19 Fragrance Hacks ...by Cosmopolitan

I'm a crazy perfume lover... I can't stand stinkiness (if there's such word). Here are something I found on the internet on perfume management. Enjoy!

If you want your fragrances to last longer (Why wouldn't you?), don't store them in your bathroom or other damp, warm places. 
Heat, light, and humidity will break down the perfume and lessen the quality of the fragrance. Instead, store them in cool, dry spots like on the vanity in your room and away from windows. Bonus tip: Use a pretty cake stand to display them.

Rub Vaseline on your pulse points before spraying your perfume to make the scent last longer.
The ointment, which is occlusive, will hold the fragrance to your skin longer than if you were to spray it onto dry skin.

Apply an unscented lotion before your fragrance. Oily complexions retain fragrances longer, so if you have dry skin, use a moisturizer first to help lock in the scent.

Spray your perfume right after taking a shower and before getting dressed.
The moisture on your skin will help lock in the scent. This will also prevent the fragrance from staining delicate clothes or jewelry.

Don't dab the fragrance on your wrists after spraying.
If you rub your wrists together, you'll force the top notes to disappear faster than intended and as a result make your fragrance not last as long.

Target pulse points and warm areas on your body when spraying perfume.
To make your scent last longer, choose a couple target areas (not all of them at once) from the chart below to spritz. The warm areas indicated will help diffuse the fragrance across your entire body and spraying your ankles and calves will allow the scent to rise throughout the day.

For a lighter scent, spray the fragrance in the air and slowly walk into the mist. 
The spray will distribute evenly across your body and leave you with a hint of fragrance for occasions when you don't want to smell as strong.

Spraying an alcohol-based fragrance directly onto your hair will dry it out, so instead spray the fragrance on your brush before running it through your hair.
Your hair will be lightly scented and undamaged.

Or use a fragrance specifically designed for hair to make it smell better in between washes.

Familiarize yourself with common fragrance terms so you know exactly what the sales associates are referring to when helping you find a new perfume. 

Pour the last bit of fragrance from an almost-empty perfume bottle into unscented lotion so nothing goes to waste.

Create your own custom scent by layering fragrances. 
Spray a few fragrance blotters with different oils and perfumes and smell them at the same time to see if they complement each other. Once you find a combination you like, try them on your skin (your skin oils can alter the way a perfume smells). Spray the stronger scent first and then top it with the lighter fragrance so that the first fragrance doesn't overpower the second.

If you're sampling perfumes and you spray yourself with something you don't like, use a makeup wipe to get rid of the scent. 
Fragrance sampling is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. 

Use business cards as blotter strips for sampling fragrances. 
No need to waste blotter strip paper.

To sample the true scent of the fragrance you're testing, wait until it has dried on your skin before smelling. The first scent you smell as soon as a fragrance is sprayed is the top note, which disappears after a few minutes anyway.

Spray your pillow with calming scents before heading to bed to help you sleep better.

Spray cotton swabs with your perfume and hide them in sandwich bags inside your handbag for quick touch-ups throughout the day. 
It's much easier to carry cotton swabs in your clutch than an entire perfume bottle.

Line your dresser drawers with tissue paper and spray them with your favorite scent to make your clothes and towels smell amazing.

Wrap a scented soap bar in a thin layer of tissue paper and tuck it in your drawers with your clothes to give them a light, fresh scent.

The Little Lost Girl

I was in AEON, near the foodcourt area where I saw a little girl crying.
She looked distressed, lost and alone.
I noticed everyone around was just staring at her, a group of girls talking and probably analyzing.
As I kept walking, the little girl came up to me so I asked her where her mom was.
She was crying so bad, she couldn't even talk. I looked around, and people were still staring, while talking to each other, probably speculating.
So I decided to take the little girl to Information counter downstairs. Someone had to do something.
As we walked, some guy called out and the little girl's dad came to me, muttered a "thank you" and took her away.
Everyone still stared. Kept whispering to each other and gave that "look" as if I was going to kidnap that little girl.

Geez, I don't even like kids that much, why would I kidnap one?

You probably think I would regret it and vowed to never help a little child anymore.

Wrong. People can assume, speculate, judge however they want. Do they know me? Nope.

I don't care what the "society" think. People have always judged and talked nonsense about me, I've become immuned to it.
I dare to be different and will always do what I can to make a difference. No regrets.

Last minute work...

It's been almost 2 years I been working my new post (which I had to write my own appoint letter) and it has been a rollercoaster ride. I got to know important people and important people got to see me at work, which probably led me to the excellence award people are crazy for. However, rollercoaster rides are not fun when you start to feel like vomiting.

I hate being given last minute work. Like, you thought you could do it all, you know, to look all important and busy. Every time I asked to hand me over some stuff to do, this staff would be all "oh no it's okay... I can do it all.." Then 2 days before due, she'd be like "Oh hey, since you haven't done anything, can you please finish this 5000 pages report I thought I could do myself..."

Yeah obviously I exaggerated a bit there... But you get the point, right? Asking me to solve your problems 2 days before due is ridiculously selfish and unprofessional. Why must people over estimate themselves when in the end, others have to pick up their failures to complete their tasks...

Urghhh...! The thing is, this person keeps doing it again and again. I can't get used to this hassle. Everytime, everytime we have to do something important, I end up stressing myself out. Cleverly, this fellow manages to sneak their way in and out all the time. Sigh...

Summary of my 6 month absence

It has been 6 months of absence from this blog. I know I havent been active since I stopped teaching CC503 Traffic Engineering. I guess they decided I suck or something at that and moved me to another course. A better one, in fact. I honestly had fun teaching my new students this new subject.

I guess, having good students is what makes a good lecturer. This semester, I am blessed to teach a group of crazy, funny and hardworking kids. Their attention was undivided, although sometimes a few "ehem..."s were required when they start to talk to each other, ignoring the lesson. But throughout the whole 5 months, I have never felt excited to enter the classes, do my lessons interactive style and actually enjoy it. Lecturing is awesome.

I remember 4 years ago I wasn't as cheerful a lecturer as I am this year. I remember scolding students, threatening to fail them and even made some cry. At one point I realize there was absolutely no reason why I should be a bitch. Teaching is the career I chose for myself. Why not embrace it. Be happy with it. And master it.

After attending KIPA, a course for new educators, I realized this job is more than my monthly income. Teaching should be sincere and fun. I cannot treat the students like how I was treated by my lecturers. I lived in an era where there was no smartphones, no Facebook and access to internet was totally difficult. Those days, we were tough, our hearts were stone hard. We took criticism like eating cake. Digested it like it was nothing. I can't do that with my students. The environment has changed. Internet plays too much a big part in their way of thinking and handling things.

In 3 years I learned to control my emotions and temper. I reminded myself to not say or do things I would regret later. I guess it worked as I don't feel much hatred or resentfulness from my students. There's so much more to learn.

This semester, I am happy.