Too Cool For School

Not sure about being too cool for school...I'm most certainly too old for school!  Never was much of a fan of school anyways...

Blah, blah, blah....get to the point!!  So, to my surprise I received an invitation to participate in the celebrations to mark the opening of the first 'too cool for school' store in singapore xx :-)

Who and what store?  

Too cool for school is the unique cosmetic brand introduced in year 2009 as a division of TODACOSA. The brand image reflects the originality, experimentation, artistic sensibilities and the fresh, rebellious sprit of those in their teens, twenties, and thirties. 

Starting off in a store along with other brands (perhaps a little like the Sephora of Korea) it took off so well and went down like a 'no school snow day' (for those who have never experienced this 'no school snow day' excitement....believe me, it's pretty darn cool and even the teachers are jumping for joy!  

Anyways the store owned brand went down so well, and everyone who tried it loved it, that it branched out and became a whole brand and store of its own. I've read from a few blogs that a number of bloggers go shopping to Korea and come back loaded up with the too cool for school goodies.

The first and only 'Too Cool For School' store in Singapore is now situated at Far East Plaza on Scott's road (honestly not an ideal location...the store looks way too good to be in such an out of way plaza). I hope their second store will be a little more conveniently placed.  

Still, I headed down there and met up with some lovely beauty bloggers who I'd not seen for some time.  We all agreed the store is pretty cute and adorably quirky.  Their range of products are endless and there really is something for everyone.  I actually thought I'd find nothing but cutesy stuff that only the teenage audience would like, but no!  I'm in love with their mass of makeup products especially the choice of eye makeup (creamy textures and sparkling shades), there's lovely shades of blush/highlighter and I'm loving the primer sun screen SPF 50.

Here's some pics I took at the event...sooooo adorable xx :-)

I didn't buy anything on the evening...to be honest the store was pretty crowded but I will head down there again and grab myself some gorgeous goodies.  Watch out for a review of what I bought as and when I've dome some serious testing xx :-)


kisses n smiles from me xx :-)

Singapore in 'n' under a smokey haze

WARNING!  I am moaning and groaning about the air quality in Singapore right now (June 2013).

So, Facebook friends and Instagram followers will have seen me generally 'going on' and on, and on about this smokey haze problem we are having here in Singapore right now.

earily quiet for my walk with Mr Dog...
did other dogs not need pees?

This view into the city is usually so clear and,
well, gorgeous!

Over the reservoir to the Kallang park...
I usually see the paddle place so clearly

course, this view is usually so clear...18th June 2013
... :-) ...

...spot the difference...July 2011
... :-) ...

Just as my antibiotics start to kick in and begin to rid me of this germ that has been lingering on my chest...well now, thanks to the Indonesian farmers I'm back to coughing like a 40 a day smoker!!

Apparently, the Indonesian farmers decide to save time and money when preparing their land for the next season's crops by burning down their forests!!  Please, come on someone needs to make them see sense!  It's illegal and they still do it and seem to be getting away with it!!  (This is as far as I can see - I may of course be wrong and their could be a lot of wrist slapping going on in some pristine building somewhere!??!)  :-)

Farmers' land in Indonesia...

intentionally set on fire as a money spinner!!

See the video...why is Singapore in 'n' under a smokey haze?

Anyways, it's took this incident of Singapore being in 'n' under a smokey haze for me to learn what a 'PSI' and 'AQI' are.  So the moderate level of PSI 51-100 was soared above on Monday to 150, Tuesday morning I was choking and took to walking Mr Dog whilst wearing a mask (not a soul out and about in my area - rather earily quiet), mid afternoon saw the levels fall back down and I could breath normally (thanks to the lovely breeze on the East), however the city remained in a terrible haze.  Our usually gorgeous view of the city skyline from the balcony was none existent!  Schools were holding recreational activities indoors and kids, the elderly and anyone with lung problems were told to spend as little time outdoors as possible.

AQI Singapore Central

PSI readings Singapore

Wednesday morning the PSI reading was high 60's which is good and nothing too bad at all (yay, things are improving).  We talked too soon though and as of 2pm we had reached a PSI of 170+ with an AQI reading of UNHEALTHY.

