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Friday, December 25, 2015

Merry Christmas!

christmas

Hello all!

I would like to just drop by and wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope your day has been great and I wish you all the best for the coming year.

After taking a few weeks off from posting, I'll begin posting again after New Year's, so make sure to keep an eye out for that!




Love you all! x

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Feeling Blue | Current Thoughts

Hello all!

Many things have been running through my head lately, and they all seem to relate back to blue, whether it's the colour or the feeling. 

First up, Troye Sivan's 'Blue Neighbourhood' dropped yesterday and oh my god it is amazing. His music falls under the indie electronic category which may not be for everyone, but I absolutely love it. I've without a doubt mentioned his music in past Favourites, but the release of the album had to be mentioned. He's created a whole background to it, so there's more to it than just the music. The songs really are that good and it's impossible to choose one favourite. Check out 'Blue Neighbourhood' on Spotify here or hit up his iTunes here


Pantone has had the internet buzzing these past few days with the release of 2016's Colour of the Year... or in this case, Colours. The two colours chosen are both pastels; rose quartz is a pale pink, and serenity is a cornflower blue with a touch of purple. Both shades are really pretty and I can definitely see how they can be incorporated into coming trends. Though I won't be rocking rose quartz hair anytime soon, serenity would make a great Spring nail polish to brighten up the rainy months. 


So it's the end of the year - Christmas is in 20 or so days. I can't help but feel a little sad that the year is almost ending, and I just can't get into the festive spirit. I'm not a huge celebrator of Christmas but I do love the festivities surrounding it. It may be just the work I've got to tackle during the holidays or the coming exams. I've still got that EE and past papers to complete before I can relax!




Hope you are all doing well! x

Monday, November 30, 2015

November Favourites


Hello all!

I hope you're all doing well. Mother Nature has been more lenient and we've been blessed - finally - with sweater weather. But of course, the wave of cold weather brings sickness and cold; stay strong, stay moisturised, and fight through it!

Helping me combat rough, scaly skin is the Creamy Madly Dreamy body lotion from Zoella's core collection of products. With a light, floral scent, this lotion is thick but absorbs into the skin quickly, replenishing moisture.


For my lips I recently picked up this Wild Argan Oil lip balm from The Body Shop to replace my ancient Nivea tin. For $109, this little 20ml tin is on the pricier side; nonetheless, I believe it is worth every dollar because it truly does moisturise my lips well. I apply this every night before going to bed, and before I apply a matte lipstick to avoid my lips from drying out.


Personally, washing my face in the morning is a chore. I'm perfectly fine with washing my face at night because I do it in the shower, but in the mornings I'm often barely awake. Using facial wipes isn't quite as effective as properly using a cleanser, but the tea tree wipes from Superdrug have really helped me out. After using it on my face it leaves a tingly, refreshing feeling, and my face feels nice and clean after. I was shopping one day when I came across them and decided to give it a go; for only $20 these wipes work really well!


Here's a fun little fact for you: my whole family's quite into Lush. I've mentioned my love for Lush products in previous Favourites, and for this months I have included their American Cream conditioner. Originally my mum bought this to use in her shower, but I took and started using it! It smells divine, as Lush products do, and my hair has definitely become less tangled up when I come out of the shower.

Through November, I delved more into the world of hip hop and rap. Tyga found his way into my playlists and I've been listening to his songs all month, particularly the 2011 hit 'Rack City', his sick collab with Chris Brown 'Ayo', and his latest single 'Dope'd Up'. I mentioned Kid Ink last month but 'Iz U Down' featuring Tyga popped up and earned a permanent spot in my music library. 

I really must applaud Justin Bieber on 'Purpose'; it was nothing like I imagined it to be and I absolutely love the album. The dance videos accompanying the release of the album are amazing. 'Sorry' is my favourite on it, along with 'Company', 'No Pressure' featuring Big Sean, 'Where Are Ü Now', 'Life Is Worth Living' and 'The Feeling' featuring Halsey. Speaking of Halsey, 'Coming Down' from 'Badlands' is another track on the favourites list. Her voice is pure liquid gold!

