left to right- Essie 'fiji', Barry M 'Sugar Apple', Sinful Colours 'Nirvana', Revlon 'chic', Essie 'Island Hopping'

Another autumn advantage is changing up the nail varnish to cooler tones, also when you're stuck for choices, why not choose all five? I chose a gradient from lighter warmer colours getting to the cooler ones for autumn.

Mocktail Time- Mojitos

Mojitos are definitely one of my favourite cocktail drinks, minty and refreshing. But as much as I love a good cocktail, a girl's gotta go to work the next day- so mocktails are the next best thing for me. A fancy drink all the same, without getting the 'asian flush', plus if you're not of drinking age- you can try this too!

What you need (for one drink):
Lemonade (about 300ml- depending on your glass size)
Ice
White granulated sugar
Mint leaves (10-15)
One lime

1. First wash your mint leaves (always wash your vegetables, herbs, etc!) and put them along with two teaspoons of sugar (if you're using soda water/ tonic water- you need more sugar), squeeze half a lime into the glass, then use the other half to put it in. 
2. Next, use a spoon or flat ended stick to mix these ingredients together- this infuses the flavour.
3. Then, add some ice to the glass (you can also crush some ice as well) and top it off with your lemonade.
4. Top it off with some left over mint leaves, and pop in a straw- ta da, a delicious drink to enjoy. 

Chargrilled Vegetable Pesto Pasta

When it comes to cooking, I like to keep it simple and easy. This is super quick and easy to make and tastes delicious. Also you don't have to follow the ingredients that I've used, I literally just threw whatever I had in my fridge together. Mushrooms, tomatoes, chicken, prawns, scallops etc can be some suggestions that I have to switch up this recipe.

What you need (makes one portion- double the ingredients to make two etc):
Half a red onion
One pepper (or any other vegetable you wish to use!)
Olive oil
Extra Virgin olive oil
Spaghetti
Pesto
Salt
Pepper

1. First, heat up a non stick pan. Wash your pepper (or vegetables) and cut them up into big chunks. Dry them off with a paper towel and put them into the pan. (Don't add any oil to the pan). Keep the pan on a medium heat, and toss the vegetables every few minutes
2. Put some water into your saucepan and you can use the kettle to boil the water so it saves time. Add some salt and olive oil to the water, then your spaghetti. Stir your spaghetti every few minutes to prevent them from sticking.
3. Then, by this point your vegetables should be nicely grilled- red onions are perfect for this because they have an extra sweet flavour, add some salt and pepper to season.
4. Drain your spaghetti- eight minutes is a good time, as the spaghetti should be al dente. Use cold water to wash your spaghetti then add some extra virgin olive oil to it. 
5. Finally, combine your spaghetti to the vegetables, add a spoonful of pesto (more if you want it to taste stronger) and mix thoroughly.
6. After taking some pictures of your wonderful creation to put on instagram ;) enjoy!

Grateful.

Just a random thought as I was lying in bed last night. I am so so grateful for everything that I have at this moment of my life, and for everything and everyone that I've had/have in my life that has made me who I am today. I am one of the lucky ones, who has always had most things easy. Shelter, food, love, just enough money, a job I don't hate, friends I could trust, a loving and understanding mum, a boyfriend who takes care of me, pets I love with all my heart.

what more could I ask for?

It's important to stop and think of what one is grateful for every day. Life is actually great, when you just stop and look around.

:)

My favourite face cleanser so far - Lush Angels on Bare Skin

What beauty product can you not do without? Is it the mighty eyeliner? Or is it your favourite lipstick that you won't leave home without? Or the life-saving night cream that leaves your skin lovely and hydrated for the next day?

For me, I'm a strong believer that when it comes to the face - the most important feature is good skin. That's why eventhough I am quite a careful spender, I'm more generous when it comes to spending on skin care products and food.

source: Lushusa.com

Recently I've become more and more conscious of using products that are more natural and are kinder to the world, i.e. don't do mean tests on animals. Body Shop fits this, but it seems their products aren't suitable for me. Kiehl's is pretty good too, but is a bit on the pricier end. I've recently started trying out Lush' products and I'd like to share my find with you.

Lush stores do have a somewhat overwhelming smell when you walk pass them, which is what drove me away several times in the past. But once i went inside and my nose got accustomed to the smell, it was actually quite nice...

