MissA* ~ my little playground

Back!

2012-02-09T10:06:00.001+01:00

We're back from our 2-week vacation last Sunday. I'm still having jetlag, seriously... Both Mr.M and I pass out before 10pm everyday. We're certainly not very excited with the European cold and snowy winter!

I still need to upload and edit the photos I've taken on my dSLR. I'll write more soon. xo

On Vacation Mode

2012-01-19T10:56:00.000+01:00

Mr.M and I are flying to Asia for our winter vacation today. I can't wait to get out of this ugly weather - rain, snow, rain, and more rain here. I'll be back in 2 weeks ;)

The Weekend!

2012-01-14T19:50:00.000+01:00

It started snowing yesterday. Mr.M and I went shopping and I finally got to wear my sunnies again! It was sunny but freezing when we left home. He was laughing at my photo, saying the reflection on my glasses looked like bird's dropping! Men!

1/ Loving my Prada sunnies and Burberry scarf.
2/ Took my new Sorel boots out today. They keep my feet warm and happy. They run small. I have to get them in EU39 - I'm a EU38.
3/ Pink Prada Saffiano credit card holder is finally out of the box.
4/ We went Le Creuset to pick up a present for my mom. I wanted to add another casserole but Mr.M disagreed! I need a Cassis in my collection!

My Boy

2012-01-05T14:30:00.000+01:00

A friend recently adopted a dog from a lady who didn't care much about him. She only walked the dog twice a week, most of the time the poor thing was in his crate - simply because she didn't have time! I don't understand why people keep a dog if they are not able to spend time, give love and care for one?

It took me over a year to decide getting a dog. Both Mr.M and I are not eligible to adopt any dogs from the shelters because neither one of us holds a Czech permanent residency. I did a lot of research, looking for the perfect breed that matched our lifestyle and I really like Yorkshire Terriers. Finding a reputable breeder was also a challenge since I don't read or speak any Czech language. I finally found a breeder whose website was also in English and she lives 20 mins drive from us via a Czech Republic Yorkshire Terrier board. I went to the website and saw puppy #6, emailed the breeder if we could see him.

When I first saw Sandy who was almost 3 months old at that time, I wasn't sure if I wanted him! He was such a naughty little thing, running around and grabbing toys from the older Yorkies. Mr.M was in love with him! We spent an hour at the breeder's, she asked us a lot of questions - to make sure we were the right parents for her puppy. We had more than a week to think about if we wanted to take the puppy. And I'm glad, we returned and brought Sandy home on 19 November 2009. The rest was history :)

1/ Sandy and his favourite toy - Sheepie.
2/ That cute little pink tongue!
3/ *Yawns*
4/ 'Leave me alone. I want to sleeep!'

Hello 2012!

2012-01-01T13:08:00.001+01:00

Today's the first day of 2012, it also marks the last day of my year-end vacation. Back to work tomorrow! In less than 3 weeks time, Mr.M and I will be flying to somewhere warmer for our winter vacation. I can't wait :)

We have been celebrating the New Year at home for the second year now. We started with NYE dinner and plenty of wine. There was more finger food, champagne and wine.

1/ Homemade raisins & rum truffles coated with coconut, roasted almond flakes and cocoa powder.
2/ Christmas cookies, olives, Swiss cheese...
3/ Counting down... I fell asleep around 10ish but woke up 10mins before the New Year.
4/ Watching the Prague fireworks show on the telly.

2011 Recaps

2011-12-31T19:00:00.004+01:00

First of all, Happy New Year and wishing you all a prosperous & joyful 2012!

2011 has been a great year. I hope it's the same for you too.

Time really flies. It feels like yesterday when we were toasting our champagne for 2011. Tonight, we're doing it again.

January - Picked up another new hobby - soap making.
February - I married the same man for the second time! We flew home for a Catholic wedding and had a reception with close family members and friends. There's no wedding planner this time but my family did a great job organising everything.
March - Mr.M & I celebrated our 4th anniversary together.
April - We went on a trip to Olomouc, hoping we'd start our 'Czech Republic tour' in summer but that didn't happen due to our crazy work schedules.
May - We went to Malaysia with Mr.M's parents for a 2-week trip.
June - We spent a wonderful week on an island in Malaysia.
July - Mr.M & I celebrated our first wedding anniversary in Berlin.
August - Attended a very good old friend's wedding. I couldn't stop tearing up during the ceremony. We were invited to 7 weddings this summer.
September - My first trip to Moscow for business. Loved that city. Hopefully one day I'll go back for a vacation.
October - My fabrics addiction was back again. Bought heaps of them.
November - Finally completed the quilt project I started in May 2009!! Why it took so long? My excuse? I had no time.
December - This winter has been really mild in this part of the world, even in the Alps. That didn't stop us from going to ski in the Austrian Alps like we do every December.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-30T21:20:00.002+01:00

I've been down with a bad flu since Boxing Day. I only started to feel better today - after lots of cough syrup, pills (yikes!) and Mr.M's taking extra good care of me. He makes sure I stay in the bed, drink plenty of hot tea and cooks for me.

We spent the Christmas with Mr.M's family in Slovakia like we always do every year and came back to Prague 3 days ago.

1/ Mama M's Christmas decoration
2/ Picked up a set of candle holders from M&S a week before Christmas. The white iittala Alvar Aalto vase was a surprise Christmas gift from Mr.M.
3/ Some of my presents for Mr.M.
4/ I bake my gingerbread thin - influenced by those days I spent in Helsinki.

5/ Mama M always has one of the best dinner set collections.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holiday!

2011-12-24T16:14:00.001+01:00

Merry Christmas to you all! xoxo

Ski Weekend In Obertauern

2011-12-22T16:05:00.000+01:00

Downhill ski is my favourite winter sport. There are several ski resorts within the country which are around 1-2 hours drive from here but they're usually packed with people or the pistes aren't that great.

Mr.M and I go to the Austrian Alps at least once in winter. I've been to a few of them so far but Serfaus is always my favourite. It's not that far from us if compares to the Italian or French Alps. This year, however, we decided in the last minute we would go to Obertauern due to the not so good condition in Serfaus. Mr.M has been to the surrounding resorts and it's my first time there.

The weather was really bad on the first day. It was windy, snowy and foggy. I don't usually ski with a mask on but we had to get one for me the next day. That explains why you don't see my face here at all :D

The second day was a beautiful sunny day. I woke up early to take pictures of the chalet and mountains. I'll upload from my dSLR next week when I'm back from Slovakia (we're spending Christmas with the in-laws).

It was really sunny and a few brave + crazy snowboarders were snowboarding topless under subzero temperature!

Mr.M was already thinking of having his favourite Kaiserschmarrn and Knödel on the way to Obertauern. We didn't find Kaiserschmarrn on the menu, so here it is, his Knödel (I've had better ones!)

The only time I think I need a cup of tea with rum after hours of skiing.

We met this really cute furry friend at the car park on our first day there.

I'm Back!

2011-12-20T15:22:00.001+01:00

I'm back from Obertauern - in one piece! I fell down way too many times while skiing that I lost count! It's either too icy on the or it's due to the thick snow and bumpy slopes (visibility was fairly poor on our first day there!).

The second day was sunny and very beautiful. I'll leave you with this photo for now. I've plenty of work to do - Christmas baking and more shopping!

Hello from Austrian Alps!

2011-12-18T13:08:00.001+01:00

We're skiing in Obertauern, Austria this weekend. The sunny weather and the powder snow condition are exactly we need after the bad weather yesterday.

Bye-bye November

2011-12-10T22:25:00.000+01:00

Pictures speak louder than words. Here's the summary of my November.

I travel way too much for work this year

My favourite bag of November

One of the many books I've bought this month

I bought more nail polish

I'm back to Yoga classes again

I joined a French pastry class

An early Christmas present from Mr.M

I ate a snail!

I'm Still Here

2011-11-30T10:51:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone! I've been MIA again...

There's been so much going on in my life. We *might* have to move to the East Coast (yes, to the US) sometime next year - the earliest by next summer. I wasn't entirely overwhelmed with this news at last week. I always knew one day we'll have to move to the US but I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon. The one thing that I'm not willing to let go is my career... and of course, my friends here.

I don't really know much about the job markets in the US particularly for my profession. When I was studying in the uni for my degree, it never came to my mind that one day I'd end up in supply chain and loving what I do for a living.

Decision.

Random

2011-11-01T22:09:00.000+01:00

I'm loving this new iPhone app called 'Notica'. Does anyone else use this app?

That's me with my new love ;) I haven't bought a Prada in 5 years and am happy with this bag.

My sore neck is getting better but it still bothers me. I've an early flight to catch tomorrow, am going on a business trip again. Good night. xx.

Giveaway Winner!

2011-11-01T21:59:00.000+01:00

The winner of the blog giveaway is.... Lucky #5!

Congratulations to Taylor! I have sent you an email a while ago. Please response and send me your details within the next 48 hours.

Thanks everyone for entering the giveaway. Hopefully there will be another one soon ;)

Saturday Arvo

2011-10-29T15:43:00.000+02:00

How's your weekend so far? I'm home alone at my in-laws' now. Everyone's gone to a spa city nearby. I'm left behind because of my sore neck and cramps.

Mr.M took me shopping at Parndorf yesterday. I really appreciated Mr.M's help carrying the shopping bags, spending more than 30mins waiting for me at Prada and an hour at Polo Ralph Lauren when I didn't know which shirts I should get (in the end, I bought all 5!). He also bought me a pair of new ski pants from Salomon since mine are old and slightly tight on me.

Part of yesterday's haul

I'm gonna go and take a nap. My sore neck is killing me.

A Little Update!

2011-10-27T15:27:00.001+02:00

I haven't had time to post any entries or reply to your comments. Sandy fell sick last Friday and he couldn't stand up when I checked on him on early Monday morning. It scared me. We rushed him to the vet and found out he had a bacterial infection. After 4 jabs, he's back to himself again in the evening - eating and running.

We're having a long weekend. Will be visiting the in-laws and going to do some shopping in Vienna.

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget my first blog giveaway which ends this Sunday. Cheers.

First Blog Giveaway!

2011-10-18T19:11:00.006+02:00

The giveaway is now closed. The winner will be announced soon.

I haven't forgotten about my first blog giveaway I mentioned in the previous post :)

I'm giving away the following items to one lucky reader of my little playground.

Here are some of my favourite items I've been collecting since the beginning of the year. They're all brand new, never been swatched/tested.

1. Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 (Pear).
2. Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner in Navy Blue.
3. My Scheming Provence Lavender Soothing Mask.
4. Deary Rose Co-Q10 Mask. Both My Scheming and Deary are from Taiwan. Apparently they're famous in Asia.
5. Essence Colour & Go in Where's the party? (if you've been reading my blog for a while, you know how much I love Essence nail polishes).
6. Essence Multi Dimension XXXL Shine in Trendsetter.

How to enter?
1. Be a follower.
2. Leave your name, email address and tell me how do you get to know this blog. 1 comment per person only.
3. If you blog about this giveaway on a single entry, not just an entry with other blog giveaways, you will gain +1 extra entry. Post the link here on your comment.
4. Open internationally.
5. Ends Sunday 30 October GMT (the European summer time ends today).
6. Winner will be drawn at random.org.

Good luck! :)

Be Right Back!

2011-10-03T09:56:00.001+02:00

I'm back from Moscow. It's so good to be at home but I already missed Moscow because it's one of the most interesting cities I've ever been to.

I finally have the chance to do something I've been planning to do for a long time - a blog giveaway!

Stay tuned!

