Beach Kimono OOTD

I am back from my yoga vacation in Sri Lanka and it was amaaaazing! 

If a down to earth but fun yoga retreat in a colonial villa midst palm trees is what you are looking for you have to check out Villa de Zoysa. It was full of everything from massage, great food, twice a day yoga and long dinner conversations at a communal table with all the other retreat guest. Really fun!

Travel talk aside, lets talk shopping. I did do a tiny bit of it before the vacation. I got a new bikini from Victorias Secret (this one but in turquoise) and a colorful beach kimono from River Island (Link).

I shall not be modelling the bikini for you so kimono it is. I kind of ordered it on a whim and I am so happy with it.

It has pretty much every color you can imagine on it so will look good with any block color bikini. This is what initially draw me to it. I also like that its long and there is beautiful beading in the front.  It would be great if there was some kind of a button or hook to close it in front but thats not a big issue. The fabric is light but not super see-through which I definitely appreciate.

I also wore my rose quartz K.I.S.S bracelets by NVbyK and a new one from the brands latest collection every day. Rose quartz is my favorite stone and it felt good to load them full of zen energy and vacation happiness.

Also I always wanted to try the ever so trendy golden tattoo stickers but they are rather expensive in Dubai and I haven't bothered to order online. I found some cheap ones from a tiny boutique in Galle Fort and loved wearing them. Kind of wish I bought more than one sheet. This trend is like a blast from the past. I was always proud to wear the colorful tattoos you got from a gum pack only that its more glamorous in gold and the tattoos are not pictures of cats or cars.

Since I got back I may or may have not balanced out all this zen with some good old fashion consumerism.

There is some bits from Zara and a whole lot of new makup to talk about so I will be back shortly.

X

February Plans

February is going to be all about pampering myself. This is what I decided yesterday!

I have just resigned from my job and will have almost the whole month off before starting my new job and to be honest I could not be more thrilled about it.

I will kick it off with a trip to a yoga retreat in Sri Lanka with my friend Diana next week and will follow it with getting back in track with working out regularly. I will take time to cook healthy tasty things at home again instead of grabbing a latte and croissant on my way to the office. I will be going on long walks with my dog instead of a quick loop around the block after a long day at the office. I will also read all the books I have on my nightstand and try to think only positive thoughts.

Lastly I will take care of my skin and hair more, drink more water and finally start using some of the awesome paper products I have at home but never have time to try.

Like these two gems:

 

Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate (Link) I actually bought just this weekend. I have been wanting it for ages but the price held me back. Now I have finished my Bodyshop serum and decided to give this a go. It day three and I already love it. The smell, the texture and the fact that my skin seems much smoother in the morning. Since a few little drops takes you a long way it looks like a bottle will last ages so probably not a bad investment after all (yes I call all beauty buys/shoes/bags investments.. yes my husband makes fun of me about that).

Then there is the Oribe Signature Moisture Masque (Link)- I got this as a gift when attending an awesome Oribe event months ago but have never started using it. I intended to so many times as the smell alone is divine but for some reason never did. It is front and present in the bathroom shelves now and I will give you my review on it soon. My expectation are sky high as Oribe so far has delivered only spectacular results for me.

For about 2 weeks now I have been using LiLash and LiBrow as well. These are concentrated serums to help hair growth. I would not necessarily think it works if I didn't see Lauras crazy long lashes after a month of daily LiLash dose. So very excited to report back on how this progresses in a few weeks time.

I also intend to get at least 2 massages during Feb as last time I had a massage was I-dont-remember-when. So all is left is finish this week in the office and get this month of pampering and me time on the way.

Whats your favorite pamper products? Latest favorite books you read? Some super delicious recipe you have tried lately? Please let me know I want to try them all x

Happy 1 Year of Blogging!

Yay!

My lovely little corner in the internet has turned 1 year old!
I couldn't be more thrilled that there are you people who come and read and comment and we can discuss all things beauty and shopping. It always makes me smile!

On my last made up 4 month bloga-versary (who else read that and immediately heard Monica Gellers voice saying "Plus we get to have our own, ani-Vegas-ary! A-Nevadaversary"..just me? okay then..) I did this little post about 25 Random Facts.

This time I saw a post on Bonjour Luce that I loved and inspired by it here is my take. Hope you enjoy! Also pictures in this post will be of my furry crew because I dont have enough reasons to post them and well.. I really want to!

