Tokyo In Dreamland...

My Blog Has Moved To Wordpress!!!

2013-05-01T20:29:00.000+01:00

I had been debating for a while if i should make the move to wordpress. I decided to go for it even though it still confuses me a little.

I will still keep this blog alive but my new address is:

http://tokyoindreamland.wordpress.com/

Glamour Doll Eyes May Giveaway!

2013-04-29T09:00:00.000+01:00

Glamour Doll Eyes

Review: Sarakan Toothpaste 50ml

2013-04-25T20:02:00.000+01:00

Having started to use more natural skin and haircare products I moved on to making my own toothpaste, but if you read my post on it you'll know i couldn't really use it due to the weather here, So I had to look for an alternative and this was it!. I was sceptical at first due to not having any experience of a natural toothpaste and to be honest didn't think it would work that well. I was wrong!.

Sarakan is:

Fluoride-free
Vegan
Unsweetened
No Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
No Added Colours or Preservatives
No Parabens
Approved By The British Dental Health Foundation

Ingredients: Glycerin (non-animal), calcium carbonate, aqua, magnesium carbonate, salvadora persica natural extract, mentha piperita, mentha arvensis oil, eugenia caryophyllus oil, pelargonium roseum oil, hydroxethylcellose, sodium phosphate, limonene, citronellol, geraniol.

Sarakan toothpaste contains natural extract of Salvadora Persica, also known as the ‘toothbrush tree’ – used for centuries in its natural state as twigs as an effective way to keep teeth and gums clean and healthy.

The toothpaste is flavoured with peppermint, clove and geranium which on first brush tastes horrible and a bit like brushing your teeth with perfume, but stick with it. I find this toothpaste actually better at cleaning and stain removal than all the old commercial ones i have tried and my mouth feels amazingly clean after i rinse. I don't think i could go back to regular toothpaste now and i will continue to buy this as long as my next dental visit goes well (it's not for 4 months). The taste grows on you also and i actually quite like it better than just ordinary mint toothpaste.

Sarakan can be found in Holland & Barrett in the UK for £2.35 and i got it on a Buy One Get One Half Price offer, so i got it for £1.18 which is a bargain compared to the price of commercial toothpastes!...Give it a try you won't be disappointed!.

How To Make Natural Homemade Toothpaste

2013-04-05T20:45:00.000+01:00

I have never liked normal toothpaste, My teeth never felt that clean after brushing and I hated the way some of them tasted. As you've seen on earlier posts I've slowly started to get into going more natural, especially when it comes to what I'm putting on my body.

I really went cold turkey when changing my normal toothpaste to a homemade one....I don't know if it was the best approach and don't recommend it because it will be a shock to most.

This was my first recipe:

2 teaspoons virgin coconut oil
2 teaspoons xylitol (stevia can also be used)

1 teaspoons baking soda (sodium bicarbonate not baking powder)
6-10 drops spearmint essential oil

I put all the ingredients in a bowl and started smooshing it together - it seemed easy enough and i actually remembered to take pictures :)

This actually worked great, It was a bit saline like for me and i missed the foam, so i went back to the drawing board and added in some calcium carbonate (to help re-mineralize teeth) and some more coconut oil to bind it together, but being as the temperature here was in the -3/4 area it solidified :(

It did work great though, but it was a pain to scrape it out of the packaging...if you live in a hotter country give that a go but i had to move on to a toothpaste i got in the local health food shop which i will blog about in the next few days because i completely LOVE IT!

I won't rule out my homemade stuff completely though and will make another batch when it's much warmer here.

I would love to know if any of you have made your own and if it worked for you?. Leave a comment and let me know.

The Hunger Site - Feed the starving at no cost to you!

2013-03-29T22:31:00.000+00:00

Click through to www.thehungersite.com and amid a pile of banners you’ll see an orange button in the middle of the site’s front page. The emblazoned message is ‘Click here to give - it’s free!’ Do so and a cup of a staple foodstuff is bought for someone, somewhere, who is hungry.

The logic behind this site is brilliant. It’s a win-win-win situation for the starving, the internet user, and the sponsors: in practical terms they receive cost-effective, feelgood public relations, especially powerful in helping promote ethical brands.

Taking time to click really helps, especially if you do it daily. The Hunger Site offers an email daily prompt reminder service (signing up to it also gives an additional two cups of food).

I only learned of this website today and i will now click every day as it seems like a great idea for us internet lovers especially with no sign up or fee's required!

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The No Poo Experiment!

2013-03-26T21:13:00.002+00:00

I am starting to get into using shampoo bars. I do have to say finding them is actually proving quite difficult in the UK as all the companies I've looked at or heard rave reviews about are in the USA.

I have ordered some sample sizes from a UK company on Etsy and so far only one of the bars are really working for me. I am only going into my second week of no poo though and i did use silicone laden products for donkeys years!.

Today I purchased a natural shampoo and conditioner to use in conjunction with the bars as i did find my hair was needing conditioner badly after using them, so i will press on with them all and hopefully come back and give my thoughts in a few weeks depending on how long this adjustment period takes!.

Have you gone no poo? Used shampoo bars? Let me know your thoughts on the whole process.

To Henna or Not To Henna? That Is The Question!

2013-03-24T22:44:00.000+00:00

I definitely need to to dye my hair sometime soon as the grey hairs that i do have are about 1/2" now (shocking). I usually have always used chemical dyes permanent/semi-permanent over the years. Salon brand and drugstore, but i wanted to find a more natural alternative as my hair now is half medium brown and half black because of the horrible porous ends from all the dye build up.

I have seen Herbatint brand dyes in the local health food shops, but i have noticed these still contain PPD's and I'm not sure if these are worth trying if they are not much different to drugstore dyes....I also don't know if I'm willing to spend £10 on a dye that i then need to buy the shampoo to mix with it at around £8 a bottle.

So, I'm in two minds here.....Do i strip all the colour from my hair (with chemicals) and re-dye a lighter colour to start fresh or do i move onto henna which i have been itching to try for a few weeks?

I am tempted to start with the LUSH Caca Brun bar as it's less expensive, less hassle and so much easier than buying the henna powder and indigo especially when i have never used the proper stuff before nor do i know the mixing ratios for a nice dark chocolate brown with a hint of red. I have read very mixed reviews on it thought and i do worry about my black porous ends if it will just make them even darker?

I really need to hear from someone who has used both to give me a good opinion pros and cons if you like, but maybe the lush bar is a good start for a novice without too much commitment?

To be continued....... ;)

Homemade Deodorant Update - Perfect Recipe For Sensitive Skin

2013-03-20T12:30:00.001+00:00

Just an update on the last recipe I made it is working phenomenally! I have no rash or itching. There is a slight hint of the essential oils in it but it's not overpowering like a lot of the recipes online - mine is subtle.

I don't even want to adjust it to see if it is the baking soda or oils i was getting the rash from because this is working PERFECT!

I think this will be perfect if you have sensitive underarm skin like myself. So please check my recipe here if you wish to try it out at home.

Using homemade deodorant you will still sweat as this is your body releasing toxins and if you are a heavy sweater you may need to reapply it once or twice during the day, but i really recommend sticking with it!

Good luck and i will keep updating on my progress with this recipe :)

Homemade Deodorant Part 2

2013-03-16T15:32:00.001+00:00

I blogged two days ago about my trouble with homemade deodorants and my last batch was another failure for me. I can't decide if it's the baking soda that causes irritation on my underarms or the essential oils. If you are not sensitive to either it may work fantastic for you! So please do try it!.

Today i started afresh and decided to try another recipe this time my own. I wanted to remove the baking soda completely, but got scared so i kept a small amount in. This makes a good sample size that fills 1/4 of an old lush tub....Just enough to see if it works without using too much product.

1 Tablespoon Shea Butter
1 Tablespoon Cocoa Butter
1/2 Tablespoon Coconut Oil (virgin)
2 Tablespoons Arrowroot Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
2 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
1 Drop Clary Sage Oil

I store it in an empty Lush pot :)

UPDATE 8/4/13: just to show you all that i actually use this. I'm nearing the bottom of the tub with no irritations or rashes and it actually works at keeping me dry more than anything else I've ever used! I might change the scent for the summer but I'm actually scared to because this is working so good! As you can see it's a little crumbly, but that goes away as soon as you apply... it melts right onto skin!

Striving To Be Toxic Free - Homemade Deodorant

2013-03-14T22:29:00.000+00:00

Starting 2011 I decided to cut out using commercial deodorants as none of them were working for me. I had also tried prescription strength which worked for the first few times and then stopped, but what worried me more was what was in these sprays and roll ons and why did i actually need it?.

I had read a lot of good things online about making your own and letting your body get expel of all of the toxins from the many years of using what we thought was "normal", So i made up my first batch following this recipe which worked out great for the first week then i ended up with bad dermatitis which i found out was a bad reaction to the baking soda (i didn't use any essential oils) I then tried a second batch using less baking soda and adding some essential oils and got the same problem but i found out the oils i was using caused skin sensitivity and my baking soda settled at the bottom of the jar....grrrrr

So i gave up on home-made and moved on to Salt of the Earth Deodorant Spray which worked good if you weren't doing any strenuous exercise or anything at all really, but it was expensive for something that didn't do what i wanted all the time and the spray was very wet and took a while to dry.

I then went back to commercial deodorants and actually things seemed to have regulated back to normal, I have been using Dove Dead Sea Minerals which has been great! before when i used commercial i used to sweat constantly nothing kept me dry and it would always ruin my day i almost considered BOTOX things were that bad!.

This last week i was looking for new deodorant recipes to try and today made a deodorant bar (by accident- too much butters) I will see how i get on with it and i hope it's not too firm (it is between 2 to -4 degrees here)

My recipe was loosely based on this i decided to half it just to try a sample first as we seen what happened before and i didn't want to waste good products. It was a lovely consistency, but has hardened into a bar maybe due to how cold it is here in Scotland?....Here's what I used:

1.5 Tablespoons Shea Butter
1.5 Tablespoons Arrowroot (added 1 extra teaspoon more to thicken)
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
1 Tablespoon Cocoa Butter
15 drops Botanics 100% Organic Face Oil (used in place of Vit E as it has jojoba, argan & rosehip oil along with some essential oils)
5 drops Lavender
5 drops Clary Sage

I haven't tested yet but will be straight on it tomorrow and i will update the recipe if i feel it needs tweaking at all. I'm excited to try it because it has no coconut oil in it like my last tries and i want to see how different it will be. I may have overdone it with the botanics oil thought but we shall see :)

I also ended up making my own carpet deodorizer out of boredom:

1/2 Cup Baking Soda
20 Drops Lavender Oil

Sprinkled on and left for 30 minutes....Worked like a charm! Who knew it was so easy! So no more having to buy nasty shake n vac i can now make it all myself for much cheaper :)

IBD Just Gel Polish

2013-02-15T23:56:00.001+00:00

I got my hands on a few IBD Just Gel polishes the other week. They had been getting great reviews, So i decided to get a few. I have to say I haven't be disappointed with the colours I've got so far and plan on getting more as they are an excellent price for a full sized bottle compared to Sensationail!

I tried to do my first ever French manicure tonight - It took me a while (over an hour if you include filing etc)

Colours are:
Seashell Pink
Whipped Cream

It's not perfect and i really should have cleaned around the skin more i do apologise, but i was so excited to show them off! I ended up adding China Glaze Fairy Dust on top to add a bit of sparkle as I'm off to a wedding tomorrow :)

Sensationail Removal

2013-02-13T12:07:00.000+00:00

I have now had some time to try out the different removal process of Sensationail. I am sorry i don't have any pictures but i hope you get what i mean :)

Finger Wraps (wrapping with foil & acetone soaked cotton ball):

This type of removal really didn't work for me. I found it messy and time consuming. I really didn't get great results and had to scrape hard to remove the product.

Soaking In Acetone (bowl of acetone in hot water):

This is actually the recommended way to remove from Sensationail and i have to say it worked much better and faster for me. I do find if you use the primer before the gel top coat that it makes for longer and harder removal, but my last manicure i didn't use the primer at all and although the manicure lasted less than a week and had a few chips that i had to repair... the removal was a breeze and i didn't really have to scrape my nails at all!

I do however find that i'm left with some yellowing on my nails from all the previous manicures and i'm having a hard time figuring out why it does this every time? If anyone has the same problem and has found a cure please let me know :)

Review: SensatioNail Gel Starter Kit - Raspberry Wine

2013-01-10T15:11:00.000+00:00

I got this set for Christmas after deciding between that and the RCM set. I do think in hindsight i should have chose the RCM but it was around £20 more expensive so i went with Sensationail.

So far I have used this only once, I have to say i was very disappointed in the size of the lamp and the size of the bottles that came with it for the price tag.

I was impressed with how easy it actually was to do and i only had two little bubbles out of my whole manicure that weren't easily noticeable. The colour wasn't anything like the box it's more of a raspberry red shimmer and was very thin so i needed to do 3 coats (the box says 2) I also thought being a gel polish it would have been thicker and more opaque for the price.

I kept the product on as long as possible to gauge how long it would last. Mine lasted 7 days with no chips. The 8th day i got two chips and on the 10th a few more. I think with more practice it might last longer and I do think if you prime the whole nail like the salons do you would get 2 weeks no chip but it will make for a more difficult removal.

