Victoria Victoria Beckham Hong Kong Launch!

Hi Guys!

Sorry again for the delayed nature of this post! We had some technical difficulties sorting out the pictures ahha. :)

So last Wednesday evening, my friend Natalie and I attended the launch of Victoria Beckham's new clothing line, "Victoria Victoria Beckham" at Lane Crawford. (Emma's mom was invited, so Emma and she were planning to go, but as a result of their conflicting scheduled events, Nat and I ended up going in their places to see the sights and take pictures for you guys!)

Keep reading for pictures and comments from the event! :)


When we arrived, after proceeding through the security point and checking our names off of "the list," we made it into the actual department store, which had been sectioned off into different areas, with certain displays dedicated to the new clothing line, but also with other designers' items on display for prospective buyers. :)

The Invitation

(I like the "V" logo!!) 

One of the Victoria Victoria Beckham Displays

The description of the line :) 

We found a crowd beginning to form in the back part of the store, and so we made our way over there to see what was going on. :) 

Walking through the store...

The crowd and the media

People gathered the food/drink section

While everyone was gathered around the back of the store awaiting Victoria's appearance, she surprised us by making a quick circle through the crowd, and then returning into the room with her clothes inside to speak with a select few about her designs. We were able to get a quick picture of her as she walked near where we were standing, but then the room became quite flooded with cameras, and our view was blocked :(

Victoria Beckham

Cameras!

As it turns out, it seems like she made more appearances with the media after the event, however, she was present during the initial revealing of her clothes. :) While we waited for others to finish up in the clothes display room, we continued to explore the surroundings. :) 

One of the highlights of my night = finding this yummy table!!

Clothing display room :)

Pictures of the new line: 

I think my favourite out of the clothes in this season's line is the green dress in the second to last image. :) Beautiful colour and fabric! All in all, it was a great night. The designs and people around us were beautiful, the food was lovely, and we got to catch a glimpse of Victoria herself. :) 

Thanks for reading, lovelies! I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

I'll be back again on Tuesday for my usual weekly post, and Emma will be posting on Thursday as well. :) 

Have a great start to your week!

-H xx

New Post Tomorrow!

Hi guys!

So, rather than our usual Thursday post this week, with scheduling conflicts, etc. I'll be posting a new one tomorrow about this cool event that I attended on Wednesday! :) Pictures will be included with the update, so please stay tuned!

Have a great Friday, everyone! Talk to you tomorrow night. :)

- H xx

Go-To Spring Outfit

So far this season, since the weather's gotten a bit warmer (and the rain's started to stop where I live), this look and others similar to it have become my go-to look. It's simple, yet can be worn for a variety of occasions - dressed up, or down depending on the day. :)

My three staple items:

1. A pretty, flowy tank top (my favourite right now is the one below - it's got some nice detailing on the back, but it's simple enough to match almost any pair of shorts/pants)

Tank from Forever 21

2. A cute pair of shorts 

(Long enough to be able to tuck in your tank, but short enough to flatter your legs)

(These are also from Forever 21 - they have a nice variety this Spring!)

3. Wedges! These have a bunch of benefits - They lengthen the appearance of your legs, match a variety of combinations of shorts/tanks and can be used to dress up a simple tank/short combination!

(I recently got these on a Steve Madden clearance sale - leftover from last summer! Marked down to about 1/6 of the original price!)

The final outfit: 

This is a very versatile outfit that can be worn to all spring events - parties, sports games (as a fan, anyway), shopping, etc. It's comfortable and casual, and cool enough to be worn in the hot weather! Any pair of shorts/tank will work! Mix it up - try different colours, jewelry, scarves, belts, etc. :)

Enjoy! Have a great week!

-H xx

Healthy Snacking

As a person who personally believes that vegetables are cursed, the word "healthy" always has a negative connotation. It has only been recently that I have extended my vision that other things, though delicious, could also be healthy. Huh, maybe I'll start a diet then. But I doubt it.

After school is the worst time for me, because I am hungry enough to eat right away, but I know that in only two hours I might be wanting a full meal. Oh the choices life gives us. My usual decision? Eat twice.

Usually I will have a larger snack in the afternoon and then at night something small like cereal to quench my hunger cravings that develop right before bed. So if you are looking for an epic snack that you might just be able to pass off as completely healthy, do keep reading.

