KidZania Kuala Lumpur Appoints 20 Children to Govern The City for Cool Kids!

Posted on April 8, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

KidZania CongreZZ elects into office 20 children as part of its legislative body

KidZania Kuala Lumpur, the award-winning indoor educational and entertainment theme park celebrated its inaugural KidZania CongreZZ, with 20 children being sworn into office. CongreZZ is the legislative governmental body of KidZania, overseen by 20 children who are its elected representatives and naturalised citizens. Voted into office, KidZania CongreZZ Kids meet quarterly at the city level to share ideas and voice opinions in order to keep KidZania’s spirit alive, current and socially relevant. The purpose and intent of these meetings are to benefit the KidZanian community by discussing topics such as media, entertainment, education, literature, as well as sharing the main concerns of tourists and citizens of KidZania.

CongreZZ Kids are required to serve KidZania for a period of one year, in which a new election campaign will take place at the end of each term. To ensure that only the most deserving candidates are elected into office, candidates have to go through a selection process that includes, résumé submission, video submission and a face-to-face interview.

KidZania CongreZZ being sworn in during the oath recital

The inaugural KidZania CongreZZ campaign at KidZania Kuala Lumpur attracted over 200 résumés. These were then shortlisted into video submissions for the final judging round, in a face-to-face interview before a panel of judges who comprised of YBhg. Tuan Haji Mohd Anuar bin Abdul Hamid, Senior Principal Assistant Director, Co-Curriculum and Arts Division, Ministry of Education, Malaysia; Puan Zalina Kamis, Assistant Director, Co-Curriculum and Arts Division, Ministry of Education, Malaysia; Mrs Mara Whittaker, Educationalist and two representatives from Themed Attractions and Resorts.

Elected CongreZZ Kids were judged based on their exemplary aptitude in the areas of education, communication skills, sociability, creativity, respectfulness, articulation as well as overall personality attributes by the panel of judges, whose expertise cover the fields of education, training and marketing.

Newly sworn in KidZania Congrezz members

(L-R) Group Photo with Puan Susanah Abdul Rani, General Manager and Mayor of KidZania Kuala Lumpur; YBhg. Tuan Haji Mohd Anuar bin Abdul Hamid, Senior Principal Assistant Director, Co-Curriculum and Arts Division, Ministry of Education, Malaysia; Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Ali Redhauddin, Chairman of Rakan Riang Sdn Bhd; and Y.M Tunku Dato’ Ahmad Burhanuddin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn Bhd and Governor of KidZania Malaysia flanked by KidZania RightZKeepers, Urbano (left) and Vita (right)

Y.M. Tunku Dato’ Ahmad Burhanuddin, Managing Director And Chief Executive Officer of Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn Bhd and Governor of KidZania Malaysia who witnessed the occasion said, “KidZania CongreZZ provides children with the opportunity to exercise their independence through the participation of engaging forums and activities. These children have experienced KidZania at least twice, so they are familiar with the concept, philosophy and activities, and thus are able to contribute fresh, new and creative ideas that will benefit the greater KidZania community.”

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Newly sworn in KidZania CongreZZ Kids for 2014/2015 term posing with KidZania CongreZZ Act

The first of 20 chosen CongreZZ Kids were officially sworn into office at KidZania Kuala Lumpur, where they solemnly pledged to preserve the rights of KidZania, keep its spirit alive and to get ready for a better world.

Benefits of being a KidZania CongreZZ Kid includes participation and decision-making on activity enhancement at KidZania Kuala Lumpur, an exclusive CongreZZ Kids Office Package that consists of a back pack, t-shirt, badge and stationary, a plaque in recognition of service to KidZania CongreZZ and complimentary monthly admission into KidZania Kuala Lumpur for the CongreZZ Kid and four friends.

“KidZania Kuala Lumpur is proud of this milestone as we are truly living up to our spirit of educating, inspiring and empowering children as they discover life in this city that is built just for them,” added Y.M. Tunku Dato’ Ahmad Burhanuddin.

The name “CongreZZ” spelled with ‘Z’ was chosen because at its very core, the word signifies the action of coming together. In choosing to replace the letter “s” with the letter “Z,” the kids were alerting KidZania’s constituency that this would not be their parent’s or an adult’s version of a congress, but rather, it would embrace the kids’ own point of view and express the creativity, passion and resolve that embodies everything their vision stands for.

KidZania just keeps getting cooler and more fun! I’ve brought my son to KidZania a few months ago and he had a blast! To see what my son did that day at KidZania, click HERE.

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Shopped for ALDO Shoes in Vietnam!

Posted on April 7, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.

Marilyn Monroe

Another addiction of mine aside from beauty products is shoes. I actually realized that I haven’t shared my shoe-shopping experiences enough. Oh, well, it’s never too late.

I was in Vietnam last month and, of course, holiday shopping wouldn’t be complete without shopping for footwear. I shopped for some fancy slippers sold in the night market at very low prices. As I mentioned on my travel post, bargaining is a skill that you must always use at the market.

But my addiction for fancy shoes brought me to the brightly-lit commercial complex of Vincom Center in District 1, Ho Chi Minh. My sister-in-law happily informed me that ALDO was having a very good SALE so my ever-ready-to-shop husband brought me to do my favorite activity during holidays — shoe-shopping!

