Saturday, November 29, 2008

Eyeko - get a FREE Manga Rude Girl Book!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to you all! I'll be doing a super late Thanksgiving post soon plus updates on the latest sales ;] but for now I'll just leave you with this!



Get a FREE Manga Make Up Rude Girl book! This offer is only valid until December 5, 2008. It comes with 3 lip glosses, 5 eyeshadows, a cream blush, and concealer all in one convenient little book! AND if you enter code E129 and FREERUDEGIRL at checkout you'll get 2 FREE gifts! The only catch is you have to buy 2 eyeko items, but it's basically buy 1 get 1 free when you pay the minimum! Of course, FREE International Shipping. =]

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Lovin my Sisterlocks



Eyeko - get TWO free gifts with purchase!

Eyeko is giving away a FREE minty balm with any purchase! ANNND if you enter both FREEMINTY and code E129 you'll get 2 free gifts with purchase! The second gift is a surprise but it is a full size eyeko item. That's a steal if you ask me, plus free shipping!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Sephora F&F Haul

So, I am SUPER LATE posting this haul because everyone posted it like weeks ago already lol, but better late than never right? haha I really regert not getting the Dior "Chic" Holiday palette for the sale because I am lemming it like craaazy! Oh, btw I forgot to say that they FINALLY opened a Sephora in Tucson! I went the weeknd it opened and it's a lot smaller than other Sephora's I've been to but at least we have one! But on with the haul


i love the red christmas satchel! + my samples


all dressed up


NARS Dolce Vita set


MUFE HD Powder, NARS Orgasm Blush, [Dolce Vita] Albatross & Love Joy, NARS St Barts Multiple, NARS Dolce Vita L/G, Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler


swatches L to R: St Barts, Orgasm, Albatross, Love Joy, Dolce Vita


NARS Dolce Vita L/G

I'm missing NARS Copacabana Multiple and Sephora Daily Brush Cleaner from the pictures! I'm really happy with my haul I loooove NARS but $25/blush will make this girl broke so I had to take advantage of it! I wish I got more glosses but ugh maybe next time. Thanks to Pink I HAAAD to get those NARS multiples! The NARS Multiple Duo wasn't out for F&F so I just got the sticks - might as well! But now I kind of regret it because I thought the duo was gonna be small, but look at my blush duo! It's huge! lol I wasn't expecting there to be much product but I'm actually very satisfied. On the other hand, I thought that NARS blushes were bigger?! I guess I never noticed them in Sephora before [I haven't been in a long time, it just opened here a week ago!] But check out this comparison between my bronzer & the blush!


NARS Orgasm vs NARS Casino bronzer

but still I looooove NARS. If I wasn't a MACaholic, I would totally be a NARSissist. haha! BTW I'm lovin the consistency of the NARS gloss so far, not super sticky like MACs (although I don't mind the stickiness) and its so pigmented! I feel like I need to have MAC gloss over a lippie, but this gloss gives so much color!

I should get some sort of award

Here's the "smashing" blog post.

I consulted many people before deciding to blog this. Some people said it's very mean, and there are many others who said they completely don't see how it is mean at all.

So I just decided to blog it lor...

The gist of this post is simple: I photoshop other people's photos to make them good-looking.

When I say good-looking I mean obviously good-looking to me lah. In the "conventional beauty" way.

It started off when Andie and I were looking at this blogger chick's blog photos and kept going on about how ugly her make-up is. Then, I challenged Andie to a photoshop showdown to see who can photoshop this fugly chick into a hot chick!

In the end, I spent about half an hour doing it till, in my opinion, she looked perfect!

Then I thought to myself, "Wow! It's so much easier to like her when she looks like that (end product of photoshop)".

So I further thought... How will other people I don't like look like with photoshop?

And therefore I photoshopped more and more pictures till people started telling me it's a waste not to blog about them.

Since most of the "victims" (or maybe they are privileged, coz loads of people wanna pay me to photoshop them) are people I don't like, I decided, for the fairness of this post, I'm gonna throw in also...

- People I do like
- People I am neutral towards.
- Random people I don't know at all.


