Archive for November, 2011

30
Nov
2011

The last time I went to Phuket, I honestly had no idea and recollection of Phuket beaches. But now I can understand why people love going to Phuket. With the sand and waters a perfect shade of blue, every photo looks like it’s a postcard regardless of which beach you’re at.

Phuket Karon Beach

Instead of staying at the very popular Patong beach, Karon was our choice of accommdation. A little quieter but no less pretty. Even the view from our resort balcony was picturesque. With the beaches looking the way they were, it was an easy decision to make regarding spending most of our time at the beach. Bronzed skin, here we come!

Karona Resort

The thing I didnt expect about Phuket beaches was the strong waves that came in. Boy, were we caught off guard when we went a-splashing in the waters at Karon beach. The waves looked like you could surf on them. Well, baby surf that is. But were they BIG or were they BIG. The fun part was trying to jump onto the peak of the wave as it comes crashing into you! Hahaha! The resulting failure is having the waves crash over you and wash you up on the sand like a beached whale. Perfect example of (not-so-sexy) beach hair. Haha!

Phuket

So since we stayed away from where the realll action in Phuket was, a trip to Patong itself was obviously due. If I’ve got any advice for anyone traveling to Phuket/Patong, either 1) stay in Patong and save yourself the trouble of haggling over the price of a Tuk-Tuk or 2) rent a motorbike for about 300 THB a day and ride your way there. Tuk-Tuks cost 300 THB (~12.50 SGD) one way and honestly, I’d pick the second option because in Phuket you can ride a motorbike without a license this whole haggling/bargaining thing really isnt my cup of tea.

Anyhoo, Patong is a must-see if you havent already been there. The Patong market by day was like your regular street market. Stalls were lined up selling cheap (and sometimes dubious looking) food and random jewelry. Motorbikes and cars whizzed by inches away from your leg hair as you browsed the stalls giving you opportunities time and time again to watch your life flash before your eyes.

Phuket Patong Market

Phuket Patong Market

Patong Market Food Phuket

Patong Market Food

Phuket Patong Market Food

The clubs and their signs were the ones that amused me the most, especially the Husband Day Care Centre. Patong is synonymous with sex and judging from the position of the banner, husbands placed in the day care centre are gonna gogo for the A-go-go. It’s more likely that husbands will be hankering to be put in the day care centre than be willingly dropped off.

Patong Market

Phuket Clubs

But that’s not even the fun part. The fun begins when night falls and the clubs come alive. Bar top dancing, booty shaking, but the sexciting ping-pong shows happen behind closed doors.

Phuket Patong Beach

Patong Clubs

We didnt stay for the shows obviously, but instead took a trip to the beach. In comparison to Karon beach, Patong beach was a lot more crowded and infinitely busier.

Phuket Patong Beach

Phuket Patong Beach

We didnt do any of the aerial sports, but opted for water sports, like snorkeling, at the three Khai islands, Khai Nok, Khai Nai and Koh Khai Nui, off Phuket. That was where we got upclose with some of the local residents.

Phuket Khai Nai Island

Phuket

Phuket Animals

Each of the three Khai islands are a beautiful sight. Whether it was because of the colourful (rentable) umbrellas or the setting sun, awesome shots are a must.

Phuket Khai Island

Khai Island

Phuket Khai Island

With such a beautiful scenery, of course you’ll have to do the customary swimsuit shot.

Face of the Day

Half of the days were spent on the beach while the other half was spent at the numerous markets and malls. Yes, there are several (okay maybe just two) malls in Phuket: Jung Ceylon and Central Festival.

Phuket Jung Ceylon

Phuket Central Festival

I tried makeup shopping at these places but they didnt have anything interesting or the brands that I wanted. Bangkok has NARS, but sadly not Phuket. So thankfully, I brought my own makeup for the trip! Yay!

MAC Makeup

In the eye department, I trusted MAC for their mascara, concealer and eyeliner. MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer, MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved, MAC Fluid Line and MAC Zoom Lash to keep my peepers pretty for shopping trips.

Travel Make Up

Unlike my Hong Kong travel makeup kit, because Phuket’s sun is like no other, you’ll need sunblock for your face on top of slathering sun protection on your skin every 2 hours. So, BioTherm’s BB White D-Tox BB cream was my weapon of choice, giving light coverage and sun protection for a really natural face of the day.