I think that the last time I bought a pair of ALDO shoes was when I was still in the Philippines, which was several years ago. I haven’t shopped for another pair since I moved to KL. It was a lovely experience to re-acquaint myself again with this shoe brand!

What perfect timing for me to shop for Aldo shoes in Vietnam. Aldo was indeed having a SALE and I got these 2 pairs of shoes at more than 60% OFF!

My 2 new pairs of Aldo shoes from Vietnam!

The first one I picked was this beige pair of wedges. I would have gone for the black one but my size wasn’t available. But after wearing it several times at work, I realized that this color is quite nice to use for a lot of corporate attires. I can use it with black outfits, which I love. I can use it with white and beige so the color turned out to be as good as black.

Beige ALDO shoes – wedge, sling-back with gold trim on the base

Love the comfortable wedge heel and the sling back.

Normal price: VND2,200,000 (RM343)

Sale price: VND799,000 (RM125)

Second I picked was this pair of sexy, silver high heels, again, with sling back. My feet don’t like closed shoes and closed heels. This silver pair is great for wedding evenings and other night events. I love sparkles and glimmer so I didn’t have second thoughts in grabbing this pair. I haven’t worn it yet but I soon will.

Shiny, silver Aldo shoes – high heels, sling-back

Normal price: VND2,200,000 (RM343)

Sale price: VND799,000 (RM125)

I love these shoes!

My silver and beige Aldo shoes

For more info about ALDO shoes, visit http://www.aldogroup.com

To discover the latest styles and what’s coming soon, visit http://www.aldoshoes.com

Shizens Stand Firm Stay Firm Online Photography Contest

Posted on April 6, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

An exciting and meaningful photography contest for shutterbugs and mobile photo addicts like me

How many of us love taking photos? Photos of food, our drinks, our outfits, places we visit, new hairdo, what we were doing, our precious moments, and ourselves? We all love to take photos, no matter what subject. Here’s the perfect time and reason to put those photography skills and passion to good use.

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Since ancient times, women were rarely offered opportunities to work and learn. Yet, their inner strength can still be seen through their roles of giving birth to new life, taking care and protecting their family. But as time passed, women began demonstrating their capabilities in undertaking more responsibilities, raising a family as well as being part of the workforce and contributing to social welfare. As evolution enhanced the confidence level of every woman allowing them to showcase their inner strength, they still recognized the importance of physical beauty and strived to maintain their outer beauty through various means.

As a means of acknowledging and recognizing the efforts of all women, Shizens has launched its “Stand Firm Stay Firm” campaign that runs from April 2 to April 30, 2014 where customers and fans will stand to win loads of attractive prizes by displaying their inner strength and outer beauty through a photo contest. The “Stand Firm Stay Firm” campaign aims to display the outer beauty of women while also revealing their inner strength, which serves as an encouragement for them to stand firm within our society.

www.standfirmstayfirm.com

Share your best shots that tell the story of STAND FIRM STAY FIRM and get a chance to win amazing prizes worth up to RM18,000!

Photography Theme: Strong emotions, Human & Feminine.

Photography campaign period: 2 – 30 April 2014

The best photos will receive amazing prizes worth up to RM18,000 – proudly sponsored by Shizens, Flissco and Samsung.

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There are 2 ways to join:

1 – for PHOTOGRAPHY ENTHUSIASTS

Open to all photography lovers who have the passion of bringing picture to life! However, there are certain requirements needed for the photo, as the selected photo will be printed in large.

Photograph shall be taken using compact camera, DSLR camera (or of its similar)
Minimum image size is: 5MB
Studio photography with lightings are allowed
Photo captions or title are required to be submitted together with the photo on the entry form

Submit your entry through this link or click HERE

http://www.standfirmstayfirm.com/entry-form-photography-enthusiasts/

2 – for MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Specially dedicated to all smartphone photographers! Mobile photography has made huge strides in this modern era and we’ve seen lots of talented mobile photographers over the years.

Must be taken by a smartphone or any other mobile devices.
To take part via Instagram, hashtag #standfirmstayfirmon your photo
You may also submit your photos via the website
Photo captions or title are required to be submitted together with the photo on the entry form

Submit your entry through this link or click HERE

http://www.standfirmstayfirm.com/entry-form-mobile-photography/

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

Photos that have been digitally manipulated beyond standard optimisation (i.e. cropping, spotting, dodging and burning, sharpening, removal of dust, reasonable adjustments to exposure, colour, hue and contrast etc.) will not be accepted.
The photo submitted must NOT contain any of the inappropriate and sensitive issues that may violate the law of Malaysia such as religion, racism, politics, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, abusive, drugs, nudity, and sexually-oriented etc.
Photo-collaging, i.e. putting together several images, text, stickers and add-ons to make a single image, will not be accepted.

For complete terms and conditions, click HERE

http://www.standfirmstayfirm.com/terms-conditions/

The Judges

Photography is a form of art. It is, indeed, very subjective. How we see or “feel” about a photograph is the measure of its artistic affect, and different people may perceive or judge a photograph differently.

Despite all these disclaimers, there are many well-established rules and guidelines in the world of photography about what goes into a good photo and what does not. We are taking those guidelines into consideration when judging the photo contest. Of course, these are only guidelines. We believe that a good photo should speak for itself and shine through all the obstacles. It should convey the personality of the photographer just as strongly as in a painting. Don’t you think?

