SoudavoneS

Moving to a New Home

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:17:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I am happy to announce that i have moved to a new address. Web address that is. I've decided to take the leap and create a legit website with my very own domain and everything. All me!
Please come visit me at :

www.TheLokiLife.com

Cheers to new endeavors and endless possibilities!

Black at Belmont

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:54:00 +0000

Peacoat: Talula @ Aritzia (similar here) / Skinny pants: J Brand (similar here ) / Heels: Aldo (similar here) / Clutch: Aldo

It was my husband's birthday and I wanted to surprise him with a weekend of good eats. We are big foodies and love trying out new restaurants. So for his birthday I took the wheel (literally I drove, and I never drive when he is present) and took him for a joy ride to Village Creperie in Belmont Village. It was really cute to see him try to guess where we were going. And no this is not the restaurant but I just loved this neon sign so much and had to take a photo under it. Happy Birthday my love!

At the Playground, You Know!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 22:01:00 +0000

top Forever 21 similar here / pants H&M similar here / jacket J Crew / shoes Urban Outfitters similar here / scarf Champagne & Cupcakes (Queen St. W Toronto Boutique)

If you got my 90's ABC reference then we must be kindred spirits. If not you need to run (as in quickly open up a new tab) on over to Youtube and type in "At the Playground" By: Another Bad Creation.

Back on topic, up here in Canada we have running joke "We have four seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter and Construction". When we took these pictures we were in the midst of "Still Winter". This was only a few days ago when the temperature was about 6-7 degrees celsius. The next day it snowed, and now I am sitting here with my windows open and walking around outside without a jacket. YAY Construction season is here! More Spring themed pictures to come.

The Good Wife

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 02:27:00 +0000

Best way to kick off the winter festivities? How about getting drunk at your husband's work party and hurting yourself doing the Sprinkler to "Call me Maybe" By: Carly Rae Jepsen. Merry Christmas!

31 Days of Fabulous December

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:55:00 +0000

That's it! I'm back! It's been so long and I admit I was battling with myself on how I wanted to handle this blogging business. I realize that I was approaching this whole thing wrong. I was constantly struggling with coming up with new ideas to blog about that I would end up just not doing it at all. The result.....long drawn out periods of nothing. So I've decided to approach this whole thing differently.

You know how people come up with New Year's resolutions? Well I've started a month early. What better time to re-boot my blog than Christmas time? This is the truly the best time of the year. Not only is it Christmas but it is also my birthday (December 23). The month is packed full of holiday parties and family gatherings, not to mention an excuse to go out and hit the malls and be surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city. Gotta love the holiday chaos!

So here comes 31 days of Fabulous December. Tune in!

A Beautiful Spring Day for a Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:25:00 +0000

Wow it's been awhile since my last post I know, but here I am attempting to get back into the swing of things. Lots of new changes in my life, just started a new day job, still working my part time job, and still at it for school. Yes I am a busy bee. On the flip side we received our wedding photos and I thought I would share our beautiful wedding with all you here on my blog.

We got married on May 19,2012

Vietnamese Au Yai for the Morning Tea Ceremony (my husband is half-Viet, half-Chinese

My hair was done by a friend who's a hair stylist and I did my own makeup

Our Wedding Party

Our bouquets also done by a friend that is a florist, our theme was white, purple and champagne

My shoes from Steve Madden

The Laotian Blessing Ceremony

Our Guestbook for signing, a collage of our engagement photos

The main centrepieces for each families' tables, both our families are huge!

Our wedding cake which my sis-in-law made

Our first dance, "A Thousand Years" By: Christina Perri

Photographer: Chou Xiong

Check out some of her amazing work on her blog: http://mon-petit-photography.blogspot.ca/

How to: Transform your T-Shirt

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 16:55:00 +0000

1) A basic cotton, henley tee will do. These are nice for the summer because they are simple and lightweight. I got this one from Aerie on sale for $12.

2) I always hated these little strings that came in my shirts. I guess they are there to make hanging shirts easier, but to me they were just unnecessary and I would usually just cut them out. UNTIL NOW!

3) Wrap the string around your sleeve until you only have a little bit of string left

4) Knot the end of the string. (I realized afterwards how much easier it was to tie a knot first and then wrap the string around. So feel free to switch step 4 and step 3)

5) Tuck the knotted end into a loop to secure.

6) Et Voila! Transformed tee for those extra hot days.

Enjoy the rest of the summer everyone!

