The good, the bad, and the ugly

T-shirt: Gap (Similar here) | Skirt: Nichii (Similar here) | Shoes: Converse

Bag: Mango (Similar here) | Necklace: Gift from Mousie (Similar here) | Bracelet: Old (Similar here) 

The Good

After loving the Glam Glow Thirstymud hydrating treatment that Leo bought for me, and hearing Mims rave about the Glam Glow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate treatment, I knew I had to try it. It is after all, one of Glam Glow’s bestsellers. Mims had warned that it would sting a little so I was expecting my face to be on fire or something (I feel like my skin’s pretty sensitive), but it really wasn’t so bad. It did sting, but when I moved from applying it in the bathroom, to sitting in front of the fan (blasting cool air directly at my face), the stinging feeling went away. I left the black gritty mud mask on my face for about 10 minutes and then washed it off in a slow circular scrubbing motion for that exfoliating effect. After just one use, my face felt tighter (I imagine a mild facelift might feel like this) and it felt so clean and soft. I love it but now I’m surfing the Glam Glow website and I’m pretty convinced I need the Supermud clearingtreatment for stubborn blackheads on my nose. Help! 

Not the ambassador for Super Mud unfortunately

Magic in a pot

The bad

So I saw this Makeup Eraser cloth on a Buzzfeed article and I thought, “Ooh a cloth that I can use and reuse and will magically remove all my makeup with just water”. Sounds too good to be true right? And yup, it is too good to be true. So disclaimer: I was in a rush to remove my makeup so I’m not sure if I was doing it right and I didn’t read the instructions. I ran some water over it and the cloth appeared to be magically not absorbing* much water, then, I rubbed it on my face.  The cloth is soft to the touch and feels gentle being smooshed around my face, and the powder and blush I was wearing seemed to come off (but I don’t think my face powder and blush are really that resilient) but my mascara and eyeliner took much more rubbing. And even then I had panda eyes! I’m not one to call it quits though – I’m going to dedicate a bit more time to letting it soak up water (maybe have to try warm water because that’s what other people seem to be using) and then try it again. But so far, I’m MEH about it. 

*Update: So I used it again (this is an edit from my initial post a few days after) and it seemed to absorb more water, and my makeup came off clean enough (some eyeshadow sparkles appeared to remain though) but I really wasn't wearing heavy duty makeup so still on the fence. Double MEH.

The ugly

Me with Youthmud on.  Sweet dreams tonight. 

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Thanks for reading!

My friends are better than yours

Dress: Y.A.S | Shoes: Jessica Buurman | Bag: Tocco Tenero | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 

Earrings: From Wens (Similar here) | Bracelet: Pedder Red (Similar here) | Ring: Lovisa (Similar here) 

This post is a shout out to some of the best people in the world... My FRIENDS!! (Yes they are real!)

Mouse squad CC and Nic gave me the bag you see in this post and it is the perfect size and shape, I love how I can even stuff my workout clothes in there but it doesn't look overly large and clunky.  While I technically told them what I wanted, they totally hit the nail on the head by getting the right size and presenting it to me when my life was exceptionally craptastic.

Mellie gifted me a really amazing gift for my birthday this year - An ASOS gift card! which I used to buy this dress you see in this post (among other things!!). All my whining about not having enough new stuff really paid off. Actually, I bought FIVE things, like immediately. Which is kind of dumb because it's stored value and can be used over two years. But I got excited.

Wens who is my godsister, but I like to think of her as kind of like a forced friend, gave me the earrings I'm wearing, after having already given me a necklace which I cannot wait to debut... I think she might have a shopping problem.

Thank you my beautiful, generous, lovely friendzies. I can't wait for my birthday next year! *wink wink*

Thanks for reading (other friends who are also welcome to buy me things!! Lol!)

Balmy

Shirt: ASOS | Skirt: Smooch the Label (Similar here) | Shoes: ASOS (Similar here) | Clutch: Sportsgirl (Similar here)

Earrings: Old (Similar here) | Bracelet: Old (Similar here) | Ring: Vivocity (Similar here)

I have really dry lips, the cause of which I'm not sure, but they tend to get really peely and flaky regardless of whether I have lip balm on. Nonetheless, I'm pretty nuts for lip balms so I thought I'd share my faves with you.

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
This colourless balm has a waxy texture, as you'd expect from the name, and it has a nice minty sensation which is weird because I didn't know bees were minty. Cool bees. In truth, this balm has added Vitamin E and peppermint and is apparently 100% natural although honestly, what does that mean? Anyway, I like the texture and the minty sensation but I know it comes in coloured versions too for those who, like me, look like zombies without makeup on.

