Body Beautiful Secrets

Hey loves, it's been a while, huh? Finally Sem 4 is over and I now have the time to sit down and just...blog :) Lotsa stuff to update!

One of the more exciting highlights, I'm one of the Top 3 contestants for Watsons You Awards Season 4 Body Beautiful category.

We heard from the organizers that out of 4000 over participants, the Top 3 of each 8 categories, which makes it 24 of us are the lucky chosen ones out of the whole lot. Which makes me feel really lucky, happy and excited to say the least! :)

So being a Body Beautiful contestant, we're asked to share beauty tips on how to become Body Beautiful. When you hear the words, 'Body Beautiful', what ideas of beauty come to your mind?

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Could it be the ultra thin beauty?


Victoria Beckham

Famous for her super skinny petite frame.

Some find this beautiful. Do you?

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Or the bootylicious, curvaceous, and vivacious?

Beyoncé who invented the 'Bootylicious'

Kim Kardashian

Loved, envied or hated (by her Kardashian sisters. they always call her fat) for her curvessss.

Truth is, they're not fat. They're just well-endowed front and back *ahem*. And when you are, it's hard to look thin!

Is this your idea of body beautiful?

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How about the girls who are not as well-endowed?

Keira Knightly

She's a stunning, stunning beauty, just not so well-endowed, and that has been an issue in the Entertainment industry. Look at what they've done to King Arthur's poster. Severely edited and enhanced to suit the society's idea of beauty. Keira was pretty upset about constantly having her photos edited to get her looking more 'womanly'.

But truth is, she is a real beauty with or without those graphic enhancements.

Is she body beautiful to you?

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How about the tall and slim modelesque figure?

Seems perfect, ain't it?

Tall, thin, baggin' a fair size of 'boobage & bootie', no signs of cellulite, etc.

Btw, Miranda Kerr is my all-time favourite model. Love her for her cute face, dolly features, and versatility.

Is this your type of body beautiful?

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What about the pretty face, picture perfect, proportionate body, BUT petite and shorter girls?

Hayden Panettiere

Many guys' dream (at least many guys I know). And as you can see she's not really skinny.

But there's a problem, she's not your typical tall All-American girl.

Standing at only 5"1, which is 155cm, height doesn't seem to be an issue to her self-esteem and career. She is much celebrated and people adore her, for her.

Ultimate girl-next-door, aye guys? ;)

Is Hayden your idea of Body Beautiful?

All the girls above all have different body shapes and sizes, weight and height, cup sizes, and if they ever stand in a row beside each other, it'll be an interesting sight of wide variety.

But there is this ONE thing that they have in common:

Confidence.

They're known and proud of being who they are.

Skinny, curvy, tall, short, big-breasted, flat-chested, etc etc.

That's something I learned, to always be confident and proud of who I am. Be real & natural no matter where you are or who you're with. Be comfortable in your own skin. That makes you Body Beautiful :)

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Now I'm sure you've heard of this phrase:

"There are no ugly women, only lazy ones."

To a certain extend, this saying makes a lot of sense and it's true! Imagine, you're a real beauty with all the God-given goodness. But you do not trim your hair, brush em', trim your brows and other unwanted hair, make sure you smell good, etc, your natural God-given beauty will be a little hard to be noticed.

Since you're already naturally beautiful, why not make the best use out of it and enhance your best features? You only need to put in a little effort :)

Now, there are a hundred and one steps to being Body Beautiful, from skin care regimes, down to healthy diets and exercises.

Since it's been a pretty long blog post already (teehee...),

I'll only share one Body Beautiful tip today.

We'll start with the basic and the essential.

Body Beautiful Tip #1: Hydrate & Moisturise!

The SKIN is the largest organ of the human body *gasp* Oh yeah it is! Many know how important it is to care for the skin (face), but many are unaware that our body needs to be hydrated and constantly moisturised all-day everyday!

Especially in our beloved country, Malaysia where the sun is always bright and shining and most of the time, scorching! You don't have to be under the sun too long to feel the heat and sun burn. All these does a lot of damage to your skin.

And if you're like me, who cannot tolerate heat and you always love to shelter yourself in an air-conditioned room, then using a body lotion is more than ever necessary!