Bye Bye Hairiness, Hello Silk'n Sensepil

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:01:00 +0000

Silk'n Sensepil $500

I did it! I purchased a big one! The Silk'n Sensepil! Retailed for $500 I cut myself a sweet deal otherwise I would have never gotten the device:
Retail Price: $500 @ Shoppers Drug Mart
- Vendor Coupon = $100
- Shoppers Employee Discount 30% = $150
- Redeemed Optimum Points = $170
+ HST 13% (damn taxes) = $45.50
= $125.50

The Silk'n Sensepil is an at home laser hair removal system. It's been approved by the FDA, Health Canada and is dermatologist and basically every-girl-at-my-workplace recommended! I did a lot of research prior to purchasing this system as well as my knowledge from aesthetics school about laser hair removal. It's got all your basic contraindications regarding laser hair removal:

Actual Silk'n Sensepil Machine

- avoid usage on tanned skin (recommended 4 weeks after sun exposure and 2 weeks before)

- will not work on naturally dark skin (sorry my African American friends)

- keep away from eyes (sorry eyebrows)

- will not work on gray or blonde hairs, best suited for pale skin with dark hair

Silk'n Sensepil Light Cartridge

These are the same contraindications that any laser hair removal would give you, even at the salon or dermatologist's clinics. Also important to know this is not permanent hair removal it is hair reduction.

So since I just got it it will be awhile before I see any results. I did try it for the first time today on my underarms and at first I jumped when I did the first pulse because it feel an immediate warmth and slight sting. It doesn't hurt but it is definitely a surprising sensation for the first time.

I'll wait a few months to post an update on how the system is working for me. Wish me luck!

If you want more information on hair removal methods read this post I wrote last year as a refresher!

Hair be Gone it's Summer Time!

Makeup Haul Review #1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 19:15:00 +0000

So these are just a few items I've picked up over the past month or so that I wanted to share with you guys. I picked these five because I really really love them and I find myself using on almost a daily basis.

1) Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer $22
I used to use the Urban Decay Primer Potion religiously for probably the past two years until one I found it just wasn't potent enough. Maybe I've grown immune to it now, I don't know. Damn my oily eyelids! So it was time to switch it up and I grabbed the Smashbox one and glad I did. It's so hard for me to find a good primer in any form so I was happy to see that this one worked so well. What I like most about this primer is that not only does it help your eyeshadow stay on longer and eliminates creasing, it also creates a neutral beige base so that your eyeshadows show up more vivid. I have read reviews that alot of people don't like the colour of the primer, so if you do have a darker skintone....then I probably would not recommend.

Lancome Hypnose Mascara

2) Lancome Hypnose Mascara in Black $31
This was my first luxury brand mascara purchase. Verdict? It's alright. Nothing special considering the price, but I still use it every day so I can't say it's bad. It does the trick, makes your lashes look super long and fuller and doesn't clump. My quest for the perfect mascara shall continue.

3) Benefit Erase Paste in No. 2 Medium $30
The one I have in the picture is actually a smaller sample size that I got in the Finding Mr.Bright kit. The full size pot is about double the size. I really love this product. Not only does it cover my dark circles very well but it also brightens up the area. The concealer has a pink base which is a must for covering dark circles. When I finish this mini sized one I'll definitely be picking up the full size one.

4) Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Medium Ash/Medium Brown $29
So I totally bit the bullet when I purchased this brow duo. Seriously I just spent $29 on a brow powder? I seriously did go on a hunt for a good brow powder that matched perfectly and it's just impossible. So I decided to go to the brow expert, Anastasia and I picked this up. I'm so happy I did because I love this duo. I went with a lighter colour because I have pretty dark and full brows already I just wanted to fill in some sparse areas and define them a bit more, so this duo is perfect for me. I use the lighter shade (medium ash) to fill in spaces first, and then I go over with the darker shade (medium brown) to define my brows more. Definite purchase if you're also searching for a good brow powder.

5) MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack $18
I use liquid liner religiously. Always have, always will. But sometimes you just need a softer look, but you don't want to sacrifice the long wear and staying power of your lids. I heard so many great things about the MAC Fluidline, so I purchased it and I really like it! It stays on pretty well, no transfer of liner onto my lids. I must warn if you do open your eyes immediately after applying the gel then yes it will transfer, so let it dry a bit. It's really nice for everyday when you don't want to have such dramatic eye liner.

Hope you enjoyed this little review. There will definitely be more to come.