Sorry if you got chosen... If I never expressed disliking you, it means that you are just randomly picked!

I was planning to do it on myself as well, but you saw that trick before.


Enough of the whining... Photos!


Let's make this more interesting, shall we?


YOU GET TO GUESS WHO THE PEOPLE ARE!!!!!


These photos you see are the photoshopped versions.

To see the originals (and the answers), please HOVER your mouse over the pictures!


Patience... It might take a while to load but it eventually will!
Just keep your mouse on the picture!


































Yes, she is a real person.



So which is your favourite?



p/s: All the original photos are either easily available online or proudly displayed on their owner's blogs. Credits to them.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

MAC Metal Urge

MAC's latest collection, Metal Urge, was released last Thursday. I stopped by my Dillard's counter to check it out, but I was not very impressed with this collection. It's kind of a repromote of their past cream eyeshadows Metal-X. Two colors from that collection, Metalblu & Goldspice, were re-released. I didn't catch them the first time around but from forums on Specktra, the cream based shadows were not popular because of creasing.

[credit] Color Story as follows

Brushed Metal-X[$16.50]
* Material Gold - Pale peach/beige with gold pearl
* Pink Platinum - Light blue/pink with silver pearl
* Metalblu - Navy blue with silver pearl
* Verdigris - Dirty deep green with silver pearl
* Forged Rose - Reddish copper with gold pearl
* Gilded Ash - Dark charcoal grey with pearl
* Goldspice - Metallic coppery gold


Pigments [$19.50]

* Gold Mode - Tan gold
* Spiritualize - Yellow-green with silver and gold pearl
* Cocomotion - Dirty gold with an olive undertone and gold sparkle


Reflects Glitter [$17.50]

* Reflects Very Pink - Sparkling fuchsia pink
* Reflects Purple Duo - Sparkling rich purple
* Reflects Blackened Red - Sparkling burgundy
* Reflects Bronze - Sparkling rich gold


Liquidlast Liner [$16.50]

* Classic Cream - White gold
* Visionaire - Clean baby pink
* Inky - Navy blue with low level pearl
* Inkspill - Deep green with green pearl
* Powerplum - Deep plum with red pearl
* Dress Khaki - Khaki green with yellow pearl
* Molten Sol - Rich gold with intense metallic pearl


Brushes:

* #209 Precise Eye Liner [$17.00]
* #217 Blending Brush [$22.50]
* #272 Small Angled Shader [$23.00]

I originally only planned to get Pink Platinum e/s & Visionaire LL [because u know I LOVE PINK!] but when I swatched pink platinum I was VERY disappointed because it turned out silver on my skin. No pink at all! I did get Visionaire, though. I ended up going to the freestanding store yesterday. I wasn't gonna pick up anything either but I asked the MUA to try a smokey eye on me using the Metal-X and this is what she did...


I think I look really weird in this picture but WHATEVER! lol Also, I already had a full face on when I went, but she redid my eyeshadow and touched up my cheeks with Petticoat MSF & touched up my mascara with Dazzlelash

EYES
+ Metal Urge E/S in Material Gold [inner half of lid]
+ Metal Urge E/S in Gilded Ash [outer half of lid]
+ E/S in Smut [outer v & crease]
+ Pigment in Cocomotion [highlight]
+ L/L in Inky

I really liked it because it's simple and it doesn't take long to do. I wasn't particularly fond of the blue liner she put on me, she said "it's not as harsh as black liner" but I really like the 'harshness' of it. lol She said we could actually use the e/s on the cheeks too. [like pink platinum for fairer skinned ladies] The consistency is super cream. I know a lot of people didn't like Metal-X because it creased, but when I asked the MUA, she said it is a cream shadow so it's going to crease. She recommended using it on the lid or as highlight but not so much as the actual crease color. If you have oily lids, I don't really recommend this - you'll probably crease like crazy! Overall I think this collection is passable since most of the L/L are permanent, the only thing really worth looking for I think is the Spiritualize pigment but it looks a lot like Juxt + Swimming or Shimmermoss or something. But I ended up getting the two Metal Urge eyeshadows because I love my smokey eyes! lol Here are some swatches!


