Hacked out of $1000+ from an E-Transfer

Before reading this: I'm not sure if anyone still follow this old blog. But I want to improve my writing and get into a habit of writing just whatever's on my mind so thought I'll just continue on this old blog semi-privately as I bet no one reads anyway. 

On January 1st  my email transfer of over $1000 to my fiance's work email address was deposited by someone else. I saw the notification that my fiance's name made the deposit but my fiance was beside me and he hasn't deposited the money yet. We checked the money wasn't there so we called the next day to TD to confirm (we both use TD). The fraud department is investigating and told us to file a police report, in the meantime while both our cards are frozen. We need to verify our identity at the bank to reactivate. 

From further research after this whole incident, I found out e-transfer interception is a very common fraud. I don't think many consumers are aware of the security risks of email transfer! Banks really spin it off as a quick and convenient way, which leaves consumers to let their guard down. The sender is always at risk even if the recipient's address was compromised.  

If you're ever doing e-transfers, here are some safety tips: 

1. Always set up auto-deposit as a recipient, adding passwords can give an opportunity for the hacker to guess and deposit the money.
2. If there is no auto-deposit set up by the recipient, select a very hard-to-guess password and tell the recipient via phone or another secure line of communication besides email.
3. Don't do e-transfer if you can, bank-to-bank transfers are more secure.
4. Don't accept e-transfers to people you don't know well such as FB Marketplace, Kijiji, etc. As a lot of fraudsters can use a hacked account to send you money or trick someone else to send you money which they were intending to send to the fraudster for another transaction. Money could be reversed by the bank if there is fraudulent activity proven. If you need to sell using E-transfer or Paypal (which is bad also) at least take a picture of you giving the item to the person though it might not be enough proof. 
5. Don't leave money sitting in your email undeposited.

I've heard horror stories from rent e-transfers from rent, contractors and lawyers stolen. I would hear my verdict in 10 business days. If TD is not reissuing my money, I'll have to take my business someplace else. I hope there is a happy ending to this. 

PS - I got my money back! Super lucky, though I can't say the same for other users that I've seen online.

The love of house plants

With everyone in quarantine, people develop new love and interests as they shift gears on how they spend their time. I myself, find that house plants have gained a new place in my heart. Looking at Google Trends, we can see that indoor plants have peaked this growing season. 

Impact of COVID has made peopled siloed in their own homes and plants are inexpensive companions that can help decorate the home and give a sense of nature indoors. I recently discovered that plants can do a lot more than just being a simple decor piece. Many people attribute plants as air purifiers but plants are actually not as efficient at filtering toxins in the air does really little to help that. However, the biggest benefit and well researched is the numerous ways that plants can actually help with mental wellbeing such as signs of improving mood, focus and relieving stress. I've read studies comparing a group that was doing a computer activity vs. a group that repotted a plant, the plant group improve their test for creativity. Also having greenery in the office supported improved creativity as well. 

For me, caring for a living thing that relies on you as a support can be very rewarding, watching the changes the plant goes through. It's also a less demanding kind of pet compare to getting a dog or cat in the home. A plant dying is a learning process in plant care, whereas a living breathing cat and dog dying can feel much more tragic. 

For these reasons, I think that plants are a great addition to any home, a great gift to those who aren't plant lovers yet. These are my favourite and interesting plants that are common enough that you can find them in some big box stores.

1. Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma, most commonly known as Mini Monstera. These plants grow super fast, a new leaf each week in front of my east-facing window and just a joy to watch it grow. The plant can be grown as a trailing basket or a trellised plant. The compact growth habit doesn't take much space horizontally like a traditionally Monstera so perfect for even smaller spaces. The cheapest price point I've seen is $8 at Canadian Tire for a baby pot with no fenestrations on the leaf yet ($13 with fenestrations 5inch pot). 
2. Scindapsus Pictus - There are many versions but I highly recommend the Exotica as the leaves are 3x the size of regular Argyraeus and have lovely silver speckled leaves and inexpensive in comparison with other 'rare' forms. Huge velvety silvery sparkly leaves in the light, a great bang for the buck especially if you are able to catch it at the big box stores. Also can tolerate lower light conditions (not no light!). Cheapest price point I've seen it is $7 at Canadian Tire 4inch. 
   
