Lip Balm

This lip balm is hand made with goodies like olive oil from Italy, Shea butter, pure honey and vitamin E. The ingredients are completely natural with no preservatives nor fragrance added. To top it all off, it really works.

A light application is all you need to feel its magic. The balm literally melts and moisturizes your lips, for hours. The texture is not oily nor gluey and a slightly thicker layer can last through the night. Lips feel pampered.

A must have for the drier and cooler weather.

You can find Nymph HK here.

Kickstart

My ceramic clock

Can't believe it's June already. In retrospect, what have I accomplished the past six months? I have to hang my head and confess, "not much". I have this sinking feeling I am wasting my life away as I leaf through my files.

Wait, tucked between sheaves of paper are two Groupon vouchers for art classes due to expire end of the month. Okay, it's now or never.

I had my first ceramics class last week, we were to make ceramic clocks. I thought it would be just that one lesson but it turned out we had to go back the second lesson to color-glaze our clay moulds. I wasn't expecting much from a discount coupon, but I had one-on-one tutor, free material and loads of fun.

I left class feeling exuberant. Happy that I have learnt something new and actually making something and I love being a student. You just have to bring a sense of wonderment with you. I have a painting class coming up, oh and my second ceramics class. I hope this excitement would kick start the second half of the year with some much needed momentum!!

Tea Drinker

I have been a coffee drinker for the longest time. I envy those who wake up feeling sharp and alert, because I usually wake up feeling groggy and dull. Even the kids know better than to get in my way before my cuppa.

I didn't really notice the change till I unbag my grocery a couple days ago. Chamomile tea, Forest berry tea, Lipton tea. Tea, tea and tea? I looked at my ground coffee, it couldn't be the same one from last month. There it was, almost full, untouched. 

I was mighty surprised with my little discovery, I could actually function without coffee? Somehow, I have migrated from a coffee-drinker to a tea-drinker. I agree both are caffeinated drinks but the change is still a shock.

I made myself a cuppa today. For some unfathomable reason, it tasted sour. What I enjoy nowadays is breathing in the aroma of berries, vanilla and chamomile as I sip my tea. Imagine that, some change!!

Lovely Experience

 

I have been neglecting my skincare routine badly and the condition of my skin really shows, oily and dry at the same time. Burning the midnight oil just adds to the already sallow and dull complexion. What's worse, the creams I am using seem to aggravate the condition.

I chanced upon the L'Occitane store some weeks back, lured by the flowery and feminine display in the window. There were a lot of people in the store. Normally I would have left, if not for a very broad grin from a young trainee. She was very polite and patiently introduced the products to me. She wasn't pushy at all (which was rare) and I got everything I needed, a whitening serum, an anti-aging serum, an eye cream and a face cream.

I remarked on how brisk business was on a weekday and she said it's because a limited-edition plum blossom line they were carrying was nearing the end of its promotion period. She showed me the gift set, a nice cloth bag with a travel size bath gel and body lotion. It looked like I had to spend a lot more to get the plush set, so I was all prepared to decline on the offer.

To my surprise, she returned with just a lip gloss. She said I only had to get one product in the line to get the gift. I glanced over to the perfumes and lotions which were much more expensive, but she brought only one lip gloss. It had a light fragrance and shimmer, I got two. *wink*

When I walked out with my shopping bag, the trainee was already attending to another customer. She gave me a little wave and a big smile. I walked out, very happy with my purchase and the lovely shopping experience.

I have been using the products for some weeks now and the condition of my skin has markedly improved. I think it's a combination of my being more regiment with my routine and using the right products.  I hope when I next go to L'Occitane to replenish my creams the trainee would still be there.

Lovely Workspace

Nice desk I am an avid follower of "Design Sponge", a design blog comprised of talented designers sharing insights about their different passions. My personal favorites are "we like it wild", with all things about flowers and a "before and after" blog about re-designing used furniture. The desk above has undergone major transformation from a plain jane to this pretty thing. I can totally picture myself working at it! You can check out the blog and be inspired by the lovely ideas, too. photo

Beaming Flowers

The weather has been real nice and comfy the past two days ranging from 17 to 22c. My mood has visibly kicked up a few notches, having been dampened by the rainy cold spell earlier on. Wet and cold, the worst combination ever.

Grasping the sunny day, Porky and I venture out. Perhaps it's me feeling bright and buoyant, everything around me simply look cheery and chipper. Stopping by the flower stall I make my way to vases of pale pink and green sweet peas.

Preferring muted pastel colors to bright primary colors I would have swooped up a bunch already but these yellow roses are simply irresistible on this gay day. Well, the yellow roses finally win. Now sitting prettily in the living room, they seem to be beaming every time I look.