Power girl group Little Mix dropped their new album 'Get Weird' this month and it would be a crime not to include it in my favourites. It's nostalgic to see how far they've grown, as I've been a fan since their early X-Factor days. Tracks I love are the cheeky 'A.D.I.D.A.S.', 'Grown' and 'Secret Love Song' featuring Jason Derulo. Little Mix is the ultimate epitome of a perfect girl group (imo!) and I'm super happy that they are attracting more attention. 

To end the music favourites, I'm including Nick Jonas's 'Levels', Daya's 'Hideaway', and Panic! At the Disco's horrifically entertaining 'Emperor's New Clothes' (THE MUSIC VIDEO!).




And those were my November Favourites! November has been a slightly icky month for me, and I'm hoping to regain balance as we head towards the end of 2015. Have you been feeling like that too? Nonetheless, here's a little Pinterest inspiration!





Have a great day! x

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Autumn/Winter Lip Product Picks

autumn winter lip products

Hey there!

With the colder months here, a whole new set of lip colours is required to go with the change of attire. My pinks and corals are retiring for now, and I'm bringing out deeper, more autumn/winter-appropriate shades. 

autumn winter lip products

Topshops's Matte Lip Bullet in Get Me Bodied is the perfect maroon shade, complete with a not-overwhelmingly-dry matte formula.

VDL's Expert Colour Lip Cube in 502 Hello Stranger is a nice bright red that's an alternative to the traditional scarlet. It's such a Christmassy shade and it gets me excited for the festive season.

When I first swatched VDL's Festival Lipstick in 501 Bordeaux, it immediately reminded me of Lorde; the name of the shade suits it very well! The shine of this product is fantastic, making it less Halloween and more vampy-glam.

Probably my favourite out of the set is Mac's Whirl. Dubbed as one of Kylie Jenner's 90s lip colours, I am absolutely in love with this neutral shade, along with Velvet Teddy. Whirl is slightly darker than Velvet Teddy, and Autumn and Winter are great times to rock those darker shades. 

Rimmel's Apocalips Lip Lacquer in 008 is a smooth blue-toned pink. The formula applies very well and the product is quite moisturising. 

autumn winter lip products
L-R: Topshop bullet, VDL lip cube, VDL lipstick, Rimmel Apocalips, Mac Whirl


What lip products will you be wearing this Autumn/Winter?

I'll see you next time! x

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Sick Beats and a Splurge | October Favourites

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Hello all!

Now that October has passed, it's only appropriate for me to do my October Favourites. Last month went past as a blur as two major things happened: I went to Borneo for a week with the school, and I moved house! I'm back and settled down, so prepare for a chatty post today.

The month of October was a month I splurged on a couple of items. First is my Kate Spade Ceder Street Stacy purse. After several years of switching between Accessorize and Forever 21 purses I decided to invest in one that would last me a long time without going out of style. I decided on the Stacy because it's roomy enough for all things necessary in a purse, and still sleek and compact. Black was an obvious choice as a. it tends to hide stains, marks and scratches better than other colours, and b. black is a timeless colour. Another splurge is Mac's Velvet Teddy lipstick. Thanks to Kylie Jenner, I have found a nice shade that goes with pretty much everything! The matte finish isn't too drying, which I find is the case with some matte lipsticks.

From Borneo I brought home a few henna cones, and it truly is addicting to draw designs on your arm. It's a fun way to accessorise without all the commitment or pain of a real tattoo.

My TV show favourite of the month is ABC's 'Quantico', a thrilling series that follows Alex Parrish, an FBI agent who has been accused of a bombing in New York. The show very much reminds me of an all-time beloved, 'How To Get Away With Murder', as it is set in the present but flashes back to the Quantico training. Priyanka Chopra, who plays Alex, is gorgeous and it makes me happy that they cast a woman of colour as the lead; you don't see that too often!

