Singapore Haul

Hello all!

It's been a while since I've done a haul and I did do a little shopping in Singapore, so check out what I picked up! Singapore is a shopper's paradise; you can go from designer labels up Orchard Road to street stalls in Chinatown. Brands you can find in Singapore that aren't in HK include Aeropostale, Sephora, and Bath and Body Works (!). Enjoy!

See you next time! x

March Favourites

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February flew past so quickly, it was only yesterday I realised that I had to complete my monthly favourites! I switched to filming my favourites a few months ago, but I thought I would take it back and write a post for you today. Here's everything I've been loving throughout February!

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Crossbody from Forever 21 - I picked this bag up during this month, and it quickly became one of my favourite bags. I don't own any other brown bags so I thought it would be nice to purchase. It's the perfect size; small enough as a cross body, and big enough for all the essentials. The design reminded me a little of a Rebecca Minkoff bag, so maybe that's why I like it so much!
Urbanears headphones - I bought this pair of headphones last month as a birthday present to myself. The colour is a lot like Essie's 'DJ Play That Song' - a nice bright, jammy purple - and the quality is pretty good. They come in handy when I'm studying or editing a video, because they block most unwanted noise out.
Cool Amazon Rain shower gel from Bath and Body Works - After smelling this scent in Dudes, I was hooked. I decided to go for the travel size bottle first to try it out, and I really like it! It smells of coconut and mango, and is very refreshing on the skin. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go back soon and pick up a full size.
'Stand By Your Gun' by George Ezra - This track is sooo addicting; it's been stuck in my head for quite a while now. George Ezra is a pretty amazing artist overall and I love his music!
Ed Sheeran - Ever since going to his concert early this month, I now have a much deeper appreciation for his music and songs. I mentioned 'Photograph' last month and a few others previously, but most of March was 'Drunk' and the rest of '+' on repeat. There was definitely a different vibe on his first album and I quite like it. Praise Ginger Jesus!
Revlon ColourBurst Laquer Balm in 105 Demure - A very pretty pinky peach shade with a hint of shimmer, this balm is my go-to lip product. It's kind of a 'my lips but better' colour, not too in-your-face, and easy to work with. I've found myself reaching for this every time I go out.
Willow Shields on Dancing With the Stars - I find it so cool that there are so many people out there who are younger than me and have achieved amazing things. Willow Shields joined season 20 of DWTS and is so far killing it! She has all the moves down and I'm excited to see how she progresses throughout the season.

How are you all liking the new template? I'm pretty happy with it so far and I hope you are too!



See you! x

November Favourites

Hello there!

It is finally the end of November, which means I get to do my November favourites! This month has truly been full of ups and downs, and things got real busy. Today I'm going to be sharing what I have been loving throughout November.

For the past few months I started with my TV show of the month, so I'm just going to go with that.

TV Show favourite

'Selfie' on ABC

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I found out about this show through Karen Gillian's wiki, when I went through that "Argh GOTG is amazing" period. It stars Gillian, who plays Eliza Dooley, a self-centred, media-obsessed girl, and John Cho as Henry Higgs, a marketing image guru who has no idea about social media. Eliza begs Henry to teach her how to be less narcissistic, and things happen along the way. After watching the pilot I immediately wanted more. It's that kind of chick flick-y, girly show that is fun to watch after a long day. Everything is upbeat and colourful, and I adore it. I have to add that Karen Gillian is so pretty! I was BEYOND disappointed when they cancelled the show only after seven episodes aired. Apparently there weren't enough views but I really don't understand how! Anyways watch those seven episodes if you can, and I'm sure you'll love the show!

Music favourites

1. '1989' - Taylor Swift

 Swifties unite! I can honestly say that this album has to be my favourite T-Swift album out of all; I actually prefer pop Taylor than country Taylor. It suits her changing style and the new tracks are well-written. My top 5 are (in no particular order):

1. New Romantics (this song reminded me of 'One Night in Winter' by Simon Sebag Montefiore; a lovely and really interesting book)

2. Style (I love the James Dean reference!)

3. Wonderland

4. Wildest Dreams

5. Blank Space 

SLAY TAYLOR SLAY

2. 'RUN' - San Cisco

A very dance-able track with a catchy bass line, San Cisco won my heart over with the first listen. Alongside 'Fred Aistaire', 'RUN' is now one of my favourite songs of theirs. 

