Songs of Summer

{Phuket, Thailand}

This summer is filled with some long airplane rides, car rides, days by the pool, amongst other occasions perfect for filling the silence with some of my fave songs. Here are some of the most frequently played songs from my "Summertime" playlist (Ranging from dance music to very mellow tunes).

1. Kiss Me Slowly - Parachute
(It's probably my all-time favourite song)

2. Fall - Justin Bieber
(My fave off of his new album, Believe)

3. Yellow - Coldplay
(Sweetly soft tune that's super mellow)

4. Miami To Ibiza - Swedish House Mafia ft. Tinie Tempah
(Always gets me dancing)

5. Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes
(Cute song that's great for singing along)

6. Animal - Neon Trees
(Upbeat and funky)

7. Thunder - Boys Like Girls
(Very sweet, soft song with summer themes in lyrics)

8. Lips of an Angel - Hinder
(Very relaxed tempo and lyrics - have loved this song for years)

9. Best Day of My Life - Jesse McCartney
(Very cute with good lyrics)

10. Never Gonna Leave This Bed - Maroon 5
(Both the regular acoustic and recorded versions are great)

Happy Friday Everyone!

-H xx

Airplane Essentials

Hi Everyone!

I've just arrived at my mom's house in the U.S. for more of my summer holiday. I got here about five hours ago, and have unpacked, showered and eaten after spending around 20 hours traveling. I'm not too tired, but am happy to be sleeping in a more comfortable position soon.

For this post, I thought I'd share the essential items I keep with me when flying - particularly on long-haul flights when freshening up every several hours on the plane, as well as immediately upon exiting the aircraft are completely necessary (if you want to keep your sanity). :)


Large Purse 
This should be pretty big, so that it can hold all of the items...

{Lilac Longchamp Tote}

Cozy Hoodie + Socks

Planes can sometimes be very cold...

{Princeton Sweatshirt and Bath & Body Works Shea Socks}

Makeup Bag

To hold all of the "freshen up" products...

{Vera Bradley Cosmetic Case}

Toothbrush + Small Toothpaste

After waking up from a slightly awkward nap, brushing your teeth makes you feel instantly fresher...

{Travel toothbrush + Mini Colgate Total Toothpaste}

Lipbalm + Moisturizing Gloss

Air on planes is dry, so make sure to keep your lips moisturized with lip balm. Then, when stepping off the plane, use the moisturizing gloss to keep up the feeling, but add a bit of glamour to your look...

{Classic Burt's Bees Chapstick + C.O. Bigelow "Lemon Citron" Lip Cream}

Eye Glasses + Spare Contacts

I always wear my glasses on long plane rides, but usually before a shorter connecting flight, or when I arrive at the airport of my destination, I switch to my lenses...

{Polo "Jack" Eyeglasses + Acuvue Oasis Contact Lenses}

Earphones + Portable Phone Charger

To cover the sounds of the plane with your favourite songs (it's a good idea to make a relaxing playlist), and an iphone/ipod charger, since those devices can save you from boredom...

{Incase "Capsule Headphones" + Mophie "Inspi(Red) Juice Pack For iPhone"

Also remember to drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated. I also think splashing your face with water a couple of times - once on the plane and once upon arrival helps to wake you up, freshen you up, and a makes you feel a bit cleaner, since a fair amount of oil can be produced during a long flight.

I hope this post was helpful! 

I'd also like to wish safe journeys to everyone who's traveling this summer! 

See you Friday! 

-H xx

Summer Fun (Minus the Sun)

Hey Everyone!

This week since Emma is still in China on the immersion trip, she doesn't have access to her computer/our blog. So, I'll be updating the site with the three weekly posts in the next few days. :)

I returned last night from Phuket. It was a great vacation - very restful, set in peacefully beautiful scenery and full of great food. :) Today I spent time with some friends, as tomorrow will be goodbye for the rest of the summer, since I'm leaving for the U.S. on Wednesday to holiday with family and attend some summer courses.

