Hello people!

Yesterday, thanks to Songket Wedding, I attended my first ever tea garden party hosted by Sinah Bisc. I got the invite a few days before the event, and was intrigued right away. My first thoughts were 'How is it going to look like?' 'Do we eat buttered scones and drink tea out of teacups with our little pinkies stuck out?'. But, honestly, I didn't know what to expect.

First of all, a little intro. Sinah Bisc is run by a lovely lady who bakes cookies, chocolates, cupcakes and cakes for sale. Her specialty is in designing and decorating pastries, and shares ideas with other fellow bakers at her baking classes.

And once in awhile, she would hold tea parties in her backyard garden and serve freshly baked cookies and cupcakes to guests who attend. It is one such tea party that I went to yesterday.

The weather was beautiful, not too hot and not raining. There was a vine covered trellis 'tent' in the middle of the backyard, surrounded by linen-draped long tables. And children clambering on the flowered swing on a tree nearby. 

And the best decorations of all, the many cakes, cookies and cupcakes on the main table.

There were quite a range of pastries to pick from, and they all look delicious. And they kept bringing out new stuff! There were staff walking around the tables with tiered trays full of other goodies. 

Honestly, I was stuffed!

Asides from just munching on pastries and drinking tea, Sinah Bisc also displayed containers of the pastries at a corner of her backyard. They were the same pastries that she also served that day. And they were going at marked-down prices for the event only.

When I took these photos, the table was still full of these goodies. But about half an hour later, when I was leaving the tea party, this corner was swarmed by people stocking up on Sinah Bisc's baking.

I think Sinah Bisc pulled off the event with flying colours. It was such a nice experience, eating pastries with a bunch of ladies in a beautiful garden.

I really thought the decor was beautifully thought of, from the flower trellis down to the trails of pink ribbons hanging from the trees. And I took the time to tell that to Sinah Bisc herself. 

For those who would like to go to one of these tea parties, Sinah Bisc plans to have them from time to time. What you can do is like Sinah Bisc's Facebook page to find out when her next tea party will be. 

It's definitely something I recommend you to try out. :)

PS. A special shout out to Songket Wedding!

Sinah Bisc bakes for both pleasure and business, and holds baking and cake decorating classes to share her ideas with others. She also holds tea parties to feature her latest cookies, cupcakes and cakes at reasonable entrance fees.

Website : http://sinahbisc.blogspot.com/

Call Sinah Bisc at 8778 280.

Like Sinah Bisc on Facebook.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, people!

The Christmas wishes are a few days too late at this point. But after going through the Christmas weekend, I felt how quiet this festive season is this time around. More so than usual, in my opinion.

I think most of us are pretty used to quiet Christmas in Brunei, but sometimes it's nice to feel the Christmas atmosphere.

As some of you know, I recently went for a trip to Malaysia. And in Kuala Lumpur, all the shopping malls are decked out in Christmas decors. 

Streets were lit up, huge Christmas trees as centrepieces, the city was beautiful.

So, I thought I'd share some of my pictures of Christmas in Kuala Lumpur. Enjoy!

I did a little research on this exhibition, because you gotta admit, 147 life-size bear statues standing together is a pretty amazing sight.

The United Buddy Bears is Eva Herlitz's idea-put-into-action to promote international peace and harmony, as well as raise funds for charities. Each bear is made of fibre glass and is painted to represent a country in the world.

The United Buddy Bears' motto is 'We have to get to know each other better' and Malaysia is the 23rd country the bears have visited.

I don't know whether there is a Brunei bear, and 147 bear statues are a little too many for me to search through. Not to mention, the crowd!

Beautiful, right? It's great to go out of the country once in awhile during festivities. 

Well, that's all the photos I want to show you guys. As for the United Buddy Bears, they will be on display until 15th February 2012. So, if you are going to KL within the next couple of months, make sure not to miss Pavilion out!

Merry Christmas, all. <3

About 5 months ago, I have featured a certain lady whose passion for fashion  translated itself into an online boutique.

A lady who not only displays ready-made clothes on the shopping side, but also made-to-wear clothes which pretty much makes sure your order fits you the way you want it to fit.

To refresh your memory, click here to read Na Forrer's feature or you can check out the following pictures of part of her collection.

Ms Na Forrer called me out one evening to talk about an event she's planning.

Over our glasses of hot chocolate, she told me that she's planning of holding an afternoon party where her collection, and the other brands the boutique carries, will be put on display.

Cupcakes, drinks and other refreshments will be served so visitors can leisurely spend their time browsing through Na Forrer's collection. 

Other items that will be available at Thrift Fashion Party are branded jeans, handbags and accessories like floral hairbands. There'll also be some old magazines like J-17 and Smash Hits.

Man, that brings back some old memories. I remember buying smash Hits to get posters of Backstreet Boys, N'Sync and Westlife. Lol, those were the days.

Some of the stuff I'm looking forward to check out are the Zara TRF's tees that will be available at the Thrift Fashion Party. Especially when Na Forrer told me that all items at the Fashion Party will all be priced at B$30 AT MOST.

That's right. You'll find nothing over B$30 at Na Forrer's Thrift Fashion Party! 

However, Na Forrer won't be hosting this Fashion Party alone. She is also accompanied by DesireSuicide Piercing, who offers a number of types of piercings.

