one year part 1 - 'Au revoir la France'...

I really surprised myself last week...someone asked how long I'd been in Singapore...I thought a second "is it really almost one year?"  Where the heck has that time whizzed off to?

Of course, I immediately started planning a blog post (in my head) incorporating my feelings 'n' thoughts about events from one year ago.  So, here is a few pics along with my memories from my last days in France 'when 7 years ended...finally'

boxes, boxes 'n' more boxes

bags 'n' boxes

container filling...taking my home across the seas to Asia

I still have a shiver at seeing this container - I'd been to the hotel with my Mum to drop off the baggage, we came around the corner back to the apartment in Noisy to see this...gosh, I was emotional :,-(

'the baggages'

after 'some confusion' as to how 'little me' would get my 8 items of baggage,

2 boys and myself to the airport,

I finally get stuck with a taxi driver (who didn't help load the things),

2 very emotional boys and a very emotional me :,-( 

the champagne in the lounge helped ease the trauma of the situation ;-)

I'd been so wrapped up in the packing 'n' organising, which is moving continent, that it really did only 'hit' me at the last moment that I (well we) were 'leaving France' forever...


I'd done the goodbyes to special people ;-) (but sadly didn't take enough pics, damn!)

my last weekend in France :-(
heck, I look shocking

I'd cried at the drop of a hat for a week or so...but nothing prepared me for the actual day...

Gosh, I had no idea how emotional it would all be!

No more familiar faces at school drop off and pick up times (for a while anyway),

no more driving on the right :-)

no more Parly 2 shopping trips with my 'shopping buddy',

no more running in the fields and seeing the deer and rabbits dashing along...

Of course, there were a good few parts of living in France that I wouldn't be too sad about leaving behind...

No more panic at mixing up 'tu' and 'vous'...a very serious issue!

No more panic at greeting someone - is it 'bonjour' or is it 'bonsoir'...even after 7 years I rarely got the timing of this correct!

raté :-D

Thankfully, I could remember all the reasons for getting to the airport on time...Singapore had been in my dreams and thoughts since I left there 7 years ago!  Mr Man was already there beginning to settle into his new job (he headed out to Singapore a month earlier than me and my boys),

AND my gorgeous boy Bébert was about to check out of the quarantine station

and would be all ready to jump up and lick my face ;-P

Gosh, what an emotional last few days...

This post is titled 'one year part 1' so it's pretty obvious the'll be a 'part 2'...I think I'll call it 'ni hao Singapura' ;-)  I'll set about reminiscing 'n' pic searching for that post...until then...

kisses 'n' smiles from me xx ;-)

March Bellabox 'n' Facebook addiction

I've actually been so busy admiring my beautiful Bellabox from March that I've totally not got around to writing a little blog for it...

my March Bellabox

A'kin - hand nail & cuticle cream, L'egere BB cream,

Caudalie eye and lip cream,

Royal Herb EX cream and Dermalogica cleansing gel

AND this box was over-spilling with brochures 'n' leaflet infos!  To use my Dermalogica gift voucher will be such a treat :-) 

So, I now have 6 Bellaboxes I decided it was about time I had a general tidy up of my 'beauty products'...I've had stuff kicking around in the bottom of drawers and make-up bags since 'forever', I figured that since I now have all these 'new' goodies courtesy of Bellabox I should make some space available and get them used.

If you want an excuse to revamp your beauty regime or simply get your perfectly manicured nails on some gorgeous goodies then Bellabox is just for you xx ;-)

I vow to use my new products and not just simply look at them and think how lovely they look...how silly is that? ;-)

a college of what my blog 'n' Facebook page is about...

Singapore - hence the beautiful orchids,

Moi -

and always sent with kisses 'n' smiles

Isn't Kate so beautiful 'n' thin ;-)

Anyone that knows me personally, will know that I have a 'oh so tiny' Facebook addiction ;-)  Needless to say, snippets and pics from kisses 'n' smiles are now available on this social networking site Ooooo, I'm on Facebook, if you like my blog drop by and LIKE me xx ;-)

kisses 'n' smiles from me xx ;-)

Singapore from kampongs to vibrant towns...

Last week I took my first tour with the British Association of Singapore...I'm not really into associations and/or clubs but figured I'd join and that way I have a support group of Brits if and when I need 'em :-)

http://www.britishassociation.org.sg/index.html

all the info you need regarding BA Tours HERE

They organise regular drop in coffee mornings at various cafés around Singapore, these are more my cup a tea (;-)) and I will eventually get to one of these for a bit of chat 'n' gossip ;-)

So, the tour...Housing and Development Board (HDB) - "from kampongs to vibrant towns". With more than 80% of Singapore's population living in public housing and the fact that governments from other countries aim to have public housing as good and popular as Singapore's, I thought this would make an interesting morning...


