Review: Lave Republic Shampoo + Conditioner Bar

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Peeps, I'm feeling a bit motivated to write. Okay, I lie. I'm running away from writing my thesis actually. In order to neglect my responsibility, I decided to write a review on new shampoo bar I have tried this year. I always have issues with my hair and the shampoo I use, like there's no ending to this problem. My hair condition does not get better, and I got lazier to put more effort. In the end, I will just simply buy things that I think suitable to be put on top of my head and smell nice. That's a shampoo for me. It was not a good decision, but heyyy, choosing a good shampoo hasn't reward me with any better hair. So, might as well simply put anything up there.

However, I stumbled upon an Instagram account named laverepublic earlier this year and I have been eyeing their shampoo and conditioner bars. They claimed that they use natural ingredients and so what not for their products. I am a sucker for things like that. There is a 90% possibility that I will buy things that are organic or natural or handmade. Plus, their mission is to reduce plastic waste. That's why their shampoo and conditioner are in the shape of bars, not in a bottle! 

You know that plastic waste is the main culprit of our sea creatures' death right? Like they eat it and then, their stomach became so full with plastic that will never decomposed and then they cannot eat anymore and then they die. Poor babies. So yeah, I decided to start using less plastic and try the shampoo and conditioner bars as one of my effort to do so.

I bought mine from their website that has no delivery charge for purchase above RM25. Crazy good deal! I bought the 'Good Hair Day Essentials Starter Set' because ermmm it's essential? Honestly, I want the comb. The gorgeous wooden comb. You'll see how gorgeous it is. Wait.

It came in a box like this! The delivery was pretty fast. Placed my order or Monday morning and received the parcel next day evening. so 5/5 for shipping and delivery.

'Good Hair Day Essentials Starter Set' offers these three items. One shampoo bar, one conditioner bar and one wooden comb. Cost me RM39.50 for a set which is cheaper compare to buying the item individually which would be RM45. 

LAVE Republic offers 5 types of shampoo bars. I don't have dandruff problems (thank God, I have enough problems with my weight) yet I chose 'Dandruff-Who Shampoo Bar' because it helps with itchy scalp. And boy, this shampoo bar is amazing!! My scalp doesn't itch as often and I like the smell of it. And I thought that it wouldn't lather up like the normal liquid shampoo but it lathers up like crazy! I like it! It smells of lavender, peppermint and rosemary because those are the main ingredients. I like how the smell actually made my bathroom smells better hahaha. 

Their conditioner came in the shape of square bar. It doesn't lather up like the shampoo bar, of course. It made your hair smooth and silky. For those who has never tried shampoo without SLS and other harmful chemicals, you hair would feel a bit rough but I guarantee, the conditioner will make your hair as smooth as baby's bum. I don't understand myself either why I use anti dandruff shampoo with anti hair fall conditioner but well, it doesn't make me go bald yet, so okay lah kot. 

This is the comb, guys! It reminds me so much of the Southern Water Tribe comb in Avatar The Last Airbender sooooo I chose this one. There are three types of wooden hair comb to be choose,  depending on your hair length. So sturdy, so nice, and with the set, it became so cheap! This comb is RM15 on its own (still cheaper than the average good wooden hair combs' price) and with the set, it's even cheaper.

So tadaaaa. Three of them! If you really really care about producing less waste, you can request for 'naked' bars which means, your shampoo and conditioner bars will be delivered without the wrapping. I love our environment and really want to produce less waste but I like them not naked for now. Maybe I'll try the naked request after this. Maybe. Haha.

I was a bit too excited so I didn't take picture of the items without the wrapping. I immediately took my shower and tried them. But here, an image I took from their website showing the naked products. 

