Timelessly Distracted

2 0 2 0

2020-03-04T01:50:00.000+08:00

What is up, buttercup. It's 2020 and I highly doubt anymore read blogs anymore. We have progressed from the curated visuals on Instagram to Tik Tok - the great lip syncing app that E-boys & E-girls thrive on. It's been what? A good three years hiatus, and with all the free time I have now, I decided to pop by and clean up my drafts that will probably never see the light of day. The three most recent post that's sitting in my drafts is an outfit I planned in 2017, an upsetting event that happened in 2017 that I've ever since moved passed and healed from and a post where I confessed my undying love for the skies.

Some quick updates for the lack thereof over the past three years. I have a gym partner now and going to the gym doesn't cause me much anxiety as it did before. I've lost weight, bounced back and lost even more. I've also chopped off my hair at some point when I was in distress. It was liberating when I did that as I've had long hair for the most part of my life, some days I missed it but most days I enjoy the little to no maintenance my short hair needs. And lastly, the happiest thing that happened to me was that I found someone that I love dearly.

However, not all is well, for I'm still trying to find my place to fit in to this world. But for the first time, I am content and I hope this good feeling stays.

Yongma Land

2017-10-23T15:41:00.003+08:00

📍 Yongma Land, Seoul

There is beauty that lies in an abandoned establishment.
All that faded paint and rusty steel that's peeking through underneath adds a little more character than it already has ( - the crowd). Picture perfect place and instagramable if you will.

SEOUL VISUAL DIARIES PART I

2017-07-08T01:17:00.000+08:00

x April: Seoul, Korea x

3 months post trip and I'm sitting here day-dreaming and planning for my next get-away, hopefully this coming fall I'll go on the next adventure. There are still so much research to be done and planning involved that I should be doing but I digress and procrastinate while searching for new music. Here are some snippets to my Spring vacation in Seoul, I'll get back to write about my favourite places and how you can get there soon.

Thanks for sticking around.

Friendly tips to travel in style

2017-06-13T12:30:00.001+08:00

Over the years I kept getting asked about my outfits whenever I upload my travel photos on social media and I feel that there's a need to address this before I share my visual diary for Seoul.

The FAQ:

1. How do you manage to look so put together on your trips?

2. Do you buy a new wardrobe every season?

3. How often do you shop that you always look like you have new clothes all the time?

Well you asked and I'm gonna reveal all of my secrets. But first I'm gonna have to burst your bubble by managing expectations. if it ever crossed your mind that I pack light - I DON'T.

Well surprise surprise, I pack abnormally more than anyone else but of course still remaining practical about the things I'm bringing along. I enjoy having a variety of things, For my trip to Japan last year, I brought with me 3 outerwears, 2 pairs of shoes and a bunch of accessories including a hat and earrings. In my opinion switching up outerwears and adding accessories would give an outfit a complete new look. Note that I'll never pack something that I have no use for or has low level of comfort - e.g. Heels.

1. How do you manage to look so put together on your trips?

Effort. I'm self-aware of how much prep time I'll need to look decent or in other words put together and I'd be sure to get up earlier than my travel companions to do whatever that's needed so to not delay our planned schedule.

2. Do you buy a new wardrobe every season?

Here's a gentle reminder to never compare yourself with bloggers and Instagram girls. It is OKAY to repeat your clothes, you don't have to always own something new. I repeat all my clothes all the time and I see no shame in doing so. Most of these girls are fortunate enough to have sponsors for them to be in dazzling outfits every now and then. Like the rest of you, I certainly do not have brands lining up waiting to sponsor me, neither do I have abundant resources allowing me to change my entire wardrobe or buy every newest piece in stores. So my answer to this is question - N O P E.

I've had my experimental phase and I'm way over that and the reason I don't change up my wardrobe to catch on trends and seasons is that I have a better undertanding of what works on me now. Being a girl with curves, I've slowly came to terms with the fact that not every style and silhouette is going to flatter my body shape, so I learned to stop wasting money on things I didn't actually L O V E altogether.

3. How often do you shop that you always look like you have new clothes all the time?

Definitely not as frequent as I want to. My number one tip would be to mix and match! I'll show you in a few pictures below.

Here I'm wearing the same pink skirt from Zara. I paired a button down lightweight chiffon shirt when I was in Bangkok and a floral body suit layered underneath my long coat.

Staple: Zara Pink Skirt

Left : - Dorothy Perkins Blouse

Right: - Boohoo bodysuit & Uniqlo coat

This H&M midi skirt that I got for $29.90 has got to be one of the most lasting piece that I've ever gotten and I've brought this one to Bangkok, Japan and Korea. I styled this with a grey off the shoulder ruffled top for a monochromatic look and for a colder climate I simply layer an outerwear over it.

Staple: H&M midi skirt

Left: - Dorothy Perkins denim jacket

Right: - Boohoo Leather jacket

Staple: H&M midi skirt

Left: - Off-shoulder top from Bangkok

Right: - Crop top from H&M & Dorothy Perkins Coat

Ok this is actually the exact same outfit, but the button down chiffon top is the one from the first photo. Switch the shoes and bag up for a more girly look.

See what I meant about mixing and matching? That's how I get away with repeating clothes. Then again this is how I've been managing my clothes without bringing my entire closet for trips. It may or may not work for you especially if you're a backpacker. Lugging around a large suitcase with outerwears and whatnot is just absurd.

In today's fast fashion industry and shortened fashion cycle, everything that's hot now may not be in the next month therefore I don't really see the need to jump on every trend that's right before your eyes. Save up your money that could be put to better use, my love. Tell me in the comments about your shopping habits and your wardrobe staple that you own.

Intimates & Outfit Ideas for a date

2017-05-14T16:11:00.000+08:00

Get in touch with your sexy side with Adore Me this summer. Society and mainstream media puts a definition to sexy by linking having physical traits like having chiseled abs, perky ass & boobs, is the equivalent of sexy.

That is not true in my opinion because everyone can be sexy regardless of your size.Take a look at my goddess, Ashley Graham, and tell me it isn't true. Sexy isn't just all about physical traits, it is a state of mind. It's knowing what lingerie you're wearing underneath that makes you feel empowered and confident. With that said, I'm partnered with Adore Me to help you connect with your inner goddess by showing you how I style my intimates and outfits on dates.

1) Take him/her swimming on the first date

Summer Date Outfit by sweetsx3 featuring a wide brim straw hat

Let's kick off swim suit season with this black floral one piece swim suit. What better way to bring down the heat than to taking a dip in the ocean or jumping right into the pool? Who cares if your body isn't swim suit ready, all you need is to find a swimsuit that fits you. This is for my gorgeous ladies whose confidence radiate brighter than the sun. The plunging neckline and curve enhancing statement of this one piece (Vianna Plus) swimsuit. you're set to slay this summer.

2) Movie Night in a pillow fort

Movie Night by sweetsx3 featuring blue throw pillows

Making movie night a little more special by building a pillow fort for the both of you, throw in some mood lighting, play some good movies and it's a romantic date stemmed from a kiddy idea. On a cute date like this I'd put on a slinky wrap front playsuit for comfort and a matching set of navy blue lingerie (Azura Contour Plus) underneath.

The Azura Countour plus set is everything that I love, its straps are convertible which you can simply wear it strapless with an off shoulder top and the five hook and eye closure give a better back support for us bustier girls.