I find it such a concern.  This whole thing has made me totally feel for friends who live in Shanghai and other parts of China - how they live like this as part of their 'China experience' is beyond me!  Should Mr Man's job every take us to live in China I think we would need separate medical for my lungs and more salary for our daily mask wearing needs :-)

So, check the PSI see what the AQI is telling you and if the outdoors is unhealthy, then do wear a mask or stay indoors where possible.

Just off now to cough up my lungs and take a puff of my Ventolin inhaler...

kisses 'n' smiles from me xx :-)


PS...don't quote me on any of this PSI, AQI and hazy weather 'stuff'...I've done some research but I'm far from an expert - my only qualification to say the air quality in Singapore right now (June 2013) is 'unhealthy', is that my breather is strained and uncomfortable, I feel like I have something stuck in my throat, I'm continually coughing and the whole of Singapore smells exactly like Great Britain in November at the hight of their *Bonfire celebrations :-)

*Bonfire Night and who is Guy Fawkes / learn about that and him HERE

Rocket Science with VanityTrove

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to be beautiful...all you need is VanityTrove in your corner ;-)

Just look at this amazing trove of 'beautiful surprises'...could the fabulous VT Team fit any more in that pretty box? I do not think so ;-)

August edition of VanityTrove

My favourites and what I'm going to be testing first are...:-

Morilins organic facial therapy mask for 'brightening and tightening'...I've said loads how much I love a face mask - 'my time' of 10-15 mins of hiding away allowing the mask to 'do it's work' ;-) ah, heaven!

Origins anti-ageing serum and anti-aging cleanser...Life puts the wrinkles in. Now nature helps take them out. ;-) love it! I'm actually 'seriously' concerned with my 'not so fine lines'...my time in 'dry' England didn't help (yep, the air is dry and drying, even though it's raining constantly! :-). So any one thing that can promise decreasing my creases gets a thumbs up from me. I'll let you know how I go, although the trial size is probably not enough to help me in my hour of need :-(

Neutrogena deep clean mulberry foaming scrub...I'd actually seen this in Her World as an advert and thought 'yep, I'd like to try that'...now I can! Don't you just love VanityTrove for being one step ahead ;-)

I'm not over excited by these:-

 

Scottish Fine Soaps body milk...the scent is a 'wee' bit grandma-ish ;-)

Oxypad oxygen sanitary pad...erm, I'll try it though :-/

Vita-C natural powder with an antioxidant and brightening effect...could be the odd translation issue from Chinese to English but I'm not 'entirely' sure how to use ;-) I'll give it a go and see what "10 minutes after degree elapsing it sleeps rightly" actually means :-D

not great translation :-D

What else is there:-

Majolica Mojorca eye reset gel...eye make-up remover,

Bioré...gel eye make-up remover,

Brands inner shine drinks x2 (grapeseed extract 50ml and prune essence 42ml) these tasty treats are promising youthful and radiant skin,

Skin79 super BB cream...whitening, wrinkle improvement and SPF25...yet another BB cream hits the stores ;-)

Sampar x3 products - poreless magic peel, equalising foam peel and 'glamour shot'...so Sampar Paris is currently getting loads of hype and of course I'm excited to give these a try ;-)

Vouchers:-

Erabelle erabrow design at $18 (u.p. $29) and free long lasting eyebrow pencil.

15% off at Zalora.sg. Erm, now I'm not sure...I've heard some bad reviews about Zalora but I shall give it a try as there are some v.pretty pumps I'm sure I 'need'...just hope the correct size is shipped to me and before they go out of fashion... ;-)

Well there you are go, all in all I am very happy with my August edition of VanityTrove ;-) if you'd like to subscribe and get your pretty paws on their September edition 'Fall in Love' go HERE NOW...xx ;-)

One last thing...Her World Singapore August edition has a feature which VanityTrove lovers or those wanting to learn more about VanityTrove may well be interested in...(page 251 to be exact xx ;-))

VanityTrove founders and the team are really doing a fabulous job xx ;-)

I'm off now to lock myself away from 'life' (for a little while) and do some serious testing and reviewing...will my 'not so excited by' products end up as my faves?