Face of the Day Phuket

And why do I say Jung Ceylon in Patong is a better mall than Central Festival? For one, it has more things you can shop for. Secondly, it’s not as far and probably wont get conned into paying 500 THB traveling to Jung Ceylon. Last and definitely most importantly, you get awesomely cute shoes at Jung Ceylon! I have no idea what to wear them with, but arent they the cutest? Haha!

Phuket Shopping

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28
Nov
2011

Whoever said good things come to those who wait was right. When the OPI Pirates of the Caribbean series launched, Mermaid’s Tears was the first colour to catch my eye. It was a green like no other. I wouldnt normally wear green on my fingers (I really am quite boring in my choice of nail polish colours), but I wanted this particular mermaid green. My heart raced and my fingers itched to buy the mini Pirates of the Caribbean set, but I didnt.

Months later, I find myself at a flea market where $10 nail polishes are simply too hard to resist. I pour through the colours and what do you know, Mermaid’s Tears in a full sized bottle! At half the price in retail shops! So, uhhh.. I picked up three bottles. Just for good measure.

OPI Nail Polishes

The colour palette of this random set falls in the more pastel colour scheme despite being from different collections. OPI Kyoto Pearl, from the OPI Soft Shades collection, is a pearlised white that comes out sheer on your nails. I figure a good 3 coats should do the trick.

Then, there’s San Tan-tonio from the OPI Texas Spring 2011 collection, that reminds me a whole lot of a favourite suede bag that goes with practically anything. Instead of the usual sheer pink neutral nails, I figured I’d try something different with a light brown colour. It was a tough choice choosing which 3 of the lot would go on my nails. Eventually, Mermaid’s Tears won because of all the good things I heard about it from fellow nail polish aficionados.

OPI Mermaids Tears Swatch

Two coats of Mermaid’s Tears was all that was needed to achieve this rich seafoam green. Application was smooth and the creme texture was painless to apply. Although the colour is a little richer in the photo swatch, in reality it’s a slightly softer, more pastel, sage-like colour. In fact, it seems like a lighter version of the green in my blog theme! Haha!

The softness of OPI Mermaid’s Tears is what gives this colour its sophistication, yet the vibrancy of seafoam green will certainly catch your eye. Fuss-free, just paint and go. You’ll love this OPI nail polish so much you might even shed a tear like the mermaids did. OPI Mermaid’s Tears is legendary much like the mystical creatures it was named after. This green is a dream.

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24
Nov
2011

This was originally high on my Christmas Wish List when I first saw them in RougeDeluxe‘s haul post. My eyes popped out of my socket and I made it my life mission to get my hands on the limited edition tokidoki 24 Karat Pittura Brush Set. But after miraculously finding it in Sephora despite being told it was sold out, I can now happily cross it off my Wish List.

tokidoki 24k Pittura Brush Set

My fate with tokidoki was sealed the moment I met Simone Legno, creator of tokidoki, in person at last year’s Singapore Toy Comic and Games Convention. This year, my life and small collection of tokidoki is (temporarily) complete because Sephora Singapore has kindly brought in tokidoki’s limited edition 24 Karat makeup and Kat Von D for the holidays.

tokidoki Singapore

The special edition tokidoki 24 Karat edition makeup is opulent and edgy; the latter being a consistent in all tokidoki designs. But the gold and black… Now that’s something new. It was a no brainer when I saw the tokidoki 24K Pittura Brush Set among the rest of the other 24K makeup. Shiny gold and black brush handles with magnificent detailing, I had to have ‘em. Plus, those charms! Ohhh… They charmed SGD $59 straight out of my wallet without hesitation.

So the story goes like this. I was told by the Singapore beauty bloggers that the 24K Pittura Brush Sets were sold out everywhere in Sephora Singapore. Walking into Sephora ION, I was told the same by the sales assistants in the shop when asked. I was overwhelmed by a sense of sadness. I really did want those brushes.

Wandering about Sephora, I browsed the other tokidoki 24 Karat makeup and even considered just getting the SGD $15 24 Karat Mini Eyeshadow Palette because I am a makeup whore it is a limited edition set. But lo and behold, a peek at the bottom shelf revealed the 24 Karat Brush set nestled between the tokidoki Mini Rollerball Set and the 24 Karat Skate Deck Palette. You cannot imagine my happiness when I saw the set. I grabbed one set (even considered getting two), tweeted the news and re-contemplated the second set. Haha.

tokidoki 24k Pittura Brush Set

Some of the other beauty bloggers have commented about how distracting the dangly charms at the end can be when you’re applying your make up. They jingle and they jangle as you sweep your make up over your face. And it’s true. I found that out myself while trying the brushes but thought the movement was rather cute, a playful reminder of tokidoki and its fun factor.

