Gratitude52 Week #4: Raving About Real Estate

When I was 25, I bought the house that I grew up in from my parents. It was probably the scariest thing I ever did. I remember the loan officer looking quite amused because I read every.single.word in the loan agreement before I even signed a single page. He said that he had never seen a customer do that in his entire career. Little did he know that I was scared shitless that I would be signing my life away with this purchase.

I bought it partly to reduce the burden of paying two mortgages on my parents (they already moved to a new place at that time), and also because I thought I was ready to settle down and start a family. It was also because I didn't know any other reliable method to invest what little money I had. I still don't.

Turns out, Life had other plans for me. The long-term relationship I was in had died, while I was stuck with a house I bought for a life that I didn't even have. Hmmm.

It isn't easy owning a property on a single income, particularly when your income is just a bag of peanuts. My hometown had and still has lower than the national salary average, so I didn't make much at that time. Being an impressionable young adult, I did feel envious of friends who could go shopping and travelling while I had to set aside a third of my income for my mortgage installments.  

Fast forward to five years later, the same group of friends I had envied before are now complaining about how they can't afford houses these days.

Do I feel smug? Slightly. I am, after all, just a human being.

But I do want to be grateful that I had the opportunity to purchase a house that I could afford, albeit barely, and that the opportunity proved to be a wise decision. I was fortunate that my parents didn't care much about profits when they sold the house to me. I was also unbelievably lucky that the bank approved my home loan, despite me being young and unmarried.

The area where my house is located is booming now, with new roads and townships built nearby, and if I were to sell it today, I could probably net a little profit. My house is my nest egg, for times when I need a lot of money (e.g. start a business or continue my studies). I wouldn't recommend selling your house to finance your wedding though. A wedding is not an investment. Your marriage is.

Most people think of properties as a way to invest, but not many realise that owning a property will cost you more than just paying off the loan installments. You'll need to pay local property tax every year, and you also need to pay to maintain the house in a good condition. Electrical wirings have to be checked and/or replaced every ten years, for example. But it is worth it, especially if you can double or even triple your initial investment in just a few years' time.

Interest rates are low right now compared to five years before, at least in my bank. My loan has 4.75% interest (BLR was 6.75% at the time of the purchase) while these days, most banks offer 4.2% (current BLR is 6.6%). 

So if you're asking my opinion about the right time to buy, the time is NOW.

The Geek Goddess

P/S: Please consult your financial consultants or institutions before investing in anything. This post only serves as an opinion piece and cannot be used to support your decision to invest. I will not be held liable for any losses you may incur after reading this blog.

(Review) Stuff I Swear By: Collagen Supplement

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Yes, kittens, here's yet another Stuff I Swear By post.

When I started uni, I had the worst acne known to men (ok I'm obviously exaggerating here but it was horrendous!) and my mum marched me down to a skin specialist for a prescription of antibiotics, retin-A gel, and a liquid cleanser. 

Three years later, I graduated with much less acne but the scars remain. When I started working, I stopped my acne treatment regimen because I hate swallowing pills, I was lazy and the liquid cleanser dried out my hands. Frequent work travels also made it quite hard to stick to the routine.

A home beautician I once met told me I only need a facial scrub to get rid of the scars. Maybe she uses an industrial grade one because the ones I've bought from drug stores did nothing for me.

The worst thing is, I used to cover the scars with two layers of foundation every single day. Needless to say, my thick foundation resulted in clogged pores and yeah, you guessed it...MORE ACNE.

So when my old friend Vivi, a medical scientist, shared that her V&N Pure Marine Collagen Powder could help with acne scars, I bought a bottle immediately!

V&N Pure Marine Collagen Powder

As for usage, Vivi recommended that I sprinkle it in cold drinks and also use it as my moisturiser. 

In just two months, I noticed less hair fall and a fairer, smoother skin (I have two comparison photos in my phone, but I am too shy to show my mugshot here hahaha). 

The most wonderful thing about this powder is that it really mattifies my oily skin. I kid you not. During my pre-collagen days, my foundation would start to rub off around 10 am, even when I stayed indoors. With this powder, my foundation stayed on until around 4 pm, provided I don't go out in the hot sun and sweat buckets.

Since it helps with joint pains, I decided to buy a bottle for my mum. She said that it reduces her joint pains, so much so that she no longer takes glucosamine and chrondoitin supplements from the pharmacy.

