Alqvmia

Eye contour cream


Anti-aging elixir serum

Anti-aging face cream

With the uncertainties in the economy these days, we have to skimp and save more. One area I find that I could not skimp is skin care. I have tried to use drug store brands, but the results are mediocre at best. I don't think the money saved is worth the price I have paid for something that don't work.

The place that I get my facials done uses Alqvmia products. I am very pleased with the resulting plumpness and hydrated skin after the facial. The best part is that the effects will last for days!! I am so pleased with the result, that I bought 3 products to use at home. Afterall, a full facial there is not cheap!!

I got anti-aging products for the eyes and face. I have tested them for a week now and even with the dry winds and low humidity, my skin remains moist. Plus, the lines are not that visible. I guess the best part is when you apply the cream, you feel that you are luxuriating in the smoothness of the cream and the goodness of the aroma oil and natural ingredients.

This is a second best buy after the Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv eye cream.

(photos : www.thenaturalstore.co.uk)

Flower name

I was searching the name of these flowers I bought yesterday, I didn't have a clue what they were called, only that they smelled heavenly and available all year round. I finally looked for it on facebook's growing gifts application. :p

I looked at a couple names and typed them in the search engine. After a couple of trial and errors, I found out that these lovely flowers are called snap dragon and come in shades of pink, lilac, white, yellow and other colors.

Christmas Part IV

Dayee says "AHAHAH" Merry X'mas


Dayee's Christmas honey & seeds bar treat


Dayee attacking the honey treat with gusto


Last time I went to the bird store to get Dayee's food, I got a honey treat bar for her as her Christmas present. While I was unwrapping the plastic covering in the kitchen, she was already making her unique "cooing" sound when she knew we were getting her food or her peanuts.

Just one look at it and she began attacking the bar, all the time making her "cooing" sounds to let you know how much she appreciated the treat. Well, it wasn't a small bar, but she finished it in less than 5 minutes, with 1/5 on the floor though!!

Meantime, B Chan and the cats were looking up at her to say "It's not fair!!" :D

Christmas Part III

Maman et B Chan


Santa B Chan


Santa B Chan

Same old tree at KCC

Six years ago today on Christmas eve, I brought a fur ball home. My best friend Pascale named him B Chan and he is my "one true love". I am always joking that I don't need to find a significant other, coz I have found the love of my life already, and it's true.

After dinner with the humans, which I find is a chore, I came home and took Porky to our favorite cafe downstairs. I had some wine and an onion soup. As usual, Porky got his bread gratis. B Chan is one very satisfied Porky and he is snoring heavily now. Joyeux Noel!!

Good Tidings

Christmas Tree


Christmas Wreath

Thanks to the support of good friends, I am happy to announce that Pastel b.'s X'mas collection cards are SOLD OUT.

I hope all who received the cards will be pleasantly surprised by what they get in the mail!

Happy Christmas everyone!!

Tokyo Trip

A friend has kindly invited me to go to Tokyo with her. She has a free ticket exchanged with Asia Miles. We were at her place planning our 5 days' trip.

First Day - arrive Narita at 3pm - Airport Limousine to Hotel in 新宿- Tokyu Hands, Muji, Comme ca - Yakitori - 西口迴轉壽司 -Street Food Stalls close to Takashimaya - 100Yen Store, 激安

Second Day - Rappongi 國立新美術館, Mid Town - Lunch at Kani Seryna - 新宿小田急電鉄 to 箱根温泉

Third Day - Gotemba Outlet shop till we drop - 5:35pm back to 新宿- Dinner at Takashimaya's 金半

Fourth Day - Ginza shopping - Fancl Outlet - Lunch at Kondo Tempura Restaurant - Meji Temple - 原宿, Bvlgari Cafe, Pet store, 八爪魚丸

Fifth Day - 築地魚市場 early lunch - Check Out -Flight back home

Looks pretty hectic!! Hopefully I could see Pascale and Leigh!!

(Photo of my boudoir)

Christmas Part II

These are other lovely presents I have received. The puppy magnets, kitty/puppy note pads and Yorkie mug are from my sis. The hand made swarovski crystal star pendant is from Josie, my jewlery consignment partner.

Such nice and thoughtful gifts....Thank you!!!

Christmas Part I

White Poinsettia

My Barnes and Nobles Order

Gift from my sister Beatrice

There has been a lot of waiting this Christmas. I have decided not to have a X'mas tree this year, since I am pretty sure that the cats, especially Camille, will jump on it and take the tree and all the ornamnents down in one swoop. I opted for some poinsettias. When I went to my usual flower stall down the alley in the neighborhoodsome weeks ago, all I could see were pots of red poinsettias.

I asked the lady if there will be some white ones, and she told me that she'd have to order them, so it was a 2 weeks wait. The delivery was delayed again and again, and I was afriad that I won't get it at all, or maybe it'll be past X'mas. The flower stall lady felt so bad about my white poinsettias that she gave me a teeny red poinsettia.

Another wait is that I ordered 2 books from Barnes and Nobles. I am so grateful that my aunt was in the States when I made the order, so I could have the package sent to my sis's place in San Francisco instead of international. The international shipping cost would be more expensive than the cost of the books!! I just received my prized J.K. Rowling's "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" and Obama's "Audacity of Hope" last night along with presents from my sis.

Knowing that I am an Obama fan, my sis bought 2 Obama magazines as my X'mas gift. I am told that they cost more than US$60. Thank you!! I am so happy to have all I wanted after the wait, my beautiful pot of poinsettia and books I'll cherish for years to come!! Happy Christmas everyone!!

Acquired Family

Today's entry on "A Year of Living Consciously" bears a remarkable resonance in my life. The title is "Having a Honey".