Wise choice.

(The basket is from an Aveda hamper)

Moodscope

I have been trying out Moodscope for almost a week now. Skeptical at first, I am a complete convert. All of us can "feel" our moods but it's totally different to "see" the change. My week's mood fluctuations coincide with my monthly cycle of discomfort and specific triggers like people who unerringly stress me out.

It only takes minutes to do the test everyday and it's very satisfying to see I am pretty content as a person, that I should not make too much out of annoying people/events and instead pay more attention to my physical well being.

Thumbs up. Try it here.

HKDR at Harvey Nichol's

I made the deadline!! (clap, clap)

The deadline had been crazy this year, condensed from one month (the usual case) to two weeks. The mad dash was so stressful a full range of allergies had developed, nasal, skin and most irritating of all, itchy eyes. It got so bad I had to see a doctor for prescription medicine. The nurse warned me the pills would make me super drowsy. Still, I did not expect ten hours would evaporate after the first dose. I panicked, my deadline!!

I finally gave the liaison lady a call. She knew the drafts had been late in coming and the original deadline looked hopelessly ridiculous now, but therein lie the dilemma, the finalized drafts had a deadline at the printers, too. Long story short I received a much appreciated two-day extension.

I had been wanting to attend a charity function held by Hong Kong Dog Rescue at Harvey Nichol's on October 14th, the day before my deadline. I had completely dismissed any possibility of going, but with this miraculous grace period I could finally go!! Talk about mind over body, it had been only a day into my allergy medicine but I felt the symptoms had alleviated a bit.

These are the adorable puppy totes I have bought at the event and every dollar goes to the charity.

Autumn Harvest

The season of plentiful has arrived. These prunes are freshly harvested from my dad's farm. Sweet and juicy the prunes are delicious. They make mouth-watering pies, too. I have a craving for a warm slice served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Heavenly.

Bonjour

Ranunculus Blossoms

This is going to be a really short post. Simply want to remind myself I do have one of those rare days waking up refreshed and actually feeling happy.

Azalea

This pot of azalea is my first flowering plant. I have always been partial to cut flowers as opposed to potted ones for their convenience. The blossom in this little pot has lasted two full months. As the flowers begin to wilt I start reading up on the care of azaleas. After the first flowering it's recommended to plant the azalea outdoors for the next season. Since I don't have a garden it will have to stay in its pot.

The leaves have grown wild and unruly in the meantime. I am real skeptical about it blooming again but on the off chance that it would, I have kept up with the trimming to keep its original dome shape. It almost has a sorry end in the trash can one day because it is so dry and brittle. I have completely forgotten to water it.

I think this pot is a late bloomer. Spring has come and gone and it's the height of summer. Nonetheless it's a thrill to be counting the new buds. As a debutant there is still much to learn about plants. I am looking forward to the wide circle of buds yet to bloom and happily thinking about choosing my second flowering plant.

Calendar

I can't believe it's August already. Looking back on the last eight months, what have I accomplished? Sadly, not much. Work wise I have managed to get some articles published on a tourism website and a thesis on Shakespeare accepted to an academic website. I have also read a dozen books but do they count? It's pathetic.

Embarrassing to admit I have simply wasted too much time on distracting pastimes. Now that almost three quarters of 2010 has passed, it's time to change gears, say "no" to time killers and really get something done. I must regain my footing, find my balance and set sail again. To remind myself of the preciousness of each day, I have changed my desktop wallpaper to a calendar.

I am an avid follower of Design Sponge. D's has announced late last year there will be a new desktop calendar for each month in 2010. The current August calendar is by far my favorite. I love the colors, the pinks, purples, greys and blues blending seamlessly together. I also love the handwritten calendar, visible yet not loud enough to disturb the whole design. The grand sweep of white feathers is successful in brightening the composition with flamboyance and airiness.

Speaking of flamboyance and immediacy I am reminded of a quote by William James to which I have to adhere from this day on.

To change your life:
Start immediately;
Do it flamboyantly; no exceptions.

Scented Candle

Aveda Shampure Candle

I am blessed with windows spanning an entire wall with rows of magnificent trees in view. I love the optical illusion of working amongst the greens in the comfort of my home. For want of a porch or veranda I think it is pretty cool.

It has been raining the last two days, an overdue respite from a stretch of stifling hot weather. The unending drizzle and occasional downpour have mesmerized Dayee and Camille, watching and listening to the rain for hours on end.