3. ZZ Plant - It's basic but also very reliable as it can be tucked in the corner without natural sunlight and still look unphased. Water once every 3 weeks or a month when the soil is dry and it's good to go. Slower growing but mine has grown a few branches this growing season.$14 at Ikea. 
   

With the quarantine in place in Toronto, picking up a plant can lift up your spirits. It may be trickier to find many plants to fill up a home during the middle of winter. Though I've heard there are still some great finds at Queensway Canadian Tire and if you're downtown Tiny Flower is a local small shop and plants are reasonably priced. 

Dreams...

Have you ever had a random dream that made no sense at all? Then you end up forgetting about it?

Record your dreams before you forget! Everything you dream about has significant meaning, even though it sometimes doesn't translate literally

I believe that dreams is an unconscious reflection of oneself, even though some claim that dreams are just random images that happen when you sleep. I read a book about dreams in the past and it taught me how to reflect on my every day experiences and relate it to what my dreams are trying to tell me. I used to even keep a dream diary to interpret and analyze my the dreams I remember.

Recently, I had a dream, it's quite detailed but it's basically about me trying to close and lock the door on a stranger that was coming from outside. But he managed to barge in the door to my house and inched towards me. All I remember thinking in my head was... "take everything you want but please don't hurt me".

That dream shocked me when it revealed something I wasn't even aware of myself. I'm not gonna say what it exactly meant but all I can say is it's fun playing with fire but I have to be careful not to burn myself. I chose to stop playing with fire.

Dream:
Another dream I had a couple years ago was seeing a white rabbit stuck in the blinds of a window bleeding and struggling. The light was blaring through the blinds from outside.
Interpretation:
From looking out the window, it signified my outlook in life, my intuition, or point of view. The rabbit being caught in the blinds and was bleeding represented my fear of not succeeding in all aspects of my life from career, school and even love. I've been emotionally drained about my future. Seeing the rabbit struggle meant that I'm probably making it a bigger issue than it needed to be. (mind you this dream happened a couple years ago)

Look into your dreams and try to interpret them. The more details you remember, the clearer the message. Maybe you can ask me about your dreams and let me try to interpret them for you! However, dreams are a little subjective so in order to make a more accurate interpretation I will need to know your background and what's going on around you at the moment. Once you get a hang out of how to interpret your dreams, the best interpreter would be yourself. Dream Moods is a dream dictionary website that gives meaning to some of the things you see in your dreams. The site is a good start at interpretation but it doesn't teach you how each object connects in your dreams. Too bad I don't remember the title of the dream book I read, it was really great at relating the symbols together to form the message. Oh well...

It's bedtime... nights! Sweet dreams!

HG Nail Polish!!!

I have been looking for this nail polish for the longest time... OPI in Metro Chic!!!

This colour looks really boring and ugly in the bottle, I must say. I would never consider even picking this nail polish up. However there's been many raves for this nail polish and it was sold out everywhere before. So it got my interest. I swatched it at Sephora and instantly fell in love, definitely looks better on than in the bottle! The name totally suits it -a subway metro shade but at the same time totally chic and sophisticated. Too bad it was sold out there too, so there was only trial bottles left. I found out the day they restocked and grabbed myself a bottle!!! So excited!!! -I know, over a bottle of nail polish. Seriously if I had to wear one nail polish shade for the rest of my life. This would be it.

I also bought 8 polishes in the last week, but ofcourse incomparable to Metro Chic. Probably going to pick up some more cheap nail polishes at CNE this week. My collection is ever increasing, I guess I'm gonna do a giveaway soon.

Here again.

So I finished my last exam. YAY TIME FOR A BREAK! but not long enough before I have to come back to Waterloo again in 2 weeks for co-op.

But hey, at least it's not a study term. I've had 3 study terms in a row!!! So tired of this bs school work. I finally have some time on my own and I do some things I've wanted to do for a while. Let see by the end of the term, if I accomplished any of them. Just for my reference, probably boring for the rest of you.

