Dewy Mochaccino

Inspired by  my favorite beverage: coffee.

Crease: medium soft brown, then light gold shimmer over.
Upper lid & corner: glossy cream.
Upper & lower lash line: dark brown applied with damp angled brush.
Highlight: Matte ivory.

Out-of-the-can Fish Cakes

Salmon cake (shallow fried) with yogurt-mustard dressing

I almost forgot how good fish cakes are. The last time I had salmon cakes was years ago. I realized just how easy they are to make, too.

Sardine cake (baked) with ranch dressing

I simply mixed together canned fish, some finely chopped vegetables, herbs and whole eggs. It depends what you want in the mix.

You can throw in finely chopped peppers or carrots, but I always include onions. You can then add maybe some powdered garlic, curry powder, or chili powder. The egg will act as a binder. You may use canned salmon, sardines, tuna or milkfish (bangus).

I tried 2 cooking methods: shallow frying and baking.

For the dressing, I like something sour or tangy to go with the fishcakes. So I mixed yogurt and mustard for one type of dressing.

I also tried using ready-made ranch dressing. It's up to you what you think will go best.

Garnish: sprigs of rosemary or fresh parsley.

Salmon cake: mild taste.

Sardine cake: very strong taste.

Rosemary & Thyme Chicken w/ Sundried Tomatoes

Steamed 12-15 minutes in a sealed foil pouch. Cooked pretty much the same way as the steamed boneless milkfish with white wine vinegar & pasta. Couscous could be a better match for this one :)

Steamed Boneless Milkfish w/ White Wine Vinegar & Pasta

This is a light dish that cooks in about 20-25 minutes. I used half of boneless milkfish fillet for one serving.

This dish was inspired by my boyfriend's steamed chicken with white wine vinegar & pasta:

Since I'm using fish instead of chicken I rubbed in seafood herb mix & a bit of Knorr seafood cube. I added some finely chopped garlic, onions, rock salt, and tomato slices. The fillet of fish goes on a bed of half-cooked pasta (drizzled with olive oil to prevent sticking) already placed on a sheet of foil.

 Finally, I topped it all off with 1tbsp. butter and about 2-3tbsps. of white wine vinegar. The foil is sealed securely on the sides and placed in a preheated oven at 200C for 20-25 minutes.

Once cooked, serve. The steam comes out nicely when the foil is pierced and opened.

Style & Beauty: Quick, Creamy Gold Eyes (Day)

This is a quick, natural day look to appear fresh with some emphasis on the upper lash line.
Palette: gold/cream.

1. Apply concealer/primer around eyes.
2. Apply black eyeliner (pencil) in short strokes right on the upper lash line in between the lashes to create the illusion of fuller lashes. Apply on the outer corners, including part of the lower lash line for a wide-eyed effect. Clean up & create a slightly smokey effect with a damp Q-tip.
3. On crease, in sweeping motions & blending out: any light, yellowish gold shade with a little shimmer.

4. On upper lid: any light, creamy shade (i.e.: ivory, off-white, cream) with low to medium shimmer.
5. Finish off with black waterproof mascara.

Health: Coconut Oil For Healthy Hair & Scalp (Tried & Tested)

I've been on coconut hot oil treatment so many times before and it has worked each and every time. My scalp tends to become easily irritated under different conditions, whether it's hot, cold or dry. This would often lead to itchiness and excessive hair fall. So whenever I feel my hair and scalp need a boost, I quickly cook up some coconut hot oil treatment at home. It's easy to make!

bad hair day? hmm...

Step 1: Get a handful of fresh desiccated coconut. Store the rest in the freezer for later use.

Step 2: Heat a cooking pot with the desiccated coconut in it and add some water (enough to cover the coconut).

Step 3: Bring to a boil. Stir in between and add more water if necessary.

Step 4: Strain and transfer to a separate cup or bowl. Allow to cool a bit so you don't burn your scalp.

Step 5: Dip a cotton ball into the liquid and apply onto the scalp and hair (or just the hair). Wrap hair in cling wrap or plastic bag and leave for 30 minutes to an hour.

Step 6: Wash off with your regular shampoo and conditioner. I either use anti-dandruff shampoo (Nizoral) or SLS-free shampoo like Avalon products. Throw away whatever remains. Store the rest of the coconut oil (that you strained into the first bowl) in a jar and keep refrigerated for no more than 3 days (the moment it smells funny, throw it away).

I don't recommend keeping this treatment in the refrigerator or freezer for more than just a few days. I know there are other coconut oil products that can keep for a very long time though, even at room temperature. But I think it's because this particular treatment has a lot of liquid or water in it that makes it spoil so quickly. I've never tried other coconut oil products, so I can't say how effective they are either.

Here are the results:

Give it a try :)

Style & Beauty: Traveling - What's In Your Makeup Bag?

Don't you wish there was a better way to step out of an airplane than to look like a zombie? If you're going to bring makeup on the plane you might as well keep it to a minimum - no heavy foundation, no heavy eye makeup, and no running mascara! At least this is how I roll :p

I'd keep only these makeup items in my hand-carry bag:
1. Concealer stick
2. Pressed powder
3. Blush-on
4. Eyeshadow
5. Lash curler
6. Lip balm
7. Moisturizer

The goal is to look fresh, not overdone.

*Tips*: Rub your finger on the concealer stick and start dabbing and blending some concealer under your eyes or any red/discolored area on your face. It's more discreet this way. Simply use your fingers to dab on eyeshadow - use any gold/pearl shade, as this matches just about any skin tone and naturally brightens up the eyes.

Do you have any makeup tricks on looking fresh during touchdown?

Style & Beauty: From Warm To Winter Travel & Outfit Ideas

I'm about to travel to New Zealand, which at this time of year is supposedly the coldest. The last time I experienced very cold weather was years ago when I was abroad. I can remember 10 degrees Celsius would be like being inside a fridge, while anywhere below that felt like being in a freezer. I knew a cardigan and a coat wouldn't be enough.

The Question

How do I keep warm without looking like a massive snowball? What about the stop-over place that still has warm weather?

The Solution

I'd have 4 layers of clothing, the first being a camisole that fits like second skin to prevent bulking. The second layer would still be very delicate/thin, but definitely with long sleeves for warmth. The third layer would be some type of long-sleeved cardigan, but this time thicker, like a knitted top. The final, outermost layer would be any winter coat/jacket.

For leg wear, I'd wear leggings first and then pants that are stretchable or easy to move around with - yes, two pieces of leg wear. I'd pair these with ankle boots. Use accessories like gloves, hats and scarves to create a unique look. I got this idea to pair neutral-colored clothing with pastel-colored accessories for easy mix-and-matching while on the go.

Transit From Warm To Winter

I'll be stopping by Hong Kong, which at this time of month is going to be fairly warm. I don't want to look odd so I'd keep the outer layers in my hand-carry bag. By the way, this is why I chose ankle boots: longer ones will just be too warm in this scenario.

This is just my idea of keeping warm without looking bulky and making the transition easy. What are your ideas of keeping cozy, especially when traveling from a warmer place?

Style & Beauty: Cute Bohemian Bracelet!

Mum came back recently from a European cruise and got me this quirky thing of a bracelet. I thought it was super adorable with its simple/minimalist but thoughtful design.

Here's another look:

So delicate and pretty. I'd definitely add this to a Bohemian-style wardrobe, or wear it as part of a beach outfit. What do you think?