2011 is here.

Good bye 2010 and hello 2011!

It’s the time of the year, where everyone reviews their year’s resolution and update them.

Well, I’m glad that for once in my life, I stuck by my resolutions!

I’ve remained relatively clutter free and have only been buying investment pieces to add to my current collection. I’ve kept impulse buys at bay for the large part of the year, only succumbing to temptation during massive sales.

I’m also pretty proud that I’ve managed to keep up with my ebay store, selling the clothes that I’ve out grown - doing my bit for the environment and earning some pocket money along the way. I’ve just updated the store. So do check it out here! Serious buyers only; please.

Resolutions for 2011?

1) Shape up my closet and be a savvy shopper. It’s important to learn how to stretch the dollar. A $50 top can look as good as a $500 top, given the correct matching of bottoms and shoes. Resist the temptation to buy dresses! I’ve so many, I’m starting to loose track of them!

2) Slim my collection of beauty products. Honestly, I’ve been a naughty kid, always experimenting with new beauty fixes. I need to limit the amount of beauty products that I buy.

3) Expand my reading list to include finance books.

Happy 2011 everyone!

BS: Prep yourself for the countdown!

So you are a week away from the great partying down to 2011 and your skin is still recovering from the crazy Christmas partying with booze and what not.

I’ve conjured up a list of beauty wonders that will stretch its dollar to prepare you in time for the big night of the year. All the products mentioned here are products that I’ve personally tried and tested… And simply can’t stop raving about.

Note: I’ve combination skin that is slightly sensitive and relatively thin.

It’s all about the Eyes..

Early December, I passed by Lancaster’s counter in light of getting its Skin Therapy. On a whim, I decided to give its eye serum a try. After all, our beauty queen of Caldecott Hill, Fann Wong, is a long time user of Lancaster.

Within three days of using this serum, I was sold.

My fine lines were less obvious. My skin felt more plumped. Despite using a generous amount - you really don’t have to, just one pump is enough - no oil seed formed.

I don’t like the orange packaging, but I do like that it’s small and handy to bring with you. And the application is easy. Just pump and pat.

As this is a serum, you can use it with your regular eye cream. I pair mine with my all time favourite eye cream is Laneige’s dual eye cream. I previously wrote a review and I’m still a huge fan of it. The result was noticeable.

Now one of my major find this Christmas season is an incredible concealer.

The Amazing Concealer.

This is one of Hollywood’s best kept secrets and honestly, thank God the secret is out.

I’ve heard tons and tons of good review on this baby, and decided to get it at Sephora. I got the tiny tube as the bigger tube was sold out. But never mind that, it is a good travel size.

One tiny minuscule drop is all you need to cover the eyes. Mind you, a small small small drop is all you really need.

What I love about it is that it is non-drying. I think that it is absolutely important for eye concealer as a drying concealer, even if it covers well, will cake and cause fine lines to be more obvious.

After an entire day out at sea - I courageously took it to trial at the salty sea at Phuket - snorkel and all. It was surprisingly intact!

But I have to add that method of applying the concealer is crucial. You need to tap in the concealer slowly. Start from the bottom part of the dark eye circle and pat the concealer upwards. This would ensure an even look.

I’m rather fair and I use golden light.

It’s the Glow in your the Face…

I’m not a great believer that only expensive products work well.

Face masks by My Beauty Diary is a case in point.

It retails for $14.50 for 10 packs. So that makes it to be $1.45 per use. If you use this 5 days a week for a month, it adds up to be $29 a month. Cheaper than going for facial.

The best seller is the black pearl mask, which is unfortunately almost always out of stock.

Personally, I love their Q10, red wine and birds’ nest mask more. My skin looks fairer and dewy after each application.

Another plus point of my Beauty Diary is that it has slits at the side to make the mask fit well on the face.

Now this last product is a current favourite of mine. It is relatively low-key in Singapore and is advertised through word of mouth.

Agediscuss by Soigne, CP Cosmetics. CP Cosmetics is the beauty arm of Sony. The company that is famed for producing cameras and laptops.

What this does is that it lifts the face, making it taunt and slimmer. True to its word, I saw a difference within a week. Do remember to follow the suggested application process to increase its potential.

CP Cosmetics is solely sold at Face Bistro. I do love their service. For one, I have to thank my beautician for saving me from my agonising break-out days, when my dermatologist couldn’t.

Another fabulous product to try is Aquafit. I practically lived it in for two years to rectify the damage that the tropical sun had caused.

I hope you are ready to party!

