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

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

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

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

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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'.

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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.

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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.

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

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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

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

View image | gettyimages.com

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

View image | gettyimages.com

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

View image | gettyimages.com

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

View image | gettyimages.com

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

DIY: 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

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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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5. Fold the excess marble paper up, so it is hidden behind the cover.

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

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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:

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Have a lovely day! x

Tokyo Haul

Hey there!

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

See you! x