Travels: Melbourne, Sept 2013

Melbourne, a city which will always hold a special place in my heart.

A friend asked why I would revisit Melbourne over and over again, why not spend the money and time exploring another country? There is only so much I can see and do this lifetime, and I am contented revisiting this beautiful place which I once called home. 

I understand the whole idea of a holiday is to travel to places unseen, discover and revel in all that it has to offer, but sometimes I just want to get away and enjoy the familiar things I have come to love. It's like when people who live in the city travel back to their hometowns for some relaxation; a little extravagant but Melbourne is that special happy place for me.

I am forever thankful that my parents gave me the best they could, and gave me their support when I decided to spend those years abroad. The essential years I spent growing up between 18 - 23, discovering who I am and moulding myself were all spent in Melbourne. So many memories I hold dear, places which have stories to tell, experiences which can never be bought.. perhaps it is nostalgia which keeps me going back.. but as long as I have the time and finances for my yearly trips, and as long as it still makes me happy, I will go.

Months overdue, but here are some snippets of what I did my last visit...

I always miss the convenience of trams and trains..

Shopping for a friend..

Empties: January & February 2014

The first Empties post of 2014! I've combined both the months as there weren't many finished in January. My skin hasn't been behaving this well since.. I don't even remember.

My skin has improved so much, and I've learnt that expensive skincare doesn't necessarily mean it works better. I have become one of those purchasers who scrutinize product labels- I have a need to check how high "alcohol" and "parabens" are on the list (the higher volume, the higher it is on the ingredient list). I understand that sometimes alcohol and parabens are necessary to keep the product fresh and stable but I would rather it not be the first few ingredients on the list. From personal experience, my skin reacts very badly and would just turn dry, itchy and then break out.

I am still fine tuning my regime but here are a few things I've been using:

1. Garnier CleanSensitive 2-in-1 Gentle Make-Up Remover, 200ml

My last bottle lugged back from previous Melbourne travels, it is one of the best I have used as it removes both budge-proof Bobbi Brown Gel Liner and even face foundation very well. Not available in KL, but if it was I would definitely repurchase.

2. sukin Foaming Facial Cleanser 125ml

3. Clarins Extra-Comfort Toning Lotion 200ml

4. Clarins Gentle Refiner 50ml

5. Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Gel Moisturizer 15ml [Travel]

6. Clarins Multi-Active Day Moisturizer 15ml [Travel]

7. Clarins Multi-Active Night Moisturizer 15ml [Travel]

8. snoxin Serum 30ml

9. Crabtree & Evelyn Citron Creme & Honey Lip Butter

10. Melvita Apicosma Body Milk 30ml [Travel]

11. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Body Lotion 10ml [Sample]

12. Aesop Gentle Scalp Cleansing Shampoo 30ml [Travel] I have been looking for this shampoo but did not see it stocked in the counter, perhaps repackaged/out of stock? It does work well and leaves my scalp feeling clean but not stripped. Will try to hunt this down soon.

13. Clarins Satin Finish Body Oil 

Total January & February: 13

#Dannisa (Dan & Isa)

2 Sundays ago one of my closest girlfriends got married! She's the second one in the group and it was all very exciting, the customary jip san leong (where Bridesmaids lay out a set of tasks for the Groom and his men to complete before they can get to the Bride), tea ceremony and lastly dinner reception.

Isabel and I met at college and we continued our studies together in Melbourne; funny thing was we both didn't know that the other was going to be in the same city. Nothing happens by coincidence, and from that one Friendster message (yes, Friendster! Not Facebook LOL) our wheels of friendship were already set in motion. I don't think either of us knew then that our friendship would blossom and become what it is today.

She has grown to be a great friend, and I can not thank her enough for the support and crazy laughter she has provided throughout the years. Her husband is an amazing man, kind, thoughtful, turns into a professor when tipsy/drunk but most of all he truly loves her and it is apparent to all around them.

Congratulations, Daniel and Isabel! 

Bridesmaids galore! Ala Oscars selfie style..

Myself, YL, XC

Awaiting the arrival of the Groom & his Men..

SY, an upcoming Bride in August, & I.. can't wait~

Makeup for the morning was kept simple, BB cream, eyeliner, blush and a natural lippie.

The Groom arrives!

