 |
| Meatballs, Croissant, Apple Pie, I forgot this one, Organic Pancake with Spinach and Cheese, and Smoked Salmon. Oh, and a couple of bananas :p |
Friday, March 15, 2013
IKEA Brunch
Friday, February 15, 2013
Make Up Store : My First Foray
Have you ever heard about Make Up Store? If you haven't, well, let me introduce you a little bit about it from a fellow laywoman point of view.
When I first lived in Singapore a few years ago, Make Up Store (MUS) had already entered the market here. To my knowledge, they have only boutiques or stand-alone stores and always located in the big malls in the city, not the small, suburban ones. Their image is somewhat reminiscent of MAC or Make Up Forever with the all-black packaging and fashiony backstage-feel.
I'm not sure how popular it is among Singaporeans here, and to an extent, among people in general. Honestly, I've never really seen their stores being frequented that heavily by shoppers and I literally never stumbled upon any article or blog that features this brand unless I happened to google it, which I never did. I've seen their products being featured in local magazines, at one time they even sponsored an event about jobs and career for women but that's about it. Yet, they manage to survive here for all these years.
Every time I walked past an MUS store, it always intrigued me but I never followed through. Today however, due to my intention to rein in my spending and to be less of a brand snob this year, I decided to take the plunge. I'd like to brag a little that I came in with a list of what I needed and I stuck by that list, somewhat...
Here's what I bought:
There were only two things on my list, actually: a base color eye shadow and a matte pink blush on. I ended up getting three items only because they were having this promotion bundle, blush on + lipstick for $49. It was still within my budget and I needed the blush on anyway...lols.
First up is the eye shadow, or as they call it, Microshadow in Sibiria.
Sibiria (I don't understand this name, though, is it 'Siberia' in another language? does it even mean anything?) is a soft shimmery light taupe. I'd call it a shimmer wash because it provides you with a soft wash of color that is perfect as a base color. Here's how it looks swatched:
Check out the look I did with Sibiria below:
The color is perfect for office, which is exactly what I was looking for. Here's what I used in the look book above:
- Urban Decay Primer Potion Original
- Make Up Store Microshadow in Sibiria all over lid
- Chanel eye shadow in safari on the crease
- Chanel eye shadow in Magic Night as an accent on the outer crease
Next up is a blush on currently holding the title as a blush with the prettiest name ever: Make Up Store blush in Sugar Muffin.
It is a matte dusty pink blush on with silver sparkles sparsely dusted all over. The sparkles won't show up once you apply the blush, though. It's very pigmented and versatile, I think this shade suits every complexion as well, from dark to super pale. All that bullshit aside, to be honest I didn't think twice when I bought it because I wanted to tell people I wear Sugar Muffin on my cheeks.
And last but not least, the extra item I got that was not on the list: Make Up Store lipstick in Fairy.
Fairy is aptly named, though. On the container it is this pale pink pudding-looking stick with pink and purple sparkles. The SA told me it's a 'clear' lipstick and I thought to myself, what a fancy way to call a lip balm. Ha! It is more of a lip balm, when you put it on on its own you will only get shiny lips because it doesn't have any color.
The SA told me you can put it on over lipstick to touch it up, bring back the shine. I actually think it's very good to be used over lipsticks that are too drying. I have one lipstick that I have from Savoir Faire cosmetics called Grace, I really love the color but it is very drying. I can't wait to try it with Fairy, maybe I'll show you guys on the next post!
I don't know what are the ingredients but Fairy is very moisturizing. After I wiped it off with a tissue, my lips felt so soft. It's perfect for topping off matte / drying lipstick when you only want to make them more creamy instead of glossy. Here's how it looks worn over Chanel lipstick in Venise:
Overall, I find the quality of the products is OK. They're not bad but nothing to write home about, and the price feels a bit steeper because of that. The texture of the powders is somewhat coarse, no complaints on the lipstick. One good thing is that the products don't have any noticeable scent, which I like.