I've heard both good and bad stuff about the Lush Angels on Bare Skin face cleanser. The good being it's great at cleansing whilst at the same time leaving the skin feeling smooth and not dry. The bad being it's quite a pain in the butt to use.

I wanted to find a cleanser that can leave my face soft and balanced for the dry winter weather, and also something that isn't harsh and chemical-filled, so I gave the Angels on Bare Skin a go. I have to admit it's not the best cleanser to use when you're in a rush to get ready for work in the morning; You have to nip some of the clay from the box, plop it onto your palm, add some water to make a paste, groan in frustration as most of the mixture runs off your palm and disappears into the sink, repeat the process again... Sounds like a pain right? But don't turn away yet!! Because the hassle is worth it. I don't think I've ever used a face cleanser that left my face feeling as soft and supple as these Angels. They feel good when you rub it on your skin too, the grainy texture of ground almonds works well as an exfoliator, but at the same time doesn't dry up and leave blemishes on your skin. The smell is quite calming too. My face felt clean, heavenly soft and even slightly hydrated. My skin is now ready to face the cruel winter :) Price-wise, 100g of Angels on Bare Skin cost HKD110, which is not expensive in Hong Kong standard.

My score for the Angels on Bare Skin: 8.5/10

I'd also recommend the yummy smelling Blueberry based face mask: Catastrophe Cosmetic.

All healthy eaters would know that blueberries are awesome because they are packed with antioxidants. Designed to soothe and calm, putting the blueberry mask on your face means preventing disasters like break-outs and undesired blemishes (hence the name). Overall I thought this mask was gentle and had a relaxing effect on my skin, it was also easy to apply and dried quickly (less than 10 minutes). However, I don't think this was perfect - it could have been a bit more hydrating.

My score for the Catastrophe Cosmetic: 7/10

Regular skin care is crucial to having healthy and beautiful skin. Drinking lots of water throughout the day is also the best way to maintain that moisture and glow. Keep it up, girls ;)

3CE Liquid Eye Liner

There's nothing better than a winged eye liner and a bold lip look. A few weeks ago we were browsing around the I.T store in Hong Kong and saw the '3CE' make up stand. We sauntered over and spotted some rather good bargains for the price.

'3CE' is a relatively new brand for me, originated from South Korea and has a pretty stocked range from brushes to make up remover at affordable prices. I swatched the liquid eye liner on my hand and was pretty impressed with the colour and finish.

$128 dollars later, the eyeliner was in my hands. Now, application wise, it is so easy to use, if you're an eyeliner noob like moi, this is your best friend. Easy to apply, applies pretty evenly even with the dodgy shaky hand. However, I applied this on Saturday around 9am and throughout the day I noticed that it went a bit patchy and smudged at the sides. 

Overall- I wouldn't purchase this again, I think there are better eyeliners on the market but 3CE if your formulation improves, I'd definitely repurchase this. For now, I think I'll stick to my Dollywink eyeliner. 

8 Benefits of Having a Pet Dog

Meet Bailey. A tiny dog with a huge personality.

She's almost 5 months old, and in this short time that she has joined our family, she has brought us endless joy. Here are some of the many perks having Bailey (and I believe any pet dog) brought us:


1. You learn how to love unconditionally. 
Having a dog doesn't just mean a furry friend to cuddle with and accompany you on rainy days, raising a dog carries as much responsibility as bringing up a child. You have to make sure she's well-fed, clean,  gets all her injections and deworming done, has a comfortable bed, is mentally healthy...  It takes a lot of time, a lot of trips to the vet, and buckets of love to raise a happy dog.


2. Your dog will show you what love is.
She will be ecstatic to see you every time you come home - even if you've only left for 15 minutes to get some groceries.  She won't turn away no matter how long you've left her alone at home or even if you've taken away her favourite toy.


3. She'll turn your frown upside down.
Having a bad day? Just looking into Bailey's big brown eyes and watching her playfully nibble on her toys makes me smile. Your dog's bright personality and adorable curiosity will make your day.

4. She will be your best friend.
Whether you are watching TV, making dinner, going for a evening stroll, your dog will be happy to accompany you. What's more, she won't judge what you're wearing, or if you're having a bad hair day - she's just glad she can spend another minute with you.

5. You will have a healthier lifestyle.
It was difficult having Bailey at first, because she would unfailingly get up punctually at 6 every morning, and start yelping. Gradually, waking up at 6 meant I had to go to bed earlier. Now I maintain a healthier sleep schedule thanks to my dog's very reliable biological clock.

