Step 1: Breaking the seal

Your manicurist will have to roughen up the Gel surface by using a nail file and literally scratching it against the polish. This is so that the remover liquid can penetrate the Gelish layers.

Step 2: Soak in nail polish remover

The nail technician will then soak a cotton pad with nail polish remover and place it on top of your nail. She will then wrap up your nail with the soaked cotton pad with a piece of aluminium foil. I’m not quite sure why it has to be wrapped in aluminium foil… to keep the cotton pad saturated perhaps?

Step 3: Scraping

It’s a pretty quick procedure, after all your nails are wrapped, your technician will begin to remove the foil and start scraping the gel polish off your nails. The polish will come off in flakes and its pretty easy to clean up after, just run some nail polish remover around the sides and apply some cuticle oil and you are done!

After the ‘soak off’ your nail technician will proceed to do nail shaping and filing and then proceed to do the nail service that you request for. It’s quite a seamless procedure that takes about 15-20 mins and prices can go from $20-25. I think you can obtain a discount if you intend to do Gelish again after the ‘soak off’ so in a way, its a never-ending cycle and you might not want to go back to a normal manicure anymore. Especially now that new technology has allowed for something called an Instant Gelish where you pay $28 (price of a classic mani for most places) and you get a Gelish manicure that can last you for a week!

This is the perfect union of price point and quality- the in-between where a classic mani meets Gelish. According to my friend Stella, Juup Nails at Marina Bay Link offers this service but I’m sure many other nail palours would too! Maybe I will test this out for my up-coming wedding event. Pretty nails here we come!

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I’m heading to Sydney for my Honeymoon and while it is winter, I think the sun will still be quite unrelenting so I’m not going to take my chances. I’m hoping the icy cool menthol will be a nice welcoming sensation especially when we are out roasting in the sun. Got this for $15.90 thanks to the offer!

And I’ve heard plenty of good reviews about this product but was always unwilling to purchase due to the $21.90 price tag. But with a 10% off and membership points, I thought, why not? Majorlica Majorca was also having a $15.50 offer on its volume mascara and their lip glosses were going at $10! Great discount considering their price range is $25++

Watsons has always been the go-to place for personal care and there are really good deals for brands like Whisper, Laurier, Kotex and Carefree. I think Carefree panty liners are like 3 packs for $5.50? And Kotex style is going for $2.80 a pack. Ridiculously cheap. And I saw a lady lug home 12 packs of Watson brand dehumidifiers, you know the Thirsty Hippo kind? And it is no wonder cos it comes in packs of three, buy one get one free, for $5.50. I proceeded to haul home 2 packs of 3 myself. Along with two bundle packs of wet wipes for $2 and a pack of 100 facial cotton pads for $2.

Another steal are face masks. Neutrogena’s whitening masks were selling something like 5 for $8 and there were good discounts on Leader’s Clinic masks which seemed to be the hot favourite cos supply was really low at the Ion and Taka branches.

I felt alittle sad as I walked past Guardian, it was literally a ghost town because the crowds flocked to Watsons but I guess that’s how it is in Singapore, no one can resist a good sale. Did you get anything from the Watsons sale?

With everything left in their capable hands, I could embrace the role of relaxed bride and enjoy the process. Here are some of my favourite shots from the church ceremony. It was such a special moment for me especially as I walked down the aisle hand in hand with my dad and seeing all my best friends, colleagues, students all in one place congratulating me and sharing in my joy, that moment was priceless.

And of course I cried while hearing his vows…

And I had to sniffle and warble through mine which was considerably longer in length…

Mark, I love you.

You are my best friend, my confidant, my teacher, my soul mate.

 In the presence of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior

and in the presence of our beloved family and friends,

I, Caroline promise to take you, Mark,

To be my beloved husband.

From this day forward I promise to give you the best of myself

and to ask of you no more than you can give me.

I promise to respect you as your own person

and to realise that your interests, desires and needs

are no less important than my own.

I promise to love you in good times and bad,

when our love is simple and when it is difficult,

I promise to support, comfort and strengthen you through life’s joys and sorrows,

and to keep myself open to you so we may share our hopes, thoughts and dreams as we build a future together.

I promise to share with you all my glories and riches,

to nurse you in sickness and cherish you in times of good health.

I promise to love you with all I have to give and all I feel inside in the only way I know how for all the days of my life.

Completely and forever.

Thankfully everything went as smoothly as we could possibly hope and before we knew it, we were signing the marriage certificate and were declared husband and wife!

