Leeds and the Shops

We attended a wedding in Leeds (UK) and it was a 3 hour drive from our place. We decided to slip in a little staycation and booked a hotel, Holiday Inn, which deserves its own blog post. The wedding was on Saturday and the next day, we spent our day exploring the city. It is a very old city I realized, with Victorian type buildings and architecture. What really caught my fancy though were the beautiful shopping arcades in the center of town.

Special mention to The County Arcade which is very Victorian built in the 1800's and the pastel colored Queen's Arcade.

The County Arcade which is very Victorian and is now a full of designer shops from Mulberry to Louis Vuitton and also home to a lot of famous cosmetic brands and toiletries like L' Occitane, Jo Malone and Crabtree and Evelyn.

The candy colored Queen's Arcade

In Her (makeup) Bag

I already have someone in mind whom I was supposed to feature on Stage Mommy's In The Bag Series for August but it's September now and she has not confirmed yet. So I will just feature what's inside my makeup bag since I already did a post on what's inside my handbag here and not much has changed so far except that I don't bring formula bottles anymore.

This is my "big" makeup bag which holds all of my makeup but I don't carry this around in my handbag as I have a smaller one which only has the basic essentials.

This is my pink Prada makeup bag which I bought with eyes closed (LOL) as it was so expensive but I bought it as a gift to myself for bagging the best job in the world (for me).
 
 from left clockwise:

• Dior lipstick

• Victoria Jackson Lipstick (my new fave)

• Chanel lipstick

• O.P.I lipgloss (another new fave)

• Dior lipgloss

• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser

• Victoria Jackson eye palette

• Chanel face powder

• MAC eyeliner in Coffee

• The Body Shop brow and liner kit

• The Body Shop brilliance powder

 Victoria Jackson is my new favorite makeup brand. It is very inexpensive but can compete with my branded ones not just with the quality but with the packaging as well. I love the creaminess of the lipsticks.

I love my Dior lipgloss but when a friend gave me this O.P.I gloss, I was impressed. I thought the brand is only good when it comes to nail polish. It give my lips a nice shimmer without being too sticky.

I have just started using eye makeup and MAC's eyeliner in coffee did not disappoint. I love the way my eyes look everytime I put eyeliner on.

Before I discovered Chanel and Dior, I have been a fan of The Body Shop and up to now, I still do get some of my makeup from them. I really like the brow liner kit. Instead of using eyebrow pencil, I use this compact with the brow brush that come with it. It gives my brow a soft look compared when using an eyebrow pencil. The Brilliance powder I use on my cheeks. Gives me a bronzed look especially in the winter when I look really pale. It comes in a no-mess tube with an integrated brush.

Lastly, my can't do without is Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser. It's when I don't want to use foundation but don't really want to be barefaced as well. As the name implies, it's a moisturiser but with a hint of foundation. A lot of brands have come up with their own version like Olay (which I use daily for work) but Laura Mercier was the pioneer.

There you go, a peek in my makeup bag.

Nude Is The New Red

With the previous summer, red was the order of the day when it comes to nail polish. But I have noticed recently, anyone who wears color on her nails is wearing nude. Celebrities and non-celebs alike. According to one fashion magazine I have recently read, it is apparently the trend for this summer and I did not know.

On Paris Hilton (collegefashion.net image)

On Katherine Hiegl (beautyunkiecorner.blogspot.com image)

On Jennifer Lopez (all4women.ca.za image)

On Eva Mendez (shoppingsave.blogspot.com image)

And my favorite brands have their own shade of pale.

Which IPad Case Are You Wearing?

With technology nowadays, the fashion world is not far behind and all trying to jump in the bandwagon, like the Ipad for instance. Designer Ipad cases are sprouting like mushrooms and everyone wants to protect their favorite tablets with the most stylish cover there is.

Marc Jacobs

Burberry

Louis Vuitton

DVF

 

 

I am currently using a non branded one like this one below.

It serves its purpose which is protecting my Ipad and at the same time, making it easier to use and hold because without a case, these tablets could just slip through your hands. When not in use, the cover can be flipped over and it looks just like a filofax. I love it for the moment. I say for the moment because I would love the DVF one. But at £45, it will have to wait.

images: web

If Only

I have a thing with public toilets. I can be OC when it comes to how clean it is. If I don't find it up to my standards, I would rather hold the call of nature than use it.

For me, the two cleanest toilets have to be Harrod's (need I say more?) and John Lewis. Both big deparment stores here in England. I am always happy to use them. With Harrods, you even have a choice of designer hand creams and perfumes free to use.

Last Sunday, we visited for the first time Westfield shopping mall and I have to say, I was very impressed with the toilets. Right outside the toilets are lounging areas with comfortable sofas which can be easily compared to a hotel lobby.

The toilet lounge which is identical to a hotel's lobby lounge.

Entrance to the men's toilet (left) and women's toilet(right).

Inside looks like a five star hotel's toilet.

If only all public toilets are like this, I would not have to hold my urine when I am out ever again.

 

Westfield London  

Ariel Way
London W12 7GF

Not Just Another Macaroon

This is a late post as the macaroons that I will be talking about are far gone and in our tummy. I mean, macaroons as lovely as Pierre Herme can't remain in its box for long. We dropped by its concession in Selfridges' food hall one Thursday morning.

image from the web

I got a box with different flavors. 

The packaging is really nice.

Your teeth sinks into the crunchiness of the shell and into the moistness of the middle part and then the wonderful flavor hits you. It also preserves very well because a week after, I was delighted to find one last macaroon in the box and it tasted like the day I bought it. Still very crunchy and fresh. I am tempted to say Pierre Herme is lovelier than Laduree but no, I still prefer the taste of Laduree macaroons. Pierre Herme has a shop in Lowndes street but I have no idea if it is a cafe. The one in Selfridfes is just a concession.

What are you waiting for?

Also available online at www.pierreherme.com

Beauty Buy: Victoria Jackson Cosmetics

A couple of guys were selling these make up along Oxford street saying Victoria Jackson is going to be the next big thing. They are apparently promoting her in the UK so they are selling the make up for a discounted price. For £20, I get all these.

I thought I heard of her before but was not sure and then realized I read about her in Daphne Osena's blog.

This is the survival kit.

It has several compartments for eye make up,eyeliner, mascara, blusher and brushes.

This is the eye makeup and lipgloss kit.

Which opens up to this.

It came with four lipsticks.

Which came with a very innovative cap/cover. It has a built in mirror.

The packaging is really great. I haven't seen such packaging with the likes of Mac, Bobbi Brown and Nars. The big question though, is it any good? The quality for me is superb. The eye make up has beautiful shades and it stays on for the duration of the day I was out and the lipstick can definitely hold a candle to my Dior ones. Soft and creamy. It has unique packaging, good quality and a bargain at £20 for the whole lot. Now if I can only find those two guys.