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What I Got For Christmas 2015

2016-01-08T08:00:00.000+13:00

I'm very excited about this post as it's one of the topics I love to read about from other people in the blogging community. I've also watched a ton of these from YouTube. I think it's so much fun to see what other people got for Christmas, and gives me great gift guide ideas too! It's time to share with you my annual "What I Got For Christmas". I know it's a bit long overdue since it's already the end of the first week of January, but I hope you'll still enjoy this post - better late than never!

I'd like to say that I'm very grateful, from the bottom of my heart, to each and everyone who made my Christmas very special. It's not about the gifts, but it's about the effort and time they took to make me smile and for remembering me during the festive season. This post is not about bragging, but it's about acknowledging all the wonderful things I got from the special people in my life.

Here are the chocolates I received from my family and friends.

They're all my favorites, and I can't wait to gobble them all up!
Chocolate overload, YUM! ♥
PS: I have other chocolates as gifts from friends, but I ate them before taking a photo.. ooops.

Goldilcoks Classic Polvoron.

From my workmate, Modesta. ♥

A bunch of jelly beans with different flavors.

From Skyline, Rotorua.

Ferrero Rocher Collection - 24 pieces

My ultimate favorite chocolate in the world! I can literally eat this whole box in one go, but I won't because that's naughty! hehe.

From family. ♥

Toblerone (huge size)

From Mom. ♥

Luxury Belgian Chocolate Biscuit Collection

From Mom. ♥

Magnum The Chocolate Collection

From family. ♥

Adidas NEO - Park St Shoes in Color Core Black / Bone / Mesa

Christmas gift from my Dad. I adore it so much! It's going to be my new work shoes. ♥

Lovisa stud earrings and Cotton On beach bag

From my dear friend, Anjum. Thanks so much hun for these awesome gifts. ♥

From my workmate, Portia. ♥

From my brother's girlfriend, Lea. ♥

Tweety Bird Looney Tunes Night Shirt

From Tita Lynn, my mom's best-friend. ♥

PANDORA Moments Pavé Silver Bracelet and

Sparkling Love Earring Studs

From my Mom. I absolutely adore my new silver bracelet, I can't wait to create my fairy-tale bracelet! ♥

PANDORA Sparkling Love Pendant

From my little sister. Thanks so much for this gorgeous necklace! ♥

PANDORA Unicorn Hanging Charm

From my dearest best-friend, Lara. Thanks so much Ateh for this stunning charm, I adore it so much and I'll treasure it forever. My first charm on my fairy tale bracelet! ♥

PANDORA Crystallised Snowflake Stud Earrings and Ring, Bow Necklace Pendant, Limited Edition Sterling Silver Bangle With A Sparkling Bow Clasp, and Christmas Porcelain Snowflake Ornament (2 pcs)

These are the small treasures that I got myself. I always buy something for myself during Christmas, it's like a reward for the hard work I did for the year. It's nice to reward ourselves once in awhile, especially when you've been working your butt off for your career. ♥

Christmas Stocking

These are the awesome goodies I got from my sister. We decided to make the tradition of exchanging Christmas Stockings this year, and we've totally spoiled each other! ♥

Silk Robe from Cotton On Body

Martini Mix Collection

Lindt Lindor Limited Edition Cookies and Cream

Vintage Hanging Heart Frames

Swarovski Bracelet and Earrings Vintage Set

River Island Earrings Set

Patisserie De Bain Strawberry Cupcake Hand Cream

Golden Wings Bulldog Ring Holder

Juicy Couture Mini Fragrance Gift Set

Ferrero Rocher Grand

Last but definitely not the least, the cutest teddy bear from my sweet boyfriend, Richard.

He knows how much I love teddy bears and I was so touched when he surprised me with this adorable teddy bear. It's such a cute size and it's something that really made my heart melt. ♥

PS: I asked him to pose with the teddy bear because they're both so cute. :)

I hope you all enjoyed this post, and thank you for letting me share the meaningful things I got for Christmas from my friends, family, and loved ones. Even without any gifts, my Christmas was still incredible because I spent it with the people that matters to me the most. I'm very lucky to have such loving and generous people in my life. I'm completely grateful to each and every one of them. ♥

New Year's Eve Family Feast 2016

2016-01-02T07:30:00.000+13:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR OF 2016! ♥ The new year has finally arrived, it seems like yesterday when we just celebrated 2015, I can't believe how quickly the past year has gone by. I've experienced so many amazing things, I've tried things that I've never tried before, I've done things that are out of my comfort zone, and I've achieved the thing I wanted to achieve and more. I'm just truly and wholeheartedly grateful for the year of 2015, and I can't wait to see what 2016 holds for me!

I hope you had the most amazing New Year's Eve and New Year's Day celebration with your family, friends, and loved ones. I celebrated my New Year's Eve with my family of course, it doesn't really feel right for me if I go somewhere else or start the new year without my family. It's always been a tradition for us to welcome the new year at home with our family. I wish you all the most amazing year of 2016, dream big, and never shy away from what you truly deserve.

I'd like to share with you all our New Year's Eve feast that we prepared. It's always fun to have a blogpost about food - who can say no to food, am I right?! I hope you will enjoy this blogpost. Also, it's my aim this year to do as much blog post as I can despite my busy schedule at work and extra work related studies. I'm still very passionate about a blogging, and I hope to share with you my life, everything about beauty, and fashion finds all over the world. I'm also excited to see more from my favorite blog friends, and of course to discover new ones. ♥

Baked Ham with Pineapple and Honey

It's a New Year's tradition from our culture to have as much circular shaped fruits on the table - it's a sign of good luck and fortune for the new year.

"Kare Kare" - a Filipino dish

Stir-fry noodles - Filipino style called "Pancit"

Embotido

BBQ Pork Skewers

Grilled Sausage Skewers with Marshmallows

Baked Pork Belly

BBQ Pork (Chinese style)

Beef Steak

Assorted Muffins

♥ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ♥

Thank you God for the continuous blessings, not just for 2015, for the past years of my life. Thank you for always keeping my family, friends, and loved ones safe. We may have lost some people who are precious to our hearts, but we know that they're in a better place with you. Thank you for always placing food in our table and for giving us your abundant blessings. Thank you for guiding me through my life's struggles and helping me tackle the hardest obstacles life threw at me. Thank you God for making my 2015 a great year for my career, self awareness, unconditional love, and immeasurable adventures. I am truly grateful for all my experiences, the good and the bad, and everything in between. Thank you for this thing called life, and I'm excited to see what 2016 holds for me!

My Christmas Eve 2015

2015-12-30T07:00:00.000+13:00

I can't believe Christmas is already over, it was such a whirlwind of continuous joy with my friends and family. I hope you and your loved ones had a happy Christmas, and of course, for those who doesn't celebrate Christmas - I hope you guys had a wonderful Holiday season as well!

I spent my Christmas Eve with my family, as per tradition I don't think I've ever spent Christmas Eve without my family. We have a small family and we always spend Christmas Eve with each other no matter what. I was actually working through the Christmas week. It was such a crazy week buying last minute Christmas gifts and preparing Christmas Eve dinner, but I loved every minute of it.

I'm deeply grateful for all the amazing and generous gifts I received this year. It really made me feel appreciated, and I was even more glad to see how happy the people I gave gifts to. Christmas is really the season of giving. It's such a wonderful way to let people know, especially those we don't talk to enough that we still care and think about them. Even a simple greeting from old friends really touched my heart. I will always remember those people who never fails to make my Christmas extra special every year.

♥ These are the fantastic gifts I received.

I will treasure them all forever!

♥ photo below, at my best friend's place - Christmas Eve morning

with two of my closest friends

♥ photos below are taken before Christmas Day Mass

December 25 at St. Patrick's Cathedral

with my sister

My Christmas Wishlist 2015

2015-12-09T07:30:00.000+13:00

Hi my gorgeous angels! I deeply apologize for being MIA for such a long time. Life has been so busy lately, especially with work. It's really hard for me to juggle everything, since I have demanding work hours and blogging takes so much time. I really miss reading my favorite blogs and interacting with my friends in the blogosphere. I promise I'll try my best to get in touch with you all, and blog more often since I really do miss the blogging world!

It's December already, and I can't believe that it's only few weeks before Christmas! It's just so unbelievable how fast this year passed, and we're nearly at the end of the year. As per tradition, I would love to share with you all my Christmas wishlist for this year. This is such a fun way to share my discoveries that you might like for your self as well, or you can give it as a gift for someone and make their Christmas extra special. I absolutely love looking through people's wishlist as they're actually fantastic gift guides, especially if you're struggling to find a gift for a loved one.

My list is a mixture of affordable and luxury items, it also contains wide varieties of times from beauty, fashion, lifestyle, gadgets, and fitness. I hope you all enjoy this wishlist and will help you through your Christmas shopping this year!

Nike In-Season TR 5
Colour: Stealth, White, Pink Pow & Cl Grey

I'm a huge Nike fan, and I adore the designs they offer. Of course, I love them too because of their amazing quality and comfortability when it comes to running and walking shoes.