If you're interested to buy, you can go to their website or visit their Instagram account. And oh, the bars last like a bottle of normal liquid shampoo. I have been using it since February and I could say that I only use like 1/5 of the round shampoo bar. I estimate that I will have to buy a new one in May or early June. Let's see. So, if you're thinking to change your shampoo or hair care, I suggest you try this awesome bars. Or, you can check out what else Lave Republic can offer you. They made pretty awesome soaps and scrubs too.

That's all from me, the girl who ran away from writing thesis.

Thanks for reading! 

Things I Have Learnt

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Ayyyy, it's been so long since I last wrote and vented my feelings out. My blog is super dusty, similar to that articles I have printed for reading. Anyway, I turned 24 this year! Yeayyyyy! 24 and roaring. I've been 24 for less than a month but God knows how this year has taught me so many new things! It's April and I don't think that it would be too far-fetched for me to say that 2019 will be one of the most memorable and strange year I ever had. Anyway, I'll list down things that I have learnt when I turned 24. I hope when I reached 25 (if I ever will) I will look back to this list and feel like, ahhh my 24 year old wasn't all dumb and silly.

1.  Manage your time and your life will be sorted out.

This is something that we all have been told since we were in primary school. I am not good with time management. I remember when I was in primary school, I always got scolded by my sister and received stern looks from my parents. I was so slow and I loooooove daydreaming. Hence, my sister called me 'SIPUT' for I moved too slow. I daydream everywhere. In the bathroom, on the bed after showering, during breakfast, while putting on shoes -- all of these resulted in my sister and I being late for school. She was a prefect, so she had to arrive early. She would walk so fast, leaving me behind because she was angry at me and my daydreams for making her late! hahaha

Now that I am older, I realised that time management is important and I only daydream while I'm showering or about to sleep haha. Daydream is good, can't afford to lose it. But yeah, I have managed my time better. I know that I have to do what at what time, when to stop and when to start. Of course, there are days when I just waste my time by rolling in the bed, immersed with novels and 9GAG. But, I tried my best to get back on the track for the next day. I have to juggle between job and writing thesis so I remind myself to always manage my time or I might lose either one, or worse, BOTH. Please Allah, no.

2.  Spending money you earned is a love-hate relationship

This is so true. I know that we earn money to be spent but heyyy, I work my ass off everyday, translating stuff, editing it and updating the drive, so of course I have some kind of relationship with the money born through this hard work. Back in my degree years, I received RM550 for myself every month from my sponsor (Thank you Yayasan Peneraju I LOVE YOU!). I spent them with no guilt in my heart and very little conscience in my head. Like..

Ohhh that shoes look nice -- BOUGHT IT! 

Ohhh new Ahern's novel -- TAKE IT! 

Yummehh Sushi King nyum nyum -- WALKING OUT FROM SUSHI KING WITH FULL STOMACH AND EMPTY PURSE.

Now that I earn that money from my hard work, I somehow think more sensibly. Like I asked myself, is this a need or is this just my silly desire smooth talking me that striking yellow ass jumper will look good on me without making me look like a giant grilled corn? I am still very much struggling to control my silly unnecessary desire, but I think I am getting a tad better at that. At least now I'm checking it with my brain first before spending on things. I love the fact that I now have money to spend but this may sound stupid but, I hate it when I spend it. Women are complicated, I guess?

3.  IT IS CRUCIAL TO SAVE.

4 years of undergraduate study programme with a full-ride scholarship and not a penny saved. Yup. That's me. I was a bit down when I know people who are the same age as me already owned thousands of saving and me ermmm like RM2 in that dusty Tabung Haji account my primary school registered on behalf of me?! Can't even shop a thing at Eco Shop for everything is RM2.10! It was hard to start saving at first. I used to spend all my money and suffer at every end of month. Then I found this one gem -- Don't save what is left after spending, spend what is left after saving. It helps making the saving-thingy a bit easier. Also, I stumbled upon many tweets or articles telling how important it is to save for the future, emergencies and so what not. I kind of realised that these things are true and misfortune never knocks on the door. They just punched your face. Misfortune is a bitch. So peeps, save first before that bitch came and ran with all the money you have in your hand and left you miserable by the street.