My June 2012 in Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:31:00 +0000

So this past month I've been working a lot of weekends which really sucks. Work is getting in the way of my personal life is all I'm saying. So i've been trying to take advantage of the rare weekend days I have off by doing fun and different things....and looking good while I do so. If you remember from my Valentines Day post, I barely go out as much as I used to anymore so when I do I feel the need to look super cute. My only regret is that I don't take full body photos. You see i'm not really as much of a camera whore as I should be. I'm just lucky my husband insists on taking photos all the time otherwise i'd probably never. Something about pulling out a camera and taking photos of myself makes me all self-conscious. But I've been loving Instagram lately. Something about it just makes one want to snap candid photos and share your daily delights with your friends and apparently, random strangers as well. Anyways here are some photos of the highlights of the month of June for me.

@ Revolotion Night Club. My outfit: Black "Chanel inspired" jacket (H&M), Silver and black dress (Vero Moda), White & Rose Gold Watch (Michael Kors)

There's always that one bar in your hometown that you can always go back to. You'll always run into people you haven't seen in years, it never fails. One Saturday night after getting off work at midnight, a small group of us decided to venture in that bar and ended up having an awesome night.

@ Langdon Hall. My outfit: Brown Skirt (Forever 21), Blue Cardigan (H&M), Glasses (Chanel)

The next day, after a long night out we begrudgingly set off on our high tea date at Langdon Hall. This was a belated bridal gift from my maid of honour and also my first time at high tea. The tea was must needed for our weary hangovers and the little sandwhiches and desserts were super cute. It was a lot of fun and note to self no late partying the night before for next time.

@ Minh Tuyet & Huy Vu Concert. My outfit: Grey bustier (FCUK), Blue floral mullet skirt (Forever 21), Khaki Ostrich shoulder bag (Aldo Accesories)

I grew up with a lot of Vietnamese friends so in other words, I grew up going to karaokes and raves all the time lol. But now that we're all grown, busy with our own lives and families, it's been awhile since our last outing. For one of my friend's birthdays we went to a Vietnamese concert in town featuring Minh Tuyet and Huy Vu. They are like your classic Vietnamese singers from back in the day. It was alot of fun hanging with all my friends and jamming Viet style like the old days. I got a quick pic of Minh Tuyet signing autographs. I gotta say she looks completely different in real life, but she's got an amazing voice live.

Minh Tuyet

Considering I only had 1 Saturday off this month, I think I made the most out of June. Here's to July. Happy Canada Day!

Makeup for Glasses....not as easy as it looks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:38:00 +0000

I recently went on a Youtube search for good makeup tutorials for glasses and came up with....a lot of complaints. Here are a few things that really bothered me about the majority of the tutorials that I found. Now mind you I was biased in my search and only watched the Asians, because let`s face it, I`m Asian. Surprise!

1) First off do any of these people actually need glasses? Because when I put makeup on without contacts or glasses I can't see S***! I got a mirror up so close my breath is causing a fog and my brushes are tapping the mirror. These people look like they are not having a difficult time at all. Also bringing me to my next point....

2) They are all wearing circle or coloured lenses with their glasses! So either they are wearing non prescription contacts under their glasses or they are not so blind. I mean I am pretty blind, one eye is -6.25 and the other is -5.75 (I've only met one person in my life that is more blind than me). So for me it's either i'm wearing my contacts or i'm wearing my glasses,because glasses are reserved for those lazy days or days when allergies are really bugging me.

3) This is not really a point on the youtube tutorials but thought i'd add it in. I know glasses are the "in" thing nowadays but back when I started wearing them in the fifth grade they were a stigma blasted upon me, "Why God why?" I protested. My first pair of glasses were of the Harry Potter variety and I hated them! So I think it's funny that now people are walking around in even more ginormous frames, especially us Asians.

Mom and I @ Grade 6 Graduation

One time I went to a sushi restaurant and I was complaining to the waitress about my order and I could not take this woman seriously at all for one reason. She was wearing glasses but with no lenses! I felt like sticking my finger through her frames and poking her eyeball. What the! If you are going to wear fake glasses then at least wear fake lenses! If you don't like the glare then don't wear them at all, you fake posers!

Anyways there goes my rant about fake glasses tutorials. I just had to let it all out. I was happy to find a tutorial by someone that actually does wear glasses. So you can check that out below here. She's got some other glasses tutorials that are borderline "fake glasses", but this one tutorial made it all up to me.

