This and That

{via Oh Joy!}

This is going to be a tag & awards post, but I promise to keep you entertained with some pretty picutes ;) Thanks for the lovely Sarah for this tag, ok here goes:

What’s your current obsession?
The new china collection by Studio Violet - I only saw it yesterday!!

What’s your weirdest obsession?
Seagulls - a family of seagulls live on our roof and I've seen them at least once everyday since we moved in, like 18 months ago, I'll really miss them when I move

What are you wearing today?
A oversized floral tee with DIY pins added to reshape it, skinny jeans & equestrian style boots - it was raining like crazy this morning

What would you like to learn to do?
Take good photos! Think I need a DSLR as my diginal camera is just not doing the job, I would also like to finally read those two photography books I bought last summer!

What’s for dinner today?
Maybe a takeaway, I'm thinking lamb madras curry... just wondering is curry popular elsewhere?

What’s the last thing you bought?
How I love internet shopping & the sale, hoping to get these tomorrow! :D

{Ring - Outnet.com, Boots - Fly London, rest - Topshop}

What’s your most challenging goal right now?
I really want to open an online clothing store, I've seen these really pretty floral dresses & cute tees made by small manufacturers in Japan, Korean & China, and just don't understand why they have to be so expensive over here. A floral dress on topshop.com is rare & when they do have one it's at least £50, it's not like the quality is so much better.

So a busy summer for me researching and trying to figure out about international shipping + tax etc. it's going to be so fun! - the clothes buying part :D

Favorite vacation place?
Either paris or venice, I can't choose!

What would you like to have in your hands right now?
This Fendi bag!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Relaxing while listening to the sea

What super power would you like to possess?
Magical powers or teleport, I'd be happy with either :)

What’s your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?
My huge floral print tee with DIY pins added on of course ;) the original tee looks like this

What’s your dream job?
To be a business woman in fashion/design, say online boutique owner? :D

If you had $150 now what would you spend it on?
These pretty blue & white things from aviewto

Describe your personal style
Feminine mixed with an edgy, currently trying to perfect that edgy!

What fashion show would you want tickets to?
I've dreamed about this since I was a little girl - Chanel

Who’s closet would you want to raid?
Alexa Chung, although her clothes will never fit me, I'm like half as tall!!

the 2nd tag is from the sweet surimay:

{Original photo by Melissa Lund }

Also, I'd like to thank the lovely Little Miss Tiara for the Lemonade Award & Diana for the cutest "deer" award, I'd like to pass the love onto:

A View To ; Blog Goggles ; Lenorenevermore ; The English Muse ; The Princess Portal ; Denoto & WISH WISH WISH

Have a lovely Tuesday everyone! Since it's that time of year - Exams!! I'll be taking a break from {Beauty Tuesday} as it usually take a while to pull together a post, but I will be posting normally, think I'll be needing quite a few revision breaks :)

(all images linked to sources)

Filled with Magnolias {Happy 200th}

I adore flowers, they never fails to brighten up my day. What better way to celebrate my 200th post than a post filled with beautiful Magnolia photos?

I love the softness of these photos, the shabby chic walls & the Magnolias still on branches

I'd also like to share the love by passing on the The {Adorable Blog Award} from the lovely Absolutely Not Martha , the {Unique & Chic Award}from the beautiful ...love Maegan & the {PROXIMITY Award} from the sweet Life In Technicolor.

to these gorgeous blogs:

{That Unreliable Girl} {Tea For Joy} {All In Your Innerspace} {Anywhere but here} {Brigadeiro} {Diamondsin Champagne} {fabulous everything} {Maverick Malone} {City of Petra} {VINTAGE LOLLIPOPS}

xx

(images fron Janne Peters)

The Adventure of a Girl In Blue

If I was good with words, I would write a beautiful little adventure story of this girl in a blue dress. Since that's not going to happen, I invite you all to imagine your own story :)

Feel free if you want to share with me your lovely story too :)

Most of you have probably already seen the new collection of computer wallpapers on Kindred, just in case you haven't, here's a couple of my favorites, by the talented FIFI LAPIN & HEATHER of Creature Comforts:

I would definitely switch if I wasn't using my own wallpaper, even though it's no way near as good as these, but becasue I made it myself I'm kinda attached to it, you know the feeling? :)

Just in case you're interested, you can get this one here on 1024X768 1280X1024 1600X1200.