3. Drowners

I stumbled across this band through my many hours of Tumblr-surfing. Pictures of Matt Hitt were clogging up my dashboard and I decided to see what all the fuss was about. I'm very glad I did because Drowners is a seriously cool band. They have a vintage, The Strokes vibe to their music and 'Luv, Hold Me Down' quickly became a favourite.

4. 'Silly Boy' - The Blue Van

Not much to say; the song speaks for itself!

Other favourites

1. Peppermint Mocha

This season Starbucks did not bring back the Salted Caramel Mocha, but it did bring out the Peppermint Mocha. Peppermint is one of my favourites flavours, and mixing it with chocolate is just *heart eyes*. The perfect winter drink, complete with the Red Cup!

2. danisnotonfire
I've never done a person favourite before, but this month I have constantly been watching Dan Howell['s videos]. His videos are full of relatable comedy and are hilarious; I always find myself laughing out a snort whilst watching his videos, and then catching my family members giving me awkward looks. Thumbs up for that! He doesn't upload often so when he does it instantly puts a smile on my face. Also, his and AmazingPhil's The Sims 4 series is so funny!

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3. Bath and Body Work's Winter Bean Noel

I might've mentioned this in a previous post, but Winter Bean Noel is my all time B&BW scent. It smells like cookies with hints of musk and winter-y goodness. After a few days of using the lotion I really did notice a change in my skin; it was a lot more moisturised and smooth. I apply the lotion after I shower, and when I get ready in the mornings I spritz on the mist. By doing this, this mist refreshes the scent of the lotion from the night before without being too heavy. As a sucker for packaging, I really like the updated packaging of this scent.

4. 'The Maze Runner' series

After watching the first movie I decided to start reading the books. Once I started I could not stop! James Dashner has a very straightforward approach to his writing; everything is detailed but he doesn't dawdle. I enjoyed all three books and the movie very much, and cannot wait for 'The Scorch Trials' to be out.

That is all for my November favourites. It feels good to be writing more as I feel that this month's posts have been quite short. Tomorrow will be December 1st, which means Christmas and this blog's 1st birthday will be coming soon! I simply can't wait to see what December brings :)

Have a nice day xx

September Favourites

Hey guys!

September has been a pretty good month for me. I found out about a bunch of cool things and I can't wait to share them with you all!

The first favourite is Parks and Recreation. Ahhhhhhh. When I fall for a TV show, I fall for it hard and Parks and Rec was just one of those shows. I love everything about it, from the characters and mockumentary style, to the fact that each episode is twenty minutes long so I can watch more episodes in less time. Initially I started watching it because Chris Pratt is in it, and you all know how much I loved GOTG. After the first few episodes I was hooked; I finished all six seasons in three weeks. That's five years worth of a TV show in twenty one days. My record of obsession reached new heights.

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I absolutely cannot go without saying that Andy and April are the best ship ever. And it's canon!

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One major favourite down; on to music.

1. 'Be My Forever' - Christina Perri and Ed Sheeran

Christina Perri and Ed Sheeran sound so good together on this track! The harmonies are on point and even though the song is super simple, it's so catchy It's a really happy song and it always cheers me up when I'm down. As a bonus, it reminded me of the love between April and Andy :) Gotta keep the ship support strong!

1/5. April and Andy mini playlist

Through watching Andy and April's relationship, a few songs stuck in my head, such as 'Be My Forever', 'Boom Clap' by Charli XCX and 'A Certain Romance' by Arctic Monkeys. 'A Certain Romance' is so quirky, just like the two.

2. 'Greetings From California' - The Madden Brothers

As most of my friends know, last year I had the BIGGEST obsession with Good Charlotte. I found their pop punk vibe really cool and I was desperate to learn all their songs on guitar (I once asked my teacher to teach me the solo from 'The River' and it didn't go so well :/). When they disappeared a while back I was totally distraught. But anyways, flash-forward to earlier this month: I discovered that the Madden Brothers, Joel and Benji, had come out with a new album. It reminds me a lot of the Good Charlotte vibe, but in a way it's changed. My two favourite songs are 'We Are Done' and 'Out of My Mind'.

3. 'La La Latch' - Pentatonix

This song became a fast favourite of mine as I only first listened to it last week. I kept hearing people (aka my sisters) about 'Latch' but I had never listened to it. Last week I decided to give the Pentatonix mashup a go, and I am so glad I did. 'Latch' is actually a really good song on its own but paired with 'La La La' makes it the best mashup. Pentatonix never fails to impress and 'La La Latch' is a huge hit in my book. Honestly not enough people know about Pentatonix and they need to hear their songs!

Other favourites

1. This bag

I love this bag because it's an everything bag. It fits whatever I need: a jacket, an umbrella, even a nice hefty paperback. I would never be able to survive with a small crossbody because it can only fit the bare minimals. This bag was purchased from H&M earlier this month. 

2. 'The Night Circus' - Erin Morgenstern

This is my second time reading this book but it is definitely my all time favourite book. The storyline is thrilling and mystical, the characters unique, and overall reading it is an experience. As you can see from the worn edges, it is a well-loved copy and I'm contemplating buying a hardcover version so I can preserve it in the best condition. 

3. Warm Vanilla Sugar body mist

Yum is all I can say about this scent! True to its name, it does indeed smell like vanilla sugar. It's a very sweet, comforting scent that's appropriate for Autumn. I really like how the new packaging of the bottle captures the essence and (with lack of a better word) style of the scent. And look at Bethany Mota owning the cover of Seventeen!

4. This necklace

I have to admit, H&M has really stepped up their game in terms of accessories. This season they launched a whole range of really nice accessories for relatively affordable prices. I found this adorable little necklace at the back of the store and it has become one of my most worn pieces. It's so simple yet beautiful, especially when it catches the light. 

I apologise for my previous posts this month as I feel like they aren't really up to the standard that I would like my posts to be. The coming posts will definitely be a bit more exciting!

Until next time xx

April 'Smalls' Haul

Hey guys :)

Before I begin, here's an update of the week:
1. My friends have been begging me to watch The Big Bang Theory since forever. I finally gave it a try and now I am in love with it! I would have never thought I would be interested in a show like that, as it revolves around Science, and Science to me is meh. Nonetheless, I highly enjoy the show! Howard's hair is absolute perfection, and I admire Jim Parson's ability to keep a straight face through all the jokes and funny bits. If you haven't picked up the message, GO WATCH IT!

2. I finally changed the strings on my guitar after 5 years (when I bought it). The new strings are wonderfully bouncy, and I can't wait to play more songs.

Anyways, today I have my first haul! During Easter break, many shops came out with new Spring/Summer collections. I went shopping several times and picked up some really cool stuff. A few posts ago I mentioned that I would be doing this haul post; technically yes, but not of everything I purchased. The clothing is really hard to capture on camera as they take up a lot of space, which I don't have at the moment. So, I've decided to do smaller things such as accessories, beauty products etc, as the title suggests.

As a disclaimer, I am in no way bragging about the things I have purchased. This haul is for me to give my opinions on the products, and to tell you about the new things in store so you can go pick them up yourselves!

So going back to the last day of term, I went to the Mannings in Shatin Plaza to see if I could find the new The Amazing Spiderman 2 x Revlon nail polishes I saw online. Unfortunately I couldn't, but I came across their mini OPI stand. On the bottom shelf where minis were displayed, there were pairs of polishes that were on offer for $79. I picked a pair up as OPI is normally sold for $70-$80 per bottle in Hong Kong. The colours are 'A Grape Fit' (mentioned in THIS post) and 'Lights of the Emerald City' from the OPI Oz The Great and Powerful collection. I really like 'A Grape Fit' and 'Lights of the Emerald City' is really unique as a glitter topper.

From H&M I bought this pair of floral plimsolls. The pattern is so fun, and the colours go well together.

From Typo by Cotton On, I first bought a tin of mini floral polaroids. I stuck a few on my wall as decoration to add some colour. 

I also got a blue-lid glass jar. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to use it for, but I know I'll definitely use it!

At the checkout there were little basins filled with bracelets for charity. This one in particular caught my eye; I love how the closure plays a big part in the overall design. Also, the colour is really bright and colourful.

Now on to Forever 21! I picked out several items from their, as they have a really big variety of accessories. First, a flower crown! I have been wanting to make/buy a flower crown for ages. This one is perfect because the flowers aren't too exaggerated, so I don't look too weird. 

I was running low on rings because many of them have started turning pink. I got this really cute silver laurel-esque midi ring, and a pair of gold-toned rings. I'm planning to wear the gold ring with red and blue on my right pinky, a little bit like how Alex Turner wears his Death Ramps ring on his right pinky :)

Next, a pack of crease-less hairties. I love these hairties because they don't crease my hair, and they look great when layering arm candy.

Of course if I went to Causeway Bay, I would have to go to Dude's. I bought a small bottle of Air body mist. It smells like pears and flowers, and it's pretty good.

Now for one of my favourite purchases: Baby Lips Electro! The colours I picked out were "Berry Bomb" and "Pink Shock". I am absolutely in love with them because the colours look really nice on my lips, especially "Berry Bomb". 

Online, I found this really cool iPhone case which I desperately needed as my old one was falling apart. This one is so tumblr-y, with the whole 'rad' thing, the polaroid, the TopShop socks...

The best purchase saved for last: new earphones! I was on a minibus going out and I wanted to listen to some music, and I realized the right side of my earphones were broken. I literally was like NOOOOOOO. So I obviously had to get a new pair. I really liked the Cloud earphones that my friend got for me for my birthday last year, so I bought the exact same pair in a different colour scheme. Before owning those earphones, I wasn't that into in-ear earphones. I'm so glad I got used to them because they are better for my ears than... non-in-ear earphones... if that makes sense.

Phew, finally finished! There's a lot of stuff but I have been collecting these things over a period of 1-2 months. Tomorrow's the first day of term and I am genuinely terrified. Before we get back to school, I can't sleep the night before, and I worry about things that I shouldn't worry about. But I do... Anyone else out there who feels the same? :/ But nonetheless, I wish you good luck for tomorrow, whether you're going back to school, to school, to work etc.

That's all for today. Have a good day/night!

Leave a comment down below and don't forget to follow Love From Icy on Bloglovin or by email!

Dude's Bath and Body Works Finds

Hey guys :)

If, like me, you are living in Hong Kong, you may be aware of a little shop called Dude's. They sell products from American brands, such as Bath and Body Works, Sephora, Abercrombie & Fitch, TOMS etc. The cozy little shop is located in Causeway Bay, near Times Square. The full address is:

Pic taken from their Facebook page :)

So I ventured out to Causeway Bay with a friend yesterday to track down the shop. To my surprise, it was quite easy to find as their old shop was in a more remote area. We were extremely excited because a. we both love Bath and Body Works and b. BBW is hard to find in Hong Kong. 

A funny little story: Dude's supposedly opens at 1:00 so my friend and I were walking there. We got into the lift and pressed the button but it wasn't working. I pressed it a few times and it didn't work, so we decided to  go on the floor below and take the stairs. When the doors opened, there was a mannequin dressed in boxing gear, as the floor was, I think, a Thai boxing studio. We both were SO freaked out; my friend even screamed a little! She tried to open the door of the stairs but it was locked. We returned to the ground floor and waited. I had already tried to call the shop but no one seemed to answer. After half an hour, my friend tried the number again and luckily one of the ladies that owned Dude's picked up. She told us Dude's opened at 2:00 and I was like:

if you know where this is from, you are amazing :)

Finally at 2:00, we returned to the building and went up to Dude's. We were so glad the lift button for the floor worked; I have a feeling that the button can be locked because the elevator is basically the door of the shop. Smart ;) Inside, I was all like asdfghjkl; because it was that exciting for me. I know, I'm pretty weird. I immediately raced to the BBW rack and started fawning over the products.

I can't even begin to explain how I felt then. My obsession with BBW is literally crazy and I haven't even been to a store. To my friends and family, I am known to love PocketBac, BBW's little bottles of hand sanitizer in really cool scents. They make be go:

After half an hour of me trying to decide what to get, I eventually bought:

1. a Twisted Peppermint PocketBac

2. a Candy Cane Bliss PocketBac

3. a Twisted Peppermint Fragrance Mist

Twisted Peppermint and Candy Cane Bliss are virtually the same scent, but I have a new-found love for it. It's really sweet and fresh, rightly smelling like peppermint candy canes. A thumbs up on this account! 

We were smelling the 3-wick candles, and I totally love the Buttercream Mint scent (it was a limited edition scent during the Black Friday sale) which smelt like rich minty shortbread. Another favourite out of the selection was a candle with a snow scent (I forgot the name but the colour was a light grey-blue). It seems weird but that candle actually captured the scent of snow, if snow even has a scent. The scent took me back to 2008, when my family and I spent Christmas in Vancouver and I saw snow in real life for the first time. Ahhhh, those totally random moments of nostalgia... 

their cute pink bag 

The products were actually pretty expensive as they were shipped from America. Of course, in actual BBW stores they wouldn't be as expensive, but sadly there isn't a shop in Hong Kong :( Overall, I was quite pleased with my findings! 

That's all for today. Have a good day/night!

Have you ever been to Dude's? Comment down below!