sweet touches part 2....

Hi guys... as promised.. this is part 2.....

in the last post.. i was talking about jewellery holders... and i gave an example of a box.. a box certainly is a classic.. but nowdays there are many different jewellery holders that are unique and fun...

like this wedding dress jewellery holder

it can hold only a few necklaces or a pair of earrings.. but look how pretty it is.. lol..

or how about this ring holder in the shape of a shoe??? totally brings out the cinderella in you huh??

another element that must be included in your bourdoir is the sense of smell... 

i'm in love with the idea of aroma reed diffusers... they look so pretty..while making your bourdoir smells like heaven... aren't they 100 times better than room sprays??? lol

i love sabon's  aroma reed diffusers(but i can't save their pics) ... they come in this little glass bottles that you can re-use as decanters (perhaps as a container for body oil?)
you can check out their reed diffusers from www.sabon.com
they are a beauty company from israel that bases itself in new york... i was introduced to their products from a friend who lives in new york.. i lovee their lavender rose hand cream!.. i love their packaging.. it's so luxurious...

you can also add candles.. or anything else that makes the space totally your own...

one thing that i love doing is showcasing my shoes collection... i don't believe in putting my shoes away in boxes.. shoes are meant to be adored, so why not show em off in your bourdoir?

this is an extreme example of course... lol.. but it's an illustration at how you can shelve your shoes...look how pretty they are... 
the cherry on top would be a round chair in the middle of the room, under the chandelier so you can sit while you try on your pretty shoes! :)

the same goes for bags too... you can shelve your bags instead of putting them away in boxes or hanging them..

now.. i'm going to end this blog with a favourite trinket of mine..
this one's a jewellery holder...
it was a wedding favor from my cousin's wedding.... she has a good taste in fashion.. and i totally adore her favours... 

it's the same of a vanity desk... and it has enough space to hold my pearls.. totally adorable :)

Sweet touches...part 1

a lot of people has asked me.. "Flo, how come you're so obsessed with period movies, royalty, and things related to the boudoir?"

I guess it's human nature to want something they don't have....
To be honest I am bored living in the 21st century.... sure we have ipods, ipads, computers, wi-fi, tv, electricity and things that make our life easier... but i'm always intrigued by the lifestyles of the past.. where things are much more simpler... more wholesome....

Period movies fulfill my cravings for those times... long long ago.. where fine arts was much more appreciated...attention to detail was put in everything that was made... whether it was buildings, dresses, furniture, architecture...people took the time to make the effort to create something that will probably go unnoticed today...

and that is why i love to honor that lifestyle... that way of living.. where people lived elegantly, sweetly, eloquently...how i wish that i could go back in time, even for a day.. so that i know what it feels like to walk in their shoes...

Even if time travel is impossible, there are little knick knacks,things that i collect that captures the feeling of ladylike grandeur that i so long crave for... and i'm going to share you a few things that evokes my inner femininity..


Are you familiar with the term Boudoir? according to wikipedia it is
private suite of rooms of a lady, for bathing and dressing, adjacent to her bedchamber, being the female equivalent of the male cabinet

In other words, it is the dressing room for women... the place where women primp themselves(put on makeup, get a bath, get dressed). It is their own private space where they can escape and be pretty...

In the modern world.. it would probably consist of the washroom, walk in closet and the dressing table. I put a lot of effort into making a space my own... and so I've created a lost of things..  things i already have, and things i have yet to buy for my 'bourdoir' 
the list includes objects, products, and other toiletries..

First thing you must do is decorate your bourdoir... in my new house.. my wic will have a classic french design... dominated by white color... much like this

  

 the wall panels are expensive if they are made out of wood, if you want to save money you can use preformed cement/gypsum...and then paint it over ... if you want to be even more frugal, just add wallpaper to the wall

 i suggest to add a chandelier in your space... they are not that expensive if they're not made out of crystal .. you can find one in ace hardware for around 3jt(300 bux)... it totally change the feel of the space.... 

1)a pretty vanity desk and mirror is a must... 

this is a sink but i just love the detailing of the cabinet , especially the legs ...

