your ride too!"

EVERY morning, Faizah Mohamed Aris spends 15 minutes putting make-up on before heading to the university. She carefully powders her face with a two-way cake compact powder and glides on the lip gloss for shiny effect on the lips.

"Make-up is my passion. I allocate RM100 from my monthly allowance to buy cosmetics," says the Law student at International Islamic University of Malaysia in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur.

Though Faizah mostly buys her make-up from one brand, her bag does have a few products from other brands like Stila, Bobbi Brown and Shu Uemura. Like a typical girl, she simply loves checking out the latest products from make-up brands from time to time.

Although Faizah's fellow classmates rarely wear make-up to class, she says that there are many make-up products that can be useful for students.

"As students, we often don't have enough sleep which leads to unsightly dark circles around the eyes, or worse, breakouts. Concealer is very useful to hide them," she says.

Today, there is a wide variety of cosmetics to choose from in the market.

If you are on the budget savvy type, there are lower range products that offer small kits with multiple eye colours or you can start with a single colour tub. Whatever your favourite colour is, the tip to wearing make-up to class is this: subtlety.

You want to look fresh and radiant to college. Save the kohl eyeliner and deep burgundy lipstick for your big nights out. You do not want to be remembered in many years to come as an imitation of Wes Borland (former guitarist of Limp Bizkit) who used to only appear in make-up and body paint when performing on stage.

Public Relations lecturer of Institute Advertising Communications Training (IACT) Hardip Singh says that he is "absolutely fine" with students wearing make-up to class and there has been no distraction caused by students who are too dolled-up.

"There are different make-up for different occasions and they have to recognise that. Make-up won't distract the class as compared to attire," says Hardip.

"It's also the culture of the college. I find that Mass Communication students tend to groom themselves more compared to those from other courses but that is because they are naturally more flamboyant.

"Those from Hospitality school, for example, would go for skin tone colours while Advertising students prefer louder shades," he says.

Associate Professor Siti Rohaini Kassim from the English department in Universiti Malaya, says that most of her students who wear make-up would usually just wear lipstick.

"Of course I prefer them as they are. They are youthful, sweet and fresh but some girls are quite conscious so they'll put on lipstick," says Prof Siti adding that she herself only started buying lipstick and powders in her late twenties when she became a teacher.

So, whether you want to just wear mascara or lipstick, or get all dolled up to class, the rule of thumb is do it tastefully.

"Please know your facial features and what goes well with them, as well as what you want to highlight or conceal," says Hardip.

Source:
http://rage.com.my/writeups/story.asp?file=/2007/6/14/mustread/20070614092347&sec=mustread