And if you're always busy driving around from place to place and your car is your second home, you really need to moisturise your skin, as being in a confined air-conditioned place dries your skin faster than you can ever imagine.

I use NIVEA's Express Hydration Body Lotion and it works so well on my skin.

Why I love it:

#1: It's as express as it promises to be! Being the busy bee me, express is the way to go. I don't have to sit and wait for the body lotion to seep into my skin. The moment it's applied, voila! It's well-absorbed and it stays tightly in my skin throughout the day.

#2: It's small, easy-to-carry, travel-friendly packaging. They have a variety of sizes for you to choose from. This size is for easy-travelling. You can easily slip it into your tiny girly-girl clutches and bags, and guys can even slip it into their pockets!

#3: Its fluid texture & oh-so-nice fragrance. I love that it is so easy to apply! Unlike some body lotions that turn hard and flaky after a while, this stays fluid and its fragrance is a plus, plus point!

So there you go,

Body Beautiful Tip #1: Hydrate & Moisturise.

And time to do a little campaigning. *ahem! shy*

If you love what you read and want to see me win (Oh, please do! :P), don't forget to drop me a vote at Watsons You Awards app:

https://apps.facebook.com/watsonsyouawards.

You can drop a vote a day. Hope you could help me win! *pats eyelids* :))

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more Body Beautiful tips ;)

xoxo

love, careen

Heart on sleeves at quarter after one.

Hello there :)

Just finished an assignment rush the entire last week. It was a mad rush.

Lack of sleep- skin deteriorate, weight loss. Hey, the latter doesn't sound too bad, does it? ;)

Had to deal with possibly one of the most fun yet tedious subject for me- SOUND. Sound is SO technical. Gotta kowtow to all the sound engineers out there.

Editing became fun once I knew how to go about it :) The problem was the quality of my sound recording. How do you deal with static sounds and 'air' sounds?? It's annoying.

Anyway, it's done and over with :)

More major assignments ahead but for now, let's just take a breather, shall we? :)

Appreciate it when photographers make the effort to make me look pretty in pictures.

Love the whole feel of the photo :)

God has been great to me.

So many blessings and opportunities keep pouring in, til I have no time to pick everything up. It feels surreal that He really answers my prayers and helps me fulfil my goals each time. He never fails :)

It's been less than 2 years since I stepped into freelance modelling, emcee-ing, as well as commercial shooting only since beginning of this year. Seeing how far I've come, I only have God to thank...for bringing me to the right people, the right friends, the right agents and clients, the right connections. It all just happened. Thinking about it all just, amazes me.

I'm not super successful or top at my field. But for the little time and effort put in due to the many other commitments I have in my hands, it just feels so natural and effortless that things just come by, without me having to strive for it.

If it's not God, then who?

Many think that it is not an industry safe to step into. It could be, but in my experience, it really depends on how far you're willing to go/what you're willing to sacrifice to step up. If you want it bad enough, you'll give in and compromise. So, it depends, really.

But to me, this is honestly just momentary. I'm enjoying every single bit of it. I love my job, but I don't intend to dwell here forever. Have got long term plans which excites me each time I think about it :) Thus, I'm not willing to work so hard for things. I already have everything in place. I have the love of my life, my beautiful family, my wonderful church.

Why sacrifice? Why jeopardise?

Knowing the industry especially in Msia. Uh uh, it's not worth it.

Which explains why others are at the top while I'm not. I just don't see the point of giving so much and pushing so hard. This is not what I want to do for life, and I'm not desperate for the money. I'm content being the girl who is picky with her jobs ;) Yes, I'm boring like that.

Crossroads in life.

Family or career?

I don't know why but it's becoming clearer to me everyday :)

Perhaps.

love, careen.

Mother's Day 2011

When i was still fairly fairer.

My tan from the awesome Redang Getaway is recovering but I still look red & tanned. Some say it suits me. Kinda like it too but hopefully it doesn't affect my job & castings!

It's Mother's day weekend!

A time to celebrate the huge, unconditional & massive love mothers all around the world have for their children and everybody else.