Sorry if this is a bit of a random post, I've just got a few blog awards which I'd like to pass on.

The Lemonade Award, PROXIMITY award, Honest Award from the lovely Through The Looking Glass..., my so called fabulous life..., las pamelas and Sugar and Blush goes to:

{ With Love..., Rougemarie, Static Electri-city, Life In Technicolor., CarrieCan, The Red Otter Shop, Ambiguous Alliterative Abomination, mademoissele chic, Chic Heroin, Song of Style & ...love Maegan}

I also have to tell 10 honest things for the Honest Award, here goes:

1. I am a Maths student and will be graduating this summer
2. I am a little scared of balloons (scared they might suddenly pop!)
3. I have lived in Saudi Arabia (for 6 months when I was 13)
4. I am a bit obsessed with Seagulls (a family lives on my roof)
5. I prefer ice cream to chocolates (except when it's freezing cold!)
6. My favorite colour is blue

7. I am 5ft2
8. I had braces
9. I have worn glasses since I was 11
10. I do my money budgeting on Excel spreadsheets

xx

(images from Denise Grunstein, Kindred, me & .Surya. )

{Beauty Tuesday}: Toners Tried & Tested

Hello everyone, welcome to another {Beauty Tuesday} Tried & Tested, this week it's toners. Toners are one of those non-essential things, as long as you cleanse properly (i.e. rinse with water after whatever cleanser you use), you can skip the toner part.

I tend to use a cleanser face wash whenever I can but most mornings there just isn't the time, so I'd use a cream cleanser instead and use toner afterwards, it's like the "rinsing" stage, also it's cold and wakes me up! I use it in the evening too and also sometimes as masks, I think I typically use up a 200ml toner in about 2 months! ps, I have normal/combination skin & not really sensitive.

In case you missed the first post, here is the rating guide:
- Extremely amazing! A product with a 5 star rating is one which I will buy again and again and is obviously better than the other products
- Great product, will definitely buy again
- Good product, might buy again, say it was Gift Time or something
- Works fine, but nothing special, won't buy again unless it's in the sale & money is tight!
- Works ok, could be better, won't be buying again
- Do not like at all, definitely won't be buying again

Lush Tea Tree Water
Breath Of Fresh Air
Eau-Roma Water
I absolutely love Lush's toners, they are everything I look for in a toner, light texture (non sticky), refreshing, doesn't irritate my skin and affordable! The Tea Tree one is for oily skin types (my teenage days) but at the same time is also gentle and doesn't strip too much from the skin.
Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2 and 3
3 was definitely too harsh for me, 2 is better but I just don't like having alcohol in a toner, sure it cleanses really well but I prefer something such more gentle.

Clarins Toning Lotion With Iris Toner (Combination or Oily Skin)
Lovely frangrance, nice light texture, not too harsh on the skin either. Slightly expensive when comparing to the Lush prices though.
Nuxe FLORAL 3 ROSES CLEANSING WATER 200ML
A greener toner, light floral smell, perfect texture (like spring water with added goodness for the skin)
Estee Lauder Perfectly CleanFresh Balancing Lotion
A little thick in its texture, sometimes irritates my skin a little when using, especially when used as a mask.
Origins A Perfect World™ Toner
Everything about it is great, I would buy this all the time if it's 50% cheaper! Although it might be worth the extra money if you're jusing the whole A Perfect World range (a wonderful range by the way, more reviews on it later)
Lancome ClarifyingExfoliating Toner
This was one of my first toners and I really liked it, that is until I discovered the other great products, again this has the problem of sometimes irritates my skin a little, maybe because of the alcohol?

Bodyshop Vitamin E Hydrating Toner
A bit too thick in texture for me, a little soapy, sometimes stings a little too.
Aloe Calming Toner
This one is much better, light texture, non-irritating. Good price too.
Tea Tree Oil Facial Toner
Again this is for oily skin types, stonger than the Lush one.
Botanics Pore Perfecting Toner for Blemish Prone skin
The powder dries out the skin, oily skin types are often dehydrated skin too, hence I find this too mattifying.