Red or White Wine?  Red for sure. A glass of Merlot preferably.
City or Countryside? As much as I like a week in the countryside I am a city girl. I need the hustle and energy of living in a city.
Cats or Dogs? Cats. No dogs. No ALL ANIMALS! Seriously I can not answer this question. I love all pets!
Sweet or Savoury?  Savoury. I will always choose a cheese plate or some Jamón over cake or ice cream. I am a big cheese person (to the point of having cheese for dinner if husband is traveling seems not only acceptable but preferred)
Dresses or Jeans? Ha..if you have been reading my blog for this first year I think it is pretty clear the answer is dresses and midi skirts. I only own 2 pairs of jeans.
Heels or Flats? Heels. But I have to say gone are the days of crazy high heels I could only stand in. I try to shop wisely so the heels are actually comfortable.
Beyonce or Taylor Swift? Queen B forever. I think I have mentioned this before that if I could be one celebrity for a day I would be Beyonce. I have teenage type of love for her!
Tea or Coffee? Coffee hands down. Nothing beats that first cup in the morning.
Divergent or Hunger Games? Is it horrible that I have not seen either?!
Blogposts or YT Videos? Blogposts. I like pretty photos and when peoples personality shines through in their writing.
Skincare or Make Up? Make up. I dont really know anything about skincare. Entering my 30s this year I guess its high time to learn? Best get taking notes from all my favorite blogs.
 
Night or Morning? The card on the right describes me the best:

Pizza or Burgers?  Burgers. Give me all the burgers.

Books or Magazines?  Books without a doubt. I am a bookworm at heart and love getting totally lost in a new read.
Facebook or Twitter? Instagram forever! If I had to use only one social media channel it would be Instagram.
Summer or Winter? Summer if we are viewing the traditional seasons here (Summer=sunny, winter= snowy). Winter if you live in Dubai as the weather is mild and sunny and days are spent outdoors.

What is your favourite...?

City? New York
Book?  Too many to list but first that came in my mind are Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and The Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follett. 
Movie? Love Actually 
TV Show? Friends
Perfume? Constantly changing. Current favorite Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay
Nail Polish? I know it is not normal to spend the longest on trying to answer a question about nailpolish but nothing I can do about it. I feel like choosing a favorite is a big commitment. Am I ready for it? I will go with Formula X - Obsessed
Skincare Item? Coconut Oil
Lipstick? NARS - Red Square
Foundation? Clarins Extra-Comfort
Food? Sushi
Dessert? Apple tart with vanilla ice cream
Place to eat in Dubai? For an ultimate romantic date night Pierrechic. 
Alcoholic Drink? Whiskey Sour
Non Alcoholic Drink? Watermelon juice 
Actor/Actress? Never had one sure favorite but I'm at the moment I am absolutely in awe of Eddie Redmayne after seeing The Theory of Everything.
Singer/Band? Justin Timberlake



Hope you liked reading this even if it was a little different from my usual posts. I am off to Sri Lanka again in a weeks time so expect some beach outfits and loads of palm tree pictures.


And if any of you have done a similar post I would love to read it so please leave a link in comments.

Urban Decay Black Magic Eye Pencil Set

I rarely if ever write about eye pencils. Partly cause I didn't own more than one brown and one black and partly because I feel most of them are not that great. True that I haven't tried all of them but whatever I have tried was either too stiff and chalky or too soft so it blends easy but then ends up smudging into a bit of a drug-addict-chic look. Not really ever what I am going for.

I do however own one Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil that I love so imagine my excitement when a Christmas present from Simone contained this beauuutiful set ot 4 double ended pencils.

Yes you read right that means not four but eight awesome shades. The formula of these pencils is pretty much perfect! Blends very easy but once its set doesn't start slipping around. This set contains some gorgeous dark and moody shades all perfect for different intensity of smokey eye.

I do not usually do swatches on the blog as I'm not sure my photographic skills are good enough to capture the colors perfectly but I its nice to see these shades next to each other so here goes.

Starting from L-R we have:
Black Velvet (Link)- a totally matte black that is very pigmented. The texture of this is a little drier and more powdery than the others but its not stiff. It just doesn't glide on as easily so needs a bit more work.

Smoke (Link)- A slightly brown based grey matte. To be honest I wished it looked more grey after blending it out but on me it really pulled brown. Its not easy to build this into a more deeper color either. I think its my least favorite of the bunch.