Picking a pretty chair is also important to create an elegant atmosphere(no plastic chairs please... lol)... i like chairs that has a fabric cover.. especially if they are made of brocade... isn't the chair super pretty??? won't u feel like a princess if you sit in it?? totally something marie antoinette would pick...

2)decorate your vanity table with a jewellery box... it serves as decoration and as your jewellery holder.. pretty and functional? i love it...

this is the jewellery box featured in the marie antoinette movie.. i've been in love with it since the moment i saw it.. but couldn't find anything similiar.. but i browsed around on the internet and found something cute that i liked 

 i totally love the heart crystals.. and plus the box has a lot of compartments to hold your mountains of diamonds n pearls... lol

i'm planning to write a longer post but since i'm extremely busy and haven't uploaded in a while.. i'll upload part 1 first...

todeloo 
xoxo

Dare to Dream

Hello readers!!! sorry for the long hiatus...

Christmas and New years happened and since a lot of relatives are visiting, i didn't want to write a blog so i can spend time with them...

So, who else did major damage to their credit card during the holiday season??? i did too but not *THAT* much damage... *cough* lol... i just bought a dress and a sweater from Zara... and also and eye compact, lipstick and lip gloss from etude.. Zara had a sale... so yeah.... and I've been wanting Etude's lucidarling gradation eyes eye palette...

I bought the one on the bottom.. the colors are so dreamy... i love it.. it makes me look like a 17 year old.. but... that's a good thing no??? lol


and then the sweater.. i've been dying to get it... but i didn't want to because it was too expensive.. and then yesterday.. it went on sale.... .. i was so happy i grabbed it right away..

so many wonderful clothes.... but too many clothes and too little wallet.. lol...


however this post is not about my purchases...or the purchases i have made... rather... this is about my DREAM shopping.......

I always wished i can get everything i wanted but money is always an issue since girls always want everything.. so i created scenario in my head... IF i won the lottery(still hoping to win btw, lol) , say... $100 grand??? what would i buy???


1) the absolute thing i want ever since i knew it existed...
the HERMES KELLY..... omg..

 It cost a gazillion dollars... hahaha .... actually it cost about 8000 usd, but it cost like a gazillion dollars to me... lol...but seriously though.. look at it... it's so pretty... and if i could get one it would be orange color, because when you see orange... you know it's Hermes... right???

For those who aren't familiar with the Hermes Kelly/Birkin bag... there is a long waiting list to get these bags... supposedly a year or so.... these bags aren't cheap... yet there's so many people wanting to get it that there's a year long wait list???? what has the world come to?????

you know when you buy an expensive bag.. you feel guilty... coz you see all those ads about the starving children in Africa..... and you're buying this luxury bag... but then... *someone* has to get the economy going right??? lol....

Anyways.. since i couldn't afford to get a kelly bag.. i got the next best thing.. i got a Herbag...which is way cheaper than the Kelly but still has that same shape...

That isn't the exact picture of my bag... but it's the same type... i also added a twilly across the handle... i love those girly accents.. <3<3... the bag is so high maintenance though,. since it's canvas.. it gets dirty easily.. and the leather is easily scratched.... so i never took it out... i kept it in it's dustbag....like an antique... lol

 anyways to other kelly lovers... the herbag should satisfy your Hermes craving.. without breaking your budget! :)

2) a really hugeeeeeeeeee solitaire diamond ring...emphasis on the "huge" hahahahaha

I really LOVE DIAMONDS.. and i loveeeeeeeeeeeee rings..i think it's my favorite piece of jewellery..because with necklaces and earrings you can't look at it.. but if you wear diamond rings.. you can constantly look at the ring... so you can show it off to your friends while you can enjoy the beauty of it too.. lol.. WIN-WIN right??

my engagement ring is a halo type...( centre stone surrounded with smaller stones)... similiar to the picture above.. but the center stone is not that big... so i chose a halo style.. because those smaller stones surrounding the diamond is actually making the diamond look bigger... it's kinda like...... a pushup bra for your diamonds... lol (sorry i can't find a better analogy)... so girls.. if you want to make your diamonds look bigger... go for the halo type styles... trust me, they give the illusion of a bigger stone! :)

my hubby is really lucky i have small fingers.. even small diamonds look big on my fingers.. lol

anyways.. i am really fascinated with asscher cut rings, because i am so bored with round cut..the majority of jewellery has round cut diamonds.. that's why i don't want to go for a round cut anymore.. asschers are so rare.. and they have this elegant look...

