"International" Wedding Fair

The International Mini Wedding Expo

The so called "International" wedding fair is overrated by the media's. Remember years ago there's this wedding exhibition held at the mall where vendors from Malaysia, Singapore and all over came to promote their business with photographers, bridal boutiques and all. It was the boom because I still remember up till now about it. This? Sadly there's only few.. Only two photographer participants from Taiwan/ Singapore "Blue Bay Wedding" and "The Feline Bridal" from Singapore. Forever blooms is handcrafted clay floral flowers also from Singapore. Weirdly; carpets from Iran (?) and bridal arch, some vendors promoting their door gifts. 

I wish that they will think about something BIG.. you know how wedding in Brunei happens like every sunday or saturday night. It will be great that ALL bridal boutiques in Brunei participate. In that way people know the bridal boutique exist. Promote their business! That goes the same to photographers, not only the professional ones but also those newly established business. All the pelamin vendors, gather all the make up artist in Brunei, the designers (?), Florist, Catering, Tents... I'm sure it'll turn to something big and helpful for all the bride to be too. 

Anyhow, despite that small international exhibition.. I got hooked up by one photographer with the packages they offered. It's from the feline bridal in Singapore. They have this tempting package that offers a pre-wedding shoot for $1888! The usual price is $2988. The package includes an outdoor transport, make up and hair do for bride and groom, hand bouquet, free usage of wedding accessories, up to three changes of attire for both, 20 pages of 15'R storyboard album, 20 pages mini album, 1 choice of bed top canvas, and 1 table top like 8R size and dvd copy of the photos taken. The package also include a 3D2N hotel! Tempting right? So we discuss with the lady in charge on the deposit and all, they asked for a minimum $50 deposit to lock the package price. The great thing about it was.. we have like 5 years to do that wedding photo shoot. So even after our wedding we can go to singapore and get photographed with the package we deposited. Without thinking any further, we (me and my girls who's getting married soon too) sealed the deal on the spot because we were tempted with the idea of taking photographs around singapore. Raffles Place, Marina Bay Sands etc. 

Came home... I did some google research about this Feline Bridal... and... I'm left now worried. Read some bad reviews about Feline Bridal and the service they will give when we came there and many more reviews. Sigh. I think we rushed into things but I'm trying now to stay calm and positive. Told the fiance on the package I just sealed with and he suggested we do the photo shoot after the wedding when money is no longer tight and no restriction in photo taking ehee. Good idea! So it'll be sometime in December i guess..  *fingers cross*

So far updates on my wedding preparation is currently nil. I haven't even complete the pomander ball yet because Hokko ran out of that particular flower *pfft* I haven't even start DIY-ing my proposed guest book yet, I also planned on DIY-ing family corsages but I'm slacking.. I contacted my door gift vendors in Jakarta and it'll be completed sometime around 25th February in time for me to arranged the shipment on my march trip to Jakarta. 

HAPPY 27th NATIONAL DAY BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

"Negara Ku Brunei Darussalam"

Semoga Negara Brunei akan sentiasa dalam lindungan Allah dan sentiasa di rahmati.. Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin... 

23rd February 2011

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

This is something totally random and just for share apart from wedding preparations and sorts. This post is ALL about EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL.

Photo Courtesy of Beauty for Chocolate
The kind that i bought from Supa Save =)

YES! The kind used for cooking pasta and the oil that you dip crusty bread.

So I stumble across a blogger I forgot whom about extra virgin olive oil as A MAKEUP REMOVER! 

Me being so curious and loving the fact that using something pure for the face, I tried it few times already with heavy make up and light make up. The results? Marvelous! I must say it is one the best natural makeup remover I found. I’m not the type that use makeup removers excessively, unless I padded on heavy make up and foundation but I usually use Estee Lauder make up remover or Stage after party make up remover. I’m not very picky and particular as long as it can wipe out the entire make up leaving my skin healthy is fine.