Black Market - this is described as "charcoal black satin". Meaning is does have a slightly grey undertone to the black especially when blended out. Its more pearly finish than Black Velvet and for that reason is not my favorite black.

Tornado - this one is a beauty. A deep cool eggplant shade with some serious sheen to it. Reflects light and makes green eye pop. Its easily buildable when going for a purple smokey eye.

Perversion (Link)- this one is unlike anything I have tried before. Its described as "blackest black matte". It is way creamier than the other ( you can see from the thick totally black line it produced with a single stroke). It has amazing color payoff and goes on so evenly in one easy motion. Amazing!

LSD (Link)- this dark blue one has a micro sparkle in it which makes me not pick it up very often. I mean I would wear a navy color on its own but the lighter blue glitter bits put me off. I didn't manage to catch the light on the swatch photo so you cant see it but it glitters I promise!

Zero (Link)- I have ran out of words to describe black so lets go with what Urban Decay says. It is a "zealous black cream". Its kind of a basic black if you ask me to say it in human language. Not too matt not soo pigmented kind of in the middle. Easy to use and all but nothing WOW.

Demolition (Link)- currently my favorite of the bunch. Its a warm under toned brown that is somewhere in the semi-matte category. Just a great everyday shade thats not too dark and dramatic.

The shades in this box are not limited edition, most are in permanent collection, so you can pick them up separately as full sized pencils.
 However if your eye pencil collection is meager like mine..just get the whole thing here!

Shine A Little Brighter...

..or get products that do it for you.

Say hello to the more outstanding new additions to my ever growing beauty stash!

First up is Mac Electric Cool Eyeshadow in Coil (Link). These range of eyeshadows have the weirdest texture. Its kind of spongy cream to powder formula which is not usually something I go for. However the shade Coil is just dreamy. Its a medium to dark coppery bronze with some serious metallic sheen that catches the light. Easiest to apply with fingers but does work with a synthetic brush also. I seem to get on better if patting it on rather than rubbing or blending too much. I was impressed that it easily lasted 7 or 8 hours on me and thanks to the creamy formula there is no sparkly fall out.

 The weird but wonderful texture totally got me hooked and I ignored the blogger rule nr.1 photographs before swatching. Hence the dent my grubby fingers left the moment I had this in my hands.

Building it up to an intense dark copper works perfect for a night out but I also wear it day time with a more light and blended look. One of those super easy options that just need lashings of mascara and thats it.

Now the second item we must discuss is possibly moved into my most treasured makeup items list.
You know the ones you would save in the fire etc.  

Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powder in Candlelight (Link) is just too good for words. I mean I was all praising The Balm highlighter just a few posts back and I still think Mary-Lou Manizer is a good product but it has got NOTHING on Candlelight! This is magic. It is soo finely milled and buttery and swatching might not even get you that excited but once its on your cheek bones it is beyond gorgeous! If you only ever get one highlighter please let it be this one! It just illuminates any area you brush it over in a subtle but reflective way and suddenly you have cheekbones and your eyes look awake and your nose looks all slender and .. I could go on and on. I might go as far to say I am obsessed with Celestial Powder.

Have you tried either of these two shiny pots of goodness? Or maybe you have bought something else that really stands out? I would love to know..

Urban Jungle by Essie

It was only a matter of time til I bought a new polish. You know that, I know that so lets get on with it.

You might have read my previous nail posts where I was declaring my love for dark polish and red polish only ( Obsessed & Malaga Wine). Its always like that when winter arrives and I try to get into it even with the beach weather outside. I also wear jumpers and boots in +24c just to get into it. Dubai makes you a bit weird like that.

As soon as I got back from my Christmas vacation I was done with the dark and on a hunt for a perfect white nailpolish instead. I have a stark bright white but what I didn't have was a milky off white that would be less bright and easier to wear. Honestly I didn't really have a clear idea what I was looking for but once I stumbled upon Essie Urban Jungle it was clearly it.

I don't know how I have never seen or read about this shade. It was in 2014 Summer Collection but I think it just got over shadowed by the bright pink Haute In The Heat from same collection. Well now I have it and its been on my nails few weeks in a row.

I would describe it as off white with beige and grey undertones. Its very understated but pretty and so easy to apply. Which is weird as a few reviews I read called it three coater and very watery but that is not the case with my bottle. There is no Fiji type of hassle- first coat is slightly streaky but second coat makes it all good again. In some light it can be almost blush toned or a very light taupe and I like that much more than a bright clear white. Also I must say it stayed chip free for 4-5 days which is longer wear time than I often get out of Essie.