Bubzbeauty

Beauty Exposed is a Smash....Smashbox that is!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:15:00 +0000

I recently purchased the Smashbox Beauty Exposed set and I'll be completely honest.....the model totally sold me. She is DAYUM HOT! She's the type of model that could shave her head and she'd still be a Numba 1 Stunna!

Smashbox Beauty Exposed 5 Must-Have products $50

See what I mean? She's so hot!
So there's 5 "Must Have Beauty Products" in this little set.
1) Blush Rush in "Peony"
2) Photo Finish Foundation Primer 12ml
3) Eye Liner in "Stone"
4) Lip Ennhancing Gloss in "Starfruit"
5) Beauty Exposed Palette including 4 eyeshadows and 1 Soft Lights powder

1) Beauty Exposed Palette 2) Blush Rush in Peony 3) Eye Liner in Stone

I purchased this set because I am doing my own makeup for my wedding and was looking for something easy and all-in-one to use for the big day. This set is nice because it has a nice pink blush and soft pink gloss that is classic and timeless. Also the colours in the palette are so basic and neutral I can easily achieve a soft day look and intensify it for the evening.

Verdict

Colours are pigmented and complement each other well
Products are of high quality
Can be used for simple everyday looks as well as dramatic evening looks
Other than the Photo Finish Foundation Primer, none of the products are carried in the regular Smashbox collections
Colours are geared more towards lighter skin tones, not so much for darker skin tones

Result: 9/10
Basically if you feel you will use at least three of these items on a regular basis then definitely purchase the set. If not you should probably pass on it.

My week Apr.1-Apr.8 in pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:07:00 +0000

Excuse my absence from last week I really have no good excuse for not posting at all. Blame it on laziness and procrastination. I thought i'd make up for it with some pictures from my phone to let you know what the highlights of my week have been.

1. My cat Loki is my daily entertainment.

2. Good Friday to us Asian Buddhists mean everything is closed and life sucks. Everything except for Markham, gotta love my Chinese motherland lol. We made the journey up to Pacific Mall where I quickly regretted it because it was so packed. A few of the things I hate most in life are line ups and people pushing me or touching me in general. But at least I got new glasses, contact lenses and some baked goods out of the trip. I'll be back next week to pick up my glasses and contacts. Afterwards we went to Go For Tea on Highway 7. It's basically a huge ass fancy pants bubble tea restaurant. I took a picture of the fancy decor, me and my massively huge bbt and a Canadian goose that's made it's home out in front of the restaurant. Last time I went to Go For Tea was probably more than a year ago. As we were pulling into the parking lot I was telling Ken, my fiance, how last time there was a mother goose that had made it's nest infront of the store and the father goose would basically hiss and attack anyone that came near her. Low and behold they were there again! Poor geese have no home :( Ken tried to pose behind the father goose who was sitting nearby in the middle of a handicapped parking space but he started to flap his wings and hiss at Ken.

3. HAPPY LAO/THAI/CAMBODIAN NEW YEAR!
Secrets out! I am Laotian (both parents are from Laos) and yes I am Buddhist. I was basically raised in a temple my mother was apart of the Lao committee and was very involved in the temple affairs and Laotian community in our area. My grandmother as well is a huge advocate, so I guess you can say it's in my blood. This year was the first year I went to temple by myself without any family and I think I did pretty well for myself. I also dragged Ken along with me even though he's not Laotian or Buddhist but he was a good sport. The temple and Laotian community have always treated me well and now that I am getting older I am trying my best to be more involved and give back as well.

4. When people come over they are amazed to find that my cat actually uses his cat tree! It's cute because he actually sleeps in there from time to time. This is his napping place and his bed is for only night time sleeping. My trick was I would give him treats every time he would go on the tree and only there. So now he just goes there automatically! :)

I promise my next post will be beauty related but I thought it'd be fun to share apart of me with you all. I find joy in simple every day delights and my phone is filled with lots of fun life moments. I would like to continue sharing them with all of you out there!

Organize the way you Make up!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:03:00 +0000

For the longest time I was getting ready every day on the floor, basically in the dark or at best crappy lighting. I knew I had to do something about it but just never got around to it. That was until I stumbled upon msTapioca. She had built a vanity of her own and I loved the idea. Very simple and basic yet quite functional. Here is the link to her post:

msTapioca diy ikea makeup vanity

So here is the very embarrassing before photo of my ``vanity``

This was pretty much how it went down for the past few years. Prior to that it was me with all my junk on the tiny bathroom counter hovering over my sink.

