IN DETAIL

 

 

favourite read

Great Big Beautiful Life: Emily Henry

A real affirmation of life, living, family and choices with nice side quests of a developing love story that is realistic and true, and a mystery to solve which I absolutely loved. I read it, and thought about the characters long after I was done. I liked that it wasn’t focused on the love story and more on each author themselves and their own family ties & lives. I may have even cried at some parts.

TOPIC obsession

Watercolour paper stamps

As in.. to record your travels! I saw it first on Tina Le Mac and I was instantly hooked.

Pick a city, draw it out, paint it out, and then cut it out and make the edges serrated with an edge trimmer pair of scissors, special craft scissors that make cool borders, and treat it like a souvenir “stamp” of the city you have been to.

Then paste it on a large canvas, or put it in a frame, and it becomes a living piece of art where you can add more stamps and cool places as time goes on.

I am doing this as an art project with Little Bun, to mark all the cities we visit as a family from the time he was born, and each time we go somewhere new, we pick a defining symbol of that city and draw it in.

FAVOURITE WATCH

In the bag of a Parisian

I would like to point out I don’t think Parisiennes have a lock on style and grace, but I am very nosy about what people carry in their bags and this series “In the bag of a Parisian” lets me survey all of these women and what they carry.

100% certain that to be considered ‘Parisienne’ you need to be carrying a book. I made this and other such observations in this post, summarizing what women in Paris seem to carry…

Here are some of my favourite episodes from this series:

• All 3 ladies in this episode have a fantastic story and energy
• Mawena Takpa the model
• Monique, a retired châtelaine

OOTD INSPO

DRAPING

The beginnings of a fabulously draped jacket.

I love the Grecian look of clothing, draping from Madame Grès and anything to do with creating curves with fabric. This one really inspired me to think about how I could pin my clothes in a different way to create that draping.

SURPRISING purchase

Neck fan

Who even knew they were a thing? Save yourself the stress and get an 8000 amH one.

I don’t need to carry it, it keeps my face cool, yes I look like a fool but I don’t GAF when I am out in humid, hot weather and sweating buckets.

Bonus – the wind keeps bugs away from my face when I am in the garden or walking on the trails and I don’t need to resort to wearing a beekeeper’s bonnet (I have seriously considered this).

K-BEAUTY HOLY GRAIL

SK-II PITERA ESSENCE

I gave in to the hype, purchased a sample and fell in love with it. My skin is glowing. I guess it works for me, but it won’t for some people especially the ones who are prone to acne fungus because the yeast will literally feed it and make your skin far worse.

It is so subtle and yet I notice when I don’t use it. I ended up buying the full bottle.

What I bought…

I am adding this second section for fun…

A bag I got

This COS pinch tote. I saw it and immediately fell in love with it.

I love the linen body, the inner lining in a black fabric, the bottom of the bag is black leather (instead of linen which would get dirty VERY quickly), and most of all, the super long handles that you can sling easily over your shoulder and kind of hold it behind you on your back rather than it being forced to dangle just under your armpit.

Best of all – the very simple, minimalist leather knots for the bag itself, with the end pieces hanging down elegantly like ribbons…

It even comes with an inner pouch that is attached to the bag to store your keys and other smaller items.

I have been using it nonstop for errands so far and it holds EVERYTHING while being super light and summery.

A clothing choice that surprised me

I saw this, and yes, I love fruit printed things, but I mostly only like the shape and look of citrus fruit prints… so this fruit printed top surprised me that I liked seeing mangoes and other fruits as a print, on top of an embroidered, scalloped top!!! It typically would be too frou-frou for my tastes but I think it was the bunch of grapes that sold me..

It looks just like the picture on the model rather than the one on the hanger (I don’t like that one as much, as the grapes are not as prominent and it is more of a pastel watermelon which isn’t as pretty as the grape)..

I did buy the matching skirt that goes with it but it went back because it was SO MUCH FABRIC and it felt so heavy on my body. It didn’t feel light, summery or fresh, and yet the print screams summer.

A bag I returned

Everyone and their pet porcupine was raving about this Cyme bag because the brand Polène is known as a really nice brand with well made materials and so on. I don’t doubt it but I don’t love this bag.

So here is what I loved:

I love the shape of it, the materials feel solid, sturdy and well done, the colour is beautiful, and I love having two sets of handles for a hand hold or a shoulder one.

I also like that you can switch the shape (in theory) from being tucked in to being more of a trapeze style.

Here is what I didn’t love:

When I go to sling it onto my shoulder, my elbows get caught on the hand handles that are sticking up. Maybe over time they would flop down and it would be easier, but this is a no go for me.

