Goodbye 2014!

2014 is coming to an end, quite a sad ending for most of us.

Tough times are never easy to endure, but always remember "tough times don't last, tough people do". 

Having said that, this year has been quite a difficult year for me personally. From one mishap to another, from one fall to another; I must say that I am actually very very glad that the year is coming to an end. Well, it is all being a part of life, isn't it?

Despite the bad times, there are some pretty wonderful memories that are worth keeping too. Now that I'm bidding 2014 goodbye, I must confess that I've had my fair share of good (and bad) encounters, met some really amazing people, kissed a few frogs (pun intended), took some risks, and most importantly .... I learnt a whole lot! Those are definitely lessons that I'll bring with me for the rest of my life.

I'm definitely not the same person that I was when I welcomed 2014. To those who has been a part of my 2014, thank you for the memories! I'm definitely keeping #mygoldencircle close to my heart and to those who has hurt and disappointed me - well, thank YOU too. "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" (cannot agree more!) and I'm glad I'm so much stronger now than ever before. Nonetheless, I wish you well! :) 

Anyway, here's a recap of my 2014!
*in no particular order

#1. Got involved in my first ever International production! 

#2: Spent lots of quality time with my Juliet ( we decided to change it SALT & PEPPER instead) 

Guess who's who? :P 

#3. Experienced Ellie Goulding LIVE! 

#4. Got to experience Singapore a little more.. and I must say, I kinda like it there! It's my second home now :P 

#5. Met some awesome friends along the way - they bring FUN to a whole new level! 

#6. Still doing what I've always loved doing, and I'm gonna keep doing it! :) 

#7. Met an amazing lady, who's not only a great mentor, but even better friend! :) 

#8. Took the leap of faith and joined Miss Astro Chinese International Pageant 2014 ; didn't turn out the way I expected it to be but I brought home lots of lessons and great memories! (p/s: I'm still brushing up on my Chinese!) 

#9. Took another leap, by chopping off my LONG LOCKS! I'm long hair no more! ;) 

#10. It was a MAD MAD decision, but you know what.. I'm glad I did it and I'm lovin' it! :) 

#11. Dear Juliet (you're now SALT :P), thank you for being there for me during my toughest times and being such an amazing friend/sister to me! It was indeed a MAD year, but we are definitely ready for 2015! Taking over the world by stormmm! ;) 

#12. So glad these goofballs were a part of my amazing year :) 

#13. The year I decided to chop it all off and start anew! Bad juju, away you go! 

#14. 2014 was also the year I got awarded as one of Malaysia's Top 10 Most Inspiring Female Personality. It's all possible because of YOU guys! So, thank you! :) 

#15. 2014 was also the year I got to make it up to my one and only sister! We never really spent time during our younger days, but today.. we're closer than never before! So so proud of my babysis :) 

#16. This girl and I, we go wayyyy back! They say best friends are forever, and I'm definitely keeping this one! 

#17. We both have something in store for all of you in the New Year! Lots of brainstorming and planning involved, but we'll reveal what it is in due time! ;) 

#18. The year I moved 3 times, but also the year I finally got to settle down in my new home. All possible for He guided me through the toughest of times. Amen! :) 

#19. What I've learnt from 2014? 

"Accept what is, let go of what was and have faith in what will be"

And here's to 2015! 

Let's start the year on a right note, give your best in whatever you do, forgive and forget and have faith that ... 

AMAZING THINGS WILL HAPPEN! 

I have decided that I will continue to blog (yes, I had thoughts of shutting my blog down prior to this). But this time, I will be focusing a whole lot on Project #movewithmaggy ; I'm really excited to embark on this journey that I've been working on. 

Have a wonderful year ahead and I'll see you again in 2015!

** with all the bad news happening around the world, it's really difficult for most of us to "celebrate" NYE. My heartfelt condolences and prayers to those affected. To the rest of us, please continue to count your blessings and each time you do, remember to count them twice! 