Snowflakes at Christmas.

It’s Christmas!

A great big hello from the two girls.

And I finally laid my hands on the Christmas snowflake from…

Merry Christmas!

On Christmas Eve

New York at Christmas time will always hold a special place in my heart.

View from across at Brooklyn Bridge.

The lights, the dazzle and the coldness all melt into one makes one very happy Valerie.

Day…

And night…

Oh festive festive.

Stocking Fillers and More

It’s 2 more days to Christmas.

If you haven’t gotten your friends a present. Start panicking…

Christmas gifts I love… Perfect for your best girlfriend.

From Tiffany’s

From Lanvin. They make you smell so yummy and pretty.

For the gentlemen. A tie from Gucci perhaps?

And for homes… Muji provides great solutions for a sleek outlook.

We can’t forget about parties can we?

Be merry and get these gifts as door presents for your party. From Body Shop.

I can’t wait for Christmas to come!

All I want for Christmas 2010…

One of the worse feeling in the world is to be sick at Christmas time.

An absolutely unglamourous shot of myself. But the noodles rock big time.

Santa, can I have a functioning stomach and nose for Christmas?

This whole 3 weeks have been plagued by a very bout of stomach flu and an irritating cough that refuses to go away and a leaky nose.

I wanna eat all the yummy stuff on Christmas day!

Christmas 2010 what are you wearing?

Christmas is around the corner. And it’s time to dress up!

I love these dresses from Warehouse.

And these long column dresses.

Oh, if only I was that tall to carry off those maxi. So I settled for the black ruffled toga dress. =) It was featured in Grazia.

I’ve no idea why, but I’m so into togas that I bought two more dresses from Bysi. One of which was featured here.

What are you wearing this Christmas?

The lost tokens

You know, I secretly love my nieces to death.

Really, they are so adorable in their pretty little dresses and are so angelic looking when they are all smiley.

But sometimes, I do see a little devilish looking tail sticking out.

Occasionally.

I lost my tokens yesterday.

And I asked Gwyneth, “Hey, did you see my tokens?”

Gwyneth, “Er… no?”

Me: “Are you sure? Ka ka (our helper) said she saw you playing with it. Are you sure you didn’t take it?”

Gwyneth, “Er… mejapsldkgfyakfaoj”

Meet Gwyneth’s handbag. She puts all that she cherishes in it.

Hey, I spy something very familiar….

Kids… Don’t you love them so?

Loving my new hair cut

It’s Christmas season and I hate being sick. I want to be out there shopping and dining. But alas, this wretched stomach flu has really caused my digestive system to go haywire. Again! Grrrr.

On happier side of things, a day before falling ill, I went to get my hair cut. Finally… I’ve been wanting to cut my hair 3 months ago!

Three hours and a hair dye - I had red hair that threatened to turn orange! And three inches chopped of.

Me at the salon. Chatting with my sister who was getting her hair done.

I was a brunette once more with healthier looking hair. Even my helper at home says she loves this do much better.

I’m extremely loyal and conservative when it comes to getting my hair done. I had to chop off my manes to a crop do - to a teenage girl that is simply punishment - due to some rigid school rule when I was in Secondary school and have since sworn to never have my hair short. Ever.

I’ve followed my previous hair stylist for about eight years, and now after getting my hair done at this salon for two times, I might just switch hair stylist. Shh, don’t tell my current hair stylist.

Even my sister loves to get her hair done at this salon. She had these curlers in her hair and the hair stylist was fussing over her manes for every 10 minutes. And while waiting for her, I had three cups of drinks.

Way much fresher do. Saying bye to my curled hair for a while.

And my sister’s new hair-do.

I like!

Ground Zero and Beyond

Taking the sub, I reach ground zero.

I still remember that fateful incident many years ago. I was due to sit for an important exam the next day and it was the first time I came to know the term ‘terrorist’.

It’s sad and the world came to learn about the pain that a thoughtless act can inflict.

Here, we remember those who lost their lives in the 2001 September 11 incident.

The only part of the building that was left standing was this sculpture entitled “The Sphere”.

The mood was sombre and you can see people paying their respects to those who lost their lives in this tragic accident.

The Manhattan skyline was never the same again.

And from across this site, at Liberty island…

The soft light cast by the midday sunlight makes Manhattan appear so serene as if the accident has never occurred.

As the statue of Liberty looks on, let’s all remember those who bravely battled to save lives and lost their own. Let’s also pray for the families who have lost a loved one in 9/11 and may the Lord comfort them.