Gilded Ash & Material Gold


Material Gold/Gilded Ash/Visionaire with flash


without flash or visionaire

Stila for Bebe

We all know that MAC is constantly doing collaborations with different people but we rarely hear about collabs from other make up companies! I was so confused the other day when I went into my local Bebe store and saw that they had lip gloss?! Bebe has never carried any beauty products before! I went onto their website, and found that Stila has created 4 limited edition palettes for Bebe! Each palette is $30 and these will be available online at bebe.com, stilacosmetics.com, and in select Bebe stores. These palettes weren't in the store when I went so these may be super limited edition. At first I was confused because there's a pink shade that comes in every palette, but all palettes come with three eyeshadows & one convertible color. Their convertible color can be used as a creme blush or lip color! Considering that the full size color is $25, each individual eyeshadow pan is $18, and their normal four-pan palettes are $40, this palette is a steal! I'm actual planning to get one or two myself =] Another thing, these eyeshadows can be used wet or dry, unlike MAC eyeshadows which are not recommended to be used wet.


Starlet "Pastel Palette"
EYESHADOWS: Kalo, Poppy, & Charm
CC: Fuschia
>> At first glance it doesn't really seem like these colors would go together, but according to the website, they can be worn alone or together for a vibrant look that is "anything but subtle." The Fuschia CC looks gorgeous, I think it would make an amazing blush


Knockout "Purple Palette"
EYESHADOWS: Nude, Key, Wisteria
CC: Petunia
>> Just looking at the palette, the colors look like a dupe of MAC's Beautiful Iris & Nocturnelle (two of my fave purples from MAC)


Fashionista "Neutral Palette"
EYESHADOWS: Casia, Icon, & Java
CC: Lilium
>> I have a sample of Lilium from Sephora and I think it looks really weird on me as a lip color (it's too light for my dark skin) but it's really nice as a cheek color it gives me a really niced flushed look.


Bombshell "Smokey Palette"
EYESHADOWS: Ecru, Twilight, & Pewter
CC: Poppy
>> Of course, you can't have a palette without a smokey eye! The CC color in this palette looks amazing!

I can't decide which one I want because some of them look so similar! I would get the neutral palette but since I already have Lilium and a ton o fbrowns I think I might get the Smokey palette or the Pastel palette. On a side note I thought it was weird that the smokey palette is on bebe.com but not on stilacosmetics.com? Also! Stila is having 20% off all orders over $30 and free shipping with any order until December 16! This means the palette is ONLY $24! Enter code ECYX12 at checkout!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Have a Merry Indulgz Xmas and a happy new year!

Advertorial

Update: New stuff at bottom of this post.

Once again it's an Indulgz free dinner! Wooo! This time they invited me over for tasting their spanking new festive Xmas and New Year menu.

So in case you are now kiasu-ly making plans for your holiday celebrations already, maybe you can consider dining at Indulgz!

This time I invited Ming (founder of Nuffnang and also a personal friend of mine) and his girlfriend Estee to have a quiet sort of dinner with Mike and I.

The last few times I went to Indulgz it was more like a rowdy party and kinda stressed me out coordinating everyone's timing and bringing props - so today I'm just relaxed, double-dating and happy!



Mike and I arrived first. It seems to rain everytime we go to Indulgz! That sounds like a mood-dampener but I actually felt extra romantic cozying inside the snug restaurant. :)



Beautifully decorated for Xmas. The people here really don't scrimp on making the ambiance right.



I'm dressed in a high neck, bare-back ruffled navy blue dress!

Very Christmasy right?



Mike in his usual boring clothes. I need to bring him shopping.


Us


Ming and Estee arrives!


I asked Mike to help us girls take the traditional photo at Indulgz' entrance.



Bah. Before I know what was going on, Mike already snatched the camera and proceeded to take a picture in double quick time. He then shoved the cam to me, like "Ok done, let's go back in"!!

The pic is totally fail lor! I told him to take another.



Same fail picture! No warning or 1,2,3 or whatever! I asked him to take another and he was like, "You want me to stand in the rain somemore?!"