I actually took this photo from another website.. selling vintage... engagement ring... but it's sold..... DAMN YOU LUCKY B.. who gets to have this.... >:(..... so pretty isn't it?? sigh.... i wish i have her ring ... i love it's clean lines.. it's not fussy yet so elegant....

someday i'll have you... someday...!!! sigh...


3) the third thing i want is a Patek Philippe watch.... now i don't own any expensive watches... every time i save enough money... i always ended up buying a handbag.. not a watch..

I like their pagoda style.... but u know.. i want one.. but i don't LUST one like i lust a Hermes Kelly bag. a watch is just a watch for me.. but still... this is a dream list ... so i can put anything i want here right??

I think this cost about 30-40 grand ( don't quote me on that) because i don't know the exact price.. (too scared to ask at the counter as well) lol..
I really like the rose gold and the croco leather... i've always loved croco.. it's so interesting...! :p
i would probably never own this watch though... never.. i just don't think it's worth the money.. and i'd rather use it on something else...

I actually got a watch but it doesn't cost an arm and a leg like a PP... i got a Michael Kors rose gold watch... I've always wanted one since i saw a sales associate wear one.. i thought it was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo nice....
i got this one for my christmas present

Michael Kors rose gold watch, $255

by "got" i mean secretly using my hubby's credit card to purchase one.. :X lol
i like it a lot though.. it looks like a rolex ? doesn't it?


4) i want a Mercedes e class.... i don't drive... well i do but I'm a terrible driver.... but look at how nice it is.. sigh

it's the kind of car that makes better than plastic surgery...... it'll make a 40 year old look like a 29 year old! n so much more attractive... :) lol

and again.. i'll probably never own a car like this.. but hey with hard work a lil luck.. maybe i will.. who knows.. :)

5)Christian Louboutin Cinderella shoes...

OMG..



SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY.....

seriouslyyy.. how pretty are they??? they're the kind of shoes that Marie Antoinette would wear....
can u imagine wearing that???? it totally makes the wearer feel like a million bucks...

sooooooooo pretty.....


there's only 20 of em being made right now.. but hopefully Christian Louboutin will mass produce them soon ! :p

6)a stay at the Atlantis underwater hotel...(at Dubai)

The 1,539-room, $1.8 billion megaplex is situated on the The Palm, an artificial sand island shaped like a palm tree.
can you imagine.. staying at that hotel.. I'd never leave!! they'd have to drag me out.. loll

anyways.. that's my list.. I'll probably add on a few things.. but that's all i could think of right now..

i'll keep daydreaming i guess.. lol


todeloo
xoxo

The art of high tea

Hello readers...
i hope everyone is having a very merry christmas and a happy new year...
i actually didn't because my husband doesn't celebrate christmas *gasp* and since he is total grinch he didn't even get me a christmas present, nor even say merry christmas to me... geez sometimes he is such a humbug it pisses me off really bad.....

anyways....back to the topic...

have any of you heard of high tea before??? it's when a group of people enjoy small snacks and sip tea in style... royals do it, especially the queen.. Contrary to popular belief... the traditions of afternoon tea was started by the French, not the english.... It began in the 17th century and was popular with the aristocrats, Kings and Queens... Marie Antoinette is a fan herself....

Back then there were only 2 meals, a hefty breakfast and a late heavy dinner.... and in between ladies would often go hungry.... so they hold off on the hunger by snacking....

After a while it became a mechanism for social gathering amongst the upper class...

The idea of afternoon tea is so closely tied to glamour ,royalty and elegance... and since this blog explores everything that is luxurious (hence the chandelier part of the candy and chandelier), i think it's appropriate to grace this topic in more detail...

