BOrNiiLOVE

Dolce Deco 2016 fukubukuro reveal 福袋の中身公開解禁

2016-02-14T22:33:00.000-08:00

Hey gals, Im back in action again after my maternity leave. I will try my best to come up with regular posts.

I had scaled down my fuku bags purchase this year to only 1. This time from my latest craze - Dolce Deco. This is since I gotten my very 1st item from Liz Lisa x Dolce Deco (See here). I was delighted that Dolce Deco is able to accept my payment and I can ship my items via Tenso. Just a note, there is a local delivery charge for all Dolce Deco items irregardless of the total value of goods.

Dolce Deco is a Japanese brand famous for its delicate craft of clay pastries. All their items are made in Japan. Each of their items owns a hefty original price from Yen 1080 to Yen 3240. It works out that this fuku is worth every single cent.

I was expecting less items or items that has been put off the shelves for a long time. Ironically, quite a few items are still selling online.

The items are prettier in real life without the plastic packaging.

There are always 2 sides of a coin. The downside is I do get things that I do not use. The above examples are a very pretty pill box and a keychain that I have absolutely no chance of using. And nowadays, our home is so very small, thus, I am sort of 'forced' to sell all the things that I do not need :( Comment if you are interested to get any stuff.

XOXO :)

Starved from retail theraphy - Liz Lisa 2015 order #2

2015-08-30T14:30:00.000-07:00

In a few days time, I shall be rushing to the hospital for labor. Before I could even put up my last post on 3rd trimester, I am seriously craving for some retail therapy. And having said that, I decided to shop on Liz Lisa online portal. This is my 2nd purchase from LL this year. Check out my 1st purchase here.

I am kinda looking for longer dresses since I shall be a MUM soon! When I said longer, I mean something closer to the knees.

So the shopping begins...

花柄シフォンワンピース (151-6002-0)

☆WEB LIMITED☆パワネオフショルワンピース (151-6505-0)

オーガンジー×花柄スカート (651-4228-1)

ストライプウサギスカート (651-4220-0)

ガーデンラビットスカート (651-4618-0)

☆LIZ LISA×My Melody☆キャミソールチャーム (151-9909-0)

フラワービジューネックレス (651-9112-0)

MANYフラワーピアス (151-9003-0)

There are quite a few last piece items that I managed to get. Count myself lucky ^_^ I guess. This egg yolk earrings right above, the purple necklace, the oh! so adorable bunny blue skirt and the navy blue chiffon long sleeve dress.

Since the 1st launch of Tokyo Kawaii Life × Dolce Deco pastry accessories on LL online portal, I had been dreaming to own something from Dolce Deco. I did convince myself to get a pencil this time. I remembered there were more choices previously. See my earlier post here. It's probably they are sold out by now. LL online portal hasn't really been stocking up on Dolce Deco items as well. My guess is they will probably be gone when the stocks are finished.

It was hard to tell the difference from the picture and when I did a translation, it came out ballpoint pen and sharp pen. I guess that sharp pen means pencil. Hope I am right and we shall see when my stuffs arrived.

When my stuffs arrived, I shall probably be busy with my kid by then :p

Personalized name necklaces and bracelets

2015-08-28T01:49:00.000-07:00

Personalized name necklace and bracelet is an ideal gift for anyone. All of my friends who received are overwhelmed.

There are a few sources to purchase one. I choose this company based in Malaysia as they allow more customization.

It is quite fun to run through the design on their website.

First, choose the font.

Once decided on the font, we can go ahead with our design. Just note not to burst on my budget as stones, dangling and double layer attachment cost extras. Tada! Here I have designed a named bracelet.

Order was placed on 14/07/2015 and the items were received during the National Day week. It takes them about 3 weeks to get it done. Free shipping via DHL was provided upon a certain amount of purchase. Otherwise, it is chargeable.

The DHL envelope reveals a red carton box. It protects all the contents inside it.

Once open, reveals a white gift box.

Inside the white gift box, contains 2 jewelry boxes (1 for each item), warranty card, polishing cloth and a instruction card.

Here shows one of the items. Its a named customized necklace.

Quality??

The finishing is platinum coated - not a very shinny material nor is it very dark. It actually looks more like stainless steel. It seems like it is manually cut. The cut is not very refined as one can see scratches across but they are very fine scratches noticeable by human eyes.

And here comes the bill.

Qty	Item	Options	Price
1	Custom-Made Rose Gold monogram necklace Item Number Custom-Made	Fill up your 3 letters here : Chain selection : Chain A ( Free ) Remark: Size - 1.5 cm if pos..	$45.00 SGD
1	Design Product Item Number Custom Design	uKey: EB3D3DA8-58FB-E490-C.. Choose your product: Name Necklace Choose your color: Platinum quality Chain selection: Chain A ( Free ) Special request: 2cm width Free Gift: Premium Gift Packing..	$42.00 SGD
Amount			$87.00 SG

Biore x My Melody Limited Edition cleansing oil and marshmallow whip facial wash

2015-08-19T06:35:00.000-07:00

Limited edition Biore x My Melody cleansing oil and marshmallow whip facial wash! So cute~ right?

