DIY Samsung S3 covers

Friday, August 23, 2013

Crafting and the arts have always been in my blood but since young, my mom has been hindering my pursuit in the Arts. She said that being an artist can never earn big bucks. Old school. There's a wee bit of resentment for who knows I might have been the next big thing. For a while, I hid this talent from many. Aquaintances and even close ones would be pleasantly surprised at my deft fingers and creative juices. With the arrival of Lil K, things left me with very little time to relish nature or paint a picture, let alone craft. However, recently after knowing a bunch of "crafty" mommies, the love for crafting has been rekindled. I don't know where these people get the energy to craft, bake or even blog. Seriously people, do you sleep? Of late, I've been inspired by  Jasmine. The photos on her blog are oh-so-inspiring and beautifully captured. And her DIY projects are always on my bookmarked list. And in case you aren't aware, this talented mommy won the Best lifestyle Blog at the recent Singapore Blog Awards! Anyhoots, I've been meaning to try out one of her DIYs -- customisable iphone covers. A very clever idea. All you need essentially are those transparent covers and some nice pattened papers. However, stingy me am unwilling to part with those pretty full size scrapbooking sheets thus I thought, Why not print them out according to the size I want? Genius. Well almost, coz printer ink aren't cheap either!

 
I was really inspired by the below chalkboard quotes and wanted to replicate something for the phone. I mean how hard can that be right? No need for printer ink, just my trusty black paper and white pen! Pure Genius again. Wrong. I did not take into consideration that I'm customising for a Samsung S3 which has curves unlike the Iphone5! It was an ardous task to cut the three holes for the camera, flash and speaker. To cut to size as another difficulty. I tried but the end result was far from satisfactory. Then I tried inserting it into the transparent cover and guess what? It wouldn't close. Too thick I suppose.



 
So in the end, I did THIS! Simply printed what I wanted on normal printing paper and snapped them onto the phone using the transparent cover! No need to even cater for the three menacing holes! The end result might not be all that posh but hey, from far, it does looks pretty good and now I'm able to motivate myself with these beautiful covers!
 
 
 Here's the instructions credits to http://scissorspaperstoneblog.com
 
 I told you I was a genius! Teehee. :)

Review: Choosing the right BB cream

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

BB Cream. I've always been a fan of it. BB stands for beauty or Blemish Balm as it's more commonly known. It was first developed by a German dermatologist Dr.Christine Schrammek in the 1950s for her own patients to sooth skin, reduce redness and give it a more natural look after treatments such as peels. This multi purpose and multi tasking all-in-one cream is an anti-aging moisturizer, UV protecting tinted skin smoother, imperfection concealer and primer all in one. It's popularized by the Koreans and Japanese mainly who swore by it and managed to create that airbrushed feel with the BB cream . Ever since its emergence, I too, jumped onto the bandwagon. I used to be really conscious of my unsightly scars and flaming red skin. As such, I often piled on tons of foundation and concealer in hope to spare me the ridicule from mean people around. I used to be a fan of Bobbi Brown's foundation but since the evolution of the BB cream, I've tried Dr Jart+ BB cream but didn't like its shade and creamy texture which made me look pasty and unatural;  Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream which again did not make the mark in the colour department. It's super-light but probably too light for my liking. I felt insecure. I know BB creams are not meant for coverage, but it didn't seem to sit well on my skin and ended up fading after a few hours. On top of that, it seemed to add to the oiliness of my flawed skin. If you are prone to acne breakouts or if your skin is sensitive, this may not be the product for you. Finally, i took to affordable brands like Bio Essence Aqua BB cream and used it for a while. The pink undertone matched my skin and it didn't oxidize after a day. The only drawback was that I didn't quite like its smell. Then, CC cream came into the picture. Also known as Color Control cream, or color correcting cream, it is a refined blemish balm cream or Beauty Balm created and developed in Korea. Immediately I got myself a tube from Rachel K at Watsons. Popular brands of CC creams include Rachel K, Loreal, and Chanel. Rachel K, a Singapore-based brand, is said to be the first brand to pioneer CC cream and introduce it into the market before other major beauty companies like Chanel, Lancome, Olay and L'Oreal. It was founded by Miss Singapore Universe, Rachel Kum. Local babe, worth supporting of course! Then again, I basically bought it because of it's affordability plus its range is the only one available in a limited market that is formulated with pure minerals, making it suitable for all skin types including highly sensitive ones as the mineral ingredients do not irritate or damage the skin.