Marie Antoinette having afternoon tea

I guess what makes afternoon tea so appealing is not the tea but the act of drinking the tea in style... When you have afternoon tea you can dress up.. use the etiquettes of high society and pretend you're royalty...

In order to achieve the full effect, some sacrifices must be made, and rules must be followed to achieve the perfect atmosphere of total elegance....

The Rules are:
1) dress appropriately.. if you are a lady think knee length dresses, chiffon blouses, cardigans, blazer.... definitely no jeans... shorts or mini skirts.. or anything too revealing... think of what Holly Golightly would wear if she was invited to afternoon tea... don't be afraid to wear your cocktail rings... your pearl necklaces and your scarves...or even wide brimmed hats...(but i only suggest the latter if you have high tea outdoors)

2)Have perfect dining etiquettes...

Besides the usual etiquette..(no burping, no chewing with your mouth open) there are additional rules to having high tea...

-the gentleman always pours the tea...
-never cross your legs
-unfold your napkin and put it on your lap, never put it back on the table
-don't leave the table if someone is still eating
-stir the tea using your spoon without clanking the sides of the cup
-put the teaspoon at the 6 o clock position and stir clockwise
-never dunk your snacks in the tea
-have tea first then add the sugar, and milk later
-never leave the teaspoon in the cup... leave it at the saucer

Now that the boring part is over,.. let's talk about the the fun stuff...

FOOODD!!!...

You can basically provide a number of teas... English breakfast, orange pekoe, jasmine, rose... you can even mix the teas together...... though it is unusual, you can have coffee or water as well.... , having smoothies, juices or alcohol kind of spoils the atmosphere...

1) It is important to have GOOD QUALITY, HOT, FRESH TEA... (who likes room temperature tea anyways, yuck)

2) The fancier the teaware the better.. if i could recommend one brand .. it'd be royal doulton/royal albert.... i really love the blue polka one...

isn't it SUPER PRETTY.. it looks cute without looking tacky....

3)it's important to have cute mini foods/ bite size pieces .... ie.. finger foods... having ribs/steak at a high tea is a big no no.. save that for dinner

The menu includes, and not limited to :

scones, cookies, eclairs, chocolate dipped strawberries, finger sandwhiches, macaroons, pecan tartlets, pastries and cakes..... creme brulees...think dainty food that appeal to the ladies.. (i;m drooling while writing this list)...

they are usually served with a 3 tiered desert plate like the picture above...how pretty...
(totallly unrelated but i wanted to get the royal albert 3 tiered plate in the polka blue) lol....

Make sure you serve fresh deserts... nothing stale or a day old...

If you haven't try having afternoon tea, i hope i've inspired you to try it at least once....
In vancouver, it would cost an average of $50 per session/ person.. however i think it would cost much less in indonesia..... try HARE AND HATTER... i couldn't not remember how much it was but i think it was below 100rb per person....

Or if you like to have a more intimate gathering.. why don't you try and have an afternoon tea session with your friends from the comfort of your own home??

To start you off i'll share with you some recipes i got from the bbc website....
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/recipes/occasions/afternoon-tea/

todeloo
xoxo

CLASSIC SCONE WITH JAM AND CLOTTED CREAM

1. Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Tip the flour into a large bowl with the salt and baking powder, then mix. Add the butter, then rub in with your fingers until the mix looks like fine crumbs. Stir in the sugar.
2. Put the milk into a jug and heat in the microwave for about 30 secs until warm, but not hot. Add the vanilla and lemon juice, then set aside for a moment. Put a baking sheet in the oven.
3. Make a well in the dry mix, then add the liquid and combine it quickly with a cutlery knife - it will seem pretty wet at first. Scatter some flour onto the work surface and tip the dough out. Dredge the dough and your hands with a little more flour, then fold the dough over 2-3 times until it's a little smoother. Pat into a round about 4cm deep.
4. Take a 5cm cutter (smooth-edged cutters tend to cut more cleanly, giving a better rise) and dip it into some flour. Plunge into the dough, then repeat until you have four scones. By this point you'll probably need to press what's left of the dough back into a round to cut out another four. Brush the tops with beaten egg, then carefully place onto the hot baking tray.
5. Bake for 10 mins until risen and golden on the top. Eat just warm or cold on the day of baking, generously topped with jam and clotted cream. If freezing, freeze once cool. Defrost, then put in a low oven (about 160C/fan140C/gas 3) for a few mins to refresh.