Here we are, our first photo together as Mr and Mrs! You know you hear the old sayings time and again, marriage is not a destination but a journey, marriage is not the end but only the beginning and I think there’s actually alot of truth to that. We are embarking on a new adventure together. One involving starting a family, adjusting to each other’s habits and routines and being tolerant of one another’s flaws, pet peeves and weaknesses.

I can’t say that this will be easy, in fact I think it’s gonna be quite the challenge especially since I’m the neat freak and he’s the slob, I’m a planner and he’s a winger, and when it comes to managing conflict, he’s a rhino and I’m a hedgehog. But as much as we are different, Ruth said it best in her maid of honor’s speech: we complement one another.

He makes me more spontaneous, I make him more structured. I learn to be more affectionate and expressive in my love while he learns to give me space and be more ‘hands off’. It’s a learning process and while there is apprehension, I’m mostly excited about my new role and new life.

The best part of it has got to be sleeping and waking up next to my best friend and my lover and I can feel us growing closer than ever before and that kind of emotional intimacy is very very special. So YAY! I’m married! Woohoo!

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Lush Buffy

My usual body scrub is Aqua Mirablis but I figured that I would try something new this time round and opted for Buffy. Apparently, in the Lush community, Buffy is more popular because its creamier and more moisturising thanks to generous amounts of shea butter but I guess for Singapore’s humid and hot climate, this isn’t a good thing because I felt like my Buffy bar melted alittle and it leaves a thin waxy film on your skin which can be rather uncomfortable. This is unlike Aqua Mirablis that doesn’t leave any kind of residue other than the fact that it turns your bath water milky. So what I’ve done is to use this product on knees and elbows where it tends to be drier. Also unlike Aqua Mirablis that smells like peanut butter, Buffy has more of a citrus, lemon scent? I guess what I’m meaning to say is that I wished I stuck with my old favourite. This would be great for colder, drier  climates so… probably won’t be purchasing this again.

Lush American Cream

Another Lush staple to have is hair conditioner, American Cream that is supposed to smell like a strawberry vanilla milkshake but mine doesn’t really. It has a slight vanilla scent but not as obvious as I would like it to be. Also it contains ingredients like softening honey, scalp clarifying lavender and fresh oranges to soften rough ends and keep hair calm. I can see how my hair is bouncier and has more body but I don’t think it is moisturising enough for my hair ends. I thought Retread was better with smoothening and softening dry ends so… once again, won’t be repurchasing this. Seems like Lush isn’t that great when it comes to conditioners. Shall just stick to purchasing their solid shampoos.

Lush Ros Argan Body Conditioner

This is a HOT product in Lush stores in Singapore. I had to preorder this and wait a week for its arrival but I think it was well worth the wait. I like the idea of a wash off body conditioner because like I mentioned before, I don’t like the heaviness and stickiness of body lotions and butters so this provides some much needed moisture leaving your skin feeling smoother and silkier. As its name suggests, it has a rose scent that reminds me of Bundung and I honestly don’t love it that much. The argan oil in the formula also gives it that moroccan scent and that I think comes with acquired taste but the scent doesn’t linger for too long so I don’t mind it that much. What I do like though is how despite having argan oil in the formula, it is not excessively oily yet it gives your skin a moisturised sheen. The price is steep though… $50 a pot. But I guess if you see it as a once in awhile pampering item (you don’t have to use it daily, just once a week will do) then yeah, I say, go for it. Would definitely repurchase when I run out.

Bath and Body Work’s Warm Vanilla Sugar Hand Wash

 I know this is rather peculiar to review, but I bought 4 bottles of this via Comgateway because I went to a friend’s house and this was the scent of her hand soap. Of course I absolutely fell in love with the scent and had to have it. What’s great about this is the little anti-bacterial microbeads that really deep cleans your hands and I love how moisturising and luxuriously warm the scent is. And the scent lingers! So great handwash to have – smells great and price is cheap-ish especially when Bath and Body Works has their value pack deals.

Benefit’s Porefessional

Last item on my review list is Benefit’s Porefessional primer. I raved last time about Body Shop’s Vitamin C capsules and how I love the powdery smooth finish and Benefit’s Porefessional creates the same effect. It leaves your skin feeling smooth and it blurs out pores and fine lines and I’ve been using this for a week underneath my Clinique Stay Matte Powder and I love the results. My skin feels breathable yet natural and sometimes I just wear it on its own. I think it is clear to say that I love this product and I suggest that you look out for Sephora Value Pack deals for great offers. I got mine together with the Porefessionally Pretty pack that came with a small sampler size of Erase Paste and That Gal.