TADA! So much better! I purchased the same shelf (Ekby Gruvan shelf) and legs (Vika Curry legs) as msTapioca but in black. I just got a different mirror than hers. My mirror is the Ekne Mirror. Everything is from Ikea.

I also purchased this Vasen Vase from Ikea for $1.99 and filled it up with glass beads from Michaels. I use this as a makeup brush holder. I got this idea when I went over to a friend's house and thought it was neat and pretty. One of my first ever posts was Cats Love Makeup Brushes, where i discovered my cat liked to lick and play with my makeup brushes. This was mostly in part because I kept my brushes in a very low and accessible area and displayed them in a way that said "come eat me!". That was when I was living at home. Now I live on my own and have a new kitty of my own and found he did the same thing! So this new brush holder helps to keep it away from kitty's mouth. He still finds a way there but it's not as appealing to him anymore.

I got this mini shelf container from Dollarama. I put all my little odds and ends like bobby pins and elastics in here to keep it neat and organized. I used to always have to hunt for hair elastics and bobby pins. No more!

This is the Godmorgon box with compartments, perfect for holding all your makeup. This is seriously the bombest most illest organizer i've ever had for makeup lol. I put all the makeup I use most often in here and it seriously makes me life a lot easier. No more digging for stuff and it looks nice and neat too. Best investment EVER!

I just wanted to give props to msTapioca again for posting this brilliant idea, it's seriously made my life a little bit happier. I still have to work on better lighting but that's another task for another day. Check out her blog everyone because she's got a lot more neat ideas as well!

Babylips? More like Chappylips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:46:00 +0000

Thoroughly disappointed.
Most products can just sell themselves. When I first saw Maybelline Babylips, ToysRUs immediately popped into my mind. I think the lettering is similar or something which is what threw me off. But upon closer inspection I saw their claims :

"Clinically proven to make lips 82% visibly less dry, 94% less rough, 77% more supple, and 77% better looking after just four weeks of use! It's clinical care for baby soft lips." -Maybelline

I've also read a few reviews on this product and so many people were raving about it.
Also if you purchased two of them at Shoppers, you got 2500 optimum points. So I quickly nabbed the Cherry Me and Pink Punch.

Maybelline Baby Lips

Verdict:

very moisturizing initially but over time lips become very dry and flaky
nice light tinted balm, great for when you want a little colour but don't want to wear full on lipstick
lots of product, shouldn't run out too soon

Result: 7/10

This product does not live up to it's outlandish claims, so I was very disappointed. My lips would become dry after some time (probably within an hour or two) and when I would apply more, it looked horrible because my lips were flaky from the initial application. On the other hand I like that it has a light tint, so I find myself using it a lot, only because I have nothing else on hand. This product has triggered a new quest for me to find the perfect moisturizing lip tint.

Nail Lacquer Session #1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 02:37:00 +0000

L to R: 568 Metallic Purple, 550 Purple Heart, 603 Rusty, 597 Miss Minty

It's been awhile since I've been able to wear nail polish on my fingernails. For the longest time I worked in a restaurant and then in a spa. Now that i'm at a job where I polish on my nails is not an issue....I've gone a little overboard. I love polish and being so deprived for so long I got a little eager beaver-ish. I purchased a few lacquers from Gosh for the first time, they were on sale for about $5 each. I must say for a $5 polish these babies are pretty good.

Verdict

great coverage and pigment
easy application
lasts about 3 days before it starts chipping, and even then it does not chip very much, maybe 1 or 2 nail tips

Metallic Purple: A little too frosty for my taste
Rusty: Had a surprising shimmer to it and had amazing application
Purple Heart: My favourite out of all four. The colour was amazing! In dim lighting it almost looks green, regular lighting it's purple and in very bright lighting it looks black. Interesting polish.
Miss Minty: Your typical mint green polish for Spring 2012. Nice creamy colour and looks nice with a glossy finish or with a matte top coat as well.

Last weekend I went into the Urban Outfitters on Queen St. in Toronto and found a wicked deal! I got this nail polish set for sale $4.99, regular price $24.99!

Stay tuned for the post on these bad boys!

My day at Toronto Fashion Week

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:32:00 +0000

On Wednesday, Mar 14 I jumped on a greyhound bus for the first time in years to embark on my mini journey to Toronto fashion week. This was a voyage I had done on a regular basis during my college years but since moving back home and finding all my basic necessities locally, my Toronto busing trips had gone from frequent to zilch.
I've never gone to fashion week and I saw the opportunity to volunteer so I went for it. This was my only shift and luckily the weather was super nice. Spring has come to Southern Ontario very very early!
I was in the Studio Room for most of the day and I got to help set up and organize for two shows for the day.