Do you have Urban Jungle or its not your type of shade? If not whats your favorite off white polish?

Blackberry & Bay Cologne

I kept postponing this review for weeks. At the same time I couldn't wait to tell you because it is my current favorite.

You see I am terrible at describing perfumes. Its very intimidating.
I would like to sound all professional but I lack the lingo and the nose to separate different notes.
Things I would say:

.. it's like sooo good

...it makes me happy to smell like this

... its like fruity but not like fruit

Nonsense basically.
However I have fallen hard for this particular perfume and will give my best attempt to explain why.

Im not big on floral scents. I like fresh and fruity but I dont like sweet and floral. Generally I also shy away from the more masculine perfumes. I like to smell them in the store but they feel foreign on me. Blackberry & Bay is definitely the most unisex type of a perfume I own.

So let me try to explain my thoughts. I can tell you this much- the opening sniff is a full blast of delicious blackberry with a strong grapefruit scent. FRESH! My unprofessional nose gets the grapefruit above all else at this point. Its crisp and not overly sweet. Does it sound bad if I say it smells like newly washed sheets that dried in the sunshine?

Give it a minute to dry down and you get all the more masculine notes. It all woodsy autumn forest in the nicest of ways(I assume this is bay). Maybe the idea of smelling like wet leaves is not appealing to you but I promise it works. Surprisingly the earthiness of it is what drew me in, I would have never guessed I find it so delicious.

That is all I can muster for my first perfume review. I dont know how else to describe a scent. Perfume is such a personal thing but I hope you can go and smell it in the store.

I'm very keen to play around with it a bit and try layering with other Jo Malone perfumes.
Has anyone done that with Blackberry & Bay? Would love recommendations on what to mix it with.
Whats your favorite Jo Malone cologne?

Three Things I Bought That You Should Too

I have been buying make up. Shocking I know.

Good thing is there is plenty to tell you about with all the new goodies. All of the things I bought were very very necessary of course but there is three that really stand out. These three are now used daily and I thought you should probably buy them also.

My most favorite purchase of past few months has to be the Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Ultra Black mascara(Link). I believe the chain of command went a little like this- Zara told Laura she has to buy this. Laura tried it and next time we were in the mall together she walked me over to the Bourjois and then walked me to the cashier because according to her it was something amazing. I haven't bought a drug store mascara for ages cause generally I get disappointed but both ladies in this case are well trusted in makeup related subjects so I was excited to give this a try. Well I LOVE IT. It promises to lengthen and thicken and delivered on both fronts. It doesn't clump after two coats and never smudges. Its really good! I dont plan to try out any mascaras for a while cause this is perfect.

Secondly lets talk NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer(Link). This was the first thing I picked up once NARS arrived in Dubai few months back. It is as great as I hoped it would be. Its a beautiful luminous finish and super easy to blend. It works magic on my dark circles. It does need a proper powdering to avoid creasing specially when I use it in under eye area but other than that I can not fault it. Must have product that is a staple in my daily routine.

To my knowledge we didn't have The Balm in Dubai so I just looked at swatches and kept dreaming about this highlighter. Until I saw a new stand in Debenhams full of all pretty products. Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter (Link) was bought in record time and I have to say I do over use it because..soooo pretty! No glitter, no color just a beautiful sheeny glow that reflects the light in all the right places. Seriously must buy if you haven't already!

So fourth is a bonus round because brushes tend to be too boring to count on their own. They are important and blablabla but I dont exactly get excited buying them. However there hasn't been a brush I didn't like from Sephora Pro range and the new addition is just as good. This time I picked up the Sephora Pro Precision Crease Brush #17. Well you dont necessarily need it but if you feel your crease brushes are a bit too fluffy to get the shade in the exact place you want this. It has a rounded end and long bristles and it really does give the precision that a bigger brush doesnt.

Have you bought anything new lately that has gone straight into the favorites list? I would love to hear so I can add them into my shopping list.

Life Lately #12

Its been a very long time since last Life Lately or at least it feels like it because of the whirlwind work manic months I have had. Dubai events season tries to always fit everything into a few weeks and that means an explosion of crazy times for everyone. Now however it has calmed down a bit and Im on my last week before Christmas holidays.

