After 8 years of using my MacBook Pro 2015 version, I finally changed to the latest MacBook Pro Nov 2024 version. It’s December 2024 and this laptop is basically the latest one one can purchase now. It’s literally just released last month and announced 2 months ago. Haha.

Well, my old MacBook Pro is out of support period for new OS updates. That means it is no longer going to support the latest OS and security updates. As a cybersecurity professional, I cannot imagine myself using a device that is no longer receiving security updates so I decided to just buy the new MacBook Pro. Given that I have used the old MacBook Pro for 8 years, I decided to just go back to MacBook Pro and get the best specs that I can use for my purpose and best value for money. In the end, I went for MacBook pro with M4 Pro chip (with 14-Core CPU, 20-Core GPU, 48GB Unified Memory) and upgraded the storage with 1 TB. I had the 256 GB of storage and regretted shortly after my purchase. This time all the default MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chip come with 512 GB and I decided it will definitely not be enough so I just pay extra and got the 1 TB version. I had to wait for a week before it arrived to me as it has to be configured at the warehouse in Chengdu City before it ships to me.

May Apple continue to support this laptop for as long as possible. At least 9 years maybe? Haha. I got their 2015 version back in 2016 and they supported all the way to 2024. You don’t even get this level of long support for Windows laptop lololol. I think my next laptop change will be in 2033. 😀

On a side note, I noticed I have blog more than 90 public posts for 2024. That’s like a huge jump from before and it seems like I am going back to my old self (pre-dating phase). Definitely loving it! Maybe I will continue to keep blogging and hit 100 public posts in 2024? Haha.

Belated post again but better late than never, right?

I didn’t buy my birthday gift for myself in advance this year but this year I went to the city that I have always wanted to visit – New York. I was reminded by my colleague, Steven, that Tiffany headquarters is in New York. So I went to the store and asked to see their store exclusives. I got 2 heart pendants that are exclusive to New York Landmark store and US Christmas exclusive. I guess that is counted as my birthday gift? Hahaha.

I also got my first ever Coach bag – The Swing Zip in white in San Francisco. I wasn’t able to find it in Scottsdale, Phoenix and New York but manage to find it in San Francisco. It’s like fated for me haha.

I got my birthday cake from Narita airport this time round. I will upload the photo of the cake later. 🙂

I almost messed up… I took free shuttle bus to go Fashion Square shopping mall at Scottsdale and scheduled a return trip back to hotel at the same point. However, the exit was closed because Dillard was closed so I couldn’t exit from there. Luckily I found another way back and was able to find my way out.

I was trying to find my way and remembered my way back in case it was wrong way. All these while trying to come up with plan B to book Uber ride from Fashion Square to the hotel. Then I was struggling to set the pick up point on the Uber app.

Then while walking out and hoping it is the right way, the shuttle bus came and I ran after it and made it in time. Luckily the driver saw me… Otherwise it could be quite scary. Somehow I was able to keep myself calm at that time given that the path is quite dark. Fortunately, there was a group of ladies walking the same path or it will be even scarier to walk alone in that path which is just next to a carpark. It could be quite dangerous for me to walk alone…

I realised I haven’t blog about my skin care regime for 5 years. My last post is in 2019. I have other posts earlier which you can see them here. Some of the old posts are archived though.

• My skin care regime in early twenties – 2014
• My skin care regime in mid twenties – 2017
• My skin care regime (2018 edition) – 2018
• My skin care regime (2019 edition) – 2019

Day care

• Cleanser: Fancl Washing Powder has been my holy grail since 2018. 😀
• Pre-serum: Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum EX has my holy grail since my first post about my skin care regime in 2014.
• Eye cream: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream has been my holy grail since my 2017 post.
• Serum: Kiehls Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution
• Serum: Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum
• Moisturiser: Kiehls Ultra Facial Oil-free Gel Cream
• Sunscreen: Kiehls Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel and Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen
• Base makeup primer: Cle de Peau Correcting Cream Veil which I just started using since end 2023.
• Base makeup: Hermes Plein Air
• Blush: Hermes Silky Blush Powder
• Finishing powder: Dior Forever Cushion Powder
• Setting spray: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray

Night care

• Makeup remover: Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil
• Cleanser: Fancl Washing Powder has been my holy grail since 2018. 😀
• Pre-serum: Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum EX has my holy grail since my first post about my skin care regime in 2014.
• Eye cream: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream has been my holy grail since my 2017 post.
• Serum: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Serum
• Moisturiser: Kiehls Ultra Facial Oil-free Gel Cream

Damage*: S$1767

* I’m following the prices I found online and not the ones that I actually paid for. I always do my due diligence when it comes to buying the products and where+when to buy them. So what I paid for is lesser than what is listed.

Wow, it’s a 65% jump since 2019. Lol, lifestyle inflation is a real thing. Maybe I should say is skin care inflation. Lol. Well, when you are older, you do need to spend more to upkeep your appearance. 😐

Sulwhasoo, Kiehls, Fancl, Round Lab and Drunk Elephant are now like key skin care brands while Hermes, Cle de Peau and Charlotte Tilbury are my go-to brands for daily basic makeup now.

I finally finished the Hermes Le Jardin de Monsieur Li Eau de toilette after about 3 years? Well, to be honest, I only started using it more often last year. It’s my second favourite scent and I was thinking if I should buy it again. Then I went to try the new Barenia perfume from Hermes and it smells really good on me. My SA was telling me when it first launched, it was completely sold out. In addition, it is refillable which was a plus point for me. But then again, the refill and the 100ml bottle is like the same price. The refill is 25ml more though…

Anyway, I decided to switch to the new Barenia perfume and have been using it for the past few days. I have been trying to use my Hermes and Jo Malone perfumes more since Le Labo perfume is really expensive.

There’s this saying that perfume will improving your aura and I think that’s a good thing. I need toxic people and toxicity far away from me. Lol.

Did it help to improve my aura? I think so. At least it helps along with my inner self work too.