MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA X H&M COLLECTION HAUL

Mood [Groggy]
Currently Playing [None]

MMM x H&M Printed bodysuit $49.95

MMM x H&M Leather tote bag $199
Thank you Rica for picking these babies up for me! However, I've heard that even after much hype preceding its release, the Maison Martin Margiela for H&M collection is not selling out. Does anyone know if it's true for the Toronto locations? I would love to go back to get a few more items! I still want to look for the candy clutch and those oversized jeans!

BLACK FRIDAY HAUL FROM FOREVER 21

Mood [Happy]
Currently Playing [Backstreet Boys - Larger Than Life]



While in Canada, unlike America, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in November, however, this doesn't mean that we can't take advantage of their sale! It's been a while since I last made such a huge order from Forever 21! Working full-time makes it very difficult for me to go an actual mall, thus, I've been doing all my shopping online now. During Black Friday last week, Forever 21 had an additional 50% off all their sale items. (I guess the advantage of having to wake up early in the morning for work is that I can also spare sometime to go online...hehe!) I manage to get a total of 13 items. I placed the order on Friday and it arrived on my doorsteps on Monday morning. Gotta love the super speedy delivery! Here is what I got...


L to R
Coloured Block Pull Over (Peach/Royal) $4.99
Striped Wool Blend Sweater $5.99
Coloured Block Pull Over (Black/White) $4.99
Forever 21 Girls Tired Lace Top (Navy) $4.99
Forever 21 Girls Tired Lace Top (Pink) $4.99
Forever 21 Girls Heart Print Top $3.49

L to R
Faux Fur Cropped Jacket $6.99
Tiered Colourblock Dress $6.49
Forever 21 Girls Peter Pan Collar Shift Dress $4.99
Mixed Animal Print Pants $5.99
Abstract Print Skirt $3.49

Point d'Esprit Tights $1.99 each
And that brings my total to (with tax)....... $67.87!!! Can you BELIEVE THESE DEALS? I feel like I'll have enough clothes for the rest of this year! Haha ~ Comment below and let me know what you guys scored for Black Friday/Cyber Monday!

L'OREAL PARIS X 50 YEARS OF BOND STYLE

Mood [Cold]
Currently Playing [None]


I attended the event with my favourite girlies: Michele, Joyce & Rica
Two weeks ago I had the privilege of being invited to the Designing 007: 50 Years of Bond Style in celebration of the largest and most comprehensive exhibition ever devoted to Bond, featuring costumes, props, models, gadgets, concept artwork, storyboards and other fascinating artifacts from the series. Signature Bond items featured in the exhibition include the steel teeth worn by Richard “Jaws” Kiel in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977); the Anthony Sinclair overcoat worn by Sean Connery in Dr. No (1962); the poker table from Casino Royale (2006); and multiple gadgets from Q Branch. Sorry we weren't allowed to take photos inside the exhibition! Overall, it was such a memorable experience and now, I NEED TO WATCH SKYFALL! (Yes, I still haven't watched it yet! #ForeverAlone)

Anyways, so afterwards L'oreal invited us to go upstairs at the TIFF Bell Light Box for the unveiling of its most innovative new skincare products for men and women. (These products will not be launched until 2013 but I got the exclusive for you!) But before we get to the products, I have to show you the food! L'oreal was so nice in preparing some James Bond themed food for us. Have a look:





Now onto the presentation! Eddie Malter, the official makeup artist for L'oreal Canada, talking about the 2 new skincare products for both men and women.

Here are the new products! Super excited to share these with you girls...and guys! These are the Secret Weapons for your skin! How cute is it that the roses matches the products? ;)


L'oreal Paris Revitalift Miracle Blur (Available in February 2013, suggested retail price: $29.99)
This product instantly fades away pesky fine lines, wrinkles and pores. It reduces excess oil for a soft matte finish and it evens out skin tone for a radiant and smooth complexion. It can be used underneath makeup to prepare and smooth the skin's overall texture or on its own to help moisturize and blur away the signs of aging providing a soft focus effect.