Secret Ingredient #1 ~ Alfafa Sprouts 

Secret Ingredient #2 ~ Ham Flavored Laughing Cow Cheese

Secret Ingredient #3 ~ Thick Balsamic Vinaigrette 

 Ingredients: 

1 ripe avocado
1 toasted bagel
1 triangle of laughing cow cheese (preferably ham flavored)
1 cherry tomato
1 pinch of alfafa sprouts
2 leaves of basil - chopped
1 squirt thick balsamic vinaigrette


Spread the laughing cow cheese across the bagel (if the bagel is still warm, then the cheese will melt perfectly). The reason for using the ham flavor is so that you have the meaty taste but do not actually have to grab cold cuts. One less thing for you to clear up afterwards. As is probably obvious, stack the ingredients onto each half of the bagel to create two open faced sandwiches a la bagel style.

Bagel One: Cheese, avocado, basil, alfafa sprouts

Bagel Two: Cheese, avocado, tomato, basil, squirt of vinaigrette

Enjoy!
xx Em

Benefit Facial Polish Review

This Easter break I made my way to the Benefit counter to try and get my hands on a new mascara (sorry Maybelline, but I wanted something new) and ended up coming away with something definitely not expected: The Refined Finish Facial Polish. Basically, their nice face exfoliator.

Pretty packaging...

Personally, I have always turned towards more dermatologic brands such as Murad rather than cosmetic focused such as MAC, but there was something about this one, its pretty packaging (and perhaps the persistant sales lady) that had me sold.  

It's new spot in my shower...

White creamy consistency...

Initial Thoughts: When I first used the product it felt exactly how it looked above, creamy and rather foamy, however after blending it into my face the exfoliating factor was immediately evident. The beads are microscopic but definitely abrasive. At first I thought that perhaps the product was too harsh my skin.

After consulting the package, I realized my mistake. It's meant for use once or twice a week. However,   I currently have been using the product every day, though with just application on my nose and chin where I have active break-outs.

I then follow this up with Murad's Pomegranate Face Wash, and the results, personally, I found almost immediate. My skin was evidently softer and slightly more "luscious" especially around the cheek and forehead area. I use this everyday, after the exfoliator and so far they seem to be working in coorilation well. 

Murad's Pomegranate Face Wash ~ been in love with this forever!

Hope this is helpful! 

xx Em

Efficient Skincare

I've been trying to make more of an effort recently in taking care of my skin. Although I wouldn't say that it's extremely distressed, I do have my share of oily days and breakouts. These are usually a result of exercise, stress or sometimes hormonal. It just depends on what's going on, really. To try to combat my skin's unpredictable nature, I've been sticking  to a face wash/tone/moisturize routine. On top of this, once a week, I've been applying a face mask.

Now, here comes my problem. Although I have the good intentions of using a face mask, sometimes I feel like I just don't have the time to do it. So, in the last couple of weeks I've made it a part of my routine, and helped use it to increase my homework productivity on the day that I do it.

I know what you're thinking, the two don't seem to go together. But they do!


Here's my tip:

Once a week, on whichever day you choose, apply a face mask in the evening. Generally, they take around 20-30 minutes to dry. Use this allotted time period to focus only on work. It will help motivate you to work hard and efficiently for a shorter amount of time knowing that you can take a break when the mask dries to wash it off. :)

And that's it! I feel like this is a great strategy to use because it helps me to do something good for my skin without having to worry about taking time away from my other tasks. :)

P.S. Lately, I've been using Boscia's "Luminizing Black Mask: A Peel-Off Mask For All Skin Types." It's really easy to use and helps to pull out dirt or blackheads that might be clogging your pores when you peel it off. It doesn't leave residue and leaves my skin feeling super clean!

Happy Cleansing!

- H

Neutrogena's "Acne Stress Control Toner" Review

As mentioned in my other posts, I've been trying hard recently to amp up my skincare routine. I'm still rotating cleansers and trying to see which are my favourites, but I think I have found the right toner. :)

My sister recommended it to me around Christmastime. I have combination skin, which sometimes can be pretty dry and sometimes pretty oily. So, I wanted something that would help me get rid of oil and dirt, without drying my skin too much. This one has given me the best of both worlds.

