Weekend Playlist

Don't Kick The Chair // Dia Frampton Everything's gonna get better :)
  Buddy Holly // Weezer Happy Days. Weezer. 'Nuff said.
Top Girl // G.NA Perfect for getting in the mood... to dance, haha.
Closer // Tegan and Sara Another reason to love NYLON. Discovered them from within those glossy pages.

Girl Saves Boy

Book blurb here: http://www.stephbowe.com/p/girl-saves-boy.html

Steph Bowe's earned a solid place in my list of authors whose works I'll pick up in a heart beat, no questions asked. Girl Saves Boy is that good, and perhaps even more. I wish I'd written it in my teens (Steph was 16 when the book was published), but I would have certainly lacked the skill and maturity to produce something of this calibre.

Often, after reading a brilliantly constructed, incredibly breathtaking passage, I'd pause in wonder - not just at Steph's age, but for the fact that many older authors I've read aren't half as elegant. And Steph hits the nail on the head too with many of her observations on society, living, and life at large. Her's is the sort of talent many authors twice her age would kill to have.

I could even overlook the insta-love bits, which to me seemed a lot less contrived upon taking into consideration Sacha and Jewel's devastating circumstances. When two people who have been through so many personal tragedies meet at the hands of fate, you don't really have to scrutinize too hard or question too much the whys and hows; they just become. In a way that somehow, strangely, feels right.

 For a meatier (and more coherent) review, Shirley Marr has written a fantastic one here, which pretty much echoes what I think of the book anyway.

Alive

My latest obsession ♥

If I weren't as dorky and practical, I think I would be a pink-tressed punk rocking out to Green Day and Blink 182 in stompy combat boots.
...Instead of doing that in my preppy clothes, y'know :P

The Chase

"You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers...

As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

I sure hope you're right, Steve. Zeus knows I'm taking my time looking for the right one.

First Impression: Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel

Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel 
[RM32.90, 300ml; Nature Republic]

So here's the story: My friend has been telling me for ages about this marvellous multipurpose moisturiser she uses that has helped tremendously with her acne woes.

I'm extremely sceptical about trying out new skincare products, thanks to my hypersensitive skin that doesn't take well to many commercial chemicals and essences.

On my recent trip to Jakarta however, I met up with her and she promptly noticed how irritated my skin looked. I occasionally experience breakouts that get out of hand, and the signs of these battles take time to heal. Plus, the short plane ride from Kuala Lumpur had taken its toll.

Her skin, on the other hand, had a luminous glow and you could hardly make out any major blemishes - this despite not having a single drop of makeup on.

At that point, I was 50% sold. Never underestimate how powerful word-of-mouth marketing can be. :P

This was taken about 4 hours or so upon getting off the plane on a very early flight. I've got a touch of concealer on.

The product she recommended is from a Korean brand, Nature Republic, and it's their best-selling Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel. Nature Republic's Malaysian website and retail stores stock it.

The tub is rather huge.

If only this was aloe vera jelly... I'll eat it all.

It does have a clean, strong fragrance to it (which got me worried), but it aced the patch test I did on the back of my palm. The gel texture's really cool and non-greasy too - bonus points for that!

Giving this a whirl over the next few days to see if it helps combat dryness, irritation and blemishes.

Apparently you could also use it as a face and lip mask, shaving gel (for the dudes), on your hair and nails, and to repair sun damage.

Isla Dear

Isla on Goodreads

My must-read book of the year finally has a cover! :D

I'm a little bumped it's not going to match the other books I have in the series, but I won't feel too much like an overgrown teen reading this in public - it looks so sophisticated for YA. And I'm not getting any younger.

Not that I'll be carrying it around much since I'm getting it in hardcover.

I'm sure when I'm old and grey and very wrinkled, I'll cringe at knowing I used to adore books with titles like Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After.

Even this last one has got me going, "Really now... Happily ever after?" In any other book by (almost) any other writer, I'll be rolling my eyes in horror and running for the hills.

But I can't wait to read Isla's story! Gonna go preorder my copy on Book Depository.

I've never been able to find these books in local shops, yet. :(

Bits And Bobs

What I blog about when I'm not actually blogging.