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. 

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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. 

We are proud to announce the Pantone #ColoroftheYear for 2016 is #RoseQuartz & #Serenity! https://t.co/PJIADN59DX pic.twitter.com/q7vY0hOyH3

— PANTONE (@pantone) December 3, 2015

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

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!

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Have a great day! x

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

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. 

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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

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

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

May/June Favourites

Hey there!

As I'm writing this, my shoulders are burning and my back aches. Anyways, here's my May and June Favourites! I've been putting in more effort lately with my channel, tweaking the cover art and adding thumbnails to videos. Thumbnails, surprisingly, are really fun to make!

See you soon! x

Why I'm Stressed and Cornflower Blue | April Favourites!

Hey there!

It's the end (ish) of the month, which means it's time for my favourites! It felt really good to film again, and hopefully I'll be able to continue filming. If you've got anything specific you would like to see, don't hesitate to leave a comment on the video or down below!

I'm sorry this was a little late, YouTube wasn't working with me last night!

That's all for today, see you soon! 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

February Favourites

How are you all today?

I am currently battling the frizz that comes with Hong Kong's humidity. Spring is supposedly about blooming flowers, clear skies, and fresh-air-whatnot; instead we get wet walls, never-drying towels, and an icky feeling on our skin. Fun!

Finally I have come round to do my favourites video for February. I feel like I talked a lot in the video, but I had a chat bottled up inside me; now it's released into the world for you guys!

I'll see you next week! x

January Favourites

Hello peeps!

I've got my January Favourites here for you today, and I decided to film a video for it since I haven't filmed one in a while. Enjoy!

*watch in HD!*

I'll see you next week for a new post! x

First Birthday! + December Favourites

Hello all!

I am super exited for this post because quite a lot has been changed! As mentioned in my Update + Thoughts post, I wanted to change the layout of this blog (I decided to keep the name as I've grown attached to it!). I've flicked through many templates, all different and unique in their own way, but finally settled on the one on the blog right now. I hope that the change will allow for easier accessibility and organisation.

Today is the blog's first birthday! I am super happy that I was able to keep this blog up for an entire year and I thank every one of you readers for all the support you have given. I hope I will be continuing for many more years to come because blogging is seriously something I love doing!

On to my December Favourites... I decided to try out something new!

What a suave thumbnail :-)

*please watch in HD*

I have to admit, I was nervous to film a video. You have no idea how many pauses and 'ums' I had to cut out because I'm not the best at speaking in front of a camera. The quality of it is not the best because I'm still testing the waters of the deep ocean that is Youtube, so please look aside that!

Whew, what a day! I hope you have enjoyed everything that I've posted during this year - feel free to check out my archive on the sidebar! - and I will be back in 2015 for much more blogging. Thank you for everything!


See you xx



Sidenote: I apologise for my overuse of exclamation marks in this post but I am just very excited with everything that has happened today. Punctuation Police, come at me!

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

October Favourites

Hey guys!

It's time for my October favourites! October was a pretty chill month; the weather got colder (as I keep mentioning), I made a ukelele during CAS week and my family and I went to Japan during half-term break.

Again, like last month, I'm starting with the biggest favourite of October: a TV show. It's called 'In The Flesh' and it's a BBC Three show. A friend introduced it to me a few weeks back and I've lost my head over it. The show is about zombies (Partially Deceased Syndrome sufferers) but it doesn't contain the typical gory element. It has a very original plot with a realistic insight on problems that people face today (depression, suicide etc).

There are a whole range of characters; you have your tormented individuals, a few bad guys, the supportive ones, the not-so supportive ones. I really do think Luke Newberry is a good actor, and he portrays Kieren Walker well. I don't want to spoil anymore because I want you guys to watch it for yourselves :)

But I just have to say Simon and Kieren have been aded to my ongoing list of OTPs, alongside April and Andy, and Captain Swan.

ITF only has two seasons and it's on the verge of cancellation, which would suck since they left season 2 off with a cliffhanger. If you watch the show already, continue to spread round #saveintheflesh, and if you're new to it go watch it and go give it some love and support.

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I would also like to add 'American Horror Story' to this months favourites. I'm usually not that into the horror genre but I guess the Halloween spirit has gotten to me! 'Asylum' was a particularly good season, and I'm excited for what 'Freak Show' has to bring. So far Twisty has a very deranged sense of fun, with all the kid-kidnapping and whatnot.

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Music favourites

1. Union J

I remember last Winter when I obsessed over Union J. I supported them through their X-Factor journey and when their album came out I immediately purchased the deluxe edition. As the year went on my passion for the boyband died down. For some reason watching ITF got me back into them. Possibly because Luke Newberry looks a bit like George Shelley, and ITF and Union J are both English... They came out with a new single 'You Got It All' last week but my favourite track has to be 'Where Are You Now' from their first album. I feel like it reflects the whole Siren OTP right now because it's on that 50/50 line. Anything that connects to my OTPs is good! 

2. 'Midnight Kiss' - Propellers

I found this gem hidden in one of the 8tracks playlists I was listening to a while back. It's one of those songs that you can't help bobbing your head along to. Finding this song to download was a problem because I couldn't find the band on iTunes - it's possible they don't have one. But back to the point: really good song with both thumbs up from me.

3. 'Thinking Out Loud' - Ed Sheeran

Wow. If you've seen the music video for this track, you'll know what I mean. The dancing is flawless and Ed Sheeran surprised me; all this time I thought he was just a guy with a guitar. Apparently not! Great song with a beautiful music video to accompany it.

4. Gabrielle Aplin

'English Rain' has been on constant shuffle while I've been studying or sleeping. It has a nice, relaxing vibe to it with soothing tunes and poetic lyrics. My favourites out of the album are 'Please Don't Say You Love Me', 'November' and 'Panic Cord'. 