4.  Walk you own pace, your own path and look forward.

This lesson taught me to be relax and calm when I feel like I am left behind. I started my Master's Degree in 2017 and still struggling to complete it. I have friend who started later than me but has completed hers. I was sad and feel a bit like a loser but I remember that we all have our own timeline. We have our own path. If you are not satisfied, you work for the things you want. But never feel less because someone is ahead of you. Life is not a race, it's a journey. It's not about who arrive first or last, it's all about arriving at the destination and enjoying things around you. You gotta look forward and stay focus to arrive at your destination. If people's journey around you made you feel disheartened, stop looking at them. But if they motivated, by all means, continue googling them. Wow, can't believe I remember some kind wisdom shiz from some wise books and old bald men on Google. #positivevibes #inspirational

5.  Losing a best friend is a bigger heart shattering event than losing your boyfriend. 

This one, let's just say that I have learnt it, okay? *continues weeping under blanket*

6.  SELF-HELP BOOKS ARE NOT THAT BAD.

They are quite fun. You can gain new insights on things or issues around you. You might change the way you think. You get useful and effective tips!!! My first self-help book is Quiet Power by Susan Cain. How I stumbled upon this book? Well, I did a personality test and I got INFJ as the result. The I at the front stands for INTROVERT. Me? Introvert? LOL. So I retake the test like 10 times and got the exact same result. Time to accept the reality, I guess? I never considered myself as introvert, more like someone who only talks to people I know and stay quiet with strangers but then, the smart people say that what introvert is. Ye lah tu. But anyhow, I wanted to understand more so I googled books for the thing and decided to buy this Quiet Power. Amazingly, I can relate to almost all the stories and almost half of the tips given are things that I have practising in my life.

I have never liked self-help books but after reading one, I think that it's not so bad to start challenging myself to read new things. They are wonderful and some stories are really funny. Not like Sugar-Sammy-funny, more like sopan-jokes-that-make-you-smile-ears-to-ears-funny. But they are alright, really. Give it a go if you have never tried it.

7.  Open door for new people.

I texted with same people, sometimes met the same people I texted and spent my free time with the same people. I always refuse to go out if my friends brought someone I don't know along with them. That was bad and I shouldn't have done that. When my boss whom I only converse via Whatsapp or email asking me to go eat together, I went numb. I am scared of meeting new people. I don't even really pick up calls, especially not from unknown numbers. Just text me, don't have to call or meet me. I don't know what to do but one of my brain cells was extra courageous that day and I replied, "Sure. Where should we meet?" After meeting my boss, Kak Ummu, I felt like I can conquer the world, guys. I met a totally new person for the sake of eating together, not because we have work stuff to do! Wow, 2019 is my year! I am a new person. LOL.

And after that, I went to a BBQ at my friend's house and God knows how scared am I. There were people I never knew existed and how do you talk or behave in front of them? I was freaked out but hey hey hey new Bazilah won't back down ah gituuu. Luckily, I knew quite a few people there too and although I was super awkward at first, it got easier and more comfortable after some times. I guess, I just have to do the things I have to do. Don't be so scared. If I did something embarrassing, just avoid meeting that person again. Haha!

I guess, that's all I have learnt for now? I really hope that by the time I turned 25, I would be wiser and smarter and prettier and richer and slimmer. Aamiin. I wish everyone to have smooth sailing year this 2019 and may you all be blessed.

Thank you for reading!

Adulting

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Assalamualaikum people!

When did you realise that you are an adult? I have known for quite some time that I am an adult and I hold full responsibility on my actions. It is nerve-wrecking knowing that your parents cannot answer for you anymore but it is what life is. You are on your own except for The Almighty. Anyway, yesterday I was once more slapped by the reality of being an adult. I bought my first telekung, ever.