Ms Desire ventured into the piercing business during her 8 years study and work in the medical line, when one of her friends asked her to do a piercing. She's been active for about a year now, and can do many types of piercings. 

I myself have several piercings. Nothing too extreme though, mostly on my left ear. From her, I learnt that the piercings I have are the Helix and Lobes. 

Yeah, I know, not very impressive. I also learnt about the Monroe and the Madonna piercings. Very appropriate names, me thinks. :)

Weirdly enough, Ms Desire herself has no piercings. This surprised me quite a bit. "Not even ear piercings??", I asked. Nope, not even ear piercings. 

Anyway, at the Thrift Fashion Party, you can find out more about her services and get free consultations if you are interested in getting a piercing. DesireSuicide only uses surgical stainless steel for studs, all sterilized on the spot, and prices include all studs or barbells used.

I think the Thrift Fashion Party is a great idea, where you don't just go over and just shop. You can hang out, browse through clothes, have some cupcakes and talk to other people who are also interested in fashion.

So, if you're free on Sunday 4th December, drop by Kg Delima Satu between 1pm and 6pm for a taste of fashion. And don't forget to use your Sunday's best. :)

See you there!

Na-Forrer Online Boutique is one of the first online shopping websites in Brunei, that was launched back in May 2010. 

Email : na.forrer@gmail.com

Visit Na-Forrer's website.

Like them on Facebook.

Follow them on Twitter.

DesireSuicide Piercing has performed piercings for customers since a year ago, offering piercings for the ears, brow, belly, tongue and others.

Email : suicidepiercing@yahoo.com

Add them on Facebook.

My favourite boutique in KB is having a SUPER SALE now! Yes, it's none other than JX Collections. :)

First of all, I want to say a HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY to JX Collections. I can't believe the store has actually been open for 5 years already, and that I only discovered it last year. 

Felicia of JX Collections had texted me about her boutique's anniversary, and since it was the weekend, I headed down to KB to have a chat with her and browse through her clothes.

I was a bit hesitant, because I've just burnt a hole in my wallet with my recent salon trip. And given my weakness for shopping, I had doubts whether I could hold myself back.

I was right to doubt my myself... See below!

I literally gulped at the sight. And you know what's worst?

Felicia told me that almost all the clothes are selling at HALF PRICE! Let me say again, Almost ALL the clothes are selling at HALF PRICE!!!

HOW CAN I RESIST?

But first, I had to get down to business. Taking pictures for you lot. :)

There were loads of clothes to be found as I surveyed the racks. And there were a mix of old and new arrivals.

In the pictures below, you'll find just a few of the gorgeous clothes that awaits you at JX Collections. To fully enjoy this post, you HAVE to click each picture for bigger images!

Spotted this blue gingham skirt with its accompanying belt on the racks. I took a close-up of the subtle sewing pattern that gives the otherwise simple skirt its wide flare. So adorable!

Order this here. 

Who loves maxi skirts? This floral one caught my eye too, with its summery colours. If I was a little taller or had narrower hips, I'd totally go for this maxi skirt.

Go ahead click the pictures to fully appreciate this skirt!

Other than the skirts, there were also dresses that I had seen in JX Collections' Facebook photo albums. Take the above structured dress for example.

I find it difficult to get fitted dresses in Brunei. In most boutiques, you usually get flowy or loose dresses, which aren't too flattering for the figure. So, dresses like the above, are kind of a rare find for me.

Order this here.

I bought this structured dress a couple of months ago, and I absolutely love it. It had a wide neck, which shows off your collarbone since it stretches out from shoulder to shoulder. 

The dress fitted very well as it's made of stretchable cotton material, pretty thick too! I think I bought this for about B$50+? So, imagine this now cost half the price I bought it for. *pulls hair*

And the dress comes in three different colours! So, take your pick of purple, white or pink. :)

Order this here.

Oh, this one was really nice. A simple dress with little embellishments, but has really nice cutting. My favourite part of this dress is the broad pleats of the skirt. If you click on the images above, you can take a closer look at the material of the dress.

If I wasn't already using a dress that's really similar to this, I would be getting this dress too.

Order this here.

There was a special rack that has plastic-covered dresses. These dresses are surely covered because they are dinner gowns. 

I took pictures of this dress because of the glittery embellished hemline of its skirt. I like how there is floral detail with the shimmer fading up the skirt. Very pretty.

Another dinner gown on the rack. This one reminded me of Audrey Hepburn, who is known for her classic style. The white material is all shimmery with black layered floral detail around the waist. 

Also available in black. Gorgeous!

As you know, I love bright colours, and JX Collections has plenty of these bright-coloured tops. I find this brightly multi-coloured top pretty cute with all the smiley faces and symbols on it. I also love the white sailor collar. ;)

Order this here.

Lovers of pink, this is a must-have item in your closet! It's a simple top, but the bright pink chiffon makes up for its simplicity. I also like how the yellow under-layer peeks out at the edges of the top.

Order this here.

Another eye-catching top on the racks. Splatters and smacks of black, grey, pink and white all over this sleeveless top. What's unique is the zipper lining around the neckline and breast pocket.

It's hard to tell from the pictures above, but the material is made of a silk-like material. 