The leather is very durable and nice, and feels like that Prada saffiano leather, but I cannot help and think – Plastic / Fake Leather. It just has that feeling and I like my bags to be softer and cuddlier.

The shape you see there? I love it. I can’t get it to fold out like that. Maybe over time it would soften up to let me do this, but right now it is pinched in and held in by magnets.

I couldn’t justify the exorbitant price tag for this, maybe if it was $200 – $250, yes why not, but not at $800+.

Featured purchase

I saw this Boden Thomasina skirt in pink gingham and knew it would be perfect for summer. I like the length, the pockets, and a structured waist because then it feels crisp and tailored. I have worn it multiple times and it is definitely true to size.

My surprising K-Beauty purchase

This Beauty of Joseon Hanbang Serum discovery kit  is perfect for traveling and for testing out the serums. I am glad I got it because I ended up hating the Green Tea one (I will still use it until it is gone), but I bought full-sized versions of everything else – Revive, Glow and Glow Deep.

It is SO HARD to find serums and skincare with zero scent or scent that fades very quickly, so when I saw these, I jumped on them because they felt great on my skin, looked like they were helping and don’t stink up the place.

They are fragrance free. Yes there is a slight smell when you first apply it, but it disappears and my partner who has a nose of a bloodhound, didn’t say a word.

Calming Serum : Green Tea + Panthenol

Felt sticky on my face after I used it, and really wasn’t pleasant

Solution : Green tea leaf water 76% + Panthenol 2%
Notable ingredients : Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate
Texture : Watery and lightweight texture
Benefits : Soothing, Calming

Glow Serum : Propolis + Niacinamide

Feels like spreading honey on my skin, a little sticky but I am OK with it if it does what it says

Solution : Propolis Extract 60% + Niacinamide 2%
Notable ingredients : Betaine Salicylate (BHA), Tamanu Oil, Tea Tree Extract
Texture : Honey-like texture
Benefits : Anti-acne, Anti-inflammation

Glow Deep Serum : Rice + Alpha-Arbutin

Feels like a serum, absorbs in beautifully.

Solution : Rice bran water 68% + Alpha-Arbutin 2%
Notable ingredients : Glycerin, Niacinamide, Soybean Seed Extract, Barley Extract, Rice Extract, Sesame Extract
Texture : Watery and lightweight texture
Benefits : Anti-pigmentation, Brightening

Revive Serum : Ginseng + Snail Mucin

Feels like a watery serum, absorbs in nicely.

Solution : Ginseng Root Water 63% + Snail Mucin 3%
Notable ingredients : Ginseng Root Extract, Adenosine, Matsutake Extract
Texture : Lightweight, Mucin-like texture
Benefits : Anti-wrinkle, Anti-pigmentation

On the hunt for…

A great eyelash curler. I have a few on my list that are supposedly amazing. Right now I use Shiseido and I like it, but I am wondering if there is something better out there as it is getting old (it is almost 20 years old now, surely they have improved on the design by now)…

• Suratt Relevee
• Kevyn Aucoin eyelash curler

I also saw some K-and-J-beauty versions that look promising for cheaper. I have yet to confirm any of these in my shopping basket because the price tag isn’t making me jump for joy.

What I will never buy again

These awful MUJI sandals

These horrible Muji moulded sandals. Luckily I am only using them for the garden, to hang laundry outside, or to go get mail (very short distances), but I am really not loving them. At least they would be better with socks during winter, so I don’t have that weird feeling left on my soles, but I would highly NOT RECOMMEND buying these. They are AWFUL.

My absolute favourite purchase of the month

The Anouk Ballet + tennis dress from alémais

This incredibly made Anouk Ballet + Tennis dress by Alémais.. the pattern matching against the seams, the ribbons streaming down, this dress is FABULOUS. I will say that the size is definitely true to size (I took a US 6 and I am a US 6), and it has POCKETS. A serious statement piece that is still casual and fun.

What brightened my office lately

It is so silly but fun post-its…

These incredibly adorable fruit post-it notes. I can’t find the ones I bought any longer but these ones are similar.

A purchase I caved to

A piece of art I made

This Gumball!

I have been getting into watercolouring, especially with Little Bun and I use the Faber-Castell watercolour pencils. It is never a bad idea to be creative and do something you’re learning, not great at, but is fun and relaxing.

What I accomplished

All of his baby books

Only took over a decade but HIS BABY PHOTO ALBUMS ARE DONE!!!!! I had so many (legit thousands) of photos to sift through that it took me about 3 weeks, intensively, at 8-ish hours a day around work & household duties to pick out the pictures, write captions and get it DONE.

I had so many cute photos that I had to split his first year into First Six Months and Last Six Months albums, and then every year thereafter.

Want more?

Here are all the previous months’ posts…