Do you subscribe to VanityTrove or any other beauty boxes? 

Which 'try before you buy' beauty boxes do you recommend?

What did you discover which has become your favourite beauty product?

kisses 'n' smiles from me xx ;-)

Driving with courtesy...

I have very recently discovered that driving with courtesy is actually more difficult than it looks.

Well, I have moaned on about the very un-courteousness of Singapore drivers ;-) they point blank refuse to give way, when changing lane they don't signal and if I ever want to change lane they speed up so as I cannot get in front of them!

I now know that I have grown used to this un-courteousness ;-)

Driving to The Trafford Centre in Manchester with, the fab and very yummy mummy,  and Mummy-roc (Mel)...I heard her saying these things..."hell Clare, they'll never let you out if you don't signal !". "Clare, do you ever signal?" "Clare, don't you ever thank other drivers?" Only after Mel pointed these things out about my driving did I start to notice just how very courteous and so British the UK drivers are... And, even I actually became a little embarrassed about my driving habits ;-)

Flashing lights to give way, signalling at round abouts, waving to thank a fellow driver... :-) how nice but, how very odd and completely opposite to Singapore drivers. Then I thought about driving in France...is this where my un-courteousness began?

Have I really become just as bad as the worst and most un-courteous driver? Most probably, yes! Made me think about other stuff I do which is 'not very British' ;-) ...Mr Man can no doubt write a list...I'll ask him to add some comment later ! ;-)

I've become what, a bit French, a bit Singaporean or just very International ! :-)

I am now trying to be more courteous while driving around my beautiful Yorkshire but I just know when I get back to Singapore their un-courteousness will again annoy me to death. To feel better, all be it become just as bad as them, I'll forget my courteousness and be as un-courteous as the others ;-)

What I will do though is never 'push' on the MRT before the passengers get off (another thing that annoys me to death ! ) Oh gosh, don't get me started on that...

kisses 'n' smiles from me xx :-)

Adelaide pics 'n' Singapore humidity...

I'm back in my beautiful Singapore having returned from Australia.

Here's a few picks from my last few days in Adelaide...

Of course, we did the mandatory tourist stuff....

feeding the kangaroos and waking up the sleepy koalas ;-)

We did manage a visit to a vineyard...Napenthe

and I will post about the tasting experience in a later post ;-)

I've got a couple of moans about being in Oz and leaving Singapore.... Firstly, the dry-ness of it's climate played havoc with my skin :-( I'm pretty sure my skin prefers the Singapore humidity....I had to make a few moisture product purchases ;-)

Secondly, I ate way to much! I'm a little bit weight obsessed...and getting back from hols I really did have to be brave before setting foot on the weight scales :-(

If anyone thought it impossible to put 3.5kg (7.7lb) on in just 9 days then I have totally proved them wrong :-( now weighing almost 57kg I feel extremely enormous :-(

Easter break with all those chocolate eggs is over...time to give up on the chocolate (again) and get fit 'n' looking positively fab for summer ;-) yes, yes I agree, easier said than done, but, I'm going to give it a go...

"Let's get ******* skinny!"



So, I've decided no more cheating and using the car for little trips... I'm walking and/or taking the MRT...I promise to keep it up ;-)

My inspiration is coming from these pics from Rihanna's Facebook page...

 

 

isn't she stunningly beautiful and her body is sooooo fabulous ;-)

I'll be buying a white bikini as soon as I get such a toned bod

(yeah, yeah we all can dream! ;-))

So, after the dry skin incident in Oz, I thought I should get regular facials but, these facials are way too pricey.  I decided to treat my skin to some wonderful potions...

Next post to include my trip to the Astalift store and a cheeky buy with gift from Clinique ;-)) AND reviews on some Garnier goodies inspired by Mel's recent purchase SEE HERE AND...my April BellaBox has just arrived :-)) yeah!

kisses 'n' smiles from me xx ;-)