Another find on the racks - a casual knitted top in stripes of pale pink and grey. It's not a sweater, although it looks like one. The material is thin enough to suit our hot weather.

Check out the close-up image for a better look at the knitted material.

Hmm, I guess I have a thing for stripes too. Come to think of it, I have quite a few striped tops and dresses in my closet...

Anyway, this is a loose cotton tee with various combinations of stripes. Perfect to use with skinny jeans or leggings. You can also find one other tee with different combinations of colours too.

This is me trying out my hand in taking an 'artistic' picture. Lol. Not artistic at all, but the blouse does look pretty doesn't it? The blouse is as pretty as it looks, with its soft peach hue, ruffles and smooth chiffon-y material.

Really pretty. :)

I ended up getting just two tops, although I was tempted to get more. I still have to leave the good stuff to you girls, right?

I really recommend for you to drop by JX Collections because of the major discounts on clothes. Prices are at fixed at B$10, B$15, B$20 and B$25. And these prices apply to most of the clothes there and not just a few selected items.

For those of you not living in KB, you can also purchase through JX Collections' Facebook Page. For instructions, just read the descriptions under their Facebook album photos.

View JX Collections' Clothes gallery.

You girls better hurry up though, because JX Collections' Anniversary Sale will end on Sunday, 25th September 2011, extended to 3rd October 2011.

When asked why the big discount and why on so many clothes, Felicia said that she wanted to express her gratitude to all her customers for their loyalty for the past FIVE years. Without you girls, JX Collections wouldn't have been able to serve you this long.

So, JX Collections, once again, I want to say...

HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY!!!

Are you one of JX Collections' fans?

JX Collections is the dream-made-reality of the beautiful Felicia, who opened the doors of the store in October 2006. She has a passion for fashion and it shines through her collection that she personally picks out.

Located at:

No.4, Ground Floor,

Lot 123, Jalan Sungai,

Kuala Belait.

Opens daily between 8.30 am to 6.00 pm.

Call them at 3347 220.

Email them at sales@jx-collection.com

Like them on Facebook here.

View my first post on JX Collections.

Did you know that heart disease is one of the top leading causes of death in Brunei?

Did you know that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading cause of death, claiming 17.1 million lives each year?

Did you know that at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided if the main risk factors, tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, are controlled?

Did you? 

World Heart Day is a global event held every 29th of September, to inform people about cardiovascular disease and promote preventive measures to reduce the risk of heart diseases.

Brunei's own Health Promotion Centre is also promoting awareness of heart disease by holding a Photo Challenge, where the best photos taken with the theme of World Heart Day 2011 will get prizes, courtesy of Fitness Zone.

See the flyers below for more info.

Do your part to spread the word!

No heart should be left empty. <3

The Health Promotion Centre (HPC) was established in 2008, to strive to achieve a nation of healthy and fit Bruneians. Although Bruneians enjoy good health with high life expectancy and low mortality rate, HPC wants to further improve our health status and continue to enjoy our good health as we age.

First off, I want to say a SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI to all my lovely Muslim readers!

This post is especially dedicated to you ladies, and was meant to be posted earlier. But alas, the Internet connection has not been cooperating with me, and right now, I'm blogging on this website using my phone's 3G connection.

Anyway, I won't gripe about it too much. Instead, I want to talk about my late night shopping at the fabulous Times Square Shopping Centre!

The week before Hari Raya, most of the stores at Times Square had extended their opening hours until 11pm or 12am. This prompted me drag my all-too-willing shopping buddy, MoiChai, along with me to pay Times Square a visit and do a little shopping. :)

I absolutely love the Hari Raya decorations inside the shopping centre! Just look at that little pondok with its cucul-lit thatched roof and its bridge across the 'river'.

And in case people don't know that the blue strip on the ground is the river, there are sampans floating on it to make it more obvious.

For every festive season, I have to say Times Square always did a fantastic job in decorating the mall. Keep it up, Times Square!

Now, on to the shops.

Bingo just had their opening at Times Square on 19th August 2011, so Bingo lovers now have another location to visit.

I didn't enter the store though, because it was about this time I got distracted by the pondok. :P

The FaceShop also had Hari Raya decorations, and there were quite a few customers in there, undoubtedly getting beauty items for Raya.

Not to mention, there was also a Hari Raya promotion, where selected items had 30% off. So, of course, I had to enter to grab a few items.

My phone couldn't really focus on my 'cracked' nails. But you can always check them out at The FaceShop. I heard about these cracked nailpolish from friends, who had said good things about the The FaceShop ones.

Basically, you layer these cracked nailpolish on top of a solid colour of your choice. Wait awhile, and you will see that the nail polish will start 'cracking' like an earthquake happened on your fingernails.

Your solid colour nail polish underneath will show up in between these cracks, so if you pick just the right colours, you'll get an interesting and pretty fingernails design.

So far, The FaceShop 'cracked' nailpolish collection comes in 3 different colours :- black, brown and grey. And only at B$3.90 B$12.90 a bottle!

Then we head upstairs to check out Etude House and Holika Holika, two beauty stores, fresh from the Korean craze. 

Etude House products are more targetted to younger girls, which, sad to say, I'm not one any longer. But had to snap this shot of Sandara Park of 2NE1 in the window display. 

