Philippines 2011

A few weeks ago I went to the Philippines to visit my boyfriend's family. He lives around East Samar. I had a 10 hour flight from Sydney to Manila with a stop over in Darwin. Followed by 4 hours of waiting to fly domestically from Manila to Tacloban. After Tacloban I took a 4 hour van ride from the airport to his home town. By the end of all this travelling I feel that next time I travel, I should not try to squeeze everything into one day just to get to my destination. The waiting and constant sitting takes a toll on the body. 

Some houses I saw whilst on the road

Church and a mode of 'taxi'

On a bridge crossing an island to another island

My accommodation, I'm familiar with sleeping on hard surfaces because my mattress at home is extremely firm and my bed back in China is those traditional wooden 4 poster beds with curtains surrounding it. 

Lagoon 2 minutes away from my boyfriend's Philippines home, the lagoon was so beautiful and the water was very warm. Just past the lagoon is the Pacific Ocean. 

The little 'huts' are for visitors to hire and have lunch etc.

Overall the non-city areas of the Philippines has a lot to offer. The air is clear and the coastal views are fantastic, however there is not much to do except swim and eat and time can go quite slow if you have no family or friends to talk to. In Manila (I did not take much pictures) the traffic is congested but the malls are HUGE!!! I've been to big shopping centres in Australia and they do not compare to the average malls in Manila. The ones in Australia are so much smaller than Manila. A store I really liked was called "Kamiseta," Katie Holmes models for them and the price for the quality of clothing is very good.  

Food wise, there is so many different fast food restaurants in the Philippines and it's so cheap! I can get a decent meal for only $2 AUD. However, shopping is not as cheap as Hong Kong. Also I did visit some luxury designer stores and they were more expensive than Australia, the service in those stores were also appalling! =( 

Has anyone been to the Philippines? Do you know of any other areas I should visit next time I go...(I will probably visit Borocay next time I go)

Errands

Almost heading to the philippines and hong kong :) just running a few errands before I head out.




Bought two large luggages for my mum. It just fits in my MINI. Had to put seats down. Also bought 10kg of milk powder for family overseas.



Got my watched fixed. Great warranty service from Swarovski. No questions asked. Just the way I like it.



Was just going to buy blush for mum. Blush was $10. For $5 more I got this pack which includes mascara, nail polish and lipstick! Score :)

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Japanese goodies =]

Hey ladies


I'm gonna do a proper post now...it's not a haul post because it's all gifts =D
A while ago my friend from Japan came over to Australia for a week holiday. I hadn't seen her in nearly 4 years!!


So while she was here I took her around Sydney etc.

This is us at Hurricanes Grill and Bar Harbourside.

Me left, her right

Following are some goodies she brought over:

Fabric, her mother thought I was still into sewing, I'm on and off but I always admire Japanese fabrics because the patterns are always so beautiful. 

ViVi magazine and Sweet =]

She also brought some lollies (all gone =P), Japanese Tea and some other random knickknacks. 

It was so sad to see her go after only one week =(

but my friends and I got her a pandora bracelet

I got her a kangaroo because that's the "Aussiest"thing they have in their collection

Also got her some lucas paw paw ointment, box full of lush bath bombs and dream cream which I think is the best all over body moisturiser. Also gave her a benefit bad gal mascara. 

After she left I got a package from her =]

She sent lots and lots of these. Best lollies ever!

Some flavoured gummies (they're not really sour despite the name)

Jill Stuart goodies =D

Inside each small bag was the Fruit Lip Balm in 02 Tint

It's so beautiful!!

Taste and smell is not that great...Juicy Fruits by Lancome are my top pick for flavoured lip gloss

And in the big bag was my lusted after perfume!!!

The bottle is just gorgeous!!

This was the only thing 1 of the 2 things I requested from her

Canmake Cheek Gradation in 02

Cure Natural Aqua Gel!! I've wanted this for ages but didn't want to pay the inflated prices online

Ahhhhhh sooooo happy! =]

Coming soon I will post my review on the Gel 

see you guys soon xo

Happy Australia Day!

Happy Australia Day to my fellow Aussies =]

Today was super duper hot!!! 

It was also my anniversary with my bf. Was only minor but he got me the Chanel sunglasses I had been eyeing for ages =D

I love love bows, so these sunnies are totally me and they actually suit me. Hard to find sunnies that suit my round head. Would probably wear these for the next five years cause I'm a girl who likes to stick to my key items.

Will try to come up with more interesting posts. Sorry nothing beauty related. Come to think of it I have not tried the My Beauty Diary masks that goes around the ears. Will hopefully try them soon and do a review =]

Take Care everyone!