Growing up, my mother basically sewed everything for us, the whole family. Baju kurung, school uniform, the white tudung you wear to school, baju raya, short pants and of course, telekung for prayers or as my family always calls it, baju sembahyang. I love her style of sewing in the face part where the telekung fitted my face nicely and all the white fluffy pretty lace. I remember the makcik cleaners in my primary school asking about my telekung because they said it is so pretty and look very neat in the face area. Anyway, I always love white telekung because it symbolises purity and calmness. My mother thought so too. I never bought any telekung because I love the ones that my mother sewed for us. 

However, as my mother grew older, she picked up new hobby - trying out new telekung from various brands. I don't understand this because she already has a hobby which is just as money consuming which is collecting Tupperware. My mother is really like lot of Malay mothers in Malaysia. Telekung and Tupperware. They can never be separated. But what my mother said also make me see the light -  if you are willing to spend more than RM100 on your daily outfit, why not buy some pretty, expensive and comfortable telekung to see your God? Okay mi madre, you win. 

With her new hobby, she slowed down on sewing telekung and finally stopped. I used whatever telekung she bought for me because she knew the best. Most of my mother's choice of telekung are usually of cotton. Both of us are suckers for cotton fabric because cotton is always the best for everything, except for swimming suit. Wait, what? Whatever. I missed wearing cotton telekung sewed by my mother but I know she won't sew it anymore. T__T

Now I am 23 years old and I have finally bought my first telekung using my own money! LOL like that's a big deal. Well, big enough for me since I have been wearing telekung made by mother or bought by my mother. Hehe. My first telekung is of course made from cotton and white in colour. Like I would opt for any other colours, lewls. I got mine from here! Lemme share some pictures of it.

I don't know that it will come in such hard, magnetic box given the cheap price for a cotton telekung. I like it anyway. And oh, very suitable as a gift.

I think for every purchase, they will give mini notebook and tasbih digital. Again, such generosity for such affordable and cheap price. *insert doge meme*

The face area of the telekung. For the chin area, they use lycra so it stretches and more comfortable for the wearer. The sewing quality is very neat for me. No loose thread can be found. It is very comfortable when you wear and the best part is, the telekung has thicker layer from the head to the chest. I loooooove it! Not sheer at all and you don't have to worry about your hair or ears could be seen by others. Yeayy! 

They have few other designs, but of course, being a boring and plain person, I opted for this basic telekung. I like the think simple lace adorning this telekung because this is all I need for a telekung hehe. Sewed very neat onto the telekung body too. Of course, I love the telekung with sulam tebuk design but well, I can't afford such thing now.

I am very happy with my purchase but I was also a bit melancholic and nostalgic because telekung is something that I always relate to my mother. Realising that I will become an adult with bought telekung, not sewed by her made me feel like I lost something. But, I will always cherish the memories. But if buying telekung means I can experiment with different materials and designs, hehe I am happy to do that too (This is wrong by the way. Don't waste your money!)

 That's it for now. I will surely write more if I have more stories. Cheers!

Thanks for reading!

Bukit Merah

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Assalamualaikum people!

I don't know how many times we have been planning, dreaming and talking about visiting our dear Bibso in Bukit Merah before we finally did it. If it was a free scale marathon, we could have been walking up to Hungary by now given the length of our discussion about our visit to Bukit Merah. Now, our Bibso is a lecturer at a college in Bukit Merah, so she rented a house and we are purposely visiting her to wreck her house (which we did very excellently). Three of us (Na, Anum and me) decided to visit her some time in July. Sadly, Na was back in Cambodia for teaching and that left me with Anum the melancholic girl.

We dreamed of riding the train all the way to Kamunting but the ticket actually costed us an almost return trip to our dear hometown. So, we took the bus. Anum had a series of mishaps to reach TBS but honestly, that story deserves one whole different post. XD. We boarded the bus to Kamunting at 2.45 pm. The driver was very careful, maybe a bit too  careful that he became slow -.-. The traffic was fine and we took a bit longer than 4 hours to reach Kamunting. Bibso was late and we had our light dinner by the burger stand. By light I mean that I had a double special burger. Hihi.