Here are some things I have in mind:

• Take 1 course - might as well since I'm in Waterloo probably biochemistry to get the hard stuff over with
• Ballroom anyone? - I really want to learn ballroom dancing. Maybe I'll join in next term but I need a partner!
• Be more active in school - I haven't joined any clubs since first year and I'm third year now! gotta fatten that resume! I need to get back on DECA etc.
• Increase program languages - Yeah I know I'm such a geek but I wanna expand on html, javascript, xml, css, and learn new useful languages. Can anyone suggest any useful popular languages I'll probably need for work. I hope to one day start my own web page one day.
• Driving school - I still don't know how to drive, well I do live in DT Toronto... so really don't need to. but I need to get my g2 and g before my g1 expires!!
• Photography - I've always had an interest in photography but it's such an expensive interest so I never really looked into it that much. We'll see...
• Hit the GYM! or do some yoga? - I really should exercise more frequently, I'm so unfit. I have a hard time running from dc to the bus stop in front of dc. I end up huffing and puffing like a mad woman.
• Catch up with my Asian-ness and watch more dramas - I haven't watched any Asian dramas for a year or 2 because I know once I start I can't stop, and it's no good in the school year. Any recommendations?
• SC SC! - I don't like to play Starcraft but I have to practice. Apparently the guys made bets on who would win an SC tournament between me and Annabelle. The stakes are high, and a lot of money has been laid down. I haven't played SC for so long and Annabelle's been training so much! God damn gotta show the girl who's boss! Plus Ja is going to give me $50 commission if I beat her.
• Read - I honestly don't remember the last time I read leisurely. I mean being in school I feel even guilty to even think about reading a novel, when I should be catching up with chapters of reading in my text book. So does anyone have any good books to recommend?

More to come... these are just a few in my head for now. gosh I still have to eat. I haven't eaten the whole day because of exams!!! gahh

Life in Loo

Living in Waterloo for so long I almost forgot how it was like back home. Being raised in Downtown Toronto, Waterloo would seem very dull in comparison.

I`ve lived here for close to 2 years now and this place is starting to feel more home than my home city. Studying for 3 study terms in a row in Waterloo plus going back to Toronto, at most once a month has really gotten to me. When I actually head back to Toronto, it's like "Oh my god! it's diversity!!". Come on, spending so much time in Waterloo, especially on campus all I see are students everyday, especially Asians. Once I step into the subway there are old people -people of different ages, black people aren't rare, and overall multicultural! Going back home seems more refreshing than familiar.

Right now, it's exam week and I manage to take a break after getting owned by another final. Many sleepless nights, a whole crapload of all nighters since I'm here in Loo. I average out to sleeping around 4am during a week day. Seriously I still have my high school mentality that I can still get things done last minute, and I'm in third year now! Maybe it really takes me to get kicked out of my program to really start working hard! I beg to God, that I able to stay but if I don't I know it's my fault. Once you're in Waterloo, you are smart, well atleast academically. However everyone gets downgraded a level or two. So if you're consider smart before you enter Waterloo, you are now average, or even below. Top student in the school? You're just slightly above average. Actually nevermind... everyone mainly gets downgraded or in rare chances upgraded to average once they enter Waterloo.

Okay back to exam week now, the typical DC-ing (DC = Davis Centre a.k.a Waterloo's social library) that everyone does. The library has changed to be more quiet during exam week though. Gosh exam week is just so dull and boring. I notice I can hardly get work done alone or with people, I can only work when it's the day before. However I found my new study location EIT (aka Waterloo's dinosaur building, yep real dinosaur), there's no reception so you can stay disconnected from the world, while you study. How convenient.

The other day I studied there from like 9pm - 4am. Yes that's right, 4am. And even then I only worked the last 2hrs and somehow managed to A.D.D myself. I don't know, I always walk alone around Toronto at night all... walking through Waterloo campus can sometimes be a little eerie for me. It's just so quiet, you can hear the vents in the restaurants, buildings, everything's just so empty.

But anywhoo... Nayema dropped by my house to head to Mels Diner at 5am. Yep, that's Waterloo -always have buddies that have the same messed up sleeping time as you do.

Walking down University was dead as ever, no cars. Maybe that's why I get a little creeped out here more than in Toronto, at least if I do get raped randomly in Toronto, someone would see.

