[Inspiration | Musing] 2025 a quiet storm

Everything happens for a reason, and for good, and much intended by the universe. 2025 was a quiet storm brewing in the distance. We accepted it with grace and eventually grit to weather it. Through the cloudy days we guided our thoughts in the grind of reality, we worked through it, all thanks to the power of love and with an open mind. 

Just breathe, we told ourselves, silently, in the dark, at the crack of dawn, between rumbling sheets and fallen leaves as season changed. Time played witness to our endurance behind the curtains of uncertainty, softly caressing and testing our patience and tenacity, adversity in the face of changing circumstances. We are grateful no matter. 

A change of new locale and environment breathed fresh air and perspective this 2025. The lack of opportunities in some ways forced us into dwelling deeper within, in search of our true ikigai and what is meant for us, the days or coming year(s). How should we live with clarity, intention and meaning. 

A new meaning emerged - CHANGE is inevitable to grow, to transform and to aspire to become a better self, one who can bring value and inspire quiet presence, while dancing in the noise of new big environment and societal pursue of speed, technology and another form of intelligence - way more powerful than we can imagine. Some fear it, others embrace and ride with it. We love to explore new frontiers, therefore found it to be intriguing and powerful, yet we approached it with a degree of reservation and restraint. It gave us a different perspective of working with it, which we are excited about for 2026 and beyond. 

We believe in this new era, true human voice matters more than ever. Let's do this. Make it happen and 2026 is a time we all should be looking forward to - with gusto! 

Wishing everyone a very happy new year of 2026 and see you on the other side of eternal sunshine with occasional cloudy and romantic tropical rain, that comes with a wash of colourful ethereal rainbow - elusive yet alluring, most definitely. 

With love, 

Jeann (Ruohan) 

[Review] Whitening Booster Serum with Green Tea Polyphenols by Novexpert Paris

This is not our first-time experience with this French cosmeceuticals professional skincare brand called Novexpert Paris (here for more). In fact, we have tried out their other booster serum previously from the Vitamin C range, aptly called the Booster Serum with Vitamin C (here for more). This time around, we had a chance to give their green tea infused serum a go - Whitening Booster Serum with Green Tea Polyphenols, one that delivers anti-dark spot effectiveness. It contains EGCG, the most powerful antioxidant in green tea, up to 96% fewer dark spots in less than 2 months! Really excited about that. Here to share some of our thoughts with you.

Travel | World's First Coach Airways Retail Concept Store at Freeport A'Famosa Outlet Malacca

City life of Kuala Lumpur seems like a mundane repetitive repertoire of hectic work schedule mixed with hideaway weekends typing away on keyboards (don't get us wrong, we do love our work dearly and writing, ardently) but occasionally, it can seem to drain the energy juice out of us. We secretly yearn for a short getaway and the universe heed our little call recently with a press invitation to a not-so-far-away tourist land - Malacca, all thanks to Freeport A'Famosa Outlet (here), Coach Malaysia (here) and A'Famosa Resort (here). Yes, you heard it right, the fashion brand Coach, debuting its 2-year ambitious project of converting a 1981 Boeing 747-230B aircraft into a unique retail concept store and cafe to the media very soon. 

The remedy was a weekend retreat, ferried by the brands from KL city on a Saturday sunny morning to Malacca, on a 2-hour bus trip. Follow us on this lovely two-day trip! 

Travel | Courtyard by Marriott Setia Alam | That Executive Treatment Part 2

This Courtyard by Marriott second property in Malaysia, Courtyard by Marriott Setia Alam (here for more) opened its door to Setia Alam residences and business travellers beyond this area with its 225-room offering is poised to give her guests the best treatment! The contemporary chic hotel played host to us over a weekend stay recently. We had a wonderful first encounter here.

Let's continue our wonderful journey, shall we? 

Travel | Courtyard by Marriott Setia Alam | A Class of Its Own For Business & Leisure Part 1

An escapade from the city can be a stone throw away with the NEW Courtyard by Marriott Setia Alam, part of Marriott Bonvoy's extraordinary portfolio of 30 hotel brands, including Courtyard by Marriott. Let's rewind a little here.

2022 was quite a hectic year for us, traversing and adapting to new changes at work and welcoming different kind of challenges. Getting news that a possible staycation right before the Lunar New Year of the rabbit 2023 was quite a pleasant surprise indeed, all thanks to a long-time dearest gal friend! (huge hugs and kisses). The mind had already wandered away to a tropical city getaway way before the actual check-in date! haha 

Finally, the weekend arrived. Saturday late morning traffic was relatively kind to us - we reached within approximately 40 minutes. The colourful exterior of this 4-star deluxe hotel, in the heart of Setia Alam immediately caught our attention. It was looking exciting already! 

