Five Faves

It’s summertime! Honestly, it’s not my favourite time of the year, I’m extremely pale and extremely English and I cannot deal with excessively hot weather. Recently I went to America (and yes it is a small miracle I survived the southern heat) and I discovered that I love it out there. Not only do I enjoy the chilled out lifestyle but I LOVE LOVE LOVE how cheap everything is...seriously! Three of my five favourites are from America and I’m desperately regretting not stocking up on the skincare products whilst I was out there. Gutted.

FAB (First Aid Beauty) Face Cleanser

Probably the best cleanser I have ever used, hands down. My skin is for sure 100 times better than it had been in the months prior to using this. It’s hard to explain but because the gel like texture requires massaging into the skin in order to foam up, you always ensure that you work it in really well, something I never really did with my cleansers before. An added bonus for me is that it’s suitable for sensitive skin, so I really recommend everyone to try this. It’s fab ;) And I’m dangerously close to finishing it. Cry.

Late Post

Hello hello hello!

So, here's my super late post on some of my favourite things. This is just a quick and simple post to keep you guys updated on what I've been enjoying. I promise I have a much larger post prepared for my July favourites but that will just have to wait.

June was a pretty quick month for me. I've moved back to my beautiful home in the tropics, so the transition has been pretty intense. From weather to lifestyle choices so much has to be changed for myself to adjust to the hot, hot sun and the random monsoon showers. As June was a pretty speedy for me I did not spend it buying new beauty products or visiting new places. I've just been trying to settle back in and spend time with my family and most importantly relax.

(1) For my birthday my lovely housemates bought me an eyelash curler which I've had my eye on for a while (huhu punny). It's the Ted Baker eyelash curler which you can get at Boots. Now that I've landed back in the super hot temperatures of Borneo I haven't been too keen on wearing makeup apart from some bronzer and mascara. So I use this baby every time I go out and it does the job. Definitely a new favourite of mine.

(2) As it is summer I've been really in to floral scents and I've rediscovered my love for my YSL Parisienne perfume. It's rose scented and isn't obnoxious. Super light and super lovely.

(3) Continuing on with the floral scents I loooove Victoria Secret's Such a Flirt body butter. It's beautifully scented and super creamy. It sinks in to my skin and leaves me smelling great all day which means you really don't need to wear any perfume. It smells so delicious its so hard not to eat it. But don't, it'll probably taste rank as heck. Hashtag you're welcome.

(4) As I mentioned previously, I've been concentrating on relaxing and chilling from uni life and why not dive in to a good book. I mean, I don't even remember the last time I had the opportunity to read for pleasure. I have to read heaps and heaps of books for my course and I've definitely forgotten the satisfaction of escaping from the real world for an hour or two with a good read. I picked up this book whilst I was waiting to board on to my second flight back home. It reminds me of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time and I've read the same in some reviews. Its quite interesting and basically is about what the title says i.e. a story about a boy who can see demons and a child psychologist analysing his claims and behaviour. It bounces between the perspective of the boy and the psychologist. That's all I'm gonna say. It's great though, I'm really enjoying it so far.

(5) Finally, my super cool 'Zippo' lighter from my best friend. She got it in Turkey. I mean, look at how rad it looks.

-Yaz

Learning a Language

Something neither beauty nor fashion related today but more lifestyle - a topic I’ve been wanting to write about for a while, so I hope this post is useful. I may or may not have said before that I study French (with English) at Uni. People often approach me to ask what it’s like to learn a language and how it feels to be able to speak it at a reasonable level. Today I’ll talk about the pros and cons of learning a language and for those in education, what learning a language is like at various stages in the UK education system.

I’m clearly biased, but I think learning a language is really great. Here are my five top reasons as to why I think you should consider giving it a try:

·      It’s interesting. You don’t just learn another language, but you learn about the culture of the country or countries in which the language is spoken, including everything from history to fashion to art to food.