There were quite a few people gathered at Holika Holika too. (The name is a bit of a mouthful, so I'm tempted to call them 'Holika x 2' from now on).

I was drawn by the display of photos right outside Holika x 2. Turns out the are having some kind of promotion where customers are given little stickers, and you stick them at the photo of girls you think look most awesome with their Holika x2 makeup.

I'm not sure of the promotion details, but feel free to enlighten me in the comment box below. :)

Saving the best for last, MoiChai and I head to Joey Joe, one of my favourite accessories stores in Brunei. Joey Joe had recently decided to concentrate on their Times Square outlet, so you won't be able to visit them at Kiulap any longer.

Just check out the photos below to understand why I like Joey Joe so much.

I don't normally wear Hello Kitty stuff, but I have to admit these accessories are really cute. What is it about Hello Kitty that makes it so cute??

They've got a pretty wide range here, so collectors of Hello Kitty merchandise will definitely find something here to take home.

More awesome accessories below!

I ended up with this light turquoise and gold ring, with clear, yellow and brown embedded stones. I usually prefer flowers over butterflies, but can you blame me for picking this ring when it looks like this?

After discount, I got this ring for B$21, and for how pretty it looks on my finger, that's B$21 well-spent. :)

So, with my new pretty butterfly ring, I left Times Square happily. Ok, so I didn't do much shopping. There's always next time! ;)

Anyway, that's all for now, folks!

And why don't you tell me which store is your favourite at Times Square in the comment box below? Would love to hear your opinion. :)

Ta! And...

That's right! #Brunei has just got its first celebrity tweet! 

Or at least I THINK it's the first.

Caught me completely by surprise, as you know, most celebrities rarely respond to the gazillion tweets they receive. And if they do respond, the tweet that they choose to respond to, is like one in thousands of tweets!

I just started out like how I normally start off my days. A 'Good Morning' shoutout to #Brunei with an inspirational quote by one or another famous person. And today, the quote I used was one by Kimora.

After a few minutes, I saw that there was a couple of 'Mentions' for me. For you non-twitterers, in Facebook terms, I got Twitter notifications.

So, I checked my Twitter and saw that @theroyals501 had retweeted me (Hi girl!). And right after her re-tweet, was...

*Double-take* HOLY COW!!!

Miss Fabulosity herself greeted #Brunei good morning! 

Totally made my day. :D

I got to say, though, Kimora is one of the more responsive American celebrities on Twitter as I frequently see her tweeting back some of her followers. 

Still, that tweet was pretty awesome, wasn't it?! 

Anyway, I think it's pretty cool that she always take the time to respond as many of her Twitter followers as she can.

FYI, today (US time) is her little Aoki's ninth birthday. And Kimora has been receiving #HappyBdayAoki tweets from all over the world. No kidding! 

So, on behalf of #Brunei, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AOKI! :D

Kimora Lee Simmons Hounsou is a former supermodel and, ex-president and Creative Director of Phat Fashions. You have probably heard of her from her reality TV show Kimora : Life in the Fab Lane, which shows her daily life, juggling business and family in all its fabulosity.

Visit Kimora's website.

Follow Kimora on Twitter.

Like Kimora on Facebook.

First, let me show you the new Pazzion shoes that are in store. I do like this new batch because it's a pretty good selection.

For example, look at these below. Matching mummy-and-daughter ballet flats! Seriously, how cute is that???

As with most Pazzion products, these ballet flats are made of leather, including the bling-bling encrusted rose in the middle. Pazzion also told me that for the 'Mummy' shoes, sizes available ranges from 34 to 41.

Other new designs include these below. An open-toed slippers with floral embellishments and the elegant bling slippers.

I don't use slippers alot, but I really like the ones below. I think they'd make my feet look rich! Lol!

These suede wedges are another new pair from Pazzion. Its interior is lined with leather, of course, and decorated with stone-encrusted ribbon.

If you can't wear high heels, these would be great as its one-inch wedge gives you the lift that you want.

Then, to my pleasant surprise, I saw that there were the wedges version of the pair of Pazzion I bought months ago. It was unmistakably the same design, with its bedazzled front.

Check out the pictures of them below.

Now, we all know that Pazzion is popular because of their shoe collection. Do you know that they now provide handbags?

The brand has branched out into designing high quality leather bags, to complement their shoe collection. You can sure to expect the same elegance and glamour in their handbags as well.

Luckily for us, the handbags are just made available in Brunei. Although there aren't much designs at the moment, we can expect more of Pazzion's leather handbags to come in the future.

Here's a couple of the handbags available in store now.

Even from this distance, you can see the leather texture of the handbag. Simple in design, but that's quiet elegance for you right? 

The great thing about this is that the gold-chain straps are adjustable. You can carry this bag as a sling bag or as a shoulder bag by pulling one side of the strap up.

One of the Pazzion staff was sporting enough to model for me how you can carry them.

This handbag also comes in black, which I think makes the gold chain more striking. But honestly, I don't know which I prefer, as in white, it's a demure kind of elegance, while in black, it's sort of cocktail party classy. 

Which colour do YOU prefer?