FYI, MUS has extensive range of products and their prices are more affordable than department store's brands. I didn't check them out though, because the only SA in the store was the pushy and overzealous kind. She was actually very sweet and nice, not the obnoxious, rude, and arrogant kind of pushy but still...how many times do I need to say it in order for her to comprehend that no means no?? She was the type that was so quick to pose as your best friend, she disregarded my words the whole time and kept trying to make me buy more, it was uncomfortable! >.< And after so many refusals she still dared to escalate into trying to convince me to get two promotion sets!
These products are made in Canada, same as MAC. Packaging, while nicely designed, is made with light plasticky material that feels super cheap. The hinge in the eye shadow / blush case is flimsy and I worry if I opened it too fast/careless it'd break. The lipstick case is the opposite, it snaps shut so tightly that you have to put a little effort to open it. So not elegant.
In summary, I would recommend not to get carried away when you visit the store. Come with a list, buy only what you need, buy less, see if you like it.
P.S. Anyone from Canada wanna tell me the deal about this brand?
When I first lived in Singapore a few years ago, Make Up Store (MUS) had already entered the market here. To my knowledge, they have only boutiques or stand-alone stores and always located in the big malls in the city, not the small, suburban ones. Their image is somewhat reminiscent of MAC or Make Up Forever with the all-black packaging and fashiony backstage-feel.
I'm not sure how popular it is among Singaporeans here, and to an extent, among people in general. Honestly, I've never really seen their stores being frequented that heavily by shoppers and I literally never stumbled upon any article or blog that features this brand unless I happened to google it, which I never did. I've seen their products being featured in local magazines, at one time they even sponsored an event about jobs and career for women but that's about it. Yet, they manage to survive here for all these years.
Every time I walked past an MUS store, it always intrigued me but I never followed through. Today however, due to my intention to rein in my spending and to be less of a brand snob this year, I decided to take the plunge. I'd like to brag a little that I came in with a list of what I needed and I stuck by that list, somewhat...
Here's what I bought:
 |
| Clockwise from top : Lipstick in Fairy, Microshadow in Sibiria, and Blush in Sugar Muffin |
First up is the eye shadow, or as they call it, Microshadow in Sibiria.
Sibiria (I don't understand this name, though, is it 'Siberia' in another language? does it even mean anything?) is a soft shimmery light taupe. I'd call it a shimmer wash because it provides you with a soft wash of color that is perfect as a base color. Here's how it looks swatched:
Check out the look I did with Sibiria below:
- Urban Decay Primer Potion Original
- Make Up Store Microshadow in Sibiria all over lid
- Chanel eye shadow in safari on the crease
- Chanel eye shadow in Magic Night as an accent on the outer crease
Next up is a blush on currently holding the title as a blush with the prettiest name ever: Make Up Store blush in Sugar Muffin.
It is a matte dusty pink blush on with silver sparkles sparsely dusted all over. The sparkles won't show up once you apply the blush, though. It's very pigmented and versatile, I think this shade suits every complexion as well, from dark to super pale. All that bullshit aside, to be honest I didn't think twice when I bought it because I wanted to tell people I wear Sugar Muffin on my cheeks.
And last but not least, the extra item I got that was not on the list: Make Up Store lipstick in Fairy.
Fairy is aptly named, though. On the container it is this pale pink pudding-looking stick with pink and purple sparkles. The SA told me it's a 'clear' lipstick and I thought to myself, what a fancy way to call a lip balm. Ha! It is more of a lip balm, when you put it on on its own you will only get shiny lips because it doesn't have any color.
The SA told me you can put it on over lipstick to touch it up, bring back the shine. I actually think it's very good to be used over lipsticks that are too drying. I have one lipstick that I have from Savoir Faire cosmetics called Grace, I really love the color but it is very drying. I can't wait to try it with Fairy, maybe I'll show you guys on the next post!