·     You can learn a lot about your own language. This is particularly helpful for me as I also study English Language, but nonetheless it is particularly informative and helps with some of those more obscure Trivial Pursuit questions.

·    Employability. Employers love people who can speak more than one language and with the current job market as competitive as it is any little extra skills you can bring to the table are a bonus.

·   Confidence and communication. Learning a language brings you multiple other skills,  particularly communication skills and in turn those skills contribute towards making you  a more confident person.

·   Impressing your friends. And your parents. And men...I always get asked to ‘say  something in French, it’s really ...’ ;)

MAY FAVOURITES!

Heya, so I know it has been a while since I last posted. I've had my final exams during the whole month of May so I had to concentrate on revision rather than blog posts (sorry, priorities right?). Anyway, it is now June so I thought I would share some of my favourite products of May!

I've always had a problem with my legs being ridiculously dry but ever since I purchased Soap and Glory's Sugar Crush body butter I am a changed woman. I have never experienced such smooth, hydrated and deliciously smelling legs- ever?! It smells like key lime pie IMO and doesn't leave any yucky residue after you apply it. This has become my holy grail moisturizer, its recommended to apply this after you've taken a shower when your skin is still a bit damp. It works wonders and has brought life back to my skin! Seriously try it out if you get the chance. 

Okay so I obviously gave in to the Oral B hype. But let me tell you, THE HYPE IS REAL! My boyfriend purchased this before me and told me how brill it was at whitening and cleaning his teeth. I was pretty skeptical at first but he told me to get it when it was on a deal because it would be SO worth it, AND IT WAS! This has changed my dental hygiene life you guys. My teeth have never looked or felt so clean and over time this baby has helped whiten them too. One day it ran out of battery and I had to revert to my old school toothbrush and let me tell you it just wasn't the same. Boots often have great deals (up to 50% off) on these toothbrushes so its a great value for money. Highly recommended. 

So yeah I've finished my L'Oreal micellar solution and decided to try out the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. I have to say that I much prefer this to the L'Oreal one because I personally find it much stronger and better at removing my makeup. I also felt like the L'Oreal solution had a scent which bothered me quite a bit whereas the Garnier one doesn't. However, Alex once mentioned she felt the opposite about the smell so I guess it depends on what you consider a strong scent. 

Also, as a result of exam stress and womanly pains my skin has been, well, shit. My usual routine was no longer working and I was breaking out like crazy. I recently purchased the Body Shop tea tree Cool and Creamy face wash. Firstly, its great for those who suffer from dry skin/patches, like myself. Its hydrating and is really great at keeping zits at bay and calming them down. My skin is already clearing up after a few days of using it. (Ok I bought this like 3 days ago so I kinda cheated but whatever)

Finally, I know this isn't beauty related but its a favourite. I've only started to read this and I'm sucked in. I'm already such a fan of Murakami (okay I love him) and so far I'm really enjoying this book. I've heard mixed reviews about this book (1Q84) but so far I think its beautifully written and stays true to his style. His writings are so vivid and clear and are definitely great reads. This book comes in a 3 and to not give much away I'll just repeat what it says on the back of my copy:

"A love story, a mystery, a fantasy, a novel of self-discovery, a dystopia to rival George Orwell's-1Q84 is a tremendous feat of imagination from one of our most revered contemporary writers"

I hope you enjoyed this post and I've convinced you to get some of the things I've been loving!

-Yaz

Spring Fashion

Today I have a mini Spring Lookbook for you. Here are some little outfit suggestions for the end of April and May. As you can see, the rain interfered while we were taking the photos, but it wouldn’t be England without some April showers, ey?! 