As boring as my life sounds now in Exam week. Waterloo is actually not as bad and boring as I thought it would be (well in normal days, exam week inevitable). Although I have to admit it when I first got to Waterloo and living in a random dorm room with no one I know around, I was crying on the phone with my mom haha. I never lived independently before and this has made me learn to take care of myself, cook, clean, laundry etc and also managing time (still need to work on it).

Toronto is busy and exciting but Waterloo is more close knit. In Toronto, it's such a large city everything needs to be planned. Whenever you want to hang out with friends you need to make prior engagements make sure everyone's okay with the time, date, and location and you need to figure out what you're doing first. But in Waterloo things just happen spontaneously. I mean Nayema creeping up my house at 5am for food, is a good example of events just happen without needing to always think of what to do because things just happen. Everyone here are students, we all live closeby, not stretches away like in Toronto. And of course you can do whatever the hell you want without parental restrictions -things just feel so liberating here.

20 years young

First I would like to thank everyone that came out this weekend for my birthday. You guys honestly made it one of the best birthdays I ever had!

On Friday

On Saturday

(in no order of preference)

Joanne, Julie.H, Kathy, Mandy - Thanks for making the trip all the from Toronto to Loo. I love the eyeshadows. Haven't seen you for so long! I missed you guys so much, and had a good amount of catching up! Kathy, you're awesome at "blowing", if you know what I mean ; ).

Andrea, Steph - Going out of your way to come up to Waterloo to see me during the day, even though you can't make it to the party at night. You guys even lied to your parents and stole the car to get to Loo! Thanks for the dinner and the anti-eyebag gel. I really needed it! LOL

Annabelle, Liying - You are the best bitches ever lol. haha, forcing that random guy to buy me a drink on my birthday LMAO. And protecting me from randoms. Thanks for coming out and keeping it live. And also for the cake hahaha...
Ben, Christian, Jaja - You guys are so jokes... I'm assuming it's your idea, to put "gangstar gangstar" on the cake -_-. I know you guys especially Jaja and Ben have a lot of work to do this weekend and you still came to both days! Much love! And Christian for coming out both nights even though he had a big hang over from the previous night from challenging me and Annabelle in a drinking match. LOL you've learned your lesson.

Nelson - Thanks for coming both nights! And all the drinks and pizzas you got me and my bitches... You didn't have to! You spent way too much that night. I owe you big time!

Jackie, Julie.Q, Sarah.C, Shirley, Nayema - Yeah my party girls! Thanks for coming on Friday night Nayema, Sarah, and Jackie. I feel so bad that Shirley couldn't come in because those stupid bouncers wouldn't take health card as an I.D.! I wish you were there that night. But hey, Shirley you came out on Sat night! Julie my homie, my roomie of course you gotta come both nights and thanks for arranging your fitness plan just for me : ).

Andrew.Z, Jeff.B, Kai, Michael, Ray - You guys are amazing! I can't believe you guys walked all the way from Conestoga mall to Keatsway and Fisherhall-man to make it to my party! That's freaking crazy! I would've died!! Thank you Andrew and Jeff for the song! I am speechless... although I don't agree about the Korean boys, and hating on Dan. You guys have done your research and found it from an unreliable source -JAJA PAN!



Richard - Thanks for making it to my party, and giving everyone a lift home. I really honestly appreciate it! I hope you had fun at the party.

Sammy, Garon - Last but certainly NOT LEAST. Thanks for hosting on Saturday and making the crazy-ass event description. The decorations were hilarious! I'm disapointed that you couldn't make it in the end Garon, but thanks for planning.



Part of Sammy's decoration... That didn't happen at all, neither of two nights. Trust me.