Hopefully this post inspires you to embrace your sexy side, check out Adore Me to view their extensive line of lingerie.

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Forest Fairy

2017-03-08T22:37:00.001+08:00

Forest Fairy

If only I could live in body suits and tulle skirts every day, this would be my uniform until the day I can't dress myself anymore. This boohoo mesh body suit is one piece that exudes sexiness without showing too much skin and its embroidered details makes it a piece so dear. It's only fitting to pair it with a forest green tulle skirt for a dark romantic twist to the outfit. This was inspired by Elie Saab's past seasons' couture looks.

Details:

Floral Embroidered top: Boohoo.com $35

Tulle skirt: ASOS Tulle Prom Skirt $105.58

Bag: Aldo

Nude Pumps: Hush Puppies

Touch me on my social media handles listed below. You can follow me on @clariecuppycakes (my personal instagram) or @sweetsx3 that for more makeup-centric posts.

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BKK Visuals

2016-11-21T16:21:00.000+08:00

✈ Bangkok

To more adventures ahead...

📍Siam

Nearest BTS: Siam

For all of my past trips to Bangkok, our home base never left Pratunam. Pratunam is a fabulous place to stay when your primary focus is for hardcore shopping at Platinum Fashion Mall, Krung Thong plaza and its morning market. A little fyi for y'all shopaholics, Glow & Centerpoint Pratunam are my top hotel choices for that area.

For this trip, we made Siam Novotel our home base and boy oh boy do I love this location so damn much. There's so much to do, shop and eat without having to travel far. A great line-up of massage parlors across the hotel, the surrounding of shopping malls, BTS station right at its door step, bustling night market and wide array of delicious Thai eateries & restaurants to taste. There just so much to see and do at Siam.

📍 Three Wheels Tom Yam Noodle

414/18-19 Rama 1 road, Patumwan

Bangkok, Thailand 10330

A 2 minutes walk from Novotel Siam brings you to Three Wheels where I managed to satisfy my cravings right after getting off the plane. We found this place unintentionally on our own. On the way from the airport, our chatty cab driver was kind to give us an insight on the best places in Siam, which we communicated a mixture of broken English and Thai. Just before turning into our hotel, he pointed in a general direction that I believe he mentioned about being the most happening night markets, that almost sounded like an exciting adventure that all of us were so determined to experience.

Needless to say, we didn't find the place or any night markets instead we stumbled into this restaurant for a quick meal.

📍 Scala: Vintage movie theater

184, Soi Siam Square 1, Rama I Rd., Wang Mai,

Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand

Scala first open its doors to movie lovers in the late 1960s and it remains as one of oldest single-screen movie halls. I'd always stop for architecture eye-candy like this because how often do you see an old school cinema like this? The closest we have in Singapore is Capitol Theater which is an architectural beauty on its own.

📍 EVE AND BOY

186 / 2-4 Siam Square Soi 1, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan,

Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand

📍 BEAUTRIUM

Watergate Pavilion 567 Ratchoprarop Rd.Makkasan, Ratchathewi

Bangkok 10400 Thailand

Eve and Boy & Beautrium is the heaven for all makeup enthusiasts. These two large scale beauty stores are like their version of Sephora. Eve and Boy houses brands ranging from the western high-end to drugstore makeup. You'd find brands such as NARS, Laura Mercier, Milani, Makeup Revolution and Physicians Formula. Mind you, the price tag could be steeper than you thought. I paid $40 for a Milani powder blush. While it's insane trying to maneuver through the evening crowd at Eve and Boy, there is Beautrium with a calmer atmosphere. With a lesser crowd there, the sales associate can get to you when they find you wandering aimlessly or staring too deeply at its range of eyeliners. Busted some dollars on Lime Crime Velvetines, sailormoon eyeliner and while at it, I discovered one of the best false eyelashes of all times (Meilinda).

📍 EmQuartier

Nearest BTS: Phrom Phong

Audrey Cafe de Fleur @ The Helix Quartier

Shopping malls makes a great hideout from the warm Bangkok weather. In this largest retail mall, you'll be in awe of its granduer luxury shopping and wide selection of dining options. If you were to ask, my favourite spot in the mall has to be its rooftop garden. While I'm not one who'd enjoy nature in a tropical climate, I'm appretiative of a breezy quiet corner and its lush greens.

📍 TGIFest

Nearest BTS: Thong Lor

(Every Friday to Sunday)

Note: Permanently Closed

For the hipsters that can never get enough of hippie night market, you'd enjoy Thailand's urban weekend market TGIFest. Every corner is a photo op, the well-lit signage at its entrance surrounded by greenery makes a great backdrop for your #OOTDs. What's a hipster market if not for its photobooth? You get to print your photos for free when you upload the image onto your instagram account and hashtag them. Hippie and happy level 100.

TGIFest feeds the soul of young people but for old-school tummies like mine, I'd very much prefer the traditional night markets like the one at Siam or Rod Fai Market for local delicacies like Khao Kha Moo (braised pork leg rice).

Here it is, hopefully that these are some new places that you'd visit on the next trip.

Touch me on my social media handles listed below. You can follow me on @clariecuppycakes (my personal instagram) or @sweetsx3 that is more makeup-centric.

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Boohoo + Styling thigh slit midi skirt

2016-09-29T10:41:00.000+08:00

My fellow beautiful curvy ladies, we need to talk about Boohoo! You know, I've been shopping with ASOS for about what, 7 years now and it's time for a change. Thanks to them I get to know about another incredible brand - Boohoo, which is becoming my go-to online boutique. Although ASOS carries Boohoo on their site, it isn't in its entirety. Some things like celebrity collaborations are still exclusive to Boohoo's site.

Here are some thoughts I have as a paying customer of Boohoo and I thought you should too if you're planning to make your order.

Choosing your size

Boohoo tends to run smaller in size when I compare with ASOS or Dorothy Perkins but they're still true to size according to their size guide. This means if I'm a UK 14 with ASOS, I'll have to size up with Boohoo. Do keep in mind that different companies has entirely different size guide, please make sure your measurements matches the size guide to avoid any disappointment from fit issues.

What it's made of

Like I've said, clothing sizes run small at Boohoo and even the models modelling for the curve section are small too. I thought that it was harder to visualize myself fitting in the exact same outfit as the model. As a curvy girl, stretchy fabric is always a friend. It's worth to note is that a blend of viscose and elastane would give you a stretchy material.

Shipping

International shipping is chargeable at a flat rate but there isn't much to complain about for now, 3 orders with Boohoo later, all of my items reached me within a week. So that's £6.99 well spent.

Details:

Suede choker // Boohoo

Cropped tee (size L) // H&M

Bomber jacket (UK 16) // New Look

Tie slit midi skirt in khaki (UK 16) // Boohoo

Shoes // ASOS, London Rebel

Embrace your curves with this body hugging thigh slit midi skirt through the day and into the night.

For a casual take, I styled the khaki skirt with a basic cropped t-shirt and added a bomber jacket for some layer. It ain't sweater weather here year round, so I've made the arm holes on my jacket useless by draping the it over my shoulders. Flat shoes are perfect for running around, so I went in and threw on a pair of grey loafers.

There is nothing more sexy than the color black, watch as I switch from a cropped top to a mesh body suit. The outfit turns into something I'd wear to a wedding dinner or a nights out. Although this outfit would go great with heels but me being me, I'd never sacrifice comfort, so I went with a fancy pair of laced of flats instead.