I've been lusting over this gorgeous grey and pink trainers, what a beautiful color combination!

I've always had great experience with Nike shoes, and I can't wait to get my hands on these babies!

You can purchase this from The Iconic (here). They ship internationally, and offers a wide range of stunning Nike shoes!

Quay Australia
My Girl Sunglasses
I've been madly in love with these pair of sunglasses since the first time I'd laid my eyes on them months ago! It's a very famous sunglasses worn my many famous YouTubers, fashion bloggers, and celebrities. It's also one of the most famous sunglasses trend this year.

I adore cat-eye sunnies, so this is definitely up my alley. Also, the reflective lens is to die for, such a beautiful color and will definitely turn any heads!

This sunglasses is constantly on demand, and constantly sold out from any website it's available. You can get them from Urban Outfitters, Quay Australia, ASOS, and The Iconic. They currently have stock at The Iconic (here), get one while they have stock and own this super chic and fashionable sunglasses! Quay Australia sunglasses are highly trendy fashion styles and have fantastic quality.

Dolce by Dolce & Gabbana

Feminine and fresh, Dolce & Gabbana Dolce embodies the delicate balance between timeless craftsmanship and innovation in the art of perfumed composition. Dolce is one’s personal touch, signature scent. It epitomises the simplicity of a result obtained thanks to a complex process: the same one needed to create a finely-embroidered dress.

This perfume screams elegance and sophistication, and will capture all your senses. This is perfect for people who adores floral perfumes. It's exquisite and smells luxurious! I absolutely adore the bottle design too, such a beautiful perfume inside and out.

kikki.K

Perforated Leather Personal Planner Large: Ice Blue

If you're a planner junkie like myself, you'll absolutey love the wide range of planners they offer at kikki.K. They offer planners that are real leather with professional and fashionable designs.

If you want a planner that will last many years, and something that you can reuse year after year, then you definitely need to check out kikki.K. They have an online shop and local stores from various countries. Their planners are high quality and very durable. They update their collection every season, and they also have different types of planner and stationeries.

Hollywood Royal by
Juicy Couture

This is one of the new perfumes from Juicy Couture this year. I just fell in love instantly with the bottle, it's absolutely stunning! The name of the perfume really shows on the bottle. I adore almost every perfume Juicy Couture creates so I wasn't surprised that I fell in love with this scent.

This flirty scent opens with delicious Candied Apple and the sparkling sweetness of Juicy Pear. Feel effortlessly sexy and cool with the captivating signature of Jasmine and Gardenia, finishing with the dreamy indulgence of Marshmallow and Vanilla.

Pandora Charm
Santa's Sleigh Silver Charm with 14 Carat Gold

I've been collecting Pandora since May this year. It's such a wonderful way to preserve amazing memories and you can carry each moments with you. I love the idea of wearing jewelleries that has meaning.

This gorgeous charm is perfect for those people who collects Pandora charms. It's very elegant and such a stunning Christmas charm!

Urban Decay
Vice 4 Palette

My wishlist will not be complete without a beauty item. This is the holiday palette from Urban Decay this year. They've been releasing the Vice palette for the past 3 years, and I'm happy that they've created an even better formulation and combination of colors for the Vice 4 palette.

The packaging of the palette is absolutely stunning. The eyeshadows available are all so beautiful for any occasions - day and night!

Sony
DSC-KW11 Selfie Camera

I'm so crazy in love with this camera! For those people who loves to take selfies and just enjoy photography in general, you'll absolutely adore this compact camera. It's inspired from a perfume bottle which creates so much elegance for a camera. It's definitely a must have for photography lovers!

Lush Cosmetics

Under The Mistletoe Gift

This festive gift box from Lush Cosmetics is designed for those bath and skincare lovers out there. Everything in the box is from Lush's Christmas collection 2015. It includes items for bath, skin care, massage bars, for the lips, and many more incredible goodies! If you're a massive Lush fan like myself then you'll definitely would want to get your hands on this gift box asap.

This box contains: Snow Fairy 100g, Helping Hands 50g, Rub Rub Rub 135g, Silky Underwear 60g, Ro's Argan Body Conditoner 45g, Turkish Delight 50g, Dream Cream 45g, Lip Service 8g, Santa's Lip Scrub 25g, Rose Jam Showergel 100g, Yog Nog Soap 120g, Reindeer Rock gift 100g, Comforter Shower Cream 100g, The magic of Xmas fun 200g, Santa's Belly 100g

Available in Lush stores worldwide, online and in local stores.

Nike C72 Legend 2.0

Sports Fuchsia & Black

I've been wanting a sports bag with this size, mainly for travel purposes. It's such a chic design and I just really adore the color.

Combining style with durability, the Nike C72 Legend 2.0 sports bag features a tonal geometric print for a subtle effect, and has a water-resistant exterior.

You can purchase this bag from The Iconic (here). They ship internationally.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and I hope you find this helpful gift guide for your loved ones and friends! Have fun Christmas shopping, don't stress too much and enjoy the festive season! ♥

Spooks And Sparks Fireworks Extravaganza : Guy Fawkes Night and Halloween 2015

2015-11-13T06:30:00.000+13:00

Hello beautiful people! I know that I'm quite late regarding the events in this post, but better late than never. :) I've been to a fantastic event celebrating Guy Fawkes and Halloween last week. It's an annual fireworks display in Auckland where thousands of people attend to. It's open for every age and perfect for a fun family night out. This year, they had a special collaboration with the Halloween occasion. There were a lot of adorable kids dressed up for Halloween, and some adults too. It really made the event extra amazing. This event is definitely one of the best firework shows of the year, and you'll love the firework show from start to finish!

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.

Previously known as Waitakere Fireworks, Spooks & Sparks is exploding once again at The Trusts Arena on the 7th of November. This annual event has been captivating Auckland families for over a decade now, and this years event is set to be the largest and most impressive yet!

This year’s entertainment will include a new exciting array of performances and acts, orchestrated to a dazzling music and laser show. Rides and fun filled activities will be waiting for the kids from 4:30pm. There’ll be spot prizes and giveaways for the spookiest dressed kids (or adults) so get crazy with the makeup!

To keep you on the edge of your seat, the death defying Motocross riders and Stunt Planes, Warbirds and more will all be performing once again. For the younger family members we’ll have lollie giveaways and model planes whizzing above. Finally Opshop’s very own Jason Kerrison will headline along with the full force of performers and dancers before the climactic 30 minutes fireworks extravaganza. The family will love this night out together.

Fujifilm Instax SHARE SP-1 Smartphone Printer Review

2015-11-03T10:00:00.000+13:00

I got this amazing smartphone printer from my birthday last May. It was a gift from my bestfriend, and I've been enjoying it since the day I got my hands on it. It has been on my wishlist for many months, and I'm so glad that I finally have it. If you're passionate about photography and love polaroid then you'll definitely find this gadget very fascinating!

The New INSTAX SHARE SP-1 Printer lets people print mobile photos instantly from their smart phone or tablet, anywhere, anytime. The INSTAX SHARE SP-1 acts as its own Wi-Fi hotspot, and works with both iOS and Android to get you instant film prints from any picture stored on your device. Using the INSTAX SHARE SP-1 is fun and easy. With the user-friendly INSTAX Share App available on both iOS and Android, it’s a snap to print pictures with just a couple of taps on your device.

There is also a wide range of unique editing functions and templates to let users get creative with their smartphone images and INSTAX mini film. The INSTAX SHARE SP-1 can also print “real time” information on the film prints, including date and time, location and weather conditions. The INSTAX SHARE SP-1 is compact and stylish, and it has two green LED indicators - one that shows remaining film and one that displays battery status. The INSTAX SHARE SP-1 uses widely-available INSTAX mini film that is ISO 800 speed, and produces sharp, clear images with vivid color and natural skin tones in a print that is 2" x 3" - perfect for parties, events and creative projects.

SIZE AND WEIGHT

It measures 4 x 1.7 x 4.8″ and weighs just over half a pound. It’s too big to stash in your pocket, but it’s small and light enough that you could store it in a camera bag or sturdy purse and carry it around with you no problem.

FILM

The printer takes Fujifilm “instax mini” Instant Color Film. This is the same film as for the Instax Mini 8. It's the film that is latest in the market and very readily available for purchase anywhere. The full print, border included, measures 3.4 x 2.1″ – around the size of a credit card. The image itself is a bit smaller, measuring 2.4 x 1.8″. It sounds small, but it really depends on your preference. I personally adore the size, and it's quite easy to store anywhere.

Note that the printer does not come with film included, unless the store you bought it from has promotions. You’ll have to buy it separately. You can buy it from the local technology stores here in New Zealand, and you can get them from online worldwide retailers.