6. A cleaner house.
Say what?! Doesn't having a dog mean more dog hair flying around, more poop and pee to clean up, more food and water spills?  Bailey is a short-haired chihuahua, so she doesn't shed much hair. But she still does -so it means we use the dust-roller more, we wipe the floors more, we tidy up after ourselves so nothing is left on the floor that Bailey shouldn't be chewing on. The house is overall cleaner and more hygienic. Oh and a house-trained dog will not pee and poop around the house, so there's no issue there.

7. Less stressed.
Studies show that playing with a dog can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine - which can help make you happier and less stressed!

8. You become a better person.
Having Bailey has taught my family and I how to be more patient, more loving, selfless and responsible. I've seen ways my family treat Bailey that surprised and warmed my heart.

Homemade Grapefruit Mocktail

This recipe is delicious, quick and easy to make when you want something a bit fancier/ trying to impress some friends at dinner.

What you need (makes one drink):
One grapefruit (or 150ml grapefruit juice)
150 ml of lemonade/ sparkling water
A spoonful of sugar/ algave syrup (optional)
Ice
One glass

For garnishing:
One slice of lemon
Mint leaves (optional)
Straw

1. First off, fill your glass with ice, you can crush it- (great for anger management- put your ice cubes in a towel and smash it with a rolling pin if you have one, or just against the wall- think like hulk!) or leave them whole.
2. Next, if you're using a fresh grapefruit like me, squeeze the juice out and pour it over the ice- one grapefruit should fill the glass half full.
3. Then top it up with your lemonade/ sparkling water - if you are using sparkling water I'd recommend adding the sugar/syrup because it will be sour. The lemonade already has sugar in it, but you can add the sugar to your desired taste.
4. Finally, slice up a lemon to decorate your glass and top up with mint leaves if you have some, pop a straw in and you're ready to sip it up! Enjoy!

P.S- you could add some alcohol in this too- rum would be a good pair with this!

Pucker Up With DIY Homemade Lip Scrub

Now that cooler weather is approaching, I can feel my lips starting to crack and peel. I use lip balms occasionally (Burt's Bees, Loccitane), but this is my first time trying lip scrub.

Lip scrubs exfoliate the dry, dead skin on your lips so they can become more moist and plump.

If you want great lips, you can start making your own lip scrub at home with ingredients you already own.

Today I experimented with a very simple recipe: Vaseline and Sugar.

Vaselin and Sugar Lip Scrub Recipe:

1. Grab 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of vaseline

2. Mix the two together in a small container (I recycled a contact lense case). Use a toothpick to mix. The end result should look something like this:

3. Apply a dab of the mixture onto your lips, gently massage for a minute

4. Rinse off with warm water

5. Say hello to your gorgeous and moisturised lips

before: dry chapped lips

after: happy moisturised lips

Very simple yet very effective. Go on, give it a try :)

Thoughts: Feminism

So in light of Emma Watson's recent speech at the UN, it's sparked more conversation about this topic- Feminism, ( If you haven't watched her speech, watch it here-  I highly recommend you to).

Firstly, I haven't always thought there were inequalities between boys and girls, but a few years ago (and tumblr) I realised.  Yes, women have more freedoms than they did before - remember the fight the suffragettes went through? However, the gap is still wide, sure women have every right to do what they want with their body and have their own choices, but remember, it's not like that for the rest of the world. Also think- slut shaming, victim blaming-  what do all these things have in common? The women.

I see a lot of posts on 'I don't need feminism because'- by saying this I feel as though it conveys the message that you think it's okay that men are paid more than women, they get 'free reign' over their own desires, oh that 'boys will be boys'. What does feminism mean to you? Because to me, it basically means men and women deserve equal rights. It goes for men too, you can and should also have the right to be free and be sensitive.

Feminism isn't about hating men, it's about men and women having the same rights, simple as that.

You still think that you don't need feminism? Well think of this, as soon as Emma Watson's speech was spoken, she got threatened  with the release of nude photos. Women are still held over this threat because nude photos threaten women more than men, you don't see the release of nude photos affecting the men. Sex is still held over women as a powerful tool to submiss them, so the world is not an equal place, not yet.

To end with this quote, 'If not us, who. If not now, when?'