I started using it just once a day at night, and after a few weeks, when I felt my skin was used to it, I increased to using it morning and night. I apply it using cotton pads, and swipe it over my face. Then, I leave it to dry for about a minute before applying my moisturizer.

In the last few months that I've been using it, I've noticed that my face has been softer, more evenly-toned and I've also had a reduction in breakouts. The breakouts I have had have been pretty mild and the toner has helped keep it under control. Judging from the bottle, I think what makes this one special is that it has skin-clearing ingredients, like Salicylic Acid, but it's also got skin soothing ingredients like green tea. Because of this, I would expect that it would be suitable for a variety of skin types.

If you're in the market for a new toner, I think this is definitely one to try! :)

-H xx

Fresh Looking Makeup For Spring

Spring is in the air! :) This season seems to be booming with florals, neutrals and fresh-looking style!

I don't usually wear much makeup. I don't wear it to school, but recently I've been using minimal amounts on the weekends. I don't like to spend too much time doing this, though, so to go along with some of my favourite looks this season, I've come up with an eye makeup look that's super simple, but can be used with a variety of colour combinations, depending on your preference.

To do this, I use my Urban Decay Naked Palette, Covergirl Lashblast Length Mascara (Brown) & an NYC Pink Lipstain.

Here's a my how-to:

Start by using a primer of your choice. I'm using Urban Decay Primer Potion. (It comes with the Naked Palette)

Next, sweep a light shadow across your eyelid and into the inner corners. I used "Virgin."

Then, on the outer half of your eye, apply a light brown shadow. In the Naked Palette, I suggest "Naked."

It'll then look something like this:

Then, take a slightly darker, brown shadow and swirl it around the outer corners of your eyes. You could use a shimmer or non-shimmer shadow for this. I like, "Sidecar."

Next, take a dark brown eyeshadow and a thin brush and line your upper and lower lashlines. I used "Smog."

Then, for a natural look, use brown mascara on your upper and lower lashes.

Finally, to polish it off, use a light-coloured lip stain. This lasts all day and looks quite natural. It just gives a bit more colour to your lips. :) I like "NYC 24 Hour Lip Stain" in the light pink shade. :)

The final look:

Again, this is a great, easy look to use on a daily basis. It's subtle, but adds a nice pop of colour. You can also swap out the colours and use pinks or another spring colour using the same technique. :)

Enjoy!

-H

School Sprucing Tips

How absolutely boring can school get? The generic textbooks and boring paper can become just a tiny bit soul sucking. Especially when you are cursed with the school that monitors what you wear (aka a uniform - even the notion is sometimes unbearable) you have to start to work "outside the law" to bring a bit of you and color back into the building.  So here are four ways to do it...

{Marc by Marc Jacobs computer case... This is exactly my morning face} 

1: Invest in a snazzy computer case. 

Seems as if technology is taking over sometimes (phew!) and just because carrying a laptop in a school bag is uncomfortable doesn’t mean it has to be ugly. Get a clear one and have your friends to graffiti it, or buy a snazzy one that makes you smile. 

{Old Navy camis, OPI/Chanel nail polish, Various earrings}

2: Make your own staple.

What fun is it when everyone looks the same? And how infuriating. You are not the same as the girl picking her nose next to you. The trick is to find the loophole in your system and sneak a bit of you in there. Do so with extra large earrings, a colorful cami, mismatched socks, or even just brightly colored nails. Make it your staple -- in a crowded room some one should point you out by going “oh and the girl with the huge hoops is...” 

{Tokyu Hands pencil case, Marc Jacobs make-up pouch}

Hint: Small make-up pouches can double as pencil cases. Tres cute?

3: Grab a chic pencil case. 

After entering high school, along with the bobby pin fairy, you seem to immediately introduced to the pencil stealing one. Contain and protect all of yours in a chic case and practice the art of grabbing something from within without stabbing yourself. 

{Gorgeous diaries 1 and 2}

4: Buy your own homework diary.

Schools often times hand out their own homework diaries and planners but really, they always seem to have the most unattractive covers. Take initiative and scout your local book store for a new one and transfer all the school info and dates into it. 

xx Em