Love,  

Maggy Wang 

Poh Kong 2014 Christmas Collection

It is my favorite time of the year and definitely the time where most people would have to scout for gifts and presents! As much as I love the Christmas season, buying gifts can sometimes give me quite a headache. But one thing for sure, jewelries and pretty pendants can never go wrong for the ladies! Now, gentlemen, you can thank me later! ;)

It was a privilege to be exclusively invited by Poh Kong to their 2014 Christmas Collection Showcase. 

This year, Poh Kong releases its 2014 Christmas Collection with a wide range of jewelry in an assortment of colorful precious materials. You’ll get to choose from a wide range of pendants, necklaces, bangles, earrings and rings tastefully-tempered from white, yellow, and rose gold, adorned with diamonds and mother of pearl for that extra sparkle!

I must say, their collection this season is one of a kind, and I absolutely love their different themes; from Multiple Joy, Boundless Bliss, Little Treasures, Mickey Magic to Twinkling Ribbons! Each collection has their very own unique design and styles, one isn’t comparable to the other. My personal favourite would be the Multiple Joy and Boundless Bliss!

Multiple Joy series feature stackable rings.

Boundless Bliss series offer bangles and rings that can be worn separately or even combined for added effect.

Fashion Tip - Pair a diamond-infused white gold ring with a classy gold ring, and top it off with a whimsical diamond-studded rose gold ring!

Little Treasures continues Poh Kong’s colourful and vibrant charm bracelet tradition which is refreshed with new designs available in white, yellow and rose gold, further infused with mother of pearl for that extra classy and feminine touch!

Fashion Tip - Connect these charms to the bracelet or wear them as a pendant!

I personally really loved this particular collection that features the CROSS as it has special meaning to me. I thought the size was of the perfect size (especially for us girls), and the diamonds adds on the extra touch to it. Also mostly because I’ve been looking for a perfect cross pendant for myself; and I found it! I couldn’t pick one from these three, which one do you think suits me best? ;)

Apart from the cross pendants that got my attention, the Mickey Magic also did bring out the inner child in me! I’ve always remembered having a Mickey pendant when I was a kid, looking at these right now sure did relive my childhood for a short bit. These are also perfect for those who have always been a Disney’s fan.

Mickey Magic from the Disney collection offers an array of pendants that you don’t need to go to a land far far away to obtain! Be the Belle of the party with the pendant fully-embellished in diamonds, or mix it up with the gold and white gold combination, or the white gold and diamond studded-variant.

Twinkling Ribbons is inspired by ribbon motifs, where swirling and twirling jewellery pieces are made from Rose gold and white gold, encrusted with rows of diamonds. This series is for those who want to make an impression at an occasion! It is available in a ring and earrings set, and an adjustable necklace.

Fashion Tip – Pair the jewellery together depending on your mood!

We also got to visit one of Poh Kong’s Retail Concepts – THE DIAMOND BOUTIQUE which is located a couple of floors above the Poh Kong outlet in Sunway Pyramid. They carry a host of diamond and gems jewelry that specially caters for the trendy urban executive women and diamond lovers.

The pride of Diamond Boutique is HEMERA™ - the world’s most brilliant diamond with 101 facets, a true masterpiece that embodies the 4 C’s of diamonds – Colour, Clarity, Cut and Carat.

Here are some of the jewelries at Diamond Boutique.

Looks at all those diamond rings!

Us sharing a light moment at Diamond Boutique. It's fun hanging out with the MHB girls and we're all pretty down to earth people.

There you have it. Poh Kong’s 2014 Christmas Collection! Well, these pictures probably do no justice to these pretty and precious jewelries, best if you head down to your nearest Poh Kong outlet and experience the magic of Christmas they have in store for you!

With all these beautiful collections readily available, it’s time to celebrate Christmas in style and create some unforgettable moments with your friends and family this joyful season of Giving and Love!

You can find Diamond Boutique at these locations:

Sunway Pyramid

G1.71, GROUND FLOOR, NO.3, JALAN PJS 11/15,

BANDAR SUNWAY, 46150 PETALING JAYA,

SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN.