In fact, as a testament to how playful tokidoki can be, the charms can be detached from the Pittura Brushes and linked up to make a bracelet. tokidoki jewelry!

tokidoki 24k Pittura Brush Set

All 4 star brushes in the tokidoki 24K Pittura Brush Set, the Ciao Ciao Star Powder Brush, Latte Eyeshadow Brush, Adios Star Smudge Brush and the Unicorno Eyeliner/ Lip Brush have synthetic fibre brush heads encased in beautifully detailed black and gold handles, topped off at the end with their respective respective detachable charms.

tokidoki 24k Pittura Brush Set

For almost SGD $15 a brush, the brushes didnt disappoint. They were incredibly soft to the touch and picked up pigments well. With the Adios Star Smudge Brush you can contour the outer corner of your eye and it performed just as well, but not better, than my Sigma 12-brush kit.

Although the Ciao Ciao Star Power Brush and Adios Star Smudge Brush are my favourite brushes of the lot, the tokidoki 24K Pittura Brush Set wont be your go-to set if you’ve already got a professional brush kit you rely on. I, for one, cant bear to use it because it’s such a gorgeous set. A definite must-have on your Christmas Wish List if you’re a tokidoki fan. Cross my heart.

tokidoki Pittura Brush Set 24k

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22
Nov
2011

Sponsored Post

If there’s a trend that I’ve noticed recently amongst the people I meet, is the fact that they’ve forgotten to do something for themselves. No no, not in the sense where it’s on a To-Do list and you’ve forgotten a chore. But when things get hectic, we can get caught up and forget to enjoy the little things in life; we forget to do the things we love. Doing something for yourself is giving yourself a little treat and indulging in a little me-time.

These days I like to take extra time to spend on myself. When I’m grooving to the smooth tunes of my favourite artists, I make sure no one takes my chocolates away from me as I sneak a velvety smooth piece of Dove Milk Chocolate. The packs are smaller than usual (80g) and uhh.. before the end of the playlist, I usually realise I’ve finished about half the entire bar myself. Lol.

My other indulgences are obviously beauty related. It’s the littlest things like painting my nails that make me happy. You’re probably no stranger to my countless nail escapades and just like I like my nail polishes with dazzle in them, the hazelnut and raisin in the Dove Chocolate Hazelnut and Raisin gives you that extra bit of flavour and kick to enjoying chocolate.

Dove Chocolates

Then when I’m in the midst of reading my brand new book, the rich flavour of Dove’s brand new 66% cacao dark chocolate provides a sensational taste and smell experience in tandem with the visual imagery of my book. It’s a complete sensory experience indulging in me time with whichever chocolate complements your moments. With the new 80g Dove Chocolate packs, you get a full burst of indulgence in small dozes that go with the little things in life.

Dove Me Time

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18
Nov
2011

Looking back, I cant believe it’s been FOUR YEARS since I last joined Nuffnang Singapore. Going through my old posts, my first cheque was in 2007! Since then, not only have the cheques gotten bigger and better, more importantly, the relationship has grown and we both have changed over the years and achieved so much more. Like an old married couple, you eventually come to a point where it just hits you: some things money just cant buy.

We’ve had our moments. I’ve gone to places and done things I’ve never thought I would. When you enter a relationship, a good other half will turn you into the person you never thought you were, could be or should be. But turn me into someone else Nuffnang did over the years.

For the first Nuffnang Pajama Party in 2008, also their first birthday bash, I turned into Chipster girl for them. It was also the awesome Pajama Party that my mommy’s hand sewn Chipster pillows won me an all expenses paid trip to KL on top of an iPod Touch.

Normally you dont shed blood for your other half, but I shed blood I did for this fledgling relationship. Thank goodness it was for a good cause… for Singapore’s First Blogger Blood Drive!

Later in the year, I did my very first advertorial for Dove shower foam! Someone actually wanted me to write for them! Bearing it all, I sang about fresh hydrated skin in the shower.