I bought a bottle of Extra Virgin Olive oil, the ones that you can get in supermarkets. Dapped the cotton pad with the oil and I used it directly to my face, it quickly removed all my make up though, it took a little longer to remove the waterproof eyeliner, but it came off eventually. Yes, my face got oily and sticky but it didn’t bother me much. Then I tried to use the Estee lauder makes up remover just to spot check if the oil is doing justice, and YES! It did. No make up residue left in the cotton pad. Then I washed my face with the face wash I’m using, left my skin softer compared too usual and moisturized.

Anyhow, with the power of google, I search for the nutrients, searched for reviews about extra virgin olive oil. Magnificent! This Extra Virgin Olive Oil do wonders to absolutely everything. Well we all know that olive oil is the best oil and most healthy but what it did to the skin? Got to love it.

Photo Courtesy of Google
Stage Make up Remover.
Very good and worth the buy! 

Photo Courtesy of Google
Estee Lauder Make Up Remover is also Good!
Been using it for almost 2 years before i moved to trying Stage.

Olive Oil…

• Has natural vitamin A & E providing strong antioxidants that help repair and renew skin that has been damaged from overexposure to sun, air pollution and other modern day environmental.

• hazards like smoking of fastfood.

• Claims that has anti-aging effects

• Very good natural moisturizer for dry skin

• Reduces the pore size in our skin

• Smooth out wrinkles is the eye and around the face

• Great conditioner for hair, eyelashes helping them grow and stay soft despite daily use of mascara.

• As an exfoliate; by mixing olive oil and sea salt in a rub and massaging it into the dry and scaly skin can remove the dead skin and enrich the healthy skin beneath.

* For even better results. It is best to use cold pressed extra virgin olive fresh oil.

Then I moved on goggling about the health benefits when consumed.

• Key to weight loss! Yes, by using those regular oils in frying, cooking is fatty right? Bad fat. Olive oil? Good fat i.e. weight loss healthily.

• Protection against heart disease due to its high content of antioxidants nutrients it helped control the cholesterol level.  So consuming about tablespoon daily for a week can help reduces that cholesterol level and prevent from heart disease.

• Protection against colon cancer

• Lower blood pressure

• Prevent and reduce Alzheimer’s because this disease is associated with the clogging of arteries caused by cholesterol and saturated fat so replacing fats with olive oil will do wonders.

• Lower the risk of gallstones because olive oil promotes the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones naturally.

No reasons to hate olive oil readers…

I love it to bits! 

Thanks google you made my day.. =)

Cut Some Slack

The DIY Pomander rose turned out lovely i.e the colors but failed to complete. I bought the styrofoam to big and the roses were insufficient to cover half of it. 

I'm too lazy to go to hokko with due to payday and many reckless crazy drivers on the road so I will go there sometime next week to commence back where I left of. 

If I'm not mistaken it was last two weeks that me and my girls went to visit two wedding boutiques to search for the perfect color to wear on our sanding day. We all went with our fiance to get their opinions and what color suits them best and we girls went together to prevent any color clashes. The first boutique we went was in Kiulap. Load of varieties of songket to choose from and what i like about it this boutique, it's arranged accordingly to colors. However, we had a small argument there with the person in charge and cancelled out that boutique. We're now down to two choices. Then we went to the well known boutique in Mabohai, all of us came out happy and content. =) I found the perfect color for our morning reception ceremony and booked the songket for further discussion with the personals. 

Then the wedding preparation just stop there. Last week I did not even flick through my wedding book, did not go to google and search for inspiration. Noting. Just blog hopping on brides to be blogs. 

Eh wait, well I did a little. I went to Miri, Sarawak on Sunday and bought flowers for the decoration on my guest book corner. I hope the "guest book" corner will be utilize efficiently because you know our culture don't really get the "write down a note for the bride and groom" bit. Well, that's not the point, i went to Miri in search for the Foam flower roses. Cinta, situated at Mega Hotel do sell foam rose flower but it's not what i expect, noting near to what i bought in Hokko nor what Wedding Tiara bought in Sabah. Set aside those foam flowers, they do sell very nice artificial flowers too, lilies look great and real. Trays? saw this new arrival trays which i assume is the "in" thing now selling for RM$65.30 each. I will update on the picture soon after I sync my phone. But damn, that's expensive for a tray. At Miri, me and the other half went and browse for bedroom sets, mattress and lighting. Love some, hate few so we will decide along this few months either to execute the plan or continue searching. 