Aeon Bukit Indah Shopping Centre

LOT G 36, GROUND FLOOR,

NO. 8, JALAN INDAH 15/2, BUKIT INDAH,

81200 JOHOR BAHRU, JOHOR DARUL TAKZIM.

Aeon Tebrau City Shopping Centre

LOT G 42 , GROUND FLOOR ,

NO. 1 , JALAN DESA TEBRAU ,TAMAN DESA TEBRAU ,

81100 JOHOR BAHRU ,JOHOR DARUL TAKZIM 

For more information on Poh Kong’s Christmas Collection 2014, check out their website www.pohkong.com.my or go to their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pohkongjewellers.

If you have Instagram, you can also check out this hashtag #PohKongChristmas

Merry Christmas!

Here she goes...

I’m not sure where to start.

I’ve collected over 10 drafts in “Maggy Writes” folder and none gets published. None. Most of the time I’d write and pour my heart out, but after letting the drafts sit in for a couple of days; they usually end up in the folder for another donkey years. In other words, NOT ’PUBLISHABLE.’ If that word even exist.

This year, in particular has been a full on roller coaster ride. From January till March, then May.. and it went on till June, July… and now October. I honestly thought my streak of ‘bad luck’ would end in August. NOPE, I was completely wrong and it caught me off guard again!

Seriously though, when life throws shit at you; over and over and over again.. you just get so numb with the pain, that you eventually won’t give a shit anymore. Mind my language here but really. You’ll be so jaded that if life is going to give you anymore shit, you could (pretty literally) just take it and mould it into something less.. shitty. I’m not sure if that made sense, but yes. You get the drift.

But then again, such is life. There’s always going to be another mountain, somebody better than you, somebody that’s in a way worse situation than you, after one comes another and it’s going to be an uphill battle. And what do you do? You fight, you fight and you fight. You fight for your life.  And I’ll never forget this one phrase I got from a pastor early this year “If God leads you to it, He will lead you through it”. I guess, God DID give me heads up.

Well, if I look on the brighter side. At least I have a story to tell. A pretty juicy one too! ;) 

And as you go on and live life... you'll meet people. 

Some would come into your life and stay for that little while; and when it's time they leave, let them. If they want to stay in your life, they would make the effort. Some would guide you, some would lead you, some would hurt you, and some would want to love you (and you too, would gladly return the love). 

Some would hurt you so bad that you would spend weeks, or maybe months trying to get over the fact they're no longer a part of your life. But God always have His reasons for bringing these people into your life; to teach you a lesson, to wake you up, and to make you realize. And someday, you would look back and gladly say "I'm glad that happened". Trust me, if you're enduring or mourning for the loss of that someone right now.. my advice would be; embrace the pain because you need to go through this phase. But one day, you'll have to wake up and tell yourself "It is time to start anew!". 

Once you find the courage to do that, amazing things will start happening to you. It might not happen immediately, but it will. I've honestly never been this happy in my life. It's simple, but I'm contented. I don't have a lot, but I have enough. I don't have a gazillion of friends, but I have a handful whom I truly love and trust. That to me, is more than enough. Sometimes in life, we ourselves tend to complicate the simplest things. IT IS WHAT IT IS. Remember, 

"Everything happens for a reason; right person, right time and always for the best reason" 

I'm not sure if you've seen my latest video on my recent elimination from Miss Astro Chinese International Pageant 2014. Yes, rejection sucks. Being called "FAT" and "OBESE" sucks. Truth be told, all the criticisms I got hurt my confidence pretty badly. But what can I do? Cry over spilt milk? Complain? Badmouth whoever that threw those words at me? NOPE. I mean, sure.. I do have the option to make a video and rant and complain about everything that happened.. probably the easy way out to release my anger but, I would much rather channel my anger into something better. 

Something that could also perhaps spark inspiration in others. Something that could perhaps make others feel that they are not alone, and that I, too am going through the same. I won't elaborate too much on this topic; perhaps in my next video, or blogpost. But if you haven't seen the video, check it out! :)

I'm actually writing this with a pounding headache. Had the sudden urge to write. I'm just so random like that. And hence, the super sporadic posts throughout the year. Speaking of which! Something's brewing my in mind.. and will keep you guys posted! 