Greetings From Moscow

2011-09-23T20:59:00.000+02:00

I'm still in Moscow! I managed to go to the Red Square on Wednesday, walked around and took some pictures. Hopefully I'll have more time to explore this city more ;)

Have a nice weekend!

H&M Loot

2011-09-19T12:05:00.000+02:00

When I first moved to Finland from Australia in 2004, I went crazy at H&M when I first stepped in my first H&M store at Forum. I loved H&M.

I've slowly fallen out of love with H&M in these two years mainly due to the quality of H&M which is getting worse than before. Besides, walking in a H&M store always gives me a headache, literally because they're always so unorganized and sometimes messy. That's another reason why I can't spend more than 5mins in the store. I easily lose my mood looking at their stuffs!

Nowadays, I only stop by their accessories section when I want to buy new scarves. That's one thing that I can't deny, H&M does have some nice designs. I saw they have some new stuffs for their autumn collection so I decided to have a look. I didn't expect to walk out of the store with the following items.

I really like this printed blouse. I got it in EU36 instead of my usual EU34 because I usually like my blouse a little loose. I also grabbed a scarf in similar print. It was the last one in the store.

I first saw this knit sweater on 9to5Chic. Since the weather is getting colder here and I'm getting new stuffs for my autumn/winter wardrobe (that also reminds me it's time to do a round of cleaning, getting rid of stuffs I don't wear anymore).

I was speaking to M earlier and he told me he went shopping yesterday (my husband enjoys shopping in the US and I'm hoping one day he'll take me there just to shop!). I'm so so jealous! ;) Everyone knows Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world, you bet I won't be shopping much there!

It's FRIDAY!

2011-09-16T19:50:00.003+02:00

No, I haven't forgotten this blog of mine. Work has been keeping me busy after the summer vacation period. Now I'm back to working late, business travelling, never-ending conference calls... I'm home a week only this month and am spending the other 3 weeks somewhere else. M is still in the US and I'm flying to Moscow next week. Thank heaven for having a close friend who loves my dog and doesn't mind coming over to our place to 'babysit' him until M comes back next weekend!

I'm glad it's Friday today... It's also a mail day (new issue of Marie Claire UK in my mailbox) and a dry-clean day... I was too busy to book a massage for myself this weekend, I hope they do have a free slot for me tomorrow. My back is killing me...

Have a great Friday night, everyone! I hope yours is better than mine (staying at home watching some DVDs and eating chocolates - I need them!).

September...

2011-09-03T11:15:00.001+02:00

Mr.M turned 29 yesterday. I took him out for dinner at a French restaurant last Saturday, had a date (it's been a long time since we went out for a date - blame our busy schedule). We celebrated his birthday with his brother yesterday at our favourite Italian restaurant. After the great food and a glass of chilled lambrusco, we headed home because we both were so tired and fell asleep before midnight - on a Friday evening!

I bought him a Kindle this year. I wanted to get one for last Christmas but they were backordered. He loves to read. Sometimes he also reads my Marie Claire and Cosmo ;) I'm loving the Kindle too. I've been shamelessly reading Confidential on Kindle. That was the first book we bought! I loved SVH when I was young and I read a few series of SVU.

Mr.M will be travelling to the US again for business next week. I'll have my first business travel after two months next week as well. By the time he's back after 3 weeks, I'm already in Moscow for a project. I'll only get to see him for the weekend before I fly again. I'm only at home for a week this month and will spend the rest of the weeks in Moscow and Brussels until the first week of October.

Tory Burch Reva

2011-08-29T13:20:00.000+02:00

Tory Burch Reva leather flats were on my 'lemming list' for quite sometime. I always checked Net-A-Porter and MyTheresa, hoping my size would be available but I was never that lucky.

I was browsing Outnet one morning (I do this almost everyday but never found anything I want) and saw they had plenty of Reva on stocks! I quickly went through the colours and found lizard print leather in olive and black. I quickly added a pair of black to my chart, upon checkout, I got a message from Outnet that my size 7.5 have been sold out! I tried to add the olive one to the chart, checkout and they're mine! I had mixed feelings at that time that the 7.5 might not fit - I'm an EU38, I usually fit in US7.5 or US8. After reading so many posts on a forum, I decided to go for a US7.5 and they fit perfecly.

Here's my new Reva. They're new and do pitch a little but not too much. I believe I just need to break them in and they'll be one of the most comfortable flats I own. Have I mentioned that I really like the gold medallion?

Do you own any Tory Burch flats? How do you like them?

What Do You Wear?

2011-08-18T15:50:00.000+02:00

While waiting for our lunch to be served at the restaurant, hubby was playing with the camera and asked, 'Show me what you are wearing today?' and took this picture.

I wear my e-ring and wedding band everyday. Tiffany heart-tag charm bracelet (I also have the matching necklace) that hubby bought me in 2008. Pandora bracelet which I got last year and am still collecting the charms. DKNY Tachymeter Chronograph watch with white leather strap. I saw this at Frankfurt airport in February and I just had to get it. I like big watches especially those from Michael Korrs but most of them are way too big for my skinny wrists.

What do you wear?

Happiness Is...

2011-08-17T21:03:00.000+02:00

seeing this cute little creature

Bratislava For M&M's Wedding

2011-08-16T15:10:00.001+02:00

We went to Bratislava two weeks ago to attend a good old friend's wedding. We arrived in the hotel after spending 40mins driving around, looking for a secure car park nearby the hotel. The room was clean and newly renovated. Hubby and I didn't pass out on the bed after the long hour drive, we went out for a walk in the old town and looking for food instead. Unfortunately all the restaurants except for McDonald's and some fast food places were closed. We were thinking of some nice dinner and a glass of good wine. I guess 11:40pm was a bit too late for dinner! I only had a slice of not-so-great pizza.

The ceremony took place at Primate's Palace which was built in the 18th century. I haven't seen M since our wedding last year in end of July. I started tearing up the moment (and I couldn't stop!) I saw her father walked her down the aisle. She's so beautiful as she already is. I was so happy for her. I now understood how she felt when she was at our wedding last year. I couldn't put that feelings into words.

The civil ceremony was in both Slovak and Finnish language. Since I don't speak a word of Slovak (shame on me), I did understand the Finnish translation. After the ceremony, the hosts had a surprise for us - a city tour around Bratislava in the Presporacik and dropped us off at the reception venue. We were in the 'Finland' car since we're guests from the bride's side.

The reception started after the plate breaking custom and followed by the dance and buffet party till early in the morning. The weather was perfect - sunny but not too hot.

It's so far the best wedding I've been to - we have 6 weddings to attend this year. There's one on Saturday and the last wedding will be in September. 2011 is definitely a great year for wedding, I guess ;)

Berlin Part 2: Sight-seeing, Shopping & Everything Else...

2011-08-14T18:40:00.001+02:00

We spent our entire Saturday shopping since the most of the shops are closed on Sundays. I was really disappointed when the Chanel WOC I wanted to get was out of stock in both stores. I really didn't have the mood to continue shopping. I was hoping I'd find it there since there's no Chanel store in Prague.

We went to the infamous KaDeWe. I only bought a Tissot watch and we went for lunch at the food court (they've great food but it wasn't the cheapest lunch). M was the one who enjoyed shopping this time. I only got some Essence and P2 nail polishes from DM. Chanel disappointed me but at least I found the YSL Arty ring I wanted in my size. I also picked up some stuffs from Karen Millen.

On Sunday, we went to Reichstag and took a tour around the area. We didn't know we need to register ourselves at least 24hrs prior to the visit if we would like to see the dome of Reichstag. We went to see the infamous , visited Topography of Terror, went to Checkpoint Charlie. We then took the city sightseeing bus because it started raining. The ticket was 20EUR/person but it's definitely worth the money if you don't know where to go.

Berlin Part 1: On Our Anniversary

2011-08-08T21:14:00.013+02:00

I've always wanted to visit Berlin. M suggested Milan for our anniversary weekend but I told him I was too lazy to fly - that happens if you're a frequent flyer, I guess! I was thinking of some Czech cities where I could enjoy a weekend at the spa, getting pampered, drinking wine and doing nothing! He's not so keen to spend our anniversary weekend in the country so he thought Berlin would be a good idea.

He booked us a room at Kempinski Bristol, located right at Kurfürstendamm. Since it's my first time there, I had no idea what's there. When I looked up on google, I found out Ku'damm is some sort of 'shopping district'. M said the main reasons why he chose Kempinski because we're picky with accommodation and I could shop! M enjoys shopping but he couldn't stand shopping with me. It's not because he has to pay for me, it's because I could spend more than an hour at one store and I could shop non-stop for hours!

Kempinski Bristol is an old but very well-maintained hotel. Our room is slightly smaller than what we're used to but it's very clean and cozy. The staff were friendly and helpful. When the concierge found out we were there for our 1st anniversary, the hotel gave me a surprise. We went back to the hotel after spending our first morning shopping and found a bouquet of long stem roses, a champagne in ice bucket, some fresh strawberries and chocolates. I looked at M, asking if it was another surprise from him. I trusted him when he said no because he's surprised too.

We went out for dinner at Belmondo, a french restaurant as recommended by the concierge who offered to make a reservation for us. We weren't disappointed. We both loved the delightful ambiance and the food was great, so was the Bordeaux 2005 they offered. The chef came to ask if everything was fine.

To be honest, after living here for more than 5 years, I kinda forgot how great it feels to enjoy such great services. We had our wedding reception and party at Comsa Brno Palace last year. We also had guests staying over but the hotel didn't even give us any offers. The service wasn't great but I couldn't deny the food was awesome. When I left a neutral feedback on their Facebook page, I was contacted by one of their PR personnel, saying I was being unfair for leaving that comment and our wedding planners were to be blamed. They just couldn't take criticism, could they? Yes, that's the kind of service you get even at a so called '4 stars hotel with 5 stars services'. The customer services here is better than it was years ago but there's still plenty of room for improvement.

Berlin... to be continued

2011-08-05T14:28:00.001+02:00

Berlin was fun despite the horrible weather - it was raining all the time and the sun was only out on our departure day.

I will write more when I'm back on Sunday :) We're leaving for Bratislava today to attend an old friend's wedding. I'm really excited for her... We got to know each other through our ex-boyfriends - yes, they're best buddies. After we broke up, we found ourselves Slovak boys - it wasn't on purpose, I swear! Now I've been married to mine for over a year and she's getting married with hers tomorrow! She's the only friend in Finland I still keep in touch with and we try seeing each other every summer.

Have a nice weekend, loves. See you soon! <3

Our First Anniversary

2011-07-31T11:47:00.009+02:00

M and I still couldn't believe it's already been a year since we both said 'I do'.

Happy anniversary, darling. Thank you for being such a wonderful and a perfect husband. <3

NOTD: Essence You're A Heartbreaker

2011-07-29T12:53:00.000+02:00

I finally have the chance to try this beauty today.

You're A Heartbreaker is one of the nail polishes from Essence's last collection - 50's Girls Reloaded. This is my most favourite shade among the ones I've mentioned in my previous post. Essence is very generous this time with the 15ml bottle (the usual limited collection nail polishes are around 7ml) without increasing the price - I paid 39,90CZK (approx. EUR1,60) for each of them.

This steel blue shade has grey undertone with shimmers. The application was surprisingly easy after the second coat - the first coat was pretty sheer. Here's a quick snap of the colour. The photo doesn't justify how beautiful the colour is!

Essence 50's Girls Reloaded

2011-07-22T11:39:00.002+02:00

I've said this a hundred times that I love Essence nail polishes. I went to the drugstore a few days ago, hoping I'd be able to find some nail polishes from Essence Ballerina Backstage collection. As usual, it's not available (am not sure if they're sold out or the collection was never released here). But the 50's Girls Reloaded collection is out.