Details:

Floral mesh bodysuit (UK 18) // Boohoo

Tie slit midi skirt in black (UK 16) // Boohoo

Bag // Tocco Toscano

Laced up flats // Zalora, Something Borrowed

Disclaimer: This is not an ad, I paid for every single piece with my own money and I genuinely think that my curvy friends should get to know another clothing brand for more options (:

Touch me on my social media handles listed below. You can follow me on @clariecuppycakes (my personal instagram) or @sweetsx3 that is more makeup-centric.

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Jumpsuits, The Things Nobody Told You.

2016-08-01T22:59:00.003+08:00

The classy one piece that could be arguably the most effortless look anyone can pull off for a girls' night out or a formal work day. But what do we know about the miseries behind ladies who somehow still managed to keep it together till the end of the day in a snugly fitted jumpsuit?

1. How do you pee in this damn thing?

Obviously there is no classy way to take a piss when you're in a jumpsuit. All of this happen in slow motion, it takes patience and a bunch of coordination to disrobe and hold up the pants dearly to avoid dragging it across the bathroom flooring. From my experience I can easily tell you that in a toilet emergency kind of situation, the entire process has to be sped up x4 but the actual feeling of disrobing to landing your butt on the toilet seat feels almost like a 110 metres hurdle race that you're about to lose.

2. Can I still pull off a jumpsuit if I'm lesser than a 1.8m?

How about this, I stand at 1.65m and that's 5'5" which in my opinion isn't very tall at all. When you're my height it would be a bonus to find your size at a petite section of the store, but little did we know most clothing companies' petite section sizes ends at a UK 14 which they completely missed out the fact that a petite girl could be a UK 16 or larger.

Here's the good news, there are two ways to this,
a. wearing sky high platform shoes to elevate yourself or
b. just get it hemmed

Me being me, I'm flat shoes all day kinda girl I went for option b - Getting it hemmed. Lucky for me, my jumpsuit that was purchased from Dorothy Perkins offers alteration services at $8 that takes 3 working days tops. Pretty efficient I'd say.

3. Can I just buy this off the internet?

Erm yes and no. Sure if you're a risk taker and no if you like being on the safe side. I think one piece suits (rompers included) are tricky! It's not something I'd willingly jump into purchase, wait 2 weeks for its arrival and then disappointingly send it back when it doesn't fit. It takes up too much time and I have enough disappointing buys still sitting in my closet to know better.

A good one piece jump suit would pass the squat test, those that didn't would look unflattering on your body, especially at the crotch and butt area. Imagine the embarrassment having to fix your crotch area every step you take. While you're new to one pieces, I'd highly suggest to going to a physical store to fit. If you're a bigger girl like me, check out Dorothy Perkins for sizes UK 14 and up. Have fun exploring and expanding your closet.

Find me on my social media handles and can follow me on @clariecuppycakes (my personal instagram) or @sweetsx3 that is more makeup-centric photos.

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Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette

2016-07-20T01:34:00.001+08:00

As promised I'm here to deliver my review on my current go-to palette - Modern Renaissance by Anastasia Beverly Hills. Without further ado let's jump into the review! In this palette you will get a total of 14 gorgeous shades that consist of 11 mattes and 3 metallic shades. The colors are the perfect blend of neutral and berry tones which is comparable to Violet Voss' Holy Grail palette. I can't speak for the quality for Violet Voss' palette but if you're not about trashing your money in a beauty product ($120), this is a fabulous choice of quality at $75.

Tempera: matte beige.

Golden Ochre: matte earthy-yellow matte

Vermeer: metallic iridescent shell

Buon Fresco: antique lavender

Antique Bronze: metallic sable

Love Letter: matte raspberry

Cyprus Umber: matte dark coffee

Raw Sienna: matte neutral amber

Burnt Orange: matte deep orange

Primavera: shimmery gold

Red Ochre: matte sienna

Venetian Red: matte crimson

Warm Taupe: matte earthy grey

Realgar: matte brick

Things I Love:

The bold color combination was what drove me to add it to my collection, I thought that the mix of berry, orange and neutrals were fresher than the massively produced neutral palettes. It comes as no surprise that the colors I reach out most to are Realgar, Burnt Orange, Love Letter and Antique Bronze. This palette has the smoothest texture, almost feels butter-like. High quality eye-shadows are always a breeze to work with because you wouldn't have to blend until your arms fall off!

Also, kudos to you if you pay attention to what goes on your face by reading ingredient lists behind products. You might recognize that this palette is formulated without parabens, sulfates and phthalates.

Things I didn't like:

The biggest complain for me would be the packaging and the brush that came along with it. It was disappointing because it reminded me of the first Naked palette which in my opinion has the worst packaging out of the Naked series. Similarly the Modern Renaissance palette uses a cardboard box lined with a dusty pink felt and I'm sad to say that this material will never hold up to time. Judging from my Naked palette I know that at the end of the day, dust and dirt would sit and ruin the cover entirely.

Well it's thoughtful for a brand to include a brush for the palette, but for this I feel that I could do without it since it doesn't add value for my experience. While it's a nice gesture to have a brush going along with the palette, I feel for this the expenses used for the brush could be allocated to build a better packaging to house all of these beautiful shadows.

Thoughts:

It's true that I rarely get excited at new palette releases, this was the only one that I have been looking forward to hold it in my hands. Now I can safely telll you that I love the Modern Renaissance palette with all my heart for living up to my expectations. If only you knew the times I bought hyped up products only to be disappointed, then try so hard to reason and give it some love before realizing that it was a horrible buy that we as consumers have been talked into.

This was my first ABH purchase and I wouldn't mind trying out palettes from this line if they are going to be consistent with their quality but if once I hit pan for one of these I would instantly re-purchase this.

(Colors used: Buon Fresco, Love Letter, Antique Bronze, Primavera)

(Colors used: Warm Taupe, Burnt Orange, Realgar, Vermeer)

My social media handles are listed below.. You can follow me on @clariecuppycakes (my personal instagram) or @sweetsx3 that is more makeup-centric.

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Shine Bright

2016-06-23T22:47:00.002+08:00

Here's to better and brighter times ahead. Enough of feeling the blues and worrying over things I have no control over, I'm so gonna get myself a cupcake and maybe tinder later! x

LIME CRIME VENUS PALETTE PART II [#LOTD]

2016-06-14T01:03:00.001+08:00

As a follow-up post from my Lime Crime Venus palette review, below are 2 looks that I've created.

Colors used: Divine, Rebirth, Shell & Aura

- Using my Zoeva 225 brush, pick up Divine and in a swiping motion apply it on the sockets of your eyes (above your crease).

- Gently pat Shell using an eyeshadow brush onto the entire eyelid.

- With my Zoeva 230 pencil brush, apply Rebirth on the outerV of my eye.

- Using Aura as a highlight color, apply in the inner corners of the eyes and at the center of the eyelids.

- Draw your cat eye and wing it!

- Apply mascara or false lashes for extra glam.

Lip color: Laura Mercier Velour Lovers in Infatuation & Tarteist lip paint in So Fetch.

TIP: Avoid using Rebirth above the crease if your goal is to look as natural as possible. A bright crease color may give you the effects of puffy eyes.

Colors used: Creation, Divine, Icon

(3ce one color shadown: Gold Shower)

- Place Creation slightly above the original double eyelid and map it out using a flat brush. By drawing a 'new' crease that cuts from a higher point, gives an illusion of a deeper set of double eyelids.