To help judging and selecting the potential best photos from among the many excellent entries, we are pleased to have invited Kenny Chai, an award-winning international photographer, to lead the panel of judges. With more than 15 years of experience in the trade, Kenny honed his skills in Malaysia working beside some of the best studios. He has worked on numerous projects with Ogilvy, Publicis, DDB, Lowe and Saatchi. He is currently based in Beijing China and a specialist in commercial photography, the Chief Photographer and Director of Grass Photography Studio.

GOT QUESTIONS?

You can check the FAQ section of the contest website – http://www.standfirmstayfirm.com/faqs/

For members of The Butterfly Project Beauty Bloggers group, click HERE to join the giveaway contest in collaboration with Shizens Stand Firm Stay Firm campaign.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel SPF30 PA++ Giveaway!

Posted on April 5, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

The mummy blogger launches her first blog giveaway

Are you one of those ladies who are very conscious of being exposed to the sun’s harmful rays but disappointed with sunscreen products that leave your skin feeling heavy and sticky? Or are you one of those who don’t bother to apply anything at all to protect your skin because you find it too time consuming?

Sun protection is important for everyone, whether you get exposed to the sun only for a little while or longer. Did you know that you could still catch UV or ultraviolet rays even if you’re not directly under the sun? Some people are only cautious with sunlight but there are invisible UV rays that also damage our skin, cause premature aging and increase risks of skin cancer. UV rays, by the way, can also be reflected and some rays can even penetrate glass. Now, that’s scary. But don’t fret; we now have a powerful tool to ward off the harmful effects of the sun and UV rays.

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Neutrogena® recently launched the latest addition to its famous Hydro Boost skincare range — Neutrogena® Hydro Boost™ Gel SPF 30 PA++. Neutrogena® Hydro Boost™ Gel SPF 30 PA++ is a refreshing gel formula that provides up to 4 times more moisture to dry skin cells continuously over 12 hours and shields skin from darkening and photo damaging rays with broad spectrum UV filters UVA/UVB SPF30 PA++.

Neutrogena® Hydro Boost™ Gel SPF 30 PA++ has long-lasting hydration with sun protection for soft and supple skin with a lasting healthy glow.

Dermatologist tested • Oil-free • Non-comedogenic
Lightweight and non-sticky

How to use:

Every morning after clear lotion or essence, massage evenly over face and neck, apply 15-30 minutes before sun exposure.

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Neutrogena Hydro Boost Collection: Cleanser, Lotion, Essence, Water Gel and Mask

How to use with entire Hydro Boost range:

Step 1 – Hydro Boost Mousse Cleanser

Step 2 – Hydro Boost Clear Lotion (Pre-Essence)

Step 3 – Hydro Boost Daily Treatment

Step 4 – (DAY) Hydro Boost Gel SPF30 PA++ OR Hydro Boost Water Gel

Step 4 – (NIGHT) Hydro Boost Night Concentrate OR Hydro Boost Mask

Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Alcohol Denat., Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Isododecane, Triethanolamine, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Olivate, CI 42090, Sorbitan Olivate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate

Price:

RM66.50 for 40ml – available at Watsons and other leading pharmacies

Great news for my readers! For the first time in the history of my blog, I am doing a giveaway! Special thanks to Neutrogena for providing the gifts for 5 of my lucky readers!

I’m giving away 5 pieces of Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel SPF30!

How to grab one of the 5 samples:

1) Like Neutrogena Malaysia Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/myneutrogena

2) Fill in the pledge, “Beautiful skin starts with healthy skin so I, _________ (your name), pledge to…” in the comments section below.

My pledge:

“Beautiful skin starts with healthy skin so I, Celeste de Jesus – Choo, pledge to drink plenty of water and make sure that I’m sun-protected with SPF-powered moisturizer every day; no excuses, no buts, no ifs.”

Wait for my announcement of winners by 30^th April 2014 or earlier if I get too excited. Samples will be sent directly to winners’ address. I will get in touch with each winner to get details later.

Discover more about the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost™ Gel SPF 30 PA++, watch this video:

neutrogena-hydro-boost-gel-spf30-youtube-video

Learn more about Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel SPF30 – Watch the video

About The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Range

Neutrogena® Hydro Boost™ is clinically proven to help you achieve “3 dimensions of ideal healthy skin” – Hydrated, Luminous and Bouncy. Its innovative “Progressive Release System Technology” (PRS) effectively replenishes and retains hydration all day long.

Anti-oxidant Olive Extract: repairs skin barriers damaged by the environment

CMZ Mineral Ions: recharges skin energy for better absorption

Purified Hyaluronic Acid: constantly pumps and locks in hydration from within

What to do in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Posted on April 4, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

The mummy blogger went shopping, eating and sightseeing in Vietnam

Early last month, I got to spend a 5-day holiday in Vietnam with my family. This was my first time to see Ho Chi Minh and I was really excited to explore this country, or at least the city of Ho Chi Minh. This is also a first for my son so it’s very memorable and thrilling for all of us. The trip included my husband, my in-laws, my brother-in-law and his wife and daughter. Well, yeah, it was a big family trip.