Not sure why only My Melody filled our shelves. In Japan, they even launched Kuromi's version in cleansing wipes, cleansing oil and whip facial wash.

Wanna get your hands on them? They are available in Watsons and major supermarkets.

Bits and Pieces of pregnancy

2015-08-18T00:14:00.000-07:00

How is a pregnant mother being treated in Singapore?

On the train

I do not have much experiences taking buses. Hence, I will only be able to comment my experiences on the train. Singaporeans do not give up their seat just because you are pregnant!!! Yes!!! Be always prepared for it. When I was 5 months pregnant, there was once, I boarded the train at City Hall to Jurong East. I almost fainted when I stepped out of the train. Everyone were busy crossing the platform and NO ONE will be bothered with none other than themselves! Throughout the journey, I was standing in front of the priority seat. A man in his 40s or 50s was occupying the seat throughout the journey. Next to him, is a lady in 30s. Next to her, is a primary school gal. The train was packed since it was evening peak hour.

It doesn't matters of the race. Seriously, Singapreans do not have much knowledge of pregnancy. It has probably got to do with the low birthrate that we are experiencing. It can only be due to self-centered behaviour.

Most of the time (about 90%), those that will give up seat to me are foreigners. These include foreign workers from India and Baghdad. Hence, after my pregnancy journey, I really can't understand why Singaporeans have so much hatrate towards them? These people who gave up the seats are from labour class. They are actually doing hardship work here which dunno which Singapore will want to take up. Tell me huh huh??

Generally, one do not have a choice. Being pregnant means one lose out in terms of speed. I have to take care of my tummy no matter what. When the door of the train opens, everyone is chionging in and out and I usually ends up being the last to board the train.

Sometimes people expects you to give way on the escalator so that they can overtake you too!!

On the street

Luckily, people are still quite smiley when they see you and will exchange a few lines, like boy or gal? or how many months?

Being pregnant, also means that I am clumsy. There are always nice people in the heartland helping with the things I dropped.

There was even once, a FnN promoter helped me with my basket of groceries at Bt Merah NTUC. Thank you auntie for making my day!

Changes to you

Heat Rash
I guess this post is all about the negatives. LOL. Being pregnant, one experiences huge level of hormonal changes. Sometimes beyond one can endure. My greatest problem throughout my pregnancy is heat rash!

I have never gotten it before. It started to hit me during my 2nd trimester. Started with the growing tummy and moved upwards to the breasts and back.

So what is it actually? (Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/heat_rash_pictures_slideshow/article.htm)
Heat rash (prickly heat or miliaria) is a mild inflammation of clogged sweat ducts. When the sweat ducts are blocked the sweat cannot come to the skin surface to evaporate and becomes trapped under the skin. The rash is characterized by small, raised bumps (like coarse sandpaper) spread evenly across small patches of skin. The rash usually goes away on it's own and resolves in hours to a few days.

The common symptoms of heat rash include a fine, bumpy, itchy rash, skin burning, and a "prickly" feeling (like something is crawling on skin). Heat rash may also affect areas covered by tight clothing such as the abdominal wall, groin, thigh creases, buttocks, and the area under the breasts.

This is how mild heat rashes look like

This is how severe heat rashes look like

My solution
1) Drink more water to keep the body cool
2) We can't avoid the hot weather but we can try to keep ourselves indoors.
3) Wear loose cotton clothing. However, this doesn't save my breasts since bra are never meant to be loose else it defeats the purpose.
4) If all else fails, there is always Diaper Cream.

Desitin is only one of the many brands available in the market. I am using this purple one for Maximum Strength. Recommended by KK hospital.

Awful skin condition

If you are someone who uses pore packs, be prepared to get more of them. Lots in fact. This is what I get out of my pore pack and I am using them on alternate days. In fact, I am using pore packs all over my face.

Besides pore packs, I also included Laneige Melting Gel and Witch Hazel Solution in my routine.

The face condition gets stuffed up especially after the 2nd trimester when I stopped going for facials. In fact, facial wasn't recommended for pregnant women. I guess those that use only handworks are fine. However, when the tummy gets to show, it is not very easy to get onto and out of the facial bed.

Other awful sights on your body includes darken armpits, skintags and coarse hair. So far, I have no solution to these. I tried lightening products on my armpits but it doesn't seems to last. Skin tags are irritating. They started growing from my nipples and they won't stop! I read online that they will fall off after given birth and I am praying for it. As for coarse hair, I guess the only solution is to pluck them out. IPL is not recommended.