The first was for Eva Chen, a Vancouver based designer. Luckily I got to sit in for the show and I had a pretty good seat, I sat at the front right where the models would be entering.Chen used a lot of blush and grey and I loved the colour combo. Below is my favourite look of the show. I just think she looks like a super romantic bratty princess!

Eva Chen Fall '12

The second show was for Cara Cheung, a Toronto based designer. I believe this was her first runway show and wow I was really impressed. She's pretty young and new to the scene and I think she's going to do great things. For this show I didn't get to sit but got stuck squatting in the back so I didn't get a good view but I still thought it was really well done. If I had to describe Cheung's show I would say "futuristic party girl". I love how structured yet elegant her looks were. I was seriously impressed. I want I want! Below is my favourite look of the show and I believe it was also her final dress. I also loved how the models' hair was styled. They all had long soft curls and one side of their head was plaited. Everything was well put together!


Cara Cheung Fall '12

We were explicitly told not to take pictures and being the good obedient girl I am.....I didn't. At one point when we were organizing the swag bags I was very tempted to take a picture of myself with all the fabulous bags....but I was quickly whisked away to another task.
That was my day at fashion week! It totally inspired me to start volunteering more for big events, maybe I'll hit up TIFF this year. Next year I will definitely make an effort to make it for more than one day for fashion week!

The real world awaits you....but you can't ignore the fantasy world either

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:51:00 +0000

Oh man, i've been totally slacking in regards to blogging but for good reason.
1) Yes, I do have a day job, well it's actually more like a night job because I work until midnight which means I don't wake up until around 1 some days.
2) I am taking online courses to complete the program I started when I was 18 and never finished......don't ask me how long ago that was.
3) And I have a wedding to plan which is happening in a very short two months! AAAAKK!

I've been pretty successful at blogging at least once a week, but in the world of the Internet once a week might as well be never. So now that i've finished one of my online courses and won't be starting my next one for at least a month, possibly two, I hope to blog more frequently. I'm aiming for twice a week! Cheer me on guys!

This post wasn't really about anything special, just a post to let you know i'm a real person and I got stuff to do lol

Dream High a chance to Fly High!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:39:00 +0000

Okay, okay! I am a streamer addict, guilty as charged. Now that megavideo`s down it`s made my life a living hell. I am like THIS close to sacrificing something in order to pay the exorbitant amount of $$$ for some cable up in here. Thank god for South Korea! After a long hiatus i`ve caved and started watching K dramas again.

Totally after watching Boys before Flowers (the Japanese version, not Korean version) it ruined all other dramas there after for me it was THAT good! SOOOOO GOOOD! But last year a friend of mine had suggested I watch Dream High and I loved it, so when I saw that the second season had come out I had to watch it too.
Everybody gotta stop knocking Dream High 2. Okay, I know it`s not the original cast but get over it. Boo hoo! But seriously it`s just as good but in its own way.

Dream High 2 Cast

Teenage angst, pop idols, singing, dancing, love triangles and squares oh my! And just like every other Kdrama you`ve got your stereotypical characters. The main girl, Shin Hae Sung, is this poor, stupid blubbering idiot that everybody feels bad for. You`ve got Rian, the bitch that is just blatantly rude for no apparent reason. Jin Yoo Jin is the bad boy that can`t help but have a sweet spot for sad girls in need. Then there`s JB the pretty boy that comes off as cocky but is just really insecure with himself. And of course you`ve got your secondary characters for comic relief and distractions. Mix them altogether and you`ve got a hell of a drama. The thing I really like about this drama though is that it is not so predictable and linear as your usual Kdramas. There`s a lot of plot twists and you`re constantly changing who you`re rooting for.

One thing you can't deny is how great Park Ji-Yeon of T-Ara, playing Rian, looks. I love her elongated eyeliner and her long, soft wispy hair. Even though she plays the nasty bitch, she does it so well especially with this look. She's always sporting a headband with either a tiara or spikes fastened on, and these crazy nail art designs.

The one thing that bothers me though is how she's always wearing this fierce eyeliner. Whether she's going to sleep, waking up or sick in the hospital. I guess it's all apart of her character. Super divas can never look bad, right?