Colourless Burt's Beeswax Balm

Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Bomb
I got this as a gift from my friend Mims and it was quite the pleasant surprise. This one in Cherry Bomb is purple but it goes on thinly leaving a very natural glossy shade. I basically want all the shades now. And there are a crazy lot to choose from as they have the regular Baby Lips range and the Baby Lips Electro range. Cherry Bomb is from the Electro range which just means it looks like a dance party in the tube but clearly it's made for all day wear.

A hint of colour and shine from Maybelline's Cherry Bomb

Fresh Sugar tinted lip treatment in Coral and Petal
This is a slightly pricey tinted lip treatment but it feels so lux. It goes on almost like a thick full coloured lipstick but has moisturising properties. I couldn't decide which one I wanted so I bought both but I think Coral is now my preferred shade because it's livelier. Plus it has sunscreen and you know how crazy I am about sun protection. According to the website, it leaves a pearlescent tint which Blogger is underlining as a spelling error. So Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines it as 'having a pearly luster'. Get your shizz together, Blogger.

Petal - a rosy glow

Coral - Makes me look alive!

Thanks for reading, bisous!

Busy

Shirt: Padini (Similar here) | Pants: Chicnova | Shoes: Topshop (Similar here) | Clutch: Sportsgirl (Similar here)

 Spiked bracelet: Pop up shop (Similar here) | Skull bracelet: Butler & Wilson | Ring: Jessica Buurman 

So after working for over three years in my current position, the time has come for me to broaden my horizons. I’ll be moving to another department within the company to take on a different marketing portfolio to learn a different side of the business and get more on-the-ground experience.  Doesn't that just sound so grown-up???

The only reason why I’m bringing this up is because it’s likely going to impact my blog a little. Judging by the various emails I’ve seen flying around, as well as my new boss’ description that the team is only ‘busy’ or ‘busier’, I think I will a) be really busy and not have much time to blog b) be really busy and not have time to dress up c) be really busy so I turn into an old hag and feel embarrassed to capture that on camera. 

Nonetheless, I’m excited about my new role, I feel like I’m the kind of person who needs to be really busy and constantly juggling things, so I’m kind of pleased about all this. I will absolutely try my best to keep up with the blogging but it might take a little hit. Which is probably going to be good for the regular readers since I can be super annoying so maybe less is more eh? 

Thanks for reading!

Snake charmer

Top: ASOS (Similar here) | Skirt: Lavish Alice (Similar here) | Shoes: Valentino | Clutch: Sportsgirl (Similar here) | Sunglasses: Ray Ban

 Necklace: Twentyeight Lane (Similar here) | Earrings: Vincci (Similar here) | Ring: Jessica Buurman | Bracelet: Butler & Wilson

In today's fast paced world, it's hard to find someone to love, to cherish, to belong to. With this rapid explosion of people, most of whom are glued to their phones, tablets, laptops - it's hard to actually find the 'one' and connect to him or her in a meaningful, non-filtered way. Take the story of this woman for example, who, after having dated someone for about 6 months, ended up losing her dog!

I would seriously go batshit insane if someone stole Nacho. I would totally do the routine from Taken and I would hunt that son-of-a-B down and DESTROY him. Fortunately, I'm not playing the swinging singles game so the whole Tinder, Match.com, OkCupid, Paktor game isn't for me, although I think some people have been pretty lucky with it, except for lady mentioned above of course!

Anyway, I hope that if you're enjoying the singles game, you'll be careful and take every precaution to safeguard your pooch/cat/hamster/snake/imaginary pet/etc. 

Thanks for reading!

The awesome

Top: Padini (Similar-ish here) | Skirt: ASOS (Similar here) | Shoes: Charles & Keith (Similar here) | Clutch: DKNY (Similar here)

Sunglasses: ASOS (Similar here) | Earrings: Vintage (Similar here) | Bracelets: Old (Similar here and here) | Rings: Old and vintage (Similar here and here)   

I would like to announce something.

I am AWESOME. 

I know I'm biased and it might seem rather egotistical but I think that you should think you're awesome too. It's important to have self-confidence and to re-affirm your beliefs of awesomeness because that breeds positivity and hopefully that positivity will be spread to those around you. With all the bad juju out there in the world, wouldn't it be better if we could share the awesome and spread it around?

Maybe you're having a crappy day - you spilled coffee down the front of your white dress, you tripped on a non-existent crack in the pavement, you got attacked by a clown, whatever it is, you're having a poo-day, I urge you to think about the awesome things that you do, no matter how small, because those small things all add up and make you awesome.