I don't know what are the ingredients but Fairy is very moisturizing. After I wiped it off with a tissue, my lips felt so soft. It's perfect for topping off matte / drying lipstick when you only want to make them more creamy instead of glossy. Here's how it looks worn over Chanel lipstick in Venise:
Overall, I find the quality of the products is OK. They're not bad but nothing to write home about, and the price feels a bit steeper because of that. The texture of the powders is somewhat coarse, no complaints on the lipstick. One good thing is that the products don't have any noticeable scent, which I like.
FYI, MUS has extensive range of products and their prices are more affordable than department store's brands. I didn't check them out though, because the only SA in the store was the pushy and overzealous kind. She was actually very sweet and nice, not the obnoxious, rude, and arrogant kind of pushy but still...how many times do I need to say it in order for her to comprehend that no means no?? She was the type that was so quick to pose as your best friend, she disregarded my words the whole time and kept trying to make me buy more, it was uncomfortable! >.< And after so many refusals she still dared to escalate into trying to convince me to get two promotion sets!
These products are made in Canada, same as MAC. Packaging, while nicely designed, is made with light plasticky material that feels super cheap. The hinge in the eye shadow / blush case is flimsy and I worry if I opened it too fast/careless it'd break. The lipstick case is the opposite, it snaps shut so tightly that you have to put a little effort to open it. So not elegant.
In summary, I would recommend not to get carried away when you visit the store. Come with a list, buy only what you need, buy less, see if you like it.
P.S. Anyone from Canada wanna tell me the deal about this brand?
Zou Bisou Bisou : A Little Eyes Inspiration
I am one of those people who were smitten by Jessica Pare when she sang that little French song on Mad Men. I love her look as well, especially that decadent thick eye liner that is so '60s that made her look like a nightingale every time she batted her lashes. Here's the look I'm talking about (image nicked from somewhere on the internet):
These winged eye liner are with a twist, though. On Mad Men, the makeup artist traced the crease of her lids instead of the lash lines. I was so smitten by this look, I recreated it using Bonavoce liquid eyeliner pen in black. Only, I used my own interpretation and traced my lash lines instead but with a great exaggeration.
Pardon the smudged eye lids but because this was done on a whim, I didn't bother using any primer. I just picked up the pen and started drawing. I think it didn't smudge that bad, considering...
For all my readers from the western hemisphere, I seriously recommend you to check out the vast array of liquid eye liner, mascara, and falsies lines from Japan. Japanese girls have crazy eyes fetish so eye-enhancing products are ubiquitous, with state-of-the-art formulas and adorable packaging. They are not exactly cheap but they're cheaper than department store brand but you get better products.
I loved it so much, I couldn't help but singing a little Zou Bisou Bisou myself all around my living room...;->
These winged eye liner are with a twist, though. On Mad Men, the makeup artist traced the crease of her lids instead of the lash lines. I was so smitten by this look, I recreated it using Bonavoce liquid eyeliner pen in black. Only, I used my own interpretation and traced my lash lines instead but with a great exaggeration.
Pardon the smudged eye lids but because this was done on a whim, I didn't bother using any primer. I just picked up the pen and started drawing. I think it didn't smudge that bad, considering...
For all my readers from the western hemisphere, I seriously recommend you to check out the vast array of liquid eye liner, mascara, and falsies lines from Japan. Japanese girls have crazy eyes fetish so eye-enhancing products are ubiquitous, with state-of-the-art formulas and adorable packaging. They are not exactly cheap but they're cheaper than department store brand but you get better products.
I loved it so much, I couldn't help but singing a little Zou Bisou Bisou myself all around my living room...;->
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Spring Fling 2013 : Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Cherry Blossom
I'm determined to make 2013 an awesome one so I'm starting the Spring right by acquiring a new fragrance : Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Cherry Blossom.
Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea has been an old favorite of mine since forever. The original fragrance is light and uplifting, with correlating packaging to boot. Elizabeth Arden has been producing several limited edition flankers since then but none of them has ever captured my heart the way Cherry Blossom does.
It gives me great pleasure just to be looking at it. For starters, they updated the bottle with the most beautiful pink color. The box that comes with it also bears a beautiful cherry blossoms print with gold trim, it's a pity to think of throwing it away.
