My iPhone XS Haul & Otterbox Casing Giveaway

a birthday give for myself

Finally, I took the plunge to upgrade my trusty iPhone 6S who has been with me for 3 years. It's still a good phone, which is one of the reasons I'm such an apple fan girl. While it's a good phone, I feel the camera is lacking in times because everyone takes such great pictures these days with just a click of a button with their phone. I have been thinking to get a small point & shoot camera as my Canon 70D DSLR is much too heavy for traveling. I prefer to travel light these days because I don't want to stress about bulky or heavy pieces of luggage.

Considering I mainly use my phone for everything, I decided it's time to just get the latest iPhone XS 256GB. This is the largest capacity I've ever signed up for, I remember my iPhones don't go above 16GB, I always take the basic and then regret deleting apps and photographs as I go so this time, I'm going for 256GB and I WILL HAVE FUN STORING ALL KINDA APPS AND PHOTOGRAPHS + VIDEO.

It is super expensive, but I still wanted it so I signed for Maxis's Zerolution (installment plan) for 2 years. After buying it, I quickly went home fearing someone will rob my precious phone. It's the most expensive I've ever bought, more than my own MacBook Air! But as soon as I started using it, I've fallen in love with the iPhone XS. It's the best decision I've ever made!

The difference is so great because I was using iPhone 6S (dinosaur already). Just the processor alone was smoother, faster and better. The screen quality is superb and also bigger. I was watching videos and reading my manga in happiness. The camera in low light is great and I can't wait for my Korea work trip so I can snap lots of photographs.

I'm also planning to go to Gaya Island again this February to celebrate Baby G's birthday. So yes I'm excited and happy with my purchase. It's worth it!

And thanks to Otterbox Malaysia, I could dress my iPhone XS right away in a cute pastel casing with drop protection. Yeap wouldn't want my RM5,666 phone to be damaged, my heart would stop beating.

The fashionable Symmetry Series is sleek with a raised, beveled edge that provides extra protection for the touchscreen during face-down drops. Available in classic solids, trendy graphics, fully clear and clear graphics, it's the perfect fashion statement.

 a birthday gift to myself, I deserved this!
(consoling myself lol)

I picked this Otterbox Symmetry Series #PartyDip
perfect for the party planner in me

my iPhone XS is in gold color yay

(so it matches whatever I have)

I'm giving away this cute pink with gold flecks casing

Otterbox Symmetry Series iPhone X/Xs #OnFleck

Ultra Slim with Drop Protection
all the information here

So if you're looking to also purchase the iPhone Xs or you already owned an iPhone XS or X, you can join my giveaway to win a stylish casing that protects your precious phone from accidental drops! Your investment needs to be protected haha!

How To Win?
1. Leave a comment with your name, e-mail
2. Answer this question "What kind of protection does Otterbox give?"

p.s: the answer is not sex protection okay.

This giveaway is open to Malaysian residents only. I will personally gift wrap and courier the casing to you. Starting 31/12/18 - 5/1/19. I will email the winner to get shipping details. If you'd like to find out more about Otterbox casing pls visit their website here. OtterBox is available from Machines Malaysia.

A Glistening Christmas at 1 Utama

Have a "Ga Ga" Christmas everyone!

Xmas is just around the corner the most wonderful time of the year to enjoy the festive atmosphere, feel relaxed and be merry. I always look forward to visiting all the different shopping malls in Malaysia to see all their creative ideas come to life and decide which display is my favorite. This year 1 Utama my local shopping mall & the largest in Malaysia and 7th largest in the world is taking a different approach to the traditional concepts, with its trendsetting futuristic decorations. The theme is "A Glistening Christmas" featuring Holographic Giant Crystal Globes & Arty Instagrammable Playrooms, transporting visitors to a multi-sensory world of interactive media art and installations.

Holographic Giant Crystal Globes @ LG Oval Concourse

fengshui is very good here for gifts

Instagrammable centerpiecee

In the mall's LG Oval concourse, holographic giant crystal globes are the centrepiece, casting mirror-like reflections from every angle. Glittering Christmas trees are created from geometric-shaped crystal balls and psychedelic black and white floor prints scream groovy, baby at you (cue Austin Powers) Hehe. Very Futuristic, glitzy and Instagrammable looking right?