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These are so gorgeous – I love the lace ones! I can’t wait for OPI to debut its Pure Lacquer Nail Apps – though i’m afraid that they might not bring it to Singapore :( These beautiful nail appliques are definitely giving Sally Hansen & Nail Rock a run for their money.

Which one’s your favourite? I think the confetti one’s pretty cute too!!

With their penchant for catchy, witty names, I can’t wait to see what the geniuses at OPI come up with for this new collection.

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Red Velvet Cake – Food for Thought

No one does Red Velvet Cake better than Food for Thought. There’s a delicate balance between that thick cream cheese and that moist sponge cake and I love how they are very generous with their slices! And of course that drizzly syrup is what makes the presentation look so tantalizing! I always have to share this with someone because it is just to big to eat on its own! Admittedly it’s abit overwhelming and heavy but still, a nice sweet treat to enjoy once in awhile. Well worth the calories.

Carrot Cake – Cedele

I love to eat at Cedele because the meals feel so wholesome and healthy and I actually eat there like twice or thrice a month on average. I love the Raffles City branch because its quieter and has more privacy and while I’m there I would always order the Carrot Cake. I love how the carrot bits are very fine and how its not too sweet.

Muddy Mud Pie – Coffee Club

This is my sinful indulgence! Layer of coffee and chocolate icecream with a hard oreo base, chocolate syrup and oreo crumbs. I would eat this at the Takashimaya branch while looking down at the people attempting the Subaru Challenge. Such a shame that outlet no longer exists anymore.

Strawberry Shortcake – Bakerzin

My go-to cake when I want to have a light dessert. It’s fluffy sponge cake paired with fresh cream and strawberries… that right balance of sweet from the cream and sponge and sour from the tangy strawberries…life’s simple pleasures.

Chocolate Cake – Awfully Chocolate

Tough fight with the Cedele’s Chocolate Truffle version but I think Awfully Chocolate has a slight edge because its more like a cake and less heavy. I like that the chocolate is a tad bitter though. Try the Hei Icecream, that’s really really good too!

Sticky Date Pudding & Key Lime Pie – Robert Timms

I’ve got a soft spot for Sticky Date Pudding and Robert Timms is my favourite place to get my fix (though Prive’s version is good too!). It’s moist, warm, sweet and the alcohol in the rum raisins makes it a little heady but that mix of that warm pudding with the cold fresh vanilla icecream… what a dream!

And for a tangy twist, the key lime pie is also really really good. It’s not too sour and the crumble is really crisp. It goes really well with the icecream too. Only problem is that if you are eating this together with the sticky date pudding, chances are you aren’t going to be able to finish both. The helping is really quite big!

So there you have it. My favourite cakes at my favourite places. Did I miss out any cake flavors? Or are we missing out on a really good cake place? Let us know!

Each & every relationship is not without its difficulties. Mark & Caroline – despite their differences, complement each other in an oddly perfect way. & when Mark looked at Caroline straight in the eye & said that she was his best friend, I felt a sudden burst of emotion, because that’s precisely the way I feel about my own bf.

True enough, it took Carol a few moments before she could compose herself to begin her vows after listening to Mark’s heartfelt words. As she spoke, her sincere promises of love made me feel like a proud mommy for a moment (yes i know I’m younger than her but hey! I watched these two get together and shared such a huge part of my life with both of them, ok!)

At the end of the day, bearing the honour of being the one & only bridesmaid – to see both of them happy, creates the most wonderful explosions of happiness inside of me. I love them, not in the way that they love each other, but I love them, because they love each other, because Mark is the man who has given my best friend – the perfect soulmate, a pillar of strength, a willing listener and a devoted, charming entertainer :)

I began the night telling the best man Chai – oh no! I haven’t written my speech! But it’s the end of the night & I’m feeling pretty good about it. I don’t need to wreck my head over what to say, or think of pretty phrases, because… this is Love, actually.

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What’s in the bag?

From left: Sexy Peel and Rockstar soaps, American Cream Conditioner, Vanilla Puff Powder, Buffy, Shimmy Shimmy Massage Bar

Sexy Peel, Rockstar and Shimmy Shimmy are Ruth’s orders so stay tuned for her review on these products. I tried Retread the last time round and rather liked it but I read some positive reviews with regards to American Cream so I decided to change things up alittle and give this a go. I did the same by swapping our Aqua Mirablis for Buffy this time around so fingers crossed, I hope I will love these products. Will do a review soon.