Easy and quick Wi-Fi printing from smartphones and tablets
INSTAX Share App works with iOS and Android. This item requires the customer to download the Instax Share App from the Apple app store. It requires iOS 5.0 or later.
Enjoy a variety of templates: Real Time, Limited Edition, SNS (Facebook and Instagram), Square(Add Text) and Standard
Uses Instax Mini Instant Film
Uses two CR2 lithium batteries (approximately 100 prints per set)

THE PRINT PROCESS

Once the app is installed, it will automatically read in all of the jpegs on your device. From there, you simply pick the photo you want to print, apply any of the provided filters or templates you want to use, and hit the ‘print’ button.

The app keeps track of which shots you’ve already printed which is very handy especially when you print a ton of photos. You also have the option to reprint the photo with a click of a button.

A reprint button on the physical printer allows you to make duplicates of the same shot without having to head back into your phone.

Both the printer and the app show you how many sheets of film are left in the printer.

You can also print directly from Facebook or Instagram, or take a real-time shot with the app’s built-in camera function.

We had no trouble connecting multiple devices to the same printer, and let as many people print from your device.

The app comes equipped with a few filters such as black and white, sepia, and “intelligence” – a sort of auto-correct, along with some themed templates that allow you to apply text and graphics to your images. It's a fantastic way to be creative with your polaroid photo.

THE PRINT

The color saturation and white balance are amazing. The exposure is also fantastic. The photo can appear bright at time, but that really depends on how you edit the photo and it's part of the polaroid aesthetic. I'm quite pleased with the result of the photo, especially when it's edited and you want it to come out exactly as you edit it. Also, you have to understand that the photo is polaroid and small in size, so don't expect to see faces from far away distances.

It's not a photographic print standard since it's an instant film after all that has the lower-tech effect. The vintage touch is actually what attracts the consumers to polaroid films. The sharpness is still pretty impressive regardless of the polaroid quality.

The full photo exposure will appear on the polaroid film roughly around 2-3 minutes. It's such an exciting feeling watching a photograph appear instantly on a film! It's quite addicting once you print out one photo, you'd definitely be hooked and would want to keep printing more!

THE PROS

Fast, fun, photo printing from Android or iOS smartphones and tablets.
Easy to set up and use - very straight forward device.
Portable and ready to use anywhere and everywhere.
Fantastic to use with the whole family and group of friends.
The ability to edit your photos before printing.
You can print as much as you like and there's a "re-print" button for convenience.
The device will tell you the amount of films you've used and the battery level.
Fantastic way to instantly print out photos without using ink.

THE CONS

High cost per photo since the film can be pricey.
Credit-card-size photos and have large borders.
Actual pictures are only 1.75 by 2.47 inches.

THE PRICE

You can purchase it online from Urban Outfitters for USD $199.00 (here). They ship internationally. You can also check out local technology stores in New Zealand such as JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, PB Technology, Dick Smith, etc. It costs from NZD $299.00 - cost varies in stores. Film sold separately from NZD $18.00 10PK.

BOTTOM LINE

The Fujifilm Instax Share SP-1 portable dedicated photo printer comes with a high cost per photo, but it's small, prints high-quality images quickly, and is fun to use. It's an incredible way to instantly print out photos in just a click of a button. All your families and friends will enjoy using it, and it's such a fantastic way to share treasured memories. It's also a brilliant gift for photography enthusiasts, or anyone who appreciates the beauty of polaroid.

My Pandora Earrings Wishlist

2015-10-25T06:00:00.000+13:00

If you know me by now, you know how obsessed I am with Pandora. I've been browsing through the website and some of their earrings caught my eyes. I really adore how classy Pandora jewellery are, but still have the youthful effect for some of them. They don't look too formal, but they look elegant enough to wear for any events and special occasions. I just love how sparkly and brilliantly well-made they are.

I will list down bellow some of my favorite earrings that I found from Pandora. I'm excited to get my hands on each of the earrings. They're definitely going to be my go-to earrings for everyday! I hope you'll find something you'll like as well, they have a ton of design from their collection with different colors, textures, stones, and sizes.

PANDORA designs, manufactures and markets hand-finished and contemporary jewellery made from high-quality materials at affordable prices. PANDORA jewellery is sold in more than 90 countries on six continents through approximately 9,500 points of sale, including more than 1,500 concept stores.

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, PANDORA employs more than 14,200 people worldwide of whom approximately 10,000 are located in Gemopolis, Thailand, where the company manufactures its jewellery. PANDORA is publicly listed on the NASDAQ Copenhagen stock exchange in Denmark. In 2014, PANDORA’s total revenue was DKK 11.9 billion (approximately EUR 1.6 billion).

Elegant And Vintage Dresses For Wedding

2015-10-23T06:00:00.000+13:00

As much as I love modern fashion, I can't help but adore vintage styles especially for wedding dresses. Vintage Wedding Dresses are still as beautiful today as they were back in the days. The combination of modern elements beautifully intertwined with classical designs create the most exquisite wedding dress. There's something about vintage that's very elegant and screams sophistication. It can be a simple wedding dress, but the vintage element can make it extra special.

Explore the extensive collection of breathtaking wedding dresses at Aisle Style. They update their styles regularly to keep up with the latest fashion such as vintage, designer, coast, and country. They have features such as like a-line, mermaid, ball gown and empire. Also, the choice of lengths from short, full length and tea length. They include fabrics such as lace, chiffon and satin will best satisfy you in your big day.

Florla Long Lace Sleeved Tea Length

Organza Wedding Dress with Bow Ribbon

(buy here)

Amazing Illusion Neck Sleeveless Lace Pattern Mermaid Lace

Wedding Dress with Lace Trimmed Full Back

(buy here)

V Neck Long Sleeved Lace Patterns Sheath Wedding Dress

(buy here)

Vinatge Floral Lace Pattern Spaghetti

Straps Column Lace Wedding Dress

(buy here)

Half Sleeved Illusion Neck Sheer Lace

ovelray Tulle Wedding Dress

(buy here)

Aisle Style also have Purple Bridesmaid Dresses perfect for the special occasion. Purple has been a popular wedding theme for the year, especially during fall/autumn season. It's such a stunning color, and brightens up the whole aura of the wedding. Purple combines the calm stability of blue and the fierce energy of red. The color purple is often associated with royalty, nobility, luxury, power, and ambition. Purple also represents meanings of wealth, extravagance, creativity, wisdom, dignity, grandeur, devotion, peace, pride, mystery, independence, and magic. It's also a great way to let the bride shine as the purple complements the white dress of the bride.

You can find wide varieties of purple bridesmaid dresses from Aisle Style. They offer a ton of designs with different lengths. You'll also love the fact that they have many shades of purple from violet, plum, lilac, light purple, dark purple, etc. They have the latest trend in fashion so you know that you'll be giving your special girls something precious during your wedding day.

Illusion Bateau Neck Fit Flared Lilac

Purple Tulle Bridesmaid Dress with Lace

(buy here)

Awesome Jewe Neck Lace Bodice Lilac Long Chiffon

Bridesmaid Dress 2016 with Keyhole Back

(buy here)

Nectarean A-line Sweetheart Ruching

Short Chiffon Bridesmaid Dresses

(buy here)

Vintage Lace Straps Pleated Long

Chiffon Eggplant Bridesmaid Dress

(buy here)

V Neck Lace Bodice Column Satin Purple Bridesmaid Dress

(buy here)

My Pandora Rings Wishlist

2015-10-22T07:00:00.000+13:00

Pandora is my most favorite jewellery in the world. I just adore the creations and meaning of each jewellery sold by them. I've been collecting charms from Pandora for many months now, and I want to expand my collection by purchasing other types of jewellery from them such as rings, earrings, and necklaces. They offer very unique designs you can't find elsewhere, and every piece has its meaning.

I picked out some rings for my wishlist, and I can't wait to collect every single one of them! They're perfect for stacking, for any event, even for formal attire. I'd definitely get some to wear for my future wedding, they just look so elegant and precious!

5 Popular Fashions of Wedding Dresses

2015-10-22T05:00:00.000+13:00

Buying a wedding dress is one of the most exciting and wonderful moments in the wedding preparations of any girl. Take a look at those 5 most popular fashions and decide which style will fit you perfectly.

“BALL WEDDING DRESS”

Tulle ball gown wedding dresses are perfect for the skinny and young brides. The image will be very spectacular and bright. But in case you have some body flaws, you should be very careful as the fluffy skirt may put an accent on them. However, a fluffy skirt has many advantages: it hides the hips, emphasizes the waist, transforming the body into a seductive silhouette of an “hourglass”. If you are not tall enough, pay more attention to beaded ball gown wedding dresses: your image should not be too luscious.

“PRINCESS STYLE”

Also known as “A” silhouette. The brides often call it “fluffy but not too much”. It’s very romantic and gentle. It has a tight bodice that smoothly flows down and expands up to the bottom. Such fashion will make a body slimmer by regulating the waistline: it can be caught up a bit higher or lower, thus correcting the body flaws.

“EMPIRE”

Such silhouette fits for the light summer image. If you correctly choose the waistline, this dress will look fine on any body type and complexion. It will profitably hide the flaws and at the same time will make the bridal look very gentle and airy. The bride will feel absolutely free and comfortable wearing such dress, for nothing will limit her moves. When choosing an Empire fashion, don’t forget about the image integrity: hairstyle, makeup, accessories and even the bridal bouquet should match the airiness of the dress.

“MERMAID”

It’s an incredibly stunning dress of a tight silhouette with an unfolding skirt slightly above or below the knee. Such dress is affordable for the girls with long legs, flawless thighs and thin waist. Such dress style will emphasize their attractive body curves, thus adding some lure to the image. The Mermaid-like dress is absolutely contraindicated for the short and corpulent girls.

“STRAIGHT SILHOUETTE”

This silhouette resembles a bit the Mermaid style but the difference is that the lower part of the dress does not sit tight on the body. Such dress visually stretches the silhouette. This dress, due to its conciseness, allows an open spine, long sleeves, some decoration elements and unusual combinations. It will fit any wedding style and will be perfect for any modern bridal image.

Choosing Jewelry by Your Skin Tone

2015-10-21T07:00:00.000+13:00

Anyone who's picked out jewelry before realizes that some colors simply work better on some people than others. Whether a particular piece of jewelry will work for you depends on your skin tone, and learning which colors will work best for you is important to buying jewelry that will help you look your best.

Cool Skin Tones

Look at your arms and see if your veins have a blue color or not. If they do, then you have cool skin tones. This is important because it means that you should be wearing Blue Sapphire, Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Opal, Tanzanite, or Zircon jewelry. Each of these stone types will accent your cooler tones nicely. Cool tones are more common than warm, and you can have cool tones whether your skin is light or dark.

Warm Skin Tones

If you have greenish colored veins, then you have warm skin tones. Take a quick look at your arms to determine if this is true or not. If you do have warm skin tones, you're in the minority of people, and it's likely that you have lighter skin. Yellow gold and rose gold pieces look really nice on someone with a warm skin tone. Warmer gemstones like Garnet, Citrine, Rube, Peridot, Yellow Diamonds, and Alexandrite are all excellent options to match this tone.

Some Other Questions to Help You Out

If you aren't sure about your skin tones, you can ask yourself a few simple questions to unravel the mystery. First of all, do you burn or tan when you lay out in the sun? If you tan, then you're warm toned, and if you burn, you are likely cool toned. Next, put on a silver piece of jewelry and a gold piece of jewelry. Do you look better in the silver or the gold? If you prefer the silver, you are likely cool toned. If you prefer gold, you probably have a warm tone.

What to Do if You Aren't Sure

If you aren't sure whether you have warm or cool skin tones, you don’t have to worry: Diamonds are a good neutral option that look great on both types of skin tones. That means you can pick up that diamond necklace and those diamond earrings and look great without worrying about whether your jewelry matches your skin properly.

Choosing the jewelry types that complement your skin the best will not only make the piece itself look better, but will also leave you feeling more satisfied with your purchase. If you aren't sure what your skin tones are, and which pieces you should be getting, you can visit a local jewelry specialist, and they will likely be able to help you out. Picking out tones is a subtle art, and some people have a harder time with it than others. Start matching your jewelry to your body, today, and you'll start enjoying those new purchases even more.

Beads of Cambay is a jewelry supplier that specializes in precious and semi-precious gemstones. The company offers beautifully crafted pieces and carefully selected gems for crafting or collecting purposes. The organization has a graduate gemologist that looks over the stones to assure quality before they are listed for sale. Whether you're a jeweler looking for a supply of quality materials, or a fashionable consumer trying to find some attractive accessories, Beads of Cambay can help. To find out exactly what's for sale and to judge the quality of materials yourself, visit http://www.beadsofcambay.com/.

Birthday Treat For My Sister : The Grove Fine Dining Restaurant (St. Patrick's Square)

2015-10-05T07:30:00.000+13:00

I took my sister for dinner at a fine dining restaurant called The Grove as my birthday treat for her. She's been wanting to try fine dining and I thought it would be an awesome idea to treat her for her 19th birthday. I've searched for fine dining restaurants around Auckland and found out amazing feedbacks about The Grove so I decided to try it. I was expecting a lot from the place because of incredible reviews and their multi-award titles. The Grove was crowned Chef of the Year in Cuisine Magazine for 2014-2015. The restaurant is located at St. Patrick's Square, right beside the cathedral.

Stepping into St Patrick's Square transports you to different city and once you enter the restaurant, there is a friendly gentleman who takes your coat and ushers you to your table. The ambiance is really cosy and romantic. The little touches of chandelier and lights added elegance to the whole aura of the place. It's a great place for any type of celebrations, whether it's with your friends, family, or partner.

The waitress kindly delivered the menu to us and explained each dishes. The Grove offers 5 and 9 degustation courses. One of the things I like about the place is the fact that you have the ability choose and mix between savoury and dessert, unlike any other fine dining restaurants that has a set menu for the courses. It's really great that you can choose the dishes you want for your degustation course. It was difficult choosing the dishes that the table agree on, but they have many varieties so you'll definitely find dishes that everyone would want to try.

Our 5 course degustation consisted of terrine of game birds and goose liver, risotto of potato and celeriac, house cured soft bresaola, roast duck crumpet, and banana tart. We also ordered non-alcoholic beverages for our drinks. The Grove's 5 courses is NZD $89.00 and 9 courses is NZD $145.00.

Each meal was like heaven in my mouth. I just admire the presentation of each dish. It is true that we eat with our eyes, and when the meal looks incredible and you know that you're in it for a treat. The waitress was really inviting and helpful. She explained every dish when it comes to our table in a very polite manner. I think the timing between each meal is perfect. It gives us time to digest so we don't feel too bloated by the end of the course. I really love the diversity and different textures of each dishes. I love eating dishes that feels like a surprise in every mouthful. I have no complaints with any of my dish, I was really excited to try each and every one of them. The highlight for me was the dessert, it was definitely the most scrumptious desserts I've tried so far.

House cured soft bresaola, haricot vert, Montgomery cheddar & wasabi sorbet

Terrine of game birds & goose liver with parsnip puree, pear chutney & toasted brioche

Risotto of potato & celeriac with South Island Périgord truffle

Roast duck crumpet with hoisin butter & écrasé of French breakfast radish

Banana tart, cinnamon crème patissiere, caramel & toasted coconut ice cream

My sister and I really enjoyed each dish, and it was really exciting for us to try something that we haven't tried before. The whole service was fantastic, the staff were amazing and polite, the food was top notch, and the place is just so elegant. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for an exquisite night with anyone. I will definitely come back to The Grove and try more of their dishes.

My New Hair : Platinum Ash Ombré Balayage by The Orange Room Hair And Beauty

2015-09-23T05:00:00.000+12:00

Hi my loves! I finally hit the stage of my second hair transformation. My initial ombré balayage hair was Dark Ash Blonde. It was dark brown at the top and gradually lighten to dark ash blonde. I wanted to go darker on the roots and lighter at the tip this time since it was what I was aiming for in the first place. I got a dark chocolate brown at the top of my hair, and gradually lighten to platinum ash towards the tip. I still need some work on bits on my hair because some strands are stubborn and not grabbing the platinum ash compare to the rest of my hair. Regular hair toning is required to make the color equal on my hair which is easily achievable in due time.

I absolutely adore my new balayage, it's such a stunning color and I just love how well it suits me. My hair stylist, Kat, from The Orange Room, did a fabulous job on my hair. She's so amazing and talented. I got so much compliment about my hair and people said that the look suits me better. I do love the darker look, especially since I finally got the blonde tone out of my hair. I wanted to be different compare to the usual Asian look because a lot of Asian girls I've seen has dyed their hair blonde, so I definitely wanted to do something different. I'm so obsessed with my new hair, and digging the platinum ash tone, it's so gorgeous!

I'm really over joyed about my new hair, I just love the platinum ash on the tips. I can't wait when the tips of my hair are all even with platinum ash tone without the blonde tint. I think I'll maintain this balayage color for couple of years until I decided to change my whole hair color again. Also, I'm so happy that my hair is getting healthier now and starting to be less flat and dry. It's really a huge difference between going to the salon to get your hair colored compare to using cheap supermarket hair dye. My hair is so much healthier compare to before. I couldn't be happier!

Check out Kat from The Orange Room if you want to have an awesome new look.
She's very experienced and competent in hair and beauty.

She does a wonderful job, and very good at doing huge varieties of hair color.

You can see the list of what she can offer in her salon from her facebook page here.

Perfume Shopping Haul From Smellycat.co.nz

2015-09-12T07:30:00.000+12:00

I've been obsessing over perfumes lately so I picked up a couple of new fragrances from my favorite perfume online store, Smellycat. I'm such a huge fan of perfumes, they're one of the things I love and enjoy collecting. I'm one of those people who can never leave the house without spraying myself with a perfume. I just love to smell amazing all time, and of course who wouldn't want that right?! I was even more excited to purchase from Smellycat since the day they introduce miniature perfumes in their store. I think it's a fantastic way to try different type of perfumes without investing on buying the big bottles since they can be very expensive. Also, I completely adore the idea of mini perfume bottles, and they're so easy to bring with you anywhere.

Smellycat was created to bring a fresh, fun and affordable way to shop for 100% genuine designer fragrances, lotions, shower gels, deodorants (and now nail polish!) in New Zealand. They pride themselves on selling 100% genuine products and do this by only purchasing from reputable sellers and authorised distributors that have been in business for many years. Smellycat is fully Kiwi-owned and operated and they enjoy providing amazing prices (everything is at least 30% of the RRP) and fantastic customer service.

I picked up one 100ml perfume, and five miniature perfumes.

Juicy Couture - Couture La La 100ml

Marc Jacobs - Dot 4ml

Dolce & Gabbana - Pour Femme Intense 4.5ml

Gucci - Guilty 5ml

Gucci - Flora Eau de Toilette 5ml

Gucci - Premiere 5ml

Juicy Couture : Couture La La

Description
Capture the essence of femininity and daring allure of the unexpected with Couture La La by Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum. Blending bright sparkling mandarin with bold white florals in a gorgeous pink flacon brings out a little punk rock and a lot of free spirit in everyone!

Category
Soft Floral

Ingredients
Sparkling Mandarin, Green Apple, Red Currant, Lily of the Valley, Violet Leaves, Orange Blossom, Liquid Musk

Dolce & Gabbana : Pour Femme Intense

Description
Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme Intense is a sensual, oriental floral fragrance that ignites the senses. Two noble white flowers - Orange Blossom and Tuberose - give an intense full-bodied feminine signature.

Category
Floriental - Classic

Ingredients
Neroli, Green Mandarin, Orange Blossom, Tuberose, Sandalwood, Musky notes.

Marc Jacobs : Dot

Description
Marc Jacobs Dot Eau de Parfum carries a lush, effervescent floral scent perfect for every eclectic, spontaneous female. The fragrance features top notes of red berries, mid notes of jasmine and base notes of driftwood for a bold, feminine scent all packaged up in an eye-catching and cheerful polka dot bottle, adorned with butterflies and the signature over-sized cap.

Category
Fruity Floral

Ingredients
Red Berries, Dragonfruit, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Coconut Water, Orange Blossom, Vanilla, Driftwood, Musk.

Gucci : Guilty

Description
Gucci Guilty Eau de Toilette is the gorgeous fragrance from the luxe Italian fashion house. This sexy oriental floral scent comes in a sophisticated golden bottle, carved with "G" as its trade mark, that matches the sensual, delicate but strong, personality of a woman.

Category
Floriental - Classic

Ingredients
Amber, Geranium, Lilac, Mandarin, Patchouli, Peach, Pink pepper.

Gucci : Flora Eau de Toilette

Description
Gucci Flora Eau de Toilette is a subtle, sophisticated, floral fragrance inspired by princesses from the past, present, and future. This scent is an expression of the Flora legacy. Its seductive layers mirror the playful details and bright colours that channel the heart of a fashion empire.

Category
Citrus Floral

Ingredients
Citrus Accord, Peony, Rose, Osmanthus Flower, Pink Pepper, Sandalwood.

Gucci : Première Eau de Toilette

Description
The new Gucci Première Eau de Toilette is a lighter and more delicate reinterpretation of the original Parfum which makes it ideal for everyday use. The fragrance incorporates notes of radiant flowers and citrus like orange blossom, freesia, jasmine sambac and Bulgarian rose with muskier notes of leather and patchouli for a feminine and modern fragrance.

Category
Woody Oriental - Classic

Ingredients
Orange Blossom, Light Citrus Oils, White Flowers, Leather, Patchouli, Musk.

Cheapest Human Hair Extensions Online

2015-09-11T07:00:00.000+12:00

Every person can experiment with hair extensions regardless if your hair is long, short, thick, or thin. You don’t need to go for a full head of extensions to look glamorous. There are so many varieties you can choose from in the market these days. They are weaves, clip-in, wigs, micro loop, tape hair, and many more. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to boost up your beauty confidence. You can find the cheapest human hair extensions from so many places nationwide.

If you have long hair, all you need is just a few clip-in extensions to give you the density. Hair extensions have now become a person's best pal or rather a necessity for everyday wear or a once in a while occasion. You can’t resist the need of owning them because you simply can’t resist looking good! Fashion and beauty change every time, and it's really great to have the option to be able to experiment with different looks without any permanent change on your natural looks.

The use of thick clip-in hair extensions is a quick way to extend your hair and/or to provide volume and density. Each clip has a non- slip, silicone coating that secure your extensions comfortably, and prevent slipping. It's one of the easiest ways to enhance the thickness of your hair without any permanent change. You'll be happy to know that clip-in hair extensions are applied quickly and easily without damaging your own natural hair. Anyone can do it; whether you're young, old, professional hair-stylist, or even if you don't know anything about hair styles. It's a great way to achieve the look you have always dreamed of, and clip in extensions are becoming more popular with each day. It's such a fantastic solution to longer hair, without the other harsh methods of hair extensions.

There are a ton of hair extensions in the market, it's important that you find the best quality such as human hair extensions instead of synthetic to get the best natural looking hair. Black hair color is a very sexy trend from years and years, it's timeless and classic. Throughout history, women with black hair were associated with brains, inner beauty, power, mystery and confidence. Enhance your deep black hair with a luxurious set of black clip-in hair extensions and you will surely add an extra layer of powerful attraction to your already-gorgeous self. It will help you enhance the look of your natural hair, resulting in locks that are thicker, healthier, and longer than ever before. Instantly transform your look without breaking your bank account or excessive permanent change.

There are so many styles of hair extensions you can choose from. It can depend on the type of improvement you're looking for. It's such a fantastic piece of fashion accessory that can enhance your beauty without any permanent change. The best part is, it will not damage your natural hair in any way and it will leave you more confident about yourself.

Queens Wharf Street Eats 2015

2015-09-08T07:30:00.000+12:00

It was the Auckland Street Eats few weeks ago at Downtown Auckland. It's an annual event held once a year at the beautiful location of Queens Wharf. It's actually my first time going to the event, and my bestfriend accompanied me. I was expecting a lot from the event since there is so many hype about it, and people said many great things about the food they offer. This monumentally popular street food event returns to Queens Wharf with a diverse line up of central city restaurants serving up their favourite street food for one day only. Sample eats from around the globe, from Middle Eastern shawarma to Asian summer rolls, Tuscan donuts and much more.

Restaurants you'll find at Street Eats include Bellota, Besos Latinos, Box of Bird by Bird on a Wire, Ima Cuisine, IVillage, L’Assiette, Le Garde-Manger, Merchants of Venice, Mexico Britomart, Monsoon Poon, Orleans, Thai Street, The Food Truck, The Grill by Sean Connolly, Toto Pizza, Urban Turban and Y Not. Refreshments will be served by Nautilus Estate, Babich Wines, Harrington's Breweries, Joiy, and Atomic Coffee Roasters. Silver Fern Farms, The Roaming Dive, Fritz's Wieners and Tip Top Ice Cream will also be serving up eats. It’s an event for the whole family, with fun activities and live music to enjoy while you browse the stalls.

These dishes were absolutely divine! Every bite was scrumptious until the last mouthful.

Cassava Balls and Cheese Balls

My first time every trying Brazilian food and it was absolutely incredible! I can't believe I haven't tried it before, it was just so flavorful and I wanted to buy some more.

We came there really early, the starting hour of the event. It was a NZD $5.00 entrance fee for adults and free for children. People are allowed to come and go as they please as long as they paid for the ticket. The place was already crowded when we came, and more people arrived around lunch time.

It was really nice to see some of my favorite restaurants in the event, and I was excited to try the ones I haven't seen before. It's really great to see other cuisines from all over the world, and the ability to try their food in low prices. It was so much fun trying food that I haven't tried before!

We had so much food during the event, and we love everything we tried. I would have love it to try more cuisines but I was super full and couldn't fit any more in my tummy. We only tried around 3 cuisines, and 1 dessert. The prices are reasonable, but they're actually more expensive when you add everything that you spent. It was still such an amazing experience and a great place for food lovers, I highly recommend it for the whole family! You'll love the atmosphere and they offer so many delicious food for any type of taste bud.

© All photos in this article are photographed and edited by me, the owner of this blog, Christine.
No one is permitted to use these photos without my permission. Copyright Reserved.

Where To Find Affordable Wedding Dresses

2015-09-06T07:30:00.001+12:00

A wedding dress is one of the most important parts of the bride's big day. It's advisable to browse wedding gowns in every style and silhouette including ball gowns, a-line dresses, mermaid dresses, and more from top bridal designers like Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, and Carolina Herrera. Don't limit yourself and stick to looking at wedding dresses that are only on your budget range. You never know that you might fall in love with a wedding dress from an expensive designer, but then found a very similar style at an affordable price. Don't loose hope, and always make sure you tried every alternatives before you settle on a wedding dress. You don't have to break your bank to have your dream wedding dress.