We spent our day as we usually do when we're together - lunch at one of our favourite places, a bit of shopping and then back to my apartment to hang out. It's during these long summery days with friends that sometimes we are looking for some easy ways to have fun while we're enjoying each other's company - outside of the worries of school. I thought in this post, I'd show some pictures of some of how we spent our time at home today, which also include some of our fave things to do together.

Grab a tub of ice cream with enough spoons to go around. :)

{Movenpick Strawberry - One of our favourites!}

Playing Cards! 

It might seem a bit boring/old-fashioned, but we love playing card games. They're simple, dependable forms of consistent entertainment, and when you all play at similar levels, it makes for fun competition. Our favourite games are Big 2 and Cheat. 

{Pile of playing cards after a round of Big 2}

Just Dance

This Wii game became a part of our sleepover traditions last year with Just Dance 2. Last week, we all chipped in to purchase our shared copy of Just Dance 3. It is our all-time favourite game, and we always spend several hours playing it whenever we're all together. :) It's fun, we can sing along, laugh at each other's dancing, and pig out while we play. (The dancing actually works up a bit of a sweat after a while - so you can justify some pigging, since you must be burning calories...Right?)We're eagerly awaiting the release of Just Dance 4! :)

What are some of your favourite things to do during the summer months?
Let me know in the comments below!

-H xx

Paint Pot Passion

MAC Paint Pot vs. Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow 

As you may have picked up from a couple of my last posts, warm weather starts to bring out my collection of creme shadows and paint pots. They stick much better and don't sweat off your face/get everywhere when you wipe your eyes. My all time favorite is MAC's Paint Pot in Rubenesque (right) but I recently pulled out Bobbi Brown's Cream Shadow in Bare Study and I have to say they are remarkably similar.

MAC's solution (if you can call it that) is much creamier than Bobbi Brown's. The color is also much richer, deeply golden with a nod in the orange direction. I love it because it can reamin on all day, though depending on the person I have heard that some find it prone to creasing. I don't have that case making it all the more desirable. The packaging, as per usual is lovely and the amount inside the bottle is full. I will say that this is the first ever make-up product I ever bought and four or even three or perhaps even four (could it be five!?) years on there is still some left. Granted I may have upped the amount in use in the more recent of years. 

Bobbi Brown's Bare Study was originally a gift from my friends last year for my fifteenth birthday. I loved it instantly, yet it seemed to get shoved to the back of my make-up collection always in favor for Rubenesque. However I recently pulled it back out and found that it contains several a quality that MAC may be missing. First, the packaging is not prone to smudgy foundation covered fingerprints and the bottle is ever so chic. The color itself is not so gold and bright, but more muted and is much more equipped to be worn on a daily basis. It is extremely light, therefore requiring perhaps a bit of a heavy layer to show through but is also extremely smooth and in my experience isn't prone to creasing at all. It doesn't last quite as long as MAC's paint pots but long enough for a nice day out (that isn't going to be covered in sweat).

The Verdict

I am going to have to stay I still favor my MAC Rubenesque (even if nostalgia played a small role) though I am so happy that I pulled out the Cream Shadow. It is fantastic for a daily wear basis... I will admit to finding, occasionally, Rubenesque to have just a tiny bit too much flare for everyday on some occasions. Though Bare Study doesn't seem to have the long wear that I've experienced with MAC, the shade is perfect for everyday and the wear is just long enough. Its definitely grown on me. :) 

Lemme know what you think!

xx Em

Pack It Like You Mean It

{Phuket Day 1 - Lounging By The Pool}

It's travel time for Emma and I at the moment. She's currently in Beijing on a language immersion trip, and I'm on a family holiday in Thailand. So, as a result, our posts this week have been slightly travel-themed. Her last update talked about some of the essential items one must bring when traveling, and in this post, I'm going to discuss how to organize one's suitcase effectively. 

