Malaysia’s Biggest Kids Expo from Smart Kids Returns

Posted on April 20, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

More Enrichment, More Edutainment Choices & More Edu-FUN for both Parents & Children!

Smart Kids, the largest and longest-running kids’ education fair in Asia, is set to thrill parents and children alike for the 12^th year running this April at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur. The three-day fair brings together a myriad of edutainment (education and entertainment) products and services under one roof, providing an invaluable platform for parents and their children to look for learning centres, childcare education centres, childcare products, edutainment materials and more.

Boasting an impressive line-up of around 100 exhibitors for this year’s fair, the much-awaited parent-child exhibition promises to be a great destination for a beneficial and fun weekend outing for both parents and children.

“Education will always be the focus of parents who are willing to spend on products and services which will help their child’s development and growth. Smart Kids’ mission is to promote a platform with learning tools that will facilitate the physical, emotional, social and intellectual growth of children,” said Mr. Gerald Lum, General Manager of Sphere Exhibits (M) Sdn Bhd.

Smart Kids is organised by Sphere Exhibits, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH); and is co-organised by Mutiara Sigma (M) Sdn Bhd.

The Smart Kids Educational Kids’ Fair is the most successful fair of its kind and continues to garner extensive support from the Malaysian Ministry of Education, learning centre owners and edutainment providers, and parents and children. Last year’s visitor number was estimated to be around 100,000 over the three-day event, with an impressive 96% of visitors expressing that they were able to find what they were looking for, and 98% of visitors stating that they would want to visit the fair again in 2014.

Previous years’ visitors agreed that the fair is an excellent and engaging platform for both children and parents alike.

The kindergarten students had a great time and enjoy being part of the engaging Smart Kids Educational Kids’ fair

“The idea of bringing together so many child-oriented brands and services under one roof was convenient for us to find out more information at the same time,” said Mr. Cheah. He visited the 2011 edition of Smart Kids together with his two children and wife.“It was definitely very interesting and informative, and not to mention very educational for the kids as well! My 5 year old son particularly enjoyed the talent show as he loved how engaging the program was. My 8 year old daughter is already asking me to bring her back next year!”

Mrs Chuo, who visited the fair twice in the 2011 edition of Smart Kids, felt that the fair was a very successful and meaningful for both children and parents as there are so many things to see and engage with! “The most important thing is that both of my children got hands-on exposure when they took part in the various games and contests,” she explained.

“Smart Kids caters to parents and children of different age levels. Children nowadays not only need to study smart, but also play smart! This is an excellent opportunity for them to explore and learn new things, while being able to enjoy themselves and have fun with their parents at the same time,” Lum added.

So what can both parent and kids expect in this year’s edition of Smart Kids? “It is definitely bigger, better and even more exciting than the previous years, filled with educational and fun activities!” said Lum.

The Smart Kids 2014 exhibition is divided into 6 categories –

Education enrolment pool
Educational products
Edu-finance solutions
Nutritional food and beverage
Leisure, sports and recreation, and
Children’s educational ICT solutions

With a wide range of interactive and fun activities, it is the only parent-child exhibition that ensures a rewarding experience for parents and a great time for kids.

The signature Smart Kids Talent Quest Competition, is opened to kindergarten and primary school children in groups of at least 8 students. Participants have the opportunity to sing, act, dance or combine other performing arts to win up to RM800 cash prizes, a trophy for the school and participation certificates.

Some activities highlights for children in this year’s fair include —

Smart Kids Futsal Competition

With two categories to participate in, boys and girls from 8 years old to 16 years old can register (in a group) and try to win up to RM800 cash prize, Admiral’s products and medals for each winning team member, courtesy of Pinnacle Foods (M) Sdn Bhd. For the first time, Admiral and Malaysia Futsal Association have signed up as Official Sports Partners.

Smart Kids Aqua Bubble

Come try and ‘walk’ on water in a huge inflatable ball! Children can climb inside the transparent ball and walk run, bounce, roll or just float on water without getting wet. It’s safe, energetic and so much fun!

Smart Kids Archery

How did Robin Hood and Legolas from Lord of The Rings always hit the bull’s eye with their arrows? Practice makes perfect, that’s why! Archery is a sport that helps improve a child’s ability to focus and improve hand-eye coordination. Come and enjoy the fun and challenging session and learn the skills of archery!