Inside, it has a middle divider, which I know some ladies prefer for compartmentalizing their stuff. The divider also doubles up as a zipper pocket, and there's another smaller zipped pocket on the back wall.

Another handbag I spotted was this larger-sized handbag, that I think would be fitting for work. This bag comes in black and tan, and has short handles.

But if you're not really into short handles, don't worry. This handbag includes a attachable shoulder strap, which is also adjustable. 

I guess it's obvious I prefer the tan coloured one. Lol!

I give plus points to Pazzion's handbags for their functionality. The adjustability of shoulder straps give you the variety of different looks, which makes another reason why Pazzion handbags are attractive.

Visit Pazzion to have a look and let me know what you think.

In conjunction with the launch of Pazzion handbags in Brunei, Pazzion is giving us a chance to win one of TEN prizes.

The prizes are pretty awesome because they're all for the feet! Fancy a foot spa anyone? ;)

The TEN prizes you might win if you participate in this simple contest are :-

• B$10 Pazzion voucher

• B$20 Pazzion voucher

• B$30 Pazzion voucher

• One OPI nail polish set (Nice Stems Minis)

• One OPI nail polish set (Little Romantics Minis)

• Warm Chocolate Mask Nail Spa (Essensuals Beauty Hair & Nail Spa)

• Aromatherapy Foot Spa (Essensuals Beauty Hair & Nail Spa)

• Paraffin Wax Foot Treatment Pedicure (Essensuals Beauty Hair & Nail Spa)

• Treatment Foot Spa (Essensuals Beauty Hair & Nail Spa)

• Classic Pedicure (Essensuals Beauty Hair & Nail Spa)

What you need to do is very simple. Go to Pazzion's Facebook page, find the photo below, and TAG YOURSELF.

See, simple.

The contest runs from 1st July to 20th July 2011, so that's plenty of time for you to do as needed.

I had just checked Pazzion's Facebook page though, and so many people had already tag themselves that Pazzion had to upload additional pictures for others to join.

I've already tagged myself. So, I suggest you hurry do the same!

Phew, a pretty long post this one is. So, I'll shut up for now. Hope you gals enjoyed the post!

Hehe, till next time, pretty chicas!

xoxoxo

Pazzion was born in 2001, with shoes designed with the modern, sophisticated woman in mind. Brunei is the latest country that the brand has entered, in addition to other countries in South East Asia. 

Visit them at : Unit 1.27A, First Floor, The Mall, Gadong.

Opening hours : 11am - 9pm

Like Pazzion Brunei on Facebook.

Email Pazzion at mail.us@pazzionbrunei.com.

Call Pazzion at 2457 251.

What say you about Pazzion's handbags?

The Plenary Hall of the ICC was filled with booths with various displayss ranging from pelamins, skincare products & services, photography, clothes and many more.

Although I was at the IWF 2011 for just less than 2 hours, I had visited quite a few interesting booths that you'd be interested to know of. 

The richly dressed dress forms at the Mutiara Ayu Bridal Boutique booth can't help but draw one's eyes.

You'll notice right away that the material displayed are exquisitely embroidered and sewn with superior craftsmanship. Beautiful brocade with glints and glitters to further enhance a bride's beauty. 

Mutiara Bridal Boutique

Address: No. 7, Spg. 97, Jalan Ong Sum Ping 
Tel: +673 222 2544

While at taking snapshots at Sirih Junjung's booth, there was a sudden crowd that appeared. It turned out that the crowd was there to see the biggest locally made-and-sold burger! 

How large can these Fat-So burgers be?

Sirih Junjung Accessories & Craft

Ground Floor, Block D, Spg 185-41, Kg Katok
(Jalan From Biro Narcotics)

Phone : 2420 039

Email : sirihjunjung.bn@gmail.com

Add Sirih Junjung on Facebook.

Fat-So Burgers

Phone : 8685 836

Add Fat-So Burgers on Facebook.

The Talithaquom jewelry range from Malaysian based Talithacumi Sdn Bhd was definitely one that stopped me in my tracks. 

Uniquely designed with (what I can tell) semi-precious stones, the Talithaquom jewelry would appeal to those fashionistas who prefer to make a statement with their accessories.

 Caroline, the woman behind the Thalithaquom jewelry, was kind enough to speak to me about how her jewelry was inspired by European high fashion style and therefore, are popular in Europe.

They've made their mark in the fashion industry through showcases that they had recently participated in Italy, Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines; with the next showcase to be in Australia.

The International Women's Fair 2011 is their first time in Brunei, and Caroline said that she took this opportunity to test the fashion waters in Brunei.

She also believes that there is a possibility for the Talithaquom jewelry may make its presence in Brunei, as any interested retailers are able to buy her jewelry at wholesale prices.

Thalithaquom (Thalithacumi Sdn Bhd)

Showrooms in Bangsar Village II and Farenheit 88;

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Phone : 603 2282 1770 (Mary Mingua)

: 603 2142 1770 (Irene Villarosa)

Email  : carolinepaulino@mac.com

The Les Etoilies Couture is a brand new fashion player on the Brunei scene. The clothes are made by a local designer, who features a modern grunge comfort look.

The Les Etoilies Couture collection is reminiscent of Alexander Wang, especially his Fall 2010 Collection, in terms of its loose-fitting texture and its black, grey and neutral colours.