I break everything : (

• Cd player - back when Cd players were popular. I used my expensive $200 ultra thin Sony cd player for 3 months and it broke. It just wouldn't turn on one day... I still don't know why!
• 1st Cell phone - I had the Samsung P207, I lost it within the first month. Well technically some bitch stole it from my locker at work. Well it's my fault that I lost my lock and didn't bother to replace one on time. I didn't wanna tell my mom so I bought the same model for around $350, without contract. Nowadays this phone is worthless. I drop it at least 3 times a day but it was such a durable phone! I even dropped it in the toilet (unused) once and it still survived!
• Cameras - No camera has lasted longer than 2 years with me. I broke 2 of my Canon cameras already. One time because I dropped it and the lense won't contract anymore. The 2nd time I was taking pictures while tipsy and a friend knocked my hand and then I dropped it, so technically not my fault.
• iPod nano - 1st time I think I washed in the washing machine accidently, by the way the earphones worked so they are waterproof. It was still in warranty so I replaced it. The 2nd time it just wouldn't turn on one day and it was after the warrantee *shrugs. My dog also bit my earphones, though they still work you can see the wiring and the buds have teeth marks all over.
• iPhone - I drop my iPhone around 2 times a week. That's why I buy expensive protective cases for it. I don't know why but since yesterday my phone batteries dies in 4hrs and it's mostly left on idle that time, with a few texts and a couple of short calls.
• External hard drive ='( - I have my whole life more than 20gb of photos and everything on my computer in there. I reformatted my computer and while transferring files back to my computer the usb cable was too short and when I leaned back with my laptop, the external dropped 2 ft off the ground from the desk and ended its life. FML!! I'm pretty sure I lost my receipt for the warrantee
• Laptop - The arrow key fell off, the fan broke, the charger wire has slit marks from getting sliced by the edges of my lamp in rez, plus my screen has a slight almost unnoticeable desaturation of colour in one small spot on the screen. This was all within first year of use. I guess I was pretty rough with my laptop. Send it in repairs and just got back now, only to find that the factory broke my SD card reader, while fixing the laptop. It doesn't read SD cards anymore. I guess I'll send it back in there again after exams.

I know there's more but I'll update later. I feel like crying now because I just broke my external hard drive with EVERYTHING on there! Somethings money just can't buy back, like those photos since 2003 - my prom moments, my sister's baby pictures, my vacation times, my highschool life. I learn to be more careful with my things, the hard way.

Sometimes...

I realize that sometimes I tend to say things with out thinking. For most part I don't mean to say it to be offensive and I'm just joking but I realize that it may hurt people. I can be quite straightforward and I don't tend to go around a circle to get to the point, I'm still trying to improve. Please don't be offended if you are.

Just a little sorry in advance and sorry for before.

Shopaholic much?: Haul and Mini Review

I've been so poor the last couple months, I was down to like $30 in my bank account! I couldn't help it, once I got my OSAP, I went crazy shopping! Gosh I spend so much money on make up, and I just know it... I probably wouldn't use it too. bleh couldn't control myself! I'm such a bargain hunter.... all the sales just couldn't help it.. plus I was shopping deprived for a couple months!

Here's my $180 make up haul in the last month and a mini review!:

*From left to right*:

The Body Shop: Great sale in their roseflower collection 3 items for $15! I'm such a sucker for packaging! I love it. I bought from Toronto Eatons and Kitchener Fairview Mall.

Lipsticks: shade 02: honey, roseflower shades 02: true pink and 01: soft pink.

Roseflower blush shade: pink - beads of powder on top, when I swirl my brush on, not exactly great quality.

Roseflower Radiance stick shade: 01 - I was going to use it as a cheek highlight but it smells bad and it has next to no pigment and random glitter bits, it's a no.
Sparkle eyeliner: silver

Drugstore: Random white eyeliner from Rimmel... Lost mine had to replace it. The pencil is kind of hard and not that pigmented. So sometimes I light the tip over a lighter for 3 seconds to soften it before I apply on my eyes.

Adorned with Grace Minerals: Free shipping to all Canadian orders!! How great is that? I got 2 stippling brushes from there, since I heard some good reviews. I got a big and a small one together for close to $20. What a deal! At Mac, similar brushes would be $45 and $50! It did shed with the first wash, after that, it didn't seem to shed anymore, and it's so soft! They also packaged it really nice. Most likely ordering again for their samples. 2 thumbs up!

Mac: They had 25% off everything on their online store plus free shipping for orders over $75! I almost never buy things from Mac because it's so expensive, so this sale was my opportunity to splurge on the things I've been eyeing for a while!

Penultimate Eye liner: It fades a bit in 5hrs or so, not really water proof as it claims. I like it that it's good for travel compared to my Mac fluidline. It's not a harsh dark black and it creates a very fine line, which is more natural than the fluidline.