If you have solutions for my situations, feel free to comment!

Falling sick

I was lucky to have only fallen to the victim of flu twice throughout my pregnancy. Both without medications. Frankly, we all know medications won't do good for the baby and there is so much a doc would give for pregnant mothers. So why bother seeing a doc?

Solution - Stock up on vitamin and mineral rich food. Plus lots of water.

Vitamin A Sweet PotatoBeef liver SpinachFish Milk Eggs Carrots

Vitamin B6 FishBeef liverPoultryChickpea

Vitamin B12 Beef liverSalmonTuna

Vitamin C Broccoli Red bell pepper Brussels sprouts Papaya

Vitamin D Fatty fishes—including swordfish, salmon, and mackerelMost people tend to consume vitamin D via fortified foods such as milk, breakfast cereals, yogurt, and orange juice

Vitamin E Almonds Sunflower seeds Hazelnuts Sunflower oil Peanut butter

Vitamin K Green, leafy vegetables -Kale,spinach,turnip, mustard, and beet greens.LycopeneTomatoes Watermelon

Lysine Protein-rich animal foods - red meatNutsLegumesSoybeans

Magnesium Wheat bran AlmondsCashewsSpinach

Niacin Dried yeast Peanuts or peanut butterBeef and chicken liver

Riboflavin Beef liverFortified cereals

Thiamin Dried yeastPine nuts Soybeans

Zinc Red meatPoultryAlaska King crab

Selenium (too much is harmful ok!)

Brazil nutsCanned tuna

Omega-3 fatty acids There are two categories of omega-3 fatty acids: Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is found in plant sources such as vegetable oil, green vegetables, nuts, and seeds, while eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—the second category—are found in fatty fish.

Potassium Sweet potatoTomato pasteBeet greensPotatoesRed meatChickenFish

Calcium Dairy productsDark leafy greens

Folate Lentils Garbanzo beans Asparagus Black beans Orange juice

Iron There are two forms of dietary iron: heme iron (found in animal foods such as red meat, fish, and poultry) and nonheme iron (found in plant sources like lentils and beans).

[Source: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20660118_13,00.html]

Personal tots:

For us who are living in Singapore, we are way above poverty. We can definitely afford to get our hands on fresh food and grocery even though the prices we are paying are higher than our neighboring country, Malaysia. Cherish what we have. Eating junk food is definitely just excuses. I have friends however, living aboard that simply satisfied their daily meal needs with processed food like, chocolate cakes or biscuits, which is disgusting. We eat these for snacks! Not to replace our daily nutrients. If in any case, unable to get hold of fresh food, dairy products like yogurt or packet milk, nuts and canned tuna (controlled amount) are good sources for pregnant mothers.

Additional Notes:

If I am on doc's medication, a flu usually takes 2 to 3 weeks to recover. When I am not on any medication, I take roughly 1 week to recover.

Overall

I guess people in the heartland knows more about the pain of pregnancy. If you are reading my post and aren't pregnant yet, I do hope you will treat pregnant women better. They are experiencing huge hormonal changes to their own body, sometimes beyond recognition and yet frequently being treated like nobody.

I am not an expert in Chinese herbs. Although I came from a traditional Chinese family, no one brews Chinese herbs for me. Not to mention, no one gives advice on Chinese herbs. Hence, I am not a good informer of Chinese herbs but if you are a believer of Chinese herbs, do feel free to comment here.

Buying Japanese merchandises without traveling to Japan

2015-08-11T13:30:00.003-07:00

For the longest period of time, I have been trying to get hold of COLORS by Jennifer Sky in corporation with Samantha Thavasa.

There are a lot of daigous (people who help purchases) available. However, the price are all very steep.

This bag for example, costs Yen 4101 and is actually S$45. I paid S$75 including EMS delivery. It is S$30 more! Of cos, EMS is not cheap either. It can cost up to S$20 for 1KG.

After much convincing (to myself), I decided to engage this daigou whom I randomly came across in Facebook. She happens to have a local bank account so I presume she is a Singaporean.

I was constantly given updates on my item and proof of delivery. My item was even checked prior reaching me. I am very pleased with her service.

Today I received it in a parcel box.

Here is what I bought!

If you are curious, she is found under this name "Japan Shop Butler" in Facebook. There are lots of daigous available and you can compare the prices they quote.

Second trimester

2015-07-30T05:49:00.000-07:00

The 2nd trimester starts from week 13 till till week 27. This is the honeymoon period!! Really!! I can eat all I want and do whatever I want too!!

The gynecologist

I thought I was kinda kiasu when I visited my gynecologist when I was in my 11th weeks. I guess most women would like to confirm the status of their fetus. I even came across women seeing a gyne as early as in their 5th weeks.