The plane ride from LCCT to Vietnam is just short, around 2 hours (but I actually hate plane rides as I get headaches so 2 hours is already long for me). Luckily, my son slept half the time and he only had a minor fussy moment when we were almost there. For those who will travel with kids, it helps to have some sweets to curb off the uneasy and nauseous feeling for toddlers. I also had some entertainment stuff like small toys and a small picture book.

We stayed at a small, cozy but convenient hotel named Dream Hotel located at District 1 of Ho Chi Minh. The location is great if you want to be near market shopping, street food and tourist spots. At that time, the hotel was undergoing some renovation so there are a few inconveniences but overall, it was worth it staying here mainly for its location and friendly staff.

Excitedly, of course, my first agenda is to explore Ben Thanh Market and do some first day shopping!

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Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (photo from Wikipedia)

This is very near the hotel, which only takes a 3-minute walk to reach. The weather outdoors at that time was just nice — warm and sunny but not scorching hot. The Ben Thanh Market is very popular among the tourists because this is where you can find good souvenirs, local handicrafts and good local food, too. But take note, bargaining is a must at this place. Lucky I have a very competitive hubby who is still my best shopping buddy.

Colorful merchandise of all sorts inside the Ben Thanh Market

There are so many things to see inside the Ben Thanh Market. Colorful items will capture your eyes. Different textile items are for sale such as bags, hand-painted cloths and other decorative materials.

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Beautiful collectible dolls in Ben Thanh Market

I saw these really cute, adorable dolls with hand-stitched clothes and hand-painted face. Yes, you’ll see a lot of creative handiwork in this market and if you are the type who loves to collect beautiful items and use them to decorate the house, this marketplace is a good shopping destination.

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Various choices for coffee lovers

Vietnam is also famous for their delicious coffee and the Ben Thanh Market has a lot of coffee sellers. Wow, just look at these choices. This is just one of the sections of rows and rows of stalls selling coffee.

There are stalls selling sweets and other different dried fruits. Here you see some bargaining action between a customer and a seller. It can get very stuffy and hot inside this market so if you’re not comfortable, you can explore night “marketing” instead. At around 8PM, the Ben Thanh Market will close but the sellers will be setting up outside so tourists and locals can continue shopping. There will be fewer stalls, definitely, but you can still find good buys at the night market.

Ho Chi Minh Fine Arts Museum

Another place to see is the Ho Chi Minh Fine Arts Museum. This is also just walking distance from our hotel. Of course, if you don’t want to be exposed to the sun and if you don’t want to fight your way through the busy streets, you have the option to take a cab. The thing about the streets around where we stayed at District 1 is that crossing the streets can be very challenging and scary.

Sculptures

The Fine Arts Museum has 3 floors of historic collections of different art pieces that reflect Vietnam arts and culture. It showcases paintings, relic items, sculptures, potteries and furniture.

What do you see?

Check out this painting. Do you see several figures, too?

Chinese Furniture in Fine Arts Museum

The craft of the Chinese wooden divider on the left is so intricate and yet this piece has been well taken care of. The table on the right consists of well-made inlays and very fine designs. It’s amazing to see a product of much creativity and hard in one magnificent piece of work.

Entrance fee to the Fine Arts Museum is very affordable. If I remember it right, it was only around RM3-5 per person.

Walking on the streets, you’ll find fresh fruits sold almost everywhere. Look at this enticing display of colorful fruits…

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Fresh fruits, anyone?

Exploring the culture of Vietnam won’t be complete without reminiscing the Vietnam War. The War Remnants Museum, located at District 3 of Ho Chi Minh City, is quite famous among tourists. This museum primarily showcases exhibits relating to the American phase during the Vietnam War. My son was so excited when he saw those real-life helicopters, planes and tanks displayed outside the museum building.

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War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Inside the building are more items such as the potteries below, old photos, ammunition and other historical materials.

After walking and enduring my son’s tantrums, I definitely needed to have good food to eat. People might find it weird that I didn’t crave for local food. I’ve always been enamored by the French culture as well. And since I was in a country that has some French background, I have to take advantage and enjoy some French food!

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French Cafe in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

My husband brought my son, my mother-in-law and me to a French café called Une Journee a Paris, which is located near our hotel back in District 1. The pastries and the bread are all so mouth-watering.

Mouth-watering French muffins and bread

French cakes

Well, the French names alone are enticing: Citron Meringuee, Chocolat, Pain Au Chocolat Amande.

The best omelette I’ve had in my life!

I ordered this delicious omelette: Omelette Jambon – Fromage with French Ham and Cheese, and loads of freshly cut tomatoes. Served with bread, this omelette is amazing. I was so amazed at how such a simple-looking dish can be sooo good. The tomatoes had some sauce and olive oil that made it taste amazingly sumptuous. The omelette itself is so tender and the cheese just blended so good with the French ham and egg. OMG, I am lost for words. I just wish I know how to cook, hahaha!

Quiche Lorraine from French Restaurant in Vietnam

My mother-in-law ordered this Quiche Lorraine served with the same freshly cut tomatoes and some green vegetables. I tried a bit and it was just heavenly.

Enjoyed my hair cut, wash and blow dry in Ho Chi Minh!

Hair salons are also conveniently accessible to our hotel. I barely have time in Malaysia to do my haircut so I took my chance here in Ho Chi Minh. I had my haircut then had my hair washed, which came with good head massage, too.