After a month of dawdling I finally purchased 'The Wrath and the Dawn' by Renee Ahdieh. It had been on my books-to-buy list for quite a while, and I am so glad I did eventually buy it.  The story is an adaptation of the classic 'A Hundred and One Arabian Nights', revolving around Shahrzad, a girl who sacrifices herself to be the Caliph of Khorasan's next wife. The reason why I love this book so much is that the description is lusciously rich, similar to Erin Morgenstern's 'Night Circus', my all-time favourite book. I would highly recommend this book to anybody remotely interested because it truly is a hidden gem.

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In Borneo I rediscovered old songs from the group of people I went with, and discovered my appreciation for rap music. I started off with Kid Ink's tracks after hearing him on Fifth Harmony's 'Worth It', and after listening to his album 'Full Speed', it's safe to say he's now one of my favourite artists. Spotify has been my go-to app lately for discovering music because they've got hundreds of playlists made according to genre and mood. Through one of their hip-hop playlists I started listening to Big Sean's 'I Don't F*** With You'; granted, it's not a song you can go round blasting out of your speakers, but I can't deny that it's catchy! Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's 'Downtown' is a spunky, magical creation and the choreography videos I've seen on YouTube from the likes of Kyle Hanagami, 1Million Dance Studio and Matt Steffanina perfectly capture the different moods expressed through it. Tracks I've picked up from dance class are Dawin's 'Dessert' featuring Silento and Redfoo's 'New Thang'; I am an absolute sucker for danceable songs as dance is one of my favourite hobbies. Justin Bieber is making quite the comeback with the new releases off his coming album 'Purpose' and my favourite so far is definitely 'Sorry'. The hottest new track that literally everyone has been playing is Drake's 'Hotline Bling' so it's not a surprise that it's included in my Favourites. To conclude everything, my last favourite is Troye Sivan's 'TALK ME DOWN'. The Blue Neighbourhood trilogy is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking, and, along with thousands of other fans, I am secretly waiting for a Part 4/3 because the ending to Part 3 was undoubtedly brutal. 





Ahhhhh, I've missed writing long posts! I'll see you in my next one! x

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Colouring Isn't Just For Children

johanna basford secret garden colouring book
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I'm a little late on the trend, but adult colouring books have been huge lately. I first heard of them through a Sprinkle of Glitter video when she mentioned one she'd picked up. A few weeks ago my mum bought one for me on a trip (thanks mum!), and it's Scottish illustrator Johanna Basford's 'Secret Garden'. This particular one is quite popular; I've seen this in numerous stores with copies translated into Chinese and Korean. 

johanna basford secret garden colouring book
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Inside the book are beautiful illustrations for you to colour to your heart's desire. There's also a spot-and-find element to the book that adds a hint of entertainment to the overall therapeutic vibe. It includes detailed, whimsical scenes, artistic 'balls' of designs, and other objects that stick to the flora-fauna theme.

johanna basford secret garden colouring book
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To go with this book I purchased a spanking new set of 36 Crayola colour pencils. It's nice to have a wide spectrum of colours for books as detailed as this, as there are so many things to fill in.

johanna basford secret garden colouring book
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Aside from 'Secret Garden', Johanna's range of books include 'Enchanted Forest' and 'Lost Ocean'. I've only flicked though them in stores, but they are equally as stunning. 'Enchanted Forest' is definitely one I would like to pick up in the future, but I'm sure 'Secret Garden' will keep me preoccupied for ages!




That's all from me today, I'll see you soon! x

Monday, October 19, 2015

Topshop's Matte Metallic Nails in Usual Suspects

topshop matte metallic nails usual suspects
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Hey there!

First off, getting sick after a trip straight up sucks. My eyes are drooping as I write this and my nose is sore from being blown into tissues. Not a great way to spend half-term break, I have to say!

Sickness aside, I'm here today to share this absolutely gorgeous gem of a nail polish I found a few months ago. Usual Suspects is a matte metallic polish, as the title suggests, and the colour is hard to explain and capture. The multi-chrome polish is a metallic silver at first glance, but in different lights reveals shades of green and magenta.

topshop matte metallic nails usual suspects

topshop matte metallic nails usual suspects
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On my index finger you'll see a slight green tone, while on my ring finger is a hint of purple.