I like the ease of being able to do it myself and for a week no chip it's worth it as nail polish will last 1-3 days max on me. I do wish they had more colours and even some glitters would be great as gel polishes are hard to come by unless you can get to a trade store.

I will still visit the salon to get my nails done for an event or holiday and use this kit in-between. It won't stop me going to the salon but it will save me money in the long run :)

I haven't actually removed it yet but i am planning to do it today/ tomorrow and will update on how that goes.

Here are some photos (sorry they are just phone cam ones)

After Application:

8th Day:

10th Day:

UPDATE: 15/02/13

I have to say that although the sensationail kit is great for us beginners, I got tired very quickly of the nail polish. I have found better quality ones on the market which are cheaper in price and larger in size. Since i switched to another brand of polish my manicures can stay on 2 full weeks with no chips what so ever!. I'm not condemning the polish they make I'm only saying it didn't work for me and I've found something that has, So it's definitely something to bare in mind before buying the whole range.

Update: New Piercings

2012-12-14T23:39:00.001+00:00

I got my lip pierced for my 19th birthday after many years of deliberating and that was my first ever piercing (except lobes) not long after that I decided to stretch my lobes but all those years ago there wasn't much info on how to properly do it and after a failed attempt to go up a gauge my ear got very angry, so i stopped and let it heal with no more thoughts on the matter other than just leaving my body alone.

Last year on a whim i got my nose pierced and felt odd with two piercings on one side of my face even if they weren't that noticeable. I then this year started to stretch my lobes again - with a lot more knowledge behind me and taking it as slow as possible I'm currently at 4g (5mm) and i had planned to be at least 0g by now, but as i said I'm not in a rush and I've read many horror stories online from those who have.

Ever since getting my nose pierced I've wanted the right side of my lip done to even it out but never thought it would suit me and when asking friends etc for advice i got a resounding "no don't do it"! Well two weeks ago i did just that without telling a soul and not only that i ended up getting two microdermals as well. Every ones reactions have been great and even my boyfriend who knew nothing about it just said he was shocked that I went through with all that and didn't tell anyone haha :)

I'm very happy with the dermals although i think the lip was done at a different angle than my other side, so i may need to have it redone if it's still annoying me in a week.

I think if you want to pierce or tattoo your body then it is YOUR choice and don't let anyone tell you any different!

Before:

Now:

Jeffrey Campbell Homg Style Platforms for sale

2012-11-28T13:39:00.002+00:00

UK Size 6

Brand New

Too big for me i’m only a 5 :(

Buy Me, Buy Me :)

Flatform Love

2012-11-27T14:22:00.000+00:00

I adore the 90's revival of platform sneakers and boots. I was just a young child when they first came out, but i actually owned a pair of platform white converse style shoes and loved them to death! I begged and pleaded for buffalo boots like the spice girls had but i had no idea at that age just how much they cost!

Office are leading the way with there huge selection of Flatforms & Creepers and i certainly have a few pairs on my wishlist, So i decided to make a video rather than bombard the blog with loads of pictures. I hope you appreciate it and love it as much as i do :D (Watch in HD for best results)

Check out this link to view more of the awesome shoes! Office Shoes Love, Love, Love

I finally joined Instagram

2012-11-24T22:47:00.001+00:00

Wow, So i guess i'm a little late on joining the Instagram bandwagon. My phone is a Samsung Galaxy Ace and the camera not the best, so instagram always seemed a little too "Iphone users only" to me, but hey! i've decided to give it a bash and you can find me under the username: tokyovogue

Here were my first two pics of the day while making myself a nice coffee :)

Maxstar Platform Sneakers! Love, Love, Love

2012-11-23T15:54:00.003+00:00

Hello all, I haven't blogged in a while, but i just had to post about these shoes!

I adore platform sneakers and really want to get a pair so badly. I had a pair of the low ones in white when i was young (in the 90s) and wore them until they fell apart! Now that the trend is back i really want to invest in another pair.

Comment & share the love >
www.maxstarstore.com

My Ebay Auctions

2012-08-28T21:39:00.000+01:00

Hello all,

Sorry i haven't been around as much i have been too tired to do anything as of late. I have listed my Deadly Dames items on Ebay though and they are due to end in the next few days.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290763962220?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1586.l2649#ht_500wt_1286

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290764238077?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1586.l2649#ht_571wt_1267

The Lady Is A Vamp

2012-06-21T19:07:00.000+01:00

Well i have to apologise that i haven't had time to get a picture of me in my Doris top or Collectif Wanda shirt. The wanda shirt is very short though and is better suited to wearing with high waisted skirts/jeans, so i'm a little unsure if i should keep it or not. I do love the style though and it's the main reason i didn't return it.