- Using Divine blend away any harsh edges

- To complete the cut crease, apply Icon on the outer corner creating a wing that connects to the cut crease.

- Using my Zoeva 225 brush, blend out to blur out any harsh lines.

- Using a flat eye shadow brush, pat in to fill the spaces on the entire eyelids using 3CE's Gold Shower. On the same brush pat some of the glitter on to the lower lash line.

- Draw a thin line closest to your lashes and give it wings.

- With an angled brush, add Muse on the lower half of your lash line

- Coat lashes with mascara or add false eyelashes for a dramatic look.

Lip color: Gerard Cosmetics - Serenity & Colorpop Ultra Satin Lips - Echo Park

I had a good time creating the looks! Let me know your thoughts and the palette down below. Touch me at my social media handles, you can follow me on @clariecuppycakes for personal updates find me @sweetsx3 for more makeup posts. Love you.

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Lime Crime Venus Palette

2016-06-07T01:53:00.002+08:00

Oops I didn't managed to get hold of the recent hyped palette - THE Too Faced Sweet Peach palette. Instead I'm gonna review a palette that was released two years ago! (still not too late to jump onto the Lime Crime bandwagon.)

Just like everyone else, I was beyond excited to hear that Too Faced is launching its first peachy toned palette. In fact I was 100% sure in getting it because my make-up collection is lacking in the orange department. But ever since its release in Singapore it has been out of stock at Sephora island-wide. Truth to be told, I've yet to see the palette in real life. Talk about legend.

At first I was so bummed because I got to know that there will be no further restocks, but now that I've dedicated some time on researching the palette, I'm thankful that the shortage actually helped kill any chance for impulse buying that I initially had.

It's easy to go about finding dupes to the Too Faced Sweet Peach palette but most recommendations are single eye shadow pots which I didn't want the hassle to build my own. My game was just to experiment coral/peachy tone eye shadows and see how it works for me. After nights spent swimming in the sea of google searches, the Lime Crime Venus palette came to my attention and I thought it could be something that I was looking for.

Swatches

All the swatches are done using a brush instead of fingers for a more accurate gauge of the color payoffs. In fact the darker shades are obvious when swatched against my forearm as compared to the two opalescent shades (Shell and Aura). Even though they seem faint on my skin, it definitely looked better when applied directly on the lids with a layer of primer.

The Good

1) The palette consists of only 8 shadows. Personally I do enjoy this streamlined and small palette, I feel it's more cost-effective for consumers to go with a smaller palette knowing the purpose in every shade rather than paying for 18 shadows palette when most of the time it isn't fully utilized. With that being said, the practicality for this palette is a win for me.

2) For people who care about the planet, this palette is certified cruelty free! Yay!

3) The colors were all highly pigmented and smooth to blend out. It's surprising that even for the shimmery shadows, it has zero to no fall-outs.

4) Compact and fancy packaging. The cover of the palette is an illustration of Sandro Botticelli's famous painting (The Birth of Venus) which is also the name of this palette. I thought that the fancy packaging would be nice to be displayed on the vanity table.

The Not-so-Good

1) Fakes. When you're not buying directly from the Lime Crime site, you risk paying for a fake product with a price tag of the original palette. This video by Tonia Lives brought a comparison between the real Venus palette versus a fake. Just be wary against rip offs when you're buying from places like Carousell.

2) The only problem I had was with Aura, it seems like its the only color that creases after long hours of wearing despite having a base layer or Urban Decay primer potion. So for that, I've learned to only use Aura in small doses, like as a highlight color in the inner corners of my eyes or the center of the lids.

3) In my opinion, Muse & Venus (shades with red undertones) are the two colors that I don't see ladies holding a corporate day job would necessarily reach out to. Both colors looked too grungy for a workday look and I don't think anyone could get past an organisations' strict dress code if there is any. That would then leave you with 3/4 of the palette to play with.

Overall, I love this palette for its aesthetics and its unique color combination. I would probably not repurchase it because I believe that Lime Crime would have more exciting new releases in future. But for now, I would be open to try out liquid lipsticks from their brand.

Stay tuned for a makeup tutorial using the Venus palette on my next post.

My social media handles are listed below.. You can follow me on @clariecuppycakes (my personal instagram) or @sweetsx3 that is more makeup-centric.

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[WHAT TO WEAR?] Black Tie Events

2016-06-05T13:33:00.000+08:00

To receive an invitation to a black tie event could be incredibly frustrating, especially for women who doesn't have evening gowns sitting around in the closet. Unless fairy god-mother is on your side to magically transform your basic dresses or you're Olivia Palermo who I believe has an amazing wardrobe ready for every event. But I guess we're neither, so let me introduce Sherry London to you. Sherry London, an online boutique based in the UK, has wide ranges of evening dresses for formal event. It isn't exactly fairy godmother but its close enough, at least it'll save you from potential fashion headache.

For a black tie event the first rule of thumb is to be dressy. According to veteran fashion guru Tim Gunn, black tie event doesn't necessarily mean going in a floor length gown. As opposed to traditional standards, matching separates and cocktail dresses fits perfectly in a formal setting today. One thing to always keep in mind, luxurious textiles are a great deal to making a formal looking dress. What if the invitation doesn't explicitly states the dress code? Simply factor in venue, time & purpose of the event when determining the length and style of your dress. They may be huge clues that could help you in your dress selection process. Now, if you don't wanna run the risk of being under-dressed, here is a guide to some dresses for a black tie event.

1) Black Evening Dresses

2) Pastel Evening Dresses

"It doesn't have to black, colors and prints work too"- Martha Ward (Stylist)

3) For my curvy ladies, there is a curvy section just for you!

Good luck! Hopefully you'd find a dress that suit your body type for the occasion.

[OOTD] Cropped Talks

2016-05-30T19:59:00.000+08:00

Denim jacket: Dorothy Perkins Crop top: h&mPants: Zara Furry earrings: Louvisa Pointed flats: PazzionBag: Tocco Tenerro

As a larger girl, I tend put myself in a box when it comes to clothing. I have this unrealistically long list of clothes to avoid versus another that ideally fits what a fat girl should wear. Growing up, I was shamed because my size was always on the larger side of the scale. Over the years of being conditioned by society and people around me that I should cover up - crop tops, tanks tops, bikinis, tulle skirts essentially became part of this avoid list. Along the way, I've unknowingly only wore pieces that covered or somehow hide body parts I didn't want people to draw attention to. I could vividly recall from my younger days dressing from head to toe in black just to stay hidden and because they say loud colors and fat people don't go well together. All of that background noise sure didn't help in positively projected my body and my self-image at all.

Fast forward to today, I'm still working on myself. There'd be days that I accidentally let myself slip into that downward spiral because of what someone said but I've learned to not dwell on it for days anymore. Through this process, I've discovered one of my favorite YouTuber & body positivist Meghan Tonjes. She's one of my role models and this video was what inspired to put together this outfit, everything that I have illogical fears of. The next time someone makes an unwanted comment about your body, you can choose to ignore it or just end it in a true Tonjes style 'Congratulations, you have eyes.'

My social media handles are listed below.. You can follow me on @clariecuppycakes (my personal instagram) or @sweetsx3 that is more makeup-centric.