The tour was very well organised and I'm pretty sure everyone arrived on time (proper British punctuality ;-)). Our tour guide made the morning really interesting and shared lots of facts, info 'n' a few secrets of Singapore ;-) 

A few points re HDBs :-

Pre-1960's .. accute housing shortage - most people lived in slums and kampongs which were dirty and unsafe;

1960's-1970's .. the Housing and Development Board created all new towns to meet the growing demand for public housing;

With a population of 2 million in 1970 and at 1976 50% of the Singapore population had been housed by HDB;

HDB not only created the public housing (flats) it also provided community centres for the residents;

In the early days...the allocation of flats went something like this - there were 2 boxs, you would be present to see you 'draw', one box contained your name and the second box was 'your' flat.

You could be on a wait list for 3 years...when it was eventually 'your' turn you did have the right to refuse 'your' given flat BUT, on the third 'draw' if you were still not happy then you would go to the back of the queue and possibly wait another 3 years!


The visit to the HDB Gallery in Toa Payoh certainly made us all rethink on public housing... These days, the flats are built to order - with the person taking out the lease being able to choose their preferred flooring, door handles, bathroom colour and entrance door :-)  Of course, the 'show flats' were well set up so the tenants can judge just how many rooms they need and get some interior design ideas...

2 room/1 bedroom

 

3 room/2 bedrooms

4 room/3bedrooms

5 room/4bedrooms

A little secret our tour guide shared with us...apparently, if a tenant takes out a lease with the HDB then at a later date can afford to buy a private house/condo they can 'kind of slip through some sort of loop hole'!  Some HDB tenants then lease out the private place (quite often to expats).  Of course, with the rental they are then charging Singapore sees (or perhaps...turns a blind eye) to millionaires living in public housing!! If you could own a four bedroom condo unit with pool and gym would you live in a two bedroom 75m2 flat? I'm pretty sure I wouldn't.

The Pinnacle@Duxton

http://www.pinnacleduxton.com.sg/

Our last stop on 'the tour' was the Pinnacle @ Duxton...a one off project to show public housing can be in the centre of town/city.  With the land costing a premium this place is really special and no doubt will stay 'a one off project'.  S$5 per entry to the Pinnacle's 'sky bridge' @ the 50th level and you can enjoy pretty impressive views from the roof tops - my pics are not so clear as the day was extremely hazy :-(

Other stuff going on in my life in Singapore.... Well, it's been a 'long' three weeks without my maid/helper! Oh, don't get me wrong I've pretty much survived and the family are dressed in clean clothes and not starved :-D. But having been doing laundry, ironing, cleaning, shopping, cooking in this heat and humidity I'm totally shattered ;-)  I've had no time for ME and well, my nails are a disgrace! no pretty nail pics today :-((


So, yes, Aileen returns to Singapore this week (I breath a sigh of relief and am happy to give up my housewife chores)! I plan to treat myself to a morning in Ikea (never have enough things to store things in!).  Do my nails and get back to the gym...yep, generally turn the expat wife status back on ;-) and I'm pretty sure my Mr Man will be happy his shirts are being ironed 'properly' and actually have no creases in them :-/

Anthea Turner - Perfect Housewife dvd series...
I love watching her but I for sure don't want to be one ;-)

L8r beautiful 'n' gorgeous people xx

kisses 'n' smiles from me xx ;-)

Astalift 'n' tones of orange...

Anti-ageing...now what woman does not want to try everything possible to see even the smallest of results?

Who knew that collagen is present in film paper? (hence the link between Fujifilm and beauty). So, with almost 80 Years of working with collagen, you would expect Fujifilm to know what they are doing in creating Astalift :-)

'Glowing 'n' Brightening up' with Astalift...I can't wait to see the results of this Japanese created beauty brand ;-)

So, using 'oxidation-controlling technology'(sounds very technical ;-))
the same controls to prevent your old, aged photos from colour fading,
Fujifilm can now help control your skin from losing that youthful glow too ;-)

Yes, remembered my camera this time

so here's a few pics from me @ Astalift workshop, Singapore

 

From Asia to Europe or Singapore to Paris to be exact...