Jane says...

Scones are so quick to make that my mum would often emerge with a plateful before we'd even noticed she'd gone! I've borrowed her tip of using warm milk, and added a few tricks of my own for light scones that rise every time

Towering tall

For toweringly tall scones, always pat the dough out a bit thicker than you think you should. I say pat rather than knead because scones are essentially a sweet soda bread and, like other soda breads, will become tough when over-handled. Kick-start the scones' rise with a hot baking tray and don't leave the dough sitting around. If you like your scones with lots of juicy fruit, stir 85g plump sultanas into the mix at the same time as the sugar.

Know-how

Adding a squeeze of lemon juice to the milk sours it slightly, mimicking sharp-tasting buttermilk, often used in scones but sometimes tricky to find. The slightly acidic mix gives a boost to the raising agents in the flour and baking powder.

Mi Casa

"Your home is your castle", almost everybody is familiar with this phrase.. and it certainly true. No matter how small or big a house is, it's always near and dear to our hearts.. Often times it is the little details that makes a house a home..... 

I still remember i was pregnant at the time and was still suffering from morning sickness when we went house hunting.... we looked around all of the listing... and the bumpy car ride made me so nauseous.. i asked hubby to pull over and i would start puking at the sidewalk... lol.. memories...

We couldn't find any house that we liked, or even if we liked a house, the price would be too high for us... we almost gave up,, until one day hubby looked around at this search engine for property listings... and we saw this house... it wasn't in any of the listings on the major companies like ERA, or RAY WHITE....

When i first saw it it was a ratty old house. The ceiling almost came down and the tiles were all broken... nevertheless i saw its charms, it had the design of a classic old house.. with a half circle stairs... plus it was priced very well.. so hubby and i bought it....the funny thing is nobody knew that this house was on the market.. so we were lucky!!!we got a great deal.
I am renovating it right now, and i want to share with you some details about it.

This is the house in progress.... I didn't take a before picture(sigh.. i actually did but it was on my phone and my blackberry crashed, so i lost it).... This is abou halfway done... the outside look of the house is almost done... but there are still additions to be made(for example the gate and the fence) .. i looovee the front look of the house... it's simple modern... yet the addition pillars and the list details added a classic touch to it...the pillars will be incased in marble later... i believe the name of the marble type is travertine ( I will show you some more pictures of the details later...


What sold me on the house is the half circle stairs... it gives the house an elegant and glamorous feel... Nowdays it's uncommon to find a house with half circle stairs as some people consider it old fashioned... but i love it...

The railing design is new... and it won't be that color.. it will be painted white and the stairs will be marble as well....

This is the view looking up to the second floor... i really love the crown molding (in indonesian it is called lis)... it's really an inexpensive way to add details to the house.... since i choose a classical feel.. i asked for a more elaborate crown molding style.... the ROUND thing in the middle is where a crystal chandelier will hang from the second floor.. extending into the first....

A close up detail of the crown molding.. it gives it a 3d feel.. love it so much

The regular washroom, that's where the shower will be... 

The master washroom... the tiles are different... i didn't take a closer pic.. but the tiles have a wood pattern to it... the roof is unfinished...i wanted a skylight but the contractor said there will be a problem with mildew.. so we scrapped that plan..

This is hayden's room and that's my hubby.. lol.. his room is the only room that has a patio..

 This is the view from the front of the house....Not much of a view.. but at least there's trees...

 This is the view from the balcony notice the pretty crown molding.. i love it so much

 The details of the crown molding up close............
it will be painted a different color /wash to showcase the details........

 This is the master bedroom's walk in closet

This is the master bedroom... behind that door is the walk in closet.....