There are so many collagen supplements sold in the market, but I believe in V&N Pure Marine Collagen Powder for three reasons:

• Vivi had acne problems before but her skin is smooth now
• As a medical scientist, she did her due diligence before deciding to sell this product
• At RM60 per bottle, it is a great value for money as a bottle can last you for a month

However, this product only works IF you are willing to invest the time and effort to consume and apply it. 

For consumption, you will need to sprinkle the powder in a flavoured cold drink. I say flavoured as the powder has a fishy smell that you need to mask, or you won't be able to stomach it. I usually use Sunquick fruit juice concentrate.

As for facial application, you will need to dilute a pinch of the powder on your palm before you can use it. A pinch is enough as too much powder will result in a powdery residue on your face when it has dried off. If you use too much your face will smell fishy as well (you can say goodbye to ever being kissed by your kid or your partner if this happens hahaha).

Anyway, if you're interested to purchase V&N Pure Marine Collagen Powder, just head on over to Vivi's blog or send her an e-mail to order now!

The Geek Goddess

(Review) Stuff I Swear By: Facial Moisturiser

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My face is super oily, perhaps because my daily diet usually includes at least one fried dish (typical Malaysian trait, tsk tsk).

I don't know about you, but for me it's been pretty hard find an affordable moisturiser for oily skin that absorbs easily, and does not feel sticky on your face. 

Which brings me to the next item in the Stuff I Swear By series: my favourite moisturiser.

Follow Me Oil Control + Whitening Mattifying Moisturiser

A few years ago, Mrs Plain Jane and I entered a Follow Me contest online and won a few Follow Me products. One of them is the Oil Control + Whitening Mattifying Moisturiser.

It has a gel-like consistency and absorbs easily. The first time I used it, I remember feeling so relieved that it didn't feel sticky like a lot of oil control moisturisers that I have tried before. As for its whitening properties, my face did get slightly fairer and I had to switch my foundation shade to one shade lighter.

Unfortunately it did nothing to mattify my oily skin. Nada. 

But all is not lost. I did eventually find something that really helped to control my oiliness. Stay tuned for my next Stuff I Swear By series to find out!

The Geek Goddess

A Little Late to the Party

....but better late than never, no?

In case you are wondering what on earth am I referring to here, well here you go: How a Year of 'Grateful' Facebook Posts Changed This Woman's Life

I've always known how blessed my life has been, but as a human being, sometimes I get too caught up in the daily grind that I only noticed negative things. Trust me, I am quite guilty of ranting about tiny things that neither merit my attention nor my energy. The horrid morning traffic, for example. Or maybe a neighbour who just wouldn't stop blaring dangdut songs OUT LOUD.

Isn't it quite impossible to appreciate life if all we do is focus on the things that annoy us or the things that are missing?

I don't know about you, but my life just gets better as I age. I also noticed that as I get older, I get more blasé about things. Let's hope that I can keep this attitude when I've lost all of my teeth and control of my tiny bladder.

Just a few days ago, I discussed this gratitude post with a friend, and she decided that she wants to do a daily gratitude post, like, daily. Meanwhile, yours truly, exhibiting a classic case of laziness commitment-phobia, decides to do Gratitude52, a series of weekly postings about things that I am thankful for.

Now I realise that I am about three weeks late to cover an entire year, but it's ok. I'll just do a post every Sunday from now on.

And to cover the three weeks that I've missed, here are the three things (or people!) that I am grateful for:

1. My mum

I call her almost every day it's a wonder that she hasn't filed a restraining order against me yet. Hahaha!

I am grateful for her presence in my life, especially because she is my No. 1 cheerleader. She believes in me and in what I can do even when I doubt myself. And also because she gave me Life.

2. Lily of the Valley

I've known Lily for some donkey years now. We are very easily amused people, with a penchant for long drives and banana leaf rice. We love stuffing our faces on weekends (but I am the only one gaining weight here hahaha) and we sincerely want the best in life for each other.

If I had to commit a crime, I'd pick her to help me hide the body.

3. The morning traffic

Honestly, I don't know if I am extremely lucky on the road lately, or if other drivers' morning alarms malfunction every day. So far this year, no matter how bad the traffic is, I will either be early for work or just 5-10 mins late, which in my book is the acceptable margin of lateness.

Or maybe it's because I drive like a maniac >:)

So that's it from me, my first Gratitude52 post. Let's hope I can keep this up! :)

The Geek Goddess

Try A Little Tinder-ness

I lived alone when I first came to Red Henna City in 2009. It was a lonely time for me. Almost all of my colleagues were based outside the city, and my only company during night time at the staff quarters were stray cats. 

