Ahhh…My Favourite Chocolate Price Gone Up! Starbucks & Nescafe..cut, cut, cut the cost away!

With the recent increase of petrol price, every other daily item seems to be having the chain reaction. One of the items price increased is chocolate.

I don’t eat chocolate often. But there are times I really crave for it particularly when my ‘sister’ visits me monthly. And I only eat certain brand and favour. Among the chocolates that I love is the Cadbury Black Forest. Only Black Forest.

Before the increment of the price, I could easily afford RM2.40 – Rm2.60 for a bar of chocolate depending on the stores that I visit. I limit myself to the small chocolate bar. Reason? If I got my hands on the big bar, I could finish it in one night. No jokes!

And tonight, I craved for it again I drove out to the nearest 7 Eleven store nearby my house just get my hand on it. To my surprise, the chocolate now cost me RM2.90. I wanted to complain but I couldn’t. All I could do was to walk straight to the counter and pay for it, and rushed out before I sulked in front of the counter girl.

The recent petrol price increase affected many people lifestyle including me. One of my lifestyle is patron Starbucks outlet almost every week. There are times I patron the outlet more than 3 days in week as I want to follow up my work or surfing net leisurely till midnight.

Now, I really feel the pinch. I have to cut down such luxury expenses this month onwards. As an alternative way to save cost, I am currently scouting at the current telco broadband in the market. Yet, I drag about it because I do enjoy sitting in the Starbucks outlet. I feel free not having trap myself in the house and not having to ‘layan’ my husband calling for help “dear, dear…where is my stocking…” while I am typing away. Grrrrrgh...often my ideas stop because of him. And yes, I am grumbling about him right now. Well, husband mah…I can’t ignore him right?

Another item that I may have to forgo is Nescafe. I can survive without having my breakfast in the morning but I couldn’t let go of my Nescafe. Every morning, I would stop by the sundry shop to buy a can of Nescafe. Last year, it cost me only RM1.60 or RM1.70 a can. Due to the increment of general dairy products, a can of Nescafe now cost me between RM1.80 to RM2.00. While I don’t mind paying for it this past few months but now I have to reconsider it. I might as well just do my own Nescafe at home and pack it to consume during the morning jam along MMR2.

Whatever it is, this sad scenario is just a beginning. Perhaps we should listen to Pak Lah to live life moderately. Or are we choosing the right government?

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Stacy the Champ of AF6!

I hope is not too late to write about this. Anyway, Stacy is still hot in the market...:)

In the past seasons of AF, I would selectively choose the concert of the week. More often, I tuned out the TV when the singing and performance were totally out. Or I would just watch the final concert just to know who won the title of the Season. And yes, I have had never vote anyone during those seasons.

Stacy won my heart. I tumble upon the first concert of AF6 when she sang “No One” by original artist Alicia Keys. I thought, well, not bad. At least she didn’t sing off key or unpleasant to the ears of mine.

Subsequently, I miss the second concert. I didn’t bother to watch the video clip in youtube either.

Then, I watched the third concert with rock theme. Stacy was okay with “Pelesit Kota”, however, I was more impressed with Mama Rina performance. Mama Rina showmanship was superb. Period.

Again, I miss the following concert and straight way watched the fifth concert where it was Stacy’s best performance, “Makluk Tuhan Paling Seksi”. I was hooked and impressed by her. It ignited me to watch all her past performance. At that moment, it dawned to me that “Wow! She is a performer.” “Rela” was one of her best songs. Since the, I have been religiously following the entire AF6 concert until the final just to watch Stacy’s performance. And yes, I voted for her with my supposed allowance and claims.

Frankly, I have never heard “Makluk Tuhan Paling Seksi” before. I left the local entertainment since secondary school. I have been sticking to international music particularly those of American music. During my years, I can only remember Sheila Majid, Francisca Peter, Dato’ Fauziah Ahmad Daud, Jamal Abdillah, Emma, Alleycats and Allayarham Sudirman. Those were the good old voice like wine soothing your vine. The last local album I bought was Zainal Abidin “Hijau”. Since then I have stopped following the local music scene. Only Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza tattooed my heart all the way particularly her single “Cindai”.

Anyway, I was extremely happy that Stacy sang one of my all time favourite song “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt. This song may not be very hard to sing. However, the way she sang in her own interpretation of emotion sent goose bump on me all the way.

I was very impressed with Stacy’s performance “Gembita Hidup Ini” although it wasn’t one of my favourites. Should you listen carefully to the lyrics, you will realize that this song required variation of emotion and Stacy did it excellently.

While she failed to delivery “Beat it” and was criticized. She didn’t meet the expectation of the judges. To me, her English was flawing. To her fans, her energy on the stage was, nevertheless, superb. At least, she didn’t mime the song! It was a classic song and for God sake it was MJ song! Her fans was stomaching in tight knots and cold sweating for her that week. Thank God, she got into final.

In the final concert, Stacy did it again. Since concert 6, her performance has been relatively stagnant. The final week I saw her elevated her performance particularly when she sang “Aku Stacy”. She brought out the character of the song excellently. Wow! I watched it over and over again youtube and I got addicted to it.

Stacy didn’t disappoint her fans and won the title Juara AF6. Everyone is relieved especially her fans. As for myself, I was practically jumping up and down in excitement in my own living hall. Very much later, I regretted not going to the concert itself. To certain, I tear because finally and finally representative of Sabah for AF won. And I tear, for once, after so many seasons of AF, someone like Stacy deserves to win the title.

While everyone is excited with her achievement, but for me, her journey as a singer and, not to mention as a great performer, has just begun.

In my opinion, she has just set a certain standard to the AF contestants for the next season. The selection is going to be tougher than before. Which mean to say, if Stacy can do it i.e. being a good student and taking every opportunity to learn from her ‘mentors’ to the max, why not the others?

Henceforth, the next upcoming ‘AF Stars’ are going to be challengers to Stacy as well as to those have established themselves as AF Stars.

Whatever it is, I wish Stacy all the best in her undertaking. Wish her good luck with many, many lucky stars fall on her while sailing her path in the music industry.

She is in one of my wish list: To meet her in person.

And for now, I am beginning to miss her already.

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