Lied to my mum about working today which made her so disappointed. But turns out, I gave her a surprise Mother's Day monologue presentation at church today and she was really happy & touched :) wish I could make her feel this way every single day. Minus the tears though cos then it'd be hard on her eyes! I love my mum :)

Our Round 1 of Mother's Day celebration tonight.

Round 2 tomorrow.

Hehe daddy's so gung-ho on celebrating for mummy.

I have such wonderful parents.

Queen of my heart. Everyday.

She's really someone who's super simple, yet beautiful inside out :)

It's really a difficult & daunting task to get my dad to take a nice, proper picture.

Me: Dad, you're aware that these photos will go up to Facebook & everyone will see it right?

Dad: Huh??? *sits straight and gives a proper smile*

Hahahahaha!!

I love my cool & awesome parents :)

Introducing my littlest sista.

Told her to smile and she gave me this.

Me: Evangeline, smile.....

Evan: *angles face, and strikes the pose above*

Me: Smileeeeee......

Evan: *still holding the same expression and angle*

Me: Err....okayyyy.... *snaps*

Look at her Smizing away, yo....

Smize= Smile with ur eyes ;)

She's my sweet sweetheart :)

Take a time-out from your Twitter, FB and give your mum a tight hug & wet kiss today.

She deserves it more than anyone else :)

Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful souls who warm the world with your generous love. Love you all...

love, careen

11 Days into April

It's been 11 days into April.

Time flies so fast that I gotta sometimes lie in bed for a few more secs to recall what day it is, and when people ask me what I've been up to, I gotta think hard to recall all the things that happened. Time fliessss...

...or maybe I'm just ageing. *gasp*

April is sorta a month where I take things a little slower. Jan-March has been a whirlwind of working hard and working harder. Since uni started in March, I've been taking less jobs to focus on assignments.

Speaking of assignments, for this Sem, we have an assignment due every week. Up until the end of the Sem.

Yay or nay? Is it better to balance it out every week, or to have it all finished up in one go so that we could at least rest for a week or two. What do you think? :)

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A lil update on me life.
Worked for F1 Speedzone. Handled the registration for an event attended by more than 7000 ppl! Phew!

At the end of the night I could literally say, 'Ticket and IC, please' in my sleep!
But of course I didn't. I think.

My beautiful friends. Justina & Jane.

A little eye candy for ya ;)

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Did a shoot at Putrajaya over the weekend.

The Palace of Justice is indeed a nice place for photoshoots. No wonder it's such a popular location for group shoots :)

Let me introduce to you my favourite green, lace dress, and my favourite 5 inch heels :)

That's all for now. Gotta go back to assignment mode.

8am class is SO NOT COOL.

love, careen

Backdated Posts #1: CNY 2011

For the fact that I don't have to wake up super early tomorrow,

and also that I don't have to really rush after I wake up tomorrow,

here I am attempting to relive my page :D

February's been great!

A relaxing Chinese New Year celebration with the family and bf, reasonable number of jobs, few projects coming in.

Slowly feeling the pressure but I always balance it back with excitement.

It'll all be good ;)

So let me start from where I left off- CNY!

Didn't take many photos though. The bf came for a visit!

That's me acting cute.

And that's the bf's 'Austin Powers' pinky finger.

My stoopid strand of hair wanted to leave the crowd and stand out. SIGH

Stoopid strand of hair!!?!! New parting maybe...

Love our couple chekereds :)

That's my very happy gramma with the bf :) <3

And those are the bf's clean nostrils :P

Have got LOTSSSS more to update that I seriously don't know where to start. Starting from CNY is a good start :P

I'LL BE BACK!

p/s: Thanks for still dropping by though I'm 90% of the time absent! *mwahs*

love, careen.

What will I be?

Lied wide awake all night just thinking about my future.

I couldn't sleep. As much as I told my myself to stop thinking and start snoozing, I was actually happily relenting, allowing my mind to wander, and dream, and roam free.

I felt so sure about what I wanted to do...for the first time. Started to visualise and I felt excited. Felt so confident about my choice that it scared me. Doesn't happen usually as I'm always weighing the pros and cons, that up until now I still cannot make up my mind.