You can search online stores from worldwide retailers such as PromTimes. They offer a ton of affordable wedding dresses from classic to modern styles. They even offer wedding dresses under £100, which is more than half of the retail prices from other stores. Their collections are updated every season so you're certain that you're getting the latest and most popular trends.

PromTimes is one of world's leading online retailers, operating throughout the United States and Europe. They have the largest apparel and sports equipment sites on the internet. Across their integrated enterprise, PromTimes offers a wide array of national, private and exclusive brands which reflect the Company's commitment to providing customers with style and quality at smart prices.

Here are some of the stunning and affordable wedding dresses you can find from PromTimes.

A-line V-neck Sleeveless Sweep/Brush Train White Chiffon Wedding Dress

- BUY HERE -

This stunning wedding dress has an intricate lace detailed back. It has beadings along the spine and on the side of the back to draw the attention on the design of the back. The dress has a low v-neck that's modest to show elegance. The beadings all over the waist is very flattering for any body shape since it accentuates the curves, and the long chiffon train of the dress elongates the legs.

Sheath/Column Halter Court Train White Chiffon Wedding Dress

- BUY HERE -

This wedding dress is a beautiful back less with a halter neck. There are crystallised beads lining on the front left side and on the back of the dress. The beads give out such an elegant design on a simple layout. This dress will accentuate your waist and will shape your chest area to give a very sexy but sophisticated look.

A-line Sweetheart Sleeveless Chapel Train White Tulle Wedding Dress

- BUY HERE -

This type of wedding dress is very popular. The tulle is a trend that's timeless and classic, it's worn through-out the years for causal and formal attires. It's so captivating for a lot of people because it gives out the "princess" look from the grace of the flow of the garment. It's a dress that's so perfect for any feminine women who wants to feel like royalty on their special day.

A-line Halter Sleeveless Court Train White Tulle Wedding Dresses

- BUY HERE -

This wedding dress is very fairy-tale like. It has a gorgeous v-shape halter neck and a simple bow that ties around the waist. The over lay of the dress is lace which gives out an exquisite vintage effect. It's a design that shows classical elegance, a vintage twist to a modern love story.

Empire Spaghetti Straps Sleeveless Chapel Train White Chiffon Wedding Dress
- BUY HERE -

This wedding dress has a stunning crystallised spaghetti straps. The chest area moulds on the breasts to accentuate the shape of the waist. The dress is back-less with a beautiful crystallised chain on the back shoulder blade. This wedding dress is very modern, and perfect for anyone who loves a little shine on their dress.

LUSH Cosmetics : Father Christmas and Twilight Bath Bombs Review Demo

2015-09-02T07:30:00.000+12:00

I've recently tried two from my LUSH Cosmetics bath bombs collection. I haven't tried using two bath bombs in one bath, so I was really excited to give it a go. I combined the Father Christmas Bath Bomb and the Twilight Bath Bomb in one amazingly aromatic bath. I heard incredible things about both of the bath bombs and I was expecting great things from it. I absolutely adore the combination of the two bath bombs, although you'll see in the photos that the color of the Father Christmas out-shined the Twilight. They smell absolutely sensational, and I love how silky smooth it feels on the skin. They're very moisturising and refreshes the skin. They're so relaxing and soothes any aching muscles in my body. Definitely a powerful combination!

Father Christmas has such an incredible fresh citrus scent. Once you pop this jolly red bomb in your tub, it turns your water from bright red to vivid green, spreading trails of creamy white froth as it goes. Best of all, Father Christmas fills your bathroom with an invigorating satsuma fragrance that lingers on the skin for hours afterwards. Uplifting, fruity and fresh – this is the most festive bomb of them all. All we want for Christmas is this Santa, baby!

Twilight is a peaceful lavender bathing under the stars. Recreate the magic of a starry night in your bath water with clouds of lavender and tonka absolute to fight the demons of insomnia and soothe your stressed out body and mind. Lush's most relaxing Bath Bomb yet, Twilight is their gentle, reassuring hug for the bath to transform you from worn out to warm and fuzzy. It changes color like the sky at dusk, from pinks to purples and darker still. Lay back in the comforting herbal waters to soak your troubles far, far away.

FATHER CHRISTMAS BATH BOMB

♥ Features
Seasonal colors: Father Christmas turns your water green, red and frothy white for a truly seasonal bath.

Popular fellow: This festive bomb is a returning favorite and best-seller every year.

Limited edition: He's only around for the holidays- grab one before they're gone!

♥ Fresh Ingredients
Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Mandarin Oil (Citrus nobilis), Bergamot Oil (Citrus Aurantium bergamia), Orange Flower Absolute (Citrus Aurantium amara), Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, *Limonene, *Linalool, Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides), Fragrance, FD&C Red No. 4, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Yellow No. 5, Aluminium Lake . *Occurs naturally in essential oils

♥ How to use
Fill your bathtub with warm water, drop in the Bath Bomb and lay back to enjoy its lovely color and gorgeous fragrance. Some LUSH Bath Bombs contain flower petals and others have secret surprises (if you prefer not to have these pieces floating in your tub, wrap the Bath Bomb in a recycled nylon before use). To make your experience even more memorable, combine your fragrant Bath Bomb with a Luxury Bath Melt.

TWILIGHT BATH BOMB

♥ Features
Herbal tonic: Lavender acts as nature’s melatonin to relax your mind for a more restful sleep.

Bedtime story: Take the bitter edge off of sleeplessness with sweet tonka absolute, vanilla’s saucier cousin.

Comforting and relaxing: Twilight has a slow-paced froth, it bobs about in the tub releasing its sweet scent.

♥ Fresh Ingredients
Sodium Bicarbonate , Citric Acid , Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate) , Sodium Laureth Sulfate , Lavender Oil (Lavandula augustifolia) , Benzoin Resinoid (Styrax tonkinensis pierre) , Tonka Absolute (Dipteryx odorata) , Ylang Ylang Oil (Cananga odorata) , Lauryl Betaine , *Coumarin , *Linalool , Fragrance , Propylene Glycol , FD&C Red No. 4 , D&C Red No. 33 , D&C Red No. 27 , FD&C Blue No. 1 , Silver Lustre (Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Maltodextrin, Potassium Aluminium Silicate, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Potassium Sorbate) . *Occurs naturally in essential oils

♥ How to use
Fill your bathtub with warm water, drop in the Bath Bomb and lay back to enjoy its lovely color and gorgeous fragrance. Some LUSH Bath Bombs contain flower petals and others have secret surprises (if you prefer not to have these pieces floating in your tub, wrap the Bath Bomb in a recycled nylon before use). To make your experience even more memorable, combine your fragrant Bath Bomb with a Luxury Bath Melt.

The Father Christmas bath bomb is such an adorable shape. The color inside and out is very festive! I also loved the glitter - it was perfect. There was a dusting of red sparkles on the outside of the product that fizzed into the water first. The glitters didn't stick to my skin, looked pretty in the water and then went down the drain with a minimal tub rinse which is fantastic!

The second layer of this bomb turns the water this beautiful shade of bright green! It's so festive and the effect of red glitter in green water is perfect. This was my favorite part - the way the water looked! I didn't want to get out and I sat until the water was all gone. All in all I thought this was unique and would make a fun gift - or a treat when you've got some downtime this coming holiday.

Twilight is a very unique, very prettily designed bath bomb that changes color in water (from pink to blue). It's packed with glitter, which I love, and the colors are very pastel. I loved how slow it fizzed; I could enjoy my time looking at the bath bomb working. The bomb produced so much bubbles which I absolutely enjoyed! The smell was simply amazing and instantly put me in the relaxed and calm mindset. I will most definitely be purchasing another one of these!

Affordable Fashion Women Watches from GearBest.com

2015-08-31T07:00:00.000+12:00

Watches are one of the accessories that majority of us wear every single day. It's something that a lot of people can't leave without or go out in the world without. Watches style changed year after year, fashion trend grows, but it still serves the same purpose. I'm a fan of watches myself, I'm a very punctual person and never late. I'm always on time and I'm very organized, so a watch is something that I want to have with me at all times. It's even better when a watch suits my fashion style.

I love different types of watches, expensive or affordable. I enjoy browsing through the web on what's the hottest trends and what's timeless. I recently came across an online store called GearBest.com that offers so many fashion accessories, including trendy watches with very pocket friendly prices.

GearBest is more than just a shopping site, it's designed for gadget lovers by gadget lovers. They have a passion for all kinds of cool and fun gadgets, including smart phones, smart watches, car electronics, RC Quadcopters, LED flashlights, consumer electronics, men's clothings, fashion watches, and many more. GearBest not only offers a large selection of the latest gadgets, but also aims to keep their price the lowest worldwide. If you find identical gadgets elsewhere which are cheaper than their free shipping prices, you can submit a price match request on the product page, and they will price match within 48 hours.