Bibi finally came and picked us up. Guess where we went first? Yup that's right, Aeon Taiping! LOL like we had never been in Aeon, right? But it was special because we were with Bibi. We actually went there to withdraw some money and ended up spending our money in Watson and MR DIY. Anum actually bought a pack of hooks in MR DIY. Imagine going to Bukit Merah to shop for some hooks. Anum, you are actually living a luxurious lifestyle. Not even Rihanna goes to different region to buy some bloody hooks. *throw pom-poms*

Then we went to Kamiria for late dinner and chatted about Bibs' new guy. We decided to call it a night and went home. The night was not really over. We reached Bibs' house to continue chatting and taking turn for showers. I was excited with all the chats but also nervous for my result. It was way too long but we continued until our voices were hoarse. The next two days were packed with activities so lemme share with you some pictures of us.

Our first picture together by the abandoned pool in Bibi's apartment. 

This is Bibi whose house we wrecked and trashed. She drove us around and treated us for lunch. Be like Bibi.

This is Anum. She had some mishaps on her way to TBS but she still smiled. Be like Anum. She slept during (almost the whole) journey to Ipoh. I have changed my mind, don't be like Anum. Haha.

We all wanted to eat the famous Nasi Ganja at the Yong Suan restaurant but by the time we reached Ipoh, it was almost 12 pm and the queue in front of the shop was quite long. Ini boleh menimbulkan amarah dan ketidakadilan kepada organ perut. So we decided to eat at the M.Salim shop and it was goooooood! I picked some squids and chicken with some gravy. No regret at all.

Bibso and me in Family Bundle, Ipoh. We bought two matching hats for RM3 each. We don't know when and where we will be using these hats but we did know that we have to buy them. 

There are like half of my purchase at the bundle. I got two flannel shirts, one chiffon cardigan, one sleeveless cotton top, one pair of jeans, two long sleeves t-shirts, one track bottom, one short sleeve t-shirt, one boxer (too big for my brother but it was so cute with onions, capsicum and aubergines on it so I just have to buy it lol) and of course the black hat. All for RM 53.00. I LOVE THRIFT SHOPS! Thank you Bibso, I will forever enjoy this. 

On our way back to Bukit Merah from Ipoh, we went to eat Mee Udang! So delicious. Anum recommended it to us and we are grateful for such awesome taste. A plate of goodness for RM 7.00. Wait, lemme share the close-up of this goddess.

LOOK. AT. THAT. *telan air liur* I literally finished the plate of mee udang under 10 minutes. The udangs were fat, like me. Heheh.

On the way home, we sang our hearts out to jiwang songs. Anum surprisingly knows lot of jiwang songs. We agreed that she has been dumped so many times that she spent her time looking for jiwang songs that sing her feelings best. Miahaha. We went back to Bibs' house and played few rounds of Charades. Again, Anum surprised us both with her skills. She SUCK at Charades. I'll give you few situations.

Category: Animals

Word: Parrot

*Bibi and I mimic each other, act like bird, sing Kakak Tua song*

Anum: Hawk!

Bibi and I: -,-

*continue acting*

Anum: Bird!

Bibi and I: (excitedly) Ya! Kakak Tuaaaaaa!

Anum: I don't know the word in English.

Category: Animals

Word: Seahorse

Bibi: *shaped her finger to mimic seahorse shape*

Me: Kuda tapi tinggal dalam laut.

Anum: Worm!

Our last morning, we had a small picnic! We had sandwiches, orange juice and drummets. I got pooped on by the bird too bu thank god, the poop did not get into any food. We ate and played some more rounds of Charades. We did kind of well in different categories and went back because it was getting hotter and we could feel the sun on our backs.