I only picked up 4 nail polishes since I'm not a fan of their cosmetics. The only colour I didn't buy was ahoy! which is white in colour. They all come in a 15ml bottle.

From left: I’m a marine girl, You're a heartbreaker, Love me tender and Back to the 50’s

I also picked up a nail polish in Welcome To The Jungle from Catrice's latest collection - Papagena.

Swatches will follow next week :) The weather has been cold, gloomy and rainy this week. The lighting is pretty bad to take a decent photo.

We're spending the weekend at the in-laws'. Unfortunately the weatherman said it will be a rainy weekend. :(

Have a great weekend!

NOTD: Essence Forget-Me-Not

2011-07-19T21:17:00.000+02:00

I'm a big fan of Essence nail polish. I'm not into their other products at all but their nail polishes are one of the best I've tried so far. They're long-lasting, fast drying, come in fun colours and they're cheap!

I've had Forget Me Not from the Blossom Etc collection sitting in my drawer for quite sometime. It has shimmer in the bottle but when applied, it looks creme. The application was very easy - no streaks, two coats and I finished it with Essie Good To Go top coat.

I was wearing this colour for 3 days without chipping. I was really impressed. I only changed my nails colours today because of a business meeting. One of my male colleagues jokingly asking me if I was cold yesterday. Cold? It's freaking 28°C outside.'Oh, your nails are BLUE. I thought you're cold...'

I just picked up some more colours from Essence latest collection 50's Girls Reloaded yesterday. Will post the swatches soon :)

I love...

2011-07-09T23:38:00.002+02:00

How's everyone's weekend so far? I spent mine at home whole day watching Fringe season 3 and Harry Potter 6 (Part 1) despite the lovely weather outside.

I picked up some I love... products from Douglas yesterday. I've seen them around before but never bothered to try them simply because I've never heard of this brand before! The SA convinced me these are great products and I should give them a try. They smell heavenly! I'm now using the strawberries & milkshake bubble bath and vanilla & ice cream body butter. I'm pleased with them so far. I'm yet to try the mango & papaya lip balm.

Have you tried I love...?

A Productive Extra Long Weekend

2011-07-06T13:57:00.000+02:00

Hi everyone! I haven't been very active on this blog lately, you know the usual reason - am too busy with work!

We're having a short working week :) Tuesday and Wednesday are bank holidays here. M and I finally get to rest. I've been busy in the kitchen making homemade strawberry jam, baking my favourite Finnish cinnamon rolls (pulla) and today I made matcha ice-cream!

I love summers. With the longer and warmer days, it always motivates me to start doing what I enjoy the most - baking and crafting. I didn't have a chance to do so last year because of our wedding planning.

It's the strawberries season. We've been talking about going strawberry picking at the nearest strawberry farm but M didn't quite like the idea. We ended up buying 2.5kg of fresh picked strawberries on Monday and made our own jam. I'm glad how it turned out.
The strawberries go great with the matcha ice-cream. Now I'm thinking about making strawberry sorbet.

2011-06-28T22:49:00.000+02:00

My Marc By Marc Jacobs Natasha bag arrived last Thursday. It is smaller than I thought but is big enough as a casual bag.

Net-A-Porter black signature box always excites me :D

Natasha in taupe. The leather is so soft.

Now I can't wait to take this baby out :)

Holiday Loot!

2011-06-26T22:40:00.000+02:00

I hope everyone has had a great weekend. I spent my entire Saturday morning cleaning and we went for Korean BBQ dinner with some friends. I was supposed to have a session of massage therapy this afternoon but had to cancel it due to my second migraine this week.

We did a lot of shopping in Malaysia. I only picked up a couple of stuffs though. Some nail polish from The Face Shop and Skin Food, My Beauty Dairy Black Pearl masks and Neutrogena face wash which isn't available here. I went to Sephora, hoping I'd be able to get some UD 24/7 eyeliners but the colours I wanted to get weren't available. In the end, I only bought Duo Eyelash Adhesive Glue and SK-II Facial Treatment Essence.

We went to KLCC on our first afternoon in KL. I spent more than 2hrs at Kinokuniya. Looking for Japanese craft books was the only reason why I was there. I love crafting but I haven't had any time for it since last year. I'm hoping I'll be more productive this summer and finish the quilt project I started in 2009!

I also picked up 2 beauty magazines and some cooking books. I do read Chinese but am not good. The cooking books are also in English and with some illustrations, that shouldn't be a problem even for someone who doesn't read Chinese.

We went to Pavilion a lot since it's just next to our hotel. Coach was having season sale at that time. M and I went to check out the bags but we didn't find anything nice for me. All my Coach were bought from the US and UK since they're not available here. I was lucky to find this cross-body swing pack at the airport. It's big enough to carry my Coach wristlet, iPhone, Blackberry ad even my Prada sunnies fit in there.

Net-A-Porter 50% Sale

2011-06-20T13:01:00.001+02:00

I received Net-A-Porter end of season sale email notification an hour ago. I've been waiting for this forever!! My first check was of course the shoes section. Unfortunately I didn't find any Bloch and Tory Burch shoes I like. I then came across Marc by Marc Jacobs Natasha cross-body bags. I need a cross-body in my collection! It was hard to choose between the two different colours and leather types.

I read that a lot of people were having access issue on NAP site. I too had the same problem when submitting my order but it somehow got through. I called the customer service and they're processing my order.

I'm on a 'bags ban' now. This is my third one this month! I bought a Coach when I was at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and a Longchamp (my third le pliage - in pink!) at Schiphol.

Vacation!

2011-06-19T17:36:00.000+02:00

Work's been keeping me so busy after we came back from Malaysia. I was on business trip again last week. One good thing is that there's no more business travelling for me in summer! I've been flying every week for the past 6 weeks. It's really tiring! I finally had time to sit down and uploaded our vacation from the memory card this morning. We took heaps of photos but I only managed to edit a couple of them - housework couldn't wait!

Our 2-week vacation in Malaysia was a great one despite some bad experiences like the lost Blackberry and the late arrival of my luggage. It was still in Schiphol when we're already in Kuala Lumpur! The airlines however did not deliver my luggage to our hotel as they said they would. I tried calling the lost luggage office in Langkawi Airport but there was no answer. Hubby and I drove to the airport (we rented a car) and saw my luggage had arrived and was standing next to the baggage carousel. Anyone could just grab and take it away. It did spoil my mood for half a day.

Anyway, back to the good experiences. Langkawi island was our first stop. I've been there twice before many years ago. We spent great 4 days on the island, sunbathing, swimming in the sea and going around the island. It's safe to drive there since the average speed limit is 60km/hr. We went on a mangrove tour and I got to pat a stingray at a fish farm!

On the way back to the jetty after the end of our Mangrove tour, our guide stopped his boat when he spotted this big guy. I've never seen a life jellyfish before - only at the aquariums, of course.

We also visited Langkawi Cable Car. Even though we go to the Alps to ski every year, I'm still afraid of getting on a cable car. I usually don't look down because my legs shake if I do!

Our hotel is about 10 mins drive from Cenang beach where we had our dinner everyday. The sunset there is just magnificent.

Our last day on the island was slow and easy. We had a spa treatment booked for me, sunbathing on the beach and collecting seashells.

It was a fun but very tiring trip. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon, I tried to stay awake until 7 in the evening... passed out and woke up at 3am. Now I'm looking forward to my next vacation. We're still thinking where to go in summer. I'm hoping Rome this time if not Amsterdam.

I'm Back!!

2011-06-08T10:00:00.000+02:00

Hello!!! I'm finally back from my vacation! We arrived on Sunday afternoon, dead tired after more than 15hrs of travelling! I passed out at 7pm and woke up 8hrs later (blame jet lag for that!).

It was a great trip. Bad things did happen though. My luggage didn't arrive until the next day. I had to go and buy some new clothes (luckily I've some clean underwears in my hand-carry bag). My company Blackberry was stolen. Now I'm waiting for the new one.

I'll post some pics this weekend ;)

For now, this is the view we saw while chilling at a rooftop bar in KL.

May Favourites

2011-06-03T14:39:00.000+02:00

It's the time for favourites of the month again.

Here is the list of my favourite, most-used products in May.

MAC Mineralize Blush - Nuance
I got this blush in 2008 from Sonic Chic collection. Nuance is a peach colour. It looks 'orange' in pan but when applied, it's a beautiful sheer peach with a hint of pink and gold sheen.

MUFE Aqua Cream #13
This cream eye shadow is heaven sent! I use it as an eye shadow base after applying an eye shadow primer. It is waterproof and doesn't crease.

Lucas' Papaw Ointment
It's my little miracle worker. I've been using this for years. I rub my nose a lot during spring due to pollen allergies. The skin around that area is always red and flaky. I apply this ointment everyday when needed and it soothes and moisturizes my skin. I also use it on my lips.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Boy
Have I told you how much I love Chanel lipsticks? I'm obsessed! You can see the swatch here.

Be Back Soon

2011-05-30T16:14:00.000+02:00

Am blogging from my iphone :) We're now on holiday in Malaysia with the in-laws. Will be home on Sunday!

Naked Palette - Finally!

2011-05-29T14:40:00.000+02:00

I almost gave up on getting this palette. I've been trying to get my hands on one since September last year. It was available at HQhair in October and my order was 'Backordered'. HQhair later apologized for not able to fulfil the high demand and cancelled my order. I then found an eBay seller who was selling this palette in a pretty good price. I placed the order, paid but she later cancelled it because she told me Paypal had blocked her account. #@%&!

It's really frustrating so I went to MAC and bought some dupes. In March, HQhair sent me an email saying Naked was back in stock. I was thrilled and placed the order. Instead of waiting for the palette to be shipped within 3 working days but nothing happened. When I emailed them to check if they're going to restock, I was told to wait until further notice. It finally arrived after more than 2 months of waiting! Was it worth it? Well, yeah!

Am I keeping the palette? No. In fact, I'm giving it to my sister. :)

If you already have some of these MAC eyeshadows (I reckon they are good dupes).

Urban Decay / MAC
Virgin / Brule or Shroom (not shown here)
Sin / Naked Lunch
Naked / Wedge
Buck / Cork (not shown here)
Half Baked / Woodwinked
Toasted / Mulch / Sable is quite close too (not shown here)
Hustle / Handwritten
Sidecar / Patina
Creep / Carbon (not shown here)
Gunmetal / Knight Divine

Essence & Catrice Haul

2011-05-25T14:54:00.002+02:00

After reading Yarisse's entry on Catrice, I told myself I must stop by at Rossmann this week. I've read plenty of raves on Catrice's products and I can't wait to try - especially the nail polish!

There are two limited collections at the counter - Enter Wonderland and Urban Baroque. I picked up 2 lipglosses, Pink Show (pink) and Alice's Hatter (coral) and Wonderland Green Card nail polish from Enter Wonderland. I didn't get anything from Urban Baroque. I like Marie Antoinette lipstick (it looks quite close to MAC Ever Hip when swatched) but it is scented (hate that smell). That's the main reason why it didn't come home with me.

I also bought some Essence lipglosses. XXXL Shine in Super Girl and True Love, Stay With Me longlasting lipglosses in I Like Cotton Candy and Trendsetter, I Like nail polish from blossoms etc collection.

I was hoping to find you rock! collection because I really want the nail polishes.

Shoes!

2011-05-20T11:58:00.001+02:00

I love shoes. Who doesn't? Good shoes are quite pricey here, not to mention the selection of brands and styles are quite limited. Or maybe I'm just too picky. The only brands I buy in stores are Ecco, Vagabond, Camper and Zara. I got most of my shoes outside the country when I was on vacation, was home for a visit and on business trips (if I had time for shopping!).