But what I can be sure enough to say is that I am totally digging Vanilla Puff Powder. If there is a scent in the world that I can express my undying adoration for, it would be vanilla scents. In fact, I just got Ruth to buy Vanilla Brown Sugar sanitizers and handwashes from Bath and Body Works for me because I love the scent so much. So to smell like a Vanilla cupcake all through the day sounds like an amazing idea though I’ve taken to apply this before bed and after a shower. Handy to carry in your bag and when you are on the go to keep those sweat stains at bay and to smell nice throughout the day! Rather pricey though for $22+ for 80g but it goes on so silky smooth and the scent is so delectable and lasting that I really can’t complain.

Also, I preordered Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner. It is apparently so sought after that there is a waiting list for this product which will be back instores end of this week. According to my friend who managed to get her hands on it, she claims that it smells superrrrr nice and of course the wash off formula is a novel and creative idea that leaves your skin moisturised without any sticky residue. In any case, for every order of Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner, you are entitled to participate in a lucky draw and you could win a whole bunch of hand-picked goodies from Lush so yeah, sign me up this instant! Can’t wait to collect my tub of this awesome stuff this weekend!

Yes it must be obvious by now. I am a Lush addict and boy am I proud of it!

To be able to wear something loose yet look chic, one must know the importance of neatness. Anything untidy about a loose-fitting piece will more often than not, render one into sloppy-land. Designer Tomas Maier certainly knew how to cut his pieces well. Each piece in his collection alternates between loose and sharp tailoring to bring across the effect of effortless freedom. I love how his pieces moved on the runway. Gorgeous! The sway and flow of the fabric made me feel that I really need a pair of tailored loose pants. now.

That said, my favourite has to be the blue, flower-patterned dress. I think it’s so pretty how the detailed flowers seem to fall inwards down the bosom to the bottom of the dress – into a sea of blue. It defies the idea of visible seams and delineated portions – something that the popular trend of colour blocking celebrates. Indeed, if one looks at his collection in its entirety, one realizes that it is beautifully executed, seamless collection. Seams are hidden, tucked, made invisible.

& while I’m no fan of yellow or any of its cousins, this mustard bag caught my eye:

I want a closer look! The photoshoot still is so unsatisfying. The texture intrigues me. What is it made of? What does it look like up close? It’s not out on the official website yet so I’m just hoping that it’ll be out in more palatable colours (for me) so that I have a new arm candy to drool over. Or maybe I’ll shun it in disgust when I finally get to zoom up close lol.

Stay tuned for more! The Resort/Cruise 2013 season has just begun.

The story is simple enough, a 32 year old man, Charlie Gordon, has low IQ and he agrees to undergo an operation to raise it but as a result of it he becomes more attuned to the world and he loses his child-like naivety and genuine sincerity and instead is inundated into the world of cynicism, mistrust and unpleasantness. The storytelling is amazing though. Told through reports and accounts, we see Charlie’s intellectual growth. From his early entries where he uses simple words and phrases which are peppered with spelling errors, he slowly develops his language abilities and thought processes. I thought Daniel Keyes did an excellent job there. It’s amazing how he is able to manipulate the use of language to mirror that growth and change.

I also enjoyed the very intellectual discussion which invoked literary greats like Milton or Freud (what with all the talk about the repressed unconcious) and how the novel as a whole raises the question of whether science can indeed improve the quality of life of the less fortunate. Does raising a person’s IQ enable him to live a normal life? In Charlie’s case, it seems this isn’t possible. His friends shied away from him, fearing his superior intellect. His acute awareness of how people were laughing at him not with him makes him guarded and defensive, he is unable to have romantic relations with Alice whom he deeply loves but cannot bring himself to consummate the relationship and instead, must seek out sexual fulfillment through someone else (Fey)… And eventually towards the end of the course of his intellectual life, he hits out at the people who love him the most. It’s really heartbreaking to read and I find myself welling up a whole lot.

I didn’t expect this novel to be so touching but it really is, in a quiet almost contemplative way especially when Charlie confronts his parents for their abandonment, or when he talks to himself, the child-like, innocent Charlie that has been repressed so the bold, thinking Charlie can come forth. It’s a thoughtful read and one that really sucks you in (I finished it in one day, in 2 sittings) though it does leave you feeling rather hollow.

“I don’t know what’s worse: to not know what you are and be happy, or to become what you’ve always wanted to be, and feel alone.”
― Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon