June's 5 Things - Emma

My gosh is it July already? This is the problem with summer. It just goes by too fast. I am finally back from my language immersion trip in Beijing and asides from some seriously unexpected things happening, it did put into perspective just how much you needs things you take for granted. 

{ Clinique 7 Day Scrub & Estee Lauder Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser }

These were just travel sized products that my mom and I picked up at a drug store before I packed away to Beijing for two weeks. Knowing that the air there was terrible, therefore leaving skin prone to the worst kinds of breakouts I was sure that this duo wouldn't be enough. Yet lo and behold they work miracles! I'll do a few review of them on Monday! 

{ "Tods" } 

Alright I admit it, they're fake, but I cannot love them any more. The color, wear, durability and comfort is amazing! I got the same pair in black as well and haven't gone a day without wearing them. Im in love!

{ Clinique Chubby Sticks }

I wrote about these just before I left, saying they were part of the essential make up kit I was packing. They came in handy about 900 times more than expected, especially after I accidentally let my lips get a bit sunburnt. The color isn't the only thing they have going for them - the moisturizing factors are amazing.

{ Russell Brand's Autobiography }

The first summer read that I am conquering! Love him, love his humor, and love his book. In the position of sounding fan girl-ish, just going to say, there is something about reading about his past that makes him now even better. Highly recommend this hilarious yet tortured tale.

{ The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is the Press Coverage }

My favorite summer song (though I have been loving Lips of an Angel after Halle's post) at the moment is "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is the Press Coverage" by Panic! at the Disco. Long title I know but listen once and it'll be stuck in your head for weeks.

Have an amazing week!
xx Em

Travel Outfits

Whether you're on a plane for a few, or multiple hours, comfort is key. Here are some pictures of some ideal travel outfits for any length of flight:

Ashley Tisdale

This outfit is perfect for short-haul flights. The jeggings and t-shirt (or any cute top) make it comfortable, but the sleek jacket and chic suitcase make it perfectly suitable for wearing straight off of the plane and into the city.

Miley Cyrus

For mid-length or redeye flights, this comfortable outfit is comfortable enough for sleeping on the plane, but still reasonable to wear out to lunch paired with some shades and a confident walk.

Selena Gomez

Finally, in the above photo, Selena rocks a cute sweatsuit at LAX. A great sweatsuit and tank top combination are the perfect companions for overnight or long-haul flights. Comfortable and temperature-versatile. Simply take off your jacket when you land. :)

These are my top picks for keeping up your personal style when traveling. Today, I'm getting on a short flight to music camp, so I'm sporting skinny jeans and a tank top - a spinoff of Ashley's look above. 

What's your favourite look for travel? 

Let me know in the comments. 

-H xx

~1, 2, 3 ~

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