But when I woke up this morning into bright daylight, into reality, doubts started to sink in again. I started to be unsure and afraid. Feeling unable to measure up, doubting if I'm cut out for it.

When will I ever be sure?

When will I ever know?

But Daddy, you've been faithfully giving me opportunities to 'test-run' my ambition.

Guess I'll know after all is said and done :)

love, careen.

Thank God for you, you and yes, you.

Reflections.

Dear Father,

Thanks for always reminding me to cherish the beautiful things in life.

Thanks for slowing me down when I accelerate on the journey of life.

Thanks for always reassuring me, whether it's by your Word or through your people.

Thanks for always protecting me, blessing me, and loving me unconditionally.

I really have nothing to complain about. My life's beautiful.

I have a great Father in heaven who is da' man...always there to welcome me back to His arms.

I have great parents who work so hard to give us a good life, always sacrificial and tolerant with our behaviour, always there to listen and comfort and love, always supportive and believing in us.

Mum & sis.

I have great sisters (of all ages!). They teach me how to lead, how to guide, how to be patient (oh yeahhh), how to love, how to pamper, how to be a sister.

My sisters love the fish eye function :)

Evangeline is a little aunty!

In her cool LV-looking transparent pink bag:

Diaper, a pair of clothes in case of emergency, and a milk bottle.

She brings it with her WHEREVER she goes. And she takes good care of it :)

I have a great boyfriend.

Selfless, supportive, faithful, sacrificial, generous.

Gladys ALWAYS has to be in the lemonlight......

He is truly one of the greatest hearts I've ever met. He's genuine, real, and he always seems to have everything put together. He's funny, humorous, isn't afraid to show his true self (sometimes too much i.e.: farting *ahem*) or to be embarrassed.

He's a genius, smart, brilliant. I can count on him for anything (especially when it comes to settling bills and stuff. maths is so not my thang!).

I feel so safe being with him. I feel so loved being with him :) <3

Thank God for sending him into my life...

I thank God for placing me in a wonderful church.

More than being the coolest and most happening church ever, it has become my second home. Spent the past 4 years there and I never regretted at all. I've become happier.

It's a place where I encounter God, where I grow spiritually, where I learn how to be a better individual week in, week out.

It's where I realise my passion, unleash my talents, increase in creativity & capacity to serve God and people, have the faith to step out of my comfort zone to do the things that I never thought I could achieve. I am where I am today because of City Harvest Church KL.

It's where I come back to God again, and again, and again.

It's where I will get married at and grow old at. A place where my own family will find refuge in the future.

That of course includes my cell group, subzone members, church friends and leaders. They make church life wonderful.

As well as friends outside church, working friends, extended family, and many more. I thank God for each and every one of you. (yes, all of you come across my mind as i'm writing this)

Don't be scared okay, I'm not plannin to commit suicide after I write this post. Just realised it sounds like a suicide note. Hahahaha I just thought, it is never be too late giving thanks and telling people around me that I love and appreciate them :)

If anything unexpected happens, at least you know that I truly love you :) This is my temporary home, and therefore, I'm not scared to go. Because I know that there's eternity beyond this life. But in the meantime, I'm enjoying every single bit on this earth.

As I grow older (and wiser? hehehe), I look at life from both sides now (wah sounds like the song). I'm aware of the ugliness of politics, the unfairness of this world, discrimination, poverty, conformity of life, death, and just how fragile life is.

I choose not to be ignorant, yet and at the same time, I choose to be positive. I choose to see the beauty in people and things, I choose to be happy, I choose to give, I choose to love, I choose to smile, I choose to laugh out loud. That might explain why I behave like a crazy girl sometimes.

On a random note, thank God for all the GOOD FOOD on earth! As well as the people who prepares them. Cooking is an art I've yet to master...yet la yet. Soon la yeah soon :P

Finally had my favourite green tea ice cream last night!

Dome's mushroom soup for RM15++.

Is it worth? Well, for the HUGE portion, yes.

But a tad too salty?

Lazy to go find more pics of good food I consumed in my lifetime..sleepy already :P

In a nutshell, I love this life that God has blessed me with.

All the things, and all the people. I'm thankful for all of you :)

love, careen.