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📍 Tokyo; Japan

2016-05-18T11:33:00.002+08:00

Every time I return from a trip I feel compelled to pen a post on my experience as a keepsake for memories or perhaps to seek closure closure as I guide my heart back home. Don't get me wrong, I love how routine brings stability but this wave of emotions is real and I need to get sorted out.

Tokyo is like a whole new world. Clean and ~~green~~ pink, it was spring and the sakura trees in full-bloom lined up on the side walks and painted the city pink. Everything is amazing at Tokyo! Their efficient but slightly complicated metro, high standards of customer service, garbage disposal system and a personal favorite - cool high-tech public bathrooms. Imagine the joy of having a warm toilet seat on days at 10 degree Celsius~ Read on to more photos and places I hope you visit for your trip.

Shinjuku Gyoyen

One of the parks that I'd strongly recommend for hanami - Shinjuku Gyoyen. Never mind the entrance fee because this is where you will get the best photos of sakuras. Sure, there're free parks like Ueno or Yoyogi but be prepared for crowds and expect picnic space constrains & long bathroom lines. Then again, Japan has great parks and should you have time, check them out. If not just Shinjuku Gyoyen would do.

Monzen Nakacho

The best secret place for sakura viewing

When the well-known parks are flooded with tourists and locals, there is this gem Monzen Nakacho hidden from the crowds. It's a goal for me to find less touristy spots at a country that I'm visiting and it has became unconsciously important over the years as I travel. The novelty of discovering new places that were less sought out and having good shots with no photo bombs is what motivate me to spend hours combing through Google pages and refining my search.

Disney Sea

Disneyland or DisneySea? The dilemma that I was stuck in before the trip, it's almost impossible to make a decision but C and I came to a conclusion that Disney Sea was a better choice because of its exclusivity to Tokyo. At the planning stage for the trip, both C and me were super positive and adventurous that we could conquer both worlds in a day. HA! Let me tell you we never did.

Trust me on this, if you wanna get the best experience at Disney, the plan would be have two days reserved for both parks each.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The best place for skyline shots is at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and even more awesome, it doesn't require you an entrance fee! Well, didn't they say that the best things in life are free? With that you get an overview of what Tokyo looks like from above and if the skies are clear, spot some of the iconic landmarks of Tokyo from above.

Tsukiji Outer Market

Sadly the fish market was closed when we visited, but the morning hasn't gone to waste. We roamed the outer market and had the freshest tuna maki, tamago on a stick and sashimi don. Of course I'd encourage you to go on a empty stomach, you certainly don't wanna miss out on the delicious food and snacks.

Shibuya

Your one stop shopping and food heaven and this was where C & I spent our nights eating our way through Tokyo. This is also where the famous pedestrian scattered crossing (aka Shibuya crossing) is at, if you're up for people watching, head up to the Starbucks and get window seat for the view.

As we talk about shopping in Tokyo, the iconic Shibuya 109 building, Don Quijote and famous drugstore Matsumoto Kiyoshi are all found in the Shibuya district. Keep a lookout at their drugstores because they carry special products that you wouldn't see in your regular Watson's or Guardian.

Food

Being a huge fan of Japanese cuisine, I had absolutely no issues with having it every single day. The food scene in Japan is pretty affordable, a good SGD$10 can buy you a decent meal to fill your tummies. Pricing wise it's comparable with Singapore but taste wise, Tokyo wins hands down.

Getting Around

The subway system can be a little confusing, you gotto know if you're taking the subway or the JR line. Some place might be accessible by JR lines while others may only be accessed through the subway. For this trip, we got 2x 72 hour ticket passes and a PASSMO card for a six day trip. A pro-tip from me is to always have a pdf version of the subway map stored somewhere in your phone so that you can always refer to the station names to prevent you from getting off at the wrong stop. Also, have the Tokyo Subway app installed on your smart phones because this helps you with finding the fastest routes from stations to stations and lastly, never fall asleep on the train (don't miss your stop and start panicking).

Budgeting

Now here comes the most important part- budgeting. The total damage which includes air fare, accommodation & transportation was capped at 2.4k. We could have went for a stricter budget but it was the peak period we're travelling on, so air fare and accommodation costs significantly higher. Now, you've got to be wondering what other ways are there to stretch a dollar, here it is.

1) If you decide to give Disney a miss, you're most likely be saved from throwing your money on expensive merch. I'm embarrassed but I did went a little crazy at the Disney store but just the park tickets alone costs SGD$90! But if you still made it to logically holding tight to your finances in the Disney store, then I'd say kudos to you.

2) Summer Japan 2016/17. Ah summer is when you'd most unlikely to need sweaters in your luggage. Oh and if you're a person who travels light (which I'm obviously not), good for you because if you can fit everything you need in a hand-carry luggage, you're good to go. Flying on a low-cost carrier means you save on the money that's needed for having luggage checked in.

3) When booking your flight, always check out different combinations for timing and departing airport for your flights, they do affect the prices of your air ticket. Well, many chose to fly in & out via Haneda airport because it's closer to Tokyo and nobody would probably wanna deal with travel journey back to the city after a long haul flight. I remembered frantically searching for flights that fits my budget and discovered that flying into Haneda airport and departing from Narita airport would lower the cost of air tickets. That is when the golden opportunity presented itself that turn my sakura dreams into a reality... TOKYO 2016!

That's all I've got to share. I think everyone should go to Japan for its high-tech toilet, for its fatty salmon or even their silent morning train crowds. It has been a month post-trip and I could still remember the immense hospitality from kind strangers when Google maps failed, the beautiful days that I could wrap myself in layers and fortuitous food finds round the corner in a train station. You'll always have a special place in my heart. Till next time.

On a side note, follow me on my new Instagram account @sweetsx3! I'd be posting makeup of the day photos as well as makeup mess photos, if that is what interests you, seeya there! And if you don't, you can touch me at my social media handles below.

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What's in my makeup pouch & Organizing yours

2016-05-05T00:44:00.000+08:00

A girl's makeup bag has to be that one thing that I'd be game to raid. If given a chance to raid someone else's personal belongings, I'd pick makeup bags over wallets. Makeup bags reveals a lot about a person, personal hygiene and probably the best unconventional products that you've never heard of. Today you'd catch a glimpse of my makeup bag and I'll share with you that one tip I've stuck by to help you organize yours.

1) The formula

That is the ultimate formula to your make-up bag not getting overloaded with unwanted stuff. Step one would be to categorize your stuff into staples vs variables.

Staples are your essentially everyday must-haves. To know what your staples are, ask yourself this, which part of your make-up you need to fix by mid-day? Can your lip color get through meals without retouches? Will your winged liner last you till the night? If your answer to all the questions are yes, that means lip-sticks and eyeliner are your staples and these items should be in your make-up bag all the time.

Variables are items that would or wouldn't appear in your pouch at all times, it usually depends on your makeup for the day. Let's say if you're heading for a nights out and you've put on false lashes for extra glamour then the eyelash glue be at your reach (just in case your lashes fall out),but lashes aren't in your everyday routine, then I'd say to drop the eyelash glue as a staple.

Everyone's staples and variables is different. Since I'd usually pair my lip color to the overall make up, I wouldn't use the same lipsticks everyday, so for me they're a variable but they could be a staple for some people.

2) Determining the size of your make-up bag

Makeup bag by sweetsx3

Okay now that you've gotten your items sorted out, it's time to pack the items into your bag. Above are some makeup bags selection you may want to put into consideration.

