life
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The Nerd Chronicles: Volume 2011
I was scrolling through social media looking for inspiration (read: procrastinating) and somehow ended up deep diving in my 2011 photo archives. Big mistake. I unearthed 15-year-old me in all her glory: we’re talking peak nerd energy, a set of shiny braces, and the most questionable glasses to ever grace a human face. At any… Read more
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The Second Heel Debut at 30!
Okay, full disclosure: I’m still not entirely sure what technically qualifies as “heels.” Does it depend on the platform height? The thinness of the stiletto? The specific architecture of the arch? I have no idea. But here is the headline: I got heels. They are officially the second pair I have ever owned in my… Read more
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Why My Standards are as High as My Glasses Prescription
I didn’t always start out having high standards, in fact, I used to live my life in the ‘good enough’ lane — I took what was there, even if it was at the expense of my own comfort because I hadn’t yet learned how to put myself first. Looking back, I can see it for… Read more
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Who Am I When the World Isn’t Watching?
I believe my truest self will appear most when I’m quite alone in my room or anywhere in my apartment, walking from room to room with my cats running past between my legs, and I’m talking to them like they understand me. I would always have a coffee or some cold drink at hand and… Read more
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Memories of Life on Tamworth Road
It was January 2003 when Mama prepared her bags and suitcases ready for one of the biggest moves of her life — to the UK to further her PhD studies. Change for our family of five wasn’t just coming; it was already sitting in the living room, zipped into multiple overstuffed bags. It was nighttime… Read more
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What I Wish People Knew About Being a Big-Chested Hijabi
I once ranted on Threads the struggle of being a Muslim woman and having an “unconventional” large chest while trying to appear modest. I didn’t think much of my post, but it garnered so much attention from the ladies overnight, I didn’t know how many of us are quietly navigating the same hurdles, feeling like… Read more
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How was your weekend?
I went to two friends’ gatherings and siblings outing in the span of the entire weekend. That… is a lot. As I’m typing this, it took me two nap breaks and one coffee order delivery with an extra espresso shot mocha latte to complete. My social and mental batteries are still sitting at 1%, but… Read more
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Why You’ll Never See Me Behind the Wheel (And Why That’s a Gift to Humanity)
For most of my life, I’ve always been a bit of an overachiever. Nobody forced me to become one, I just like being good at what I do. Give me a master’s thesis, a complex group project at work, or a 1,000-page romantasy novel, and I’ll conquer it without breaking a sweat. I love the… Read more
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I tried to find love in a hopeless place (dating apps)
I have many regrets from the pandemic; the amount of money I splurged on mocha frappe on ShopeeFood and Grab, the haircut I gave myself, the hours I spent doomscrolling on what everyone else was doing, unsurprisingly gained weight from the said coffee, and—most significantly—the time I thought I’d find ‘The One’ on dating apps… Read more
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The Introvert’s Guide to Setting Holiday Boundaries (Without the Guilt)
The moment those Raya songs start blasting through the mall speakers and the racks are overflowing with every shade of Baju Kurung imaginable, I don’t feel “festive” — I feel like I’m prepping for battle. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the holiday. It’s just that Raya, for me, is a marathon of social… Read more
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