Smart Kids are talented kids! Visitors can look forward to the signature Smart Kids Talent Quest Competition, which is opened to kindergarten and primary school children in groups of at least 8 students. Participants can sing, act, dance or combine other performing arts to try their luck in winning up to RM800 win cash prizes, a trophy for the school and participation certificates. Prizes are sponsored by Pinnacle Foods (M) Sdn Bhd.

Primary school choirs, this is your chance to excel and shine at the inaugural Smart Kids Choir Competition! Professionals from the music industry will be judging the competition and determine which choir group will walk away with RM800 cash prize, a trophy for the school and participation certificates.

image-smart-kids-asia-first-prize-winners

Previous 1st prize winners of the Smart Kids Talent Quest Competition together with the organizing committee and Smart Kids’ signature mascot

If your kid is great at colouring and the whole family loves visiting theme parks, you may just win one of the prizes of Smart Kids Coloring Contest presented by Sky Enigma Bhd, which is giving away a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland, Bangkok Dream World and Singapore Universal Studio with return flights, accommodations and more to the top three winners!

For parents, check out the Smart Kids Education Enrolment Pool, which specifically caters to parents who want to do in-depth research on kindergartens, childcare centres and even pre-schools that they intend to enrol their children in. This is the perfect opportunity to decide what serves their children’s best interest in terms of educational needs.

Parents can also look forward to the Smart Nutrition Zone as it will have food, beverages and supplements for children. This section features health industry players like nutritional food providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, healthcare product specialists, medical centres, wellness experts and specialists in kids’ nutrition.

Parents and children were greeted by the Smart Kids’ signature mascot upon entering the Smart Kids Educational Kids’ fair

How can such a fun and entertaining fair be complete without the mascots? This year’s mascot parade will see about 20 of them mingling and interacting with the crowd. Don’t forget to bring along your cameras as there will also be photo opportunities with renowned mascot characters such as Ronald McDonald and Elmo of Sesame Street.

Finally, for all visitors to Smart Kids exhibition 2014, you will stand a chance to win lucky draw prizes worth more than RM10,000! The main sponsor of draw prizes is Prudential Malaysia.

To facilitate the crowd for the public’s convenience, the first leg of Smart Kids Asia 2014, Kuala Lumpur Edition will be held at

· Venue: Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur

Date: Friday, 25April 2014 to Sunday, 27 April 2014

· Opening Hours: 10.00am to 8.00pm on 25^th and 26^th April; and 10.00am to 7.00pm on 27^thApril

The second leg will be held at Straits Quay Convention Centre (SQCC), Penang from 15^thto 17^th August 2014.

Other admission information includes –

Admission is free of charge.
The first 50 visitors on 25^th and 26^th April (Kuala Lumpur Edition) will receive a pair of complimentary ‘The Amazing Spiderman 2’ movie tickets.
First 500 visitors each day will receive a complimentary goodie bag as well.
Parents and children who pre-register online at http://www.smartkids.com.my/pre-register/ before 23 April 2014 (Kuala Lumpur Edition), and 12 August 2014 (Penang Edition) can redeem a Smart Kids Asia 2014 (Malaysia) Limited Edition Bag for kids aged 16 and below, while stocks last on a first come, first served basis!

For further information and enquiries, log on to www.smartkids.com.my, or check out the fair’s Facebook page at fb.com/smartkids.com.my, or call 03-8023 2600.

To find out more about the Smart Kids activities in Kuala Lumpur, click HERE.

To find out more about the Smart Kids activities in Penang, click HERE.

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.”

image-newly-sworn-in-KidZania-Congrezz-kids

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.

image-kidzania-national-store-shopping-malaysia-kl

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

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!

image-ben-thanh-market-vietnam-ho-chi-minh

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.

image-vietnam-ho-chi-minh-souvenir-dolls

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.

image-ben-thanh-market-vietnam-ho-chi-minh-coffee

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…

image-vietnam-ho-chi-minh-fresh-fruits-by-the-street

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.

image-vietnam-ho-chi-minh-war-remnants-museum

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!

image-french-cafe-and-restaurant-in-ho-chi-minh

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.

image-hawker-center-in-ho-chi-minh-vietnam

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!

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!

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

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)

KidZania KL Celebrates 2nd Anniversary

Posted on March 4, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

KidZania was a mystery to me until last Sunday. Although I’ve heard of it several times and meet kids who go ‘gaga’ over the mention of KidZania, I didn’t really have the time to explore what this place is about, and moreover, my son was only 2 years old when KidZania first arrived in Malaysia.