Men in tights LOL Gearing up to perform "Can't Touch This"- MC Hammer

We had a few tasks prepared for them and one of the Bride's requests was that the Groom had to dance and sing (separately) as one of the challenges. This isn't to humiliate him and his Men but more to have him do something he otherwise would never. They did get a few weeks to practice so they were sorta prepared. What they didnt expect though, were the colourful pants!

Sundaes on Sunday!

Our version of tim-shuen-fu-latt (sweet-sour-bitter-spicy), very nicely presented, no? Starting at the bottom- chopped bittergourd with square of dark chocolate, Mars bar with caramel sauce, crushed biscuits with wasabi paste and frozen Greek yoghurt with 2 lemons chopped and squeezed in. Yums! LOL

Groom singing One Direction's "One Thing" complete with guitar & backup singers

It was so heart-warming to watch the Groom start off nervous and shaky but towards the end he was so into it and even doing hand gestures! After this last hurdle, there was a tea ceremony with the Bride's family and off we went to the Groom's home.

xxx

The Newlyweds!

At the couple's new home..

Blushing bride and I...

After a photo-session we headed to the hotel room to rest, have our hair and makeup done and wait for dinner at night. The ever gracious Bride arranged a room for us to go crazy in (we did; ordered room service, laughed hysterically and squealed like a bunch of highschoolers at a sleepover). It is really rare to get everyone together these days and this was such a good catch up.

xxx

Ynez & Nadya

Receptionists..

Us on stage after the march-in...

Loved my sister's hair, done by Sato, 76Style Mont Kiara

Party people at Table27! My friends are so pretty!!

First married couple in our group

To-be-married couple!

From Melbourne to KL ♥

End of the night- tipsy, lying on the plush Shangri-La bed, sniffed my bouquet, ate the deeelicious chocs and fell asleep

But not before capturing some silly antics the guys were up to LOL.

Wishing you both happiness and joy as you start a new chapter in life!!

♥ ♥ ♥

Nails: Easy Daisy Manicure

Stayed home last Sunday and decided to try out this easy DIY daisy manicure I read on Nouvelle Daily..

Image: Nouvelle Daily

It was really simple, I did not have a dotting tool to create the petals so I just used a bobby pin and the following polishes:

A short history on the polishes above... 

Eastern Light was a limited edition last year but will be repromoted in the upcoming Summer 2014 makeup line

Flamme Rose is a very old, discontinued colour which I found whilst inspecting drawers at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport's dutyfree counter

Mimosa was a colour I dismissed in May 2011 (this was the year I started getting serious about Chanel polishes) and then regretted and recently bought new on eBay for double the price

Gold Fingers I bought over the phone without even swatching, it was created for the reopening of the Chanel boutique in Las Vegas in 2012

I have no complains about Chanel polishes, even the older formula is a dream to work with. There is only one in my collection which reviewers have mentioned is streaky and should be applied thinly, and that is Mimosa. I haven't tested a full manicure on it so I can't say but as dots it dried without issues.

I did as instructed, one coat of sheer polish; Flamme Rose, and dotted with Eastern Light..

I then dotted the middle with a yellow polish; Mimosa, and after it dried I topped it with Gold Fingers for some sparkle.

After the dots dried, I sealed it with Seche Vite top coat. Super easy! It didn't take too long to do this and I even did the same set for my sister (below).



I really like this and would definitely try it again with different colours. I'm off to Google for more of these easy DIY nail designs!

Roses de Chloe

I've never come across a rose scent which I loved until I sniffed Roses de Chloe (and Paul Smith Rose but that bottle was gifted and that's another story).

Most perfumes do not agree with me as I have a sensitive nose and would often get migraines due to certain flowers used or if the scent was too strong. A perfume is special, unique as it smells different on everyone after it settles and warms into your skin. Which is why I always test-run a fragrance, either by sample vial or spraying at the counter, and walking around before committing.

Instagram version with filter

Original shot

Posting two of the same picture as I think I took a good shot LOL

Many rose-based scents do not smell nice on me, even diptyque's rose which is a beautiful scent (on paper) left me with a grassy note.

Roses de Chloe is a scent I enjoy sniffing over and over again, the rose-note isn't overpowering and leaves me feeling warm and comforted inside. Funny way of describing it but most of my floral perfumes make me feel this way.

I was going to hold off buying any perfumes until I finished one more but I couldn't resist when I saw the freebies on offer! A 75ml perfume, coin purse, body lotion and vial.. selling for the same price as a single 75ml? Too good to pass up.

Female rationality: Spending to save.

No more perfume purchases for a long time!