On top of that, I took up soccer for them so I could meet Malaysian bloggers like fourfeetnine and Cindy from the Malaysia Dream Girl contest at the vPost Christmas party! I’m sure the bloggers were thoroughly impressed by my skills. But all that hardwork didnt go to waste seeing how many Santarinas there were at the event. I can safely say I was definitely good that year!

In 2009, things got more intense in the relationship. There were casual dinner outings with the entire (blogger) family. Even the head of the household turned up at these dinners and demonstrated his super fast speed when it comes to food.

After that, since we were already acquainted, we didnt bother to be shy. We took to the streets to show the world what we had. We took our clothes off… in a pajama flash mob!

Thereafter, things got really serious. To officiate our presence, we had the FIRST Asia-Pacific Blog Awards held in Singapore! All that glitz and glamour at Pan Pacific to celebrate the best in the blogosphere. Anyone who’s anyone was there! Bloggers from Australia, Malaysia and Philippines were flown in and treated to yummy-licious food and a tour of our power-packed island.

Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards

Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards

Bloggers were all dressed up for the night! With a red carpet on the floor, it was like Hollywood here in our little island. There was no colour theme but it seemed that everyone was dressed in standard black. I aim to go in a different colour this year. Haha.

Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards

Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards

Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards

As luck would have it, I sat next to the very adorable VioletLeBeaux from Australia whom I eventually went on to do Sneaker Sundays with!

Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards

Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards

This is the most hilarious photo. Boss Ming was on the phone that night when I wanted to take a photo. It looks like he’s just posing with it, but he’s really in the middle of a call! LOL!

Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards

From there, the first Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards, friendship blossomed. An impromptu Christmas gift through 2009′s Christmas that taught me what true friendship encompasses.

In 2010, Nuffnang pushed me to greater heights and we did bigger things together. We championed for a cleaner and greener environment without lighting up at the HPB’s Live It Up Without Lighting Up campaign. Yay to a smoke-free environment! Yay to saving money! Yay to being fit! Yay for smelling nice and looking young!

Like a good other half, Nuffnang also encouraged me to make my very first make up tutorial video by giving me a spanking new camera! The Olympus EP1! A camera I still use till this day.

At this juncture, it was with Nuffnang’s help that I made the decision to convert dweam.com to a full-fledged beauty blog. With a brand new blog skin from Ripplewerkz, valuable input from the Nuffnang team and we were good to go. dweam.com, a Singapore Beauty Blog, was born.

dweam.com Singapore Beauty Blog

Once the video wave started, more video tutorials for established brands like Liese and Olay Regenerist followed.

I also decided to try out a new look. Without Nuffnang’s introduction, I might not have had the chance to learn from the vintage expert herself, gorgeous SuperKawaiiMama. We worked on a collaboration vintage make up tutorial during the time she was here in Singapore. It remains one of my favourite make up tutorial videos because it was so much fun to do!

But trying one look was not enough, I also tried out a Disney Princess look ala Rapunzel.

I’m proud to say that despite all the exposure it got in the media both local and overseas, my Nuffnang has always had a heart and a great community spirit. When the Japan earthquake struck, bloggers were rallied to use our presence in the blogosphere for a good cause. Nuffnang brought me and Esther together in the fund-raising event Ganbatte Japan! Not only did we make over the people who came to our booth, with whatever money we collected, we were making over the lives of the tragedy-struck Japanese.

Ganbatte Japan

Ganbatte Japan

Ganbatte Japan! was also the first time I met new bloggers like Miyake, Eric and Yutakis in person alongside old friends. And when bloggers get together, we cam-whore and have tonnes of fun. Now, that’s what you call a get-together.

Ganbatte Japan

Ganbatte Japan

Ganbatte Japan!

2011 came around and I was pushed to even greater heights, fronting the brand of Whisper as one of the Digital Ambassadors alongside other prominent bloggers such as sixpegs, belluspuera, nicolethen and nadnut.

Continuing with Olay after the first video project, I went on to do a video web series called the Olay Project 360 to improve my skin condition. We got to cosy up with awesome bloggers like Xiaxue and Qiuqiu (who photoshopped me so nicely in the photo below). After 6 weeks (and despite coming back from Brazil), I eventually won the Olay White Radiance category!

If you thought fronting the brands was all for 2011, Nuffnang also brought me backstage at the National Day Parade 2011 to fully experience the Singapore Spirit.