I wanted a double door for the master bedroom.. i wanted d/doors for all the rooms but hansen said we can't afford it.. lol so we only got it for the master bedroom.....



anyways that's the progress of my house... i will probably update it once it's finished so you can see the before and after...


hope you enjoy the post

todeloo
xoxo

sk2 facial treatment essence review

Hi all,

how's the holiday season treating you? i hope everyone's having a very merry christmas...
i know i am...

This post is about sk2 facial treatment essence review.... or more commonly known as "miracle water"

A bit of background on sk2:

The history of SK-II goes back to the 1970s when a scientist in Japan noticed the very soft and youthful hands of women working in a Japanese saké brewery. After years of research the scientists were able to isolate the natural, nutrient-rich liquid which they called Pitera. Pitera is a byproduct of sake fermentation.

Pitera claims to help renew skin cells faster, so users continually get fresh baby skin that "glows". It also claims to maintain hydration level within skin...

SK2 sells so well in asia.. it actually beats Shisheido  in sales, a pretty amazing accomplishment.

All SK2 products contain Pitera but the product that i'm going to review called the" facial treatment essence", contains the highest amount of Pitera (90%) and is the highest selling product out of the SK2 line. It has reach a cult status among women,so near and dear to their heart women would empty out their pockets to buy it.  It's even dubbed "miracle water".

I've wanted to try it for so long... but the price of it always prevented me from buying it.. sk2 is also known for their expensive price!... I bet it's from paying those celebrities to promote their brands... lol

sk2 ad featuring Cate Blanchett.

Can they pick a better person to advertise for sk2? I don't think so..... look at her... her perfect skin and complexion,her graceful long neck, her hair blowing in the wind... i know the photo is probably photoshopped to death... but come on..

When the elf queen from LOTR  with glowing skin tells you to buy the miracle water, you can't help it but want to buy it .. lol
WHO  doesn't want glowing skin like the elves in LOTR???

I used to have super clear glowing skin before i was pregnant, but then i had my my son, my skin became uber sensitive... all of the products that i used before was giving me a reaction.  I had to buy loccitane's moisturizer for sensitive skin... It stopped the reaction but i still didn't have my old glowing skin back...

Finally for the first time ever.. i bought the FTE(facial treatment essence) from SOGO in galaxy mall. I had a gift voucher lying around , plus my skin was looking rather dry, dull and splotchy from my pregnancy....

I was sooooooo excited, i couldn't sleep the night before... In the morning i dragged my husband to drive me to Surabaya to buy the FTE.....When I arrived at SOGO i decided to buy the smallest size as i did not know whether my skin would react to it or not..... then low and behold.. they had a promotion!!!

This set includes the sk2 toner 30 ml, sk2 facial treatment essence 75 ml, and 1 facial treatment essence mask.. with the box included

the box is really nice.. it's like deep red with faux leather lining with a magnetic closure...
the price is actually pretty cheap. considering that a 75 ml FTE would cost the same.... (579 ribu) so it's like getting the mask and the toner  and the box for free...(this promotion is only for christmas)

I didn't try the mask so i couldn't review it at all

I tried the toner.. it feels like water and has a watery consistency and no smell.. supposedly it has AHA so it exfoliated dead skin cells... however after a few days of using the toner.. my skin reacted to it.. so i stopped using it..

sorry for the upside down pictures,, i forgot to rotate em...

what is the FTE like?
it comes in a super prettyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy frosted glass bottle and a mirrorlike cap... i'm a sucker for glass bottles.. i think they're so elegant.. and makes the FTE look expensive.. well it IS expensive.. lol

the consistency: like water
the color: like watered down urine
the smell: smells like " kelek e tukang2 " (translation: smells like the armpitt of a sweater worker)
the taste: yes i did taste it.... it's bitter... lol

How to use?

Pour a few drops in your palm(or cotton ball) and spread it across your face.... then just pat it gently... i use my palm coz i thought the cotton ball will just soak it up...

i put about 4-5 drops about the FTE/application

so after washing the face, put toner, then FTE, then serum, then moisturizer...
i don't bother putting the toner.. coz FTE is just like toner... n then some daysi don't put the serum... just FTE then moisturizer...