My Initial Thoughts
So excited for this item and definitely cannot wait to test this out. It's very easy to blend and it really reminds me of my favourite primer: Givenchy Mister Mat Mattifying Foundation Primer. The texture is so similar and it leaves your skin feeling extremely smooth. Not sure if it'll be as mattifying as the Givenchy one, but I'll give more details when I do a full review of the product. But for now, it's looking very good that this product is only a mere fraction of the Givenchy primer.

L'oreal Paris Men Expert Vitalift Serum (Available in February 2013, suggested retail price: $15.99)
Hailed as the "viagra" for men's skin, the new Men Expert Vitalife Anti-age force lifting and fortifying serum offer an instant lifting effect to skin. It also provides deep action fortification to help make skin visibly stronger and immediately toned. Men expert vitalize anti-age force lifting & fortifying serum:
-Ultrafast in lifting skin
-Ultra fresh with a light-weight texture
-Ultra masculine with a manly scent

My Initial Thoughts
I think this is probably one of the first serum for men that has been launched in the drugstore market. I must say that it does have a very "manly" smell indeed. It smells like aftershave and cologne, which I personally am not a fan of. It does dry very quickly, which is always good because men hate things that are too heavy. JL doesn't really use skincare products other than face wash, so not sure if I can convince him to give this product a try.


A final photo with the girls and also Eddie Malter who looks stunning in his suit and bow-tie!


PS, thank you Joyce for letting me use some of your photos!

ANIMAL INSTINCTS

Mood [Sad]
Currently Playing [陳芳語 - 愛你]




H&M sweater & faux leather pants & necklace, Jeffrey Campbell mirror wedges, from Ebay cat ears beanie (link here), vintage sunglasses, Forever 21 watch
One of the best Ebay purchases that I have made: cat ears beanie for under $4! It's definitely one of those items that I'll be spamming since my hair colour is uneven at the moment. (Refer to last post). I don't know what's up with me in the past couple of days, but I have been feeling quite under the weather. Not sure if it's the weather, change of season or just some mood swings. Whatever it is, I hope I'll snap out of it soon.

PS, hope all my American readers have a happy Thanksgiving! Eat some extra turkey and do some extra shopping for me! ;)

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T BETRAY YOUR HAIR STYLIST!

Mood [Cold]
Currently Playing [None]

This is going to be a little different than my usual posts...I'm going to tell you a story! So a week ago, I decided to try a new hair salon. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my stylist and after this experience, I need to give him a kiss! It's just that recently, my schedule has been SO busy lately that I just do not have time to visit my usual stylist because he's quite far from work. Anyways, last week I happen to be in Markville Mall and had 3 hours to kill so I decided to do my hair at a salon there. BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE! Honestly, I have some curse with that mall! Remember my problem with the Old Navy there, which caused quite a reaction?

The salon is called L'Attitudes and the stylist who did my hair is middle-aged Asian lady. (Clearly, I didn't even bother to get her name) So I walked into the salon hoping to just touch up my roots & to add colour. My hair was a dark-blonde and I wanted something cooler. I chose an ASH BLONDE! First, she told me that we would have to bleach my hair, just the roots, because it's way too dark. (That I understood because that's how I use to get my blonde hair as well). However, I did not understand why the bleach that she used was SO STRONG! It literally felt like my skull was melting. (Trust me, I've bleached my hair so many times and I have never experienced anything like that)

The second thing was the fact that the place had a TERRIBLE sink used for washing hair. It was EXTREMELY uncomfortable and my neck was so sore after she washed my hair. Plus, she GOT MY ENTIRE BACK wet! I have NEVER EVER had this happen before! She even splashed water in my eyes, not once but twice! Clearly she's has no skills. And the results?.....

You can clearly see the unevenness of the color in this photo...it's so BAD! It's so orange at the top and the bottom is so much lighter! T_T
HOW THE HELL IS THIS AN ASH COLOUR???? After the bleach, the colour that she had added didn't show up AT ALL! So my hair is ORANGE! (I was quite embarrass to be going to a L'oreal Event looking like this...)Plus, she couldn't stripe the old colour off completely, so basically my hair is UTTERLY UNEVEN AT MANY PLACES! And you know what she DARED to say to me? And I quote: "Oh don't worry, you know the ombre effect is very popular right now?". WHAT THE HELL?! First of all, I didn't ask for ombre and even if I did, HOW THE HELL IS THIS OMBRE? It's UNEVEN AT THE TOP OF MY HEAD! ARGH!