Starting to see a gyne early simply means spending more money. Looking back, I kinda thought that seeing a gyne at 1st trimester is not necessary. Afterall, nothing much was done except to scan the tummy area using ultrasound.

My gyne is Dr Peter Chew at Gleneagles Hospital. He is always busy! Very busy man! The waiting time is a whopping 2 hours on average, sometimes slightly shorter (maybe 15 mins) or can be longer (3 hours). There is 2 rooms in his clinic. One will be first called into one of the rooms by the nurse. She will first take the blood pressure. Afterwhich, is waiting for Dr Chew to finish with his another room and switch over to perform ultrasound scan. He will always finish with a summary of advice. It takes about 10 to 15 mins to see him. He sees his patients on a interval of 3 weeks, 2 weeks after week 30 and every week after week 34.

The gynecologist charges

From 2nd trimester onwards, he will charge a package rate. On top of the package rate, there will be medication costs, ultrasound scan costs, urine test, jabs, blood tests,...etc on each visit.

The obvious

Once entered into the 5th month or 17 weeks, the stomach starts to show. This is the stage where people on the train started giving seats to you. However, in Singapore, this is not always the case. I ever took a trip from City Hall to Jurong East during the evening peak period and no one gave seat to me. I almost fainted with tiredness even before reaching Jurong East station.

Tiredness during pregnancy is something not everyone can understand and empathized. This is in spite that Singaporeans are famous in donating money to people that surface the media, possibly like Amos Yee and Roy Ngerng.

The maternity clothes

I am still pretty much wearing my usual maxi dresses and home shorts. However, its a good time to source around for best pricing as eventually during the 3rd trimester, even I couldn't help getting a few pieces. And these maternity clothes are not cheap. I turned to Qoo10 for my options. SMLXforyou is a reliable seller on Qoo10. The clothes are from Korea and the material is always comfy. I bought twice from them. Those that I would avoid are from China. Usually the price is about the same but the material is rough and tough.

The photography moments

I started my 1st photography session when I was in my 13 weeks. Frankly, its hard job to make the tummy show. The ideal period would probably be after the tummy is obvious, which in my case, 17 weeks onwards.

The food myth

There is a lot of old folks tales in what to eat and what not to eat. Here's a short list.

Pineapple
Papaya
Mutton / Lamb
Coffee
Tea
Chocolate
Cheese
Durian
Peanuts

If you wanna ask me for the answer, I would tell you, Why Not? In fact, I have tried all of them. However, be mindful on having everything in moderation. There are sources saying some food like coffee is best kept to 1 cup per day. As for cheese, avoid those that you can see molds in them.

Blue cheese (pic above) is one that a pregnant mother should avoid at all cost.

IMPT! Eating for 2 is totally a myth. You will find yourself putting on weight in no time. My gyne advised putting on like 300grams a week which is like 1.2KG in a month. Its easy to get this achievement in 1st trimester, but once, into the 2nd trimester, appetite improves! Even I am guilty of it.

Ettusais Heart Face Powder

2015-06-05T06:33:00.000-07:00

Ditch the pink and white, Ettusais has launched a new powder compact. A continuation of Spring's release of Heart Cheek Colors, Ettusais Heart Face Powder is a touch up powder. With clear refreshing green casing and heart-shaped flowers, the packaging itself took my breath away.

The powder is pressed with hearts in 3 shades - ivory, beige, and pastel pink. The turnout is very light and couldn't show on my skin. Hence, I could not manage to take any good pictures. It has some shimmery effect but the particles are super fine.

[1st Pic credit : Ettusais Sg]

First trimester

2015-05-26T09:07:00.001-07:00

The great news

The very first feeling was overjoyed, overjoyed and overjoyed. I have been trying for over a year now so finally when I am bingo with only 1 try that month, nothing could hide my smile from side to side.

And YES, I am finally pregnant !

The pregnancy test kit

Buy any test kit from the pharmacy will do the trick. Clearblue is my top recommendation. There are some brands that really can not make it and its a waste of money. Don't bother going to the GP as they will use the same kit, unless like me, I took blood test to confirm my pregnency.

The things to know

My 1st trimester was way too long ago and I am in my 3rd trimester now.

1st trimester is when a fetus is anywhere between 1 week to 12 weeks.

The 1st thing that came to my mind was what to eat and what not to eat. Both my mom and in-law are modern moms and they didn't advise much. So basically, I just keep to my diet before pregnancy, except for the following:

Shellfish (Crab and Lobster inclusive)
Medications
Big ocean fish
Alcohol
Coffee (I am not a coffee drinker so it did not bothers me much)

(Later I learnt more about what are myths and what really can not eat. Check out my later post.)

I don't know much on what other things I have to take note, except I started wearing flats at very early stage. I was overly kiasu afterall, this is my 1st pregency after trying for so long and due to my age.

