Watsons Beauty Buffet 28 April to 18 May 2011

This promotion start this Saturday, I must say I'm not terribly excited but maybe I
ll drop by to check it out. For more details, click here.

Book Cover Decor!

My sister, Ling was complaining that she can't differentiate which side is her journal book from the book's cover and I realise where the problem lies when she showed it to me...

The whole cover is black, just black front and back

Thus I decided to do a little craft on her book to solve her problem. It result seem simple enough but I confess, I had trouble coming out with the layout as I'm currently suffering from "inspiration-amnesia". I just can't make magic like I used to nowadays, every single thing I attempted to make turned out wrong, they just don't look "together". However, this project turned out alright.

The finished book using heat embossing

The little label for Ling to write in

The main focus of the cover, a lovely butterfly as Ling's request.

I love using gold on black background

Side leafy element with a little butterfly, the flying trail dots were made with glue paint

Items I used:

My sister's book
Hampton Art Acrylic Block 4" x 4"
Kaiser Scrapbook Clear Stamps in Flora and Fauna ( both butterflies and leafy stalk elements)
Kaiser Scrapbook Clear Stamps in Flourishing Journals (top right hand corner label element)
Anti-static Bag
VersaMark Watermark Stamp Pad
American Crafts Zing Embossing Powder in Gold (Metallic Finish)
Kuretake Emboss Heater Gun
Jones Tones Ultra-Paint Metallic in Old Gold

I hope my condition will improve and eventually returning my yearn for creating pretty projects. If the time comes, I'll definitely post more project entries to share with you!

I Just Watched Hop And I Love It!



I was looking for a mindless movie that I can laugh mindlessly from the start to the end and I found it.



My favorite character, the evil Carlos.



My favourite scene
Carlos trying very hard to be a bunny, the show is so hilarious that I even teared for laughing too hard.



Supper From Star

Dedicated to my ex-colleague but a great friend, Star.

This is one of the reason why I love working the same graveyard slot with Star, to death. Supper! Each and every time Star buys supper for me, it's definitely delicious yum yum. Never without fail, Star will always choose the perfect supper that makes me go completely gaga over. Although we are no more in that shift, I'll still like to leave a imprint record of this wonderful "footprint" .The below is just one classic example.

It's Nasi Lemak & Koi Bubble Tea!

Coconut rice served with curry vegetable, ngoh hiong (五香), sotong (squid) ball, luncheon meat, mackerel otah, cucumber slices & generous scoop of sambal chilli

Each cup is packed individually with airtight seal

Grass Jelly Milk Tea with Pearl (50% Sugar Level)

For the Sugar Level, one can choose form 100% to 0%. "Sweet toothies" can go for 100% and health conscious ones can request for lower levels. It's great to be able to have your drinks prepared to your preferred sweetness.

Even the straw is seal wrapped for hygiene

My lovely supper is truly a high-calorie meal but I can definitely afford to put on some weight now. A simple supper like this, makes me a happy woman. Thank you Star, I had another happy meal!

There are rare occasions that Star will cook, once in a blue blue moon. It's always up to standard considering Star does not step into the kitchen often at all. Below is an example of a lovely lunch treat I got. I may appear quite aloof when Star passed me the packet, but I'm touched for the effort.

I'll also like to take the chance to specially thank all my wonderful colleagues who took turns to make sure eat/ drink something even when I show them my screwed face and tell them I have no appetite. I am so glad I have you guys around to give my support and warmth, I don't think I will be able to make it without everyone. Thank you.

Lunch with Koi again!

Not too sure what "Koi" is was, but it has a lovely creamy top layer...

I love Chwee Kway!

Yum yum yum

Star's version of Nasi Lemak wrapped in Banana leaf!

I'll like to say, the egg was done perfectly to the way I love. Made my day!

Once again, thank you. Although I have left for quite a long time, it still warms my heart when I recall all these wonderful memories. Until the next time, take great care!

Kate + Spade = Many Holes In My Garden Bed?

I just got home from the clubs (it's was real fun and some underage young punk tried picking me up...) and was thinking "I have a mountain of overdue blogs waiting for me to post". Hence, I decided to write one while waiting for my damp hair to air-dry. Thanks for the paitence for the confusion I cause sometimes, but that's something I can't help. 