As opposed to the full glare on sunny days, the light on rainy days are muted, softer, paler. The dimmed sky ushering evenings in earlier. I love evenings, a time when everything settles after an eventful day. Evening is my cue to pick a candle from the book shelf, trim the wick and watch it flicker.

In my search for a scented candle that is not too heady nor masked with no scent at all I have bought quite too many. I have finally embarked on my perfect candle, a soy wax candle by Aveda known as Shampure. Made with plant essences such as organic lavendar, ylang ylang and petitgrain, the scent is as the name suggests, pure, soothing and calming. It simply smells clean.

The scent has slowly wafted the whole room, breathing a sense of well being. Watching from my writing desk, the trees, the rain, the warm glow of the candle and Dayee nodding asleep against the window pane is a picture of peace and stillness.

Online Shopping

This is an Agnes b. card purse I have bought online. I have never purchased anything except books online because of my suspicions that I might be cheated. How ironic when I have an online website for my cards!!

I decide to try it out at a local auction site and after looking through dozens of pages I am utterly frustrated. Whoever says shopping is a great past time is definitely wrong here. I simply want a card purse, how hard can that be? I choose the vendor with the highest ratings, confident that I have a found a bargain.

It's only a day's wait. I open the package and pat myself on the back for being such a savvy shopper. I decide to show off my prize to the expert online shopper at the cafe. Big mistake. I have bought the purse for double the price she has paid for exactly the same piece!! Thunderstruck, I ask her isn't this the price you tell me couple days ago? With one hand on her hip, she says, "it's for two, stupid". Dang!!

The vendor has given me an A+++ shopper rating, an A+++ idiot to be precise. I have reciprocated the rating upon receiving my package. I am now surrounded by advisers who console me there is a first with everything, that everyone makes mistakes and practice makes perfect. Gee!! How much do I have to waste and pay for a lesson well learnt and that lesson is shopping??? I am right in being wary about online shopping, it's not for idiots like moi. Sigh.

I love my purse though!!

Votive Candles

Ranunculus blossoms in votive candle glasses

I have a weakness for candles. As a result I have a collection of burnt out votive candles gathering dust on a shelf. I have ruled out scraping the residual wax with knives because of the possible scar marks on the glass. One day, I come across a how-to guide on Martha's blog on cleaning votive candles.

I cannot believe the solution is this simple. Pop the candle in the freezer for a few hours. The rationale being the wax will contract in the cold and it can then be removed without any scraping.

I am pretty sure the glass will crack under the cold temperature but I decide to try it out anyhow, so I put two candles inside the freezer. After four hours I take the frozen votive out. I then use a knife to tease the wax around the glass, all the while remaining highly skeptical of my little experiment. Then I hear a tiny pop sound. I realize that air has been sucked in, meaning a vacuum is created between the wax and the glass.

This is the moment of truth. I turn the glass upside down and give the bottom a few knocks. The wax plop out with a thud on the kitchen counter. The glass is clean and gleaming with no trail of wax whatsoever!! I stand rooted to the spot holding the frosted glass, until the numbing cold from my fingers wake me from my trance. It works!!

My freezer is crammed with a dozen candles now. This simple tip has taken care of a problem that has been irking me for a long time and I am looking forward to a variety of glass holders. Above are the two votive candles from the experiment and they make such perfect vases for solitaire blossoms.

What a great tip from Martha!!

Valentine New Year

Valentine's Day happen to fall on Chinese New Year this year. It's supposed to occur every thirty eight years. As opposed to the usual bouquet of cut flowers, I have received a big vase of orchids arranged with a mass twirl of silvery buds. It feels more celebratory than romantic so I guess New Year's has won out as the decoration theme this Valentine's.

I could not resist sweet peas when I chance upon them and they have fondly become everyday flowers around the house. Sweet peas come in many different shades and shapes and I always marvel at their variations during their frequent albeit brief sojourn on my desk.

The free flowing sweet peas are the Midas touch, adding sweetness and romance to the otherwise austere Valentine orchids.

What a Delight

As with the approach of every festive season, an onslaught of catalogues would cram the mailbox, beckoning you to browse and drop some coins. One of the most eye catching catalogue is the Mikimoto Collection 2010. The cover of the little booklet is red with gold lettering, which makes it extra Christmasy.

The collection is called Rosy Bliss and the description says the "Jewelry designed to evoke blissful feelings, blooming apace with your pursuit of happiness". Really? It piqued my curiosity. As I turn the pages, I could see design after design of floral motifs in pink sapphires and diamonds set with the famous pearls.

After browsing the whole collection, I really want to salute the people who came up with the wordings for the collection because they have captured the essence of the design. I do feel "blissful" at the sight of the delightful pendant above.