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To complete our Vietnam holiday, we went for some authentic local food at a hawker center called 155 Nha Hang Sinh Thai. The place was full of customers but we were lucky to find a place to sit and order. Ordering was a challenge as not a lot of them can understand and speak English. My husband and brother-in-law struggled for around 20 – 30 minutes for our orders to be taken.

Well, it was worth the struggle and wait, I guess. These were some of the dishes (or at least half of it).

I didn’t have much time to go around, as my son got sick on the second day. But I still managed to do some shopping, mostly for shoes (!), slippers and souvenirs to bring back to KL. I had a wonderful time, spending most of it with my naughty but adorable son. My husband was even busier than me, going out with the rest and then buying back food for me, and of course, taking me for some shopping when we have the chance.

Overall, Ho Chi Minh is really a wonderful city to visit. There are lots of good food, French pastries, value buys and amazing places to see. So if you’re thinking of another city to visit nearby Malaysia, consider Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. It’s worth your time and shopping money.

Oh, and by the way, I shopped for 2 pairs of ALDO shoes while in Vietnam. I’ll share the photos and prices soon!

Lam Soon Introduces Total Hygiene Care Campaign

Posted on March 27, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

Clean More, Spend Less with Brands You Trust

There is no place like home when it comes to teaching and practising good health and hygiene, but with rising costs the world over, families often face the challenge of getting the best care and protection on a limited budget.

To address this situation, Lam Soon’s Home and Personal Care Division has launched its ‘Total Hygiene Care’ campaign to promote overall wellness, health and hygiene among Malaysians by making quality products from brands Malaysians trust, affordable.

Lam Soon Total Hygiene Care

The campaign will run for 16 weeks from March 10 to June 30, 2014 with Lam Soon’s trusted brands such as Antabax, bio-home, Fruitale, Labour, May and Zip offering products at promotional prices at all participating retail outlets, nationwide.

According to Lam Soon Edible Oils Sdn Bhd, General Manager, Household and Personal Care, Marketing Division, Mr. Francis Ng, the campaign is aimed at putting the tools for good health and hygiene within reach of more Malaysians, towards building a healthier nation.

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“It is a common belief that our homes are cleaner than external environments, but this is not always true. According to a germ study conducted by NSF International in 2011, findings revealed that three of the top five germ hot spots in homes were in the kitchen[1]. Often what stands in the way of proper personal and home hygiene is cost and time. We are making our products more affordable so that more people can practice good health and hygiene habits at home to reduce the risk of infection,” said Mr. Ng.

“As a caring Malaysian corporation, Lam Soon has been running this campaign for more than 10 years to encourage better health and hygiene practices at home, towards building a healthier nation,” added Mr. Ng.

antabax-antibacterial-protection-with-derma-protect-system

Included in the personal hygiene offering is the 24-hour 99.9% antibacterial protection offered by the Antabax range, the young, fun and fruity Fruitale range that is enriched with 100% natural fruit extracts, and the May beauty range that includes skincare ingredients and exclusive fragrances.

Antabax is a trusted medicated brand that offers a complete range of antibacterial products to promote healthy and hygienic lifestyle. Antabax cleans and removes 99.9% of germs to provide your family with 24 hours antibacterial protection. Dermatologically tested to be gentle on the skin, its formulation comes with additional essences and special ingredients, including anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Vitamin C and E, as well as cell-rejuvenating effects of Vitamin B complex (B3, B5 and B6). It is also formulated with Derma Protect System, an advanced moisturizing formula that contains Micro Moisture Serum to leave skin softer, smoother and healthier.

Participating Lam Soon home care brands include Zip, kitchen and toilet cleaner, Labour dishwashing range as well as bio-Home, the award winning environmentally friendly dishwasher liquid and multi-purpose cleaner.

“This year, the Total Hygiene Care campaign will also see new products including Antabax Medicated Talc, Fruitale Pure Olive Oil, Orchid Feminine Wash, and relaunches of ZIP Dishwashing Liquid and Syaza Bar Soap,” said Mr. Ng.

Among the super saver stars in this campaign are Antabax Shower Cream Refill Twin Pack of 550ml, offered at RM11.90 (regular price RM16.60) and three Antabax hand soap refill packs of 300ml at RM8.50 (regular price RM15.00).

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The young, fun and fruity Fruitale offers four bar soaps of 85g for the price of three at RM2.65. Dazzling skin can now be yours for only RM10.90, when you purchase May Shower Cream Diamond Dazzle Refill Twin pack of 600ml, which comes in four different combinations to choose from. For those who prefer natural ingredients such as goat’s milk, betel leaf and lemongrass in their beauty regime, Syaza offers one bar soap for free upon purchase of two Syaza bar soaps at only RM3.00.

In helping to keep homes clean and safe, two bottles of Zip Toilet Bowl Cleaner (available in Floral and Lemon) of 500ml are offered at only RM6.60, instead of its regular price RM9.90.

“Consumers can enjoy the benefits of our quality and award-winning brands, while saving up to 50% for some products. With the Total Hygiene Campaign bringing brands you can believe in, now everyone can clean and be hygienic!” concluded Mr. Ng.