Here is my take on Rian's elongated eyeliner look. I also love the pink lips that look like they were just overly bitten. I used Smashbox O-Plump to achieve that natural bitten pink lips.

Sources:
Rian Tumblr Image
www.allkpop.com

Check out Catalina's (CL2425) tutorial on how to achieve elongated eyes in the video link below.

Garlic does the skin good!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 07:28:00 +0000

When I was little I used to hate garlic! I hated garlic, onions and any "green stuff" (aka. green garnishing). Of course my mother found these ingredients to be absolutely impertinent to all her recipes. She would try to mince up the ingredients so small, hoping to trick my taste buds but I was never fooled. Now that I'm older and cooking meals for myself and my family, I've realized my mother was onto something. There really is no way of getting around it. Garlic, especially, is just a must in a lot of recipes. What I also didn't know was that garlic is really good for you.

The Wonders of Garlic

* Got a pimple? Rub some garlic on it, best natural antibiotic
* Rub some garlic on your blackheads, it will help clear out your pores
* Feeling under the weather? Chomp down on a clove of garlic. It'll taste nasty, but it will make you feel a hell of a lot better

Here's a neat trick to use if you suffer from acne and blackheads. I found this in a book called "Babushka's Beauty Secrets" By: Raisa Ruder and Susan Campos

1) 1 clove of garlic
2) Mash garlic
3) Boil water and add garlic

VOILA! Garlic Toner. This can be used in place of your regular toner, before your night moisturizer. But beware it smells very very strongly! So if you can handle the smell, it will do wonders for your blackheads and acne.

As babushka says, "It smells strong because it is strong!".

Book:
"Babushka's Beauty Secrets - Old World tips for a Glamorous New You" By: Raisa Ruder and Susan Campos

Soft kitty, warm kitty graphic tee

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:18:00 +0000

Soft kitty graphic tee, a photo by SoudavoneS on Flickr.

I love Big Bang Theory, I love my cat and I love this tee!

I bought it from HMV

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Happy Valentines Day, Lovers!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:34:00 +0000

It's the big day of love and I can feel it in the air. Sad to say i've been looking forward to this day for weeks because I knew it was guaranteed wine and dine date night. Wine and dine date nights used to be frequent just like any blossoming love promises to give, but they have dwindled down over the years as expected. I am a big foodie and enjoy being wined and dined so I took it upon myself to book reservations at a nice restaurant well ahead of time (aka. the morning before). Such a rare outing calls for some "looking good" time, so here's the Valentines' Day look for 2012.


Top: Aritzia Talula Skirt: RW & Co Tights: sister's closet :p

Focus: I always base my outfits on a focus item. I think of an item that I absolutely want to wear and I base the rest of my look on it. I purchased this top originally because it reminded me of a red top my sister and I absolutely loved that mom used to wear back in the day. But somehow we misplaced it over the years. The top was on sale so I went for it. I later found out the Aritzia top was orange.....I must really be colour blind because I swear that's red!
Outfit: Once again I know the top is actually orange, but i'm sticking to my colour blindness.... IT IS RED! So Valentine's Day = Red. Red and black is such a classic glam wham bam thank you mam!
Makeup: My inspiration for this look was Hyuna in 'TroubleMaker'.


Hyuna in 'TroubleMaker'

Red lips and lots of liner! Thank god i finally grabbed some liquid liner, I've been lost without it.

So Valentine's Day ended up being wonderful. The restaurant we went to had really pretty flowers they gave me lots of inspiration. Hope they inspire you as well!

White hydrangeas and roses

Thanks for reading chiclets! Tell me how your Valentine's day went in the comment box below.

Source for Hyuna 'TroubleMaker' image:
http://www.allkpop.com

Oh Father Winter, You Again! Weapons of Mass Hydration

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:47:00 +0000

Winter hit us hard finally this week and as usual we're all acting like we've never seen snow before. Come on people this is Canada don't pretend like you don't know what to do when it snows, it happens every year! This year it came pretty late. Everybody's acting like it's never been so cold before in their entire lives when really this is what February is supposed to be like. After living here my entire life, I have adapted pretty well to the four seasons. This in turn shows in my skincare routine. Fall and Winter routine is different than my Spring and Summer routine for obvious reasons. When it's cold outside our skin needs more hydration. From the frigid winter airs to the arid indoor heating systems, our skin is taking a beating.
Here are a few beauty must haves for the winter months:

Biotherm Aquasource Nuit $48

Biotherm Aquasource Nuit $48

Goodies:

P. Antarctica - it's superpower ability to retain water in order to survive super cold Antarctica.

Highlights:

unlike traditional night creams, this is not heavy or rich
gel texture = non-oily, non-sticky and fast absorbing

Verdict:

Major Hydration for those who don't need anti-aging richness
Good for all skin types
Chocked full of relaxing fragrances

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack EX

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack EX $30 (prices vary)

Goodies:

Chestnut Extract - removes dead cells to maximize massive water supply, hence, smoother hydrated skin

Highlights:

light gel texture feels comfortable on skin so when you wake up your skin feels refreshed

Verdict:

Wake up looking well rested and energized

It is not necessary to use both products at the same time. Using one or the other is fine. But both products offer similar benefits and results: hydration and lots of it. Extra hydration for the skin is essential during the cold winter months.
Hope you enjoyed my post today!

Btw, I just joined the Twitter world (finally, I know!) so please follow me at SoudavoneS Twitter

Blue me away!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:47:00 +0000

This past week I was feeling a little under the weather. So when i'm feeling sick the last thing I want to do is put on a crap load of makeup, just to wipe it all off at the end of the day. I barely want to even change out of my jam-jams and wash my face let alone bother with all that crap. But my job requires me to wear makeup and look somewhat decent so I have no choice in the matter. So i've discovered a loophole around it.

Throw on a bright, vibrant lipstick, curl my lashes and apply a blue mascara! I know this isn't a new concept but damn it it's new to me! I never understood why there were different colours of mascara, I mean why would you want something other than black or blackest black on your lashes? But by wearing blue mascara it gives me a little colour without having to apply eyeshadow or eyeliner (which I ran out of, so that was another reason for the new found love of blue). Plus i'm already wearing a bright red or pink on my lips so that already takes the attention away from my eyes.
My first day doing this I walked into work and the first thing my manager said to me was "That's a really nice colour of lipstick". SCORE!

Diorshow Unlimited Mascara '258' Blue $31

Shortly after I ran into a coworker and she commented on how blue my eyes looked. DOUBLE SCORE!
This is something I might keep up with.

My blue mascara of choice?
Diorshow Unlimited Mascara '258' Blue

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Welcome to Canada BB Cream!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:10:00 +0000

Can we be any slower? Lately I've been hearing all the rage about BB Creams. Whether it be at the beauty boutiques, salons and spas or even on the local news. Where was everybody like two years ago? BB Creams (aka. Blemish Balm Creams) are making their debut in the Canadian scene this season and its caused a manic frenzy. When I say BB Cream is coming to Canada I don't just mean we are selling Korean brand BB creams in Asian stores in Canada. Duh, I know we've been selling them here for a while now so don't be pelting trolling stones at me. What I mean is that major North American cosmetic companies are launching their own BB creams. They've already made their debut in the U.S, but are only emerging on the Canadian market now. But before you make the transition let's go over some differences.

Let's state the obvious. When it comes to skincare Asia and North America got some major differences when it comes to needs and wants. Over in Asia there is a huge emphasis on flawless, porcelain like skin; while in North America the emphasis is more on keeping our skin looking as young and radiant for as long as possible. So this of course reflects in the major differences in how BB cream is being advertised and formulated in the opposing continents.

Asian BB Cream

skin whitening and brightening
even out skin tone
anti-scarring and anti-blemish
can be used in place of foundation
used in conjunction with other skincare products
Advertised as a healing product

North American BB Cream

similar to a tinted moisturizer but with added properties
lifting, firming and hydrating
colour correction
all in one sunblock, moisturizer, light coverage foundation, colour correction and anti-aging product
can be used in place of foundation or under foundation like a primer
for those who want convenience and don't want to fuss with all the products, this does it all
Advertised as an all-in-one product

As of now Smashbox, Marcelle, Garnier and Estee Lauder have BB creams. Lancome, Clinique and MAC should be debuting soon. Soon pretty much every major cosmetics company will be coming out with a BB cream, it's just a matter of time. But hold your horses before your transition. Let's just make this clear "Asian BB Cream is not the same as North American BB cream". Although they have many similarities in the end the needs in Asia are very different in North America, so it is almost impossible to compare the products. You have to consider what your skincare needs are and go from there. If you want something to use in conjunction with your skincare routine that will heal and recover your skin throughout the day, go with Asian BB cream. But if you are not one to fuss with makeup and skincare products and just want one item that will do it all (not very well, consider if you like 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner then you'll like this) use the North American BB cream.