The Pineapple

During CNY, I was in my 1st trimester still and I suddenly remember the existence of PINEAPPLE TART! My mom was strongly against it. So, I was determined to find out.

I start to think back what have I heard from people around me. And I remember a friend who do not want the child, tried consuming loads of pineapples and the baby still born healthy.

I then checked with my gyne. He said "Why can not eat?"

And thats how I started on my PINEAPPLE TARTS. The 1st box was of cos from Bengawan Solo - the premium ones that are of golf ball size (not long). I remembered it was a freaking $40++ for just one box. I dared not put it at home so I hid it at my in law's place (partly also scared that my in-laws are against me eating it).

Slowly, I began munching on the real fruit. Not too much at a time.

I also eat watermelon and drink tea. Both that I heard stories about not recommended for pregnant women.

The milk

My in-law commented that drinking milk will bring about great skin for the baby, so I started drinking 1 glass of Full Cream Milk on daily basis. I am partly lactose intolerance. Basically, I get bloated stomach a lot after drinking milk. And so, I mixed my milk with hot water which somehow helps. Should there be absence of milk, I will replace with Milo. Not because Milo also gives good skin, Milo has a lot of nutrition benefits.

The supplements

I was also made to eat a lot of supplements. These supplements bought from the clinic costed me a few hundred $$. The portion - 1 month's supply of multi Vit, Calcium and Omega. I was quite resistance towards these supplements as I only consumed whole foods and supplements to me are totally syntactic. In the end, I only managed to swallow 1 dose per day (instead of the normal 2 to 3 times) and sometimes I simply forgets.

The sufferings

Frankly, I did not suffer much. I have no nausea or vomiting issues. About 20% of pregnant women do not suffer from these 2.

I was having problem with appetite and was constantly tired. To deal with poor appetite, I tried eating super spicy food like Laksa, Tom Yum, etc. I hardly consume enough for daily intake. However, my gyne did not say much about it and I presumed it was ok.

Some of the days, I could't go to work or I could end up coming back home and head straight for the sofa. And I couldn't get up till hours later. It was that fatigue. There is nothing much to do about it except to sleep earlier and sleep more. I slept about 2 hours earlier than before and woke up the same time. The fatigueness will go away once 2nd trimester kicks in.

The air flight

Gyne will generally advise not to take any flight during the 1st trimetser. Online sources will probably tell you that due to air plane pressure, miscarriage is common. According to my gyne, it is not so much about the pressure but the flying altitude poses a risk of radiation as it is closer to the sun.

As new mothers, we have to bear in mind that what the adult body is able to tolerate will not have impact on us. However, the fetus is more vulnerable to this environment.

My 1st trimester passed in a breeze. And very soon I realized, I am in my 2nd trimester.

Notes:

During the pregnancy stages, there is a lot to learn about our body and its interesting. Different stages, there are different things to be mindful about.

The stomach is barely obvious in the 1st trimester. If have to, its best to put on that wedding gown during this stage.

Japanese Jewelery brand - Marea Rich

2015-05-18T06:47:00.000-07:00

Japanese jewelry are always so refine and miniature that I had been so wanting to get hold of one.The first brand I came across is none other than Samantha Silva and Samantha Tiara. They are both sister brands of Samantha Thavasa.

I had checked with our local Samantha Thavasa retailers and they have no plans of bringing in Samantha Silva and Samantha Tiara currently due to license issue.

Recently, I had come across more Japanese jewelery and some are more affordable than Samantha Tiara.

Marea Rich for one, is made of 10K gold (I know its not a big deal but hey, at least its better than gold plated) and real stones.

I have recently got hold of a necklace and ring in the above design. The price locally is very competitive to the online prices.

The heart shaped is clear quartz and the small round bits are actually white sapphire (diamond look alike).

If you have more Japanese jewelery brands to intro, comment here :) XOXO

Samantha Vega store opening party @ Isetan Scotts

2015-05-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

Samantha Vega hosted a marketing event on the Saturday that was just over. It has been some time since there was any public event.

Cupcakes and finger food were served. They were so cute, I couldnt resist taking pictures.

Here are the lucky 20 first-comers who walked away with a free Samantha Vega x Hello Kitty canvas bag.

Oh boy! She's the last person to receive the free bag !! Lucky gal !!

Some of the new collections.

Any purchases at the event, entitles the buyer a free tin of Samantha Sweets:) So lovely!

For those keen to know how does the giveaway Samantha Vega x Hello Kitty canvas bag looks like, I managed to come across one of the winners selling the bag on Carousell.

XOXO :)

Q&A about sunscreen - sequence of order

2015-03-16T02:10:00.002-07:00

We now learnt sunscreen is important. It helps prevent spots and skin cancer. I am always confused, especially with the sequence. Have you ever wonder like me?