He was so grouchy that day! I forgive him though coz I think he just can't wait to start on the food.



Third pic still not great but passable.



Ming and Estee.

Today we got to preview the Xmas and New Year menu!

Xmas ones are available on Xmas eve and day - and each meal comes with a Xmas cocktail. You can pick to come at 5.30pm to 8pm, or 8.30pm to 11pm. $89.90 per set!


The New Year menu is available from 31 Dec 2008 to 1st Jan 2009.


Foooooooooooood!



CLEAR CHICKEN CONSOMME (Xmas)

Ming and Estee were impressed by Indulgz's first dish!

This newly created soup tastes just like how I remember my grandma used to boil hearty soups - except even better.

It is savoury and sweet and when you drink it, you immediately know that someone took a damn long time to boil this such that all the ingredients' favours are fully infused into the soup!




Check out the smoke! I should take home some to drink during a cold night while watching an old movie with Mike. :D

And the best part about these clear soups is that you will never get tired of drinking it!



See?



CREAMY HOMEMADE CRAB BISQUE (Xmas)


Yums! I've already gushed about this before but here we go again!

This soup is thick, seafoody and creamy at the same time. I don't know how they do it!





The crab is painstakingly handpicked from cruel shells and served to us lazy eaters.


Our soups.



Just as we were craving for drinks, our cocktail is served to us.



SPARKLING CHRISTMAS (Xmas of course)

This is included in the Xmas set meal and it's sparkling joy in a glass!

Normally I hate anything alcoholic but Indulgz has mastered the art of making alcohol taste like any other sweet drink - yet it's pretty strong.

This is made of sweet white wine and something else... Some of us guessed plum, some guessed ginger beer, and I think it tastes like apple! It's actually passionfruit.

Maybe you can be a better guesser than all of us.



Cheers!



Ming and Estee said they look ugly in this pic so I chopped off their heads.


After Cocktail fun

Mike and I tied knots with cherry stems while Ming and Estee looked on, laughing.

Ming asked why people bother to do that and I said it's for girls to prove that their tongues are super strong and will do great in blowjobs and kisses.

Honestly though, it's not that hard to tie a knot so I doubt it proves anything! I think the double knot one is probably really hard. Know anyone who can do that?



Soup finished.



Nice pic! I'm thinking of framing it.



Yippee! Free candy cane!



Next we are served more soups:



WHOLESOME CLAM CHOWDER (NY)



Creamy and delicious! Very tasty and chockful of whole baby clams!



Loves! Normally clam chowders are a litle too thick for my liking. I like that Indulgz's is slightly less thick, but still very creamy and tasty.

There's corn, carrot and celery bits in it. Eeww to the celeries. But I didn't taste them at all coz they are all cooked till real soft.

Major Yums:



CREAMY TOMATOP AND SCALLOP SOUP (NY)

Does this make your mouth water or what?!

Indulgz makes this soup from scratch with real tomatoes that are pureed till they are reduced to this state!

The final result is very tasty tomato soup that's more sweet than it is sour - yet very creamy.

It's like tomatos full blast without the sour and raw part of it. :)

Did I neglect to mention that thing in the middle?


That's right, fresh jumbo scallop!

Needless to say how nice and fresh this is.



I do the cutting to prevent fights.



Proof that we loved it.



Time to cleanse our palette!


We had an intermission of...







STRAWBERRY COINTREAU SORBET (Xmas)




I love sorbets! This one is lovingly homemade and tastes like strawberries margarita. Cointreau is used so it's not too strong (but still quite strong as in alcoholic amount, not taste).

It is very refreshing and totally does its job of cleansing your palette for the main courses.


MAINS:




ROASTED PORK LOIN with
HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS STUFFINGS (Xmas)


This is cooked using the most tender cut of loin, and roasted for hours and hours to retain its juices!

Comes with sweet mashed potatoes and festive Xmas stuffings - and not to mention a dash of red wine sauce to go with the pork.

The stuffings are sweet and immediately reminds me of the joy of Xmas!