My hair is seriously ORANGE! So that night after the L'oreal Event, I had to go to buy some dye to SAVE my hair colour! That means I've 4x as much chemical damage on my hair than the usual! T_T So pissed!

With this being said, I paid an extremely expensive lesson! (Yes, I still paid her) But I'm going to take this chance to recommend my stylist to you all! (No, I'm not getting paid for this, I just REALLY like this stylist!) His name is Ricky and he's the wonder of the salon called Fusion. He is the one who is able to turn my hair ash and blonde WITHOUT using bleach! He uses a special Korean hair dye that is especially made for stubborn black hair :) Here is all the details that you'll need to know:

Location:
360 Highway 7 East
Richmond Hill, Ontario
L4B3Y7

Contact: (905) 886-2088

Sunday 10am-6pm
Monday 10am-7pm
Tuesdays CLOSED
Wed-Sat 10am-7pm

Wash, Cut & Style(洗剪吹) - $16 (男/M) $20 (女/F)
Wash & Style (洗吹) $10 (男/M) $12 (女/F)
Perm (電髮) $48+(男/M) $58+(女/F)
Dye/Colour (染髮) $38+(男/M) $48+(女/F)
Colour Treatment (顔色護理) $48+
Relaxing Straight Perm (負離子直髮) $140+
Digital Perm (陶瓷曲髮) $160+

**長髮 +$3
**Long Hair +$3
My hair cost around $80 for a full cover and $50-$60 for root touch-up! You don't need an appointment, they welcome walk-ins. But just remember, they are closed on Tuesdays! :)


PS, these photos were taken a week ago, so my hair is no longer orange!

ESSENCE X TWILIGHT BREAKING DAWN PART 2 MAKEUP COLLECTION

Mood [Full]
Currently Playing [None]



During my lunch break, I hopped over to my local Shoppers Drug Mart to see if they had the Essence x Twilight Makeup Collection. I went to 2 other Shoppers over the weekend and was unable to find it. So this particular Shoppers was my last hope. And to my surprise, THEY HAD THE ENTIRE COLLECTION and all stocked too! Now, don't be mistaken, I'm a huge fan of Twilight...well, I couldn't even say that I'm like a fan. I feel very much alone and in the minority these days. Sure, I enjoy movies but couldn't get through the books because I thought they were so poorly written. But other than that, I don't have much connection to the whole Twilight saga.

But this specific collection by Essence, I'm CRAZY about! For those who are not familiar with Essence, the company stands for trendy and high quality cosmetics at a sensational low price. I mean, really, really affordable prices. Like you have items starting at $1.99! It launched in 2002 and arrived in Canada at the beginning of this year. So it's a pretty fresh/new brand for Canadians. Here are the stuff that I picked up...(Please excuse the quality of the photos, they are all taken with my phone)

The nail polishes! I definitely couldn't pass up on these! They were only $1.99 each and they have the prettiest sparkles! Super love and I'm completely motivated to do my nails tonight! (L to R: 04 Edward's Love, 02 Alice Had a Vision and 01 Jacob's Protection)


Next I picked up one of the pigments in 03 A Piece Of Forever. It's a beautiful slimmery gold dust. I don't think the picture does it justice but it's absolutely stunning! It has 2.8g of product for $3.49 and it's made in Poland.


Next we have the only blush from the collection. This one is called 01 Renesmee Red and it's a deep red/orange. I would say it's more of a maroon color. It's definitely going to be the darkest blush that I own now but I'm very excited to give it a try! Lastly, I picked up the only lipstick from the collection as well. Like the blush, it only cost $2.99. It's a very unique colour and this lipstick contains fine gold glitter particles. I swatched it on my hand in the store and it's very light.

This entire collection has gotten me inspired to do more of a vampy look! :D Comment below if you are interested in seeing it! :D

SIDE BY SIDE

Mood [Full]
Currently Playing [None]





From Hong Kong quilted vest & white maxi skirt & bracelet, Cotton-On top, Sam Edelman Zoe booties (buy here & here), from Ebay over-sized leopard clutch (link here), Tiffany & Co silver ring, Guess necklace
I've always loved juxtaposing something feminine with something masculine in my outfits. This maxi skirt along with the over-sized quilted vest are the perfect way of doing just that. It's like having the best of both worlds: the flow of the skirt really contrasts the box structure of the vest. Hope you all had a great weekend and are ready for the start of another crazy, busy week! Talk to you all in a few days!