Just as quickly, it was time for us to go home. We packed our stuff after the picnic, showered and tidied up a bit. We decided to eat at the same restaurant where we had our first dinner because it was sooo gooooood. We had another laughs in the car on the journey to the restaurant.

These all plus five drinks and three plates of rice, amounted to RM 35++. The portion were all generous. We ordered the tomyam for two pax but it was a lot that we were left with plenty of leftovers and we ratah all the dishes lavishly. We all vowed to eat at the restaurant if we ever come to Kamunting again.

Our last picture together. ;'(

Then we went to Kamunting bus station with heavy hearts. It was sad to part ways but we all have different life we can't simply follow our hearts anymore. But we promised to make time for another visit and try more food. I actually have left my toothbrush in Bib's place in advance. Mihmihmih.

I have no more stuff to be rambled about so I will just make my stop here.

Thanks for reading!

p/s: Cherish your friends!

Grumpy Grunt

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Assalamualaikum people!

It's been so long since I have written anything for pleasure. Life is just so hectic at the moment and I have realised that all the stuff my lecturers said are nothing but truth. Cold, hard truth. 

"You are not a human if you do your postgrad study and you don't even cry once about it" - Prof Juliana.

I always thought that I am very good at calming myself down, working under stress and also balancing all the responsibilities in my life. These all were before I decided to continue Master anyway. I have been told by many people that I am living an easy life, I am never sad or stressed and how little of problems I have. These are all true. Were. Now that I am in my second semester (Thank you Allah for granting my prayers to pass the first semester!), I now know that I am a messy depressed lump of fat walking the earth. Life. Is. So. Hard. 

Next semester will be the long-awaited-moment (NOT) for me to complete the thesis. Freaking uni lied about coursework mode! Urghhh. So this semester, all the second semester students got to prepare the research proposal. My title and all the ROs and RQs were approved in the first presentation. Alhamdulillah. So I went ahead for Chapter 2 and currently working on my Chapter 3.

Now, last week I went to see my tutor and out of nowhere he said my title is not approved. Why. Are. You. Like. This. Dr. I was praised for coming out with a research idea that no one has ever looked into. After two months (and two drafts that I literally sweat my ass off to complete), my darling handsome gentle wise lecturer decided that it is not approved and not worth to be researched. This means that I have to think again about the objectives, the questions, the problems I want to address and all the related theories.

Seriously Dr?

Sooo, like it or not. I have to amend lot of things in my drafts. More like redoing it actually. And it is troublesome because I have other mini researches to be completed too. I have not analyse the data for other mini researches and not to mention study for three upcoming tests. And I have less than three weeks to have all these tied together. For the first time in my life, I am stressed out. I have constant headaches, my hair fall like it's freaking autumn up there, I got anxious for no reasons and I don't eat like how I used to which is bad because I want to lose weight and now I mostly eat whatever consume the least time which lead to me chomping on biscuits or sweet buns which are unhealthy, I know.

Now, with all the works I have, the stupidity in me decide to come out. 

*the stupid in me crawling out*

I downloaded three new games - Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Fight List and Fun Run 3. I am already occupied with Toy Blast and Home Design. I got addicted easily and very determined to score the best. Fight List especially, is my kind of games. I spent hours everyday on it, challenging any available opponents. I am so stupid. I should have known myself better and download all that games after this semester ends.

I really can't wait to end this semester but at the same time I am really afraid if I could not make it through. Whatever it is, life is a gamble and I already feel better by ranting about the hustle I am having now. And I always remind myself that lot of people have it harder. My friends who are doing engineering or medical study will be ten times more stressful than I am. All the best y'all!

Since I feel happier and more at ease now, I will go back to reading and writing for my research proposal and also my other mini researches. I gotta finish that shit up and reward myself with lot of good books later. Stay happy and healthy, everyone!

Thank you for reading!