My affirmations today from small to big:

1. I am awesome because instead of taking the elevator, I walked 5 flights of stairs. Exercise complete.
2. I am awesome because the jerkwad driving ahead of me cut into my lane abruptly then proceeded to drive really slowly but I didn't go absolutely bananas (I only swore once!)
3. I am awesome because I completed a project in a swift and effective manner. (Fingers crossed I didn't make any mistakes!) 
4. I am awesome because for the first time ever I feel like I've got my life in order.
5. I am awesome because I am loved and I have love to give.

Also, my coke light recognises my awesomeness. 

True story

Thanks for reading!

Too cool for school

Dress: Choies | Bag: Prada (Similar here) | Sunglasses: Pieces (Similar here)

Bracelets: Old (Similar here) | Hand chain: Nasty Gal (Similar here) | Ring: Vintage (Similar here) 

I think I've always been a bit of an introverted oddball so I didn't have that great a time when I was in primary and secondary school. I had very few friends and was generally very timid and shy (which people read as snobbish and bitchy unfortunately) Today I read an article about how the super awesome Tilda Swinton co-founded a school with a different sort of education (No tests! Art based practical learning! Wandering around nature!) and this school sounds all out crackballs. I wish I had had the opportunity to enroll! I think I would totally ace the lesson on sitting at a beach staring into the ocean and contemplating life and its meaning for an hour. Plus there appears to be an emphasis on all the students fitting in and treating one another with kindness. At the end of the day, what is more important that kindness to your fellow man? Hell. I think I'm going to enroll for adult classes. I could do with learning to make a canoe.

Thanks for reading!

Say ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Dress: COS (Similar-ish here) | Shoes: Jessica Buurman | Bag: Red Valentino (Similar-ish here) | Sunglasses: Karen Walker

Earrings: Mango (Similar here) | Brooch: Vintage (Similar here) | Necklace worn as bracelet: Vintage (Similar here) | Ring: ASOS (Similar-ish here) 

I hate visiting the dentist. Sorry Dr. Chin. No offense but I just really really really don't like being prodded in the mouth while a suction thingy makes my feel like gagging. I don't think anyone really enjoys a dental scaling all that much (unless they're crazy weird) but a good dentist and nice dental practice makes a huge difference.

I go to T32 Dental Centre every 6 months like the well behaved child that I am. It's located at Camden Medical Centre which is so convenient - you could go in for a dental scaling and come out with a new face by Woffles Wu if you so please.

There are several reasons why I like T32:
A few days before my scheduled appointment, the receptionist will call to remind me. This is helpful because I always forget things.

'Come here. We do things to your mouth'

They are super organised - when you come in for your appointment, the receptionists will greet you cheerfully and inform you to wait in the waiting lounge. When it's all over, you go to yet another desk to make payment. My OCD spider sense is tingling.

Greetings! Reception counter on the right

Lounge here in the waiting lounge

The waiting lounge is fancy pants. They have a wine fridge and free drinks and they have art hanging on the walls and fancy chairs to sit in and music plays softly. It's almost like a hotel lobby. 

Free drinks!

WINE LEH. Excuse me front desk, can I order takeaway?

Fancy art + fancy high chairs = HIGH CLASS

They're very very punctual. I don't think I've ever had to wait longer than 5 minutes in the lounge before being escorted by the nurse into one of the rooms for the dental procedure. 

Come here and get comfy

I AM GOING TO DRILL IN YOUR HEAD MUAHAHAHAHA

As it's on the penthouse level of Camden, it's got a killer view which is nice when you really can't do much else when your mouth is being drilled into and all you want to do is swallow really hard.

Awesome view. Think happy thought. Think happy thoughts

Dr Chin has really good bedside manner and explains everything he does before doing it so you don't think that you're the guinea pig of some mad scientist's experiment. Thankfully he doesn't keep talking and asking random questions that you feel obliged to answer while his fist is jammed in your mouth. I had a dentist who did that and all my answers were like 'mrrrrffhhhhmmmmrrrhhhhh'. Like seriously dude. Bonus: Dr. Chin is handsome!

6-eyed alien but still HAMSUM!

They believe in technology. They've got screens in each of the rooms which unfortunately is not for TV watching but rather for you to stare at the X-rays of your mouth so you can remark on how many fillings you had. Deep candy-induced shame spiral happens here but come on, it's the future yo.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!

It only takes about 30 minutes and I'm done with the dental scaling, I have a nice clean mouth and I'm still alive thankgodI'mstillalivehallelujah!!!

Always a good time for a selfie.

Anyway, if you're looking for a nice place to get your mouth cleaned, I highly recommend T32!

Thanks for reading!