GIRLFRIENDS ARE THE BEST

Mood [Grumpy]
Currently Playing [None]


Happy Birthday (again) Bonnie! (I know you read my blog!) ;)

WE ARE HIRING (FLY INFLUENTIAL LEARNING)

Mood [Happy]
Currently Playing [Justin Bieber - Fall]

I have some exciting news today! As some of you may recall, I have a small project that I've been working on with 2 of my close friends. We started our own tutoring company (Fly Learning) around a year ago and we are now expanding! We are currently seeking all Math, Chemistry, English & Biology teachers! Interested in joining a passionate team working together to positively influence students and help them grow academically and spiritually in their student life? Contact wingstofly@live.ca with your resume and show us your interest! Also remember to stay in contact with us through our facebook page!

MASKERAIDE FACIAL SHEET MASKS REVIEW (EVEN CELEBS ARE USING SHEET MASKS!)

Mood [Rushed]
Currently Playing [Taylor Swift - Trouble]


Hey everyone ~ I'm going to be introducing a new brand of facial masks that are available for all my Toronto readers! Finally, a company that sells sheet masks in the Western market! You know how much I love sheet masks!

Maskeraide was founded in 2011 by Karyn, a Canadian Makeup Artist/Model turned Marketing and Social Media Maven and Michelle, a cosmetic and skin care addict from Korea. Michelle introduced Karyn to innovative and unique Asian beauty products including BB creams (which have recently become a huge hit among North American women) and Sheet Masks, which Karyn immediately fell in love with. She knew that her and Michelle had to introduce these little miracle masks to the North American market. Together, Karyn and Michelle spent endless hours creating MaskerAide, a line of serious yet fabulous hydrating facial sheet masks that help cure life's little skin care mishaps.



Look how amazing the package is!! Even the envelope on the outside is hot pink! I love when a company that puts effort into their packaging. It makes everything look so chic and girly!


Once you open the package, all the sheet masks are nicely stacked inside the box. Here are the benefits of these sheet masks:

FUNCTIONAL DESIGN - Unlike liquid or clay masks, sheet masks are totally mess free! They are also convenient and very easy to use. And their small size makes them portable and great for travel.
BENEFICIAL COOLING EFFECTS - The cooling effect of the mask stimulates blood flow and relaxes facial muscles helping to release the signs of stress and fatigue.
ACTS AS AN INCUBATOR - The mask blocks the air from the skin enhancing the skin’s temperature which causes the pores to open and increases the skin’s metabolic rate. As well, it promotes sweat gland secretion increasing the oxygen content within the skin allowing for better absorption of vitamins and nutrients!
PROVIDES DEEP HYDRATION - The intense and quick surge of hydration from one mask plumps up the skin with needed moisture eliminating the signs of dehydration, dryness and aging. This results in perfectly soft and supple skin that radiates with health.
HOLDS & PROTECTS - The amazing material of our masks grabs a hold of our powerful ingredients and keeps them safe from external factors while on your skin.
ECO-FRIENDLY - Production plant emissions during the development of a sheet mask into the air from smokestacks and from waste water are significantly lower in comparison to many other masks that are on the market today.

Here are the sheet masks that are available from the company. All their masks are free of parabens, harsh dyes & pigments, mineral oils, artificial fragrances, benzophenone and glycerins.