Other favourites

1. This necklace

I found this rose gold A necklace online and bought it because a. A for Andy and April and b. I'm still into simple chain necklaces! The rose gold makes it very dainty and it stands out from the typical gold and silver.

2. Barley tea

Months ago I discovered barley tea in City Super and it immediately became my favourite drink. They stopped selling it a while after and I was like aw. In Japan, however, it was available everywhere. It has a rice-like flavour to it with a sweet aftertaste, slightly similar brown rice tea. 

3. This purse

I purchased this Rip Curl Pharaoh purse from Zalora after my old one broke and I'm quite impressed with it. It's roomy enough to fit all my things but isn't bulky at all. I really like the design that's pressed onto the front; it's decorative and simple. Zalora shipping only took a couple of days and the quality of the purse is good. I would recommend Zalora because they sell brands that are not easily accessible in HK, they have a wide range of products and shipping is free over $150!

4. Maybelline Baby Lips Electro in 'Oh! Orange!'

Two of the Electro Baby Lips are now available in Hong Kong. The Maybelline stalls have started selling 'Pink Shock' and 'Oh! Orange!'. Being an avid consumer of Baby Lips, I was eager to get my hands on 'Oh! Orange!'. The colour of it may seem overwhelming but on the lips it is a nice coral-y tint. It's a perfect product for someone who can't commit to bold colours and needs a moisturising product (aka yours truly), and for $29 this tinted lip balm can't be beat.

I love writing these posts so much, I've already started thinking about next months favourites! Anyways, have a good day and I'll see you next week 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

August Favourite[s]

Hey guys!

This month has been a blur, from saying goodbye to summer to getting used to the new class schedules. I haven't had much time to take note of favourites these few weeks, but one thing (or is it two?) stood out to me in particular: Guardians of the Galaxy. If you've seen my last post, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Today's post will be dedicated to just that!

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Where to start, where to start? I didn't know much about the Guardians as I had never heard of them or seen a comic with them in it. If you asked me last month about 'The Guardians of the Galaxy' from Marvel, I would be like "Wait, what?". Nonetheless, I knew I would definitely be watching this movie because it's a Marvel movie and I'm a Marvel fan. On an ish-unrelated note, I saw this post on tumblr and found it hilarious.

"Marvel movies are just for guys."

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Khloe's face doe

So blah blah blah, watched the movie, consumed a Starbucks muffin while doing so. Now on to the gushing part. I can honestly say that GOTG is my favourite Marvel movie so far. For me to say this is huge because I vaguely remember watching The Avengers and thinking "That's my favourite." Even out of the movies that came out/I watched over the summer (Life After Beth, TFIOS, Blended, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past [the X-Men movies don't really count as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe]), I would rank GOTG as number one. 

First thing to mention: Chris Pratt. He is such a cool guy! I admire him so much for his decision to lose 60kg for the role as Peter Quill. In an interview, he said that he wanted to play the role of a superhero right, and he had to work hard for it. Super inspiring and he did not disappoint! 

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BWAHAHAHAHA.

Next is Karen Gillan; she is a total BOSS. I love Nebula so much, even though she's a bad guy. Her makeup fascinates me, with all the hardware embedded into her face. The blue of her skin contrasts the complete black of her eyes, and that's what gives her her evil look. Again, for the actor to play the role they had to make major changes. Karen Gillan could've opted for a bald cap, but instead went all the way and shaved all her hair off. The dedication!

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The movie is a perfect combination of wit, humour, action, and awww-ness (I am Groot!). Rocket Racoon's is-it-geniune-is-it-not laugh had me burst out laughing during that scene, and the ending bit, where Ronan was killed, had me on the edge of my seat. 

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"Twelve percent?" [starts laughing]

"That's a fake laugh.

"It's real!"

"Totally fake!"

"That is the most real, authentic, hysterical laugh of my entire life because THAT IS NOT A PLAN!"

I thought the costumes were on point for this movie. Although the alien-space theme was the focus point, the costumes weren't super cheesy and worn-out; they were bright, fun, and skilfully designed. Same goes to the green screen effects and the spaceships. 

The second half to this post would be on the tracks of Guardians of the Galaxy (haha yep, two things) The music is what made GOTG such a good movie. The 'Awesome Mix, Vol. 1' soundtrack is filled with oldies that gives the movie its vintage charm. I love the contrast of BAM BAM BAM to "He's gonna recommend you to the spirit in the skyyyy"; the result is unique and, to put it bluntly, epic. My two favourites out of the soundtrack are 'Cherry Bomb' by The Runaways, and 'Hooked On a Feeling' by Blue Suede. TBH I had never heard of these songs before the movie, and I have really been missing out! Both tracks were played when the Guardians were all in Kyln, and the way 'Cherry Bomb' is played when they have their group walk (every superhero movie has the obligatory group walk/pose which is always my favourite part) is the best. The lyrics totally match the bad-ass don't-mess-with-us vibe.

There was this absolutely brilliant video of the 'Hooked On a Feeling' scene but YouTube has taken it down *sad face*

To say I enjoyed this movie would be a total understatement. It is hands-down the best movie I've watched this summer, possibly this year. As always, I encourage you to go watch it. Actually, no, I am telling you to watch it, not even asking, because asking in this case is irrelevant. WATCH IT :)

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That's it for today. I now have to go do two things: 1. sleep because I am sick but cannot afford to miss school (so many assignments going on!) and 2. get a jacket like Peter Quill's so I can relive the amazing movie that Guardians of the Galaxy is every time I wear it!

Have a good week and I'll talk to you in the next post xx