3) Packing it

Staples vs Variables

Staples

1. Bath & Body works pocketbac hand sanitizer
2. Deep Moist Metholathum lip balm
3. Crabtree & Evelyn handcream
4. One drop (toilet deodorizer)
5. Travel sized spray perfume (contents: Chloe)
6. Travel sized brushes
7. Brow pencil & Eyeliner

Variables

1. Tester size Tarte Amazonian clay 12 hour blush
2. Sephora miniature eye shadow
3. 3CE matte lipstick in Chu Chu
4. Urban Decay Perversion mascara

This is what my make up bag looks like, do take note this isn't my make-up routine in its entirety but these are my top picks of what I needed most that's so important for me to carry by my side everyday. Seriously, the space in your bag/makeup bag is very precious, we can't possibly cast a undetectable extension charm on it and therefore anything that is bulky (e.g. a full naked palette) should be avoided.

Here comes the beauty of travel sized items. It's never because of its fun size that makes it oh-so-cute but its compact size makes a great fit for your makeup bag. Guess what, miniatures and sample size containers aren't that hard to get, I got mine from Sephora & Sasa. So the next time you think of carrying your favourite bottle of perfume just because you'd gonna need it after a Korean BBQ session, just pump it into the mini glass spray container and you can drop it in your makeup bag. Now, organizing your makeup bag is a piece of cake right?

Follow me on my new Instagram account @sweetsx3 for more makeup of the day photos as well as makeup mess photos. Seeya there!

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Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bon Palette + Theme Park make up look

2016-04-24T03:43:00.001+08:00

Who doesn't enjoy sweet treats for the eye and on the eyes? I know that I do! The idea of infusing cocoa powder into eye shadows was intriguing when Too Faced launched its first Chocolate palette. It still is a novelty for makeup to smell deliciously like a chocolate bar and I'm happy to know that Too Faced has extended its Chocolate series palette with Chocolate Bon Bons.

The Chocolate Bon Bons continue with its chocolate bar packaging tradition just like its previous two palettes. The light pink casing reminded me of a strawberry chocolate bar and the most attractive feature were the eye shadow filled heart-shaped pots instead of the usual rectangular or squarish pots.

14 Colors & 2 high lighting shades

14 Colors:

- Almond Truffle
- Cashew Chew
- Black Truffle
- Peacan Praline
- Totally Fetch
- Cafe au Lait
- Cotton Candy
- Molasses Chip
- Mocha
- Malted
- Black Currant

Highlighting:

- Satin Sheets

- Divinity

The colors were highly pigmented, it took me two swirls on my fingers for it to transfer nicely onto my skin. However for better visibility of the colors on camera, I had to swatch twice for Almond Truffle and Divinity. All of the colors are smooth and is easy to apply on the eye and as for now I adore the combination of Mocha x Molasses Chip x Malted for a neutral look.

Keep reading till the end for a tutorial as I show you how to craft a festival/theme park makeup look.

THOUGHTS

The Chocolate Bon Bons no doubt is the palette for Spring. The combination of neutral shades and pops of pink is like a dream come true for me since I've always wanted pink shades in my palette but not as a main color. In this one, the balance for neutrals and pink shades allows you space for creating new looks and functions as a switch up for your usual everyday look.

However, when we bring versatility into the topic I feel that Bon Bons would not make the cut for being the One that you stick throughout the year or seasons. For my ladies who find absolutely no connection with the color pink then this one would definitely not appeal to you.

Theme park Make Up Look

Inspired by the cute girls I came across while I was in Disney Sea, the most common make up sighting were their star studded cheeks.

In this look I used the star gems (for nail art) for an extra twinkling effect.

Colors used:

Sprinkles, Totally Fetch & Black Currant

1) Using Sprinkles as a base color and pat it all over your lids

2) On your outer corners of your crease, pick up totally fetch and blend inwards.

3) Using black currant, gently pat a small amount closer to the lash line of the outer V of your eyes and blend.

4) Make sure that your shadows are blended in. (False eyelashes are optional)

5) Put on your star gems by dabbing a tiny amount of eyelash glue onto the star and place it on the high points of your cheeks.

There you have it, a theme park make up look~

Comment below if you own this palette, let me know your thoughts!

Till next time,
Clarie C xx

S P R I N G

2016-03-31T14:22:00.001+08:00

Spring - The scent of fresh flowers in full bloom, the blossom of a new relationship or it's just a seasonal change, a stop over before we get to endless sunshine in Summer?

I can't quite fathom to my need to dress for the season, well at least to dress to the colors for each season. Autumn/Winter for its dark sultry colors while Spring & Summer cheery and pastel shades. Perhaps that is just a way to keep up with the rest of the world.

Here is some things that is a reminder that Spring has arrived.

Shades of pink

Color coordinate your makeup by incorporating shades of pink into your everyday makeup. Start with a sheer layer of shimmery pink eye shadow over the lids and using a darker shade of pink on the outer corners of your lids then seal that sexy lips with a hot pink color. Swirl your brush into your favorite pot of blusher (mine is Jill Stuart in Milky Strawberry) to add colors to the cheeks.

Create

Here's to helping you to achieve the sweet romantic look...

1) Too Faced Sugar Pop eye shadow palette

2) Jill Stuart blusher #03 Milky Strawberry

3) EOS lip balm

4) Too Faced Melted Lipsticks (in Melted Marshmellow & Fushia)

5) Sailormoon Eye Liner

6) Solone Vivid Fantasy Smoody Pencil #06

Lilac Dreaming

When you think of spring, think of pastel colors, floral and the off the shoulder style.

One thing that shouldn't be missed is the off shoulder style. Don't be shy to show off your pretty shoulders because this is becoming quite the hit this season. Fret not if you're lacking this key piece, pop by to your local H&M or New Look for affordable and ready to wear pieces.

This outfit is completed with a floral purse and a pair of nude heels that complements the entire color palette.

Cherry Blossoms

This fleetingly gorgeous flowers that bloom during the spring is short lived yet it's beauty is incomparable to some others. What better way to spend a day with your loved one having a picnic in a park surrounded with pink trees or row a boat across the river covered in the faded pink wilted petals of the cherry blossoms. That is a nice dream, soon it would not be just a dream.

Pastel Food

For you all Instagram lovers who are obsessed in building a feed. Fancy a pastel theme this Spring? Here are some food that is Instagram worthy but also worth to eat.

And lastly, this playlist that has subtle feel of the season. Some new songs that I kept on replay and other rediscovered old songs from my favorite artist. Enjoy~

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R U N N I N G L A T E !

2016-03-20T17:25:00.000+08:00

Floppy hat - New Look Singapore

Mismatched striped button up blouse - New Look Singapore

Mini denim skirt - ASOS.com

Clutch - @shoptwostyles on IG

Block heels - Zalora Singapore

You know there will be days that you wake up and stare at your wardrobe full of clothes and the thought "What do I wear? I have no clothes to wear!" runs through your head? This is so me particularly on days that I'm running late. I try on everything that I could possibly imagined to look cute on me turn out to be a weak meh. A day like this makes it ten times harder to pull together an okay outfit much less a fabulous outfit.

Today was such a day that I conveniently threw on pieces in my closet that was crease free. Hide my tresses under a floppy hat, gather my essentials in a clutch and then rummage my shoe box to grab a pair of block heel sandals for this look. Tadaa I'm good to go!