In other news Pinup Girl Clothing sent me a 20% off code via email, So i really couldn't resist buying another 2 products i've been wanting for a while the Zebra Vamp and Deadly Dames Capri's. My other vamps are XL and have that corset feeling which can get on my nerves sometimes when i just want something a little comfier for days out, So i ordered a 2X and i'm hoping it isn't going to be too large. The capri's i ordered XL and i know reviews say they are tight, but i am going on holiday in October and by then want to have dropped a dress size or two if i can gather the willpower! The only thing am unsure of is the high waist as i am short waisted :/

My favourite part about ordering online is when they give you the number to track the package. I am such a geek i know! I just love following it and getting more excited the closer it gets to my house and hopefully my package should come tomorrow :)

Recently Purchased

2012-06-07T13:50:00.000+01:00

I got a bargain on Ebay the other day. I collect Tarina Tarantino jewellery and got this little number less than half price!. My own has a silver chain and I noticed the newer Tarina styles have a chunkier chain, but i really can't complain! I will be selling some of my other collection on Ebay soon due to me having favourites now and hardly wearing others, so stay tuned for that!

I also purchased this Collectif shirt which i have wanted for a long time but they run out of stock on the majority of items so quick. I am still waiting on it arriving so fingers crossed it fits good then i can show you :)

And finally jumped in and purchased the Pinup Couture Doris top in black. I've order an XL which i am now a little scared it will be large on me after seeing Teer Wayde's review on it, but if it does then i will probably ebay it or sell it on here :)

Just a note that i also got a couple of bandanas from http://www.bandana-world.com they came next day and that was just with first class post here in the UK. They are very reasonable starting at only £1.99. It's something I've wanted to get the hang of wearing after watching some youtube videos, but i honestly think my head is a bit too small or it's just not gonna work for me haha! I'll keep trying.

Hot Summer Trends at Simply Be

2012-05-24T19:40:00.000+01:00

Simply Be has a great range of items in sizes 14 - 32. At the minute I am admiring the swimwear collection. As a bonus get 20% off your first order with code WWYL9 I might just use it for my holiday swimwear purchases :)

Two Films In One Week!

2012-05-19T21:03:00.000+01:00

I had two days off together this week, so me and the oh decided to go see Dark Shadows on Tuesday and Wednesday we went to see American Reunion.

I hadn't read any reviews for Dark Shadows and went in with an open mind which it blew! I loved it! It was totally my kind of film both humour and theme wise. I loved the cast they worked great together, however without Johnny the film would have been a flop and he really has outgrown tim. The oh didn't enjoy it and to quote him "Tim Burton should just give up" which is harsh, but at the same time it really does annoy me that Johnny Depp and HBC is in every movie these days, the man has to move on!

American Reunion...I had read a few reviews for this one and with it only getting 2/5 ratings at the most i was a bit sceptical. I enjoyed the original films though and it was just a shame that after those films so many others tried to do the same until people got royally fed up!. It was honestly hilarious! even now Stifler makes the movie and most of them can still pull it off. I was a little annoyed that Nadia, Jessica and Sherman only got split second cameos but the film really didn't need them at all! I honestly think if i hadn't have gone and seen this that i probably never would have, So don't pass it up I'd give it 4/5 for those who loved the originals! :)

Summer Wishlist

2012-05-10T12:48:00.003+01:00

A few of the items i have on my summer wishlist so far...

Tara Starlet Hawaiian Dress

Collectif Sarong Dress Hibiscus

Collectif Wanda Shirt Feral

Pinup Couture Doris Top

Deadly Dames Vamp Top Zebra

I'm saving hard to hopefully get a couple of these very soon, I'm still recovering after getting my last two vamp top's, but i'd rather spend my hard earned cash on items of clothing that will last longer than 1/2 wears. :)

My Little Girl Crush On Jimmy Fallon! :)

2012-04-30T22:51:00.001+01:00

I have to say living in the UK i never got to see any of the Saturday Night Live's from the Jimmy Fallon days, Only the odd funny clip which is such a shame because i love this man! I really only got into watching his show last year when i caught up with episodes with people i liked and then the SNL Xmas special was the best one ever!

He seems like the most genuine, sweet, funny man around right now and his wife is a very lucky lady!

I don't own any of these gifs, I found them on Tumblr and thought i'd share the cuteness! :)

"Thank you, bulge that occurs when guys sit down in pleated pants, or as I like to call you, khaki-sacks."

Ahhh...Luv ya Jimmy!