Nothing fancy about the scent, it's pretty straightforward, just imagine the original Green Tea scent with a hint of Sakura. It's appropriate now that the temperature starts rising. Do you acquire any new Spring scents?
It gives me great pleasure just to be looking at it. For starters, they updated the bottle with the most beautiful pink color. The box that comes with it also bears a beautiful cherry blossoms print with gold trim, it's a pity to think of throwing it away.
Nothing fancy about the scent, it's pretty straightforward, just imagine the original Green Tea scent with a hint of Sakura. It's appropriate now that the temperature starts rising. Do you acquire any new Spring scents?
NOTD - Illamasqua Smash
My first post in 2013 and it's gonna be a quick one! I recently took the plunge and ordered Illamasqua online and it was such a great online shopping experience. I'm saving that story for another day, though. In this post I just wanna showcase one of my Illamasqua loots: Their nail varnish in Smash.
Smash is a bright green creme with a warm undertone so it's very suitable for people with olive skin like me because it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb against my skin tone, rather, it blends in well while still provides a nice pop of color.
I had just washed my hands and thought the water drops looked so fresh against the green color so I decided to take some pics. FAIL. They look gross >:-p
Illamasqua varnishes are rather famous on the net so frankly I had a lot of expectations when I ordered them. I was a bit disappointed actually because it didn't really blow my mind in terms of quality but overall, still a decent polish. But given the price, unless it's absolutely necessary I'd recommend buying them during sale.
Smash is a bright green creme with a warm undertone so it's very suitable for people with olive skin like me because it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb against my skin tone, rather, it blends in well while still provides a nice pop of color.
I had just washed my hands and thought the water drops looked so fresh against the green color so I decided to take some pics. FAIL. They look gross >:-p
Illamasqua varnishes are rather famous on the net so frankly I had a lot of expectations when I ordered them. I was a bit disappointed actually because it didn't really blow my mind in terms of quality but overall, still a decent polish. But given the price, unless it's absolutely necessary I'd recommend buying them during sale.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
A Very Doggy Birthday
As an aspiring architect living in a foreign country, it's understandably ill-advised for me to keep a dog of my own. So what's a girl gotta do to get her doggie fix? Why, sponsor one from a local shelter, of course!
Meet my dog, George.
That is his default pose when he's about to be given some food, as if he tries to convince me he's a good boy who deserves some treats, lols. I've been sponsoring him for the past year. He is one of the unwanted dogs that was rescued and now stays at Pets Villa under Animal Lovers League organization. Please check out their website here it'll be worth your while!
This was George the day I first met him a year ago, January 1st, 2012. He was still very aloof and cold towards me, half the time he couldn't wait to go back to the shelter, literally dragging me with him when he saw the shelter's fence.
Four months on and he finally warmed up. Now whenever I come by, he would welcome me with such joy. Just look at those hopeful eyes, don't you just melt?
George is such a cutie-patootie, he's a naughty dog and a trouble-maker who will shower you with kisses and hugs, and he loves you wholeheartedly. On some occasions, he would sit behind the fence and watch me as I left the shelter until I was out of sight. Such a good boy, that George!
Another quirk of his that I find so adorable is that he can't stand the hot weather. When the sun is burning brightly outside, don't expect him to go for a walk. I've caught him literally avoiding the sun by walking only under shaded area in the shelter. And he likes to take a dip in the water bucket provided throughout the shelter that I think is actually meant for the dogs to drink from!
This is him dipping his hind legs in the water.
So, what better way to mark one full year of George being in my life than with throwing him a birthday party!
I wanted to give George a special treat on his birthday so I ordered a cake from The Barkery, a canine bakery located at East Coast Road. Please check out their website here, they have some of the most adorable and delicious doggy treats, not to mention affordable and healthy because they don't use preservatives and everything is prepared by using wholesome ingredients only. They also have some party supplies, I bought a party hat for George there.