What is your must haves on a day that you're running late that you know could never go wrong?

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A quick guide to liquid lipsticks

2016-02-25T23:04:00.001+08:00

Before liquid lipsticks start hitting drugstores this year, let's take a look at some brands that are in the market now.

Dose of Colors, Berry Me - $37

Berry Me is the perfect deep purple shade that I've been dreaming all about last season. The formula is a little drying but there's nothing a base layer of Mentholatum lip ice or Vaseline can't fix. However if you decide to take a skip on moisturizing your lips, be wary of getting dry and crackled lips.

I feel that to wear a product that is so creamy in texture and pigmented, it has to have an applicator that gives precision in filling in your lips. The lack of precision leaves absolutely no room for mistakes if you mess up on your first attempt.

Packaging wise is up to my satisfaction. The frosted hard plastic tube may be nothing too over the top and it doesn't look like a drugstore makeup.

Well, it's a 2/5 because I expected them to perform better as the price range is on the higher side. Besides the applicator wand wasn't as precise that it should be.

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip (Bumble, Beeper) -$13 /ea

Colourpop has one of the most extensive collection of colors ever. I got Bumble and Beeper because I was going through a phase of nudey brown lips and also the fact that my lip stick collection is missing nudey-brown shades. Bumble is a dusty warm terracotta and Beeper is a mid-tone brown that reminded me of the ladies in the 90s.

A quick tip to those who feels awkward in sporting a full on bold lip color, one way to overcome a color that comes off too strong to you on first impression, would be wearing it the ombre way. Use a lipstick that has a lighter tone as the base and dab the darker shade on the center of your lips. That way it tones down the color for you to get used to it. Well when you're comfortable enough, rock the full lip color like you would.

The lipstick comes in a clear plastic tube with silver fonts and details on it, which was quite a bummer when it started falling off after some time. Both my colorpop tubes looked so beat up with the faded fonts, but no complains since it's only $13.

The formula for Colorpop is smooth to spread out evenly on the lips. The lipstick presented itself in a wet liquid form but gives the matte finish after drying. But, I still want to tell you how dry it would get, so a reminder for you girls is to prep your lips with lip balm. On another note, Colorpop doesn't sit nicely throughout the day and it leaves blotches of leftover on the lips after a meal. It would be good to have your lip balm and liquid lipstick in your purse for retouching.

I give it a 3/5 only because for $13 you can get a cheaper dupes from brands that comes with cut-throat price tags.

Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte - Serenity $21

Last year was the year of Kylie Jenner, the on-going talks about her makeup in the media and even online there were no lack of tutorials to recreate the classic Jenner look. I jumped onto the bandwagon once I got hold of the list of products used on her revealed by her very own makeup artist. It seems like from the list, the only missing key item was this lipstick from Gerard Cosmetics. Thankfully for the internet, I was able to get my hands on this since it isn't retailing in Singapore.

Serenity is a nudy pink color with hints of brown and it has got to be the most wearable nude lip color for an everyday basis. It's mellow but it doesn't wash me out and the best part of this is its' versatility that suits almost all skin colors.

Packaging wise is simple but the gold accents give it a touch of luxe to it and the formula is amazing. In terms of the ease of application, it's so smooth that it glides on easily onto the lips and it doesn't dry your lips out at all.

I'll give it a 4/5 because I love it and I'm almost done with this tube and it's a 100% I'm repurchasing it.

Too Faced Melted Lipstick - $33

The very first liquid lipstick that I've purchased were these - Too Faced Melted series. Too Faced is the true master in packaging, you can count on them to bring together quality packaging and product.

Too Faced is the winner among the creators of liquid lipstick. A formula that has rich color pay-off, non drying on the lips and guess what it's also long lasting which is like a dream come true~ Even after a meal, the lipstick fades evenly to look like you're having tinted lips after cleaning up.

This one is a little more special as it comes in a squeeze tube packaging and a sponge tip applicator, which I consider it to be foolproof (even my 5 year old cousin could color her lips at ease with this). Simply use this in a dabbing motion to fill up your lips and you'll be good to go. This is a great product to use if ombre lips are your go-tos.

5/5 for its awesome formula and that I've already gotten 3 of it, I wouldn't mind adding more to the collection.

That's all for now and I'm really looking forward to try out other brands as well. What about you? Are you taking on this liquid lipstick trend?

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Bra problems & fixes we wish we knew earlier

2016-02-05T10:50:00.003+08:00

Let's face it ladies, I'm sure all of us have our fair share of bra-problems (Bra-blems) and embarrassing stories that we could relate on some levels.

Bras of a bad fit

When I was younger, I dreaded bra shopping and because of that I always got a bra that wasn't a right fit. I had the misconception that the tighter the strap, the more support the bra has to offer. That was a time when I constantly have burns on my shoulder which were caused by the straps digging in and was stuck with ill-fitting bra that gave me boob spillage and unflattering back bulges.

That was a long time ago, eventually after a bra shopping trip with my mom, my greatest takeaway from her would be to always go for the one that gives you a full coverage if you're a busty gal. Definitely a plus if the bra has a wide band which gives you better support. Even though designs are less than cute, it's still better than being stuck with a ill fitted bra which gives you a quad-boob.

Caring for your Intimates

In my early years of owning a bra I had zero knowledge about caring for my intimates, cleaning means tossing them in the washer alongside with the pile of laundry. Clearly the spinning and drying happening in the washer did no harm to my laundry but destructed the cups of my bras. Long gone were the smooth surface, instead all I got were harsh creases and dents that I longed to get rid. After some time, my bras went through some serious wear and tear. That was when I realize machine washing is never an option for my delicate undergarments.

A simple solution for caring for your delicates would be to hand-wash it . It may be a hassle but it lasts long enough for you to invest in another new one. The last thing you want is to have the dents and bumps obvious under a fitted tee. My best advise for time saving efforts, consider washing them while taking a shower.

Below are some common bra fitting problems and quick fixes for you created by ThirdLove. (Thirdlove is a bra company that made their bras fit real women.)

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[T R A V E L] Khao Yai, Thailand

2016-01-24T22:32:00.000+08:00

I'm back, I'm back! I hope everyone is well and is having a good start into the new year. Even though I'm late in greetings, here's to wishing you a to have a fulfilling & happy year. At the beginning to 2016, I kick-started the year with a trip to Thailand (Bangkok). Instead of the usual route, we added a road trip to Khao Yai to the itinerary before settling in Bangkok for the remaining days.

Most people are familiar with Bangkok for its vibrant metropolis, while at Khao Yai it's an entirely different place to explore. It's a door to its best kept secret of the great nature and luscious greens.

When directions & driving is your forte, getting to Khao Yai is a piece of cake. If that's not the case then there are other options of bus or train that would get you there. Lucky for me, my dad is great at both and my uncle is an ace of his own. Knowing that I'm in safe hands with the perfect road trip pair means I could comfortably take naps en-route. (I'm either jamming away to songs or I'm just snoozing at the back of the car.)

Sunflower field

Where: Saraburi, Lopburi, Suphanburi
Blossom months: November to Janurary
Entrance fees: 10 baht per pax

Basking in sunshine with a backdrop full of cheery sunflowers is my dream come true! That was the leading motivation for taking two days in Khao Yai. For that to happen, our travel dates coincides the peak period (New Year's Day) which means crowds are anticipated. As Singaporeans, we're endowed with kiasu spirit, we drove out as early as 8 in the morning to reach the destination an hour later.

