HOW ARE YOU IRINA?

I've been well /winkwink/

As usual, here's a compiled updates of whatever that happened over the week(s).

1. MOM'S BIRTHDAY

Last week, I managed to spend more time with my mom cause it's her birthday week. So she happened to be the momentary "Queen" and was excused from work; how awesome. I remember how my internship company gave me offs during my birthday week too :')  Companies like that are totally awesome; I absolutely love bosses who know how to place an importance on employee's welfare. 

As much as I love her being home, it's only right if she's home for the right reason. This week, she's home the entire week cause she injured her back. And, I couldn't hang out as much cause I have been busy working. But the good news is, OUR NEW HOUSE'S KEY IS READY FOR COLLECTION! HEHEHEHE Im pretty excited that this is faster than we thought. It's meant to be ready next year. I'm already looking forward to decorate my room!!!!!!!!!!!! HEHE.

So, for mom's birthday this year, the family headed to Parkroyal Hotel for dinner. It wasn't up to the expected standard actually. With the entire grand ambience, I was expecting a better spread of buffet. But when it comes to service, hands down to Parkroyal. The staff are really observant when it comes to handling customer's needs. I skipped New Face finals that night cause of mom's last minute decision to celebrate her birthday and I was sorry that I gave Amelia my word that I'd be there. Then again, bros over hoes and moms over anything thing else in da world. So yeah hehehe.

It scares me how fast she's aging yet... it seems like I don't know how to treasure her enough still :'(

On top of the gift I got my mom, my uncle and I randomly bought a flower before we met her. And of all flowers, my uncle decided to choose this awkward looking loner that's seated in a watering can vase. I didn't think my mom would like it cause I thought a bouquet would look nicer and easier to hold and definitely not as awkward as this. BUT GUESS WHAT?! SHE LIKED IT. SHE LIKED THE WATERING CAN FLOWER THINGY. Holyyyyyy I guess I don't know my mom well still hahahaha.

Yeap, retarded and goofy, that's me!

Was telling my mom, " I could be a ninja in a minute" and there~ hiakhiakhiak

And she said, "You ninja right? Go home yourself" 

lol..... mommy :-(

Two most important women in my life: Granny & Mommy /hearts/

2. ESSENSUALS BUGIS EXPERIENCE

Sponsored post

If you've been following me closely, (meaning watching my vlogs, reading my entires including paying attention to my ask.fm) you'd have known that I dyed my hair earlier on in Sept at Essensuals Bugis. It was my first time at Essensuals then, I was just like any other customer; I did my research and call to make an appointment etc. I've been hoping around salons to see which fits me best from Salon Vim to Shunji Matsuo, and I have to say without any biasness, I really really liked the experience I had at Essensuals Bugis. Note: I wasn't sponsored then so this is a totally unbiased view.

(if you haven't watched this vlog, watch from 06:04 onwards for the review)

 Here's a list of what I thought are amazing about Essensuals Bugis that I, without any doubts, accepted the sponsorship after the first visit. And, if you think I was getting a special treatment during my first visit, you're wrong~ nobody knew who I was cause I was no big shot anyway and they didn't even know I visited the salon then till I told them during my recent sponsored trip haha. 

1. As superficial as it seems, I like hearing a clear and friendly voice when I call to make appointments, and that the person has to know what's going on and have sufficient amount of knowledge to serve the customers over the phone. And yes, Essensuals was very very patient and didn't rush me as they were listening to my rants on how other salons failed me and that I have high expectations. They didn't give me the impression that they wanna end the call asap BUT instead they assured me and told me I could visit them for a FREE CONSULT and then decide if I wanna stay.

2. From the vlog, you'd know, how I like that my stylist, Glenn is such an honest chap.

3. After the consult, I told Glenn, "I'd be back later in the evening after my casting to do my hair. Is that ok?" They were totally cool with it. It was raining then when I was about to leave, and he offered me his umbrella (which I didn't know how to use and I embarrassed myself quite terribly with it). This is not an added service from Essensuals but this shows they did a great job in staff selection & training :-)

4. I'm pretty anal when it comes to this, but hair-washing technique is pretty important; the right water temperature, the right pressure, the right speed etc. The wash I got from Essensuals was soooooo good. I could fall asleep with the head massage haha.

5. THERE'S A MINI IPAD TO PLAY WITH. To conserve my phone battery cause I forgot to bring out my portable charger that day, it was perfect that I could use the mini ipad for self-entertainment purposes.

And few days after my first visit, Essensuals emailed me and asked if I was keen to be sponsored....

HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've never been so certain regarding any sponsorships, so this is a first hahahaha.