Les Etoilies Couture is definitely one boutique that I will check once it has officially open within a few months time at the new Citi Square near Times Square. 

Les Etoilies Couture

Unit 22, Ground Floor,

Citi Square, Kg Jaya Setia

(Near Times Square Mall, Berakas)

Butik Bajoo is probably no stranger to some of you ladies, as the store has been around for 17 years. This long-time boutique has been revamped under its new management not long ago, and has been pretty active in the fashion tailoring industry.

At its booth at the IWF 2011, you'll be able to see some of their tailored creations as well as some specially imported accessories that they also carry in their store.

Love these cute bag organizers that are some of Butik Bajoo's designs. You can order one to be specially made, using the fabric and design of your choice.

One of those displayed at their booth was made with antique flanel material; while the above features embroidery. You got to admit it's pretty cute!

The stones of these iPhone 4 cases were stuck on piece by piece! Imagine the hours that has gone into making these adorable cases!

Definitely an accessory to instantly glamorize your iPhone!

Butik Bajoo

Ground Floor, Warisan Mata-Mata Complex,

Gadong. (Near Mamih and Matadoe).

Phone : 2455 189

Email : butikbajoo@gmail.com

Add Butik Bajoo on Facebook.

Those are some of the booths I visited at the IWF 2011 yesterday. There are more that I had visited and chatted with, but I wouldn't be able to fit them all here.

I'll probably be going again later to spend more time checking the booths out and actually buy something! 

I think there are quite a lot of interesting booths at the IWF 2011, you just have to stop by and take a closer look.

So, do drop by because some of the items are not available in Brunei and you might not be able to get them so easily next time!

Til later, ladies!

The International Women's Fair 2011 features the International Wedidng Showcase, International Expo and the launch of the Brunei Women Entrepreneur Award 2012. The fair is held at the International Convention Centre in Berakas, and runs from  16th June 2011, Thursday, to 19th June 2011, Sunday.

Any comments?

Hey hey hey!

So, today, I'm back with one of my 'Blogshop Alerts', Little Wishes! I featured Little Wishes a few months ago when I stumbled upon the blogspot during one of my web-surfing stints. 

Little Wishes stocks stuff that we can't normally get in Brunei. How they're able to do that is because one half of Little Wishes is based in the United Kingdom. So I guess, in that way, Little Wishes is like a personal shopper. :)

I did buy a couple of dresses from Little Wishes, and I had no regrets! You can check the dresses I got from Little Wishes here.

Little Wishes had opened up a really super special order batch for is this time round. Forever 21, Dorothy Perkins, Office, MAC; clothes, shoes, makeup! Seriously, this batch may just empty my pockets out.

So what can you see in this batch? As usual, let me break it down for you.

For those voluptuous fashionistas, Little Wishes had thought of you ladies. You can find an array of plus-size tops in different styles, different colours (but all fashionable) from Forever 21's collection.

I've picked out a few favourites, of course. :)

This simple top from Forever 21 caught my eye because of the vibrant colours of the large, single hibiscus flower print. The summer tee is lightweight enough for our weather, and what I like about it is that it's striking without being over the top.

Made of polyester, and comes in 4 XL sizes.

Price : B$53

For a night out with your girlfriends, this geometric top would be perfect. I have to admit, I'm kind of partial to blue, but this shade of blue contrasts well against the black. 

A round neckline that's wide enough to keep you cool during those balmy nights, and the slight waistline to emphasize the waist. It looks like this top is designed to give a slimming effect.

Made of lightweight polyester. 

Price : B$ 58

For the less curvaceous girls, Little Wishes also provides casual tops from Forever 21 for your pickings. Floral tops, flannel tops, cardis, you name it.

There's quite a variety in the collection and I had a good time browsing through it to pick my favourites.

Here, we've got a cute and simple sleeveless top. It may seem really simple, but the beauty is in the details. Notice the lace linings down the front of the top?

The curve of the lace lines beside the buttons emphasize the bust, while the lace down the body streamlines the figure. A close-up of the top shows that the polka dot material is in narrow pleats, which is a really nice subtle touch.

Made of 83% rayon and 17% nylon.

Price : B$51

H&M is another brand we don't have much access to, but if you're a fan of the brand, why not try out this studiously chic cardigan?

This 100% cotton felt-knit cardigan has navy blue buttons all the way down the front and 3/4 sleeves. One thing that I look for in a cardigan are narrow fitted sleeves, which this one has. 

The cardigan comes in two colour palette; red with blue stripes and blue with white stripes. Personally, I prefer the one pictured above.

Price : B$36

See Little Wishes' H&M collection.

Although Little Wishes has dresses from several brands, I'm going to highlight the dresses from Dorothy Perkins. 

I'm sure most of you have heard of this popular British clothes retailer, and that quality of their clothes are top-notch. Their style lean more towards being conservative, but in this Little Wishes' pre-order batch, I found really gorgeous classic dresses you may like too.

If there's one thing you should have in your wardrobe, it's an LBD (Little Black Dress). 

This LBD has a modest high neck, capped sleeves, pencil skirt with a thin belt to cinch the waist. Simple and elegant, this dress is versatile and would be suitable to be worn for any occasions.