I'm cutting some slack with this wedding preparation simply because it has caused a lot of stress to me. I'm not the only one feeling it but my girls too. Thinking about the planning process, the financial issues.. yea talk about how expensive wedding nowadays are got into us madly! To a point where I told the other half, "Can we not talk about wedding?" and Alhamdulillah, I feel better and at ease. 9 more months to go and out of that 9 months I don't wish to talk about wedding everyday right.. there will be at least a week or two that sums up to around 1 month you've got to cut some slack. I'm not sure if other brides to be is feeling the same way like I do. I'm as excited as all the brides to be too. We all want our wedding to be near perfect right? 

I'll stop my ranting. 

Wishing all the chinese our there Gong Xi Fa Chai! Happy Wabbit New Year  =) and have a lovely holiday.  

DIY: Pomander Rose

First of all Thank you so much to the feedback i received on the Artificial flower i.e the Foam Roses. I received overwhelmed response and I'm so grateful.. ='')

So as Cinta mentioned that Hokko sell the foam roses, i went to visit there today and have a peek to Hokko pricing and all.. i found out how much the trays were sold at hokko and I'm not sure if that's cheap or pricy. Tempted to buy since it's 3 for BND$28.00 but you know how trend goes over the months... I'm afraid by the time my wedding on October this will be outdated.. so i hold my patience on that..

Trays sold at Hokko. 3 for BND28.00.

So i did managed to get the foam roses for BND$7.00 after less. The original price was $7.90. One stalk of the white roses as shown in the picture only has 6 flowers of size approximately 2.5"diameter and the dark pink has 10 roses in one stalk of size approximately 1.7" diameter. Yes it is pricy compared to elsewhere.. imagine i have to DIY my hantaran and the other half 30 dulang all together.. how many flowers may i need? For sure BND$500 can fly so fast one.. 

The Foam Rose and the ball... 

I know it's pricy and no way I'm buying them there for the hantaran deco but i bought 2 stalks of the dark pink roses and two stalks of the white roses for....

Photo Courtesy of Google ;)

POMANDER ROSE BALL! or when i googled, known as Kissing ball.. 

Tempting bah this pomander ball and can't help to try out.. the round sponge i bought in hokko is approximately 25cm radius cost me $5.00 after less. $5.50 is the original price.

LET THE DIY PROJECT BEGIN.... 

will post the update soon after i find my glue gun! ;)

The purpose of this pomander ball? If it turns out great I might do another 4 for my bridesmaid or maybe for my one and only flower girl. ;)

Artificial Flowers

I spent almost 5 hours now surfing the internet searching for the correct keywords for the particular type of artificial flower material. Mission failed! I've been seeing a lot of hantaran decoration now a days used this kind of flower and since i'll be decorating my own hantaran for me and the other half, I need to purchase some artificial flowers. I'm searching for this kind... as shown in the picture below..

Courtesy: from some local blog.. ehee

Macam real kan?? Yatah I've been searching everywhere here in Brunei if they sell this kind of artificial flower.. went to the economy mart but nada... went to happy star pun nada.. di mana lagi ah?  I'm not sure in Kuala Lumpur, Miri Sarawak, Indonesia where ever.. where about do they sell these kind of artificial rose flower.. exactly like this one! It looks real and the texture pun nyaman, very soft and not silky. Sweet bah kan? *sigh* Di manaaa oh di manaa... 

I also like this design for hantaran... *angan-angan* Lawa kan?? I'm wondering fresh flower or artificial tu? If it's artificial WOW! looks real lah... Or is it me? I can't really differentiate now.. i guess i've been staring the laptop for too long... 

Photo Courtesy: Zafie Zainal Creation.

I'm really hoping that i'll find trays for hantaran on my next visit to Jakarta... I was told if in Kuala Lumpur, Nilai 3 or at Semua House? I never been to Nilai 3 or Semua house.. so i don't know where exactly.. when i went to KL, only went to Jalan Masjid India.. go to that batik malaysia place... haven't really discover malaysia much.. ke Jakel lagi nda pernah.... reading all the bride to be from Malaysia buying their chiffon beaded there sounds so tempting too! ... I did browse for trays like the ones in the picture in Brunei, the small one saja harga BND$30.00! alum lagi yang besar tu.. everything is so expensive... 