I was quite impressed with the formula of this polish as it dries quickly. Also, streaking is minimal. I was a bit careless with my middle finger so there is a teeny bit of streaking, but other than that the polish was absolutely fine.

topshop matte metallic nails usual suspects
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Usual Suspects reminds me of Essie's For The Twill of It and OPI's Peace & Love & OPI; it also has that multi-chrome look that is stunning on the nails. It looks great as a matte polish or with a shiny topcoat on top. 

This polish can be bought in most Topshop stores around HK, so have a look around when you pass one. A '2 polishes for $99' offer was going on when I bought this so I shared it with a friend. I have a feeling I'll be wearing this polish a lot during the coming months; it's a nice cold-weather alternative to the normal black and navy.




I'll see you next time! x

Monday, October 5, 2015

An Autumn/Winter To-Do List


Hello all!

I don't know what it is about the colder months of the year, but everything gets better (ok, maybe not everything but a lot of things). It's hard to describe, but music, fashion, and life in general gains a certain appeal. I think it's due to that cold weather and that feeling of, "I'm free and I can achieve anything!" It's like a New Year during the year that allows you to Be Productive and Make Changes before the year ends. Admittedly I'm much more sluggish during Spring and Summer, so I've compiled a to-do list of things I hope to do in the coming months!

1. Go for hotpot
Hotpot is pretty big in Hong Kong and though you can go for it any time during the year, what screams "winter" more than gathering a group of friends or your family for a hearty, stomach-bursting meal? 

2. Bake something
My sister's the chef of out family but I am determined to produce a nice cake, pie, cupcakes, or brownies for us to share. I may not have all the skills required to do so, but it's all in the learning process!

3. Stick to my posting and uploading schedule
Recently I've been quite sucky, frankly put, with my upload and posting schedule. Life has gotten busy and the coming months will get even busier, but do come and check the blog every week. I've got two Autumn/Winter posts planned so keep an eye out for those. Hopefully I can iron everything out and get more consistent with posting and uploading. 

4. Continue working out
This Summer I actually stuck to a workout routine, surprising my self. Now that the school year has started, I have been slacking a little bit, which is a bit disappointing. Time to pick it back up!

5. Get into the habit of burning candles
Besides blankets, candles epitomise coziness. My mum bought me a few candles back from the UK, and they smell divine! I can just imagine it: candles in the background while I'm on my laptop binge-watching 'Mr Robot' :)




What are your plans for the coming months? xx

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Cherry Tomatoes and Getting WILD | September Favourites

Hey there!

I've taken a little break, but I'm back with my September Favourites! This month has flown right past me and we are approaching the later months of the year; I can't wait to pull out my boots and sweaters, and cuddle up with a hot drink and book. We're not quite there yet so for now, check out the video!


I want to bring back the 'inspirational quote at the end of each post' thing I did a while back. There are some magical gems hidden within the deep waters of Pinterest, and they occasionally float onto my dashboard. 


This quote spoke out to me because since 2015 is almost coming to an end, I've been reflecting back on all the things I've done. I've realised that I have the power to make the day great or blaugh, so it's up to me to drive the car.

*sidenote* I've changed my Instagram from @icygirl79 to @runcold. I explain why in my video, but here it is anyway!



See you later! x

Thursday, September 10, 2015

20 Reasons Why I Love Autumn


Hello all!

So you've probably heard me moan countless times about the icky humidity of Hong Kong weather and how we get no Autumn (Summers merge into Winters around here). Surprisingly, as we meld into September the weather has been glorious. Mind you, I've got considerably low expectations of what Autumn should feel like, but the past few days have just been really nice.

Appropriately, Caitlin from Blogging Through The Mirror recently released a '20 Reasons I Love Autumn' post. I thought I'd do one as well, so make sure you check out hers here!