Nice to play with, but not much contribution in terms of quality conversations.

I was weeks away from becoming a bonafide crazy cat lady when Mrs. Plain Jane, similarly single at that time, jokingly suggested that I join an online dating site. Through such sites, I have met plenty of men, just virtually if they live gazillion miles away, or outside for movie and dinner dates if they live nearby. Some of the good men became my friends until this very day. There were also not-so-nice men, but the worst of the lot were those with fake profiles and really bad grammar.

Four years of on-and-off dating profiles in various sites have passed, and in line with embracing technology, I have decided to try a popular dating app on my Samsung SII Mini:

Tinder

There are many articles on Tinder that you can find online:

• Buzzfeed has one on the how-tos of Tinderland. 
• Mashable has a simple guide on how to score dates.
• This one contains a glossary of useful Tinder terms.

This dummy-proof matchmaking app requires minimal use of your motor skills (swipe left if the profile is bleh, swipe right if you want to contact the hottie) and maximum superficiality. 

I've only been there a week but this video below probably best describes what the experience felt like:

The good thing about Tinder is that you will only get to contact your matches, so your chances of being bombarded by messages from people you have no yen for are super low. There are also so many ridiculously good-looking men on the app. 

The bad thing is, you might not get many matches (or any matches at all) if you or your photos are unflattering. 

I should mention that I am not pretty by conventional or advertising-industry standards. I am a plus-size woman, who wears glasses, a bright smile and a loud personality. I also have jiggly bits that are heading towards Australia as we speak. *curses gravity and fried dinners*

Despite all that, I did upload a few flattering photos of myself in my profile and they show me doing the things that I love: being goofy, having a drink with friends, and going on photography escapades. 

In case you're wondering how well (or how bad) I am doing on Tinder so far, here are my stats as of today:

Number of matches: 

FIVE

Number of matches who responded to my texts: 

TWO

Number of matches who blocked me after realising that they've swiped me to the right by mistake: 

ONE

Number of matches who responded and tentatively agreed to meet up for coffee, only to disappear from my list of matches one day before: 

ONE (DOUCHEBAG) 


Would I recommend the app to anyone? 

• Yes, if you're a tall and leggy chick looking forward to dates with uber-hot males.
• Yes, if you look like me but still want to drool over some sizzling eye-candy.
• No, if you're looking for meaningful connections with real people who know there is more than meets the eye. 

If you're keen to take the minefield app for a test drive, you can download it for free from your Apple App Store or Google Play. 

As for me, I think I prefer date nights with my celluloid boyfriend. 

Yum.

The Geek Goddess

P/S: All pics sourced from Google. Duh. 

(Review) Stuff I Swear By: Deodorant Spray

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"And so you're back, from outer space!"

Recognise the song? 

No? 

Boo.

Seems pretty random to start a Stuff I Swear By post with a line from a song, I know. Here's a confession: I sometimes have jukebox-on-steroids moments, breaking into a song, one after another, for no reason at all. 

Anyway, let's move on to the next Stuff I Swear By item: my deo spray.

Rexona Women Free Spirit Spray

Ever feel icky whenever you apply a liquid or stick deodorant? What about the souvenir that it almost always leaves behind: a white or yellow stubborn stain on your clothes that will never come off no matter how hard you scrub it? Urgh.

For the past three years or so, I have said goodbye to liquid and stick deodorants ever since I found Rexona Women Free Spirit Spray. Good riddance!

My friend Raz, who introduced it to me after I crashed at her apartment for a gin and tonic session, aptly described it as portable shower. I could see (err feel) why after just one spray. It has a fresh scent (see the theme here, kittens? I am quite obviously addicted to fresh scents) and while it is not overpowering, the invigorating scent stays with you all day long. 

However, while it does not stain your clothes, it does leave a sticky layer on your armpits that you have to scrub off unless you fancy dark underarms. 

If you hate sticky deodorants, then this is the absolute product for you.

ZOMG shooooooooo cute!

That's all for now, kittens. Time to get my pretty ugly sleep. Night!

The Geek Goddess

(Review) Stuff I Swear By: Lip Moisturiser

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Hello! It's another Stuff I Swear By post. This time around, I'll be sharing what I use daily to moisturise my lips.

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly

I've always had dry lips that are partial to peeling for as long as I can remember, so I never went anywhere without a tube of lip balm in my bag. My favourite would be a cool, menthol lip balm because of its refreshing scent and its cooling sensation.