Astalift now in Paris...Ooh la la ;-)

Emotion Hall ASTALIFT
Espace Ephémère
40 rue Etienne Marcel
75002 Paris

Recently hitting the stores in Europe (February 2012) available at a very chic parisienne boutique.  This brand looks set to be big, big, big (as long as it avoids being 'lost in translation....
for, the products I saw and the samples I was given to test are covered in Japanese characters ;-/ I'm pretty sure the products on sale in Europe will be marked 'au moins en Anglais'?

Saturday morning I headed down to the Astalift 'workshop'...lots to learn (click HERE for full details of their nano technology and products list). I was impressed with the cleansing gel which 'effortlessly' removed waterproof mascara.  Also, equally impressive is the moisture foam which, using just a tiny bit, foams up soooo much and leaves pores really clean and skin feeling moisturised ;-)  

Next step to 'the glow' is lotion...I loved the cooling effect it had :-) various ways to apply this...personally, I like the way you can soak a fabric mask and leave to 'let it do it's work'; these tiny capsule thingies are, apparently, available in Daiso, Singapore. Soak the capsule in lotion, open the mask up and 'viola' you have a super face mask...

I'm either very easily impressed

or these little capsules truly are amazing ;-))

As well as the fabulously rosy fragrance I'm also loving the beautiful coloured packaging which also represents the product colour (a natural colour from the astaxanthin extracted from sea algae. I also looked incredibly colour coordinated wearing my orangey butterfly print top, my orangey-peachy beads and butterfly necklace and who could fail to notice my tangerine nails ;-)

butterfly print blouse - NafNaf
butterfly necklace - gift
tangerine nails -  Sephora

bag of goodies courtesy of Astalift

My totally fabulous 'goodie bag' from Astalift was a nice surprise :-) and I am very much looking forward to trying, testing 'n' checking out the results from this bag of goodies.  I am especially excited to sit back 'n' relax in the moisturising mask (rrp S$17.60) ;-)  A full review and my 'skin reactions' to these sample size goodies to follow v.soon.  Hey, I've got tons to try 'n' test given I was also presented with a special 'Astalift Vanity Trove' box of beautiful surprises xx ;-)  If my skin is not positively 'glowing' next time you see me I'll be asking one or two questions ;-)

kisses 'n' smiles from me xx ;-)


:-)  BTW I took part in the Astalift workshop courtesy of 'special invitation' from Vanity Trove but, I give my remarks and opinions of their products honestly xx :-)

A Master Plan that is Singapore...

No fashion or beauty brands in this post...just 'my wonderful Singapore'...

Last weekend we visited the Singapore City Gallery @ the URA Centre. The Gallery shows an amazing 'Singapour miniature' in past, present 'n' future. Most definitely a must visit place...

How Singapore has changed in such a little time is absolutely amazing...

Marina Bay area

Tanjong Rhu

from Fishing town and it's incredibly dirty River to this most fabulous city it is today :-)

Singapura 1960 (ish)

Singapore 2010 (ish)

By seeing the vision of Mr Lee Kuan Yew Singapore follows the 'Master Plan' and Singapore can only keep amazing the world and staying one of the most desirable places to 'live, work 'n' play' :-) Well, I'm certainly 'loving' it and Singapore never fails to make me smile :-)

I went to the City Gallery with my 3 boys and we were truly blown away by the attention to detail of the Island and all it's structures as well as the changing landscape of Singapore in the last 30 years. Amazing :-) .... We certainly will be adding this place to our visitors 'must see' list.  A walk around the area taking in Club Street and China Square really rounded the 'touristy' morning off ;-)  Here's a few pics (I did go extremely snap happy but have kept the pics posted here to a minimum ;-)

OK, ok, so I did say no 'brands' in this post but...tomorrow will see me again frequenting the Reebonz Space thanks to the lovely Camy @ Vanity Trove ;-) I have an invite to 'discover' all that is Astalift - the Japanese label created by Fujifilm...reminds me to charge my Nikon and get some fabulous blog photos :-) I will not forget my camera this time around ;-)

Yes, yes, blog update and post about 'all that is Astalift' coming v.soon ;-)

kisses 'n' smiles from me xx ;-)

skin supplement bar 'n' Vanity Trove...