I like labels but I'm not willing to splurge on brands like Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo. I'll choose a designer handbag over a pair of designer shoes anytime!

When I knew DH was going to the US for business trip again, I added plenty of shoes to my Endless.com wishlist. That's where I bought my Badgley Mischka bridal shoes from last year. In the end, I had to choose 3 pairs out of the 8 on my wishlist because DH was afraid he'd be taxed by the evil custom when he entered the EU. These are what I got

Anne Klein Black Leather Pumps
I wanted a pair of natural patent pumps for work but since 7.5 wasn't available so I picked the black leather one. They're really comfortable and the heels are just a little over 3 inches.

Lauren Ralph Lauren Platform Sandals
I'm so in love with strappy style sandals, I don't know why! I find them really sexy (I used to hate them). The heels are quite high - 3.75 inches but they feel quite comfortable because of the 1/2 inches platform. DH thinks they're cute too :)

Lauren Ralph Lauren Sandals
I got these sandals in 'Platino'. I need something light gold to go with the dress I'm going to wear for my friend's wedding in August, these ones are just perfect. The heels are around 3.5 inches.

I like the selection on Endless and they also ship free. Buying from Endless can be risky for me since I can only try the shoes on when DH is back home. I will not be able to return the shoes for an exchange since Endless doesn't ship outside the US. I'm glad so far these shoes I've ordered are true to size. I know the size chart on Endless is only for references but I find it misleading. I'm an EU38, all my Nine West, AK, Badgley Mischka shoes are US7.5. I bought these new shoes in US7.5 and they fit me perfectly. Of course some shoes can run smaller/bigger but I've been lucky so far.

This shoes talk reminds me of an episode from IT Crowd *lol*

Last Weekend

2011-05-18T15:28:00.003+02:00

It's funny to say this was my first traditional Slovak wedding. I am married to a Slovak but we didn't have a traditional Slovak wedding. I'm glad DH isn't from a traditional and conservative family. My MIL is cool and very modern. The one problem I've is - I still suck in speaking Czech/Slovak. My in-laws know some simple English sentences. MIL speaks German too. When I don't get what she's trying to tell me in Slovak, she'll start speaking German *lol* Not that I understand German but I could guess what she's saying!

I didn't know what to expect at the wedding. I was worried nobody would speak to me because most people aren't confident enough to speak English. It turned out everyone speaks fluently in English. We had a great time. Lots of food, lots of alcohol, lots of fun!

All the male guests got this. Maybe someone Slovak/Czech can explain what that is?

We went over to the bride's parents' to meet the groom. 'Bride picking' was in the afternoon. We headed to the church for the ceremony and drove 10km to the reception venue. There was the plate shattering custom (the newly weds have to sweep the shards which is a symbol of good luck).

The reception started with chicken soup (the groom and the bride had to feed each other), followed by more chicken, turkey dishes, lots of cakes and pastries. After midnight, a smorgasbord of cold cuts was served.

My Cinzano, Fernet and Kofola

Kofola is the Czech/Slovak's Cola - tastes weird for foreigners (think cough syrup!) but now I love it. Vinea is a grape-based soft drinks from Slovakia.

DH was very excited when he saw the seating cards. 'Oh! Look at your name! How cool!' We agreed I'd be keeping my last name after we got married. His parents have no objection and are fine with that. Yes, his last name is long compares to mine which is only a 3-letter word. :)

I went shopping with DH a day before the wedding. He picked this top when we're at Zara. I wore it with a pencil skirt and a pair of peep toe heels. I also get to carry my Eva for the first time. No photos taken during the wedding because we're too busy eating, drinking, dancing and chatting :) I had to change into a ballerina flats at midnight because the heels were killing me while dancing.

One wedding done, 4 more to go this summer.

Yankee Candles

2011-05-16T14:03:00.001+02:00

I noticed that Blogger was down before the weekend and my previous post was scheduled to be published on Thursday but it didn't happen?

Anyway, I hope everyone had a good weekend because I did. The wedding was great and we had a lot of fun. Lots of food, alcohol *ahem* and we danced till dawn. DH and I only had a few hours of sleep before we drove back to his parents'.

My Yankee Candle orders arrived on Friday. I love Yankee candles! I usually buy Yankee Votive candles instead of those in jars. My all time favourites are Wedding Day, Clean Cotton and Sparkling Snow. I like how the candles make our home smell so nice.

Many people don't like scented candles. I don't like sweet/fruity scents. I'm very particular with the brands I'm buying because some of them give me headache especially the IKEA ones. Yankee Candles are available here but they're very pricey. I'm glad to find an eBay seller from the UK who carries a wide variety of Yankee Candle products. Shipping outside the UK is reasonable and fast delivery.

Are you a fan of Yankee Candle? Do you like scented candles too?

MAC Surf Baby

2011-05-16T10:00:00.003+02:00

I haven't stepped in to MAC for a very long time since my MA left. My last MAC purchase was back in January, that was quite a while ago.

I was invited to Surf Baby launch event 2 weeks ago. As usual, the event was in Czech language but a MA came and translated everything for me so I didn't miss a thing :)

When I first saw the promo pictures, I thought 'Meh'. When I saw the collection in person, I thought they weren't as bad as I thought they would be! What I like the most from this collection are the pigment stacks! I'm not a pigment person but the colours are really pretty. The other products I think 'I would bring home' are Hibiscus lippie, My Paradise Cheek Powder, Glided White Powerpoint Eye Pencil, Saffron eyeshadow, Solar Riche Bronzing Powder and the nail polishes.

I came home with Glided White, Saffron and Hangin' Loose.

I really like Glided White. I've Urban Decay 24/7 in Yeyo but I find it a little bit too 'white' for everyday use. Glided White is very similar to MAC Nylon eyeshadow (no comparison pic because my sister 'stole' my Nylon a few months ago). If you've Nylon, you know what to expect :)

The MA who helped me with translation was wearing Hangin' Loose. It's such a creme nude pink with shimmers (it's only noticeable when it's in the bottle, not really when it's applied on the nails). I like colorful nail polish but sometimes I need something more neutral and work safe especially when I'm on a business trip! I spend most of my time at work sitting at my desk, talking on the phone, so nobody could really see my crazy nail colours. Hangin' Loose is a perfect shade for us office girls who want something more subtle. NOTD with Hangin' Loose will come soon :)

Saffron was part of MAC & Mickey Contractor collection which wasn't available here (or was it?). It's a deep coral caramel shade in Satin finish. I reckon it would go well with Gorgeous Gold which I already have.

What did you get from this collection?

BRB

2011-05-09T15:19:00.013+02:00

I'd like to post my Surf Baby haul but I still need to upload and edit the photos!!

I've been feeling under the weather for a few days now. It must be the weather :( I'm business travelling again tomorrow. Not very happy about it because M will be home from D.C in the afternoon. I haven't seen him for more than 3 weeks! I don't get to see him and my new shoes I ordered from Endless *lol* until Thursday evening!

This week is going to be hectic. I'm coming in to the office on Friday morning and we're leaving for Slovakia in the afternoon after work to attend M's best mate's wedding on Sat. It will be my very first Slovak wedding even though I'm married to one. We didn't have a traditional Slovak wedding celebration last year. We didn't follow the wedding customs because my mother-in-law said we didn't have to.

Did I mention we've 5 weddings to attend this year? The one that I look forward to the most is an old friend's in August. :)

❤ Louis Vuitton

2011-05-06T23:00:00.001+02:00

There are always one or more good reasons or just another excuse to splurge on certain things you like.

I've just received my bonus and a pay rise recently. I've exceeded my target for 2010! Isn't this reason good enough to get myself something nice? :)

I brought my Speedy 30 for heat stamping at LV on Friday after work. I wasn't sure if I wanted it in gold before but I think it goes really well with the gold hardware. I'm really happy about it. A.T are my initials. I didn't adopt my husband last name after we got married in 2010. Even if I'd one day, it will be still A.T because his last name starts with a T too.

While waiting for my bag to be ready, I asked the SA if I could take a look at some bags. She was really helpful and gave me plenty of good advice. Most importantly, she speaks very fluently in English! The last one who served me before does speak English but sometimes she couldn't really understand me.

I saw Emilie wallet in the store the last time I was there and I knew I must get it. The size is right and it's within the price range I'm willing to pay for a wallet. It also comes in my favourite classic Monogram canvas. There's plenty of space and it even can fit my Blackberry.

I've always liked Eva clutch. I jokingly told DH that I would never buy it because of the name 'Eva'. The reason why? Both of his ex gfs before me were named 'Eva'! I know I sound silly :P But who cares about these Evas?! I thought I'd get an Eva in Damier Azur but I really dislike the golden brass Louis Vuitton Inventeur plate. When I tried Monogram on, I knew that's the one.

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer vs MAC Select Moisturecover NC30

2011-05-04T15:02:00.003+02:00

I've tried many concealers before but didn't really have a particular favourite one until I found these MAC concealers - Pro Longwear and Select Moisturecover.

I've been using MAC Select Moisturecover for the past 2 years. I use it to cover redness on my face using MAC #217 and it works like a charm! The texture is smooth, creamy and it gives a moisturised finish. It doesn't leave the cakey looks on my face like most concealers I've tried. I sometimes use it under my eyes but I think my Bobbi Brown concealer and corrector work better for under eyes. The only thing I dislike about this product is the packaging. I think of gems when I see the wand.

I picked up MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in the beginning of January this year. My SA recommended this one when I told her I need something with a good coverage for my acne dark spots. I was told not to use under my eyes because it may be too thick and cakey for that area. The concealer is creamy, thicker than Select Moisturecover and it stays put all day. I love and hate the pump! Love it because it's more hygienic than the wand. Hate it because one pump gives me more than what I need! I feel it's such a waste when one pump gives me more than I need. However, if I press the pump slowly and carefully, I'll get a tiny bit of product which is enough for one use.

Both concealers are NC30 but Pro Longwear is lighter than Select Moisturecover - even when they're in the tubes.

Pro Longwear is 9ml while Select Moisturecover is 5ml.

What's your favourite concealer? Have you tried both of these products before?

Today's Haul

2011-05-02T21:33:00.002+02:00

I'm currently obsessed with scarves. H&M has some cute ones and I just couldn't resist them. The one with hearts is cute but I'm probably going to give it to my sister, Christy. I bought the lace dress in EU36 (I'm usually an EU34) but this one fits me fine.

I was so happy when SIX was open at my nearest mall a few months ago. SIX is a fashion accessories store like Accessorize. SIX is having sale on some selected items and I found a couple of cute earrings and a ring for myself and Christy. They're all around 2,50€ each. What a bargain!

I really like the ring I got today. The picture doesn't really show the colour right. It's actually a dark amethyst.

I got this one a couple of months ago. It was a M size, a little loose on my finger but it doesn't really bother me.

April Favourites

2011-05-01T17:00:00.002+02:00

Happy 1st of May, everyone!

Sorry that I've been MIA lately. As usual, work is keeping me so busy. DH is on his business trip in the US again for another week. He'll be home the following Tuesday but am leaving for my business trip early morning on the same day! :( He told me he has bought some 'presents' for me, I wonder what did he get this time. I'm thinking of asking him to bring me some Urban Decay eye shadow pencils :)

I keep my makeup simple in spring. I only have a couple of items because I haven't worn eye shadows since my spring allergies started - watery eyes and eye shadows aren't best friends!