In a nutshell, Ive watched Nuffnang and dweam.com grow so much through these years. The coupling has been a beautiful one and I can safely say that things are only going to move forward from here. Thank you Nuffnang for all the beautiful memories, for taking me places, letting me experience some really amazing things. See, what did I tell you about a good partner bringing you to places and turning you into the person you never thought you could be?

It looks like a full plate for 2011 but the cherry on the cake for this year will come 16 December 2011. On that day, 500 bloggers from around the Asia-Pacific region will flock to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards 2011 in Putrajaya Marriott. The Awards aims to not only honour the region’s best bloggers, but also to bring together blogger communities from across Asia-Pacific. The Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards is brought to you by Volkswagen Malaysia and Putrajaya Marriott.

If Nuffnang’s track record is anything to go by, from their first birthday bash to the very first Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog awards in 2009, these guys sure know how to throw a party. With sporting bloggers, this time from all over Asia-Pacific, I’ll bet you there wont be a dull moment during the award ceremony. Everyone will be dressed up to the nines and cameras will be flashing. This, is the Oscars of blogging. Now, I want that invite!

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15
Nov
2011

Update: Winners have been picked. Thank you everyone for participating!

With the end of the year holiday about a month away, I strongly believe there’s still time to write to Santa to tell him what I want in my Christmas stocking. I really do love the holiday sets that come out during this time of year. All the pretty bows and lovely wrapping, I adore receiving presents and tearing the wrapper off in a heartbeat. Everyone loves opening presents!

Since I cant have everything that gets my heart racing this Christmas, partially thanks to my already burgeoning make up stash, this Christmas Wish List series is the perfect excuse to ogle at the items that get me biting my lips.

Lancome Tresor

Following the success of Tresor and Tresor in Love women’s fragrances, Lancome introduces Tresor Midnight Rose with Emma Watson as the face of the fragrance. I havent followed the previous two fragrances but after experiencing all three perfumes, I’m quite sure that this is my favourite fragrance out of the Lancome Tresor threesome.

Emma Watson for Tresor Midnight Rose

With Emma Watson, my favourite Muggle, as the vivacious, spontaneous and romantic heroine of the Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose ad, I surrender. You’ve got my attention now Lancome.

Tresor Midnight Rose Lancome

Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose

In contrast to its sister fragrance Tresor in Love, the Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose bottle is a violet hue that is meant to represent the “most romantic hour, just before midnight, when magic tints the sky a violet hue”. I am bedazzled by the faceted bottle and diamond cut cap, perfectly accessorized by a satin nightime rose. A precious rose symbolizing passionate love.

When you take a closer look at the fragrance, you’ll realise the rose is an apt symbol for the Tresor fragrances. At the heart of all the Lancome Tresor fragrances is the signature sweet rose. In the Tresor Midnight Rose mix, however, you’ll first experience a sweet burst of raspberry and blackcurrant fruit before the rose, jasmine and peony reveal itself and leave cedar essence, vanilla and musk lingering on your skin.

Words aside, I like the fragrance. The first burst of sweetness will catch you a little bit off guard, just like how they described a spontaneous first love encounter. After surprising you, then comes the chase. It mellows and you long to catch a hint of the scent again. When you do, it’s fresh, sensual and leaves you wanting more. The Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose is definitely a unique fragrance. A few days after I was introduced to the scent, my nose caught whiff of someone using it next to me and I immediately identified it.

Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose

So, here’s the twist about this Christmas Wish List. Lancome has kindly offered to give away TWO 50ml bottles of Tresor Midnight Rose (worth $100 each) to two readers of this blog.

To win yourself a bottle of Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose perfume, you will need to submit a photo of yourself with your favourite PURPLE item. I’m actually wearing Deborah Lippmann’s Bad Romance nail polish in the above photo! Your photo should revolve around the theme of purple, romance, rose or the Emma Watson hat! It doesnt have to be too complicated or involve a purple beauty product. Purple bags, accessories, rose rings, hat hair clips are all welcome! Just show us how much you love purple!

Send your Tresor Midnight Rose photo with the subject “I Love Midnight Rose” to daydweam@gmail.com by 20th November 2200h. The TWO best photos will receive a 50ml Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose fragrance in their mail box via snail mail. Remember to include your name and use a working email.

Entries posted in the comment section do not qualify. The Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose contest is limited to Singaporean addresses ONLY. So what are you waiting for? Get creative!

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