I would have stuck with the CC cream if I wasn't introduced to the Laneige BB soothing cushion. It is
a unique compact that contains a cushion filled with cooling air and BB cream. The unique formula of LANEIGE BB cushion is that it provides five benefits, including:
-      cooling effect that instantly cools down and refreshes the skin fatigued under heat, by 3°C;
-      brightening effect;
-      sweat-proof, long-lasting coverage
-      daily protection against harmful UV rays and sun damage with SPF 50+ PA+++:
-      tone correction to medium coverage, creating a clean and natural look; 




 

Highly recommended by makeup artists and editors, this baby blends on so easily and naturally. All I had to do was to apply onto puff and smooth along the texture of skin. Then, pat to increase adherence. Finally, I applied another layer to improve coverage. I was instantly blown away with the final result! It felt light yet not naked. The price tag isn' too friendly on the pockets though. Retailing in Singapore at $59 which includes a refill. I didn't quite like the fact that they don't sell the puff separately. Hygiene is of utmost importance if you want to achieve good skin, thus, I make it a point to wash the puff every 2-3 days. However, even after washing, I have an inkling that the bacteria is still lurking and seeing the stains on the puff makes me uncomfortable. Still, with its complexion-enhancing goodness and ongoing skin benefits, this is definitely the absolute winner and a keeper!
Yet to jump on the BB train? What are you waiting for?

Grab a code, feel free to link up! 

  
  

PS: This is not a paid review. All opinions are 100% my own. Results obtained from usage of the product may vary from person to person. Please do your own research when purchasing products as your opinion may differ from mine.

travelogue: bangkok jam

Thursday, August 8, 2013

This post is wayyyy overdue. Blame it on the man duties I have to multi-task. Blame it on jam-packed agendas. Or simply, blame i on laziness.

After two weeks of rest, I decided to give myself a break. Or rather, the hub decided that I needed a break. An overseas one that is. So that broke my cardinal rule of not bringing the baby along on trips! We decided to go to the land of smiles and within the week, our airtix and hotel was booked. It has been 3 years since the hub and I travelled together ALONE. Don't get me wrong. I love that the lil one is with us on our trips but i suppose, time off is good in a time like this. Prior to leaving, i prepped lil k but unknown to me, the separation anxiety was more on me. How was i going to get my daily fix when i m a million miles away? There will not be any rolls to munch on when i m back! True enough my withdrawal syndrom started even as i arrived at the airport.

Upon arrival at bkk however,i caved in to the sights and embraced myself in the frenzy of escalating chaos. Yup, the jams were amazing. Thus we decided to tk the airport express to our hotel located near Asok BTS instead. It took us a total of half an hour to arrive. We first took a direct train to Makasan station and from there made a transfer to the MRT and alighted at Sukhumvit station. Exited entrance number 1 and viola, we arrived at the FX furama exclusive hotel.

 

 
I was pleasantly surprised by the room. Spacious, clean and bright. Only complaint i had -- the bed was too hard.
Don't expect too much from the daily buffet spread too. The photo may look pretty decent but the variety sux.

That night, we feasted at Tawangdang. It's a German Brewery and is actually a stand-alone huge ass bunglow. They have a branch in Singapore but of in bkk, it's way cheaper n  nicer! There were performances too to entertain us. The vibrant colours and multitude of dishes made me momentarily forget my woes.

 
I absolutely adore Thai food!! Can't believe it's been this long since I've been to the land of smiles.

Day 2: Took the train to Citlom and Went to Central World coz I heard there's a host of Plan Wooden Toys over at the Toys R Us. However, I reckon we probably have half of the shop at home, thus we went home empty handed. Talk about self-control! I was impressed. We then headed over to Platinum Wholesale mkt where the galore of stuff was amazing. 6 levels (i think) of shopping! Platinum Fashion Mall is located smack in the centre of Pratunam, a 10-minute walk from either Ratchathewi or Chidlom BTS Skytrain. At the end of the spree, i was merely zipping through the lanes. Stamina didn't seem to be as good as before. I used to be able to shop the entire plaza for 6 hours non-stop without stopping even for lunch, but now, it's a whole new story. I was done in a mere 2-3hours. The hub was pleasantly surprised. :)


 
Had this for lunch -- Pork Rice. For only 65bht
 
Day 3: Chatuchak market. A weekend market which all tourists should go. For first-timers, conquering Chatuchak may seem like an impossible task, but worry not.  Inside, one main walkway encircles the entire market, and it branches off into a series of numbered alleyways called Soi 1, Soi 2, Soi 3, and so on.
These alleys are grouped into sections, with 27 sections in all. You will find more than one category of goods contained in one section, and the same category of goods will appear again in the other sections. In terms of locating your category of goods, this system is rather useless; but it will come in handy when you try to locate your particular stall or where your exact location is on the Chatuchak map. I was actually not as enthusiastic as before. Perhaps age has caught up and thus the novelty has worn off. However, I was still keen to go try the highly acclaimed coconut ice-cream. A definite treat on a hot hot day!
 
 
 YUMS!
 
How to get there:
Hop on the skytrain (BTS) to Mo Chit station, take exit no. 1 and follow the crowd until you see rows of canvas stalls selling clothes.
Another option is to take the subway (MRT) to Chatuchak Park station (exit no.1), then follow the crowd until you arrive at the small entrance that leads into the market (clothing section). For the plant and flower section, get off at Kampheng Phet MRT station (exit no. 1).
The weekend market is open on Saturdays and Sundays, 09:00 - 18:00 (strangely I was there at 10am and several stalls were still not opend), and Fridays 18:00 - 24:00. Plant sections are also open on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 07:00 - 18:00
 

 After a long day of dehydration under the sun, we needed a good massage to rejuvenate. So off we went to Healthland which was located within walking distance from our hotel. That was one reason why we wanted to stay at Furama. For the proximity to this spa haven. Without fail, everyday we visited it for our daily dosage of massage.
 


