AMPERSAND

First time I saw this brand on social media I honestly thought it was an international brand just set up. Loved everything from their mood boards, colours to their products!

And then I owned my first Ampersand bag! TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH IT!

Why?

Firstly, it's personalised - has my name on it. 

Secondly, knowing how paranoid I am with a lot of things (if not everything), this bag gave me a safe feeling. Not only does it have ample space (I can fit my phone, gigantic power bank, multiple wires, wallet, cardholder, wet wipes, Nivea lip balm, duck's lipstick), it has a zip AND a flap that locks with a buckle. Felt so secured, especially when I brought it to Paris! Not to mention how light it is too!

Right now, I'm super in love with their new product - the CLUTCH! Again, I could fit so many things inside, and took it out for an outing!

And of course I'd share any discount with you guys for you to get hold of these Ampersand beauties! From now till 31st December, you can purchase anything from their website, key in aliaxampersand at checkout and enjoy 10% OFF (on me, you're welcome! lol!).

Have fun shopping! :))

Scarf: @theduckgroup from Fashionvalet

Top: @fvbasics from Fashionvalet

Clutch: @ciaoampersand

Shoes: KARLA from @kuletstore
Trusted Photographer: Aiman Syed Jaafar (sorry he's taken!)

Stay Alert!!

Recently I got a call from a random number, and

...ok wait. A little caveat, I do have to pick up random unknown numbers most of the time due to the nature of my job.

So anyway, recently I got a call from a random number, and I picked it up trying to figure who can it be, conversation went something like this:

Unknown Person (UP): Hello, can I speak to Alia Ishak?
Me: Yes speaking, who's on the line?
UP: I'm calling from the High Court and would like to ask why you did not appear for your hearing in court at 9.30am this morning?
Me: Huh? Appear in court for what??
UP: It seems that you've got a huge overdue payment on your CIMB Credit Card and we would like to know why you did not attend the court hearing this morning.
Me: Sorry what? I work in CIMB and I know CIMB does not do this, so why do you lie to people?

....tut tut tut....

The phone line went dead instantly.

Some people (read: Scammers) out there are out to catch easy consumers - they know your full name, sound very convincing, seems to know a little about you, but really they're trying their luck. So always be vigilant!

I recently read a comment that said "Jahat la Bank these days! Tadi Bank XYZ called to ask me for my IC number, mesti nak ambik duit". First of all, that was obviously NOT XYZ BANK, it's a scammer. Secondly, NO, Banks WOULD NOT simply call you up to request for you to change your personal details. Never be too naive and quick to comment - when in doubt, never oblige!!

And once, a staff of ours asked me a rather funny question that almost did not make sense to believe at all. So his mum received a call from the Bank and apparently the Bank had told her to pay a sum of money to an unknown account in return for a huge amount of money transfer that was supposedly for her and would be banked in to her. I told him it's not's the Bank. It's a scammer.

But by the time he asked me, his mum had made that payment and lost her money.

Again, first of all, a Bank would not tell you to transfer money out of your account in order to allow more money to come in. Why would it? It sounds silly! I mean think about it, who would you even address the Money transfer to? The Bank as the entity is a recipient? A Bank charges you RM10,000 and you are instructed to bank it into an unknown account? It's just unbelievable! Again, when in doubt, call the number at the back of your card!

Be aware of legit numbers too, these scammers have gone so far as to tap legit numbers. For example, if you were to google the unknown number, it says that it belongs to the police, when in fact it is not the police calling. Whatever it is, ALWAYS STAY ALERT!! When unsure and in doubt, DO NOT OBLIGE!

Random Late Night Conversation

Aiman and I had this random discussion recently - how can one find someone else to marry? 

Perhaps our marriage is still young so we've not had moments when we want to kill each other yet. But really, we've gone through ups and downs, fights as well as big quarrels, but at the end of the day, we never go to bed angry. I mean how could you even sleep if you're angry? Don't you feel rimas? Perhaps you'll forgive but not forget and pick it up back in the morning, hahahaha kidding! After all, you stay in the same house. We can't understand how couples can start confiding to other people when really the problem started from the two of you.

Anyway, Aiman and I can get upset with each other but we always talk things out when that happens and come on, let's be honest, we can't go through an hour without talking to each other lol, so borriiinggg after 15 minutes! The good thing about Aiman is, he's not one to terasa - so ok, if we're in a quarrel he'll just go up to me and do some silly dance, I'll find it funny, start laughing and we're ok after that. Or I'll get really bored that it's quiet, I'll go poke poke him to just annoy him and laugh about it and then we're ok. It's really that easy! #sometimesittakesmorethanonepokela

I believe that in a marriage there needs to be a give and take and no ego. You should be able to be damn freaking honest with your partner too - if he thinks I'm fat, he'll tell me. If I think he's fat I'll tell him. And we both don't terasa you know, that's the best way to get through life really, coz you want the best for each other. Most importantly (I've seen many people do this though!), never ever compare your relationship with that of your friends or other people - everyone has different relationship dynamics :)

My Heart is Bursting Right Now

...with HAPPINESS because Shura has just given birth to such a handsome baby boy!!

Ok, countdown to my Melbourne trip now sooooon!

Do we feel entitled?

The first thing I saw in the news this morning was this and it's heartbreaking!

Are we really an ungrateful society? Or are we thieves? Or did borrowers think that a loan was like free money?

Why am I upset? Because these are loaned amount, the money does not belong to the borrower. It is provided to you in the interim, to assist you in achieving something greater. Did one not think that they had to pay back upon completion of their studies?

People have helped you, you should feel grateful, thankful and pay back - slowly but surely if anything. The article even said that 2.48 billion are from borrowers who had never paid a single sen, come on guys! It speaks volume on what kind of attitude these borrowers have! In fact, why is PTPTN even helping ungrateful applicants - there are more deserving people out there.

I wonder what the security system is like, are non-paying borrowers' family member not allowed to apply for PTPTN in the future? Are non-paying borrowers together with their guarantors not allowed to leave the country? Is there an interest penalty for late payment? There should be a system where PTPTN tracks the date of completion (last day in University), and upon completion start doing standing instruction to guarantors. #justanidea

All I'm saying is, PTPTN has helped so many people to achieve greater things in life, achieve big dreams, taken one through higher education - the least you could do is feel thankful and grateful and pay back slowly to the person who had helped you get to where you are today. We need to be a less demanding society and a more grateful one - for we are talking about future leaders.