Sounds cool and exciting right?

 Fred Segal Cafe venue of 1 Utama's Christmas Launch

Makan time @ Fred Segal Cafe 

The Christmas media lunch & tour took place at Fred Segal Cafe where we were welcomed by celebrity emcee Yvonne Lee and briefed all about 1 Utama's "A Glistening Christmas" campaign by Patrick So (General Manager 1U) He said, 

"We are always experimenting with different ideas on how to interpret Christmas so that we introduce something new and exciting each year to our shoppers that they can't get anywhere else. We hope to open many minds and eyes to creativity when you visit us here at 1 Utama".

Patrick So (General Manager 1U) modelling a Spectrum Tumbler

explaining the various gifts redemption for shoppers

which of these gifts attracts you?

Celebrity Emcee Yvonne Lee modeling the Wanderlust Luggage

check out the Le Creuset Stonware gift

*if you spend over RM5,000. while stocks last*

Glistening Christmas Rewards Gift Redemption

Get a Glittering Charm and a gift stamp with a minimum spend of RM200 from 28 Nov 2018 - 1 Jan 2019. Valid for purchase at any ONECARD participating outlets while stocks last T&C apply. Other gifts that are available for redemption include Spectrum Tumbler, Sequined Cushions, Sheeny Travel Kit, The Wanderlust Luggage, ONECARD Shopping Vouchers, and Le Creuset Kitchenware. 

Limited Edition Christmas ONECARD

 Santa handing out goodies from his sack to 87 Street Dance Group

Shoppers are invited to browse through Yuletide merchandise, beauty products, toys and gifts from a variety of Christmas Booths located at LG Oval and LG Highstreet, as well as, the best year-end sales and promotions at more than 700 retail shops.

1 Utama's Instgrammable PlayRoom Zone

1 Utama's fully immersive pop-up PlayRoom zone is the main attraction over at GF Centre Court. Here, you can come to explore and discover 5 different types of pop-up rooms designed to ignite your senses and imagination for an unforgettable visually artistic experience.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by lim chooi ing (@plusizekitten) on Dec 12, 2018 at 9:50am PST

A walk through the Playroom

1 - SUAVE

Walk through tinsel foil curtains & installation wall panels for a sensory experience

2 - GUSTO

Chamber of convex'ed mirrors offers a kaleidoscopic illusion of infinite space

3 - TRANQUILITY
Immerse yourself in this 3D Infinity room with LED light display

4 - MESMERIZE

Radical vibes bounce from reflective globes that will mesmerize you

5 - ETHEREAL

Try not to get dizzy in this warped mirage vault

*FREE ENTRY* 

Opening hours :
Sun-Thur 10am-10pm
Fri-Sat 10am-10:30am

1 Utama's Christmas Programme & Fun Activities for the Kids

click posters for larger view

There is a packed Christmas Programme with a big emphasis on the family with lots of different events planned to entertain, such as Christmas carols, activities, stage shows and performances. Brightly coloured interactive musical Christmas trees can be found @ GF Highstreet Main Entrance New Wing. Simply scan 1 Utama's festive QR code, select your favorite Christmas song and watch as the lights light up and dance to your Christmas tune with friends & family.

Interactive Musical Christmas Trees

A big thank you to 1 Utama for inviting me to the launch of their Christmas campaign. It's very interesting and exciting, especially the innovative futuristic & artistic designs. There is a programme packed full of fun activities for everyone, especially families - the kids will have a great time exploring and having fun! So get yourselves down to 1U and get involved in the festive spirit don't miss out on all the fun events planned. Look out for all the sales discounts and promos at the stores and the Christmas booths located at LG Oval and LG High Street when you're shopping this holiday season. Don't forget to collect your gift redemptions, they're running low as we speak so get down to 1U asap so you don't miss out! 