MAC Sweetie Lipstick
I got Sweetie from B2M last year. It's a medium pink in Lustre finish (my favourite). It's work safe and an everyday lip colour since it's semi-sheer.

MAC Peachykeen Blush
Whenever I can't decide which blush to wear for the day, I'll reach out for Peachykeen. It's a peachy pink and goes with any lipsticks/gloss I have.

MAC Pearlglide Eye Liner in Black Line
This one isn't just my April favourite but my all-time favourite! I use very often if not everyday. Black Line is a greenish black with gold shimmers. It's so smooth, so pigmented and glides on easily. It's waterproof, smudge proof, and long-lasting. I was so glad to find a backup at Frankfurt International Airport early this year.

Essence Irreplaceable
I've posted a review on this nail polish a while ago. It's been my most favourite colour since I first wore it last month.

NOTD: China Glaze Raspberry Festival

2011-04-18T12:28:00.004+02:00

I love Raspberry Festival. It was one of the colours from China Glaze Summer Days collection in 2009. The other favourite of mine is Strawberry Fields which was from the same collection

Raspberry Festival is a jelly-like vibrant red with glass flecks. The picture doesn't justify how beautiful this polish is. The formula is great! Not only is the application easy, the polish dries fast too.

If you like vibrant red and glass flecks polish, this one is a must for your collection. You won't be disappointed!

Review: Bare Escentuals Prime Time Foundation Primer Oil Control

2011-04-16T14:00:00.001+02:00

I had a 20% discount voucher to spend at Sephora last month. I picked up 2 Essie top coats and a Bare Essentials Prime Time Foundation Primer Oil Control. I've never tried any face primer before besides Smashbox Primer that broke me out, I decided to give this one a try.

On the production description, it says water-based primer, oil-, silicone- and fragrance-free, control shines for sensitive, oily or problem-prone skin.

It received some pretty bad reviews on MUA, a lot of reviews said...

It flakes/peels off
This doesn't happen to me (I tried rubbing my face to see if I'd find any flakes - nothing). I only use one pump of product. I spread the primer evenly all over and massage my face and pat it gently until the primer is dry. I let it sit for 1-2 mins before applying the liquid foundation (I use MUFE HD Foundation).

It smells
It does have this slightly weird smell but not strong. You know how fragrance-free products can a smell a little weird sometimes? That's the only words I can describe the scent.

Does it do what it says?
Yes and no. The primer is colourless with light texture. It doesn't break me out. My foundation does go on smoothly. My makeup lasts longer, espcially the concealer. As for oil control, it does help a little but I don't see a big difference (I've combination skin with oily T-zone).

This is not a bad product but I can live without it.

NOTD: Essence Must-Have

2011-04-14T11:32:00.000+02:00

I bought this nail polish a few months ago but haven't had the chance to try it out because I was more into something brighter.

Multi Dimension XXXL Shine nail polish is another great line from Essence. Must-Have is a gunmental grey with shimmers. It looks similar to Chanel Black Pearl in the bottle but I can't really say if it's a dupe since I don't own Black Pearl.

I applied 2 coats of this and finished with a coat of Seche Vite.

My Beauty Diary Natto Mask

2011-04-13T15:20:00.003+02:00

My sister brought home plenty of My Beauty Diary masks when she went to Taipei for vacation in December. I managed to *steal* a few from her, one of them is the Natto mask.

According to My Beauty Diary, the natto masks offer nourishment and is highly effective in moisture retention. The sheet has a very faint smell of natto and it didn't bother me.

The sheet is thinner then other sheet masks I've tried before. There was plenty of essence on the mask and was little messy when the essence dripped as I put the mask on. I left it on for about 30mins. After removing the mask from my face, I put it on my neck for another 10mins. I slowly massaged and patted the remaining essence on my face dry.

The mask did what it say - moisturing and firming. My face was soft and moistured after using it. I could also feel the firmness on my skin. I used the mask before going to bed and I skipped my night moisturiser. When I woke up the next morning, my skin was still moistured after 8 hours and it wasn't oily.

It's my first MBD mask and definitely wouldn't be the last.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine

2011-04-11T14:22:00.000+02:00

Rouge Coco Shine is Chanel's new lipstick collection. Coco Shine lipsticks are sheer, hydrating and give shine. They were already available here at the counters (at least at Sephora) before April but I didn't buy any of them because I refuse paying for Chanel in retail price (they're approximately US$50/each here!).

Boy, Aventure, Liberte

I picked up 3 colours - the infamous Boy, Aventure and Liberte from the duty-free shop in Brussels Airport last week (they're 23,60EUR each). When I first swatched Boy, I knew I must get it. It's a beautiful sheer light mauve pink.

Aventure is a cute shimmering strawberry pink for me. It's my most favourite among them all. I can't resist pink lipsticks. I'm thinking of getting Evasion next :)

I love coral/peachy tone lipsticks for summer. I was glad to find Liberte, a peachy coral tone with shimmers. I already see myself wearing this a lot in the summer.

They feel like tinted lipbalm on the lips. I find them very moisturising and don't dry up my lips. Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks also have rose fragrance (not really a fan of it). Since they're sheer, I don't expect them to be long-lasting.

Overall, they're great, no doubt I'll re-purchase.

Love Duty-Free, Hate Spring!

2011-04-09T02:03:00.000+02:00

I've had a hectic and tiring week but it's so good to be home finally :)

Besides the 1kg Belgian chocolates, I also brought home some duty-free stuffs like Longchamp le pliage 2011 Spring Limited Edition Arbre de Vie and 3 Chanel Coco Shine lipsticks.

I was lucky to grab the last medium size Arbre de Vie as the SA told me they only have 1 size in stock. Well, I guess my sister is the lucky one because I bought it for her!

I fell in love with Coco shine the first time I saw and swatched them at Sephora a few weeks ago. I got myself Boy, Liberte and Aventure. They're so pretty and I know I'll be getting more of these.

I hate spring. My spring allergy came back a week ago and it's getting worse today. My eyes are itchy, I'm coughing and I've stuffy nose! The birch pollen season started last weekend and will end sometime in May. It's my worst enemy, making my life pretty difficult because it also causes food cross-reaction. I can't eat apples, pears, apricots and the list goes on. It sucks to be me... *lol*

Most people love spring, Sandy is spring lover. He enjoys the sun, he'll go to chase the birds in the garden... It's so cute to find my dog 'sunbathing' :)

In Brussels

2011-04-05T10:07:00.001+02:00

Blogging from Brussels! Am here for work again this week. Had a little haul at the airport duty-free :) Will show you what I got :D

Speak to you again the end of this week. xoxo.

March Favourites

2011-04-01T12:30:00.001+02:00

It's April! Can you believe it? NYE seems like it was yesterday for me.

I did a spring cleaning a couple of weeks ago. I threw away plenty of skin care products, bath products and cosmetics I didn't use anymore. Some of them are surprisingly a few years old. Yikes.

Here is a list of beauty products I use almost everyday in March. Some are new, some are not :)

MAC New Spirit Lipglass
This lipglass was part of MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics collection in 2009. I found it at my nearest MAC store last December. New Spirit is a light coral shade with shimmers. I like wearing it on the top of MAC Hug Me or MAC Ever Hip lipsticks.

Bare Essentials Prime Time Foundation Primer Oil Control
I'm not sure why this product received so many negative feedbacks on MUA. I love it. My makeup stays longer and it doesn't break me out. I shall write a review on this one soon.

L'OCCITANE Rose des Neiges Hand Cream
Love this hand cream so so much. My review here.

Chanel Rouge Coco Jersey Rose
I love this! I'm a big fan of pink lipsticks that have slightly peachy tone.

MAC Powder Blush Cubic
This is one of my favourite from MAC. It looks natural on me and it's a very subtle shade. I've been using the same blush at least 4x a week :)

Hubby and I are going for a weekend getaway with some friends :) I wish you a great weekend!

NOTD: Essence Irreplaceable

2011-03-31T11:30:00.000+02:00

I don't usually like light colour polishes especially those with a lot of shimmers. I don't have any gold, beige and champagne colours in my stash. I've way too many pink, red and brown.

Irreplaceable is another new shade from Essence recent release. It is a dark champagne with gold shimmers. Like most Colour & Go polishes, the application for this one was easy. I applied 2 coats and a coat of Seche Vite top coat here. The colour is so beautiful and I can't stop looking at my nails :)

March Nail Polish Haul

2011-03-29T20:00:00.002+02:00

I've a cheap nail polish fever this month. I can't wait to try all the colours especially Essence Nail Art Special Effect Topper.

The first time I saw Essence was 5 years ago. The main reason why I was never bothered to check this brand out because the cartoon illustration made it look cheap to me. I bought a few nail polish last year after reading some good reviews on their Colour & Go. What I can say? I was sold! They cost around 1,20EUR - cheap and available in many fun colours. I'm so in love with the new duo chrome colours. They're so pretty.

From left to right, top to bottom
It's Purplelicious, You're A Gold Mine, Circus Confetti, Edward, Right, Girl, Blue Lagoon, Out Of My Mind, Where Is The Party?, Red-Y To Go, Essence Hypnotic Poison, Irreplaceable, Can't Cheat On Me
I don't shop at H&M much. I only go there when I need some wardrobe basics. Their nail polish have never caught my attention. Am still not sure what got me checking them out a few weeks ago. I brought home Miss Stone Heart and Moody Model. I was surprised to see how easy the application was and it didn't chip for days. I went back there and bought more of them. Happy Purple is my most favourite colour. It's dark purple with gold shimmers.

L->R: Hunt Me Down, Moody Model, Miss Stone Heart, Happy Purple

I picked up Essie top coat - to dry for and good to go! from Sephora. They're 20% off for Sephora Club members last week. I've used good to go! top coat before I started using Seche Vite. Seche Vite is a great fast dry top coat but I hate when it goes thick, adding polish thinner doesn't really help.

What's your latest nail product haul?

Chocolate Muffins

2011-03-26T23:30:00.001+01:00

I love baking but not as much as I love makeup *lol* I love to eat and I enjoy food. I guess I don't really watch my diet (maybe I should) but I rarely eat junk food - maybe once a month. And I believe in exercising regularly.

I baked some chocolate muffins last weekend. I found the recipe from one of the Marks & Spencer cookbooks but I've changed the recipe a little.

Love muffins? You can make your own too!

Ingredients (Makes 12 muffins)
150g Chocolate chips or chocolate chunks plus 50g for sprinkling
2 Large eggs
80g Butter
280g All purpose flour
100g Caster sugar
250ml Milk
2 tbsp Cocoa powder
1 tbsp Baking powder
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1/8 tsp Salt

Method
1. Preheat oven to 200°C (392°F).
2. Melt butter on a double boiler. Cool before use.
3. In a large bowl, shift together flour, salt, baking powder and cocoa powder; stir in sugar and chocolate chips.
4. In a medium size bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Add in vanilla extract and milk; mix lightly together.
5. Mix the wet and dry ingredients until just combined (the mixture should be lumpy).
6. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full and sprinkle the top with the remaining 50g chocolate chips.
7. Bake for 20mins or until risen.
8. Cool for 5mins before removing from pan.

I love my muffins with cold milk. Yum!

Pandora & Lovelinks ♥

2011-03-25T13:30:00.001+01:00

I'm a white gold or silver jewellery kind of girl. I also love beaded jewellery and make most of them myself.

I've had heard about Pandora years ago but wasn't really interested in them until they open a store near my workplace right before Christmas. I went to see what they had in store a few weeks ago. After 20mins, I walked away with a bracelet, a spacer and a bead. A few days later, DH bought me two new beads :) How sweet!