There are several types of sunscreens available in the market. The Japanese type usually is more liquid and comes with a metal ball, reminds me of liquid paper I used when young. Others are usually thicker and rise higher when one squeeze onto palm. Personally I prefer the Japanese type as it is less oily and less blotchy when used with makeup.

What is the order?

There are seriously many sayings about the sequence. I read from an article online that the correct sequence should be after our usual skincare routine. Which means, it should be applied after moisturizer which is the last product for skincare. Timing is important too! Ideally we have to wait at least 20 mins for the last product to sink into the skin before applying the sunscreen. And after applying sunscreen, we have to wait another 20 mins. So I created this 20-20min rule diagram to make things sounds easier.

The 20-20 min rule is recommended for sunscreen to give optimized result and not interfere with other skincare/makeup products.

How much is enough?
For face, I usually use about 5cm. Any excess, I will apply over the neck and hand. For body, I will usually apply more than enough since I am not going to complicate with makeup. Or if you prefer a measuring unit, 1/4 teaspoon.

How to apply?
Pat onto skin is recommended. This is to prevent irritation and create a even firm.

Once per day is enough?
According to the experts, the answer is no. For outdoors, it is recommended every 2 hours. However, if I am staying indoors most of the time, except for lunch, I do not reapply.Umbrellas comes in useful when going outdoors for short periods.

Water-resistant is NOT equals to Waterproof. Oil in the skin can destroy the protective layer. This is especially so if we blot our face. If then, it is recommended to reapply.

When should apply?
By right, all day. Whether we are outdoors or indoors, experts always say, we expose to UV rays even when the sun is down.

When to clean off?
At the end of the day. Despite we do not see color since most of the sunscreens are colorless, we have to follow the routine of cleaning our face with double / triple cleansing. Dirts get stuck onto the face and sunscreen, contain properties that will clog out skin.

[Reference: http://www.skinacea.com/sunscreen/wear-sunscreen-right.html#.VQZd5tLLdWA]

Kellogg's on your lips?

2015-03-12T22:53:00.003-07:00

If you have grown up with Kellogg's or is a fan of those Kellogg's cereals, here's a nice piece of new for you. Kellogg's has launched on ASOS a series of Kellogg's beauty items. I am totally clueless how will the lip balm taste like cereal.

Hand cream in Kellogg's vintage design.

Bath milk in vintage Kellogg's carton design. This is so cute.

Mirrors with Ricekrispies and Frosted Flakes are also available.

There are also makeup pouches to keep all stuffs in place.

Liz Lisa 2015 White 3 Way Fukubukuro Bag reveal 福袋の中身公開解禁 - Part 4

2015-02-11T23:04:00.000-08:00

Today I will be posting my final fukubukuro post. Previously, I had posted that Liz Lisa 2015 3 way fuku bag has 2 versions. See my previous post here. And here's the long awaited post.

The white bag is something I would bring out. It can be used as a sling bag or as a backpack or a hand-carry. The material is rather soft with gold hardware. The pictures shows the bag with its contents stuffed...so it fits 2 pieces of clothes and its full ya.

I have been given the long sleeve cardigan. It is the same as retail standard.

And it comes with this rose printed short-sleeves (I am not really sure I can consider it as short-sleeves) dress.The material is quite good actually. The only down side is that the sleeve keeps falling off my shoulder when I take a seat. The front can be quite revealing so do remember to wear something more secure inside.

I am very happy with what I received :) The material fits the hot weather I am having here in Singapore and I am a sucker for rose prints!

The retail price of this set is 5400 Yen and I paid about S$95, including shipping.

Jill Stuart Summer 2015 Makeup Collection

2015-02-11T06:29:00.001-08:00

Jill Stuart is launching its Summer 2015 Makeup Collection in Japan on 17 April 2015. Inspiration of the collection from the crisp and sweetness of cherries and strawberries, the shades are sexy and ladylike.

The star of this collection is 8 shades of Forever Juicy Oil Rouge. Retails at Yen 2800, each is infused with berries oil, and packed in a strawberry-like bottle. Each shade is named after a fruit. Like 01 Forbidden Apple, 02 Petit Rasberry,...etc.

Following Ribbon Couture Eyes released for Spring Collection, Jill Stuart has released more colors. Yen 5000. Blue on the left and Red on the right reminds me of Majolica release of similar colors combination years ago.

New shade for Layer Blush Compact matches the shades from Forever Juicy Oil Rouge. Yen 4500. Limited edition. I am concerned if the color will turn out too much peachy red.

5 new shades for Nail lacquer R, retails at Yen 1500. Limited edition.

4 shades of Stay True Eyeliner. Yen 2300.

CECIL McBEE 2015 Fukubukuro Bag Reveal 福袋の中身公開解禁 Part 2

2015-02-10T00:03:00.005-08:00

For CECIL McBEE 2015 Fukubukuro Bag, I had chosen Type A coat and I received it in white (there is a total of 4 colors). My bag comes in 7 piece of clothes and 1 accessory.