I would like to warn you that I am not a perfect packer. I've only recently begun to improve beyond my tendency to over-pack, and I can rarely fold my items neatly. However, I'll show you the method that I've developed and found to be effective in terms of organizing my suitcase. Using this, I always know where my items are, and so I don't have trouble finding anything when dressing or organizing myself upon arriving at my destination. 

{My Opened Suitcase in Our Hotel}

Some essential items used to organize myself in sections from left to right clockwise: Plastic bag of face washes/perfume bottles, plastic bag of sunscreen (#palegirlprobs), hat, plastic bag of shower items, Estee Lauder makeup bag case holding body + face lotion, Vera Bradley hanging organizer for toiletry items, Herbal Essences Mousse (or other essential haircare items in a sealed container), Juicy Couture small box of some accessories & Cow Skin Printed small clothing bag containing underwear + bandeaus. 

Not Shown: Beneath these cases are my clothes folded into 6 piles by section: Dresses, Shorts, Shirts, Tank Tops, PJ Shorts & PJ Shirts. There is also a small pocket inside the suitcase that holds my swimsuits for the trip. The compartment in the lid of the suitcase contains an extra pair of flip flops and my wedge heels to wear with sundresses. 

I use a really similar format for all of my trips, sometimes with clothes folded into smaller, more compressed shapes to allow for more sections. This is useful during the cold months when going on trips where packing of extra jackets/sweaters/pants is essential. Also, for the same reason, the small cases I use to contain my items may increase/decrease. For instance, I might not bring along sunscreen, but I'll have a separate small clothing bag containing socks. But for the most part, these items stay the same, so I always know what to look for when opening up my bag for a quick change. :) 

I hope you're all having a great start to your summer! 

-H xx

The Essential Travel Kit

{ Case: Marc by Marc Jacobs }

I leave tomorrow for a two week school immersion trip to Beijing (no, it wasn't my idea). So I thought that as I was packing away I would show you guys what I was bringing make-up wise. Seeing as it's a rather short trip and definitely school oriented, I am only bringing some of my essentials. Granted, I have selected a lot of these items with the fact that Beijing gets very hot during the summer in mind. Take a look!

{ Foundation: BB Cream from Japan, Chanel brush }

{ Compact Powder and Brush: Chanel powder, H&M Kabuki }

{ Eyeliners: Laura Mercier in Teal, Drugstore Black, MAC in Blue Stripe } 

{ Mascaras: Maybelline Falsies Waterproof, MAC Opulash, Sephora in Black }

{ Qualities: Lengthening, Natural, Thickening }

{ Paint Pot: MAC in Rubenesque }

{ Lips: Clinique Chubby Sticks in Chunky Cherry, Super Strawberry, Whopping Watermelon }

{ Extras: MAC Red to Shop, Marc by Marc Jacobs Daisy rollerball, Shu Uemera eyelash curler }  

My Latest Craving: Halloumi Cheese

I first discovered this item a few years ago at a Lebanese restaurant. It was served along with other dishes like hummus and falafel with pita bread. I instantly fell in love with it, as it was very unique to other things I'd eaten in the past, but also, what can I say? ...I love cheese. :)

{Grilled Halloumi Cheese}

Halloumi is safe for eating by vegetarians because it is typically prepared using sheep's milk, and is free from rennet. Although I am not a vegetarian, I do tend to migrate towards eating veggies, fruits, cheeses, carbs, etc. Not a huge meat person, though I like a good burger. :) It's also quite healthy, as it contains minimal fat and instead, a pretty good amount of protein.


I've been loving this lately on pita bread with hummus as I mentioned, or I've also discovered its deliciousness (sorry, couldn't come up with a better word) in salads in place of feta as well as on a sandwich with avocado. (The sandwich was at one of my friends and my fave restaurants - "Eat Right")

{Halloumi & Cous Cous Salad}

{Halloumi Burger}

The cheese is tasty, and although I couldn't find the right words to describe it, I felt that this summary from About.com pretty much summed it up:

"Plain, Halloumi is firm, salty and a bit rubbery, perhaps most comparable to a thick feta, though the taste is certainly unique. Cooked, the saltiness fades into a strong savory bite, with a slightly creamy texture."