1. Those lovely days when it's sunny, but you feel a breeze
2. Candles seem much more appropriate, so abundantly burning them will not be frowned upon
3. Iced Starbucks drinks with autumnal flavours
4. Cozying up with a good book
5. Nail colours
6. All sorts of boots you can wear
7. All the sweaters
8. The general mood and atmosphere
9. Chillier nights
10. TV shows come back from Summer hiatuses (hello 'The Flash', 'iZombie', and 'The Big Bang Theory'!)
11. Humidity levels lower
12. Major school house events tend to clump around this time of year
13. Exercising outdoors will be more comfortable
14. Horrendous bugs and insects come out less
15. Fairy lights look more magical
16. Lots of Autumn decor revolves around rose gold (or as I associate it with)
17. Salted caramel seems to be a prominent flavour during Autumn and it is absolutely delish!
18. Listening to Christmas carols doesn't seem like a too far-fetched idea (... in my book it isnt!)
19. Everything Pinterest-y and Tumblr-y associated with Autumn
20. Knowing that Winter and Christmas are a mere few months away :)



See you soon! x

Monday, September 7, 2015

August Favourites

Hello all!

How are you all doing? I'm only two weeks into the school year, and frankly, I'm already exhausted! Between school work, extra-curricular, working on dance, and attempting to stick to my workout schedule (key word here: attempting), life has been pretty busy recently. I definitely need to work on getting enough sleep each night...

Aside from all that business, yes, we have finally entered September. Check out my favourites from last month below!





Have a lovely day! x

Sunday, August 30, 2015

DIY: Beaded Quote Bracelet

diy beaded quote bracelet
Summer is *supposedly* ending soon as we drift into September, but if you know anything about Hong Kong you'll know that we don't feel a single breeze until the middle of October. Taking advantage of the still-warm weather and short sleeves, I've created these colourful beaded quote bracelets that make for super cute arm candy!

You will need:
  • 6mm pineapple beads in colours of your choice
  • 5mm metallic pineapple beads
  • round alphabet beads
  • elastic string
  • a ring
  • scissors
diy beaded quote bracelet
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Let's begin!

1. Lay out your word/phrase/quote. As I'm constantly being inspired by Tumblr culture, I went with 'fangirl'.

diy beaded quote bracelet
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2. Cut a 30cm strand of elastic string. You probably won't need as much, but it's always best to play it safe in case of any adjustments needed. Tie one end to a ring in a reef knot (a single knot followed by another knot, but with the opposite string looping down), leaving a tail. String on some 6mm beads, a 5mm bead, your phrase, another 5mm bead, and finish with more 6mm beads.

diy beaded quote bracelet
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3. Once you feel like your bracelet is long enough, undo the reef knot and adjust if necessary. You'll want the number of 6mm beads to be equal on both sides. To try the bracelet on, tie both ends of the string in a single knot and pinch that knot while slipping it onto your wrist.

diy beaded quote bracelet
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4. Finish everything off by tying both sides of the string with a double knot. 

diy beaded quote bracelet
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I made a Sense8 bracelet because OMFG, that show is mind-blowing; a 'whatevs' bracelet for those 'meh' days; a 'fangirl' one, and a 'Maximoff' one in homage to the ever-gorgeous, amazing Maximoff twins (not going to lie, I'm still bitter about Pietro's death). 

This DIY is totally customisable, from the phrase you choose to the colours of the beads. Go to town on this one, and flaunt your _____ pride!


Whee, that's all from me today! Hopefully I'll get my August favourites up on the channel next week. In the meantime, check out my channel here and my other links on the sidebar.



See you soon! x


Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Teen Choice Awards 2015 | Favourite Looks

This year's TCA's were held at the University of Southern California's Galen Centre in LA. A multitude of stars were in attendance, including the cast of Pretty Little Liars, Ellen DeGeneres, and Five Seconds of Summer. Hosted by Josh Peck, Gina Rodriguez, and Ludacris, the event featured a dazzling mix of performances, and awards were presented to the elite of the elite. In today's post I'll be sharing my favourite looks from the TCA red carpet!

1. Lea Michele in Monique Lhuillier


When I first saw Lea Michele, my mind directly went straight to her hair; it's cute but polished at the same time. Her dress is fun, with the red and the blue, but dainty like a china plate. The red heels totally tie the entire outfit together! Lea Michele has been killing it lately with her fitness regime documented on Instagram. She just looks toned, relaxed, and happy!