I feel The Barkery is a shop that was born out of love for our canine friends, everyone there was friendly and their products especially the cakes and biscuits looked so yummy, I really love visiting their store!
This is our birthday boy, posing in his party hat.
And this is the 5" round birthday cake with beef fillings and green icing ordered especially for George. George was excited to see the bone-shaped biscuit with his name on it. Doesn't it look so yum-yum?
Here are some snapshots from George's special day:
The dog with the golden fur in the last pic is Vicky. She is so gentle, sweet, and cuddly. I'm not sponsoring her but I would take her out sometimes. Vicky LOVES her walks. I wish I could get to a place in my life where I'd be able to adopt them both sooner. I even already know how I'd rename them: King George and Queen Victoria =D
Here's to that dream being a reality! Hear, hear!
Meet my dog, George.
This was George the day I first met him a year ago, January 1st, 2012. He was still very aloof and cold towards me, half the time he couldn't wait to go back to the shelter, literally dragging me with him when he saw the shelter's fence.
 |
| Puppy eyes |
Another quirk of his that I find so adorable is that he can't stand the hot weather. When the sun is burning brightly outside, don't expect him to go for a walk. I've caught him literally avoiding the sun by walking only under shaded area in the shelter. And he likes to take a dip in the water bucket provided throughout the shelter that I think is actually meant for the dogs to drink from!
This is him dipping his hind legs in the water.
 |
| Can't stand the hot weather! |
So, what better way to mark one full year of George being in my life than with throwing him a birthday party!
I wanted to give George a special treat on his birthday so I ordered a cake from The Barkery, a canine bakery located at East Coast Road. Please check out their website here, they have some of the most adorable and delicious doggy treats, not to mention affordable and healthy because they don't use preservatives and everything is prepared by using wholesome ingredients only. They also have some party supplies, I bought a party hat for George there.
I feel The Barkery is a shop that was born out of love for our canine friends, everyone there was friendly and their products especially the cakes and biscuits looked so yummy, I really love visiting their store!
 |
| The Barkery's Storefront |
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| Yummy Doggy Biscuits |
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| Some of The Barker's Products |
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| Cute Pictures |
 |
| Add caption |
This is our birthday boy, posing in his party hat.
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| George, the Birthday Boy |
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| Yummy Birthday Cake |
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| Sliced to showcase the yummy goodness inside |
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| George caught eyeing his cake |
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| Pose for one more shot, George! |
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| George giving Vicky a peck |
The dog with the golden fur in the last pic is Vicky. She is so gentle, sweet, and cuddly. I'm not sponsoring her but I would take her out sometimes. Vicky LOVES her walks. I wish I could get to a place in my life where I'd be able to adopt them both sooner. I even already know how I'd rename them: King George and Queen Victoria =D
Here's to that dream being a reality! Hear, hear!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEORGE!
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| Isn't my party hat so cute? |
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas Lunch : Madrina at Bukit Timah
Merry Christmas everyone!
This year I celebrate Christmas with lunch at Madrina, an Italian restaurant at Bukit Timah area that is totally a hidden gem in Singapore. You can learnmore about the restaurant here.
I chanced upon this restaurant back in 2009, I was just visiting a friend's house in the area and wanted to have dinner before going home. This place didn't look promising at first but after we sampled the food there was no doubt that we would definitely go back.
We haven't visited the restaurant as much as we'd like to especially because it was quite a chore to get to, it used to only be able to be reached by bus and before we know it, 3 years has passed. Now that we have the Circle Line, we just have to alight at Farrer Road MRT station and walk a few minutes over.
Madrina is located at a deck of an HDB complex. My roommate and I looove the place because it is so unassuming and mellow. Every time we went there, there were never that much people around.
Here are some shots of the interior:
So let's cut to the chase: the food here is top notch, as authentic as can be without all the pretentiousness. The chef and the owner (I assume) is Indian (I assume) =D He is very friendly and he'll remember you. When we went there a month after our 1st visit, he remembered us. He didn't remember us when we went for the pre-Christmas lunch, though...but it's been 3 years so understandable.