It is usually served pan-grilled, and from what I've seen, can be paired with almost anything and be super-duper yummy. 

So, that's something I've been loving recently. I highly recommend that you try it, and, if you already have, let me know what you thought in the comments below! I'd also love some new recipe ideas using Halloumi. :) 

Have a great weekend! 

-H xx

~1, 2, 3 ~

Rules of Summer I

{ From Left to Right: The Body Shop Lip Balm; Chubby Sticks in Whopping Watermelon, Super Strawberry, Chunky Cherry; Sunglasses; Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume; MAC Rubenesque paint pot; Forever 21 Statement Necklace; MAC Red Racer Lipstick; MAC Red to Shop Nail Lacquer; MAC Blue Stripe Eyeliner; China Glaze nail polish in Pool Party; Chanel Compact Powder; H&M Kabuki Brush

Inspired by my all time favorite blogger Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere I decided to start my own Rules of Summer. The idea is to create a sort of miniature bucket list that takes place over the course of that summer. Being out of school makes it easy to focus your time and the warm weather brings about the adventurous spirit in all. Here are my first Rules of Summer 2012 to accomplish: 

1. Have an outdoor picnic

2.  Go to a drive in movie

3. Make s'mores

4. Go to a flea market

5. Shop vintage at a thrift store

6. Buy a watch* 

7. Sneak into a hotel pool

8. Lunch with my besties 

9. Eat chocolate dipped ice cream

10. Snap a photo with an Abercrombie & Fitch model 

* Small confession. I have a terrible thing against watches. They are chunky and uncomfortable and give you the worst tan lines. Yet my Tumblr and Instagram seem to be filling up with arm candy whose center piece is usually a delicate (yet large) gold watch. Not for time keeping I'm sure. So I'm thinking maybe its time I took another peek into the watch world. 

May's 5 Things - Halle

Hello Everyone!

The weather is hot, hot, hot now, particularly in the very humid Hong Kong, but I am so excited that it's summertime! Here are the five things I've been loving this month at the beginning of this warm season:

1. Neutrogena "Wetskin" Sunscreen

So, I'm a bit pale. Actually, that is an understatement. I have very fair skin, which burns very easily. So, each summer I'm constantly faced with concerns regarding preventing myself from burning. Before I swim, I usually apply a pretty generous amount of regular rub-on sunscreen. (I like the ones from Neutrogena as well - in a very high SPF, such as 100+) It's not too much of an issue to wait the 10-15 minutes for this to soak in prior to swimming, yet, when I'm found facing a day by the beach or pool when re-application is necessary every hour or so, this new sunscreen makes it so much more convenient. You can spray it onto your skin when it is wet very conveniently, and it does not require an extensive amount of drying time. It also offers the same degree of coverage as other Neutrogena products. Needless to say, I think this sunscreen is going to become an essential item on hot summer days.

2. Rayban "Aviator Large Metal" Sunglasses

I found these at an outlet with my family last summer on sale in the US, and instantly fell in love. I feel like this style is very versatile and flattering, and this colour is my absolute favourite out of the available coloured options in this same style. They complement every outfit selection in terms of colour and adding an extra hint of stylishness, which I absolutely adore. Plus, they protect your eyes from harmful UV Rays. What's not to love?

3. Violet "Le Pliage" Longchamp Bag

I've grown to absolutely adore Longchamp totes in the last couple of years. They come in a variety of colours, are versatile enough to match any outfit, and are large enough to hold all of the essential items - even when you're carrying them to school! I like the larger size of the bag for these reasons, since it can hold all of my books, extra flip flops when I'm wearing heels - everything a girl needs. This colour is actually from last year's Spring Collection. I got it as a Christmas present from my mom. I think the colour is quite summery, and it actually does match with more outfits than I anticipated. Other worthy colours are the beautiful chocolate brown and classic black.