KidZania KL 2nd Anniversary

Oh, how fast time flies! KidZania KL, award-winning indoor family edutainment centre, just celebrated its second anniversary with its industry partners, children and parents in a day that proved that ‘All Good Things Come in 2s’! Now my son is already 4 years old and I was just delighted to be part of KidZania’s celebration together with him. At this age, he will have a better understanding of what to do in this play land. For those who also find KidZania a new concept, KidZania is an indoor city where children can engage into different activities that simulate real life professions such as fire fighter, baker, chef, radio DJ, dentist, policemen, postman and more.

Entering KidZania for the first time, I was welcomed by flights of escalators that lead up to the edutainment area that is beaming with happy children all around. I actually didn’t know where to start. Luckily, a helpful staff informed me that I need to encash the cheque at CIMB bank. So my naughty son and I headed to CIMB.

Encash the CIMB cheque for KidZania money

KidZos from The Bank of Kidzania

My son was given this stack of paper money, or what KidZania refers to as KidZos. The KidZos are to be used to pay for some of the activities while some activities allow children to earn money. It’s a great way to educate children about real life, and how they will eventually need to work on their own to have money for things they want to do or buy.

In conjunction with KidZania’s 2nd anniversary, the first 200 hundred visitors were given free entry, with subsequent visitors receiving 40% off regular ticket prices. There were special performances by the Beaming Strings Ensemble and the KidZania Kuala Lumpur Artistic Percussionists, as well as 200 party packs that included popcorn and exclusive merchandise for kids who turned up at the park at 2:00pm, kept the party going.

The second anniversary celebrations were presided over by the Governor of KidZania Malaysia, Yang Mulia Tunku Dato’ Ahmad Burhanuddin, who is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn Bhd, Mr Andrés Fabre, Chief Operating Officer of KidZania Central Government, with En Mohd Daud Mohd Arif, Secretary of Industry Development Division, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia (MOTAC) and Tuan Haji Zainuddin Abas, Director of Co-Curriculum and Arts Division, Ministry of Education, Malaysia.

Grand Prize winner of KidZania Video Contest

KidZania KL also held a video contest and the winners were announced that day. The grand prize winners, eleven year old Emily Gunn Shian Mum of Petaling Jaya and eleven year old Lau Hau Shien of Klang, each received an all-expenses paid vacation for a family of four to KidZania Dubai, worth RM25,000. Wow!

Happy birthday, KidZania!

The ceremony was marked with lighting of several cakes. Each letter from “KidZania” had 1 rectangular cake and the guests of honor lighted the cakes. This was followed by a dance performance of KidZania’s mascots that mesmerized the kids including my son. He particularly liked Bache, a cute dog in light blue. I rarely get a chance to take a photo of him with a mascot because he doesn’t want to. But he really liked Bache.

Naughty boy with KidZania’s Lovable Dog, Bache

After the ceremonies, the first thing he tried was the BHP petrol station. Yes, like a lot of young boys, my son has this special attraction to things that involve cars, train or anything with wheels. After performing the activity, the children were given several KidZos. So this is actually a “money-making” activity where they can earn. Good stuff.

kidzania-kuala-lumpur-malaysia-2nd-anniversary

BHP Petrol in KidZania

Then he tried the auto repair shop, of course, because it involved wheels! He was so engrossed with removing tires from the red car. He actually did this activity a few times!

Auto Repair Shop at KidZania

He also tried a few other things such as baking a cupcake at Ayam Brand and he wanted to be a firefighter. However, the queue to the firefighter center was very long and my son cannot wait. But he had a blast with the auto repair shop so he’s happy.

We also visited the National Store of Kidzania where cool merchandise are for sale. See those adorable Bache stuff? But my son’s addiction to wheels prevailed. He picked a DIY wooden puzzle figure of a double-decker bus.

National Store of KidZania

The place is truly a haven for children and even parents. I’m sure it will be a delight for other parents, too, to see their kids engaging in simulation of careers that encourages children to think ahead. New activities are regularly introduced at KidZania Kuala Lumpur as new industry partners become part of the children’s city, giving young visitors more edutainment experiences and exposure to real-life professions. In 2013, 43 industry partners joined KidZania Kuala Lumpur.

There are so many things for your kids to try at KidZania

So should you bring your kids to KidZania? If they’re above 4, YES! They will definitely have a good time and will easily spend hours of engaging in educational activities. Who knows, this can be a small step towards their mission of becoming a doctor, dentist, engineer or chef one day.

Stay connected to KidZania KL via their FB page:

http://www.facebook.com/KidZaniaKualaLumpur

And for more info, visit their website at:

http://www.kidzania.com.my/

Admission fees:

About KidZania

KidZania is an indoor family education and entertainment centre, which offers an interactive learning and entertainment experience targeted at kids aged 4 to 14 years. KidZania combines role-play with real life, creating a kid-centric city experience designed to educate and inspire kids; from arriving at the airport, to visiting a city centre to exploring the city streets. As in the real world, kids choose activities – such as being a police officer, doctor, journalist or a customer – and earn money, which they can then spend or save. KidZania operates just like a real city complete with buildings, paved streets, vehicles, a functioning economy, and recognisable destinations in the form of “establishments” sponsored and branded by leading international and local brands. The facilities are designed to educate through experience, fostering the development of life skills, but from a kid’s perspective it is all about fun.

Essentially the fastest growing educational and entertainment brand in the world, KidZania has won numerous awards, having been voted “Best Theme Park Worldwide” by The Themed Entertainment Association, “Top Family Entertainment Centre of the World” by the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (“IAAPA”), “Global Leisure Operator of the Year” by Retail and Leisure International and “Concept of the Year” by MAPIC.

Recently, KidZania Kuala Lumpur won the “Best Experience for Kids” at the Best of Malaysia Awards (BOMA) 2013 and the Bronze Award for the “Best Online Driver” category for its Kids for a Greener World campaign at the Marketing Events Awards 2013.

About Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn. Bhd.

Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn. Bhd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Malaysian Government’s investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, was incorporated in June 2009 to develop, manage and operate theme parks and attractions in Malaysia, serving as a catalyst for the leisure and tourism industry and bringing premier international theme parks and attractions to the region. The theme parks include KidZania Kuala Lumpur, an indoor family education and entertainment centre, which offers an interactive learning and entertainment experience; LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort – the sixth LEGOLAND to be built in the world and the very first in Asia; SANRIO HELLO KITTY TOWN, the first of its kind outside of Japan; The Little Big Club, a single themed attraction that is home to five popular global characters; and LAT’s Place, a themed restaurant with live animation based on the popular Kampung Boy (Village Boy) character by famous local cartoonist, LAT. Themed Attractions will also develop, manage and operate KidZania Singapore.

Headband Shopping at Sereni and Shentel in Lot 10

Posted on February 27, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

Sereni and Shentel FREE delivery to Malaysia

I’ve raved a lot about this brand in January after I came across an article in Female magazine and then explored their website. I don’t think I can get enough of the chic designs and eye-popping colors! So when I stumbled upon the pop-up store in Lot 10, I knew I just had to buy a piece or two.

Sereni and Shentel in Lot 10

It was CNY season when I came to the shop. The display is just bursting with colors. It’s pretty clever that they only used simple, white walls and furniture to make the head pieces stand out.

Headbands displayed on golden holders

The headbands are nicely displayed on gold headband holders that are also sold online by Sereni and Shentel (around RM200). If my vanity kit had more space, I would probably get one of these because it’s convenient to display and store headbands.

Red headbands

Since it was CNY season that time, special attention was given to red-colored headbands. Check out the cool visual of a lady about to kiss the CNY lion. My son was so enamored by this picture.

Sereni and Shentel also offers a sweet collection of bands for the little ones. See the colors available from Baby Bow Down.

So what did I get for myself? I got 1 striking piece and 1 neutral one.

Headband haul! Only 2 pieces…

sereni-and-shentel-shopping-lot-10-malaysia

My first 2 Sereni and Shentel pieces

I was captivated by this purple Ice Ice Baby embellished with acrylic stones. Well, purple is my favorite color so it’s quite easy to get this sold with me. Each headband comes with a Sereni and Shentel tag stitched under the headband. It also has the signature 24K gold plated charm. Inside the provided cloth pouch is a small card with care instructions. I need to keep the headband inside the pouch when not in use to maintain its condition.

Sereni and Shentel Purple Ice Ice Baby

NP: RM156 but I got this at special price in Lot 10 (only RM93.60 or 40% off)

I also took this pink salmon-colored Mini Lolita. It is simple and has a cute, little bow. Easy to match with office clothes and even casual attires.

Sereni and Shentel Mini Lolita

Price: RM78

It’s easy to fall in love with S&S. The headpieces are very chic and range from simple ones to really thrilling designs. I even got a red Block Party piece online. It just goes well with a lot of my black outfits!

New collections are added regularly online. The Sweetheart Collection has been launched! If you love pinks and reds with a touch of sweet appeal, this collection is right for you.

Sereni and Shentel Sweet Heart Collection

Read my first article about Sereni and Shentel – click HERE.

For more info, collections and online shopping, visit

www.sereniandshentel.com

You may even request for a Look Book by filling up the form on their home page.

Connect to Sereni & Shentel Facebook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/sereniandshentel

A Beautiful Love Story Unfolds in Amethyst

Posted on February 8, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

amethyst-restaurant-publika-kuala-lumpur

Amethyst Restaurant opened its doors at Publika, Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, 5 February 2014 – Amethyst restaurant officially opened its doors with much love in the air. One of Malaysia’s favourite celebrities, Hani Hatim (a.k.a Hunny Madu), shared this joyous moment with the celebration of marriage between Hani and her husband of over three years, Khairul Azhar Abdul Wahid.

amethyst-restaurant-hunny-madu-with-khairul

Khairul Azhar Abdul Wahid with wife Hani Hatim a.k.a. Hunny Madu

Founder of Amethyst, Arash Farahmandi, had this to say at the launch event, “We know Malaysia’s favourite pastime is to eat and most would go to the ends of the earth in search of great food. Celebrating our undying love for food, we also wanted to highlight this special moment with a beautiful love story – that is the celebration of commitment between a lovely couple that Malaysians have grown fond of”.

amethyst-founder-and-chef-with-wife-and-hunny-madu

(L-R) Khairul Azhar Abdul Wahid and daughter Eva; Hani Hatim (a.k.a Hunny Madu); Anita Eslami (wife to founder of Amethyst restaurant), and Founder and Head Chef of Amethyst Restaurant, Arash Farahmandi

Their love story was a beautiful setting for the launch event. The couple re-ignited their love for one another with Khairul presenting a beautiful Amethyst ring to his dear wife, Hunny Madu.

Khairul Azhar celebrating over 3 years of marriage to Hani Hatim with the presentation of the precious Amethyst ring

The Amethyst, a semi-precious gem stone is believed to bear great powers, which include healing, peace, love, protection, and happiness. With its rich purple tone colour, the Amethyst has also been long associated with royalty.

“I am ecstatic because after three years of marriage and with a baby girl in tow, we are still very much in love. The renewal of our love further affirms our feelings and promise. I am so glad to be here in Amethyst to celebrate this moment. Great food, great ambience and great moments worth cherishing for a lifetime,” said the very happy Hani Hatim.

Befitting the meaning of the stone, Amethyst is a mid-casual dining restaurant that harmoniously combines a touch of luxury and comfort in its deco of rich purple tones, private corners and warms lights. Its food also boasts generous portions of quality ingredients bursting with unique flavours, passion and love.

Amethyst Delectable Dishes

Amethyst Blueberry Cake

Amethyst Crispy Skin Salmon

Amethsyt can comfortably seat 60 people at any one time. Guests can take their pick from dining al-fresco all the way to simply cosying up at the VIP booth area. The open kitchen bar top concept also gives an inviting feel as if allowing you to step into its world as it whips up delectable fares for you.

Amethyst Restaurant VIP Dining Area

Amethyst Restaurant

Amethyst Restaurant’s Beautiful Dining Setting

The restaurant serves a mixture of western-Italian food. Amethyst’s signature dishes are rather unique. Such is the ratatouille steak with saffron rice. The well marinated beef is cooked to tender texture and served with saffron rice, home-made chutney, and ratatouille. The flavours are nothing short of a rich combination of sweet, sour and spicy, all in one plate.

Amethyst Restaurant’s Signature Ratatouille Dish

Other signature dishes include their Barbequed Chicken Wings, which is marinated in a secret sauce; a variety of vegetarian pastas; special Greece mix fillet sandwich; and more. The familiar dishes are also played up with a dash of home-made sauces and creative cooking methods to bring out unique flavours and textures. This can be said of their Crispy Skin Salmon, which is pan fried salmon on a bed of spinach with lemon caper sauce – the juicy and tender salmon with the spinach cooked in the special sauce makes for a truly divine combination. Even the Lamb Shank is cooked to tender perfection with a rather unique flavoured sauce.

“Amethyst will place great importance on service. In our restaurant, our customers’ point of views will be crucial and we appreciate any feedback. The kitchen will be our lab of innovation and creativity and we will strive to serve dishes in a different way to stand out from the rest” Arash commented.

Dishes at Amethyst start from RM16 to RM52.

Amethyst Restaurant is located at

A4-G2-06, Publika, No. 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours:

Weekdays, Mondays to Fridays at 10am-11pm

Weekends and public holidays at 10am-1am

Stay connected with Amethyst via www.facebook.com/amethyst.restaurant

or call +603-6206 5797

Bricks4Kidz – A Great Place for Creative Learning and Fun for Kids!

Posted on January 25, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

I’ve adored Lego since I was a young girl. I can still recall making robots, houses and human figures using those colorful plastic mini bricks. Somehow, those simple small things can bring so much fun and joy to a child. Looking at the world that our children live in today, it seems that the happiness of kids have become so high-technology (and more costly, by the way). They now have iPads, XBox, Play station, internet games and other mobile devices. Classic games that I enjoy during my time has been lost: hide and seek, snakes and ladders board game, scrabble using the classic letter tiles playing against friends who are in front of you and not strangers sitting somewhere around the world in front of their laptop or tablet. Technology has been great and we’ll definitely die without those things that we have now; but sometimes I can’t help but wonder if our children are missing out on things that we enjoyed during our childhood?

My 4-year-old son, like a lot of kids nowadays, is also exposed to iPad games but I add a lot of educational apps to ensure that his iPad is mainly for learning and not playing. I don’t let him play for long hours and I make sure that we do something ‘traditional’ every day. We draw, we wrestle, we paint, we play toys, and we read books. A few months ago, during one of his shopping sprees with the grandparents, he bought sets of Legos and I was happily surprised to see his deep interest in fixing those bricks. It’s a delight to discover your child’s creative interest!

Some people are surprised when they find out that, although I specialize in marketing management, my educational background is actually Interior Design. Yep, I was a licensed interior designer. And, yes, I have an eternal love and passion for creative things. You can just imagine how happy I was to bring my son to this amazing place in Kota Damansara — Bricks4Kidz!

Reaching Malaysian shores for the first time with its inaugural opening in Sri Petaling in September, the Bricks4Kidz (B4K) enrichment centre provides one-of-a-kind, essential enrichment educational programmes to children from ages of four until twelve. Centred on innovative project kits and theme-based models that effectively combine education with play, children can ‘learn, build and play’, as the tagline goes, with LEGO® Bricks. B4K programmes have been lauded for their success in 16 countries worldwide and over 300 locations in the United States of America (US).

Isn’t it amazing that there’s actually a learning program to help our kids with their brain development through Lego bricks? Bricks4Kidz has different programs for each age group up to 8 years old. The program is aimed at enhancing their thinking skills such as coordination, analysis and creative thinking. As the managing director of Creative Child Development Sdn Bhd and Master Licensee of B4K, Mr. Demitrius Lam said, “It’s like teaching a child how to walk before he can run. Creative thinking through Lego-building trains them to figure out things or solve problems and not give up, the way that we should be in real life when we grow up and face bigger challenges in life.”

bricks4kidz-learning-program-with-lego-bricks

Mr Demitrius Lam, managing director of Creative Child Development Sdn Bhd

I don’t need much convincing. I started playing Lego bricks at a young age. Although I won’t attribute my creative skills entirely to that, I do believe that it helps in training the mind for bigger things, as we get old. When you’re playing with Lego bricks, you learn to think that there’s always a way to go around building something you want to create. You learn to imagine more and visualize things beyond the norm.

My son was the first to arrive at Bricks4Kidz that Saturday morning where other mommy bloggers from the Butterfly Project and I were invited to an exclusive introduction session. Very much familiar and in love with LEGO®, he started playing around with the bricks, wanting to build a car, as usual. Mr Demitrius Lam was very kind to play with my son and patient enough to attend to his requests.

Mr Demitrius Lam playing patiently with my naughty son

Check out this genius display for Year of the Horse Chinese New Year!

bricks4kidz-chinese-new-year-with-lego-bricks

Welcome the Year of the Horse!

And more display of beautiful, creative figures:

Aden’s class started with an educational lesson from Cik Siti about an octopus. For a simple exercise of building an octopus figure, I find it incredible that Bricks4Kidz provides an interactive lesson to make kids learn more about what they’re about to make. Cik Siti explained what an octopus is and gave interesting facts about this animal before diving into building the figure. I’ve never seen my son so attentive like this!

They provided a step-by-step guide, printed huge in full color, which is easy for the kids to follow. Aden patiently followed every step. Watching him closely through this class, I was very happy to see his eagerness and patience to achieve the mission.

Lego Step-by-Step guide for building the octopus

Chubby hands fixing Lego bricks

Aden’s octopus finished!

Octopus in red, yellow, blue and black Lego bricks

After the octopus exercise, Cik Siti gave the kids a quick exercise to build blocks and to color. Aden also enjoyed this part and happily colored his paper and even wrote his name.

For older kids, Ms Lisa Ong, managing director and owner of B4K in Kota Damansara, conducted an interesting exercise that involved a more advanced level of constructing brick figures.

Ms. Lisa Ong, managing director/owner of B4K in Kota Damansara

There are several rooms for different age group classes. Notice that each room is colorfully painted and tables are in creative shapes that also come in different colors. Visually stimulating and fun for the children.

One of the rooms at Bricks4Kidz

And check out this signage. This has got to be the cutest ‘Toilet’ signage I’ve seen! Well done, B4K!

Me and my fellow mummies spent a bit more time talking to Mr Demitrius Lam about the learning program. “In all of our 130 subject lessons based on (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) topics, B4K adopts a hands-on method where our students are coached by qualified teachers who guide them through new projects and challenges each week. For example, to teach children about the Laws of Motion, we have designed six project kits over the course of six weeks that will teach them about the essential principles discovered by Sir Isaac Newton such as inertia and mass. It sounds extremely complicated, especially for kids as young as four to eight years of age. However, by using simple words and encouraging them to build a clock or a see-saw using LEGO® Bricks, they will be able to understand the concepts better and will ultimately develop a positive attitude towards science,” explained Mr. Lam. “Having LEGO® Bricks as our main teaching tool will not only make the classes more interesting and fun; it will also help develop the children in other ways. This include fostering sequential problem solving skills, advancing spatial and relational thinking, enhance EQ, foster teamwork as well as social and emotional skills, and nurturing process-oriented thinking,” Mr Lam added.

What are the educational and developmental benefits of going through the Bricks4Kidz Program?

Following step-by-step directions
Sequencing
Fine motor skills
Spatial/ relational thinking
Visual/ Kinesthetic learning
Organizational skills
Process-oriented thinking
Social/emotional skills
Self-esteem
Teamwork and cooperation

Aden was very happy after finishing one lesson at Bricks4Kidz. At home, he excitedly opened his new Lego set from B4K and we started building the figures. He really enjoys this and I’m so happy to do something fun with him! Well, yeah, I already admitted that I’m a Lego fan, too, right?

Aden’s Lego village

I think that Bricks4Kidz learning program is an amazing, genius way to develop our children’s minds and attitude as well. This is a unique and fun way for our children to cultivate sets of skills that are not necessarily developed in basic school subjects. In Aden’s first class, I’ve observed his full attentiveness and patience in following the lesson, which is quite rare for me to see. And even at home, he was more jolly and obedient after the class. Amazing!

To find out more about the class schedule and fees, get in touch with B4K at:

Bricks4Kidz – Ms. Lisa Ong

Tel. No. +603 61505439

HP No. +6016 322 3525

Email bricksinkd@gmail.com

Unit C-12-2 Sunway Giza

No. 2 Jalan PJU 5/14

Kota Damansara 47810

Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Get connected to Bricks4Kids Malaysia through their FB page at:

http://www.facebook.com/BricksINKD

To find out more about Bricks4Kidz international, visit them at:

http://www.bricks4kidz.com

Bricks4Kidz provides enrichment programs, preschool programs, birthday parties and holiday camps.

About Bricks4Kidz™

Bricks4Kidz™ (B4K) is a child enrichment centre which offers essential education programmes to complement children’s existing curriculum at school. Founded in the United States of America (US) in 2008, B4K programmes have since been internationally recognised in 16 countries worldwide and over 300 locations in the US.

Following its tagline ‘we learn, we build, we play’, B4K programmes are conducted using LEGO® Bricks as its main teaching tool, providing children with a fun yet educative learning environment. Specifically designed for children between the ages of four and eight, B4K programmes require students to build structures out of the LEGO® blocks using set project kits and theme-based model plans that enhance their knowledge on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) principles. B4K programmes are also designed to help develop essential life skills among children on a personal, emotional, and social level.

Benefit Beauty Bash with Butterfly Project

Posted on January 4, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

Happy New Year! It’s the beginning of 2014 and I had to keep reminding myself to write ‘4’ instead of ‘3’ on dates. Lucky I use an erasable pen.