The place is not for people who like to see and be seen, just people who'd like to enjoy good food and have a low-profile outing.
There are two caveats though: it takes them longer to serve the food than you'd like to so make sure to bring good company, and the price is on the steeper side especially if you have a predisposition on how much a restaurant at such unglamorous location should charge.
Here's what we ordered:
- Calamari
- Insalata di Salmone (Salad with smoked salmon)
- Broccoli soup (not pictured)
- 24" pizza, half Ischia (prosciutto with arugula) and half Brindisi (Beef pepperoni and anchovies)
- Affogatto (vanilla ice cream in coffee)
- Cappuccino
- Tiramisu
Everything was perfection except perhaps the broccoli soup (not as creamy as I'd like but perhaps it's healthier but overall was quite meh) and the capuccino (I don't know what constitutes good coffee but it was too frothy for my liking).
Pizza was top notch, thin and crispy with tasty toppings. A warning though, Brindisi toppings can taste too salty due to the anchovies. The calamari retained the springy texture without being hard to bite/chew on, and the Insalata di Salmone was fresh and tangy. You should definitely get the Tiramisu to complete your meal, it's so rich and bursting with flavors!
All in all we spent about SGD86 (tax included), I know, I know, it's expensive...but really for food of this quality I think it's relatively a steal. Plus, the super mellow location is a plus plus for us who dislike crowds. Give it a try, everyone!
This year I celebrate Christmas with lunch at Madrina, an Italian restaurant at Bukit Timah area that is totally a hidden gem in Singapore. You can learnmore about the restaurant here.
I chanced upon this restaurant back in 2009, I was just visiting a friend's house in the area and wanted to have dinner before going home. This place didn't look promising at first but after we sampled the food there was no doubt that we would definitely go back.
We haven't visited the restaurant as much as we'd like to especially because it was quite a chore to get to, it used to only be able to be reached by bus and before we know it, 3 years has passed. Now that we have the Circle Line, we just have to alight at Farrer Road MRT station and walk a few minutes over.
Madrina is located at a deck of an HDB complex. My roommate and I looove the place because it is so unassuming and mellow. Every time we went there, there were never that much people around.
Here are some shots of the interior:
So let's cut to the chase: the food here is top notch, as authentic as can be without all the pretentiousness. The chef and the owner (I assume) is Indian (I assume) =D He is very friendly and he'll remember you. When we went there a month after our 1st visit, he remembered us. He didn't remember us when we went for the pre-Christmas lunch, though...but it's been 3 years so understandable.
The place is not for people who like to see and be seen, just people who'd like to enjoy good food and have a low-profile outing.
There are two caveats though: it takes them longer to serve the food than you'd like to so make sure to bring good company, and the price is on the steeper side especially if you have a predisposition on how much a restaurant at such unglamorous location should charge.
Here's what we ordered:
- Calamari
- Insalata di Salmone (Salad with smoked salmon)
- Broccoli soup (not pictured)
- 24" pizza, half Ischia (prosciutto with arugula) and half Brindisi (Beef pepperoni and anchovies)
- Affogatto (vanilla ice cream in coffee)
- Cappuccino
- Tiramisu
 |
| Calamari |
 |
| Insalata di Salmone |
 |
| 24" pizza |
 |
| Affogatto |
 |
| Capuccino |
 |
| Tiramisu |
Pizza was top notch, thin and crispy with tasty toppings. A warning though, Brindisi toppings can taste too salty due to the anchovies. The calamari retained the springy texture without being hard to bite/chew on, and the Insalata di Salmone was fresh and tangy. You should definitely get the Tiramisu to complete your meal, it's so rich and bursting with flavors!
All in all we spent about SGD86 (tax included), I know, I know, it's expensive...but really for food of this quality I think it's relatively a steal. Plus, the super mellow location is a plus plus for us who dislike crowds. Give it a try, everyone!
**MERRY CHRISTMAS**
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