All Nighter
Whether you were up all night studying or out all night partying, we’ve got you covered to face the long day ahead. Apply our ALL NIGHTER mask to awaken, refresh and replenish your skin. The cooling effects of the mask will help de-puff and awaken your eyes, while natural Peppermint Oil awakens your senses. Aloe, Argan Oil, Heartleaf (a powerful detoxifier), Honey, Super Fruit and Cactus Extracts work together to erase the signs of the previous night and get you “boardroom” ready!
Price: $4.99 CAD


Detox Diva
Gone are the days of using harsh scrubs and drying clays. Our DETOX DIVA mask (formulated with natural Geranium Oil, Seaweed and Green Tea Leaf Extracts) helps to minimize pores, absorb impurities and protect from toxins and free-radicals without removing your skin’s essential natural oils. Chinese Plum, Strawberry and Lemon Fruit Extracts go to work to gently exfoliate and lift dead skin cells revealing clear luminous skin, while Argan Oil and Honey keep your skin happy and hydrated.
Price: $4.99 CAD


I Don't Wanna Grow Up
Go ahead, jump in the ‘Fountain of Youth’ and splash around! Who ever said you had to grow up anyway? I DON’T WANNA GROW UP is an intensive, multi-action mask that helps to prevent and combat the signs of aging while nourishing your skin. It provides deep hydration and delivers a healthy dose of age-defying ingredients including natural Ylang-Ylang Oil, Argan Oil, Vitamin E, Hydrolyzed Collagen and Elastin to help diminish fine lines and bring out your youthful glow.
Price: $4.99 CAD


Beauty Rest'ore
Everyday your skin loses essential moisture and nutrients. While you prepare for your beauty sleep, our super hydrating BEAUTY REST’ORE formula (infused with Argan Oil, Super Fruit Extracts, Green Algae and Vitamin E) goes to work to restore, regenerate and repair your skin leaving it silky, smooth and supple by morning. The cooling effect of the mask helps to relax facial muscles easing the signs of stress and fatigue, while natural Lavender Oil relaxes your body and mind. Sweet dreams!
Price: $4.99 CAD



Weather Warrior
Whether you’ve spent the day baking on the beach or skiing down the slopes, your skin has taken a beating. Exposure to damaging elements such as harmful UV rays, wind and extreme cold can leave your skin dry, flaky and screaming SOS! Caring for and moisturizing your skin after exposure to the elements is essential. Apply our WEATHER WARRIOR mask with Aloe, Green Tea, Witch Hazel and Argan Oil to help soothe, calm and heal your skin allowing it to breathe a sigh of relief.
Price: $4.99 CAD



Pre Party Prep
You may be ready for a night of partying and celebration, but is your face? Make sure you stand out from the crowd and start prepping your skin now! Create a perfect canvas for foundation application with PRE PARTY PREP’s silky, lightweight blend of natural Argan Oil, Orange Peel Oil, Super Fruit Extracts, Rice Extract and Honey to energize, hydrate, brighten and prime your skin for a flawless and velvety-smooth finish.
Price: $4.99 CAD


DIRECTIONS FOR USE
1. To prepare face for your at home facial, start by cleansing and toning your skin.
2. Tear open packet. Gently unfold mask and place on face. Adjust over eyes, nose and mouth for a perfect fit. Rub any excess serum into neck and chest.
3. Relax for 10-20 minutes. Remove mask and discard. Gently pat moisture into skin or give a quick rinse and lightly pat dry.
4. Use once per week. Can be used daily.


My Thoughts
These sheet masks are quite amazing! I have never tried a cream based serum mask before and I must say they are very moisturizing. I love them! Since the masks are free from artificial fragrances the smell is very natural and not over powering. They are also vegan friendly since they do not add any ingredients derived from animals. The price of each mask is not too bad either at $5 a piece. It won't make that big of a hole in your wallet. Of course, it's not as cheap as masks like Taiwanese My Beauty Diary or My Beauty Scheming (我的心機) at around $2 a piece. But it's not as expensive as some of the masks from Lancome or SK-II. Maybe they will sell them in a set in future so it'll be even more affordable.

I especially like using these masks just before I head out the door. They are great for keeping the skin smooth and soft for makeup application. So when I have extra time in the morning, I like to pop on one of these just before applying my foundation. It's a excellent for prepping your skin. Plus, with the weather slowly becoming dryer and colder, I can't help but use sheet masks on a daily basis because my skin is just drying out too quickly. The only complaint that I have about the masks is the fitting. They are definitely a little too big for my face in comparison to my regular sheet masks by My Beauty Diary.


See, even celebrities Jessica Simpson and Jamie Chung (Hangover 2, Sucker Punch) are getting into the trends of sheet masks!
digging sheet masks!