And it looks like the inner lining has polka dots on nude, which I think is really cute.

Made of 71% polyester.

Price : B$99

Another pretty dress from H&M. The vintage style of this dress kind of reminds me of Audrey Hepburn. The lace against the nude slip shows of the floral motifs of the lace.

High-neck, sleeveless with an A-line skirt and prettily finishes off with a black sash around the waist, tied in a ribbon at the side.

Made of 100% polyester.

Price : B$99

To go with the tops and dresses above, you will also need your accessories. Good thing Little Wishes thought of that and has also included some gorgeous necklaces and bracelets from Forever 21.

Let's take a look!

This is an aptly named necklace. With crystals of blue and sea green in multiple sizes, it does represent the beauty of the sea. 

Hung on 3 rows of high polish rolo chains, this necklace reaches halfway down the chest and closes with a lobster claw clasp.

Price : B$ 33

For those of you who likes chunky jewelry, this necklace would be an awesome addition to your collection. 

Pink pearl beads of different sizes hang from a medium-length gold-coloured chain. This would accessorize a nice pretty dinner frock. 

Price : B$36

This cuff from Forever 21 is decorated with rhinestones placed strategically in the middle of little flower petals. Again, the little details are what makes it so attractive.

The bracelet doesn't have a clasp but will hold firm around your wrist with its double elastic straps.

Price : B$30

SHOES!

A shopping spree will not be complete without shoes, right? And Little Wishes sure do have some lovely heels in this batch. We've got pretty pumps from Forever 21 and some really stylish platforms and wedges from Office.

Like I said, I'm partial to the colour blue. So, I'm drawn to these electric blue satin pumps. They stand on 4.5" back heel with the soles in polished black. These pumps may sound a little too tall, but the shoes also stands on a 0.7" platform.

But the most distinguishing feature of the shoes are the 2 striking satin flowers on the ankles of the heels. A really nice touch.

Comes in black, charcoal and royal.

Price : B$65

These pair from Office are my favourite of the bunch! Another pair of platform high heels, with vibrant floral patterns against a black backdrop. More than tall enough to elongate your legs, the straps cross across the feet before circling around the ankle and close with the standard notch.

Available in sizes from 3 to 8.

Price : B$ 188

Now, I've gone on long enough about Little Wishes' Pre-Order Batch. There are actually a lot more of items in this one humungous batch. But, really, they're a lot more than I can ever put in this post.

Before I end this post, you also need to know that Little Wishes can order other items from the UK for you. The below are some of where you can do your shopping.

So, there are a lot of choices for you. If you want to start placing your order, just have read Little Wishes' instructions on how to order or you can read my previous post on them where I detailed how to make payment and how you'll get your purchases.

But just remember, the Pre-Order ends on Sunday, 8th of May, at 9.00pm. So, make sure to place your orders before that!

Adios!

Little Wishes is started by two cousins, where one is based in UK as the purchasing arm and the other is based in Brunei as the delivery arm. In the future, they plan to bring in more labels and also products for the men. I think that they are a blogshop to watch out for!

Visit their blogshop.

Email them : little.wishes2010@gmail.com

Add Little Wishes on Facebook.

What have YOU picked out?

Weddings. We all love weddings. 

So, what other wedding would I talk about if not The Royal Wedding, literally THE wedding of the year?

For those who hasn't picked up the newspaper, or turn to the news channel on TV, Prince William and Kate Middleton will be getting married on 29th April 2011, at Westminster Abbey.

The couple met during their university years at St Andrews University, Fife, in 2001, where they had shared the same 'History of Art' course.

Prince William, the son of the beloved Princess Diana and second-in-line to the throne; and Kate, the eldest daughter of businessman Michael Middleton and former air hostess Carol.

On a holiday in Kenya, Africa, Prince William popped the question to a surprised Kate, giving her a sapphire and diamond engagement ring that belonged to his mother.

Prince William said that giving Kate his mother's ring was 'his way of keeping Diana close to it all'.

For their official announcement of their engagement, Kate paired her royal heirloom accessory with a royal blue dress designed by Daniella Issa Helayel.

One of the biggest questions about the royal wedding is the designer of Kate's wedding gown. Who will design the dress to be worn by the future princess of England?

There has been many rumors spreading across the internet on the subject, however, Kate had made it clear that her wedding gown designer will be kept a closely-guarded state secret, so that her future husband will be able to fully anticipate her walk down the aisle of Westminster Abbey.

Most fashion journalists had speculated that Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen, will be the one to design the royal wedding dress. However, the house of McQueen had flatly denied the rumor.

McQueen designs are known to be modern and avant garde, but with Sarah Burton at its creative helm, we can expect her to bring a softer and more feminine style to their collection.

If the rumour is true, Kate may just be walking down the aisle in a gorgeous, modern wedding gown that will appeal to the fashionistas. 

Another favourite designer that the world is betting on is Bruce Oldfield, who had once dressed Princess Diana for her engagement, and also Queen Rania of Jordan's wedding dress.

His style is classic and timeless, with his designs being simple and form-fitting to accentuate a woman's figure. The perfect mix to produce a wedding gown fit for a princess. 

Kate's mother and sisters are known to have gone to him for their gowns, so it is very possible that Bruce Oldfield may be the one to design one of the most anticipated gown of the year.