*mengusut* I'm in my mengusut mode.. 

Bride To Be Resolution

I know we're on the 2nd week of January and I've just made my resolution. 

Me, as a bride to be in October... 

will..

1. Try to focus on the NEEDS more than the WANTS.

2. Try my very best to stay within budget because.. it already went 10% above expected. *sigh*

3. Make loads of DIY project such as the corsages, guestbook, room decoration to save $$! 

On a 2nd note.. 

I'm down with a flu and fever..  =(( no mood to blog..

Have a lovely weekend lovelies <3

This and That

I don't know how brides to be managed to plan everything in less than 6 months! I have to salute those brides that can pull of her own wedding preparations in such short time!

I can't believe that my wedding will be this year! I kept mentioning at vendors, tailors, videographer that my wedding will be next year not realizing i am already in the "next year" i.e 2011! Less than a year to go for preparations and the other half is also starting to get the preparation vibes.

Bride's to be.. whatever preparations that needs to be done.. the one most IMPORTANT thing i can't stress more is WEDDING DATES! because all the business deals is all about time! Alhamdulillah we decided on a date so bookings can be made pronto without any hiccups *i hope*

For my Make up Artist, Alhamdulillah i've sealed the deal with few MUA as recommended by friends and family members. For my Akad Nikah & Hantar Berian is already booked! Leaving me two minor events for Berbedak Siang and Muleh 3 Hari..

As for the search for videographer..  Thank you so much to Dinda. I've found the one i love and managed to contact the videographer, sealed the deal. Deposit will be done this sunday! I even recommend the videographer to my best friend and she even sealed the deal right away. Thank you again dinda.

Videographer in brunei is still limited so i rely on dinda side toggle to search for one =)

1. Adam Groves  <3
2. Masamichi Studio <3
3. Cinematicpro  
4. Songket Tiara
5. Snowberry Studio
6. Rajul Adli

As for my wedding attire, I've bought textiles from Indonesia and will drop by the wedding bridal boutique soon when the other half goes on leave. =) 

• Majlis Akad Nikah & Hantar Berian - Still pending probably in March Jakarta trip
• Majlis Berbedak Siang - DONE! need to get quotation and send to tailor
• Majlis Berbedak Malam - DONE! need to get quotation and send to tailor
• Malam Berpacar - DONE! need to get quotation and send to tailor
• Majlis Bersanding - NEED TO GO BRIDAL BOUTIQUE SOON! 
• Malam Ambil-Ambilan - Pending probably buy textiles in Jakarta Trip.
• Muleh 3 Hari - DONE! need to get quotation and send to tailor

As for my shoes that i'll be using on the events... ALL DONE! *lol* See, this is the FIRST thing that is completed! Shoes! Alahai just when i thought that i won't purchase any shoes... well i did... 4 pairs to be exact! i have a total of 7 new pairs of shoes waiting for the perfect time~ So no more shoe shopping or shoe testing or whatever goes along shoe fitting. I bet you ladies understand the love.. the feel when the shoe just fits perfectly and for not buying it? Is such a pity to see the shoe being display not having an owner yet.. hahaha 

As for my Doorgifts... gahhh too much to talk about.. might talk about this when march comes along.. so  many!!! 

As for my Wedding Invitation... I'm still searching for a place in Brunei that offers considerable price. Yes you can call me Karit i.e Stingy. But I'm not spending more than B$1.00 for my wedding invites. I just feel it's such a waste to spend more than that when you know once your event is done, it will be thrown away to trash. Might as well use that money for something else worthy. Initial plan was to make the invitation in Jakarta. I even had the one that i love brought back with me BUT with the hassle of emailing, money transfers, the cost of ticket and all sorts. It sort of balances out don't you think so? Then had thought of making them in Malaysia but again, the excess baggage! 

Eh macam macam lagi kan d buat ani eh.. kepisan! 

Take care lovelies! <3