RATING
Product (4/5)
Cost (4/5)
Ease of Use (5/5)
Packaging (5/5)

LOSING WEIGHT WITH GREEN TEA AND LEMON JUICE

Mood [Okay]
Currently Playing [One Direction - Little Things]


One of my mom's friend recently lost 4 pounds in a month by drinking green tea with a hint of lemon juice on a daily basis. I always knew that green tea was an anti-oxidant, thus, it's good for your digestive system but didn't know what effect the lemon juice would have. I was really curious about this remedy, so I decided to do a little research about it to see if it's backed up by scientific facts. Here are some information that I have found:

Fitsugar.com - "According to some studies, adding a splash of citrus juice (lemon is optimal) to your green tea can help maximize the effectiveness of the catechins, a powerful antioxidant, in the drink. When lemon juice is included in the mix, the cancer-fighting catechins are five times more likely to survive the digestive process and work their magic"

Livestrong.com - "Green tree extract may boost metabolism, which can help burn fat. The polyphenols present in green tea, especially the catechins, may be responsible for the metabolism boost, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center overview on green tea. Adding lemon to green tea increases catechin retention, which may aid green tea's ability to promote fat burning."

Truelemon.com - "Few natural substances equal the powerful combined benefits of green tea and lemon. Green tea has been shown to boost the body’s metabolism and fight disease. And, when coupled with True Lemon, green tea’s strength increases dramatically. In studies, people who drank three to five cups a day for three months lost 4.6 percent of their body weight. Other studies show drinking two to four cups daily can burn an extra 50 calories, which equals about five pounds lost every year."

Sounds pretty promising? Well, I'm going to try this for the next 2/3 months and I'll keep you guys updated on the results! :) Also, if you have tried this before, please leave me a comment in the section below about your results!


In the meantime, HAPPY DRINKING! :D

OCTOBER 2012 FASHION FAVOURITES: JOE FRESH, BCBG, ALDO, ARDENE, URBAN OUTFITTERS

Mood [Tired]
Currently Playing [Taylor Swift - Red]

You asked for it and here it is! My first monthly fashion favourites have arrived! Here are the fashion-related items that I have been loving for the month of October! Let's hope I can keep up with these monthly posts.


Printed Scarves
Since the weather is slowly getting colder, it's a MUST that I wear a scarf on a regular basis. Not only does it keep me nice and warm but it's also quite easy to style. These two scarves have been my favorite for the past month. The leopard one with blue hearts is from Ardene and it was only $3! The second one is from Deena & Ozzy (Urban Outfitters). It was a part of my birthday gift from my high school friends.


Joe Fresh Down Filled Parka
I feel like every year I have this need to buy a new winter jacket. So let's hope with this one, it'll be my last! I needed something long, with a hood and down-filled because let's face it, Canadian winters are brutal. Plus, it can't be like crazy expensive. (Not interested in spending $600 on a jacket) As long as it's warm and it looks decent then I'm okay with it. After searching for quite sometime, JL and I decided to stick with this one from Joe Fresh. It looks very similar to the TNA one from Artizia, but it's a fraction of the price ($99). I also have no interest in getting the TNA one. Though I got the XS, the arms still doesn't fit perfectly but I can work with it because I'll probably be wearing some chunky knits underneath anyways. This is going to keep me warm when I bus home from work in the winter.


Shoes Suitable for Daily Wear
Since I started working full-time this past October, I have realized how important it is for shoes to be suitable for the workplace. In my case, this means that the shoes have to be comfortable (I stand almost all day at work) and appropriate for the classroom. Also, I have to take the public transit to go home. So I have been mostly rotating between these 3 pairs. I find that these 3 pairs match with almost everything so I don't need to think about what shoes to wear. L to R: Aldo loafers, Walmart Kids lace flats ($10) and BCBGeneration leopard heels.


Tights, Tights, Tights
I've been transitioning my summer clothes into something that's more fall appropriate. One of the best way of doing this is by layering thick cotton or thermal tights underneath summer dresses and skirts. So that's what I've been doing in the month of October. I've been pulling out my pattern tights more frequently. These are the ones that I've been wearing regularly. L to R: grey tights from Ardene ($3 each!), black thermal tights from Zellers and light pink cotton tights from Campus Crew.