I picked out this gorgeous rose gold watch with little crystals around the band and on the ring of the watch. It's absolutely beautiful, and I love how thin the band is. It's called Kimio Japan Quartz Bracelet Ladies Diamond Chain Watch with Alloy Band in Rose Gold, you can buy it here for USD $11.72 only! I'm so shocked how affordable this watch is, but the quality is really good!

It feels heavy enough to know that it's metal and not plastic. The materials used to create this watch were good and feels sturdy when worn. It looks so elegant and can be worn for so many occasions, formal or not. It's light weight when worn but strong.

Main Features:

• Japan quartz movt guarantees precise time
• The presence of diamonds on your watch will make you more radiant
• Luxurious diamond watch band, shiny and charming
• Golden and silver body show noble and elegant charm
• Alloy case and band, sturdy in structure

Brand: Kimio
Watches categories: Female table
Available color: Black, White, Rose Gold
Style : Fashion&Casual, Bracelet, Diamond

Movement type: Quartz watch
Shape of the dial: Round
Display type: Analog
Case material: Alloy

I absolutely adore this watch, and I highly recommend it if you're looking for a watch that's fashionable and elegant. It's so sophisticated and no one will even realised that the price is very affordable. It's such a classic accessory and will serve as a wonderful fashion piece with your outfit. They have tons of styles and varieties so you'll definitely find something that will suit your fashion needs.

GearBest has very fast shipping compare to other online stores from Asia. I was really impressed how quick I receive my package, about two weeks. The package came in nice and secured, and everything was in one piece. There aren't anything that was damaged or broken. Their customer service is very helpful and they will make sure that you're happy with that you purchase. You'll also love the fact that they offer worldwide shipping for free!

Check out their website for the latest trends in gadgets and

accessories at very affordable prices.

www.gearbest.com

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a sponsored post. This product was sent to me by GearBest.com for review regardless of my opinion. I didn't get paid to say all the things I said in this post, and I'm NOT affiliated with the companies mentioned or getting any compensation for my opinions. My reviews and opinions are 100% HONEST and UNBIASED.

Girls' Night at Mexican Cafe and Giapo Haute Ice Cream

2015-08-13T07:00:00.000+12:00

My girl friends and I had a little dinner celebration and catch-up since one of our friends is visiting New Zealand for 2 weeks, and our other friend got recently engaged. I planned the dinner, and I picked Mexican Cafe at Downtown, Auckland. I've been craving Mexican food, and it fits the type of cuisine all my friends like. I haven't been to Mexican Cafe before, but I heard amazing things about their food and the quality of their services so I was really excited to try it. We came there fairly early for dinner, around 6:00 pm to beat the busy hours. I couldn't really book a table because the minimum people for booking is 8, and there were only 6 of us. We got a really nice table at the veranda area which I actually appreciate.

The menu is pretty impressive and contains famous authentic Mexican meals. The prices they offer are very reasonable too, especially since the servings for their main meals are enormous! The ambiance is cozy and warm, and I love all the little decorations that portrays the Mexican culture. They also offer lots of drinks and cocktails, they have happy hour, and fun events at certain occasions. It's such a fun little haven of Mexican food and culture!

I ordered this mouth-watering dish called Beef Chimichanga.

It tasted absolutely amazing, from the beef, the tortilla wrap, the rice, the salad, the salsa, and guacamole. The whole dish was really amazing and very flavourful! I've seen a lot of people ordering this dish as well, it must have been one of the famous dish from their menu.

A flour tortilla wrapped around your choice of filling with cheese, onion, tomato, coriander, jalapeno chillies and beans then deep fried to a crisp in vegetable oil. Topped with sour cream, guacamole and salsa. Served with beans, rice and a salad garnish.

Extra Special Nachos: Chicken

Corn chips covered with cheese, onion, beans, mild chilli sauce, sour cream and a sprinkle of jalapeno chillies. Oven baked then topped with lettuce, tomato, guacamole and coriander.

Mexican Vegetarian Lasagne

Layers of corn tortillas with black beans, corn and cheese baked to perfection in a delicious tomato, onion, cumin jalapeno juice and coriander sauce then topped with grilled cheese.

Quesadillas: Chicken, Beef or Vegetarian

Two corn tortillas grilled to perfection on the hot plate with cheese and your choice of filling then finished with jalapeno chillies, coriander, onion, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole.

Fajitas: Chicken or Beef

Your choice of chicken or beef marinated in soy, garlic, onion, capsicum and spice mix topped with tomato, coriander and jalapeno chillies. Served on a sizzling platter with 2 flour tortillas and sides of guacamole, sour cream, grated cheese and salad.

We went for a quick dessert at our favorite ice-cream place, the most delicious Gelato ever from Giapo Haute Ice Cream at Queen Street, Auckland. I highly, highly recommend this place, they have the most amazing Gelato and the presentation is really beautiful! It's always busy there during night time, people seem to always crave for ice-cream at night!

My new favorite - Afghan Cookie Gelato!

Oh so delicious in every bite, absolute heaven in a cup!

Tiramisu Gelato

2 scoops/2 different ice-cream - Hazelnut and Chocolate Gelato

Afghan Cookie with Jelly Top

Lime Crime Shopping Haul (Lipstick and Velvetines) - Riot, Salem, Cashmere, Bleached, Geradium, Babette

2015-08-07T07:00:00.000+12:00

I've been a huge fan of Lime Crime over the years, and I'm so happy that I finally got the chance to try their very popular lip products. I've been dying to try their lipsticks and Velvetines. Lime crime is very well known to have the most vibrant and fun selections of colors in their collections. Their lip products are very famous in the beauty community and vastly shared in social media. I just completely adore the fact that they have colors from the most natural tone to the most extrovert funky colors.

I picked out two lipsticks and four Velvetines for now. Although, I'm definitely planning to purchase more lip products form them. I can't get enough of their gorgeous colors; and not to mention, their insanely pigmented color pay-off! Also, the fact that all their products are 100% cruelty free and vegan. You'll also fall in love with their adorable unicorn theme, and everything about their packaging designs are mythical and adventurous!

My first impression of the Velvetines is holy WOW it's crazy vibrant! The color pay-off is absolutely amazing and I just can't believe how gorgeous they look on the lips. I got the colors Riot, Salem, Cashmere, and Bleached. The Velvetines is completely matte in texture when the liquid dries on the lips. Velvetines is Lime Crime's original liquid-to-mate lipstick. The name is created by Lime Crime. It has the texture of a rose petal in a bottle! Velvetines go on liquid, but dry matte. Touch-proof, transfer-proof & utterly addictive.

Velvetines Ingredients: Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Synthetic Beeswax, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isododecane, Flavor (Aroma), Kaolin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol. May Contain [+/-]: Red 30 Lake CI 73360, Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron Oxides CI 77491 CI 77492 CI 77499, Red 6 Lake CI 15850, Red 7 Lake CI 15850, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Manganese Violet CI 77742, Red 27 Lake CI 45410, Red 28 Lake CI 45410, Blue 1 CI 42090. VEGAN/CRUELTY-FREE.

Net Wt. 0.088 fl oz / 2.6ml

LIME CRIME VELVETINES SALEM

LIME CRIME VELVETINES CASHMERE

LIME CRIME VELVETINES BLEACHED

LIME CRIME VELVETINES RIOT

Lime Crime lipsticks are super creamy and very easy to apply on the lips. The consistency of application is great, and full opacity is easily achievable. I love how moisturising and smooth it feels on the lips. I picked out two colors, Geradium and Babette.

Lipstick Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, DI-PPG-3 Myristyl Ether Adipate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ozokerite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Vanillin, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax, Silica, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain [+/-]: Mica CI 77019, Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron Oxides CI 77492 CI 77491 CI 77499, Red 7 Lake CI 15850:1, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140:1, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090:2, Red 6 CI 15850, Red 28 Lake CI 45410. VEGAN/CRUELTY-FREE.

Net Wt. 3.5g / 0.12oz

LIME CRIME LIPSTICK GERADIUM

LIME CRIME LIPSTICK BABETTE

The Velvetines cost USD $20.00 and the lipsticks cost USD $18.00. You can purchase Lime Crime from their official website - www.limecrime.com. They offer international shipping.

I will be doing a detailed review, demo, and more swatches for all these lip products on my up-coming blogposts. This post is just a shopping haul - watch out for the review post if the next few days! :)

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a sponsored post. This product was purchased with my own money. I didn't get paid to say all the things I said in this post, and I'm NOT affiliated with the companies mentioned or getting any compensation for my opinions. My reviews and opinions are 100% HONEST and UNBIASED.

LUSH Cosmetics Golden Egg Bath Bomb Melt Review and Demo

2015-08-06T08:00:00.000+12:00

I used another bath bomb from Lush Cosmetics recently. It's such an adorable bath bomb melt from Lush Easter Collection called Golden Egg. Unfortunately, this bath bomb is only available during Easter since it was made for that occasion. It's such an adorable little golden egg, so perfect for the Easter Season, and I just love how glittery and shiny it looks. The outer texture of the egg is very shiny and creamy as well as when it was melted on the bath. The scent is really nice and I absolutely loved how it left a shimmer on my skin. After the bath, the glitter was noticeable but subtle enough that I didn't have to scrub it all off before heading to work.