I have a few beads and am slowly collecting more. However, I don't intend to fill my bracelet. I also came across Lovelinks when I was at a jeweller last week. I love the Murano beads but the ones at Pandora are very expensive and the nearest Pandora store doesn't have many of them. I fell in love with Lovelinks ones. They're so pretty. Not only they come in many designs, they are almost 1/2 price cheaper than Pandora's. They fit the Pandora bracelet.

Here's my tiny collection of Pandora beads and Lovelinks Murano glass beads. I'm going to get more Lovelinks ones because they're so pretty.

Do you like Pandora or Lovelinks too?

The Memory Remains

2011-03-24T13:41:00.002+01:00

I remember how painful it was for me to look at the photos I've taken during my stay in Helsinki. I hope one day I'll go back again. I still have friends who live there and I've promised them I'll come back to visit. My last visit was in summer 2007 with hubby. We're dating for only 3 months back then and my past was still haunting me...

My first winter in Helsinki, 2004

We lived next to the coast. It's beautiful in summer

Aleksanterinkatu

American flag + Tarja Halonen poster? We're waiting for Conan O'Brien :D

Took a walk on the frozen sea on my birthday in 2006

My last time at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport

Life was hard for me. Right after I graduated from uni, I moved to Helsinki from Australia to be with my then boyfriend of 6 years. Things didn't go well. Finding my first job was so difficult. My first job interview was at Nokia. In the end, everyone told me I didn't have the experience they're looking for. I finally found a job after 8 months living there but the company went out of business after a few months. I was unemployed again but soon found another job at a university as a research assistant. I wasn't there for very long before I had a job offer from my current employer. That changed my life forever :)

Shoes & Sandy

2011-03-24T00:50:00.000+01:00

I love shoes! Who doesn't? :)

I bought these pumps from Zara a few weeks ago. They were on sale! I really like the knots, I find them cute. The heels are below 4" and they're pretty easy to walk in.

I'm a big fan of ballerina flats. I wear them most of the time in late spring and summer. The Bloch I ordered last Friday have finally arrived. They're my first pair of Bloch and I absolutely love them! They're so comfy and light! I usually buy my ballerina flats from Vagabond and Camper.

Hubby is on business trip again. Sandy's my best companion. I'm so happy to have him in my life even though he's now next to our front door, waiting for his daddy to come home as usual. His sweet little face always makes me smile ♥

L'OCCITANE Rose des Neiges Hand Cream

2011-03-23T11:45:00.001+01:00

I've been using L'OCCITANE Shea Butter Hand Cream for many years. I picked up Rose des Neiges Hand Cream last week after finishing my last one.

Rose des Neiges hand cream contains shea butter and rose oil. It keeps my hands moisture and soft and I love the lovely scent of white rose which isn't as heavy as many rose scented products I've tried before.

This hand cream comes in the normal 30ml tube, it fits perfectly in my little cosmetic pouch.

What's your favourite hand cream?

NOTD: Essence Where Is The Party?

2011-03-21T11:45:00.000+01:00

I love Essence nail polishes. Not only they're cheap, they are also available in different fun colours. I recently picked up Where Is The Party?. What caught my attention was the duo chrome effect in the bottle! M was with me at that time, even he thought that was cool! My husband is absolutely fine with my nail polish collection because his mom is a nail polish lover too! :) She was the one who got me into all the gel nails and nail art years ago.

Where Is The Party? is a combination of metallic purple, olive green and grey with silver shimmers. I took the picture using a Nikon SB-400 Speedlight, flipped it up so it bounced off the ceiling instead of firing the flash directly to my nails so that it would show better colours of the polish.

From the photos below you can see the colours. Aren't they pretty? It's my first duo chromed nail polish. I hope Essence will make more of them.

2 coats give a perfect finish. The nail polish itself dries pretty fast. That's another reason why I love Essence.

I gave myself a little manicure. I used to get my nails done at the salon every 3 weeks before but have decided to DIY instead. Now I can't wait till my pinky nail grows longer again. It's so ugly.

Alverde Macadamia Nut Shea Butter Body Butter

2011-03-20T16:35:00.001+01:00

I've been using Alverde Macadamia Nut Shea Butter body butter for almost 3 months now. I was a little skeptical and didn't know what to expect because I've never tried any dm brands before. By the way, dm is a German drugstore chain.

I love body butter but the only brand I've tried is The Body Shop. I bought a travel size to try out and I was immediately sold after my first use. The body butter is creamy and it absorbs into the skin quickly and isn't greasy.

I use it every morning after shower on my entire body. It's not heavily scented and it doesn't last long so I don't have to feel like a walking a giant macadamia nut. Ok, I'm exaggerating :) The body butter isn't heavily scented but it does have a faint nutty smell.

All Alverde products are natural and vegan friendly.

NOTD: H&M Moody Model

2011-03-19T22:45:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since my last NOTD post.

I picked up H&M Moody Model a few days ago. I really love the colour and couldn't wait to try it. Even M thinks it's quite a nice colour! He doesn't usually like my non-pink or red polishes, he says they're crazy colours.

This one is quite a unique colour for me since I don't have many greens/teals in my nail polish collection.

Moody Model is creme dark teal. The application was surprising easy, 2 coats give a smooth finish.

Please excuse my pinky... I broke the nail last Sunday. Ouch! I know :/

Chanel Lipsticks

2011-03-07T11:02:00.000+01:00

I used to be a lipglosses only type of person. About two years ago, I started falling in love with lipsticks. I'm quite particular with the brands I go for because I can't stand some of the scented lipsticks! The smell is just too much for me.

My favourite ones are from MAC (need I say more?), Benefit, Rimmel and NYX. I've never tried any lipsticks from high-end designer brands before. When the department store nearby was having 50% off some selected Chanel cosmetics, I was thinking, why not?

I picked up Rouge Allure Adorable and Rouge Hydrabase Rose Rebelle. Believe it or not, Rouge Allure is US$51 and Rouge Hydrabase is US$49 here, outrageous price for a lippie! Anyway, I shouldn't be complaining too much because I got them at pretty decent prices :) One thing for sure that I'll never pay retail prices for Chanel lipsticks here.

Rouge Allure - Adorable
My first Chanel cosmetic ever! It's from the Rouge Allure Collection in 2009. Just like the name says, Adorable is adorable! It's a gorgeous soft pink - my type of colour.

Rouge Hydrabase - Rose Rebelle
After trying Adorable and how much I like it. I decided to stop by the department store to see if there's anything else I could grab when the sale was still on. I found Rose Rebelle and fell in love with the beautiful mid-tone rosy pink colour. I didn't have a similar colour like this one so I brought it home :) It was part of Chanel Spring 2009 collection.

Rouge Coco - Jersey Rose
I picked this one up from the duty-free shop in the airport on Tuesday. I paid US$31 for this one, I guess that's the normal price you lucky ladies in the US? I absolutely love the pink, slightly peachy tone. It's light and perfect for spring - I'll definitely wear this colour in the summer too.

It's weird to say I can't wait for my next business trip so that I get to buy more cheaper cosmetics. I'm pretty sure my wallet won't be very happy about it :)

Love/Hate Prague

2011-03-05T12:40:00.002+01:00

In a few months time, I'll be celebrating my 5th anniversary with Prague. I moved here in summer 2006 for my current job.

I really didn't like Czech Republic that much in the beginning! No offense to my Czech readers (if there's any other than Yarisse)!

I've had some really terrible experiences in the beginning of my stay. My purse was stolen a month after I first arrived. My friends and I were in a restaurant for a brunch, my purse just disappeared! I was accused of stealing a beanie at Roxy when I was at the counter paying for the hat I wanted to buy. The SAs spoke to me in Czech, I later was told - they were demanding me to give them back the beanie I stole!!! I went to the local hospital to get my dressing changed for a finger infection. The nurse just ripped the bandage off my finger as if I didn't have any feelings. The waiter who told us, 'Who are you to tell me who to serve first?' when we told him we've been waiting for our food for more than 45 mins and why the ladies sitting next to us who came later already had their food served. The list goes on. I was very mad at myself, I wanted to leave but I loved my job (I still do!).

It's been almost 5 years. From the angry foreigner to one who has learned to accept the culture, I've adapted my life in Prague. When SAs are rude to me, I walk away. I take it as they're not having a good day. I've met a lot of great people here, including my husband. Sometimes M will tease me if I want us to move back to Australia and then saying there are many reasons I should love living in Prague.

Reason 1: The nearest M.A.C is 5 mins drive from where we live
Reason 2: Sephora is everywhere (which is true)
Reason 3: Louis Vuitton is cheaper here (he's so darn right!)
Reason 4: My career

There are places in Prague that make me happy. The historical places I've been to many times, numerous great museums in the city and of course, there's Parizska (Paris Street) where you can find all the high-end designer boutiques. My wallet doesn't like that place at all!

Parizska last Saturday

Louis Vuitton Prague. If you're ever going there, ask for the SA named Katka

And... summer!

New Baby #2

2011-03-04T23:10:00.000+01:00

My Net-A-Porter order arrived a day before I left Brussels for a business trip. I was tracking the parcel on the courier site every 30mins *lol* When I received the email notification from our office mailroom, I was thrilled!

It's carefully packed in this black box.

I really like the black bows. I didn't untie the ribbons because they're too pretty! I'm weird like that :)

Tadaaa... Here's my new MIU MIU Matelassé leather clutch.

Now I can't wait to carry this on a night out.

I just came back from Brussels yesterday and am dead tired. My certification exam is next week that means I only have 7 days to study! Now I've a second thought on doing MBA. I'm not sure how I can cope with studying and working full-time especially when my job requires me to travel.

A Year Older!

2011-02-27T16:51:00.001+01:00

It was my birthday yesterday. Hubby took me shopping, massage and dinner. It was a relaxing day :) As usual, I bought myself another designer handbag for my birthday. How original can I be :D

Brought this baby home from LV yesterday. I've always wanted a Speedy 30 but whenever I was at LV, I always walked away with something else! I never knew I'd be in love with Damier Ebene until I bought my Neverful MM last year. Here it is... my new handbag!

It wasn't the only handbag I've received for my birthday this year. My sister gave me a Coach pouch and I've a MIU MIU clutch coming my way from Net-A-Porter :) Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow!

Will put up some pics when I'm back from the business trip next Thursday. I've so many things on my to-do-list. On the top of it is to prepare for my next certification exam in two weeks!

Blog Sale

2011-02-26T11:57:00.004+01:00

I was clearing out my drawers and found a few items I do not use anymore. There are plenty of BNIB MAC items I'm still thinking if I should sell them :D

I only buy MAC from MAC stores, so, you don't have to worry about the authenticity of the MAC products listed below :)

I ship worldwide. $5 shipping for first 2 items, $0.50 for each additional item via AirMail. All items will be packed carefully and shipped in bubble envelopes. I hold no responsibility for lost/stolen/damaged item(s) once they have been posted. Hence, insurance is highly recommended ($5 extra). Paypal only.

My Etsy feedbacks and eBay feedbacks.

If you're interested, please leave a message with your email address so that I can send you a Paypal invoice. I'll not publish your email address in the comment.

All items come in their original packaging/box unless otherwise stated.

MAC Hello Kitty Too Dolly Palette - gently used 2x - $27

MAC Dirty Plum blush from Riveting collection - Used 1x - $13

MAC Blooming Lovely lipstick - used 2x (no box)- $10

MAC Bite of an Apple (BOA) blush - swatched 1x - $20 - SOLD

Thanks for looking :)

Holiday Haul + Feb Haul

2011-02-20T10:19:00.002+01:00

DH and I went on a 2-week vacation in Asia recently. We came back with more than 40kg of stuffs in our luggages. They're mainly my stuffs, you bet! :) Am too lazy to take pictures of the clothes, shoes and Chinese magazines I've bought.