Recently, I met Glenn again to have my hair pampered.

 

I had a little trim cause Glenn can no longer stand my split ends hahaha and did the Japanese Spa Treatment. Even after days, my hair is still so so so soft! Ever since I started using the Thyme soap bar which supposedly promotes hair growth, my hair texture kinda changed. It's slightly rougher now and I see the good in the product so I don't wanna stop using it. I'm glad that from the treatment I've received, my hair is back to soft hehehe.

I've friends who tried the treatment and they liked it too!!!!! 

TRY IT CAUSE SO WILL YOU!!!

AND YES, QUOTE MY NAME "IRINA TAN"

TO GET A 10% OFF THE TOTAL BILL!

***cannot be combined with any other promotion, valid for ala carte services only

3. STYLE WEDDING

I appreciate how this has become an annual thing. I did last year's and appreciate that I've been given another chance this year. Last year, at Style Wedding show, something huge happened to someone who's once dear to me and it became a pretty memorable life lesson. In a blink of an eye, that incident which still feels like yesterday... maximum a month ago, happened unbelievably a year ago.

Thank you for those who went down to support and took pictures with me. I was very shy hehehe. I looked so different and I didn't think y'all would recognize me haha.

Off duty model off duty

Oversized blazer from Runway Bandits

I absolutely mad love this piece of outerwear

Thank you hoho for meeting me after the show, I haven't told you exactly why I felt the way I felt that day but yeah.... thank you. Always remember, Irina loves you very much hehehe.

Looking forward to next year and hoping that Style Wedding is part of 2014 hehe.

4. BATAM FOR THE KIDS

 Y'all should have seen how happy I was on insta with the Batam updates hehehehehe. I'm still beaming with joy when it comes to this topic!!! Through my friend, Zi Kun, I got to go on this fortnightly voluntary trip to Batam!!!! I told him about wanting to volunteer in Cambodia and that no one wants to go with me. He then mentioned starting small would be better. So yeah that's how Batam came into the picture hehehe!

It was my first time to Batam. 

And no joke, Batam reminds me so much of Malaysia and my hometown hahaha.

I was assigned to the Primary 2 class. Like I've mentioned on my Instagram post, the kids they don't get to use the colouring materials often. Not many of them actually own stationery. At most, 1-2 pencils and no eraser. It breaks my heart to know things like that and here we are in Singapore, nonchalantly throw our crayons away like they don't matter. 

They were taking a pretty long time finishing this colouring assignment because they wanna seize every second they had with the crayons and I didn't mind. At that time, I just think it wouldn't be a right thing to do, to rob such an important childhood moment from the kids.

So this girl just kept hanging by the window of the classroom to get some candies from me. She's super super cute and smaaaaart. She stayed throughout the Primary 2 class and she managed to pick up the word "behind" and "beside" hahaha. She's probably only 5? And just for that two simple words, I'm happy that I made a difference.

I'm so glad they weren't camera shy hahaha. In fact! They looooooved the camera.

They simply loved seeing the pictures of themselves on my phone hehe so cute.

This girl, Astuti, is soooooooo pretty

I totally love how one by one just joined in hahahaha

I love how they just rushed towards me and hugged me so tightly whenever it's picture time. It's only my first time meeting them and yet they're already so affectionate. They would each salam me before they leaving the class and some of them even kissed my hand..... that kinda triggered the emotional alarm inside me hahaha kids sure know how to steal hearts better than boys.

And thank you, Zi Kun for such opportunity!!!!! Can't wait to do this with you again hehehe. 

Zi Kun told me that day, "Irina, your smile today when playing with the kids is so much better than all the modelling shots I've seen." That struck me pretty hard.

5. RANDOM SOMETHING OFF MY HEAD

HALLOWEEN HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVE.... OCCASION OF THE YEAR AND IM STILL PRETTY CLUELESS ON WHAT TO.... Somehow I've a feeling that things are gonna be pretty different this year considering how my usual crew is not around. I miss Trey ahhhhh~

THIS HAS BEEN BUGGING ME FOR THE LONGEST TIME EVER BUT 

IDK IF I SHOULD ABANDON MY 12GB OF 3G TO 3GB OF 4G!!!! 

DOES 4G REALLY MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE?!

I HEARD IT SHORTENS THE BATTERY LIFE QUITE A LOOOOOT.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?!?!?!?!?!?!

ASK.FM ME YOUR ADVICE PLEASE :-(

OK. THAT'S ALL. TIME TO CATCH UP ON MY SLEEP.

TMR ROUNDS OF CASTINGS AGAIN.

Can't wait for fashion season to be over.