Inspiration | The Year That Was 2022

Time feels like a form of betrayal, cheating passed moments, minutes and seconds and we have arrived at the end when the beginning was merely a glimpse of what could have been. 2022 unfolded with such grace, ease, amidst challenges, learnings, growth and self revelation. 

We wish it could have been kinder, gentler but life is not made up of "could have been" but rather moving into the flow, as how we see fit. 

We build upon a stronger character, shield ourselves from here onwards with more tenacity and strength to withstand it all. Loneliness is but a beautiful painting after all, a picturesque view to behold. Wish could go away with you.

Let 2023 be more meaningful and fulfilling, in all aspects of life, for everyone.

Be brave, be beautiful and just be YOU.

 

Double Si · 爱吧定律 (Law of Love) - 郁可唯 （爱的二八定律 电视剧情感插曲 OST） She and Her Perfect Husband OST

With love, 

Jeann

[Review] Herlovito | Clean and natural skincare made with love

We were first approached by Herlovito with their very first clean and natural skincare product - the Original Lip Balm. We love the fact that the brand's mission is to transition and move towards a cleaner way by producing beauty products that are free from harmful ingredients. It's definitely a philosophy that is commendable. We found the 100% vegan lip balm a lovely lip care product to have. Fresh from the tube, the edges might be a little sharp on the lips but after repeat use, the smooth gliding texture and the absence of fragrance made this one a keeper, leaving the pout feeling soft and protected. Here for more.

The brand name, Herlovito was inspired by the Spanish word "lobo", which represents love. That explains the no harmful chemicals, natural and sustainable ingredients and their eco-friendly uber simple packaging. 

Fast forward to 2021, the lovely people at Herlovito (here for more) came up with more beauty products, This time, it was their new Jojoba Hair Oil, Damask Rose Hydrating Mist and Tea Tree Blemish Serum. We felt the roll out of these new items were pretty timely. Let's take a look at them, shall we?

[Review] Back To The Origin | The Notion of A Good Night Rest With Origin Mattress Malaysia

We have a little secret to share - we were having neck issue while sleeping when the MCO lockdown started in March this year. We noticed the problem persisted throughout that stressful duration - must be the sudden change of lifestyle, working from home, extended period of time spending in front of the laptop working those virtual meetings, honestly, it took a toll on us, physically and emotionally. That stress somehow transferred over into the night. The next morning, when we woke up from our sleeps, we had fairly severe neck and shoulder pain. So, we thought, perhaps it was a good time to change our pillow already. The new pillow did ease the issue and we noticed improvement over time. 

So, when we were approached by Origin Mattress Malaysia (they recently launched their Malaysian website at Origin Hybrid®️ Mattress) offered us to give their  Origin Superior Coolmax® Latex Pillow a try, we were excited to give it a go as we are a strong believer of a good night sleep! Not only that, it was also being featured as one of The Best 8 Pillows In Singapore, to boot. So, we slept on it *_^

[Inspiration | Musing] Distancing

Life took a detour and arrived at a place with no name, no identity, no words could have ever described how deserted this stop looks like, an island without visitors. 2020 was, and still is remarkably unbelievable and truly unexpected. The wind looks kind of stagnant, the sky looks awkwardly gloomy at times, most of all, the human hearts turn terribly fragile and inward (can be a good thing when one goes into self reflective mode). 

Social distancing leaves us further apart in physique but draws us closer in the heart, thought and mind. We attempt to embrace the change, the new normal as much as we could. Could possibly pass off as "not too bad", given the circumstances. Life is unpredictable anyway, but was never such a huge surprise that comes with adverse impact to almost everyone, and the world at large. 

A great deal have changed, we fumble, we pick ourselves up, we forge on and continue to look ahead and forward. We hope that everyone else are doing well, evolving and growing. We will say a huge thanks to what we have at this moment, feeling the gratitude and the lesson learnt. Time is irrelevant and has become a luxury. 

Never let what needs to be said unspoken. Now means so much more than the next moment.  

Human are very distinctive and highly adaptable to change. We will be all right after all. When all this has to come to end, or at least, way better, we have healed ourselves with so much hope and love that our strength and tenacity will shine through. We can do this! 

Visuals via LUMI pinterst 

With love, 

Jeann