1 Utama Shopping Mall 
1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, 
Bandar Utama, 
47800 
Petaling Jaya, 
Selangor
Tel: 03-77264788

For more information:
Website https://www.1utama.com.my
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/1Utama
IG https://www.instagram.com/1utama
ONECARD https://onecard.com.my

Let's Go To The Swimming Club

making a birthday splash

Back in September, I planned a surprise staycation over the weekend for my Althea team's team bonding activity. You see every month I'll bring the team out to bond, it was part of the Althea's team culture experience to build friendship and reward them for their hard work. This would be organised by the head of department (me one of them) every month. It was a perk that I believe every employee enjoyed. I in particular, love to organise gatherings and events so planning my department's team bonding became a fun ritual. Sometimes I like to drop surprises, and plan memorable activities at great length. When it's over budget, I would supplement with my own just to see my team happy.

the bar and the swimming pool

the vivid pool vibes and neon lights

My team has been wanting a staycation trip this year, and we couldn't go far. Hence, I scoured the internet to look for the best staycation locations in the city that would be Instagrammable, fun, different and most importantly accessible. Of all the hotels, I narrowed it down to the Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel (mentioned before in an event post) and for the no.1 reason of all, their newly revamped pool floor called The Swimming Club.

welcome to the swimming club

not just for Instagram, you can swim here too

the city view from the pool

my team look happy right? expressions don't lie!

You may have heard of this hotel before, and seen the swimming club appeared in various editorial features because of it's retro concept e.g last month's Cleo magazine issue "Hot Up Here" (Nov). I liked how the owners put so much details into the makeover because it looks so damning good now. I love the swimming club's bright, colourful, retro theme with neon fixtures. It brought back the classic splash and pool vibes and transports you into a whole new world, right here in the heart of the city.

In other words, KL Journal Hotel's Swimming Club is a place where 70's Hollywood Pool scene meets Tropical Sunny Kuala Lumpur.

No wonder people and influencers are flocking to this place, just to catch a glimpse of the sun, pose for Instagram and bask in the good vibes. So much so that they have introduced a RM50 cover charge for non-hotel guests over the weekend and public holidays. Don't fret, the cover charge comes with a free drink - anything from the menu. This measure has been introduced to provide genuine patrons a good standard of service and environment.

the two birthday girls, Syahira & Sydney

happy birthday girls, mamasan loves you all

the surprise birthday cake (secretly arrange by the hotel)

yes need to pay, inquire within for the charges

the food is so good! From your popular Asian staples

to finger food and snacks aplenty

our watermelon mojito oh la la!

(F&B Manager Jimmy made this)

even the sauces are a delight

The fun don't stop there because the hotel always has something up their sleeve! From The Swimming Club Facebook, you can see either happy hours, 1+ 1 f&b promotions, poolside open mic nights and the weekly downtown sundown which  comes with sunset, ice cold cocktails, good food, good music and good vibes.

P.S: The poolside open mic music sessions are held every Thursday.

Since we had our staycation here, our check-in comes with a welcome drink at The Swimming Pool Club (fabulous). Many thanks to their hotel GM Ramesh and F&B Manager Jimmy who helped me planned the surprise poolside birthday party successful. My team was not only surprised, but they had so much fun that they slept throughout the night instead of going to Changkat to party. I reckon they loved it, because I saw many pictures on their Instagram *LOL*. 

Overall, I highly recommend staying here and enjoying the facilities, if not just for the Swimming Club. The vivid ambiance and chill atmosphere really makes you want to come back again. Great for families, friends and couples. I'll be reviewing about the rooms next because I have a few good things to say about my stay :)

Where Is The Swimming Club?

On top floor of The KL Journal Hotel (Level 11)

No. 30, Jalan Beremi,

Off Jalan Sultan Ismail,

50200 Kuala Lumpur.

*5mins walk from Bukit Bintang Monorail / MRT Station

Pool Opening Hours: 7am - 7pm

Bar Opening Hours: 10am - 12 midnight
Call 03-2110 2211
www.kljournalhotel.com

Current drinks promotions: (subjected to change)

1 for 1 Cocktails/Mocktails between 5pm-7pm.

3 Mugs for RM50 (Tiger Draft).

I was lucky to purchase the Merdeka 2D1N Package at RM280++ in August. It came with breakfast, welcome drinks, late check-out and dining discounts at The Swimming Pool Club. We took advantage of that of course.