I went shopping about 3 months ago (it's a long overdue entry) and could not resist walking into my favorite boutique. I was browsing around leisurely when I spotted it laying in the display and I knew immediately "I have to bring it home with me". The rest is history...



Have Courage (imprinted on the inside of the carrier bag)



Yes, it's Kate Spade



I always look forward to read the whimsically quotes they have in the card



A little guide on how to take good care of your lovely purchase



Little description of the brand itself and after-purchase service (keep the purchase slip, servicing is free-of-charge for the first year only. Subsequently, payment is required apart of presenting your purchase slip)

Signature logo



My wonderous purchase that made my day, a long wallet




Minimalist cream colored textured-patent leather




Back slot pocket behind, smooth metal zipper




Details: I love the fine stitching, the polka dot inner lining and the gold-plated rivet with the trademark logo imprint.




Total of six slots for notes,  a coin compartment and sixteen slots for cards (eight on each side). LOVE!


I super please with this functional wallet that I grabbed and it's so easy to clean. It's been some time I have it and I hope with my love for it I'll not lose it anytime too soon as I have something about "losing things" that I heart deeply. Well, that's all for this entry. Take care!

Heard of JewelMint?

I have another confession to make. Other than being a cosmetic-addict I am also an accessory-junkie. I love to collect pieces that range from the sleek and classic to vintage, unique or ethical ones. Most of them are earrings, rings and some necklaces. I am more of a ring person, but my fingers are so slender that it is rare that I can find well-finished rings that fit my fingers. I love earrings though and is thankful that my ear lobes are not ultra-sensitive, hence I can choose to wear whichever earrings I fancy.

My love for jewellery actually started at a very young age thanks to my mother who started me on beading. Thereafter I branched off to learning more techniques from weaving with beading wires to proper pearl stringing with silk cords, wire-work to art clay silver. I practised making pieces from Swarovski crystals and later moved on to semi-precious materials. I had my boxes of crystal, pearls and stone beads and my toolbox was equipped with pliers, wires and an assortment of jewellery parts. With them I used to make gifts for my friends and love ones, helped to repair their pieces that fell apart.

However it's a pity that as I got older, I seem to have lesser and lesser time for myself. I haven't been making any jewellery for a real long time, I hope I can squeeze out some time soon. Someday when I have enough time, I will love to dedicate one (or more) blog entry for my collection.

Enough of my rambling, I am suppose to talk about JewelMint today. It's a website that retails jewellery pieces, according to your personal style, designed by Kate Bosworth and Cher Coulter. Here's how the site works, more more details, click here.

Firstly, take the Style Quiz by answer some fun and easy Style Quiz to help them get to know your sense of style.

Secondly, based on your style quiz, Kate, Cher and the JewelMint team will recommend personalized jewelry for you each month.

The monthly membership charge will not be charged until you purchase your first piece of jewelry. You can skip any month, with free shipping and simple returns.

I have an account, however I have not purchased any item yet ( I may, I may not). There's numerous reviews on this site. Do check it out if you are interest, or just do the test to find out more about your own style. Frankly speaking, the first pieces they selected for me after my quiz was not "bull's eye" to my liking and I had to click on "Show Me More" and select some that caught my eye. This is an ongoing process that enable the site to learn more about your style and be better at selecting pieces that you'll love subsequently.

I've posted some pictures courtesy of JewelMint to let you have an idea, there's many other styles as I only selected afew that I pay special attention to. Until the next time, stay happy!

Blushing Stone Ring
This is one of my favorite piece from JewelMint but it's sold out

Some other pieces they created
From left: Bella Bracelet, Poseidon Disc Necklace, In the Rough Ring

Karma Bangle
Isn't this bangle unique

Potion Pendant Necklace
The eye-catching color combination caught my eye

Somewhere Over The Rainbow!

Feeling breathless in the office? Your eyes' watery for straining at the monitor? Back's aching after being stuck at the same posture for hours? What the best remedy? I found mine right outside my office window...

Can you see that bit of rainbow amongst the gloom



Then the skies cleared up a teeny bit and the sight took my breath away

It's a huge rainbow! It's a pity that I could not capture the whole beautiful 
arch, but it still manged to keep me standing there admiring in silence for a good ten minutes.

Nothing is forever, it evaporated into thin air quickly as the gloom came back.

Although the sublime scenery was short as can be, it left me evidently chirpy humming;

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true...

I believe there's always a rainbow deep in every kind soul's heart. Until the next time, take great care!