(photo: www.mikimoto.com.hk)

Stella McCartney - Designer with a Conscience

The "It" Shoe for A/W 09, laser cut perforated faux nappa thigh high boots

I received The Style Hunter newsletter from Lane Crawford a while back. I went WOW on the second page which featured these thigh high boots designed by Stella McCartney. She had been my favorite designer since she joined the house of Chole. She's now with Gucci and has her own line under her name.

A few years back, Stella had a crossover with Adidas for women's sports clothes and shoes. I coveted that pair of Adidas shoes for a long time but never got to buy it. I finally got a top. I had serious doubts about the comfort and fit at the asymmetrical cutting, but it turned out to be super comfortable and it wrapped the body really well.

Aside from the fabulous designs, I loved Stella's support of Peta and her not using fur or leather in any of her designs. She is a vegetarian and very vocal about her belief of "no-animal" policy in her clothing lines. Her message appears on her labels and on one of her Adidas jacket, it even says "it's suitable for sporty vegetarian". Sir Paul McCartney is also very supportive of Peta and he protests against designers who use animal furs for designs.

Stella launched a skincare line called CARE two years ago and its ingredients are 100% organic. I have tried the line and it feels good to know you are using products with no preservatives. The line is really simple, with a cleansing milk, floral toning water, day cream and night cream. At the same time, Stella has launched a fragrance under her name.

I really admire Stella McCartney for advocating her beliefs in her designs. With her name and fame, I hope more and more people will be aware that great designs don't have to scream pain. She is a designer with a conscience. Hats off!!
( photo: www.stellamccartney.com)

Shakespeare Abridged

A friend invited me to go to a matinee play at the Academy for Performing Arts yesterday. The poster touted the play would condense all of Shakespeare's 37 plays into 97 minutes. Wow, this aroused my interest immensely. I could read through two plays in that time frame, but all 37? Impossible!

It turned out to be a three men play that attempted to engage the audience into a roller coaster ride abridging and condensing the work by the Bard. It began with Romeo and Juliet, which was amongst the three plays the trio spent the most time on, about eight minutes each. The other two were Othello and Hamlet.

I laughed and coughed the most when they debated how and who should play Othello, since he's a Moor and supposed to be African. They are all whites. There were a few racial jokes, but they finally decided to rap the lines. It was hilarious.

The last play was Hamlet and the best part was Hamlet's "to be or not to be" soliloquy that one of the actors recited nonchalantly. It was the longest and most serious recital of the play but he added afterwards saying, "I didn't know what it meant either." This was wildly funny.

I was a little surprised there so many kids at the play, most likely because it's a matinee show. There were quite a few puns and terms I thought would escape them, but the kids understood and loved them. I guess it's the talent of the actors who managed to draw the audience in, even kids. I read that it's the longest running comedy in Britain. Hats off to the Reduced Shakespeare Company trio!!

p.s. Apologies to my friend, who had to endure my coughing in between the laughs.

Kate Spade Show

Invitation and paraphernalia

Our seats

Rows of tea for two

Programme and gift vouchers

Models' entrance

Kate Spade's first clothing collection

Strutting down the runway

Last month, I received an invitation to view the first clothing collection by Kate Spade New York. I had been a long time fan of their bag and especially shoe collection, the 3 inch heels were actually comfortable to walk in.

The fashion show was held at the Four Season's hotel. I called to RSVP and the lady told me to bring a friend along for the fun. We arrived on the dot and registered at the entrance of the ballroom. When we walked in, we were speechless. Rows and rows of teas were arranged along the catwalk.

We were led to our seats and a waiter appeared to ask us if we wanted tea or coffee. What we wanted was to click away with the camera and record this moment. It just felt so surreal, so SATC. We took turns taking pictures and after making a nuisance obstructing the waiters serving other ladies, we sat down.

We started to devour the 3 tier tea set. It was the usual fare, with finger sandwiches and savories, scones and cakes, but somehow they tasted extra special. I think it had to do with the atmosphere and the excitement.

Finally, the fashion show began and the first model was my all time favorite, Amanda Strang. She just looked so pretty and sweet and so Kate Spade. Polka dots were everywhere, which was just right with the caption,"Be chic, be pretty and have fun!!". The show lasted for about 15 minutes. I clapped so hard when all the models paraded down for the finale. It was just so pretty and so fun!!

I had my last sip of coffee and thought to myself what a wonderful day it was. I felt so happy. Afterwards, we went to the Kate Spade shop to look at the clothing. Well, there weren't many on display and we felt that we had an insider look and we both had a secret smile walking out of the store.