2. Little Mix


I am still floored by their TCA performance. ICYMI, they went from adorable nerds to absolute babes on stage while performing their new hit single that's been on repeat on my phone, 'Black Magic'. I haven't seen such an amazing on-stage costume change since Taylor Swift's 'I Knew You Were Trouble' set back in 2013 for the BRIT Awards! I love, love, love their outfits; each represent their own styles, but together they define 'squad goals'.

As I still can't get their performance out of my head, watch it here!


3. Grace Helbig

Whoo, Youtube represent! What makes Grace Helbig's dress stand out is the simplicity of the cut (those side cutouts though *heart eyes*) paired with that eye-catching neon pastel coral pink. I've always known her as the funny girl on Youtube, but recently I've noticed that her style is on point!

4. Peyton and Spencer List

Peyton and Spencer List look too good to actually describe. Peyton rocks her patterned suit and cutout crop top, and I now am on the lookout for a jacket similar to Spencer's. They both pull of their outfits so incredibly well, and as a pleb I bow down to them!

Of course, with every set of amazing looks comes a few that aren't so great. I'm not quite sure about Nash Grier and the Janoskians, to be honest with you... :/




And those were my favourite looks from the 2015 TCAs! What were your favourite looks? Let me know in the comments down below, and I'll see you next time! x

Friday, August 14, 2015

DIY: Marble Notebook

diy back to school marble notebook
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It's now August, and officially back-to-school season. *screams*

Maybe you're like me, and you're kindasortaabsolutely dreading the upcoming academic year. Or maybe you're as cool as an ice-cube. Either way, it doesn't hurt to go back to school in style! Here is an easy DIY for a chic marble notebook you'll love taking notes in.

You will need:

  • marble contact paper (also known as PVC)
  • black duct tape
  • a plain notebook of your choice
  • a cutting mat
  • scissors
  • a ruler
  • a cutting blade

diy back to school marble notebook

Let's begin!

1. Take a strip of duct tape and trim it to 3cm wide, the length being the length of your notebook. What I did was tape the strip to my cutting mat and followed the guides on it when cutting.

diy back to school marble notebook
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2. Cover the spine of your notebook with the duct tape. I eyeballed the position of the duct tape to make sure both front and back were somewhat equal. 

diy back to school marble notebook
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3. Cut out a piece of marble paper that is bigger than your notebook (I'd say about a 1.5cm margin but you don't have to do this too accurately). The purpose of doing so is that the edges will be folded in after to give your notebook a clean finish. When cutting, ensure that at least one of the longer sides is absolutely straight. 

diy back to school marble notebook
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4. Peel off the backing paper from the side on which you will start sticking to the notebook. Line up the straight edge to the edge of the duct tape. As you peel and stick the of the rest of the paper, use a ruler to push out all the air bubbles.

diy back to school marble notebook
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5. Fold the excess marble paper up, so it is hidden behind the cover.

diy back to school marble notebook
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6. Repeat steps 3-5 on the back of the notebook and you are finished!

diy back to school marble notebook
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It's safe to say that I am in love with this notebook! It's simple, yet classy, and it makes for a great present. Not only can this notebook be used at school, but it also serves as a stylish addition to your desk or workplace.

That is all from me today! Before I sign off, here's a little something I found in the deep waters of Pinterest to fight off those first day/back-to-school jitters:

diy back to school marble notebook
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Have a lovely day! x

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Tokyo Haul

Hey there!

It's no surprise that I went shopping in Tokyo, so check out my haul video below!




See you! x

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Snapshots of Tokyo

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This summer I was lucky enough to go on another holiday, in addition to the previous Singapore trip. My dad, sister, and I stayed in Tokyo for a few days. It was a very tiring trip, what with the five hour layover in Osaka and the daily walking, but it was a lovely trip! 

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What I love about Tokyo is that the setting sun is absolutely beautiful. The sky turns different colours before becoming totally black. I always thought the sky at night would be a navy blue, but that's only Hong Kong and its light pollution. Tokyo's sky is dark enough for you to see stars.

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People in Tokyo are so friendly. The ones working in shops and restaurants always smile and are polite. Here's a snazzy little anecdote for you: I was ordering a chai tea latte in Starbucks on our last day. The guy at the counter was very patient when I gestured at the menu, attempting to order the drink with soy milk (aside from the standard greetings, I know nothing of the Japanese language). At the pickup counter, a soy latte was called out; I knew it was mine because of the 'soy' and the 'latte', and nobody else was ordering. I asked the employee there if it was a chai tea latte, she took a look at my receipt, apologised, and remade the drink. After, I handed her a plaque the guy at the cashier gave me for soy milk. I think she just realised I wanted soy milk, because she apologised again and remade it again. What I'm trying to say is, it was most likely my fault for the order mixup as the counter guy probably didn't understand my pointing at the menu. It must have been hard or frustrating to take an order from someone who speaks no Japanese, and have to remake a drink thrice. Still, the girl was super nice about it all!

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I love that there are toilets available literally everywhere in Tokyo. This sounds deranged, but toilets are quite important, especially when travelling to different places. The weather was hot during out stay, so rehydrating was important. Of course, we were bound to have to use a toilet at some point. Many restaurants have there own toilets, and they're clean. I'm just going to leave it here before it starts to get weird!

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The food, of course, was amazing. We had sushi, ramen, curry, and crepes - unfortunately we couldn't find a tempura place around. One of my favourite meals we had was in a restaurant with a machine to order food (pork cutlet rice with egg was our pick of the night). These restaurants are common in Japan, inexpensive, and the food tastes good. Before our trip I researched about Tokyo sights and eateries. One blogger claimed that even the cheaper ramen in Japan tasted better than the ramen from where she lived (America? Australia?). I think I have to agree with her; the ramen we had was definitely tastier than ramen we've had in HK. 

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Train culture in Tokyo is considerably different than in Hong Kong; passengers are prohibited from taking or making calls. Being the noob that I am, I forgot this rule one train ride and took a call from my mum. Unsurprisingly, I got stares until my dad and my sister quickly reminded me. I can just imagine the chaos is would cause if Hong Kongers were not allowed to answer their phones, but the people in Tokyo stick by it. 

Overall, I had a great time; I feel that I've soaked up a small part of Tokyo culture from our stay. Be sure to keep an eye out for my coming Japan Haul video!

My links are on the side bar, or you can check them out on my 'About' page.



I'll see you next time! x

Saturday, August 1, 2015

GoT Binging and Lemon Crepes | July Favourites

Hello all!

We've reached the end of the month and so it was time I did my July Favourites. Check out the video below!





Have an awesome day! x

Sunday, July 26, 2015

I've Been Thinking Too Much | 10 Things

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One. I stayed up late last night to an ungodly hour (into the AM if you're wondering) and watched Marie Antoinette, directed by Sophia Coppola. Whew, what an extravaganza of a movie! Marie Antoinette's frivolous lifestyle makes me wonder a. how did nobody point out that fact that she was wasting millions earlier, and b. did she not get tired of wearing all those dresses and wigs. I like how the movie was a historical film, yet it was refreshingly modern, what with the snappy, guitar-filled score. Oh, and now I am craving all sorts of desserts; the Ladurée macaroons featured in one scene looked divine. It's a wonder Marie Antoinette didn't get any cavities from her constant snacking on pastries and cakes! 

Two. Having no luck with finding a comfortable pair of ripped-at-the-knees black skinny jeans, I DIY-ed my own. I am absolutely in love with them. The knee rips make wearing long pants in HK's humidity a lot more comfortable, and overall they just look good. I'm not scared to admit that I feel like a total badass in them c:

Three. In honour of National Dance Day, I would just like to say that I am loving my dance class at the moment. After so many years of no dance classes, a couple of months ago I took dancing back up. I've forgotten the thrill of dance class; with each lesson I get to improve my technique, learn new routines, and generally have fun. Plus, the additional exercise does no harm! We recently learnt a routine to The Weeknd's 'Can't Feel My Face' and, despite me not being able to spin quick enough within a beat, I'm enjoying everything. 