So, as promised now what did I get up to on Thursday afternoon?...

https://www.facebook.com/VanityTrove

I had a very interesting time, met some lovely, lovely girls from Vanity Trove and a nice British guy representing Skinc.  All in all a super experience.  What wasn't so great was that I forgot my camera (foolish of me)...so, I'm using a few pics from Vanity Trove's Facebook ;-)

I got to learn all about Skininc and was given a personalised skin analysis ;-)  No surprises when the results were in...lack of elasticity 'n' tired skin ;-/ 

My favourite 'bit' about Skinc is their 'my daily dose' idea...from their 9 serums you choose 3 which are perfect for your skin type and get these mixed into a cute colourful bottle which is 'your personalised' daily dose.  Here's my 'miracle' serum;  'Reborn' - lines and ageing skin, 'Renew' - tired and ageing skin, 'Revitalise' - pigmentation, dullness...of course, I would be hoping these would be blended in a cute purple bottle ;-)

for now though, I'll be giving 'Renew Q10' a try...

goodbye tired 'n' ageing skin ;-)

 

Skinc products are very kind to skin (especially a sensitive skin) :-)  In the past I've used some exfoliating products or peels and these have been way too harsh and abrasive for me.  Happily, Skinc are perfect and I'm looking forward to testing my samples from the cute goodie bag :-)

The 2 masks look a 'little scary' but I'm excited to see the results.  The black mask promises to 'detox, repair and replenish' while the white mask will give me 'baby-soft and porcelain white skin'.  Photo of me relaxing in one of the masks could be quite funny :-D 

Yes, my special invitation from the lovely Camy at Vanity Trove has left me eagerly awaiting my first 'box of beautiful surprises' from Vanity Trove ;-) and this 'Clinique loving girl may make the switch to Skinc and their skin supplement bar ;-)


This week I've also been busy working on my Personal Assistant course.  I'm happy to say it has started super well, my first test paper gave me an amazing 100% grade A :-) smiles all around here. I could very well be starting my 'dream' PA job very soon...

my dream PA job...a Devil of a boss

but all those shoes 'n' clothes would be soooo worth it ;-)

Yesterday my Bellabox for the month of March was dropped in by Mr Mail Man :-) I've been waiting for some 'do not disturb' time to open and enjoy my goodies ;-) coming soon...

kisses 'n' smiles from me xx ;-)

Titanic - real objects 'n' real stories

The ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands has been hosting the Titanic artifacts exhibition since end October 2011 (it runs until the 29th April 2012) 

Anyway, I have been so wanting to see this but my Mr Man had decided he 'would not like it'.  As he was away all last week and I am still not allowed a 'champagne brunch' (until lent is over at least), Mr Man suggested he treat me to Titanic :-)

Absolutely, fantastic exhibition :-)  Very interesting and easy to follow, my boys loved it too.  For my boys, the 'best bit' was the 'actual' ice berg and the outside promenade.  For me, it was the little snippets and stories about the 'real people' who travelled on Titanic.  Perhaps a little 'dark' but I loved the fact that every visitor got a replica of a boarding ticket along with the name and info relating to that person...at the end you need to check if you survived the disaster.

My Mr Man and my boys were first class gentlemen :-)  Me, I was a third class passenger, 15 years old from Lebanon, travelling along with my husband who was a wealthy shoe merchant (perhaps the 1912 Jimmy Choo!? ;-))

1912 Jimmy Choos :-D

It was the first time we had visited the ArtScience Museum.  Of course, we've all seen it from a distance and marvelled at the white lotus flower style structure but up close (for me personally) it doesn't look quite as impressive.  Queueing 'n' purchasing ticket service leaves a lot to be desired...I always wonder what can be so difficult and cause a debate when simply purchasing entrance tickets.  If you can remain calm in the queue then the exhibits and interior are definitely worth seeing.


Surprise, surprise...on Sunday evening, we watched Titanic the movie from start to finish...all 4 hours of it!  It's easy to see why it won 11 Oscars, fabulous :-)  For me, I never tire of seeing Jack 'n' Rose fall so passionately in love...and Céline Dion never fails to make me sniffle 'n' sob!

Gorgeous Leo xx

I highly recommend the Titanic exhibition.  Something else I'm forever recommending is BellaBox but...!  I've now discovered 'Vanity Trove' and I shall be sampling their box of beautiful surprises very soon :-)  I'm also very excited to attend a 'special' SkinInc, Reebonz 'n' Vanity Trove event this week :-)  Can't wait to blog about and share my afternoon here...

The VT beauty box...
so excited to get my March box of beautiful surprises

I'm off now to decide what to wear and get my nails sorted out, they look a bit shabby today!

kisses 'n' smiles from me xx :-)