4. Sperry Topsiders In "Brown Deerskin"

I used to wear boat shoes all the time when I was growing up, but stopped for a few years when I was about thirteen. This past summer I spotted this colour in Macy's and totally fell in love again. This school year, they've become my go-to shoe, and I've been loving pairing them with cute shorts and tanks so far this summer. Super comfy and versatile.

5. Bath & Body Works Body Spray - White Citrus

This was my summer scent last year, and I am still finishing up the large bottle I bought all those months ago. It smells so fresh and light, and is perfect for days outside or carrying in your purse just to make yourself feel fresh again in the heat. It's not too overpowering, but just sweet enough for summer. :)

I hope you enjoyed this post! Talk to you Friday!

-H xx

~1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ~

May's 5 Things - Emma

Summer officially started for me last week, along with the coming of June. So I think that many of the things keeping me happy last month had much to do with the coming season!

{ MAC lipstick in Red Racer }

As a little birthday gift to myself I snagged this red lipstick from MAC's new Hey, Sailor! collection. Lately, the collections haven't really been up my alley, but when this nautical themed one came out I wanted practically every item they had. Red lipstick is something that I have been looking for a while and this shade is gorgeous. The packaging is just so sexy as well. I couldn't help but snag it.

{ My view... }

The weather has just been so beautiful lately, making it easy to mosey down to the pool for studying or asking for an outside table at a restaurant.  With gorgeous days, who can't be happy?

{ MyDietDiary }

I want to call this app something along the lines of a life saver for my summer body. In a week I have already lost 4 kg (about 9 lbs)! I was so shocked but so excited. To read all about my obsession in depth check out my last post here!

{ China Glaze nail polish in Pool Party }

I've been wearing this nail polish non-stop since the warm weather has kicked in, rotating between my fingers and toes. It is such a versatile color, and matches with everything (even when I went through a bit of a green stage). It is hot neon pink that comes up almost exactly the same shade as the bottle (thought this photo may not be an accurate description).

{ Sweet 16 Birthday Pressie! }

Okay, so my birthday was on the third and I had such an amazing night. But I'm going to have to say the highlight was this, a present from my parents. Basically 16 years worth of charms, collected from vacations all around the world. From New York to Cambodia, Thailand to Monetary, there is a memory behind each gold piece. The way I'm seeing it... this is the new family heirloom.

xx Em

5 Fun Ways To Beat the Heat

Hi Everyone!

It's summertime again! :) The sun's out, we have time off of school, but sometimes we don't know where/what to do when being outside makes us oh so sweaty. Here are some ideas of fun ways to stay cool this summer. :)

Spa Time With Friends

Invite your girls over for a night in. Turn on your favourite music and get out some face masks. (I like the ones from Lush) Take turns painting each other's nails and spend some quality time together. :)

Movie Marathons

Catch up on all the movies you've been too busy to watch this year, or just re-watch your favourite classics. (Hello, Notebook anyone?) Have a good cry and a good laugh. You deserve to have some chill time after this summer. :)

Quizzes! (But not the kind from school)

Take an afternoon with the girls taking those quizzes in your old magazines. Try guessing the results of each other and see who can get it right. :) And don't forget the snacks while you take them! Bring on the candy and guessing.

Closet Organizing

It might sound boring, but one of my favourite pass-times is to organize my closet. From separating pieces by style to colour-coding, when you're finished, looking at the final product will make you smile. :) Also, you might rediscover some old items you'd forgotten about, and either wear them again or swap them with a friend. :)


Beach Picnics

If you live near a beach, or a pool, plan ahead of time with your friends to each bring one item to add to the cooler. Take it to the water spot closest to you, and spend the day in the sun. (But don't forget the sunscreen!)

Enjoy these warm days!

-H xx

~ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ~

New Posts Coming Your Way - Just On Other Days :)

Hi Everyone!

So, in order to be able to put out more posts for you guys, we'll now be posting every Monday, Wednesday & Friday. We'll be alternating bloggers between posts, so you'll get a good variety of all of our fave topics more frequently! :)

I'll be posting a new feature tomorrow night, so check back then!

-H xx