Four. When I came back from Singapore, a group of friends and I went bowling. This was when I found out that my bowling game seriously sucks. I haven't been bowling in forever, so I guess I should cut myself some slack. Even so, a little disappointing considering bowling's fun, I used to be able to strike, and my score would be above 50.

Five. This one's a given, but I've been active on Tumblr everyday. It's strange to think that I've reblogged quite a fair amount already, yet that's only a slither in the Tumblr universe and there's more to come. Not to be all self-promo-y or anything, but check out my Tumblr here! It would be awesome to communicate with you guys and answer any questions. 


Six. Last week I got really annoyed with my Essie top coat; the tip wear was ridiculous! I was so done with it, and decided to purchase another bottle of Seche Vite. The ingredients used to make it aren't the best, but it really does work. I'm wearing Sally Hansen's Lacey Lilac right now, and it's held up nicely for a few days already. 

Seven. With the endless hours of freedom, I used that time to make things. My better creations out of the lot are a clay bowl, a chevron wire ring, and a crystal bullet choker. I attempted faux druzy pendants, but haven't quite got the grasp of it yet. When I do, I'm pretty sure there'll be a tutorial up on this blog!

Eight. I have been listening to Twenty One Pilots, nonstop. They came to Hong Kong last week and - sob - I didn't go. I regret not going very much as I have really come to love their music. Blurryface is another one of those golden albums; all of the track are favourites of mine. I haven't listened to Vessel enough to add it onto the list, but I am pretty sure in the future it will be on there. 

Nine. Though I didn't go to the concert, my sister did. She showed me a few videos and pictures she took, and Tyler Joseph was wearing one of the most gorgeous kimonos I have ever seen. I am currently on the lookout for one like it, so if you have any ideas where I can get one that isn't too expensive, please let me know! And yes, Tyler Joseph's outfit game for the concert was on point. He's been sporting black-grey paint on his arms and neck for his Blurryface alter ego, and it actually works on him. If I ever tried to do that, I would probably end up looking like I fell into the drain!

Ten. The cork board over my desk was getting a bit cluttered, so I revamped it. I updated the polaroid pictures, rearranged my rings, and printed out a few new Tumblr images. That being said, I just couldn't take down Sassy Sangster; his expression is basically me on the inside. 

Ahhhhhhh, it was good to get all that off my chest! It's nice to blog about stuff like this; there's no pressure to confine to any structure, and I personally like reading these types of posts. If you're new here, hi, I'm Hazel! All my links are on the sidebar, so go ahead and pop me a message!

Lastly, it turns out that this is my 100th post. Wow. I normally don't really go into too much detail over blog statistics, but in my eyes, 100 posts is a milestone. Thanks for all your support, it really means a lot to me!



I'll see you soon! x

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Get Back On Track

This post was inspired by Sprinkle of Glitter's 'Motivational Monday' posts. Admittedly, recently I've been feeling down. I've been struck with writer's block, I'm scared to film videos, and truthfully I've been wasting a lot of time. As a pick-me-up, I took to Pinterest to find quotes and posters to remind myself not to stress out so much. Here are a few of my favourite ones.

*disclaimer* all photos are from Pinterest; I don't own any of them

I think this can be applied to any scary situation in life, when we think we're not ready to do anything in fear of messing up and making mistakes. That fear will most likely stick to us, even if we don't feel it, so its best to just go out and get what we want.

This one spoke out to be in particular. I think that at the back of my brain, I'm worrying about the coming school year. I am someone who unnecessarily stresses out about these things: exams, tests, homework. These wise words from Hagrid really help me stop and release the bad vibes. Maybe it's magic doing its work...

This quote reminded me of one of ||Superwoman||'s latest videos '5 Things You Do That Make You Unhappy'. One of the points was comparing yourself to others. I'm someone who does this, and it really isn't the best thing to think about. Lilly said something along the lines of "Don't compare other people's highlights to your blooper reel". It helped me put things into perspective and not get so worried over comparing myself to others. 

Hopefully I'll be back soon with more posts and videos!



I'll see you soon x


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