Discover more and stay up-to-date with Antabax via Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/NewAntabax

About Lam Soon Edible Oils Sdn BhdLam Soon Edible Oils Sdn. Bhd. (Lam Soon) has been an established manufacturer of edible foods, household and personal care products in Malaysia since the 1950s. In the household and personal care category, their selection of quality products include, May personal care range, Fruitale FairWhite UV personal care range, Antabax antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer range, ZIP homecare product range of dishwashing liquid, floor cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, powder and cream cleanser, Labour dishwashing liquid and paste, and bio-home dishwashing liquid. As a renowned and trusted household brand among consumers, Lam Soon is dedicated to producing quality products for a healthier lifestyle and cleaner homes.

[1] NSF International (http://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources/health-and-safety-tips/home-cleaning-tips-germ-hot-spots/clean-home-items/)

All Happy Families Campaign from Ayam Brand

Posted on March 26, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

Ayam Brand™ Introduces ‘All Happy Families’ Campaign to Share Its 120-Year Heritage with A Global Audience

Ayam Brand, one of the oldest continuously produced consumer brands in Asia

Ayam Brand™, a purveyor of canned food, without preservatives or added MSG, is strengthening its global presence by emphasizing its strong Asian roots through its ‘All Happy Families’ Campaign that builds on a rich heritage of being a favorite of families for more than 120 years.

Established in 1892, Ayam Brand™ is easily recognized by its rooster or ‘Ayam’ logo. It is one of the oldest continuously produced consumer brands in Asia with offices in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, China, France and Japan, and is available in more than 30 countries, worldwide. Ayam Brand™ is consistently ranked among the top 500 consumer brands in Asia.

Currently the brand produces over 60 million cans annually and counts more than 1,000 employees around the world. Ayam Brand™ is famed for canned fish such as sardines, mackerel and tuna, Asian ingredients such as coconut milk, sauces and pastes and fruit and vegetables such as baked beans, green peas, mushrooms, pineapples and more.

In line with its aspirations to strengthen its presence globally, Ayam Brand is promoting Asian and specifically Malaysian cuisine around the world, through the ‘All Happy Families Campaign’ that showcases it as a heritage brand that is trusted and loved through many generations across the region.

Ayam Brand launches All Happy Families Campaign

Ayam Brand™ goes around the world to get various real families to share how Ayam Brand™ is part of their family traditions. A series of video interviews of these families are available on the Ayam Brand™ website and Facebook fan-pages.

The campaign shows happy local families with their own history and culinary traditions, in front of iconic locations, like the Kuala Lumpur Skyline, the Sydney Opera House, The Hong Kong Peak and the Singapore Marina Barrage.

Internationally renowned, award-winning Malaysian photographer Stefen Chow, a winner of the World Press Award 2013, shot the campaign. He leads the creative direction of the three-year project, travelling around the world to seek, document and photograph families willing to share their story and culinary traditions.

The campaign will run from 2014 to 2016 in three series, one per year with on-the-ground activities as well as print and online exposure in regions where Ayam Brand™ is active. To take the story of Ayam Brand™ global, the campaign was extended in the form of advertisements on the inflight magazines of major world airlines like Qantas, Singapore Airlines, China Southern, SilkAir and Malaysia’s very own AirAsia

According to Ayam Brand Group Marketing Director, Mr Herve Simon, Ayam Brand’s uniqueness lies in its commitment to quality, staying true to its brand heritage and the adaptation of its products to local and regional needs, as well as introducing new variants and products in sync with changing lifestyles and tastes, while carefully extending its reach to a wider audience.

“In Asia, Ayam Brand™ is very much a part of the culinary repertoire of families. The families featured in this campaign are not paid talents but real-life Ayam Brand™ users. The experiences and recipes that they share are truly their own, in keeping with Ayam Brand’s commitment to not adding flavoring, added MSG or preservatives,” said Mr Simon.

Ayam Brand baked beans made with Ayam Brand canned Baked Beans.

The products featured in the Malaysian advertisement are Sardines in Tomato Sauce, Chili Tuna, Baked Beans and Coconut Milk, which are all traditional favorites.

The recipes shared by the families are also representative of the culinary habits of their countries, like En Muhamad Faiz Azizan’s family offering the Malaysian picnic and teatime classic, sardine sandwiches.

“While Ayam Brand™ products are available globally through Asian specialty stores there are still huge opportunities for growth that we are in the process of developing. We are expanding carefully to be true to our brand identity and values. For example our focus is on freshly canned produce, without preservatives or added MSG with the assurance of it being Halal for our Muslim consumers,” said Ms Marie-Magali Falcoz , Ayam Brand Marketing Manager Malaysia said.

“Our aim is to bring the great taste and proven quality of Ayam Brand™ to a wider global audience by showcasing how our brand is a part of the lives of the culinary traditions of the Asian region. The best way to do that is through real people, real families who can attest to the goodness of our product over generations,” Mr Simon said in closing.

For more information on Ayam Brand™ and the ‘All Happy Families’ Campaign, please visit www.ayambrand.com.my or

http://www.facebook.com/AyamBrand.Recipes

M.A.C. Rihanna Viva Glam Red Lipstick

Posted on March 25, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

This will be shocking for a lot of women who love M.A.C. Cosmetics…but I haven’t tried or purchased any M.A.C. Lipstick until now. I have a few MAC brushes but I guess I didn’t pay much attention to lip color before. I only have 2 or 3 shades and that’s it. Those colors will last for the year.