FTE feels exactly like toner....

what's the result like???

No makeup on 

I stupidly didn't take a before picture, but i did take an after picture(after 2 weeks of using it)

I think that it did even out my skin tone,,
it does help with hydration(nore more dry patches)...
made my skin soft and supple.....
even took away some fine lines....



 however i wouldn't say it's a miracle product... as you can tell...
my freckles are still there..
my acne scars though visibly diminished are still there.....
If you want them to be gone i think it's better to invest on laser treatments...

I also couldn't say if FTE does everything above, because i was also using clarins HP whitening night cream in in conjuction with this FTE

I still feel like my skin does "glow" a bit though... I COULDN'T HELP STARE AT MY SKIN IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR sometimes... lol

will i repurchase?? i think im already hooked to this product.. and i will say yes.. Though it is expensive i find that it last a long time... it's been 2 weeks and it's only 1/5 gone....

there's also a coupon in the box that will give me a free stempower moisturizer (15 g) + 1 3d mask with a purchase of 215 ml/ greater(only till the end of january)... so i think i'll do that..

If you have extra money lying around and want to try sk2 miracle water... now is the perfect time... get it before the promotion is gone...

I hope my review helps and if you have any question,, please feel free to ask me in the comment box below...

thanks...

Unrealistic beauty standards..

Hi all,
i've been meaning to write this post for a long time now. It's what's been on my mind for a while but never had the chance to express. Now that i have a blog i can share my view with the world..

How many women are self conscious about their self image?Well, if you aren't then good for you, but I bet many of you are... There are always something about our body that we hate, or bothers us.. whether it's our thighs, our boobs, our eyes, our lips or our height. I was one of those people... for years i've been plagued with insecurities about myself.

Growing up, i never cared about what i wear and how i looked. I was always a chubby kid . In fact the only thing i cared about was reading japanese comic books. My mom would try to get me to diet and shop for clothes and i would always refuse. The earliest time i cared about looks was when i was in grade 6. I moved to Vancouver and no one was telling to watch what i eat, eat i did. Ice cream, sandwhiches, fries, chocolate, chips.. anything my heart desires.... Finally when i was 7, my weight reached 63 kg. Suddenly all the kids at school teased me about my weight... though luckily i've never been bullied. My mom was horrified when she saw me and put me on a strict diet. Finally after 3 years i've managed to lost most of it and stayed at around 52 kgs.

Even though i lost all that weight. I was still feeling self conscious. I remembered looking at magazines and never understood why i can't look like those models that grazed the pages of the magazine. I remembered that Britney Spears has just came out with her first single "Hit me baby one more time"(lol... yes it was a long time ago), and thinking, wow i want her body.

Over the years, i've realized that society has placed an unrealistic beauty standards for women and it is definitely unfair. How many percent of women are qualified to be models?(those with a specific height(minimum 6 feet tall and size double 0 ), i would say less than 10 percent.

do most of your friends look like this? probably not!

Of course there is an exception to every rule. I do know 1 person that looks like the model above (just one though). My point is most people probably look like you and i so don't stress about looking like a model. It's normal for your stomach to wobble when you jump, it's suppose to, if yours doesn't , sorry to break it to you ,you are probably a robot lol...


so, the question becomes, Who's to blame?
How did society gets so judgemental about how women look? Why put the pressure on ourselves?
Ever heard the saying? people always want what they don't have or what is hard to achieve?... Back then , having a bit of weight was considered beautiful because only the rich people would have enough food to eat. Pale skin was also considered beautiful because only the wealthy can afford to stay indoors and not slave away in the fields and have their skin burned by the sun..... take a look at Marie Antoinette.

a painting of marie antoinette

Back then she was considered a beauty, but if you see her on the streets today what would you think of her looks? You'll probably think she's just a regular old fat lady who needs to call Jenny Craig and get an effin' tan. Look at her pasty skin and double chin(sorry Marie, i still love you :p). Most middle-aged women probably look like her now , but back then it was hard to achieve her looks because food was so scarce and only the wealthy can fatten themselves up.