"...My family is fortunate to have had the same babysitter for almost 4 years. Two of my sons can't even remember another sitter. It's not just the long-standing nature of the relationship that's important, of cousrse "Honey", our sitter, is part of the family.

She is a child at heart and an adult in mind, the ideal combinations to make children feel happy and parents feel safe. Christopher, my eldest son, introduces her: "This is Honey. She's not just our friend. She's family." And this is the magic of Honey-she is one of those people who is so enmeshed, in all the right ways, in our lives, that she is, indeed, family. She is aquired family, the kind that I hope you also have in your circle of friends.

You are born into whatever family creates you. This is not about choice. (A sad fact) As children, you often absorb the ways of that family in ways that stay with you forever-although you do have choices about what you keep and what you discard as you get older. (Thank GOD)

But friends, friends are all about choice, about the freedom to surround yourself with the kind of people you want in your life. There is nothing artificial, nothing forced or contrived, in the best of your friensdhips: they are freely chosen, freely continued, and they make you larger that you might otherwise be. :D

Today, think about the circle of friends in your life: new friends and old familiar friends. They are woven into the fabric of your experience, knowing things about you, about the way you see the world.

Take a moment to appreciate your family of friends, they are a gift you give yourself every day.

PETA

It's the holiday season and a time of giving. Personally, it's a time to donate to a charity I truly believe in. I have been a staunch supporter of Animals Asia for years, a worthy and noble cause in saving Moon Bears from bile farms.

This year, I plan to continue to pledge money to these beloved bears and do my part in helping to end this cruelty in abusing animals for human vanity.


The famous ad "I'd rather go naked than wear FUR!"

Another worthy cause I am considering is PETA.

In the December 22th, 2008's issue of Time Magazine, the co-founder of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk, took 10 questions from readers.

Excerpts:

Is there a simple,everyday way people can help animals?

Absolutely, Give your dog or cat respect, patience, understanding and love. And if you just change to one vegetarian day a week, that's a wonderful step that will save animal lives. It means you have chosen something kind instead of something cruel.


Is PETA against the consumption of meat? Do you want us to be vegetarian?

I think if you're against cruelty and you look at what happens to farm animals in slaughterhouses and on factory farms, you have to be completely against eating meat. And we don't need animals. It's the 21st century. It's healthier for us, better for the environment and certainy kinder to be a vegetarian.

I have never worn fur in my life. A family member tried to give me a fur coat one year, and the smell of the coat is one I'll never foget, the smell of animal blood. It gave me the chills and I simply told her that I don't wear fur.

Gradually, I have turned from buying leather goods into buying canvas and fabric bags and shoes. I haven't taken red meat since I was 16, and that is 25 years now. I still take seafood and chicken, but I plan to quit that, too. I guess to some people, it's over the top or irrational. Hey, everyone can choose their own lifestyle.

The operative words that Ingrid has used in the excerpt above are kind and kinder and that means a lot to me.

Marianne Williamson

I have just finished reading "A Return to Love" by Marianne Williamson. The book mainly revolves around the principles in "A Course in Miracles" and that the main reason behind negative things happening in our lives is that we have deviated from the path of love into a path of fear.

The healing comes when we return to Love and return to God, because God is Love.

The book that I turn to when I feel down is a more recent book by Williamson. "Everyday Grace". I am particularly drawn to the concept that all of us can use "magical wands" to change our lives. Everyone is endowed with these wands.

We suffer because we have lost sight of the "magic" in every day miracles.

Everyday is a miracle, if we choose to let go and let God. :)

God has planted Angels around us to hear our prayers and protect us.

(Photos : http://www.mydreamwedding.ca/uploads/Image/Kyla/8111.jpg)

Thanksgiving

I am really thankful that I made a career change last year. As I read the daily news of people being laid off, especially in the financial sector, I am so grateful that I left my old job.

I have ongoing writing projects which I am really grateful for. I am also blessed in more ways than one because I am working in my "ideal" enivronment, in the comfort of my home, a nice working pace, no commuting, no customer service, no office politics and in the company of my kids.

Yes, I have a lot of thanksgiving to do.

Catching Up

I lost touch with a girl friend for almost 4 years and we finally managed to catch up last week, thanks to facebook. A lot has happened during the past years, and we talked non stop for 5 hours. She came to the studio for a visit and then we went for a very nice Japanese hot pot meal on a cold friday. It was really nice.

She commented that I am on better terms with my human family now, because she has seen the pics posted on facebook. Well, I told her that they were pictures tagged by others. The only albums I have posted are pics of my family - my kids, my craft and the studio.

Some things don't change and some things do. The family relationship hasn't changed, but I have changed. I am not tense and bitter now compared to before. Now that I have a life of my own, with my own extended family and my own work , I don't mind that some things stay the same. Afterall, I am used to it already.

p.s. This is a lovely mail I got from a friend.

Dear Bonnie

Talked with Josephine, and know more about what is going on around you recently.
Lady, you can't fight your family and win, nor can you wake them up. Those are the work of Jesus.
Be Happy! If you are doing what is right in the eye of Jesus, the World and anyone who does not know Him will rebuke you. You win by being happy, joyful, for this joy is not something you have (you know clearly), but this joyful life is from Jesus.
Let this life flow! Only this joyful life can touch and hose down the fire of rage within your family! Note I am not saying you can ignore everything your family member says, just cling your emotion to Jesus, who has been doing wonders all the way!
Praise the Lord! He is doing wonder in you and your family! This is your chance again, we have replayed this many times, and let's win this old game now and get on to the next level!
May His Will Be Done!

乳酪 (Cheese) and be happy!

Hauter