Much love,
Maggy 

Maybank Humanising Banking

Maybank.

I’m pretty sure this conglomerate is no stranger to us all. Even more so if you’re a Malaysian. I, myself have been a loyal customer for as long as I could remember. I remember being a YIPPIE user when I was a kid (pretty sure you could remember the really cute cartoon tiger on the front of your bank book?).

Needless to say, Maybank is one of the largest banking & financial group in the country and they recently turned 54 years old! Yes, that’s how long they have been serving us. 

In conjunction with their birthday, the Maybank team went around Malaysia from 12^th till 30^th of September for a very special cause. They traveled miles just to surprise their customers for making it possible for them to go this far in their journey. Well, talk about true hospitality! Big kudos to the MAYBANK team!

All of these are actually a part of Maybank’s ongoing campaign and effort to #humanisebanking. Yes, humanise banking. I personally think that’s a really good move ; to instill corporate social responsibility is something that many companies they lack of but clearly not Maybank!

Their long standing customers were given token of appreciation, as well as those customers who walked into their branches. What a sweet surprise! Maybank even ran the extra mile to visitor their customer’s homes to deliver personalized and customized tokens of appreciation. Giving instead of receiving on YOUR birthday? The Maybank group is truly a giver! What a humble motive. It is definitely not something you see very often these days.

Having said that, it is little gestures like these that make the biggest differences. Hence, making Maybank one of the World’s Strongest Banks!

I recently stumbled upon this video by Maybank regarding their ongoing campaign. It’s a shame if I don’t share it so do check out the video below. The looks on their customer’s faces were absolutely priceless! Definitely one of the best birthday gift Maybank could receive from their customers; the look of happiness and satisfaction!

Bravo and Happy Birthday Maybank!

Debudget.com Cafe & Bar

Weekends are the days I most look forward to. Simply because, a nice place to chill and unwind after overworking for the week is all I need. Conversations over some drinks and good food; that’s my perfect kind of weekend wrap up. I’ve had a couple of bad experience with cafes and bars, overpriced menus and under satisfactory customer services, those aren’t unusual these days. Therefore, I am usually very particular with my choice of cafes. 

With Debudget.com, you’ve nothing to worry about. From affordable menus, scrumptious food and a whole lot of savings! What exactly am I talking about? 

DeBudget.com is Malaysia’s first online pre-purchase café bar, which offers customers a concept somewhat similar to that of budget airlines – the earlier you buy, the more you save! Now that’s music to my ears! This is absolutely genius! 

“So, how does it work?”

 Say I want to meet up with my buddies at the DeBudget.com outlet in IOI Boulevard (there are more outlets opening around the Klang Valley and beyond soon!) for some drinks and dinner next week. I just head over to http://www.debudget.com/ and check out the deals on offer, place my order, pay as I would any online site, receive the QR code on my smartphone, then on the day of my visit just show it to the staff at the outlet, redeem my drink and enjoy with my friends! Easy pleasy and done in less than 5 minutes.

Say I didn’t like the prices at the IOI Boulevard outlet on that certain day, I could simply select another outlet or another date to see if the price is lower. Just like booking a flight – the price increases as more seats as booked or in this case, the price increases as more drink packages are booked on that day. I have a more detailed run through at the bottom of this post.

I was invited to the special friends & media preview of the very first DeBudget.com outlet at the IOI Boulevard in Puchong, Selangor along with some of the girls from Malaysia's Hottest Bloggers (MHB), and check out what we discovered! 

The interior is a chilled out bistro cum cafe environment with pipped in music that’s not overwhelmingly loud. You don’t need to shout to have a conversation while the tables are spaced out nicely to ensure you won’t hear your neighboring table’s conversation.

There are some comfy sofas to lounge around in or for those of you who prefer playing some darts, there are two (2) electronic dart machines.

And of course, live performances to live up the mood! They sure know how to keep their customers entertained! 