Look at Marilyn Monroe who was considered the ideal beauty during her time. Even the president couldn't resist her charms... but.. what would people say about her now?? Probably that she has thunder thighs, fat arms and saggy tits(pardon my language).

The iconic Marilyn monroe

As times change, so does beauty standards. The harder to achieve it is, the more desireable it becomes. Take a look at the difference between an ideal american beauty and an ideal asian beauty.

asian model with pale skin

Asian people are obsessed with pale skin, admit it!.. The beauty industry are always selling creams or treatments that offer a whitening effect on people's skin... why? because it's hard for an asian to stay pale, our skin tans easily. I gotta admit i'm pale myself  and many of my caucasian friends always tell me to get a tan.. this is probably how they see me..

.

.

.

ju-on anyone???

Sorry... i hope i didn't cause anyone to have a *heart attack*... lol
but you get the point.... caucasians prefer tan skin as it is harder for them to achieve it..

Guess what Indonesians are crazy about right now??



that's right

K-POP,  where most girls probably look like this:

U know, typical v-shaped chin, big eyes, pointy nose......with so many korean stars looking similiar like the girl above, you might think that it's normal to have those features and if you don't then you're probably ugly for being different..

guess what?

the Kim sisters, one of the first korean girl groups

THIS is what typical korean girls look like in the 70's... note that they DON'T have BIG eyes, V shaped faces, double eyelid or pointy noses.....and you know why don't you? because plastic surgery wasn't that prevelant back then. According to statistics, 1 in 5 korean women in Seoul has gone under the knife http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2134352/One-women-Seoul-gone-knife-South-Korea-tops-global-list-plastic-surgery-procedures.html

Need more proof? okay....

If an average person can achieve this amazing transformation, imagine what celebrities can do with their money...

I'm NOT saying that all pretty people have plastic surgery, that wasn't my point at all. Some people are naturally born beautiful. What i'm trying to say is, it's not the NORM to look like Song Hye Kyo, Hyori lee, or whoever is popular in Korea right now(sorry folks,  i'm old,i don't follow current trends). They probably have a whole team of make up artists, hair stylists, dietition, trainers and stylists to make them look like that. it's their job to look good. so don't be SHITTING yourself, if you don't look like them... seriously...

You know what happens when people are trying to achieve the same beauty ideal???people are starting to look alike

the infamous korean girl band group, girl's generation

 i can't even tell them apart...... except maybe that chick with the blonde hair...lol (SNSD fan, please don't beat me up...)

The beauty industry is worth 40 billion dollars yearly, so it's no wonder they keep shelling out products to keep our interests up.  Don't even get me started on useless beauty products that pop up now and then... I found this company that are selling eye drops that claims to make the white of your eyes sparkle...
check this out
(http://www.optrex.co.uk/eyedew/eyedew.php)

exactly arnold... exactly....

 if you want your eyes to sparkle... just squirt some lemon juice or cut up some onions... it'll work the same way...cheaper too....

All sarcasms aside though.... 

Trying to achieve the ideal beauty is the ultimate goal for some people, and it's dangerous....

Take this girl for example... her name is Valeria Lukyonova, and she's obsessed with having barbie-like proportions. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2232466/Human-Barbie-Model-excessive-plastic-surgery-doll-like-shows-proportions-fashion-shoot.html.

This is what she looks like before:

and THIS is what she looks like after:(prepare your eyes folks)

this is what the child of barbie and alien would look like if they mated...X_X

I don't know about you.. but to me that's FREAKY... she looks like a real life blowup doll..

Now, don't go throw away all of your beauty products and let yourself go after you've read this article.. that is not my point.. It's important to take care of yourselves and preserve your beauty, the take home message is "be happy with yourself and embrace your imperfections, it is what makes you unique", sounds so cliche eh??

I know it's easier said than done, even i still have insecurities about my square jaw and my armpitt fat. If you're a little chubby, lose some weight, if you have bad skin, take care of it better, just don't take extreme measures to change what you look like completely...

and that concludes the end of this post... Hope you have a great day!

todeloo
xoxo