The Home/Uni Balance

I’m almost at the end of my second year at university now, which is crazy to me! One of the most frequently asked questions I have, by family, friends, Freshers is ‘How long are you going home for?’ I still think of ‘Home’ as they place where my family live and that’s where I spend my summers and generally Christmas and Easter. In my first year I was conscious of not going home too early on in the year. I was painfully homesick at the start of first year and immediately wanted to go home. I held off for five weeks though and this was such a good decision. Had I gone running home in week 1, I never would have come back, and then I would have missed out on some of the best times of my life so far. In first year, the struggle is very much about resisting the temptation to run home every weekend. Whether that be for the home-cooked food, for your mum doing your washing or simply because you’d rather spend time with your ‘old’ friends than the people you’ve met at Uni.

I'M BACK with: What's On My Shelf?

Hi hi hi hi hi!

Firstly, let me apologize for not updating the blog with Yaz posts. The last month of uni had become way too stressful with deadlines and exams, so I had to priorities work over the blog. Anyway, I have just started my Easter holiday so I will try to post more regularly. LET'S MOVE ON! 

Tips and Tricks with Yumi Sakugawa

Some cool illustrated lifestyle and beauty tips everyone could use. Check out Yumi Sakugawa's site 

Cooking with Yaz!

Just kidding. Today I thought I'd share some of my favourite meals and recipes! Being a student makes it difficult to stick to a healthy lifestyle simply because time seems to slip away between assignments, seminars and lectures. Also, lets be real here, healthy food is really expensive and student life is hard. With your loans barely covering your rent and cooking meals with 10 minutes to spare before you are off to your next class, it all can get a bit intense. However, here are some recipes I like, varying from quick cooks to easy dinners. 

To check out these recipes online, click on the photos below. 

Pan Fried Kale

   

Wrap Up

So I'm just putting together a quick post of what we've been doing this week. Started it off with a trip to Wagamamas which is our favourite pick-me-up restaurant. I had the yasai pad thai and Alex had the yaki soba. 

We've been quite bad this week and have been doing some shopping! I wont even go in to what Alex has purchased this week, I'll let her make her own confession but lets just say its along the...urban...decay...lines. I've not been that disciplined either, its hard being a student when you need SO much. Want. Need. Potato, potahto. 

Valentines Shmalentines

Ugh. We all know this day well. You're either chillin' in your onesie eating a tub of Ben & Jerry's or you're sharing that tub of deliciousness with your significant other. I personally don't like to make a big deal out of the cheesiest, most commercial day of the year. BUT,  I hate to admit that I would be a little disappointed if my other half didn't acknowledge the day whatsoever.

Considering Valentines day is in a couple of weeks I've decided to create a gift guide/some ideas of what to do with or for your main man/woman. 

The first Valentines day I shared with my Boy (yeah, I will be referring to him as the Boy from now on) was unfortunately apart as we were in a long-distance relationship at the time. However, we tried to make it special despite being so far away from each other. He got my friend to anonymously send me some chocolate (cheesey) and write me a little love note from him (even cheesier). We later skyped and watched Peter Jackson's zombie-gore film DeadAlive (aka Braindead). I know, romantic. Well, I thought it was. Anyway my point is if you don't want to make a big deal over the day I suggest a night in with a movie and some comfort food. Nothing says romance like sweatpants, doritos and flesh eating zombies. 

If, however, you would like to make the day special by giving your other half a present I've linked some sweet gift ideas below!

   

 

                     

1: Love Poems from http://www.anthropologie.com

2: Necklace from http://www.tobi.com/

3: Sushi Socks from http://www.amazon.co.uk

4: Breaking Bad Shirt from http://m.hottopic.com/

5: Poster from http://www.society6.com/MiMoPrints/BUTT-0R5_Print

6: Zippo Lighter from http://www.urbanoutfitters.com

7: Love Candle from http://www.hm.com/us/product/92451?article=92451-A

8: Don't Talk To Me Mug from http://society6.com/Courtney_Burns/Dont-talk-QyV_Mug#27=199

I hope your Valentines is filled with lots of love and lots of junk food!