Powder Blush shade: Style - Nice coral colour with slight gold frost. I love the colour only to realize I have a similar blush colour! It's similar to All Smilse from Everyday Minerals but EM is matte not frosty.

Studio Finish Concealer shade: NC30 - I haven't used it yet. Heard many great reviews, and I needed a new replacement, since my Vincent Longo concealer is almost finished.

Fix+Rose: Pretty disapointed. I heard many raves about this mineralize water. But at the end of the day I spent $20 on a small bottle of water to spray on my face. It didn't really do anything for me, might as well spray normal water over my face. The scent was okay, didn't love it or hate it. I didn't notice it prolonging my make up. But then again, I don't wear much make up.

Grand Duo Mineralize Blush shade: Earth to Earth. I was really torn about getting this or the shade Hot Planet, but settle for this hoping to get a nice summer glow and the great reviews from Makeupalley, but was slightly disapointed. It wasn't pigmented enough for me. The highlight side didn't show up when used alone on my NC30 skin. I guess you can mix the two shades but still I wish it was a bit darker and pigmented. Maybe I should've got Light over Dark instead.

Smashbox: I got a double sided liner and eyebrow brush and gel liner online from ebay for I think it was $25usd. What a great deal I thought since the brush alone retails for $30 around, and then the gel liner retails for around $20. But then when I got my package, I think I've been scammed! I think it might be fake! It didn't come with a box because it was from a set that included the brush and eyeliner. The brush looks okay, but the jar of gel liner feels like cheap packaging. Can someone confirm if it's real? I guess I'll update when I go to a Smashbox counter to compare.

Here is a size comparison to a quarter and my Mac Fluidline on the left.

~~~~~~~~

That's just the make up, I've also spent around $350 on clothes -_-. Gonna go back to my shopping drought now!

I believe I can fly!

So we went to Wonderland, it was such a beautiful day.

We went Bungee jumping! It was our first time! Jeff immediately couldn't stop shaking after we were suspended -we weren't even drawn up yet! We were all jibbering and talking the whole way up. We fell silent, as we got to the top.. Holy, it was pretty high up there. I started getting the tingly feeling. Jeff was the trigger and had the job of pulling the string to release us. Christian wanted to do it, but the tallest had to be in the middle. The guy working there said "3. 2. 1." Christian and I was like ready to fall!!! @*(#@!! LOL but nothing happened. The guy on the speaker was like "Hey, you can pull the string anytime now!" GEEZ Jeff didn't hear the speaker -_-. but he finally released it, WOW the initial drop was intense! If it wasn't $15/person, I would GO AGAIN AND AGAIN!!! By the way, the piercing loud screams are from the boys.


Benjamen Ben jacked so many bottles of drinks, around $20 worth. What the shit??! Well, the drinks were outrageously priced anyways.

Too bad it didn't rain like the last time I went, a couple months ago. We waited incredibly long to get on rides! Behemoth was 1.5hrs line up and Vortex was an hour. I was hoping to tan my legs, but I just ended up burning my toes (even with sunscreen on!!).



We went to Korean BBQ downtown after and Christian challenged me to an all-you-can-eat to see who can eat the most! LOL, this bitch is going down! LOL LOOK AT HIM STRUGGLE on every bite! Gosh after that my belly is permanently bulged. THAT WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA. I should really start going to the gym now.


I don't think I ever ate so much meat before in one meal and on top I had 2 bowls of rice. Our table was a monster, we cleared out a whole farm! We finised 50 plates of meat for 6 people! The waitor came by and moved our tower of plates, to check if we're finished (this was after our 5th call or so). He responded under his breath "oh shit." when he found out all the plates piled were empty. Haha Sarah was so embarrassed to be sitting at our table.


Overall I say it was a long but fun day, although last time I went on BMO day I went on way more rides (Top Gun 2x front seat in a row, Behemoth 3x - 2 times in a row, Minebuster 3x in a row, sledgehammer, Cyclone, the Bat, Scooby Doo, Spongebob, Bumper cars, gigangtic swings, +more!). I never rode on that much rides in Wonderland in one visit before! Well this time I went bungee jumping so it makes it even. Such a tiring day, impressed that Christian was able to tank that and drive everyone else home to Waterloo at 4am. I would've been falling asleep.