 
 
On our last day, just before heading to the airport (yes, we are that hardcore), we decided to give ourselves one last treat -- Aroma massage for 1000bht for 1.5hrs. Used to be 800bht. hmmm..the works of inflation. If you are opting for a less pricey deal, the typcal thai massage is abut 500bht. that's for 2 hour of pamper.
 
One of the places which we dined at was the highly talked about Ban Khun Mae. I shall let the photos tell you the level of satisfaction:
 
 BBQ Pig's neck
 
 
 
A must have at every meal: Yum Woon Sen. It's really quite easy to prepare. I wasn't quite over this whole Thai fiasco thus went back and tried replicating this dish. The hubs gave me at 88%. Below is the recipe if you are keen to try out:

Serves 2 | Prep Time: 20 Minutes | Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients:
4 oz pre-soaked mung bean noodles (glass noodles, cellophane noodles)
8-12 medium-sized shrimp, shelled and deveined
3 shallots, thinly sliced
1/2 small tomato, diced
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped cilantro leaves
Dressing Ingredients:
1 garlic, finely minced
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons warm water
1 tablespoon lime juice, or to taste
1/2 tablespoon chili garlic paste
Method:
Dry mung bean noodles are very light. Soak the dry mung beans noodles with warm water for about 10 minutes (until soft). Discard the water, drain dry and set aside (use 4 oz of them for this recipe). Boil some water and add in the noodles and cook according to the package instruction (a couple of minutes or until the noodles are just cooked through but not mushy). Remove the noodles and drained. Using the same water, boil the shrimp until they are completely cooked. Remove and set aside.
Mix all the ingredients in the Dressing well (make sure the sugar is completely dissolved), set aside.
In a salad bowl, mix the mung bean noodles, shrimp, shallots, tomato, cilantro, mint with the Dressing. Toss to blend well. Add the roasted cashew nuts, stir to combine well. Serve immediately at room temperature or chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
 
 Another Must have in Thailand! Succulent BBQ Big headed prawns!
 
 
 There was a shop right across the street selling all mango desserts called Mango Tango. One of the famous Thai dessert is Mango Sticky Rice. Another must try!
The 4D3N was basically just eat, massage and be merry. Other worth mentioning places we visited was Somboon Seafood. Be warned that this place only accept cash.
 
The land of smiles is not only known for their food, pretty erm girls but also their creativity:
 

We chanced upon his Magnum cafe at Siam Paragon. Was tempted to  head in if not for the very filling dinner we had.
 
 
On the last day of our escapade, we had almost 5hours between checking out and departure, thus we decided to visit the mall nearby -- Terminal 21. Once again, it was within walking distance! It is located at the BTS and MRT intersection thus very accessible. This cutting edge mall is called Terminal 21 aparently because it is located at Asok Soi 21. If I'm wrong don't blame me! The hubs was my informer and he has the tendency to over-exaggerate his knowledge. I was impressed with the design of the place. Every level had a country theme. London, Istanbul, Paris, America, Rome etc. What blew me away was that the interesting concept extended to even the toilets! The small little shops on every floor also make it a good place to hunt for gems.

 
Was really glad I went on this trip. Did me good. Hope that you found the above information useful! Till next time XOXO

 
 Directory:
FX Hotel Makkasan
1643 / 5 New Phetchaburi Road | Makkasan Ratchathevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Terminal 21
 2,88 Sukhumvit Soi 19(Wattana) Sukhumvit Rd., Bangkok 10110, Thailand
 
Mango Tango
Siam Square Soi 5
 
Ban KhunMae Restaurant
458/6-9 Siam Square Soi 8, Rama 1 Road,
Patumwan District, Bangkok 1033
Tel: (662)250-1952-3 (best to call for reservations. the place can get pretty crowded)
 
Tawandang Bangkok
Rama III, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
+66 02 678 114 6
 
Pratunam Shopping Mall
Opening hours: 10am-10pm
Location: Petchburi, Ratcathewi
BTS: The nearest Skytrain station is Chitlom (quite a walk if you ask me)

 
MBK Shopping Mall
444 Phayathai Road | Patumwan, Bangkok, Thailand (Old City)
 
Somboon Seafood
The one we went to was their Ratchada branch
167/9-12 Huay-Kwang Intersection,
Ratchadapisek Rd., DinDeang, Bangkok 10320
Tel. 02-692-6850-3 (best to make reservations)
 
Chatuhak Weekend Market
Chatuchak Market is adjacent to the Kamphaengpecth Station (MRT) about 5 minute walk from Mochit Skytrain (BTS) Station and Suan Chatuchak (Chatuchak Park) Station (MRT)

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