-Yaz

The Curly Hair Struggle

I won’t lie. For years I didn’t embrace my curls as I probably should have. Don’t tell my mum that though. I hate the phrase “I told you so”. I’ve been growing my hair longer recently and I love how my curls look at this longer length. I have some product recommendations and tips which helped me to embrace dat curl! Hopefully they’ll be useful for you too.

When washing my hair (something I need to do every other day), Herbal Essences has been my knight in shining armour. I currently use their ‘Tousle Me Softly’ shampoo, conditioner and styling cream. The scent is Wild Violet which I personally think smells really nice and quite natural in the hair. The products don’t leave my hair greasy which some higher end products have done. A small amount of the styling cream applied evenly through wet hair helps to hold the curls as the hair dries, but avoid too much cream in one area, and not on the roots, as this can leave the hair sticky and tangled.

 

When drying my hair, if I have time to let it dry naturally, I find this gives the best curls and doesn’t add to much volume – not always the best thing when you have curly hair. If I do use a hairdryer, I have it on a medium heat and when I want to perfect the curl I like to use a diffuser. I currently use the BaByliss Dry and Curl 2100W hairdryer, which is fairly inexpensive. I always try to use a Heat Defence Spray and often a Curling spray. For this, I would recommend Phil Smith products – they don’t leave the hair feeling greasy or stiff, like some sprays can.

I won’t lie, I’m no Leona Lewis when I finish this routine, but I don’t think I look too bad. And I don’t want to sound like my mum, but seriously ladies, learn to love those curls - others would give their arm for hair naturally like ours!

- Alex 

The Checklist

I understand the experience of those who are finally leaving the nest to move in to university halls can be extremely stressful. When I was packing and preparing to move in to my accommodation, I literally had no clue what to bring or what to prepare for. Everything was so last minute and it was really difficult for me to fit everything I needed for my new home in to my suitcase. So I searched online for checklists, advice and posts for what I needed to bring to university. With hindsight I realised that the majority of the lists included way too many unnecessary items for one girl to purchase all on her own. So I've decided to compile my own list of items that helped make my first year in halls so much easier. 

Ok, so I was quite unlucky when it came to the state of my accommodation. Let me explain. I lived with SIX other people and we had to share ONE toilet. Yes. ONE toilet. Although it was quite a traumatizing experience and our loo would tend to be destroyed after a night out, my room was quite big and I was able to settle in really quickly. Well, my room was my haven, my safe place. So I have put together the  essential things that helped make my experience and living conditions as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. 

Winter Blues

The last few days might be seen as signs of an upcoming rapture, however to us, the weather is pretty normal for Canterbury. Anyway, let me just start by saying there is no arguing with the winter essentials I have listed below. Hence why I've use the term essentials. 

Being a student living off-campus can get pretty hectic. The constant travelling back and forth between home and university can seem like the ultimate mission, especially in English weather. Trust me, there are days (almost too many) where we just want to stay in bed and pretend like we don't have responsibilities. However, we brave the crappy weather and crowded journey up to campus anyway. 

I would not be able to leave our house without my big boyfriend coat, my boots and my gloves. I find my biggest problem with cold weather is keeping my hands warm. I come from Asia, I was not made for such cold weather. If it wasn't for my perfect leather-glove-thick-coat combo I would no longer have those babies. However, ladies and gentleman, let me take this moment to talk about my ULTIMATE winter essential: my leather boots. My boots are my life. Seriously, I wear them every day and I don't know how I would survive without them. They go with everything and are so comfortable. It's so important to invest in the items I have mentioned, seriously, splurge if you want because you will practically be living in them. 

Anyway, below are some examples of winter clothing (quite similar) to those I would wear to university. Dark, muted colours seem to be the ongoing trend for winter and they never go out of style. I tend to pair my dark clothing with a colourful patterned scarf.

Long sleeve top / H m coat / Dr. Denim high rise jeans / Yeswalker leather ankle booties / Scarve / Fleece lined glove / Topshop long wearing lipstick


-Yaz