The accessory is a beige earmuffs.

This blue pants is made out of very comfortable material.

Im keeping this dress (that is so my style), the pants and the coat. As for the items below, Im looking for keen buyers. Do pm me. Price negotiable.

This is a one piece, cotton top and wrinkle free polyester bottom. L to XL size. For sale, code: CMB#1

Thick sweater. S to M size. For sale, code: CMB#2

Thin sweater. S size. For sale, code: CMB#3

Moderate thickness sweater. S size. For sale, code: CMB#4

Jill Stuart 10th Anniversary Mook

2015-02-09T00:27:00.000-08:00

Its been some time since I dropped by Kinokuniya to pick up any magazines. Jill Stuart has been one of my favourite brands and I would definitely love to get their mook and mook giveaways.

Released on 24 Jan 2015, Jill Stuart 10th Anniversary Mook comes with a round vanity pouch. The design themed "Sweet Ribbon" follows their release of counter sale vanity pouch back in 2009. (Im seriously unsure why did they released this design that is dated 6 years ago. Maybe it is in relation to Ribbon Couture Collection.) The pouch measures 13.5cm tall x 16.5 wide. The mook is priced at Yen 1450 + tax. I paid S$27.20.

Click on the links to see Jill Stuart earlier mooks.

Jill Stuart A to Z mook
Jill Stuart 5th Anniversary mook

The zip tag looks kinda werid in my opinion. I would think the zip tag should be in opposite direction, reflecting the signature "J".

The mook displayed a list of what Jill Stuart is currently selling, which is also available on their website. The main focus is their release of Ribbon Couture Collection.

The really useful page, is a display of special collections released over the years. A good lookback and track record for fans. I noticed however, there are some Christmas collections not reflected.

The mook is still available in Kino but the quantity is limited. Grab it if you love it too!

SPOT a fake LV LOUIS VUITTON

2015-01-30T21:04:00.000-08:00

Since my 1st encounter with luxury bags more than 15 years ago, Louis Vuitton became the most interesting brand with its huge popularity with the Chinese nationals and its huge amount of imitations. Some of the imitations are easy to spot as they are poorly made. However, they are some that will take a while before one could they it is a fake!

If you are doubtful on your purchase, there is a number of way to identify the fakes.

1) Check out the same bag from the store. If the design is a limited edition, check out on another bag with the same leather type. Or you can find more information online.
2) Take note of the stitching, is it messy?
3) Magnify the print. Authentic print should not look floating on the canvas. Embossed print should be even.
4) Know the monogram placement.
5) Keep a receipt from the seller. If they are not reliable, they wont reject your request.
6) Note the price. Often a price too good to be true gives away the bag's identity.
7) Older LV bags have hardware made of brass. Brass turns color over time and can be revived with proper treatment. However, in modern era, all are shiny and stays that way unless poorly treated.
8) LV leather turns color over time. If the leather stays forever the same, there is however, possibility that it is waterproof coated. If so, it will take many wears for the leather to turn color.

Click on the picture of copy the link to check out what Internet can provide. Thanks to all the contributors.

http://www.fashionlady.in/knowing-the-real-from-fake-louis-vuitton-handbags/4184

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efik45efleg/how-to-spot-a-fake-louis-vuitton-10-questions-to-ask-97/

http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-SPOT-fake-LV-LOUIS-VUITTON-authentic-Guide-1-/10000000000021258/g.html

http://www.ebay.com/gds/Louis-Vuitton-Guide-How-to-Spot-Fakes-/10000000000021466/g.html

http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-SPOT-fake-LV-LOUIS-VUITTON-authentic-guide-3-/10000000000021517/g.html
There is even a video telling you how to spot a fake LV bag.

And here is a video showing how a LV bag is made.

Know your bag leather (LOUIS VUITTON PRADA DIOR CELINE HERMES CHANEL BALENCIAGA)

2015-01-28T20:33:00.000-08:00

If you are a luxury bag fan, you will be familiar to brands like LV, PRADA, DIOR or CHANEL. and more. Being one of them, I took a step further and discovered this great website that tells you all about your bag. And if you are as interested as me, here are the links to learn about the different type of leather used to stitch your favorite bag. Click on the brand name :) They are linked!

[Pic and information courtesy from http://www.bragmybag.com/]

Supreme.La.La fukubukuro bag reveal 2015 福袋の中身公開解禁

2015-01-25T23:05:00.000-08:00

Supreme.La.La items for this year is quite similar to last year in terms of the combinations and number of items.

A recap of what was in my 2014 Supreme.La.La fuku bag. For details, click here.

We see same pieces in different colors.

Check out ameblo blog here.

Check out on the following here.

And some have a few different designs...