About two years ago, my upper lip started to become sensitive to every.single.thing that it came into contact with.

It would start to chap after I ate or drank anything, but the peeling was always worse when I had something spicy as it would look lobster red!

I had to stop wearing lipsticks (boo!) because none of them could stay smooth on my flaky upper lip, and (ok this bit is disgusting) I sometimes picked on the dry flakes in order to make my upper lip appear smooth. In end I would end up with a red AND bleeding upper lip (told you it's disgusting). 

No amount of exfoliating, whether with brown sugar or an old toothbrush, could help my upper lip to stay smooth.

When I went to my doctor, he theorised that I was allergic to the lip balm that I was using and ordered me to stay off any scented and flavoured lip balms for the rest of my life. He also recommended that I stick to nothing else but petroleum jelly as it is not scented and flavoured.

Fast forward to today, I still can't wear lipstick, or eat and drink anything without chapping my upper lip. The chapping didn't stop even after I swore off scented and flavoured lip balms. But thanks to my arsenal of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly (I have two big jars for home and office use, and tiny ones in my handbags), at least I can moisturise it the very second it starts to peel.

Ok folks, that's it for today. I'll write another Stuff I Swear By post soon. Ta!

The Geek Goddess

(Review) Stuff I Swear By: Body Cream

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I'm sure everyone has a few things (or many things!) that they use regularly and can't do without. It could be your signature perfume, a favourite soap, or even a shampoo you've used since you were a baby.

Same here, kittens. But being a cent-savvy shopper, I usually turn to drug stores for my toiletries.

So over the next few days, I will be sharing Stuff I Swear By and why I can't do without these products.

NIVEA Creme

I first used NIVEA Body Lotion during my pre-U days. A lot of my roommates used it, recommended it and I absolutely love the scent!

But I have dry hands and soles, and after a few years of trying other brands of body lotion, I finally upgraded to its heavy duty cousin: the NIVEA Creme.

The word "cream" might be scary to some because you know it's thicker than a lotion. Would it clog your pores? Would it be sticky? Results may vary as it is up to each individual's skin type and personal preferences.

For me, I've used this creme for years, and I honestly cannot think of why I should stop using it. Not only does it smell fresh (I'm not a fan of strong fruity or floral scents), but it really does a great job at moisturising my hands, especially after I wash them. For some reason, most tap water and hand soap dry out my hands, and it's quite an uncomfortable feeling. Blergh.

I have two big fat tins of NIVEA Creme for my usage at home, and also in the office, where the A/C can be quite drying. If you think that body lotion doesn't quite cut it, then go ahead and give this iconic product a try for a well-moisturised skin.

So there you go: a body cream I absolutely swear by. Stay tuned for my next post in the Stuff I Swear By series! :)

The Geek Goddess

Review: Beyond Beauty's 2-Hour Swedish Massage + Body Scrub + Steam Bath on Groupon Malaysia

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Last year, I had promised my lovely friend and fellow blogger Mrs Plain Jane that I would blog about my birthday gift redemption experience at Beyond Beauty. But before that, a little background story:

Mrs Plain Jane and I have been friends since we were 13. She and I used to study in the same school and college until we were 19. Then we both left to study at different universities in the same state across the pond called South China Sea. She now lives in our hometown while I still remain on this side of the sea but we keep in touch regularly via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Anyway, this ridiculously sweet woman had wanted to get me a birthday gift last year and decided a Groupon Malaysia deal was the best option since I could redeem it here electronically. One thing I like about Groupon Malaysia is that they have absolutely amazing customer service. I've been their customer for a few times and whenever I have difficulties or questions, their online customer service staff were always friendly and helpful.

So Mrs Plain Jane purchased a two-hour spa treat for me from Beyond Beauty which consisted of a Swedish massage, a steam bath and a body scrub. I think she's tired of my tweets about how my tired body needs a massage hahaha. Thanks sweetie!

One post-lunch afternoon, I made an appointment at their outlet in Boulevard, Mid Valley City, since it was within walking distance from my office. The Customer Service person was kind enough to call me on the morning of the appointment to remind me of my booking, which was scheduled around 6.30pm if I remember correctly. Reminder calls, in my opinion, benefit both parties: the customer will remember their appointment, and the outlet will not have wasted an empty appointment slot.