Castledew Over Setting Gloss

I went minor spring-cleaning my "lips compartment" of my cosmetic collection recently and unearthed my long-neglected Castledew Over Setting Gloss. I still love them very much but is currently in a lipstick and stain phase, thus my lip glosses are left untouched for quite a while. Once again, I did not realise I've collected six of them (all from Beauty Language) over time, thus I decided to a review & swatch of all I own at this point.



Click to enlarge
Description of the "technology" of the gloss. Look at the doe foot applicator,
 it has a hole in the centre (to transport more gloss out each time) and it's bent
at a slight angle (make it easier to coat the gloss on my lips evenly)

 

My VOV Castledew Over Setting Glosses (from left to right):
#7, #12, #16, #26, #42 and #45



#7:Orchid Violet color with fine silver glitter 
#12: Peach Pink color with fine multi-color (golden coral) iridescence
#16: Pearly Nude color with extremely fine beige shimmer



#26: Pale Pink color with Lilac-pink iridescence
#42: Rose Pink color
#45: Mauve Beige color

Swatched (in the same order) in sunlight, see how glossy they are.
All swiped once or twice.

Click to enlarge

#7 and #26 are quite sheer, giving your lips a wash of color/iridescent. There a limit of how much color you can built up no matter how much you layer on. For the rest of the colors, they are pigmented, can be sheered out (but that will lessen the "high-shine" effect) with their doe-foot applicator that works very well. They are not sticky yet decently thick, feels luxurious to apply and are quite lasting. They do have a scent that I can't really pin down, they smell like cherry/plummy/candy. It's a pleasant scent generally, but there's definite a scent. There's a little likeness of their packaging to Jill Stuart's but I don't own any Jill Stuart's products, thus I'm not able to make a comparison.

Overall, these glosses (3.6g each) cost around $14 to $18 SGD and perform quite well to my liking. This is a product that I will repurchase in the future (after I make good progress in my "Project Hit Pan"). Something worth trying I will rate. Until I do a next review, stay radiant! 

Watsons (Takashimaya) & G2000 Haul

There is one more reason why I can spend almost half a day in Takashimaya: the super big Watsons. I love Watsons, I used to be crazy about it and is proud to announce that I've grown much more disciplined nowadays with my hauling there.

As mentioned in the previous blog that we were lugging bags of stuff, mine were mainly from Kinokuniya, Watsons and G2000. So let me start off with my Watsons purchases.

Liese Designing Jelly 03 Nuance Make and Kracie Naive Rosehip Makeup Removal Oil



Nice pump bottle with a butterfly embossed on the cap



I bought this as a back up as my hair styling jelly may be hitting bottom soon. However I'm not able to review the jelly as I'm currently using Lucido-L Design Jelly in Airy Keep which is working quite well defining my soft curls, non-sticky and does it's job even in our humid weather. I just wish it can have a little more holding/ defining strength, hence I purchased the Liese bottle to try. Hope it will be my dream styling jelly! 

Rose! (and I love the blue of the bottle...)

Naive Rosehip Makeup Remover Oil (Click to enlarge)

I've been using this for about a month and did not like it at the beginning due to my own error, I did not read the instruction and assumed it works like all the other cleansing oils I've used. I massaged the oil on my face to dissolve all my makeup, then I wet my hands and started trying to emulsify the cleanser. The oil did emulsify but if my hands were not wet enough the emulsified film will turn out thick and thus slightly difficult to remove thereafter.

I got fed up and use really wet hands to emulsify the oil and virtually stood under my shower to rinse off the remains. After that shower, I took the bottle and read the instruction. There is no emulsifying step, it is just "Rinse thoroughly". Oh, I see. Ever since, it has been working well removing my "long-wear" makeup for me (but not strong enough to remove all of my waterproof mascara) but I still prefer my UNT's PERFECT DERMAQ10 which I bought from a Singapore blogshop, it rinses off to a "cleaner" feeling.

The rest of my Watsons haul

Canmake Jewel Glitter Nail Polish in Gold

Oh I love this to bits, really. This so versatile since I can wear it on it's own but I always layer it over another colored polish. I love the fact that the glitter bits are of different sizes, giving a textured, gold flake-like effect. I love it so much that I am seriously thinking of buying the silver version and backups of my "golden love in a bottle". Below is a swatch of it layered over Magic Shop's nail polish #63 (neutral brown with purplish-pink iridescence).