For 2015, Supreme.La.La has the same coat and same bag (looks like a clutch bag to me), and the rest of the items can be random.

If you have gotten a 2015 Supreme.La.La fuku, feel free to share your pictures here.

Paul and Joe Menagerie 2015 Spring Collection

2015-01-20T20:52:00.000-08:00

Paul and Joe latest Spring collection named Menagerie is a colorful and fun display of the zoo. This collection is launched internationally. Since Paul and Joe has moved out of Singapore, a good site to purchase them online without additional cost is ASOS. Do note, that ASOS has recently implemented a new regulations for £50 purchases in order to qualify for free international shipping.

The face and eye colors are packed with 4 animals prints of different colors in a box. Like Paul and Joe's past collections, the colors can be used individually or together.

Menagerie Face & Eye Color CS

094 Les Flamants Roses
095 Girafe
096 Elephanteau

No more pastels, the lip colors this Spring for Paul and Joe is bright and vibrant, more towards the shade of red.

Menagerie Lipstick CS

090 Renard
091 Menagerie
092 Canary

Menagerie Nail Polish

001 Kangeroo (kangaroo)
002 Ours Polaire (polar bear)
003 Perroquet Rose (pink parrot)
004 Tortue Verte (green turtle)
005 Plumes de Paon (peacock feathers)

CECIL McBEE 2015 Fukubukuro Bag Reveal 福袋の中身公開解禁

2015-01-18T01:54:00.000-08:00

CECIL McBEE fukubukuro for 2015 contains very random items. They can be so random that no one seems to get similar things in their bags. I am not very sure why their online page shows a total of 9 items, including 1 accessory and 1 bag. In actual fact, all pictures I came across online only contains 8 items, including 1 accessory.

Online showed that there is a choice between 2 different coat styles. Each style comes with 4 colors. I chose Type A and have no idea what color coat I will get.

This lucky buyer has something lacy.

This buyer has a beige Type A coat.

This one has something like a teddy hood.

This lucky gal gets a wallet.

This fortunate one gets a bag!!Ooo...I so want that bag.

I wont like tat pink wallet. Its too hot!

I don't need that jacket or those bears.

This buyer got a pair of mustard pants.

I think that "I love CECIL" is a towel.

Tokyo Kawaii Life × Dolce Deco pastry accessorie

2015-01-17T02:19:00.000-08:00

Liz Lisa is working with Dolce Deco and is launching these cutie accessories on Tokyo Kawaii Life.

The macaroon earrings are so real that I can't help wanna have a bite on it. And I am so in love with the donuts! Priced between Yen 1404 to Yen 3024 (tax inclusive). Everything is on preorder right now and will make available from end Jan onwards.

honey salon by foppish Fukubukuro Bag Reveal 福袋の中身公開解禁

2015-01-13T21:17:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, I have finally received my fukubukuroS! I shall be having them posted soon. The 1st that I am going to talk about is honey * salon by foppish. Its was my 1st experience in getting this brand.

The fukubukuro promises 7 items, including bags, clothes and accessories.

I have gotten a black bag made out of Safiano leather. Not stated if it is genuine or faux. Sadiano leather is made famous by Prada and its one of Prada's most popular and historic leather. This leather has a strong resistance and is identified by its significantly heat stamped diagonal designed pattern that is supposedly patented by Prada. I am seeing more and more such leather on bags nowadays.

Original price tagged Yen 13,000

The next one is a blue clutch. It has a light and simple face front and big room space, enough to put in tonnes of makeup, handphone and many other things.

Original price tagged Yen 8,000

This cute little pouch has many kitty prints all over. I think its for gals to put in cigarettes but Im sure it can fit any other stuffs as well. I am letting it go. Offer me a good price ^_^

Original price tagged Yen 2,000

Frankly, I did not expect all these over-priced accessories. I was hoping for some goldware earrings or necklaces. I saw online, someone is getting the same pink and white bracelet. Not much info available at the moment.

Original price tagged Yen 4,000 , Yen 3,000 and Yen 3,500 (clockwise from rainbow earrings)

Including the pink salmon sweater that is Yen 10,000, the total value of this fuku bag is Yen 43,500 (excluding tax). Japan tax is 8%, inclusive of tax, it will be Yen 46,980. A savings of 77%. I won't really brag about the big figures of savings because I think honey salon items are highly overpriced.

If you are someone like me, who are overwhelmed with clothes, you probably won't mind a fukubukuro bag by honey salon, knowing I would at least get a bag and the others are bonus.

Liz Lisa X My Melody 2015 fukubukuro bag reveal 福袋の中身公開解禁 - Part 3

2015-01-13T21:15:00.000-08:00

You may have seen the contents from my previous post but somehow this official picture is kinda small.

Here, we get to see a picture of the real thing from

pynkbunny! sharing her purchases on youtube

To have a closer look at the contents, check out video below.