Shall we look back on few highlights from Nov-Dec?

- I know the first picture is not exactly quality but its me nonchalantly chatting to Prince Harry so I hope you understand why it had to be included. Let me tell you a little more- I was working at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and managing a yacht at Yas Marina. We were told about 15min before hand that Prince wants to do yacht hopping with his entourage and will be coming onto ours. I really thought its a load of bs but nope..I had barely set everything up and cleared an area when he arrived. All charming and tall and well..very handsome. This btw was news to me. Being Estonian I'm not very well informed regarding British Royal Family and didn't expect him to be that handsome. I immediately texted Laura to which she confirmed that it is indeed a well known fact he is a good looking guy. So yeah..that was pretty awesome!

- Another very awesome thing that happened during the F1 weekend was Pharrell concert. I have dreamed of seeing this genius live for a very very long time and he certainly did not disappoint. I danced and sang along and even though he actually lost his voice half way through the concert I came away with very high emotion.

- This was way back in November but worth a mention because I loveeed attending the Oribe event. First of all I knew I liked the brand before because who can live with out Dry Texturizing Spary anyway but after meeting the beautiful ladies from Oribe and getting a quick hairstyling session I'm a full on convert. It is pricey yes but boy oh boy the stuff is good. I will do a blog post soon of the new things.Some I bought and some were kindly gifted to us at the event by Emerging Beauty Brands ladies. 

- Continuing on the subject of fun events I had the pleasure of attending Esquire Man At His Best awards. I cant help but love black tie events because dressing up is so much fun! I hadn't been to one in a very long time and forgotten how great it feels to fancy it up once in a while. In addition I got to spend time with some faaabulous ladies and have some amazing Chivas cocktails so fab times all around.

- Now next is a working event but dressing up party was no less fun. I planned my time well enough that I even had hair and makeup done (usually at work events I have to do what I call a 10min turn around which involves changing in a toilet and slapping on red lippy fast). Chivas Legends Dinner is an annual event I have been involved with for three years now and this years legends was Sir Patrick Stewart. SUCH an inspiring and fascinating guy. I'm so honored I had the chance to listen to him.

- Lastly my favorite purchase of the month. This ASOS Floral Printed Midi Prom dress that I can not get enough of. I might go as far as to call this my favorite ASOS purchase of the year! The fabric is great, the fit is beautiful and I feel like straight out of Mad Men in it. It is out of stock at the moment but surely will be back soon. 

So that's it for now. 

I'm off to Sweden and Estonia next week for a 12day holiday which will involve a lot of food, family time, mulled wine and belly laughs. 

My only issue is what does one wear? I haven't been back in winter time for 2 years and I also own approximately 2 sweaters and zero pairs of winter boots. I guess I will have to go shopping again (said in a fake annoyed voice cause who am I kidding..Yey for shopping forever!)

Lipstick Talk = My Happy Place

Oh gosh I have missed you guys!

It has been a mental month of non stop work.
I havent had an ounce of inspiration or energy left to blog but I have missed doing it so much.

Im not all done yet. I actually have our biggest event of the year tomorrow so I should definitely be finalizing the seating plans and managing the last bits but my mind needed a break and telling you about my latest new lipstick is my happy place.

NARS Audacious lipsticks (Link)- you have surely heard about them already? To be honest I have mixed feelings. I know everyone and their mother seems to love them but I think they are just fine. I like the packaging (very fancy magnetic closure) and there sure are some beautiful shades available but the formula is a bit high maintenance. People seem to like the velvety texture but on me it bleeds if used without primer and lip pencil and I feel it might be a little too creamy. Also there is no way I would slap that on from the bullet- it requires a brush and steady hand. Lets put it that way- it ain't no Tom Ford.

Saying all that I still like it. Its a good lipstick and if you are like me- into the bright orangy reds check out Lana.

Its a color I have in many many variations but I obviously needed more.

You know what I am talking about- bright, eye catching, warm undertones, red but still pulls a lot of orange. I like that a lot!

I'm tempted to pick up the dark oxblood shade called Charlotte next as I have seen Laura rocking it and every time I feel like asking "Whats on your lips?". It would be very much out of my comfort zone but I also think it would be very much awesome to wear it for Christmas parties. Trouble is I need a liner to match as I don't have anything dark in my collection.

Have you picked up any of the new Nars? Whats your favorite Audacious?