I wouldn’t let this month pass by without sharing a post about one of the most fun beauty event I’ve attended as a butterfly with the Butterfly Project. Last month, me and other gorgeous butterflies had a chance to discover tips and tricks for applying make-up in a few minutes. Benefit Cosmetics Malaysia at Starhill (that’s on a floor above Sephora Starhill) held a gathering for beauty bloggers who are simply in love with Benefit.

benefit-cosmetics-malaysia-makeup-display

Lovely Benefit make-up collection and pretty pink balloons

I haven’t tried a lot of Benefit products yet but I personally love POREfessional. It’s a great quick fix for my huge pores! (Check my review on POREfessional, click HERE)

benefit-cosmetics-malaysia-porefessional

Benefit POREfessional, my hero product!

The Benefit Beauty Bash was such a wonderful start for a great Saturday morning. Sweet, pink balloons adorned the shop, which gave an immediate feel of something wonderful for the day. I was the first blogger to arrive so I didn’t waste time by taking photos of the pretty set-up.

benefit-cosmetics-malaysia-starhill-shop

Benefit boutique at Starhill Gallery, Bukit Bintang

Pink balloons scattered on the floor!

Benefit loves Sephora balloon

One by one, fellow gorgeous bloggers arrived. It was great seeing and meeting all or most of them. A few of the girls I finally met in person were Shivani Balraj, Sabby Prue (Sabrina Azmi), Innanie Ariffin, Wiida Ribbon, Ayna Jalal and more (so sorry if I missed the name of some). Everyone was wonderful and I really enjoy attending events with the Butterfly Project because everyone is simply friendly and approachable. Kudos to our good friend, leader and mother, Ms. Tammy Lim.

Here are the girls having fun chitchat while waiting for the others to arrive…

Beauty bloggers having fun at Benefit boutique

Check out the pink-themed snacks and drinks for that day…

Benefit Cosmetics pink-themed snacks for the day

The event started with an introduction from James of Benefit Cosmetics Malaysia. He gave a very good tutorial on how to complete a make-up look in a few minutes; I’d say around 15.

Benefit Cosmetics quick makeup demo

Pretty Sabby Prue was the make-up model for the day. James did a really good job in transforming her eye into an even more captivating one. Sabby already has a naturally beautiful pair of eyes but with James’s makeup technique (here seen on one eye first), Sabby’s eyes became more gorgeous and perfect for going out or for an event.

benefit-beauty-bash-before-and-after-makeup

Left eye transformed by Benefit Cosmetics

After the tutorial from James, we were challenged to do our own make-up look using any of the Benefit products displayed in the boutique. It was fun looking around and trying different products! The activity was also a contest wherein we need to post our before and after shots to Instagram with tag to Benefit Cosmetics.

Here are my top picks for my own make-up look…

My top Benefit picks for my look!

And here is my before and after look…

Before and After applying Benefit Cosmetics

There are so many interesting products but I didn’t have much time. One of the most useful and practical products I noticed was the set collection. Each set contains several items that are perfect companions for make-up. And the sets come with a tips and tricks booklet attached to the box cover. Cool and genius!

benefit-cosmetics-beauty-bash-makeup-set

Benefit make-up set: How to Look the Best at Everything

The contest time finished and Benefit Cosmetics Malaysia announced the lucky winner! (Sorry, I didn’t catch the pretty blogger’s name, if anyone would be so kind to comment her name that would be so great)

beauty-bash-benefit-cosmetics-blogger-winner

And the tall, pretty blogger won the contest!

This was such an enjoyable event with the bloggers and the Benefit Cosmetics team!

Me with the Benefit Cosmetics Malaysia team

(Check my post about Benefit Holiday Look, click HERE)

Stay connected with Benefit Cosmetics, visit their FB page at:

http://www.facebook.com/BenefitCosmeticsMalaysia

Follow Benefit Cosmetics Malaysia on Instagram via:

BenefitCosmeticsMY

Or visit Benefit boutiques at:

1 Utama Shopping Centre

Starhill

Or visit a Benefit counter in:

Parkson KLCC, Sunway Pyramid, Pavilion, Gurney Plaza

Robinsons The Gardens

Sephora Starhill, KLCC, Paradigm Mall

Metrojaya Mid Valley

Colours & Fragrances, KLIA

Celeste de Jesus

Beauty, Lifestyle, Health, Fitness and Other Addictive Stuff

Tag Archives: places