MAC
I found MAC Pearlglide Black Line and Lord It Up at a duty-free shop Frankfurt International Airport (that's where I found my backup for Petite Indulgence Cremesheen Glass last year). They were the last ones. I was really thrilled because Black Line has been my most used eyeliner since I got it last year. Lord It Up was sold out here before I had a chance to grab myself one. I love Pearlglide!

SK-II
Bought this the day before we came back. I paid around 87EUR for this one. I've never spent that much money on a single skin care product. I've been using it twice a day for a week now and I could see some improvement on my skin condition. I'll soon write a review on this product.

My Beauty Diary, My Scheming Beauty and Deary
I've read plenty of good reviews on these masks. Can't wait to try them.

Hair Stuffs
Liese Hair Cocktail, Juicy Shower and Lucido-L Designing Aqua which I use everyday when blow drying my hair. Good stuff.

Other stuffs I've bought are Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow pencil, falsies (Doll Lash and Kiss), Lip Ice lipbalm, fringe grips and some earrings from Diva.

I promised myself I would go on 'no buy' for a month after the vacaton but I couldn't resist the cosmetics sale here! I got myself two Chanel lipsticks - Rouge Allure (Adorable), Rouge Hydrabase (Rose Rebelle), Benefit Party Crasher and Escada Ocean Lounge (from summer 2009) that comes with a cosmetic pouch and 50ml body lotion.

I'm Still Here!

2011-02-14T11:28:00.002+01:00

Happy Valentine's day, everyone! Hubby and I don't have any special plan for today. We just came back from Asia yesterday :) I think we'll have some candlelight dinner at home.

I know this blog has been really quiet... My 2011 started with hectic schedules at work. That's why I haven't had time to post anything here!

I've spent a great 2-week eating, shopping in Asia. I bought plenty of skin care products in Asia - I wish I lived there! :D Stay tuned for the upcoming entry!

Happy 2010!!

2011-01-01T00:31:00.001+01:00

Happy New Year, everyone!!! Wishing you all the best in 2011 :)

Happy Holiday!

2010-12-24T00:31:00.001+01:00

Wishing you all a happy holiday! :)

The Best Of 2010

2010-12-23T00:20:00.000+01:00

I have had very good to terribly bad experiences with the skin care products and cosmetics I have bought/tried in 2010. Here are my 5 best products of 2010.

#1 - Clarisonic Mia
I've been using Mia for 2 months now. I've written a review earlier. My skin conditions has improved so much. I haven't had any breakouts except for one or two hormonal pimples on my chin. It makes my skin so smooth and my old acne brown spots are slowly fading.

#2 - Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser
The best cleanser. Hands down. It's so gentle to my sensitive skin. I use it with Mia everyday.

#3 - MAC Black Line Pearlglide Eyeliner
I can't get enough of this eyeliner. I'm addicted! It's so creamy, easy to glide on, waterproof and long-lasting. Oh, did I mention it's so easy to blend?

#4 - Make Up For Ever HD Foundation
My everyday foundation (shade 123). I've been using this since February this year. It doesn't clog my pores or break me out. I like foundation with medium coverage, this one works great on me.

#5 - Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express Mascara (waterproof)

My holy grail mascara. It doesn't crump, doesn't flake, waterproofed and it holds my curls until I remove it.

What are you 5 best products of 2010?

Christmas Is In The Air

2010-12-07T22:56:00.000+01:00

Like most of the European countries, CZ is also experiencing unusual cold winter this year. I moved here in 2006 and have never seen so much snow in Prague before. It started snowing on 27 November. It came really early this year.

Hubby and I spent our weekend in Vienna. I've been to Vienna a few times before but was never there in winter. The Christmas markets are 'must-see' in Vienna. We went to the one in Rathausplatz where you get to see the infamous - heart tree. It's really.... cute! I tried taking photos of the tree but they turned out crappy. I only brought my 18-55mm lens with me and left the 55-200mm at home. I was too lazy to carry my camera bag.

We only spent around an hour at the Christmas market, got our punsch and langos, bought some cookies and we went to a restaurant for some Viennese cuisine. It was -8°C that evening. Brrr... cold!

Here are some of my favourite photos I've taken :) Enjoy!

It's really crowded there!

Lovely ornaments. The price started as low as 1€

I wish I could have bought one of these

My favourite shot - Rathausplatz

My punsch and langos.

2,40€/100g for these yummy cookies.

My First Asos Order

2010-12-02T12:40:00.002+01:00

I've never bought anything from Asos before.I wear EU34 for the top but EU36 for trousers/skirts. Sometimes I fit into a pair of EU34 trousers for some brands but I've to wear EU36 for others (especially Zara and Mango). That's why it's always better for me to try the clothes on before buying them.

I finally made my first Asos purchase last week. I ordered a Ri2k bag and it arrived within a week! I've never heard of Ri2k before. It's a British designer brand. I was looking for a simple bag for everyday use, something not too expensive so that I won't feel sad when it's under the snow/rain and I found it on Asos. My designer bags are back in their dustbags for the season.

It is smaller than the Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM and is bigger than my other Coach tote. That makes it a perfect everyday bag for work.

There is plenty of room in the bag to hold my stuffs. The leather is really soft and the craftsmanship is good. The bag also comes with a detachable across body strap but I'm not sure if I'll ever use that. The retail price is £125.00 but it's on discount, so I paid only £64 for the bag and it's shipped free :) Asos is now offering free international shipping! The only disappointment I've is it doesn't come with a dustbag.

Lush Smitten Handcream

2010-11-29T11:53:00.011+01:00

I started using LUSH products since 2002. I love their bath ballistics and bubble bar slices. I've also tried Dream Cream and Dreamwash which are both great products. I was at LUSH in April to pick up some bath ballistics. The sales assistant recommended Smitten Handcream, I was told it worked very well for dry hands. I really liked the scent so I decided to give it a try.

It comes in a 100ml jar. Like Dream Cream, it's not that thick. I like handcream that isn't too heavy.

I was using this handcream religiously for one month and did not notice any difference. My hands were still dry, so I stopped using it.

I decided to give it another chance again. I use it more often and it really does moisturize my skin and keeps it soft. *thumbs up*

What I don't like about this product?

- It's so greasy.

Will I buy it again?

Maybe. I've read that LUSH is going to discontinue this product. I still see them at the LUSH store I usually buy my stuffs from last week. It's a great product but I've tried other handcreams that work really well on me, like L'Occitane Shea Butter Handcream which can be a little bit too pricey for its size.

NOTD: China Glaze International Flare

2010-11-28T13:16:00.000+01:00

International Flare is one of my first China Glaze nail polishes. It's a pretty mid-tone pink with shimmer, looks like a metallic finish in the bottle but when applied, it's not. This colour is a bit sheer on the first coat, I only applied 2 coats here.

What's In My Bag/Makeup Bag?

2010-11-27T19:54:00.001+01:00

DH always asks, 'Why is your handbag so heavy?' I don't have many things in my bag but this little makeup bag carries some of my everyday makeup essentials.

My Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Neverfull MM is my 'bag of the week'. I bought this bag from LV in Hong Kong, thinking it would be cheaper to get it there. I was wrong... It's in fact cheaper to buy LV purses here in Prague. Lesson learned.

What's in my bag?
- Tokidoki cosmetic pouch from Sephora I bought a few weeks ago.
- Coach Jewel Medium Skinny wallet
- Prada sunglasses
- Blackberry Curve
- iPod Nano and USB cable
- Dettol hand sanitiser

What's the Tokidoki cosmetic pouch, you ask?

MAC Blot Powder & Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets
It's not in its original packaging (*points at MAC Prep+Prime) because I broke it when I was in Melbourne last autumn (that's what happened when you're touching up and on the phone with your mom asking if you'd be home for dinner!). This is my 5th Blot Powder. I've combination skin with oily T-zone. This product keeps shine under control. I always apply it on my face with the MAC 168SE after using Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets to remove excess oil on my T-zone.

Blush of The Day - Stark Naked

I love MAC blushes. It's not easy to decide which one to use for day but it has to be something that will go well with my outfits, of course. It's all about Peachykeen this week. I love the colour and shimmers (not too much) gives my cheeks a nice glow.

Lipstick/Lipgloss of The Day - MAC Sweetie Lipstick & MAC Nice Kitty Lipglass
When I went ot check out the Hello Kitty, I thought Nice Kitty looked hideous - it looks neon pink in the tube! I tried it on and it actually didn't look that bad. Sweetie lipstick is lustre finish, a medium pink colour. It's great for everyday looks.

MAC Cremestick Liner in Gingerroot
I carry this one with me everyday. It's one of my 2 lip liner (yes, I only own 2, the other one is MAC Subculture). Gingerroot is close to my natural lip colour, sometimes I use it alone under a clear lipglass.

Lipbalm - Vaseline (not in the picture)

I've been using Vaseline lipbalms for ages. They keep my lips moisture and heals chapped lips overnight.nI usually use the unscented ones. I also bought one with cherry flavoured from Watson's in Hong Kong early this year.

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

My HG hand/nail care product. This product works like a charm. My cuticle looks healthier and soft after a few days using it twice a day. Bye-bye ugly, dry cuticle!

Palmer's Olive Butter Formula Concentrated CreamPicked this one up when I was in Melbourne. I love the scent and how it moistures my hands.

The other stuffs I carry everyday are The Body Shop small hairbrush, Sephora concealer brush (next to the lip liner) I use to apply as a lip brush, Oral B dental floss, mini crystal nail file, mini Victorinox Swiss Army knife, and an empty Bobbi Brow concealer container (because of the mirror, I don't like bigger mirrors).

NOTD: Essence Walk Of Fame

2010-11-24T20:45:00.002+01:00

I picked up some Essence nail polish early this month. I wanted to do a review but I haven't had the time to post anything! I got Essence Walk Of Fame, Movie Star (1,20€ each), Trendsetter (1,60€) and Matte Top Coat (2€) from Douglas. I've never tried Essence nail polishes before and they're really cheap.

Matt Top Coat, Trendsetter, Walk Of Fame, Movie Star

I'm in love with Walk Of Fame. It's a beautiful taupe with purple undertone. This colour is a 3 coater with smooth application. I like the brush too, it makes the application really easy and neat. The polish also dries pretty fast. The only downside is, it chips easily. I applied 3 coat of Walk Of Fame and finished with a coat of Sache Vite top coat.

MAC A Tartan Tale Haul

2010-11-06T14:47:00.000+01:00

Went to the A Tartan Tale Chapter 1 collection for Holiday 2010 pre-launch event on Monday. The Chapter 2 collection will be officially released here in December only but we got to see/buy them yesterday. I mentioned I was thinking of the lipsticks but I got none of them! They're very pretty in person but when I swatched them on my pigmented lips, they look pretty awful on me.

I got myself Black Line and Undercurrent Pearlglide eyeliners, Passing Fancy and The Swinging Violet Mineralize kit.

I've never bought any eye liner from MAC before. When I saw Black Line Pearglide eyeliner, I told myself must have it! I'm a big fan of soft long-lasting pigmented eyeliners. I love green eye liner, this one is very dark olive green with gold shimmer. Undercurrent is teal green with gold sheen, a very lovely colour.

Passing Fancy Dazzleglass Creme is a lovely sheer peach shade. It gives my lips a light peach tint when wearing it alone. I wanted Gone Romancin' but I was a second too late because another lady bought the last one! I hope I will be able to find it in the other two stores.

