Olay Anti-Aging Skincare

A good tip for people with acne scars is to switch to anti-aging skincare. The healing & plumping properties that help lessen the appearance of wrinkles also help make acne scars less visible. No expensive dermatologists required, just a change in your skincare routine.

Coca Cola

Stock up on an iconic American drink for this weekend, there are no comparisons. It's the soft drink of choice for everyone and I always have it at home for that sugar blast when required ;)

Colouring Books for Adults

I was bored and looking for simpler activities to occupy my time, like one of those designer colouring books from Hermes or YSL, you know an adult version of a children's activity to intrigue and challenge myself.

I was surprised to find an entire new category of adult colouring books from BookDepositary. You can colour in clinical anatomy, mandalas, Victorian dress designs, basically everything. My favorites are Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest by Johanna Basford. It's a treasure hunt, colouring book, sketching base for grown-up girls.

Translated into several different languages, Popular bookstores carry the Chinese version. The monochrome cover with touches of metallic gold makes it soo alluring. 

I even got a new set of colouring pencils for this. This particular Faber-Castell set has a metallic gold pencil. Planning to get neons and more metallics from Art Friend later.

Faber-Castell's new colouring pencils are called GRIP for that extra grip. It also has a 250th anniversary box set of just colouring pencils.

I also found variegated pencils that changes colour as you sketch/colour. And Smencils, scented colouring pencils, very popular with kids.

For our little kids, there are these colour-a-bag/memoboard/soft toy/playhouse/lantern kits.

Narcisco Rodriguez Spring Summer 2015

A designer famous for his celebrity clientele more so than his semi-annual clothing collections. Narcisco Rodriguez came to fame for designing CK colleague Carolyn Bessette's wedding dress to JFK Jr. He also designed Michelle Obama's outfit at her husbands first public appearance as President elect.

This Spring Summer Narcisco Rodriguez shows off a simple collection of basics in deep V necks. Colours are kept neutral. My fave piece is that ribbon dress that also comes in black.

Tanglin Mall - buying textiles

Tanglin Mall has this cute hobby shop on the top floor called Quilts & Calicoes. It caters to the expat crowd so it carries loads of Japanese fabrics, custom design Batik and even Asian-inspired quilt kits. If you love Japanese washi paper as much as I do, you will love this selection. Buy online via their website if you don't want to make a trip down to Tanglin Mall. You will definitely not leave without getting something. 

Look around on the same floor and you will find other hobby craft shops selling an assortment of materials.

Payot Pink Stone Mineral Clay

I ordered this 2kg salon-size tub of Payot's Pink Stone Mineral Clay mask, its got crushed gemstones Rhodocrosite in it. Crushed gemstones in skincare is not new and mainly reserved for high-end luxury skincare. It's effects are more exfoliant and experiential than anything else. 

Original Price $348.50, I only paid $48.50 and got a free eyeshadow compact from Strawberrynet. 

Payot has 3 different treatments in its Ressource Minerale range: 

Pink Clay with Rhodocrosite to brighten sensitive skin

Green Clay with Malachite for detox

White Clay with Smithsonite to firm aging skin

Grilled Unagi

Eel is a difficult seafood to prepare. Forget about cooking it yourself, just leave it to the professionals and buy the Japanese grilled version at the grocery store. It costs $6.95, heat up and serve with rice and seaweed. It's as good as eating it in the restaurant.

Simplicity - Jessica McClintock Pattern 1655 - Dress C

Dress C is hotly anticipated as its a classic strapless dress, full-length. It's everyone's idea of an evening gown. For a timeless design, I have chosen black & white, this polka dot print looks hand drawn and adds a whimsical touch to the outfit.

The design calls for 1.5 yards of 54" tulle that I expanded into 4 metres of 60" voile folded into half and sewn down to create more fullness in the skirt.

See the layers of black under the dress.

Instead of sewing a matching sash, I used an existing black sash from my wardrobe. These belts/ribbons can be bought by the metre in haberdasheries.

Mulberry Spring Summer 2015

With the recent departure of its creative director Emma Hill, Mulberry has yet to name a replacement. However, this season it still managed to put out a stellar collection based on English Gardens.

  The really adorable print here is a trellis pattern that looks like quilted polka dots from afar.

Mulberry also introduces a new bag this season, The Delphie. A reversible bag with multiway straps and an all new Mulberry clasp.

IKEA - buying textiles

IKEA has slowly but surely attracted customers for its cut-by-the-metre fabric. Its mostly graphic prints and hand drawn designs.

Ikea also sells fabric shears, thread, sewing kits, hemming and header tapes. There is a house brand sewing machine but that's not available here in Singapore.

My artsy friends like to buy up other items like towels, blankets etc to monogram using their sewing machines.

Art supplies @ kids section.

I stopped for a snack, calamari rings are really good. Sometimes I buy food stuff from their grocery store to bring home. Moose shape pasta, fruit beers, foreign candy.

All the stuff I bought on this trip. Love these plastic bags with zippers, saw a few people with it already and since Ikea doesn't give out plastic bags, I can put all my stuff in.

MyBeautyDiary Facial Masks

Another cheap and good beauty essential are MyBeautyDiary facial masks. It's nicely packaged with at least a dozen different essences for you to choose from. Unwrap and place on your face for about 20mins.

 It's relaxing aromatherapy, I do find my skin more moisturized after, so its a great weekly beauty treat for yourself. It always feels cold on application that is a bonus for our hot weather. $16.90 per 10 pack, I tend to get mix packs so I get some variety, occasionally there are limited edition essences for mother's day etc.

BoBo Fish Cake

Best Value ever! BoBo Fish Cakes cost just $1.20 for 3 pieces, each piece is palm-sized and the correct amount of protein for each meal. To top it all off, its delicious! I can eat this everyday and be happy.

Simplicity - Jessica McClintock Pattern 1655 - Dress B

Dress B is a strapless dress with lace overlay and underlying tulle skirt. I didn't do the overlay as I really liked the fabric I picked from Sugar & Spice called Metallic Star. I also didn't make the sash in a matching fabric.

This paper pattern set utilizes 10 piece template that is assembled into a dress. The instructions are in general and it states "determine length of dress before sewing", so you decide how short you want it and how much tulle to show from underneath.

For reference, I unpicked the bodice 2x just trying to make sure the shape is right. I re-sewed the tulle on the 2 ends so it would sit even. I even sewed the hemlines 3x to get it just right.

I made the lining from cream coloured silk (soo extravagant I know but it was salvaged from previous sewing projects). The tulle was just regular white stuff that I already had on hand.