Creamy honey-toffee luxury
You can stop hunting for eggs, because the hunt ends here! This spectacular invention has combined a Bath Bomb and a Luxury Bath Melt to create (drumroll please…) the Bath Bomb Melt! Its creamy, moisturizing cocoa butter exterior encases a fizzy Bath Bomb center, and the whole egg is dusted in a delicate golden luster. Even better? It has the classic honey-toffee fragrance of our best-selling Honey I Washed The Kids soap.

♥ Features

Honey, I love this smell: Golden Egg shares its decadent aroma with Honey I Washed The Kids soap.

A new take on a classic: The first of its kind, Golden Egg is a Bath Bomb and Bath Melt, all in one!

Soften up: Cocoa butter and olive oil soften and moisturize the skin. Perfect for post-winter dryness.

♥ Ingredients

• Natural ingredients • Safe synthetics

Sodium Bicarbonate , Fair Trade Colombian Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao) , Citric Acid , Laureth 4 , Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate) , Sodium Laureth Sulfate , Fragrance , Sweet Wild Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis) , Bergamot Oil (Citrus Aurantium bergamia) , Fair Trade Olive Oil (Olea europaea) , Lauryl Betaine , Cornflour (Zea mays) , Amyl Cinnamal , Citronellol , Geraniol , Lilial , *Linalool , *Limonene , Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides) , Yellow 5 Lake , Radiant Gold Lustre; Gold Glimmer Lustre (Potassium Aluminium Silicate, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica) . *Occurs naturally in essential oils

♥ How To Use

Fill your bathtub up with warm water, then drop your Golden Egg in!
Sink into the creamy water and enjoy the show.

I am in love with the Golden Egg! The smell of toffee was mesmerizing. Luckily this bath bomb takes awhile to fizz since it's a combo bath bomb and bath melt, so the smell continued on and on, even after the egg fizzed up. I soaked for an hour leaving with smooth, great feeling skin. The smell even lingered on my skin which is what I am looking for in a bath bomb. There is a lot of glitter, but it only leaves a hint behind. It' such a tiny size but it fills up the whole tub with no problem, and the color is very vivid. It's so impressive how much moisture this tiny bath bomb can give. I wish LUSH would have this one available all year round! I am absolutely in love with the Golden Egg!

I just took this bath and I feel softer and creamier than any other bath bomb that I've used. The water is golden and there is a LOT of glitter. It's such a beautiful bath, and spoiler alert - it totally looks like a splattered egg when it melts down. Absolutely adorable, really sad I didn't grab more. Also the smell stayed on my skin too. I smell like a creamy vanilla goddess. I highly recommend this wonderful bath bomb melt. Make sure to grab one or a basket full on Easter!

Botanical No. 01 Poppy and Peony Rose Scented Candle by The Aromatherapy Co.

2015-08-04T06:00:00.000+12:00

I recently tried another candle from The Aromatherapy Co. It's such a beautiful floral scent, and I love how fresh and sweet it made my room smells. The candle is called Botanical No. 01 with Poppy and Peony Rose scent. It's from Smith & Caughey's store at downtown Auckland. I've always been a huge fan of scented candles, it's so nice to come in a room when it smells amazing. I wish they have more scented candles at more affordable prices here in New Zealand, I know I'll definitely stock up!

The scent is so amazing, I love roses so it's definitely something that I know I'll adore. The scent is not too strong, but not mild either. It's strong enough to fill the your room with floral aroma and it can last for couple of hours. I also adore the gorgeous glass candle container that it comes with. It shows that this scented candle is made with high quality products.

250g / 8.8 oz Natural Wax Candle

Ingredients: Natural Wax Blend, Essential Blend of Poppy & Peony Rose

Overall, it's such a fantastic find and the scent is really beautiful. I love anything floral so it's definitely up my alley. I love the packaging from inside and out, and I adore how gorgeous it looks when lit up. The scent of the candle is very strong and can linger around the room for very long hours, and it can definitely fill up the whole room. I'm so glad I crossed path with this scented candle!

Ash Blonde Ombré Balayage by The Orange Room Salon

2015-07-20T08:00:00.000+12:00

Hi my loves! As promised, I'm going to do a blogpost about my new hair. I got my hair colored into an Ash Blonde Ombré Balayage from The Orange Room. It's a home-based salon in Auckland, New Zealand around Henderson. My mom, sister, and I found this amazing salon couple of months ago, and I'm very happy that it's now my go-to place for my hair and beauty needs.

Let me tell you a brief story about my hair. I've been bleaching and hair coloring my hair at home for the past 3-4 years, which is incredibly bad apparently! I just found out from my hair-stylist that boxed hair dyes from supermarkets and drugstores are very bad for you hair, and they consist of chemicals that are very harmful for your hair. I'm just very glad that I've decided to invest on doing hair color in a salon and done by a professional hair-stylist. I'm just really relieved that my hair is going to be taken care of now. I remember back then when my hair was so silky and smooth before the hair bleaching and color using boxed products, and I hope I can get back to that stage again.

Since I've done damage to my hair with all the home bleaching and using boxed hair dyes, my hair is having trouble grabbing to ash tones. The sole purpose of coloring my hair from the beginning is to achieve a gorgeous ash tone, but with asian hair, it's very impossible to achieve it by using boxed hair dyes. You have to go to a salon and get it professionally done if you have Asian dark/jet black hair. Unless you want that ugly brassy, orangey, yellow tones - it's like a hair nightmare!

My hair will be going through stages of toning every 2 weeks, in able for my hair to grab the ash tone. At the moment, my hair is having trouble retaining the ash tone, and the gradient of tones are not consistent through my hair. It's going to take a lot of time and patience for my hair to achieve the ash tone that I want. My ultimate aim is to have an Ombré Balayage from a Mousy Dark Brown to Platinum Ash. I'm incredibly in love with the transition of those colors, it's absolutely stunning!

For now, I'm still very happy with my hair even though it's not as "ashy" as I want it to be, but of course I need to be patient to achieve the ash tone that I'm aiming for. It's not going happen in one sitting since my hair is very stubborn. My hair-stylist, Kat, is very competent and I'm confident that she can achieve the ash tone that I like in time.

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The hairstylist and owner of the home-based salon, Kat, is very talented when it comes to hair coloring. I love that her prices are more affordable than other salons because hair coloring in salons can cost a fortune. She's such a sweetheart and super friendly. She'll make your salon experience very comfortable and you'll leave with pure satisfaction. Kat has over 7 years experience in hair and beauty even though she's still young. She's definitely very knowledgeable about what she does, and I highly appreciate all her helpful tips for hair and beauty.

You can call/text Kat for booking and appointments at 022 416 2295

(Her salon is located at Auckland, New Zealand)

How To Make Your Makeup Last If You Have An Oily Skin

2015-07-19T07:30:00.000+12:00

If you have oily skin, you know the bane of wearing makeup. Many of the problems that come with oily skin - extra shine and slickness - are exacerbated when wearing makeup. You shouldn’t have to fear makeup no matter your skin type - luckily we have some tips and tricks for wearing makeup with oily skin.

One of the most aggravating things about oily skin is trying to cover up any acne or blemishes. Because of the way the oil affects the makeup, it can run or be easily smudged, leaving you with less or partial coverage. Yikes! In order to get a makeup look that doesn’t run or smudge, it’s necessary to take a few steps before you apply your makeup and while you wear.

Purify

To start with, treat your oily skin best with cleansing and drinking lots of water. Wash with a mild cleanser and washcloth once daily. Though it may be tempting, overwashing can actually cause an increase in oil production, so it’s key to stick to a minimal cleansing plan.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Preparation

Prep your skin with toner and primer. The right kinds of primer will help keep your makeup from sliding, and toner removes any excess oils from your face so you start out fresh with a clean palette. Use it in your T zone where oil gathers, but also apply it to eyelids if you’re planning on using eyeshadow, as that can smudge as well.

Over-use of concealer or foundation can result in creases or smudges that mar your makeup look. In addition to primer, you likely will want to try a matte powder as well for foundation. While liquid foundation often has better coverage, it can run. A combination of primer and powder can give you coverage if you need it without extra shininess that happens quickly with liquid foundation.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Products

For special items like concealer or highlighter, it’s essential to go for products that work to diminish your skin’s oil factor rather than adding to it. In order to successfully wear your makeup look throughout the day, it’s important to practice a bit of maintenance to control shine. Many makeup products are great for managing shine and are intended just for that purpose. Use a translucent oil-reducing powder dusted lightly over your features to control any burgeoning oil.

Practice oil-blotting throughout the day. Try makeup papers that are specially intended for use with makeup, as they won’t smudge what you’ve applied to your face, and will only remove the excess oil.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Get great makeup looks with oily skin or without. Using these tips get makeup that lasts throughout the day and stays right where you want it!