Best Buys of 2010 and some regretted buys

2010 is the year I got girlier, lol =p 

Following are the best purchases I made in 2010:

Skincare

Cleanser: HadaLabo Gokujyun foaming cleanser

Misc: SK-II facial treatment essence

Eye Cream: SK-II Signs Eye Cream

Moisturiser: Vitacreme B12

Make Up

Powder: Jill Stuart Smooth Silk Powder Foundation in 202 Ivory

Blush: Canmake Cheek Gradation in 05 Peach Stripe

Lipgloss: Canmake Nudy Glow in 06 Peach Milk

Base: Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream in no. 21 Bright Beige

Lancome Hypnose use to be my HG mascara - best for volumising mascara but sometimes smudges =(

It has now been replaced by Canmake Gokubuto which does not volumise as much as Hypnose. On a plus side it doesn't smudge and washes off easily

Body

Lush Dream Cream - easily melts into body and moisturises well

Hair Care

Moroccanoil - great for dry ends

Yanagiya  Prexceed Tsubaki Spray - I use this after I wash my hair for nourishment

Absolutely love Shiseido Tsubaki Head Spa Range, makes my hair very soft, moisturised and nourished. Also makes it stronger =]

Regretted Buys

SANA Soya Milk Arbutin Toner - Did not do much for me =/

Kose Cosmagic Sweet Deco Cheek - hard to apply and not worth the money

What have been your best purchases or regretted buys?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday =]

xoxo

Rhinestoned mirror

Sorry for the lack of posts. I will extend my giveaway until mid-december =] Right after I come back from my little holiday with some friends in Melbourne. So ENTER HERE for any new guests ^_~ might throw in a MYSTERY GIFT...considering it's almost christmas 


Anyways today I was a bit bored so I blinged an old mirror I had that was kinda yellowing. 

I bought the Swarovski flat back crystals in SS16 in clear a few months ago but didn't really have anything I wanted to bling...or really I had a lack of ideas. Anyways I decided to incorporate some old earrings I had into it. One of the earrings was already broken so I broke the other 2. I got them at the beginning of this year at one of the Hong Kong markets. 

So here is the result of my first attempt at blinging. I also used a flat faux pearl in the shape of a heart because I just had enough crystals...so lucky. I used an epoxy glue for this. It's the ones you mix together. I mixed a little bit every time I went along because I didn't want the batch of glue to dry up. 

I'm loving because Swarovski crystals are so shinny and they don't scratch or lose much lustre.

Have you guys blinged anything old before to revamp it?

Something different - A little shopping haul

Hello, it's been a while since I've blogged. I've just finished all my exams. So scary =(


This post is non-beauty related. The other day I decided to go shopping with a friend since she was heading overseas for 3 months. Here's what I got:

Bought things from Kikki.K and T2

I love stationery especially cute ones and tea, especially english breakfast.

Also bought a pair of Australia thongs for my friend in Japan, I've just sent it to her for her birthday

From Kikki.K I got the cute diary pack. It's going to be my new diary for 2011. Trying to be more organised and it's much easier when your diary is super cute ^_~

Every week the border has a different design, You can colour in your mood and the weather of the day.

From T2 I got a tea stack and something like an instant blend. Just wished they weren't so expensive. It's the packaging that gets you, so nice, modern and simple. 

English Breakfast, Sencha (green tea) and Lemongrass and Ginger. Inside these are pyramid tea bags.

Turkish Apple and Cinnamon. I tried this in store and it was so nice and refreshing =]

It's great as an ice tea, summer soon in Australia so I'm gonna be drinking plenty of this.

Has anyone tried any other flavours from T2?

Canmake Haul and some Japanese Magazines

Enter My Giveaway!! Simply follow ^_^


Today I went to the airport to pick my friend up who went to Japan...EPIC-EST FAIL! I was a tad late but he didn't wait =( also he had no phone and my phone battery eventually died. So for over 2 hours I drove around and walked around the airport searching for him...then I gave up and rushed home. I charged my phone and immediately called his home...phew...he got home safe...POINT...make sure things are well organised and be prepared for "what ifs" when you go pick up a friend from the airport when their phone is broken T_T


But anyways...he got me lots of Canmake goodies ^_^ and 2 of my favourite magazines...ViVi and CanCam!! CanCam is my style...very soft and elegant fashion. I love the make-up in both ViVi and CanCam because they aren't as over the top as Ranzuki and Popteen. But he got me Popteen too...just that he was over the weight limit and needed to post it. 

November Issue of ViVi came with free Snidel bag. Its black faux fur with a golden chain.

November Issue of CanCam came with Anteprima Misto B5 sized bag...not too sure what to use it for.

All the make up I chose are from Canmake

 Lycee Eye Drops and Lycee Eye Wash. My eyes are always irritated ='(

Also got some super cute Hello Kitty stationery (^-^)v

Left to Right: Lip Concealer in 01, Nudy Glow Lip Glosses in 02 Strawberry Whip/06 Peach Milk/05 Honey Latte, Melty Nude Lipsticks in 03 Baby Pink/02 Creamy Nude/01 Baby Beige

GOKUBUTO mascara, Cream Cheek in 07 Coral Orange, I also asked for 08 Marshmallow Pink but it SOLD OUT =(

 Canmake Eyeshadow Base

"NEW" Gradation Wink in 02 Chocolate Millefeuille (top colour) and 03 Strawberry Tart

Will Do a Review on it soon! I'm so excited to experiment and I have an engagement soon ^_^