I’ve been interested in exploring lip colors recently and have been trying different brands as well. While reading my monthly copy of Women’s Weekly, I came across MAC Viva Glam Rihanna collection. The color is incredibly striking, beautifully furious. I was captivated and I knew I gotta have one.

So, yes, I explored it at the MAC boutique during one of my visits to Pavilion. I loved it.

M.A.C. Rihanna Viva Glam Lipstick – RM68 for 3g

The lipstick tube is in a sexy red color with matte finish. With the cap off, the tube features Rihanna’s signature in red color against black.

M.A.C. Rihanna Viva Glam Lipstick box

The box is adorned with Rihanna’s signature in metallic red against MAC’s standard black packaging. Truly a celebrity style. Though, of course, we’re not going to use the box, I like that the brand paid attention to it and incorporated the signature.

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M.A.C. Lipsticks – Rihanna Viva Glam and Matte Lipstick

The lipstick is using the exact shape and size of the standard MAC lipsticks in the same bullet-like casing. And another good similar thing, MAC Viva Glam Rihanna has the same price as the other MAC lipstick at RM68.

Swatches of M.A.C. Rihanna Viva Glam Lipstick

The texture of this lipstick is beautiful. It glides smoothly on the lips and has a buildable finish. You can start with lighter red color or swipe a few times until you have that ‘Rihanna’ red effect on your lips. I swipe around three times until I reach that deep red color since that is the shade that I fell in love with in the first place. This Viva Glam item is a frost lipstick so it has that light shimmer finish. Here’s a closer look:

M.A.C. Rihanna Viva Glam swatches

The color is just so defined and creates an immediate impact to my makeup look. You can probably get away with having very simple eye makeup or no makeup at all then just swipe this MAC Viva Glam lipstick and you already have a fashion/ makeup statement. Oh, that red, red lipstick is to die for.

Love, love this MAC lipstick and I’m predicting I’ll have a few more. In fact, I bought this item together with a MAC Matte Lipstick in another deep red shade.

My current lip color collection top picks…(yeah, my last splurge was a Dior lipstick)

About MAC Viva Glam

Rihanna launches the new M.A.C. VIVA GLAM with two strikingly bold shades of red frosted Lipstick and Lipglass, perfectly capturing her fearless, confident style. Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM Rihanna goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Limited-edition, soft-touch red packaging features RiRi’s signature.

GUESS Blogger Awards for Denim Lovers – presented by Female

Posted on March 23, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

guess-denim-jeans-blogger-awards-with-female

Can’t live without denim? Love your jeans with all your heart and style? Then you stand a strong chance to win wonderful prizes including a GRAND Prize worth over RM4,000!

Denim jeans are still my most comfortable and most prized type of pants. Well, if only I can wear jeans all the time, I’d probably be sporting different cuts and styles of jeans everyday! There’s just something timeless about denim that makes it an ultimate fashion must-have for both boys and girls. Now this contest especially dedicated to denim and to bloggers is definitely an exciting one!

Guess Jeans Blogger Awards presented by Female

Just share your fashion thoughts and inspirations

How can you participate? Guess Jeans and Female Magazine invite bloggers to simply share fashion thoughts and inspirations. All we need to do is follow the 2 steps below to be shortlisted for this contest:

STEP 1

Snap a photo of yourself wearing your favorite pair of denim and tell why denim completes your look in a maximum of 50 words.

GUESS Denim Jeans

STEP 2

Include your full particulars: name, NRIC, blogspot, occupation, address, telephone and email. Email it to promotions1@bluinc.com.mybefore 30^th April 2014 (please state ‘female GUESS Blogger Awards’ as your subject header)

Click HERE or on this link to send your entry to Guess Blogger Awards 2014:

http://female.bloggeraward.my/enter-to-win/

And that’s it, you’re on your way to winning prizes!

PRIZES UP FOR GRABS:

Grand Prize

A two-page feature in the September 2014 issue of Female magazine
RM2,000 cash
GUESS voucher worth RM2,000
An award badge to display on the winner’s blog

Top 3 Prizes

RM500 cash
GUESS voucher worth RM1,000
An award badge to display on the winners’ blogs

4x Consolation Prizes

GUESS voucher worth RM500

Terms and conditions:

This contest is open to all female bloggers aged 16 and above
Must be residing in Malaysia
Must be actively blogging for the past 6 months
The judges’ decision is final and Female reserves the right to reject or disqualify incomplete entries. No correspondence will be entertained. Staff of Blu Inc Media Sdn Bhd and all sponsors, and their immediate family members, are not eligible for entry.

We still have until 30th April 2014 to submit our entries so start capturing your fashionable denim moments now!

Gotta love those denim jeans!

NARS Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara for Thicker & Longer Lashes

Posted on March 20, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

I’ve recently been trying a lot of new brands for the first time. This is really exciting!

We all want longer, thicker eyelashes, don’t we?