The Swinging Violet Mineralize kit consists of Bare Study Paint Pot, Earthly Riches Mineralize eyeshadow duo, Icescape Lipglass and a mini Zoom Lash mascara.

It was Earthly Riches that caught my eyes. I didn't have any dark eyeshadows in my collection and this one is so pretty. I've always wanted to try Paint Pot (I only use Paint) and Bare Study looks like the shade I will use everyday.

Clarisonic Mia Review

2010-10-30T13:10:00.001+02:00

I wash my face twice a day, exfolite twice a week and have facial in the salon once a month but I still feel that's not enough. I had pretty good skin before I started wearing makeup everyday in 2007. I occasionally have one or two pimples due to hormones. I've been struggling with breakouts since mid-2008. I didn't change my skin care or makeup but I keep getting pimples, especially on my cheeks.

I've seen a dermatologist who told me I've sensitive skin and should only use products that are gentle. I've tried different brands but none really worked, I still have breakouts! I read about Clarisonic on the internet in 2008. I never really paid attention on such products because I always thought they're such a waste of money. It was desperation that lead me to get one because I really didn't know what else I could do for my skin.

I was a little skeptical about this product. In the end, I decided to give it a try. Hubby was in the US again for business so I got him to go to Sephora to pick one up for me. It came with a charger, a sensitive brush and a travel size Clarisonic cleanser.

The sensitive brush is really gentle for me. The routine with the brush only takes 60 secs. I take it with me to the shower twice a day. I use my regular cleansers - Cetaphil in the mornings, La Roche Posay EFFACLAR Purifying Foaming Gel in the evenings. I noticed my skin's indeed softer after the first use. I don't have big pores and they aren't usually very visible so I don't really see any difference on my pores size.

I've been using Mia for 2 weeks now and I could see my skin is getting better. I was sitting in front of my vanity one morning, getting ready to put on some makeup, I noticed my kinda glowy skin. I'm no kidding! It's no longer as dull as it looked like before.

You've probably read that Clarisonic may cause breakouts when you first using it. It happened to me but it wasn't that bad. Before using Mia, I had a few black/white heads around my lower cheek and chin area, remember this post? The Body Shop Seaweed scrub did a great job removing a few of them but they kept coming back. My skin is now smooth and soft. It's definitely getting better, there are only a few acne scars.

I'm in love with my Mia. I can't imagine living without it. It's worth the money. Most importantly, it works and my skin condition is getting so much better.

MAC Holiday 2010 A Tartan Tale Collection

2010-10-29T14:52:00.004+02:00

I received another text message from MAC today, in Czech, of course. It's an invitation for the new holiday collection launch. Google Translator is new my best friend. I stopped by to see my MA today and got myself and a friend registered for the event. Hopefully my friend will be able to make it. I'm so looking forward to going there next Monday!

I'm quite excited with the collection. MAC's holiday collections are always the most beautiful collection in the year. Ok, maybe not Magic Mirth and Mischief because I only went home with Conjure Up, Partial To Pink and Total Wow!. So far, my most favourite holiday collection is Red She Said (2008).

Anyway, I think I'm going to skip the eye shadows and the blushes. I'm eyeing on Cut-a-Caper, The Faerie Glen and Courting Lilac. I'm not sure about the kits yet. I've to see them in person. I'm very sure I'll be skipping the palettes too. I'm not a fan of eye shadows palettes or should I say any palettes? The only one I own is Hello Kitty Too Dolly palette which I've only used twice since I bought it during the HK launch.

What did you get from A Tartan Tale Collection?

Busy!

2010-10-28T22:46:00.001+02:00

The weather's crazy... and I've been sick since Tuesday. I've probably caught a cold when hubby and I were on our weekend getaway in a castle some 50km from the city. Work's keeping me really busy, that explains why I've been working from home these few days even when I'm sick! I'm also preparing for my upcoming certification exam for supply chain professional. I think I'm pretty screwed because I haven't read many of the topics yet.

We had first snow on Monday for 2 mins! It can't be snowing in Oct! That's what hubby thought. When I told him, 'Look! It's snowing!' He said, 'You're dreaming. They're dandelion seeds!' When it started snowing heavier, he knew he was wrong :D I'm really not ready for the snow yet.

I've some entries waiting to be published but I need at least some daylight for a good photo because it's already dark when I'm home from work. I do have a Nikon SB-400 speedlight flash but am to lazy to look for the rechargeable batteries somewhere in the other room.

The in-laws are visiting tomorrow and our place is ugh... in a mess! Need to clean :(

My Little Haul

2010-10-15T14:29:00.001+02:00

... but I didn't pay for it ;) DH's back from D.C yesterday. He's on business trip in Canada/USA for 1 1/2 weeks. He travels to the US a few times a year and he doesn't mind going shopping for me. He knows nothing about women's cosmetics and skin care, all he has to do is to show the list to Sephora or MAC sales assistants what he wants to buy.

He's very supportive with my cosmetics addiction. I've never asked any money from him to buy my cosmetics. He thinks I deserved to be spoiled *lol* In return, he gets books like Million Dollars Consulting from me which is useful for me too since we're both consultants but in different fields.

What came home with him yesterday...

I've been lemming for Clarisonic Mia for a while now. I got the pink one *yay* I can't wait to try it tonight!

My second 187 brush. I'll be using this one for blushes. I love MAC 187! It's so soft and it's the best brush for liquid foundation and blushes (at least for me). Sigma 188 is another favourites of mine for foundation.

I'm running out of my No.1 black eye liner - Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Zero and MAC Brow Set. I usually order UD from HQhair but Zero's been out of stock on the site for quite almost 2 months now. I don't think I want to wait any longer and I've no idea when it will be back in stock even though it's cheaper to buy from them.

MAC Venomous Villain Bite Of An Apple

2010-10-14T17:52:00.001+02:00

Bite Of An Apple is a matte bright coral pink blush. It's my first matte blush from MAC. The colour looks quite scary in the pan, that's why I walked away when I first saw it! When I stopped by at MAC the second time, my favourite MA was at work and we tried it on me. When applied on my cheeks, it's coral on my NC35 skin. It's a very pigmented colour, you really need to apply it with a light hand. I personally prefer MAC 187 or 165 for this blush.

I don't have anything similar in my collection and I really like this blush on me. I'm not really a fan of the packaging but it doesn't really bother me.

Swatches under daylight. My skin is dry during this time of the year ;(

NOTD: China Glaze Short and Sassy

2010-10-13T16:02:00.001+02:00

Have you noticed that 95% of my NOTD are China Glaze polishes? That's because it's my favourite brand!

I just got this one from Trans Design last month. I saw a few swatches on some blogs and it looked like something I would love to wear. I wasn't disappointed when I tried it for the first time.

Short and Sassy is one of the shades from China Glaze Retro Diva collection. It's a 2-coaters. Gorgeous garnet with shimmers. It doesn't really look garnet in this picture due to the lighting. It's darker in person, another great shade for the colder months :)

MAC Venomous Villain Haul

2010-10-11T15:00:00.001+02:00

Briar Rose Beauty Powder was the only item I bought on Venomous Villain launch day. I went back to MAC again a few days later and picked up Bite Of An Apple blush and Revenge Is Sweet lipglass.
These items are the only ones I found interesting from this collection. Ok, maybe Hot House too which I'm still thinking if I should grab one. Overall, this collection is beautiful. I'm a bit disappointed with the eyeshadows though. They're not that interesting for me.

MAC has launched a few really cute collections such as Fafi, Hello Kitty, Barbie, and now the Disney Villains. I wish MAC will launch Jem collection one day. That will be awesome! :D

What did you get from this collection?

Gosh Velvet Touch Eye Liner Waterproof

2010-10-10T13:20:00.005+02:00

It's 10/10/10 today!! :) Happy Sunday, lovelies! It's sunny and surpringly not too cold today. DH is still in D.C this week, that explains why this weekend's been pretty boring for me. I can't wait till he's back home in a few days.

I don't wear full makeup everyday. My everyday makeup consists of foundation, powder, blush, lipstick, mascara and filling in my brows. When I'm not feeling extremely lazy, I'll wear eyeliner. I love them but I've watery eyes and oily lids. Non-waterproof eyeliners smudge and crease like crazy on me. That's why you'll find heaps of waterproof eyeliners in my makeup collection from high-end brands to drugstore brand like Gosh.

I was first introduced to Gosh cosmetics a few years ago. I read a lot of good reviews on Gosh Velvet Touch Eye Liners so I decided to give them a try. I only saw Gosh in the country once but I'd never buy anything from that drugstore because people would just open the products (not testers) and try them on. I've seen a few teenage girls who walked in to the store, took one of the mascara and started using them like nobody's watching. Gross, I know! That's why I prefer to shop at Tesco where most of the cosmetics are on locked display shelves. I haven't seen Gosh here for a long time and I guess it's been discontinued? I bought mine from Slovakia where DH is from.

How do I like Velvet Touch liners? They're great eyeliners for 6,50€. The liners are very pigmented, soft, creamy, glide on quite smoothly and waterproof! They're long-lasting and don't crease on my lids. They come in many colours but I only have a few of them. My mission is to get more colours the next time I'm in the store :)

Here are the colour swatches I currently own. I love 007 Alligator, it's my most recent purchase.

Are you a fan of Velvet Touch liners too?

NOTD: China Glaze Bogie

2010-10-09T11:34:00.003+02:00

China Glaze Bogie, another fabulous shade from the fall 2010 Vintage Vixen collection. It's dark plum with silver shimmer. It's a very unique colour and I don't have anything close to this shade in my collection.

I applied 2 coats and Seche Vite top coat. Application is smooth and the polish dries fast.

Viva Glam Cyndi Lipglass

2010-10-07T10:34:00.000+02:00

When I first saw Viva Glam Cyndi lipglass swatches on some blogs, I knew I must get it. It was available launched on 1 October. When I saw Cyndi in person, I wasn't sure about the colour! I tried it on and wow!

Cyndi lipglass looks reddish coral. It does look bold in the tube, but when applied, it's not. I've very pigmented lips and Cyndi looks like a tinted lipgloss on them when I wear it alone. The other reason why I love Cyndi is the smooth texture and it's not as sticky as the usual MAC lipglasses.

Gaga lipglass is light blue pink but I prefer the lipstick. Do you know that 100% of MAC Viva Glam profit goes to MAC AIDS funds? If you're looking for some nice lip colours this fall, try the Viva Glam collections.

What are your favourite lip colours for fall?

The Body Shop Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator

2010-10-03T12:02:00.006+02:00

I've tried several facial scrubs, including Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub and St.Ives Apricot Scrub Gentle. I didn't like St.Ives Apricot Scrub because it's a bit too harsh for me even the one for sensitive skin. It's been sitting in my bathroom cabinet for 3 years. When I tossed it in the bin last week, there was still 90% of the product in the tube.

I was at The Body Shop having the itch to buy something but didn't know what to get. Doesn't that happen to you too? The salesperson recommended this scrub so I decided to give it a try.

I've been using it twice a week and I really like it. It doesn't dry my skin and I find it quite gentle. I squeeze about 1cm of the scrub and apply it all over my face and massage gently in circular motion until it gets a bit dry and then rinse it with water. The particles are almost the same size, or maybe slightly smaller than Apricot Scrub but definitely finer and more gentle to the skin.

I was surprised the first time I used this scrub. It removed 3 of my white heads. I've been getting some white/blackheads on my chin area recently and I've no idea why! It also removes dead skin flakes which no other scrubs I've tried before without making my skin red.

Are you using this product too? How do you like it? Do you have any favourite scrub which you'll recommend me to try?