Boost Your Mood with Icy Cool Beverages by Anchor Food Professionals

My Moodmojee Trail with Anchor Food Professionals

Last week I traveled to Coféology Café & Restaurant Malacca from KL to try out 6 new dairy beverages debuted by Anchor Food Professionals Chefs. You may remember some of their previous successful campaigns such as Say Cheese, PizzArt and Anchor Travel Cakes. These beverages claim to boost your mood, showcasing the delicious possibilities of dairy in beverages and bringing a sip of global trends to Malaysian consumers.

Cofeology
Address : Lot 21-23 Ixora Condominium,
Jalan Bukit Beruang, Bukit Beruang,
75450 Melaka, Malaysia.

Opening hours : 

Mon-Fri 09:00 - 23:30 

Sat & Sun 08:00 - 23:30
Tel : 06-232 9444
www.facebook.com/cofeologycafe/

my fun experience at the Moodmojee launch in Malacca


exciting customers with new innovative drinks


Cofeology Cafe Owner & Anchor Food Professional Representative

Creative non-alcoholic beverages are becoming fashionable and popular in all the major culinary cities of the world. Inspired by Asian cheese teas, Jack Tan, Associate Foodservice Director of Anchor Food Professionals said, "We understand the versatile role diary can play in delivering great taste, texture and appearance in any form whether it's in beverage or cakes. Dairy is traditionally very popular with Western markets but this time, we wanted to play with local ingredients to give it an overall Asian taste and feel." He added "We are always looking at what's trending around the globe and strive to bring it back home to excite our business partners and ultimately, the taste buds of Malaysia. We have learned that creativity and innovation are as important as taste to consumers these days."

Moodmojee Map to the creamilicious drinks

Called the Moodmojee campaign, Anchor Food Professionals has started partnering with 15 local F&B restaurants and cafes, west and east Malaysia from November 2018 until January 2019 in phases. They will be showcasing the creamy beverage creations combined with the use of popular local ingredients such as kaya.

(Speaking of kaya)

Being a foreigner here in Malaysia, one of the wonderful things I've discovered in my gastronomical journey is the heavenly kaya. At first, I didn't know what it is, but after googling I came to admire the use of kaya in many of the local dishes here. Finding out that one of the beverages made use of that special ingredient got me excited! How creative I thought, a kaya beverage?

Kaya is a rich egg and coconut jam scented with pandan leaves. It is a typical Malaysian jam, but is also popular in Singapore, Indonesia (seri kaya), Thailand (sangkhaya) and the Philippines (matamís sa báo) - The Star

the 6 new dairy beverages to boost your mood

Cofeology Cafe & Restaurant, Malacca

Asian Fusion Restaurant Coffee Shop

All 6 beverages are available at Coféology Café & Restaurant priced @RM16.90 each. However, for a limited time only, the Café is running a promotion of RM13 per drink. Do go along and check out this multi-award winning establishment which also serves a halal modern menu boasting a combination of Asian and Western cuisines, accompanied by a cozy interior and relaxed ambiance. The selection of food we were served for lunch was of a high quality both in taste and presentation so pop in sometime and try for yourself I recommend. They also specialize in specialty coffee from 7 top producing farms around the globe and every member of their crew is a certified professional barista by the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe.

These 6 dairy thirst-quenchers are :

• Kayanika Fusion
• Chocolate Surprise
• Pom & Grey Twist
• Lemon Mint Meringue
• Tangy Brew
• White Chocolate

Sounds delicious already right?

So how does it boost your mode anyway? 

Through the creative use of local ingredients which brings in an unexpected pairing to tickle your taste buds! Imagine this a burst of flavors coming alive in your mouth (attacking every angle). Anchor says this year's pairings bring the marriage of zesty, sweet, savory and salty flavors to the smooth and creamy textures in your mouth. Sounds like a food anime yeah!

I also notice the presentation of the drink is different as well, depending on the local partners. Very Instagrammable! For example, in Cofeology, the drinks came in mason drinking mug with an emoji sticker on it (see my photographs below).