How many of us ladies would want to have those beautiful, long, solid black, rich lashes? Truth is every woman would want to have captivating eyes. After all, our eyes say a lot more even when we don’t speak. Did you know that in ancient Rome, Roman women should have long and thick lashes as a sign of beauty? Not only do eyelashes signify beauty but it was also believed that “eyelashes fall out from excessive sex”; this meant that it was very important for women during those times to maintain beautiful, long and thick lashes to prove their chastity. That’s a lot of pressure to have nice lashes!

Luckily, we don’t have that kind of pressure now. But, of course, we still desire beautiful lashes. It just makes a lot of difference on how we look. To some, it boosts their confidence. We cannot do much on how big or small our eyes are but we can definitely ‘influence’ how our eyes look, especially the lashes.

In continuation of my journey into trying new things, this time around, I tried and tested a set of volumizing and lengthening mascaras from another new brand that I haven’t tried before…NARS!

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NARS Mascaras for me!

I was advised to use 2 mascaras together. First step is volumizing.

NARS Larger than Life Volumizing Mascara

RM95 for 0.21oz

Color – Black, Made in USA

This mascara comes in a nice, matte finish black tube. The applicator or wand is quite easy to use. The bristles are thick, which is good for volumizing effect. I like the look and feel of this tube, simple but chic. There’s just something about black packaging for cosmetics that give a posh appeal.

image-nars-volumizing-mascara-for-thicker-lashes

NARS Larger than Life Volumizing Mascara

NARS Volumizing Mascara applicator/ wand

The mascara itself has a nice texture, easy to apply and is not prone to smudge. Application is done evenly with the brush, convenient and fast to use. But if you do accidentally smear some on your eyelid, just quickly rub with your ring finger and it will easily blend with the eye shadow.

The name itself tells you what it does for your eyelashes: VOLUMIZE. This means thicker-looking lashes. Just what I need for my thin ones!

Second step is lengthening.

NARS Larger than Life Lengthening Mascara

RM95 for 0.21oz

Color – Black, Made in USA

Like a twin of the volumizing mascara, Larger than Life Lengthening Mascara also comes in the exact matte finish black tube. The wand consists of fine bristles meant to maximize lengthening effects of the product.

image-nars-lengthening-mascara-for-longer-lashes

NARS Larger than Life Lengthening Mascara

NARS Lengthening Mascara applicator/ wand

The mascara has a good texture, not the type that makes your lashes feel heavy. One of the reasons why I’ve stopped using mascaras for years is that “heavy feeling” that stays with the eyes during the entire day. But this one is very light on the lashes, even with 2-3 layers.

I have “okay” lashes but I wouldn’t mind having the extra length. Oh, why do our lashes get shorter when we age? Nah, don’t answer that.

Before I applied these mascaras, I actually did a small test. Another concern that I have with mascaras is its resistance to water. I hate black smears from mascaras as the day wears on. Let’s see if this one passes…

NARS Mascaras under water resistance test

I let water run through it and it didn’t budge or smear. In fact, I rubbed it afterwards and it still didn’t smudge. I used a makeup cleansing lotion then it finally came off. NARS Larger than Life Volumizing and Lengthening Mascaras passed the water test!

So I applied the 2 mascaras together. And voila! See the difference…

Before (left) and after (right) application of NARS Volumizing + Lengthening Mascaras

My lashes do appear longer and thicker, although not really “larger than life”. But it still does make a difference on how my eyes appear. When you need to remove the mascara, be a bit more patient as it won’t wear off fast. What I do is I gently massage the makeup cleanser (mine is a lotion type) longer than my usual. Then I use another eye makeup remover on a cotton pad then place it on my eyelashes for several seconds to soak the mascara off.

So how was my first set of NARS products? It was good! The mascaras were comfortable to use and make a noticeable improvement on my lashes. They were waterproof so I don’t need to constantly check my eyes on the mirror. The mascaras don’t feel heavy at all even with several layers. NARS mascaras make a stylish final touch to my eye makeup!

The NARS effect on my lashes

Where to buy NARS cosmetics?

NARS Cosmetics opened their first store in Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur last year, located at Level 3.

NARS Cosmetics store in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Level 3

About NARS Cosmetics (via www.wikipedia.org)

NARS Cosmetics is a Shiseido-owned cosmetics and skin care company founded by François Nars, make-up artist and photographer. The cosmetics line began with twelve lipsticks sold at Barneys New York. Since then, NARS have created various multi-use beauty products. The minimalist packaging was created by Fabien Baron and has been hailed as a modern design icon. In 1996, Nars started his first advertising campaign doing the photography for the ads himself.

Product shades carry provocative names like ‘Orgasm’, ‘Deep Throat’, ‘Striptease,’ and ‘Sex Machine’. NARS ‘Orgasm’ blush is one of their most top-selling products, being Best of Sephora’s Best Blush for 2006, 2007 and 2008. They have developed an entire “Orgasm Collection,” including blush, lipgloss, multiples, illuminators, and even nail polish. In addition, NARS product shades are also named after geographic locations such as ‘Iceland’, ‘Kalahari’, and ‘Kuala Lumpur’.

Some of the most popular NARS products are blushes, bronzers, lipsticks, and their world famous eye-shadow palettes. The shadows are highly pigmented and come in an array of beautiful colours. They have been known to release products inspired by artists such as Andy Warhol using colours from one of his famous paintings ‘Marilyn Monroe’. (for more info, log on to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NARS_Cosmetics)

Celeste de Jesus

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