By 9am, we've paid for our 10 baht entrance fee and all set to snap away. By the way, we were the first in the field and it definitely pays off to get up and be there early, see how I don't have random photo bombers in my photos. Totally, worth it.

Khao Yai National Park

Entrance fee: 40 baht per pax
Vehicle fee: 50 baht

Before embarking on this trip my dad sent me videos on incidences of elephants attacking vehicles at the national park, not sure if he found it amusing or did he do it just to terrorize me. But it ain't gonna stop me from visiting this UNESCO World heritage site! From the influx of traffic going into the park, it's probably gonna spook the wildlife that wanted to make an appearance. No elephants or tigers were in sight, much to our surprise we spotted a couple of monkeys and a wild deer while making our way back.

Palio Village

For someone who has yet to set foot into Italy, inspired themed shopping places becomes a novelty. Roaming on the streets and alleyways while I dream away about getting lost and exploring in a Tuscan village.

Primo Piazza

Entrance fee: 100 baht

Just like Palio Village, Primo Piazza is designed and themed to resemble Tuscany. This one has more photo spots set up in little corners for you, definitely the place for all of you fashionistas to get your outfit shots taken. The farm on the property is where the merinos, alpacas and donkeys can be found.

The Chocolate Factory

It is by chance that I found this restaurant for our dinner on the first night. When you travel with your parents you got to always be well-planned and know where to head to next (even if you don't at least just pretend that you've got everything together).

I mentioned that I found this by chance, true enough this place came to my knowledge when I was scrolling Instagram. So I just brought my family here without even reading reviews, but it turns out that all of us loved the food there and there were no complains. It takes

As the sun sets, the temperature took a dip which makes it perfect for alfresco dining. What's great ambiance without a good live band right? The sound of acoustic guitar accompanied by soothing vocals singing to classics like "Right Here Waiting " sets the mood. \

Years of visiting Thailand, surprises never cease and there are just too many places to explore. It came to my discovery that it's more than a shopping haven, a sun and sea holiday or a religious worship site. Every country has a charm on its own, you'll have to have a curious heart to discover and a fresh eye to see it in your unique point of view.

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Christmas Wonderland

2015-12-21T02:10:00.003+08:00

Outfit details:

Laced up flats// Zalora

Tweed Skirt// Topshop

Top//Dorothy Perkins Petite

On my face:

Lips//

Nars Lipstick Grace

Melted Strawberry

Eyes//

Too Faced The Return of SEXY Palette

~It's the most wonderful time of the year~

December, the last month of 2015! The city has never been more ready for Christmas, shopping malls in town are all dressed in sparkly fairy lights and you can almost hear Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You everywhere. This year, I decided to head down to Garden by the Bay-Christmas Wonderland to soak up the festive mood.

The amazing light sculptures were at its best after sunset and the cylindrical light display (Spalliera) was magnificent! There were also some fun & games like ice-skating rink, carousal, good ole carnival games which you can win plush toys. There's a price tag that comes with the fun, a carousal ride would cost you 10 bucks! I mean, if you're into riding stationary horse then go ahead! Oh, I later found out that there's a Santa meet-and-greet which we missed! We'll never get the chance to sit on Santa's lap and whisper him our wishlist.

Now, allow me to resume the movie that I've put on pause since this afternoon. It's compelling to watch romance movies this time of the year, so for now I have Channing Tatum in The Vow to look at. I'll probably throw in some good classic Christmas movies like Home Alone or The Grinch later this week.

To my friends from all over the world, have a merry & joyous Christmas celebration and see you in the New Year!

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T A I P E I C I T Y 'N O V 1 5 [P A R T I]

2015-12-01T14:51:00.001+08:00

Hello lovely space-watchers~ At last, I have the time to sit and tell you about some highlights of my Taipei trip that happened earlier in November.

Tam Shui Old Street

On that day of arrival in Taipei, I've planned to spend the day at Tam Shui - Bei Tou Hotspring. A little heads up for you if you're in the midst of planning your itinerary - since both places are situated at the northern part of the city, it would be wise to plan these two places on the same day to cut down travelling time.

What to buy at Tam Shui?

While strolling the streets of Tam Shui and enjoying the sea breeze, besides getting a glimpse of the past and stuffing yourself with all street food, here are some that you can bring back to bribe your family and friends (you can thank me later).

1) Fish Cracker

Posted this on Instagram awhile back and I am still obsessed with this snack. I should have brought home more so that I can share it with everyone around me. Trust me on this, when you bring home a good snack you'd most likely be popular, maybe for awhile.

Address : 新北市淡水區中正路186號

2) Almond Drink/Powder

The granny in me loves Chinese almond tea and I knew I couldn't give it a miss when I walked past it. This has got to be the best almond drink that I've ever tasted! Knowing that my dad loves a good almond drink, I decided to lug home a huge tin just for him.

3) Grandma's Sour Plum Soup (阿妈的酸梅汤）

When I first heard about sour plum soup, I imagined it to come in an ancient porcelain bowl (y'know the usual way soups are served) but in reality it's packaged in a disposable cup. well I guess it's more modern than I thought. The sour plum drink made to my list of best beverage there, coming close to topping the almod drink. The sweet-and-sour taste surely made a sunny afternoon a little more bearable.

4) Deep fried squid

5) Jumbo ice cream

My main aim at Tam Shui was to have this. Since friends who have been there told me that they missed their chance to have it as shops were closed when they visited, I made it a point to plan my day on a weekend so that shops would be operating full force to cater to the weekend crowd. True enough, I wasn't disappointed.

Bo Pi Liao Historical Street (剝皮寮歷史街區)

Bo Pi Liao street came to my knowledge through the Taiwanese movie- Monga and it's also one of the attractions that I was eager to check out. Being a fan of historical sites, places that has rich culture and history would spark my interest. The well-preserved street is full of character, the red brick walls and faded drawings as well as old wooden sign boards allows you to have an idea of what Taiwan was like back in the days. It's been such a pity that we're unable to stroll and take in everything this street has to offer because there was filming in progress and we were asked to clear the compound asap.

Jiu Fen (九份）& Shi Fen （十分）

Jiu Fen Old Street has a reputation for being Taiwan's Santorini - similarly houses are seated on the cliff with a sea view front. The skies were grey, I pray so hard hoping that it doesn't rain but the moment we reached the train station, our suffering from bad weather starts. The rain ascended from a mere drizzle to a heavy downpour. Out of all days, the only time that I decided not to bring my umbrella, it rained. Well, but it sure didn't hinder with my determine heart to hunt for popular delicacies like the peanut icecream, taro balls and fish ball vermicelli.

Peanut Ice Cream, Taro balls

Fish ball vermicelli

Flavoured teas in the form of cubes.

We then set off on a 40 minute journey to Shi Fen for the most important part of the trip - releasing sky lanterns. Every color on the lantern symbolizes a different meaning, we selected the a multi-colored one only because I thought that we're gonna be sending a message to the sky, might as well have more options and be more well rounded to get everything blessed.

After the completion of your masterpiece, the staff member would then guide you to the railway track and light it up for you. One of the staff members would assist you in turning the lantern and the another would be taking photos of you using your camera for each side.

Well that's all for now, Part II of my trip would be posted soon! So stay tuned for future updates.

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