Summer Tag

Hey guys!

As you may know, we're now in the middle of summer! I thought it would be fun to do a tag, since I haven't done one in a few weeks. Apparently there was a spring tag that I did not know of, so as compensation I will answer questions from the summer tag!

weheartit

This tag is from the blog Hollisters Happenings (or Hollistershappenings) so make sure you check it out.

Let's start!

1. What is the best part about summer?
I love the sunshine during the summer, especially on those days when the sky is blue. Most of the time the sky in Hong Kong is all muggy and horrible, so on those where the sky is clear, I savour the sunlight.

2. Do you tan or burn?
I tan, but my face gets red super easily when in contact with warmth.

3. Favourite summer nail polish?
Summer is a time for bright nail polish, and I really like "Kiss Me On My Tulips" my OPI. The formula is great, it's fully opaque in two coats, and it doesn't take forever to dry!

4. Favourite summer drink/beverage?
Recently I have been drinking this Japanese milk that tastes like coffee. It's nice and refreshing, especially when chilled.

5. Favourite summer clothing item?
Skirts all the way! I know you can wear skirts in the winter as well, but they don't keep you warm enough. I own several skirts in different colours and patterns, all circle skirts which I wear high-waisted.

6. Favourite current app during this summer?
Lately I've been using Snapchat more often. I find the concept of it really handy and fun.

7. Favourite summer movie?
I don't have a favourite movie for the summer, to be honest. However, I have yet to watch "The Fault In Our Stars" and "Guardians of the Galaxy" this summer, so that might change.

8. Favourite summer beauty product?
Are hair products counted as beauty products? Anyways, I love sea salt spray during the summer because you get nice texture and waves without having to physically go to the beach every day. I am currently using the Professional Ocean Spritz Sea Salt Spray, which I picked up in Bonjour. It has a smell that's hard to describe, but it smells pretty good.

9. Favourite summer activity?
No particular favourite, but I like going bowling or swimming.

10. Favourite type of lip product for the summer?
Lip balm, always. Personally I've never had sunburnt lips, but I slather on coats of lip balm during the summer to avoid them. The one I am using right now is the peppermint Burt's Bees lip balm. I also like tinted lip balms, such as Maybelline's Baby Lips in Berry Bomb.

So those are my answers! I tag anyone who reads this to complete this tag, so have fun with it.

And have fun during this summer; stay safe and be happy.

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See you xx

DIY: Collage Phone Case

Hey guys :)

First off, the past few weeks I have been crazy-busy with science revision. I did the end-of-year assessent a few days ago and now I feel FREE.

But tomorrow I have a Chinese exam. Whyyyyy.

Secondly, happy Father's Day to all dads out there! I would like to thank my dad for being supportive of everything that I do, and I love him very much! Unfortunately he wasn't here today to celebrate with us as he's on a business trip, but I send my love♡

Anyways, I have not done a DIY in almost two months! Today I have a DIY collage phone case, inspired by my many hours of procrastination on tumblr. I have been obsessively going through my dashboard, clicking through hashtags, reblogging, the usual jist on tumblr :)

Let's get started!

You will need:
1. Microsoft Word (or any other program where you can arrange photos)
2. pictures of your choice
3. a clear phone case
4. a cutter and cutting mat
5. a pencil and ruler

1. Firstly, you've got to find the pictures you want for your collage. You can use any: personal pics of you and your friends or family, photography, patterns... I like to search up 'grunge', 'vintage', 'indie' and 'girly' on tumblr; they usually give me the best results. You can check out my tumblr for inspo http://icygirl79.tumblr.com/ ;) Check out We Heart It and Pinterest, they have cool pics on them too. Remember to choose pics with a higher resolution or when you print them out they'll be super pixelated. 

2. Start up Microsoft Word or your choice of program and open up a blank page. You'll want to change the size of the page to fit your phone. I have a iPhone 5S so I made my page 6.4 cm by 12.9 cm. If you have a different device, measure your device's length and width, then add a few millimeters to both numbers, just to give yourself some room when you start cutting. 

3. Print it out and you'll be ready to start.

4. There are several ways in which you can get the shape that you need. One, you can directly trace your device onto the collage. The second way is only if your case came with a paper structure in the shape of your device. In my case (no pun intended!) it did, so I used that to trace.

5. So you've got the shape done. Next you'll have to cut the camera hole. With your case, line the collage up to the appropriate place and trace the hole. Use a cutter to cut it out. 

6. Fit the collage into the case and you're done!

This DIY is definitely my favourite out of all the other ones I've done! I love how you can customize all the pictures. I made another collage and a few other designs with a single larger image.

If you choose to recreate this, I would absolutely love to see it! You can instagram it and tag me @icygirl79, tweet me @icygirl79, or message me on tumblr (link is above) :)

Hope you've enjoyed today's post! 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!

Tag: Harry Potter

Hey guys :)

First of all, I'm now caught up with The Big Bang Theory. I've finished all 7 seasons in a month, and yesterday I watched the season 7 finale. I'm not going to spoil it for you guys, but I have to say I'm a little disappointed with how it ended :/ Anyone else feeling the same way?

Anyways, not a lot has been going on lately, so this post is a tag post! I thought I would do a Harry Potter-themed tag because the new HP 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' movie release date has just been released. I really like HP. I've read the books at least 5 times, and watch the movies every summer when it comes on TV as the 'Weekend Blockbuster'. I would kill to go to Universal Orlando's The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, drink a butterbeer, and buy a wand. Hopefully in the future, I'll be able to go visit it!

But anyways, here goes!

P.S. the pics come from WeHeartIt, credits to the owners.

1. Favourite book?
Either 'Goblet of Fire' or 'Half-Blood Prince'. I really can't decide between the two.

2. Favourite movie?
I really like 'Goblet of Fire', but the second half of 'Deathly Hallows Part 2' contains the iconic battle scene. Again, can't choose (this goes to show how good Harry Potter really is!).

3. Least favourite book?
'Prisoner of Azkaban'. I found it a little bit boring in the middle :/

4. Parts of the book/movie that made you cry?
When Fred died. I felt really sad reading and watching about it, and I felt worse when I thought about how the twins were separated :( Also, the scene when Ron says "It's not much, but it's home." The Burrow basically holds the essence of the Weasley family, and I hated it when Bellatrix destroyed it. Ok, last one: when Hermione had to wipe her parent's memory of her :(

5. If you could hook up with any HP character, who would it be?
First of all, 'hook up' just sounds plain nasty when used in the HP context. But one of the Weasley twins would be my answer. They're just so fun-loving and carefree, especially when it comes to exams!

6. Favourite character?
It's quite hard to narrow the choices down. I like a number of characters: Fleur, Tonks, the twins, Hermione...

7. What would your patronus be?
I honestly have no idea. I took THIS quiz and I got a stag :)

8. If you could have the Elder Wand, Resurrection Stone, or Invisibility Cloak, which one would you choose?
The Invisibility Cloak, mainly because I want to be able to go to places without people knowing (haha that sounds totally sketchy).

9. What house would you be in?
It sounds cliche, but I would probably be put into Gryffindor. I've searched up the characteristics of people from the other houses, and I don't match up to them. However, my Pottermore account begs to differ (I was put into Slytherin).

10. If you could meet any member of the cast who would it be?
The man himself, Daniel Radcliffe. He's grown a lot from when he was Harry Potter, and I would be really interested in hearing his experiences of being part of the HP franchise, his part on 'Kill Your Darlings', and his role on Broadway.

11. Have you played any of the video games?
I vaguely remember playing a HP Lego video game with my cousins years ago. I didn't really know what to do, so I mainly smashed crates with spells to get jewels and money. I didn't have much incentive back then.

12. If you were on the Qudditch team, which position would you play?
Let's face it, I would not be able to make the Quidditch team, let alone play an actual game. I would be one of the spectators, cheering the house on!

literally me :D

13. Were you happy with the ending?
Deaths aside, I thought they ended HP well. However, the cast didn't look so good in the '19 Years Later' bit; they looked far too old. Would Ron really have such a big belly?

14. How much does Harry Potter mean to you?
I am not the ultimate HP fangirl with posters up on the walls, forever quoting 'Always', or referencing things from the movies, but Harry Potter plays a significant part in my life. The series saved me from boredom, and it encouraged me to read more and more. My friends aren't really interested in Harry Potter, so I can't talk to them about it. Oh, the struggle of being a muggle.

TAKE ME TO HOGWARTS. PLEASE.

So this concludes the tag! Next week's post will most likely come out late because I'm going to be going to Korea with my mum over the long weekend from school. Expect a haul soon :)

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




How much do you like HP? Leave a comment down below and don't forget to follow Love From Icy on Bloglovin or by email!

DIY: 'Always Losing Bobby Pins' Wall Art

Hey guys :)

My lateness for this post can be totally justified... it's Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year is an Asian festival which happens around the end of January to the beginning of February, depending on the calendar. There are countless traditions, such as hanging up red pieces of paper with four-word sayings in calligraphy called fai chun, or setting out a 全盒, a box filled with candy, melon seeds and dried foods, each symbolizing a different meaning. Few dos and a lot of don'ts apply to CNY, most of them originating from superstitions. For example, we can't sweep the floor during the CNY period because we will "sweep the luck away". Other things we can't do is cut our hair, wash our hair, or buy shoes. Weird, right?

We get about a week off from school, and I've been visiting relatives, friends, friends of relatives, the annual routine. It's not just about the lai see or food (which BTW, are added bonuses!), but about spending quality time with family and friends.

Yep, so cheesy but it's true!

So today, I have another jazz-up-my-desk DIY for you guys. This DIY is even easier than the silver star jar, and easy is always a good thing :D I was browsing around WeHeartIt for 'overlays' and 'transparents' to draw. If these two terms are completely new to you, they are basically tumblr-esque pictures or graphics that people layer onto their [Instagram] pictures when editing. I occasionally use them for my own pics and you can check them out on my Instagram @icygirl79. Anyways, I like to draw overlays and transparents because they are easy to draw and I can practice my questionable drawing skills.

Pics from WeHeartIt

The objects are not meant to look lifelike, which is why I tend to draw them instead of real objects. I came across this:

My mind was immediately like, um YES. Honestly, where do bobby pins and hair ties go? There aren't many places where they can hide and yet I buy a pack of 50 one day, I end up with 5 the next! MADNESS. 

I relate so much to this picture so I decided to put it on a canvas to hang up on my extremely blank wall.

My desk is messy :(

You will need:

1. a canvas size of your choice - my one is 10" x 12" and I purchased it from the New Town Plaza Phase 3 Commercial Press for $29

2. a black paint marker (or black acrylic paint and a paint brush - if you are able to handle these, I applaud you :) )

3. a pencil 

1. To start off, I used a pencil to outline the bobby pins and text. This is to ensure I don't mess up the final work. If you don't need to outline, skip ahead! If you are like me and want to be extra cautious, practice on a piece of paper. For this step, you don't have to follow the picture exactly. Be creative! 

2.  Draw on the design using your medium of paint

*extra tip: of you have visible pencil lines, you can easily remove them by rubbing the area with a cotton tip dipped in rubbing alcohol

3. You. Are. DONE :)

☆Starring Always Losing Bobby Pins, featuring Mr Silver Star Jar☆

I know, it's so easy you don't even need a tutorial. I just love this picture so much and I'm sure many girls can relate to this problem/issue/curse. 

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

If you ever recreate this, show me on Instagram by tagging my username; I would love to see it! Leave a comment down below and don't forget to follow Love From Icy on Bloglovin!

Tag: This or That

Hey guys :)

Today was a pretty uneventful day, so I thought I would do a tag for you guys to get to know me a little better. I know tags are usually for YouTube channels. Before creating this blog, I wanted to start a channel but a. filming and editing is super time consuming, b. I have little to no editing skills, and c. I sound weird on camera. Just an inexperienced teenager over here :)

Makeup
Blush or bronzer: definitely bronzer. For some really strange reason, my face is always pink, and with blusher I'll practically look like a neon pink tomato.
Lip gloss or lipstick: lip gloss
Eye liner or mascara: mascara
Foundation or concealer: concealer
Neutral or colour eye shadow: neutral
Pressed or loose eye shadows: pressed
Brushes or sponges: brushes

Nails:
OPI or China Glaze: OPI
Long or short: short
Acrylic or natural: natural
Brights or darks: a while back I would've preferred brights, but now I actually prefer darker colours like OPI Black Cherry Chutney
Flower or no flower: no flower; I like nail art but I can't do it :/

Body:
Perfume or body splash: body splash
Lotion or body butter: lotion
Body wash or soap: body wash
Lush or other: other

Fashion:
Jeans or sweats: sweats
Long sleeve or short: short
Dresses or skirts: skirts
Stripes or plaid: stripes
Flip flops or sandals: sandals
Scarves or hats: scarves. My recent favourite is my black and white striped infinity scarf from Forever 21 :)
Studs or dangly earrings: studs
Necklaces or bracelets: bracelets. Arm candy during the summer is a must.
Heels or flats: flats
Cowboy boots or riding boots: riding boots
Jacket or hoodie: jacket
Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe: as sad as it is, there isn't a Charlotte Russe in Hong Kong :((( however after looking online, I would still have to choose Forever 21.
Abercrombie or Hollister: ughhh this one's hard. I love the whole chill vibe of Hollister, but Abercrombie's preppy-glam style is just as cute. I'm going to choose in between these too because they are virtually the same brand ;)
Saks 5th or Nordstrom: again, no Saks or Nordstrom in HK so neither...? Choosing both from above cancels this one out.

Hair:
Curly or straight: curly all the way!
Bun or ponytail: bun
bobby pins or butterfly clips: I'm not that into hair clips so I'm sticking to the basics of bobby pins.
Hairspray or gel: hairspray, the literal spray and the awesome 2007 movie with Zac Efron :)
Long or short: long
Light or dark: dark
Side sweep bangs or full bangs: side weep
Up or down: really depends on my mood... lately I've been obsessed with the Elsa braid from this post.

Random:
Rain or shine: shine
Summer or winter: definitely winter. I mean, who doesn't love the 24/7 sweater weather?
Fall or spring: fall
Chocolate or vanilla: I'm a total chocoholic <3
East coast or west coast: ... I live in HK and I've never been to America... :/

Just a few pictures from WeHeartIt to jazz up this post :)

So that's it! Not sure who created this tag, but credits to whoever did. Have a good day/night!



How would you answer? Comment down below!

New Year's Resolutions 2014

Hey guys :)

So everyone I know is making resolutions for the new year. I, on the other hand, don't really make resolutions as a month in I tend to break them. However, this year has brought on more responsibilities, such as school work, exams, my DIY business, this blog, and life in general. Right now, I am literally like:

On a more serious note, I've decided it's best to at least set a few goals to keep on track. Here goes:

1. Get fit

It is highly unrealistic to say "I want to become skinny" or "I'm going to the gym everyday" because let's face it, I will probably break that goal after the first week of January. To achieve this goal, I intend to dance more and take more opportunities to perform, as this means more rehearsal time which I actually enjoy. The best way to keep fit is to exercise in a way you feel comfortable in, whether it's running, swimming, football, what ever works for you. 

2. Put more effort when doing things

100% effort. 'Nuff said. 

3. Continue with this blog

Honestly, I didn't think I could even last a day with the whole idea of owning a blog. I'm surprised that I could be writing a fourth post, which is a huge achievement for me :) During 2014, I hope to expand the blog, making it bigger and better, content-wise and appearance-wise. It would be awesome to have more people to share my thoughts with, so if you are reading this post right now, comment down below, follow me on Bloglovin, and share this with your friends!

So...

Wishing for a good year isn't enough; take matters into your own hands and make it a good year <3 Love you guys and have a good day/night!

What are your New Year's resolutions? Comment down below!

'Frozen'

Hey guys :)

Today I'm going to talk about 'Frozen'. I am such a fangirl when it comes to things like Disney movies and 'Frozen' just so happens to be one! If you haven't watched it yet, what are you waiting for?! There mayyyyyy be a few spoilers throughout this post so continue reading at your own risk ;)

Firstly, the music is incredible. Ever since watching the movie, I've had 'Let It Go' by Idina Menzel and Demi Lovato on constant repeat. The lyrics are just so inspiring and my favourite line is "The cold never bothered me anyway". For some reason, it speaks to me; it tells me to continue to do what I love even though the conditions may be hard. I plan to take Design Technology for my iGCSEs next year. People have told me that there will be a lot of coursework, and finding a job so specific will be harder. I know it will be a difficult path, but it's something I enjoy doing. It's strange how one line can have so much depth.

Found this amazing pic on WeHeartIt; credits to the person who owns/made this :)

I also have to admit, Hans' voice is actually good. His transition from speaking to singing in 'Love Is an Open Door' is pretty impressive :)

Secondly, why the heck are Disney princesses so darn pretty? Elsa's transformation in her ice castle really blew me away. I would love to recreate her braid but sadly, I've recently had a haircut so my hair is too short :( Her hair is probably every girl's dream; I definitely know it's mine. As for her dress: wow. Not much else that I can really say. Kudos to the designer(s) of the dress, and all the other outfits. For a tutorial on Elsa's braid, check out disneysstyle on YouTube, where Mindy from Cute Girls Hairstyles did a video with Charity Vance. If, like me, you are too lazy to search it up, here's the video:

Be sure to check out the hair/makeup/outfit video that missglamorazzi created on the same channel inspired by Anna, Elsa's younger sister.

The whole subject of sisterly love was heart-warming, and it teaches a good moral to the audience. Nowadays, most kids tend to avoid their siblings. I argue with my sisters, but in the end we are sisters. We will be there to support each other when we've grown up. This doesn't only apply to sisters, but everyone and anyone out there. Another thing that is so touching is what Olaf the snowman said: "Some people are worth melting for." It reflects a strong bond of love that we should all have with someone. 

That scene *sniff*. Taken from WeHeartIt <3

In conclusion, the movie is pure magic. I am so in love with it that the home screen on my phone and the log in screen of my laptop are both pictures of Elsa. If you haven't watched it yet, go watch it and if you have, go watch it again! 

What's your favourite song from 'Frozen'? Comment down below!

(Mine is 'Let It Go' by Idina Menzel <3)