Made of walnuts, apples, raisins - among other things.



Ming keeps praising this dish and saying how difficult it is to make a meat so dense so juicy and soft.

One mystery though!

HOW DID THE CHEF CUT THE HOLE FOR THE STUFFINGS???????


The loin is in one whole piece and they said "no meat is wasted". We guessed they drilled a hole in the pork but it is not the right method.

Any guesses? Please tell me coz I am dying of curiosity! The chef won't share his secret. :(




BAKED SEABASS w CAVIAR SAUCE (Xmas)


Baby seabass - marinated and grilled. Served with white wine caviar sauce and fine beans. Drenched with a generous amount of almond flakes.




I love this!

The fish is exceedingly fresh and every bite is full of zest as the fish is done just right with really crispy skin!

The flavour is magically brought out with seasonings on the fish (peppery and salty) as well as, interestingly enough, the almonds.





Pork Loin and Seabass gone! I actually finished the fine beans and mashed potatoes after that.

I know. I'm so gluttony!





Grumpy Mike is happier now!

More courses await us....





GRILLED RIBEYE w Mushroom ragout,
Sauteed spinach and red wine sauce (NY)


I thought that Indulgz's beef can never get any better, but they prove me wrong time and again.

Their beef is well-marbled, and kept fresh by promising never to freeze but to chill.

Ribeye is the second most expensive cut of beef following tenderloin, and...



every bite is really like some taste explosion!

It's very juicy and more juices flow out with every chew. *goes soft thinking about it*

And what makes it even more perfect now is the combination of a few of my favourite things: Namely sauteed spinach and creamy mushrooms!

Omg!!

Omg again!

So fucking nice.



I know you are salivating.



But enough gushing about the beef. Next!!




PAN-ROASTED RED SNAPPER
w Carrot Butter Sauce (NY)



Fresh red snapper... Comes with creamy carrot sauce and asparagus.

Bonus: Also comes with 2 deep-fried oysters!



Soft, meaty and just divine on the inside, with a crispy skin on top of it.

The carrot cream sauce is innovative yet well made. The initial taste is cream and the aftertaste is a subtle taste of carrots.

Mike is overjoyed at the sight of this coz Red Snapper is his favourite fish.

We play with the candy canes.



Force-feeding Mike. "EAT THIS!"






Estee thinks of a better thing to do with the candy cane:



Haha! Looks good on you, Ming!


One more dish awaits us! This is the Special for this week. There will be at least one special dish every week to entice your tastebuds. If you would like to find out what is the specials of the week, just give Indulgz a call at 6238 7032.


We got...



CREAMY SEAFOOD and
ANGEL HAIR PASTA


for our special!



Filled with mussels, squid and salmon chunks... Soft angel's hair pasta... Covered in creamy sauce.



Generous portions.

We tuck in!



Check out the piping hot goodness.



I thought I was goddamn full by this point but I still ate it! Coz it's damn nice!

Normally I like my pasta al dente, but since angel's hair is so fine, it can never be semi-cooked like normal pasta can.

Nonetheless, it more than makes up for it because being so fine, the pasta soaks up more sauce than it normally will. It's something different, yet nice for a change!

The pasta is soft but not mushy, and goes great with the cream sauce!


DESSERT TIME!!!!!!!




Can anyone guess that this is?

We guess banana cake, chocolate, and other rubbish (after tasting it mind you) and we were all wrong!



STICKY DATE and WALNUT PUDDING (Xmas)


Interesting isn't it!?

I'm very impressed because usually interesting stuff are not very yummy but this is great!

It is generously sided with Indulgz's homemade caramel sauce. The inside is nutty, sticky, and sweet with an edge to it.

The slightly burnt aftertaste of the caramel also goes really well with the dense cake.

On top of it is something also surprising: SOUR CREAM!

And remarkably enough it goes great with the cake! It's like magic! Just like parma ham goes with melon! Or Mike goes with me! Hahaha



Estee likes it.


Last but not least, we have our Chocolate Mousse!



MILK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE w
White Chocolate Shavings (NY)




Chocolate mousse is relatively common but getting it absolutely right is not easy!