After registration, I was asked to take my shoes off and to place them on the shelf behind the reception (there is a wall separating the reception and the shelf). Then I was loaned a pair of indoor slippers and shown to a wall of lockers, where I could keep my belongings locked for safety. The lockers are on the smaller side so if you intend to come, bring the tiniest bag that you have. I am a fan of huge, oversized, Black-Hole-On-Straps kind of bags, so I had to cram my bag into the locker a few times to make it fit.

I was then led to a room, where the masseuse asked me to change into a disposable thong (I have never felt so naked in front of a woman before!), before lying down on the bed for the body scrub.

Disposable butt floss. Highly ticklish.

(photo sourced from here)

The masseuse was a woman of very VERY few words. She didn't explain what was the main ingredient in the scrub, nor the purpose of the scrub. Some customers do prefer minimal conversation during a pampering session, but for me, being the sponge that I am, I've always loved to soak even a little bit of info about whatever I am jumping into. Especially since it involved exposing my naked jiggly bits to a stranger.

After the scrub, it was time for the steam bath. The steam room was tiny and rectangular-shaped, and there was a built-in tiled bench for you to sit on. Being a claustrophobic person, I didn't particularly enjoy the session as the size of the room and the steam was suffocating, and the masseuse did not bother to tell me how long the session would take. There was no wall clock in the room so to pass the time, I kept myself entertained by counting drops of water flowing down the glass door.

Once I was rescued from the torture chamber steam bath, the masseuse gave me a towel and a disposable butt floss thong before directing me to a shower stall nearby. It was so refreshing to have cold water hitting my warm skin after being steamed like a dim sum in a very tiny steamer pot.

Then it was time for the pièce de résistance: the Swedish massage. I did some research (being the nerd that I am) prior to my appointment and discovered that a Swedish massage is just a classic massage that uses long strokes. But hey, Swedish massage sounds a whole lot fancier than just massage, no?

The masseuse used oil in the massage and the massage bed was also heated (electric blanket, I presume) to give me some comfort and keep me warm, especially since the room was cold at times due to the A/C. However, there was a point when the bed became too warm and the heat was stinging. Of course, the masseuse adjusted it once I requested her to do so.

Now I'm a fan of oily massages, although I feel ticklish and painful while my tired muscles are being kneaded. It's an intoxicating combination of pain and pleasure. I recommend going for a massage whenever you're stressed, as they can be quite relaxing, both for the mind and the body. I did feel quite relaxed after the Swedish massage at Beyond Beauty.

Always knew cats are quite kneady. Lol.
(photo sourced from here)

However, I didn't quite like the fact that the masseuse rushed to ask me to sign up for spa packages while I was enjoying my post-massage herbal tea (which was served cold, by the way). It was as if she only bothered to make a conversation with me just to close a deal, as she barely spoke to me during the body scrub and massage sessions.

I personally feel that I would have signed up for a package with them if the masseuse was friendlier and strived to create a warm connection with me from the get go. The outlet was convenient to drop by after a long day at work, after all, and the prices of the packages offered were quite sensible. Unfortunately I have thrown away the brochure that the outlet manager gave me before I left (and yes, she did ask me to sign up for a package, but  at least she was much more friendlier than the masseuse), so I couldn't quote here the prices that were offered to me.

When it comes to spa or body treatment centres, be it for your face, hair or even your body, the average Malaysian will always look for the best bargain. But of equal importance is getting a good experience at the outlet. If you have pushy staff who keep shoving their list of packages into the customers' faces, expect customer dissatisfaction and possibly zero return visits after that. Worse is when these customers turn to social media to share their unpleasant experience. (Yes, I'm guilty as charged lol)

In conclusion, this Beyond Beauty package is worth taking because the price is quite reasonable for a two-hour session and they have multiple outlets that are convenient to visit. My only suggestion for the Boulevard outlet is to improve their level of customer service. A lot of these places demand that their staff be knowledgeable about treatments and products, but customer engagement plays a big part in sealing the deal and a good relationship can lead to long-term business. Be friendlier, engage the customers if they ask questions about their packages (because this is a good selling moment), and sell the benefits of their packages instead of merely focusing on the affordable prices.  

Will I be coming again to Beyond Beauty? To be honest, I've had much better experience at other massage centres but I might be tempted to come again if their customer service improves.

I guess all I can say is:

NEVER SAY NEVER :)

P/S: Click here to view the (now-expired) Beyond Beauty deal on Groupon that Mrs Plain Jane bought for me.

The Geek Goddess