L'Oreal De-Maq Expert Milk-Toner 2in1 Make-up Remover
This is more like a cream cleanser than toner, although it does turn into liquid, but the skin doesn't feel refreshed after using. As a cleanser it's alright, nothing too special.
No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Toner for Normal/Dry Skin
Texture is ok but irritates my skin!
Eau Thermal Avene Water Spray
This is just spring water really, but the spray can be really handy in windy weathers to hyrates the skin.
RMK Skintuner Light
This is such a lovely toner, RMK is a Japanese brand that I am really loving at the moment, some of my all time favorites are theirs! The toner has a light scent, light texture but packed with goodness, with many fruit extracts. The only downside is the price, similar as the big brands like Lancome etc.
Kose Medicated Sekkisei Lotion
I bought this when I was travelling in China during August, scared I might get tanned with all the walking under the sun (this might be a little strange to you, white pale skins are the most attractive in Asian eyes), so I bought this in a 400ml bottle. The sub-brand is quite famous for bring out brighter, whiter skin tones but I didn't really notice any. Although I didn't get tanned either so maybe it worked?

Now onto some award giving, I feel so honored to have received 6 awards in the last week, it really means the world to me, and I mean it, I spend around 2-3hrs each day on my blog & reading other blogs for inspirations so this really does mean a lot to me :)

The "I like you" award from the wonderful little clover heart, our.city.lights & Zebra Stripes and Runaway Kites goes to: City of Dionne, P A N D A B L U S H*, Ill Seen, Ill Said, Simply Seductive, Sweet & Low, Girl Japan, Swish and Swanky, Aphex Nation

The "Fabulous Blog" award from the lovely Kosmopolight goes to: a cat of impossible colour, Almost Stylish, Cherry Magazine, Daisy Chain Dreams, Fashion Bananas, Flashes of Style, I am Styleish, phi s t y l e, there's no sex in your violence & Already Pretty

The "lemonade" award from the amazing Carrie Can goes to: PORCHLIGHT INTERIORS, étonnant blossom, street inspiration, Janetteria, mayk all day every day.,

and finally the "Kreativ Blogger" award from the gorgeous The Magic Risotto Diaries. goes to: Femme Rationale, PARK & CUBE, LoveMore, Violet Posy, Zucchero, Zucchero, {this is glamorous} & you are my fave .

Also as part of the Kreativ Blogger award, I have to share 7 things I love, I thought a picture would do a better job than just words :)

xx

(beauty product images from stated links, handbags ,Flickr photos 2 3 4, cats, paris)

Gossip Girl Style

The title is a little misleading I suppose, this won't be on "the best outfits of Gossip Girl" since plenty of amazing bloggers have done this already, instead I'm presenting you a series of stunning photo shoots that resemble the Gossip Style, hope you won't be too disappointed ;)

If staying in education means going to a grand school built in the 19th century, wearing fabulous clothes and amazing heels, I think I may stay as a student forever! :)

Now on to a litte discussion about the Oscars red carpet, I have to say I was a little disappointed overall, sure there were lots of big fabulous gowns as always but I usually fall for the more colourful and chic dresses.

My favorite this year is Natalie Portman, I adore this girl to bits anyway so maybe a little biased, to me she's the perfect package as a young woman, beautiful (inside & out), intelligent, down to earth, stylish and care about important issues in this world. Evan Rachel Wood also looks very elegant in the Saab nude gown. Miley Cyrus's dress is a litte too much for me on the red carpet but if I was 5 again that mermaid dress would definitely be my fav! ;)

As mentioned yesterday I received three blog awards last week from these fantastic blogs: Captivate Me , Under Lock and Key and Pearls, Peonies, and Ponderings. Now it's the time to pass them on! See I'm doing a mini "Blog Oscars" myself ;) , I have way too many favorites so this time I'm going to concentrate mostly on some new fabulous blogs that I discovered recently!

Your Blog is Fabulous! goes to *Felinofelice , camilla at home , la couturier & Mademoisselle Chic

I {heart} your blog goes to Creme de la Mode , D!RTY LAUNDRY , Daisy Pink Cupcake , FRENCH ESSENCE , Hooked on Houses , january & Make Room for Living

Proximidade award goes to The Drifter and the Gypsy , :: Lime in the Coconut :: , Design Dig , Diamondcanopy , essenceanddesire , Fashionably Early , GOSSIP STYLE VINTAGE , two ellie , Eyes of Me & A Wedding Cabaret

Forgot to say earlier, who's on your best dressed list from the Oscars?

(photo shoots by Baldovino Barani, red capet images from oscar.com)