Drinks wise, there is a large selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks from you to choose from. As DeBudget.com is a GAB outlet, expect the usual draught options – Tiger, Guinness and Heineken. If you’re there during the daytime, you can also try their selection of coffee (latte, cappuccino, espresso, etc. etc.), teas, smoothies, fruit juices, soft drinks, and mocktails or if you prefer something with a little more kick you could try their cocktails, as well as the wines, liquors and champagne.

Priced affordably, there's an array of food selection that would surely tickle your fancy.

I had the Chicken Chop all by myself and I must say, it was really really finger lickin' good! You can see it at the way I was smiling, I couldn't wait for the chow down! 

Not many people would expect to see fresh oysters available in a bistro but of course DeBudget aims to break the mould. The oysters are available seasonally and are extremely fresh and huge! In fact, I’ve never eaten such huge oysters before!

Original Recipe Chicken Drumstick – RM16.00++

This is a must try dish at DeBudget. Crispy and flavourful chicken drumsticks that are great as a snack or even as a main depending on how hungry you are. But trust me – order one plate for yourself otherwise you might find yourself fighting over chicken drumsticks with your friends!

Carbonara Pizza – RM23.00++

Spaghetti Aglio Olio – RM20.00++ (seafood variant)

Beef Lasagna – RM18.00++

Spaghetti Marinara – RM20.00++ (seafood variant)

Chicken Chop – RM18.00++

Assorted desserts

Food aside, the girls and I were having a jolly good time catching up! Been a while since I last seen most of them. Duty calls, but hey, that's why we all love weekends! Catch up and some girly time is never a bad thing! 

Karen, Chelsea and Sarah's satisfied faces after a good dinner! 

XPack offers always the lowest prices for you to have fantastic outings with your favourite people. With XPack, plan your night out and be the early bird to enjoy great savings on our huge range of drinks! Psst! Prices start from RM10.00 onwards daily limited to three (3) packs per person.

Choose from one (1) Tower of Tiger draught (2.5 litres) OR 4x Pints of Guinness draught OR 4 Pints of Heineken. The earlier you buy the cheaper it will be (this is similar to the budget airline concept which is so popular and successful these past few years).

Do note that the XPack is strictly for consumption at De’Budget.com outlets and cannot be taken away (I’d really like to see how you’re going to ta pau home draft beer…bring Tupperwares or Colemans??? Lol).

If beer is not your drink of choice, fret not as there are special promotions for liquor, wines and even champagne which you can purchase online as well.

There are many bottles including crowd favourites Johnnie Walker Black Label and Gold Label Reserve, Hennessy VSOP, Belvedere vodka, Moet & Chandon, as well as single malt whiskies, tequila, bourbon, Bacardi, gin, and red and white wines.

Buying online is really fast and simple:

1. Select your desired outlet and date of visit

2. Choose the items you want

3. Complete your online purchase by making the payment. Payment can be made by either using your credit card or debit card (which uses PayPal secure payment gateway), or by using your PayPal account. After the payment is successful, you will be emailed a QR code from debudget.com which you simply need to show on your smartphone at the outlet on your chosen date. No need to print out any vouchers. Really simple and convenient if you ask me!

4. Go to the outlet on the selected date and enjoy your drinks!

Remarks: If you want a lower price and it’s not available that day at that outlet, just select another outlet or another date and see if it’s cheaper. It will come very naturally to you as you’ve probably booked airline tickets many times before online. Same concept. Just a different product.

Thank you Debudget.com for having us! I had such a good time enjoying the food, drinks and not to mention, awesome companies! You should totally go check it out yourself ;) 

Look out for the 2nd De Budget outlet which will be opening in Sunway Giza, Kota Damansara in June 2014 and they will be having some really awesome opening promotions (such as RM10.00 for a tower of beer on the launch days!).

More info on De Budget at http://www.debudget.com/

Or follow them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/debudget.comcafebar

Email: info.debudget@gmail.com

DeBudget.com Puchong is located at:

Lot No. F-G-21, IOI Boulevard,

Jalan Kenari 5,

Bandar Puchong Jaya,

47170 Puchong,

Selangor.

Operation hours: daily from 10:30am to 2:00am