Enuff talk now. I best share my review on these yummy drinks that I got to try from the Moodmojee launch in Malacca. I had the honor to taste each and every one there during my stay in the historical state of Malaysia, rich with heritage buildings, ancient landmarks, and colonial structures.

Kayanika Fusion

A milky drink that's sweet and creamy with traditional Malaysian ingredients 'kaya', 'gula melaka', 'pulut' and red beans. On appearance, this looked like the most appetizing and intriguing drink to me as it contains all my favourite sweet Malaysian delicacies and a slice of toast to add a bit of a crunch. It tasted just how I expected it to - creamy and milky not too thick and sweet with all the different ingredients combining to compliment each other. I predict this is going to be a big favorite amongst the locals. Unlike the rest of the MoodMojee beverages, you can't consume everything. Just a heads up I don't recommend eating the Pandan leaves! :)

Yuzu Chocolate Surprise

Rich iced chocolate mixed with tangy Yuzu (a type of citrus fruit found in Japan, Korea & China) puree and whipped cream on top rimmed with salt lemon cooling candy to finish off. This is a drink to tingle the taste buds of all you chocolate lovers out there it's like a chocolate milkshake with a hint of citrusy flavour. Personally, I felt the sweetness of the chocolate combined with the sourness of the yuzu puree didn't go down well on the palate but I guess it's an acquired taste that others may like. 

Pom & Grey Twist

A flavoured cheese tea that is a refreshing concoction of mood-boosting Earl Grey tea mixed with pomegranate syrup, topped with a generous layer of chocolate cream and pomegranate seeds. Much different to the rest of the MoodMojee beverages, this is a lighter more revitalizing kind of beverage like a fruity flavoured tea blended with smooth creamy chocolate, ideal for a hot sunny day. Did you know that pomegranate seeds have some remarkable health benefits? Yes, these superfood seeds are packed full with key vitamins and minerals that are good for you and can help fight off colds, boost your heart health, give you more energy and even help reduce the risk of cancer! I envisage this will be a favourite drink for all you health conscious people out there.

Lemon Mint Meringue

A rich lemon mint vanilla ice blended, topped with fresh meringue and slices of candied lemon and orange, which is both a feast to the eyes and to the mouth. For me, as a lemon meringue dessert lover, I was looking forward to trying it and interested in what it was going to taste like in the form of a drink. To my surprise, it tasted just as good as the dessert form! The dollop of freshly whipped and torched meringue on top is sweet, soft and fluffy, melting in your mouth. Definitely one of my favourite Moodmojee beverages a must try! 

Tangy Brew

Rich cold brew iced coffee mixed with the tangy freshness of orange with a mixture of cream and cheese foam on top. The 1st thing you notice when you take a sip is the strong rich coffee taste, immediately followed by the smooth texture of the whipped cream and cheese foam with a citrusy aftertaste. If you're a fan of really creamy rich dark strong coffee, then this is the MoodMojee beverage for you. 

White Chococoffee

A dreamy blend of white coffee mixed generously with delicious chocolate and peanut butter. From the 1st sip, I could sense that this was going to be a sure-fire winner. I love this MoodMojee beverage it's my favorite because I love peanut butter, chocolate, and white coffee, so it ticks all the boxes! It almost has the same texture as a shake and with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and sprinkled chopped peanuts on top it tastes yummy! A definite must try!

you can discover the Moodmojee drinks at these locations

I'd like to say thanks to Anchor Food and Cofeology for inviting me along and hope to be involved again with any future campaigns. These highly Instagrammable Mood Boosting Beverages can be found at the following locations :

Peninsular Malaysia

Choon Guan Coffee Shop & Guan Cafe (Selangor)

Love Tea F&B Living Room Cafe (Johor)

Coféology Café & Restaurant (Malacca)

Overstepped (Kedah)

La Taste (Kedah & Penang)

Lavish Fusion Bakery & HIVE by Love A Loaf (Penang)

Family Confectionary & Baker's Hut (Perak)

East Malaysia (Sabah)

Delight Factory

Chub's Grill

Chiu's Café

Lucky Bean

For more information do follow Anchor Food Professionals FB and the conversations on #AnchorFoodProfessionalsMY #Moodmojee