This one is perfect:



It tastes like soft chocolate ice-cream that's extra creamy and melts in your mouth. Love!




Chef Lawrence comes out to greet us!

I told him that this photo is very boring so I told him to give a cuter pose.


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Now he looks like a happy chef!



Happy meal thanks to him!

Wonder if he feels a lot of job satisfaction? Coz we love his food!



Proof.

Please call Indulgz at 62387032 for reservations or email them at reservations@indulgz.com!!



Work in a company and would like to book a venue for corporate functions? Now you can at Indulgz! Check out this flyer for more info:








*****************************************


Mike and I just did something that makes me snigger in happiness everytime I think about it.

See, we had a pest problem.

Our door, our dear vulnerable wooden door, is attacked by what is called "woodborers".

Everyday an irritating amount of round hard wooden... shavings? pellets? fall out from under the door!

Day after day we keep stepping on these wood bits and after literally a year of procrastination, I decided to call the pest exterminators to come over to see what the hell is the problem with my stupid door.

The people from Ridokill (is this how to spell it?) were really nice and two guys came over wearing lethal-looking masks and looked like they were about to stop all my problems and give the culprits a good spanking at the same time.

The guys felt underneath the door and declared that there are indeed beetles living inside the door, because they could feel the little holes.

Apparently, these bastards eat the wood and multiply... AND GUESS WHAT?


THEY SHIT TRUCKLOADS.

That's right.

Those little wooden pellets that we thought we were stepping on is actually their GODDAMN FECES!

I've been stepping on them and going on my bed and sleeping literally with beetle shit!

CCB!

So anyway, the guys sprayed something that the beetles won't like into the holes.

"M'dm," he declared. "I cannot guarantee that this will kill all the beetles because the holes might be very deep and maybe the spray cannot reach them. But if they go to the area with the spray, they will die."

"Take how long to die?" I asked, imagining a beetle struggling for life futilely on its back and smiling to myself.

"Immediately." My smile widened.

I paid him $120.

Before he left he also assured me that their corpses will remain inside the door and not drop out of it, inconveniencing me. I know, right? How sweet of the beetles to die in a considerate way.

So weeks later...







Still the fuckers are alive and shitting!

I fucking had enough!


One day, Mike took clear duct tape and taped up the bottom portion of the door where their housing entrance is!!!


I imagine this is what will happen to them.


Day 1:


Young beetle:

Ma... I can't get out of the house for a bit for fresh air.



Mom beetle, looks up from eating my door and shitting at the same time:

Good. Come eat some more of this wood.



Young beetle:

Mommmmmmm........ I am sick of eating the same shit everyday! I want to eat something else! And I want to have a life!



Mom beetle:

Om nom nom.




Day 23:


Beetle:

Why is it so smelly?



Day 40:

Beetle:

ARGH! My humongous amount of shit is catching up with me! I am literally suffocating with the shit that's threatening to engulf me! Help! I have no space to manoeuvre! Oh dear what should I do what should I do?

If I don't eat I won't shit anymore but I will die of hunger. If I eat I get more space to move but I also will shit! Arghhhhhhhhhhhh! My life is a meaningless tragedy!

Oh but delicious wood! Om nom nom.



Day 50:

Beetles are dead and squished up in their own shit pellets - which they used to torment me and Mike for a year. It's almost like poetic justice or something.



********************************


New video clips!

XIAXUE'S GUIDE TO LIFE



Bff finals! Check out who wins!



CHICK VS DICK




Who beats who at Twister?
Would you get to see Paul's butt crack? Find out yourself!


***********************************


p/s: Ten years ago when I was 14 and Prince William was 16, all I thought of was marrying the cutest prince ever (that was before Harry usurped his position) and becoming a princess. Now, in year 2008, I got to see his penis. It's like... inconceivable. I am this much closer to my dream.

What does this tell us, girls? That's right... Anything is possible.


p/p/s: I demand that I am also shown Jerry Yan's appendage!!!!!

Just joking. I only love Mike and penises frighten me.


p/p/p/s: Don't know if you have seen this, but it's really funny.