I paired this two for a more subtle effect, so that it's not too garish for my work place 

Close-up, please disregard my cuticle...

I bought this to try after watching Xteeener on YouTube

and this as well since I've read so many raves about it versus Sech Vite Top Coat

As for the Sally Hansen Insta-Grip Fast Dry Base Coat & Mega Shine Top Coat, I decided to give them a try as I'm every bothered by the "shrinkage" issue I encounter with my Sech Vite Top Coat (click on link to know all about the Pros & Cons). I have tried the Sally Hansen's duo once and ended up with mixed feelings. I'll use them for a few more manicures beforegiving accurate reviews.

For powder foundation, I'll will always shuttle between these :IPSA Pure Protect Powder Foundation SPF 25 #103, UNT Ideal Glow H20 and ZA True White SPF 20 #22. I like their weightless finish, medium-high coverage and oil control qualities. I will normally buy the refill pack as I don't need to have them cased up at home, neither do I want to add bulk to by makeup pouch that I bring out. It's simply a waste for me to purchase any casing because it'll just end up collecting dust in corner.

Now that ZA came out with an improved version, I had to get one for myself. I confess I will not be able to use it until I hit pan on the current on that I'm using, in fact I still have back ups of the UNT and ZA. Lesson learnt, do not overhaul and regret as better products are launch every single day. I only can peer with temptation at my new ZA True White Plus SPF 20 two-way foundation every time I pass by my vanity counter.

ZA Plumper Lip Gloss in Glossy Cherry #01



Click to enlarge



I don't own any lip gloss of this color, must have one in my collection

This gloss is smooth-textured, not sticky and not syrupy-thick (which sadly means it will not last long as well). It may look quite red in the tube but it can be sheered out using the doe-foot applicator to a light tint of natural-looking color on the lips. Layer on 2 to 3 layers and you'll get the high-gloss, just-eaten-ice-popsicle looking lips. Overall, it's a comfortable gloss to wear.

Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Volume On (BK999)

All written in Japanese... 

My previous Majolica Majorca mascaras had the one-sided comb applicator, I guess this is the first new version one I've got. You can choose which side of the applicator you want to use to achieve the preferred volume build up and it also states that it is newly formulated with thick jet-black fibre, volume up powder, gloss oil for lustre (I love!) and waterproof polymer (very important must-have property of all my mascaras). I can't wait to break the seal for this as well.

Majolica Majorca Creme Pencil Liner
(BK 999)

All in Japanese again...

I grabbed this during this visit to Watsons because I tested it during my previous visit. I was impressed that the line that i drew was still there after I reached home, still there after i bathed and still there after I woke up from a nap. I wonder if it is as water and smudge proof on the eyelid. I shall put it to the test soon, maybe tonight. I don't want to take the risk of getting caught out there with "raccoon eyes".

Majolica Majorca Honey Plump Gloss Neo
in PK246

I give up...

I have a couple of these tube babies, but sad to say, I seldom use them. They are really thick (therefore sticky and stay put for quite a while) and really super glossy. The gloss factor is so patent-like it comparable to some of the high-end lip glosses out there. Sigh, I should curb myself from buying another tube since I've got more than I need. However, I'll always end up purchasing it for "I don't have this color" or "I don;t have one in this finish" or etc...

Ginvera Green Tea Whitening Marvel Gel

I used to exfoliate using the original Marvel gel during my hostel days but moved on to other exfoliators as time went by. As I aged, my skin matured and I wanted a gentle exfoliator for days my skin's more sensitive or when I want to exfoliate areas with delicate skin... this may sound weird but some times, I will very gently massage gel exfoliator on my eyelids. I emphasize, very very gently. I just feel that with all the eye primers, shadows and concealers I slap on, it's only right to "clean up" the area once in a while. Thus I decided that this Ginvera Green Tea Whitening Marvel Gel (it's stated "safe for eye area") should do the job and yes, it did. It feels so soothing to have some kind of lubricant (no dragging of skin around our eyes please) while I give my eye area a good massage, until it starts to become a slightly "grainy", I'll stop and rinse off.

That's all of this round of Watsons haul and I bought 4 cardigans from G2000 to add to my collection (I'm cladded in cardigans most of the time). This trip made me a happy lady. I hope my dear readers are happy for all their own reason. Until my next entry, take great care!