Bella Italia!

Paris B 8 Comments

Doris tagged me to ask where I wanted to go. This tag is rather convoluted, but I’d seen it around before, so I wasn’t as confused as I usually am. Here goes.

My #1 place to visit at the moment is Japan. I want to see the Sakura and I’m sore about the fact my trip got cancelled. However, Msau has already taken that country, so here’s mine.

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Italy! I’d say the whole country, but where I’d really like to visit for now is the Tuscany countryside. I’d visited Florence when I was a student and I fell in love with the countryside. It was winter when I was there, but it was perfect weather – the sun was shining and it wasn’t so cold as to freeze off your toes. The trees were green and gold, and the villages were so quaint and so…. Italian! It was absolutely lovely!

I want to stay in a farmhouse in the countryside, where I can eat fresh fruit in the back garden, and spread fresh jam and nutella over fresh crusty bread, and drink wine, and stuff my face with pasta. Of course, I’m there for the food! Not to mention Gelato, gelato and gelato! I love Italy. I’ve been planning to go back for ages, but its just too costly and too time consuming for now.

Still a girl can dream and who knows, a couple of years down the road, this dream will be a reality and I can really then say Ciao Bella Italia!  😀

My Cole Haan Bags

Paris B 7 Comments

Doris left me a comment on my previous post about the MO Outlet and I’m so happy to find another Cole Haan fan! I used to walk into the Cole Haan boutique in Starhill Gallery and drool over their buttery soft leather bags, but I’d walk out again, empty-handed, as I could not justify paying the 4 figures they were asking for.

You see, I went to check out prices online and they are so much cheaper in the USA! I’d feel cheated paying RM2000 for 1 bag which you can get in the USA for say $300 (RM1200) or even less. So, I abstained.

That is, until I discovered the MO Outlet in Cheras. Suddenly, these bags became affordable! Well, just…

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This one caught my eye first. Its a bright fuschia in the pic but slightly more muted in real life. I love colourful bags so I didn’t mind that it would draw attention. Its a Cole Haan Alexa range, and is rather on the long side. There is no zipper at the top but there are zippers by the side. The no zipper at the top thing bugs me a little but with a bit of care, its actually ok. The straps are long enough to sling, which I like too.

IMG_6225 The other I bought is also in the Alexa range. This one is large – it can fit an A4 file without problems. To be honest, I don’t know why I bought it then as it was really quite big. I came home and googled it and found it was supposed to be a diaper bag!! Wah luxurious mommies!

Anyway, I left it in my cupboard for a spell, and then tried to sell it, but to no avail. Then, I changed jobs and suddenly, I needed to tote around a whole lot of stuff – documents, stationery, wallet, cheque book… and this baby came in handy. Its lined in a tiffany blue nylon lining which is very unexpected, and has loads of compartments, which is of course, useful!

Both bags are leather. The leather is very soft and pliable and feels smooth to the touch. They are also both past season bags, but I don’t quite care LOL… They serve me well, and both together cost less than what 1 new one would cost in the store!

I’ve been carrying my black one everywhere for about 2 months now – dumping it on floors, swinging it around, and it still looks new, except around the corners. I guess this is what a good quality bag is all about! Yes, I love Cole Haan bags, and I’m dying to get more hehe…

Review: Makeup: Maybelline XXL Mascara

Paris B 8 Comments

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I’m a mascara novice. I never used mascara because, well, I never knew how! That is, until a friend told me to try Maybelline XXL mascara.

This mascara in a fat little tube comes with 2 ends – white colour primer and black colour mascara. The white colour goes on first, and is supposed to lengthen your lashes. The black colour volumizes it.

Does it work?

Well, I have short stick straight Asian lashes. I use the Shu Uemura curler to give my lashes a bit of a curl, then I apply the mascara. I’d say that it does lengthen my lashes and it does add some volume. I look like I have a fringe of lashes.

However, I find the brush too fat and the bristles too short. Its also rather clumpy so I get clumps in my lashes which when I try to brush out, messes up my lashes a tad. In that sense, its hard to use.

It comes in 2 formulas – Black body = non waterproof. Blue body = waterproof. I’ve only tried the non-waterproof version and it does smudge throughout the day. But only to be expected in our hot humid weather. Its easy to remove, which is good.

It retails at RM20+ at all pharmacies and sometimes goes on discount or special price. I’d say it works in a pinch, and since mascaras should be discarded after 3-5 months, its not too expensive. However, the brush puts me off, so I’m off to search for another one.

Pros: Lengthens and adds volume as promised

Cons: Brush head is too fat, clumpy formula

Would you buy cosmetics online?

Paris B 3 Comments

I was chatting to a friend yesterday and we were talking about buying makeup online. The question we posed was whether we would buy makeup/cosmetics online? Are Malaysians ready to shop online for toiletries and cosmetics?

We concurred that the answer is no.

I’ve bought makeup online before, either from online stores or through friends overseas. The problem is not in the buying of the makeup online. Its the problem of not being able to see and touch the actual product before buying it.

If you are sensitive to fragrance, you can’t tell if the smell of the item will bug you just by looking at it online. You can’t tell how the texture is. You can’t tell what it looks like on your skin or whether its suitable for you. You just have to cross your fingers and hope for the best.

I do my homework thoroughly before I buy anything online. I read reviews by users and try to get a feel of the product before I buy. Yet, I’ve ended up with duds and sometimes, expensive duds.

I believe many Malaysians feel the same way. We are not a big country and almost everything is available to everyone at some point. We are never more than 9 hours max away from any city so shopping online just seems so pointless.

So, whilst I will still continue buying cometics online, I will try to stick to only getting them online if they are cheaper or if I’m really dying to try a particular brand/colour. Else, nothing beats getting a feel of the product before handing over your hard-earned cash.

What do you think? Are you prepared to buy makeup and cosmetics online, sight unseen?

The fun and previews happen on Instagram @parisbmws