Amanda Wakeley is another contender for being Kate's wedding dress designer. With her ethereal wedding gowns, her collection leans towards a more flowy, Grecian goddess style with a pinch of sensuality.

She also used to dress Princess Diana with her more feminine suits, making Amanda Wakeley another possibility to be the chosen designer.

Phillipa Leyley is a celebrity favourite for bridal gowns with her use of luxurious fabric, like silk and vintage lace, in her gowns. 

Her designs are often distinguished by its figure-flattering silhouette; and generous beading and embellishments to create a dramatic, yet chic, look for brides. She is very popular amongst the upper class of Britain's society.

Just like the management of Alexander McQueen, all the suspected designers had firmly denied that they would be the ones to design the future princess's wedding gown.

Despite all these possibilities, the fashion experts have agreed on one thing:- The one to design Kate's wedding dress would most certainly be a British designer. Which means, that Daniella Issa Helayel may not be the one, since she's a native of Brazil.

No matter which designer she will ultimately select, judging from her style sense, I bet it's going to be one helluva wedding dress.

This is definitely one wedding you won't want to miss!

Watch the anticipated Royal Wedding on BBCE and CNN, which will be showing live on 29th April 2011, Friday. The Royal Wedding is the official website for the event, and is regularly updated with announcements on all details of the wedding.

Who do you think will be designing Kate Middleton's wedding dress?

This month is a special month for all the women in the world. On 8th of March, the whole world celebrated the 100th year of International Women's Day. 

That's right, for a century now, the world honors and celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. Imagine how far us women have achieved in making a difference within the past 100 years. 

And in conjunction with that, Shop@Sarah's has decided to recognize the global event by giving every women a special promotion for the rest of the month.

The poster above is pretty much self-explanatory. Just pick at least $50 worth of items, and you'll be entitled to:-

• A 50% discount voucher for makeup service. Usual fee is at $25, so you'll be able to get your makeup done at just half price. The voucher will only be valid for 1 month and you can book for an appointment.

• You can buy any Victoria's Secret Make-up Kit (which I will show you in awhile) at 20% off. And for the Privilege Members, you get an additional 5% off.

• And ONE promotional voucher, which gives a $5 discount, on any item, with every $30 purchase.

This promotion lasts until the end of March, so that's plenty of time for you to take advantage of it. :)

Now, on to the exciting part - the goodies you can get from Shop@Sarah's.

If you had read my previous posts here, here and here, you'd know that Shop@Sarah's has a growing collection of international cosmetics brands, which includes Victoria's Secret, Bare Escentuals, Too Faced, POP Beauty and many more.

So, here are some of what's in store now.

Truly, Shop@Sarah's is a haven for the cosmetics lovers. I've been eyeing the cute Sigma beauty brushes, especially the purple 'Make Me Crazy' one! 

The 'Make Me Crazy' set has all the beauty brushes you need for the eyes, lips and face. And the brushes are all super soft! Would someone get me that for a gift?? ;)

Not long ago, Shop@Sarah's had expanded their clothing range, to include children's clothes. And these are not just the ordinary children's clothing.

Just like their other products, their children's clothing are specially imported from the United States, and includes brand names such as Old Navy, Knitworks Kids, and other brands normally found in JC Penney.

These American brand clothes comes in sizes to fit girls from age 4 to 14. But I do believe some of them could fit adults!

Love the many designs for young girls who are budding fashionistas. Not to mention, the quality is pretty awesome too. :)

There are many other stuff that you can spend $50 on to take advantage of the promotion.

Come to think of it, it's pretty easy to spend a minimum of $50 in Shop@Sarah's. I can get a lotion, a makeup kit, then one of those cute VS tote bags, and that would already be about $100!

Anyway, I took pictures of some of the other stuff that caught my eye.

Shop@Sarah's also offer gift boxes if you're buying products as presents. The boxes are specially designed in hues of pink and brown. Simple, but so pretty! They are priced at $5 each.

This lovely tote from Victoria's Secret is made of canvas, with flowers, hearts and butterfly designs. It has one main compartment, with an inner pocket and a hook closure. It'd be perfect for a day at the beach!

That's right! Shop@Sarah's has not one, but TWO promotions for us! This is a Privilege Member promotion that starts from 24th March 2011 to 31st March 2011.

Normally, to become a Privilege member at Shop@Sarah's you need to spend B$400 in a single receipt, or get the entire 3 sections of your Redemption card stamped; where one stamp is given for every B$30 purchase.

BUT, from now until the end of March 2011, to become a member, you just need to :-

1. spend a minimum of B$200 in a single receipt; OR
2. if you have a Redemption Card, just spend a minimum of just B$100.

For Redemption Card holders, it doesn't matter if you just have 1 stamp on the card, you still only need to spend a minimum of B$100. 

Once you've done that, you're not only becoming a Shop@Sarah's Privilege member. There will be freebies too!

• TWO promotional vouchers - a 10% discount voucher for clothing and a B$5 off voucher;
• 50% discount on standard makeup service (Valid for 1 month)
• A MYSTERY gift from Shop@Sarah's

Just remember, BOTH promotions end at the end of March 2011. If you're liking what you've read, or seen something you like, head over to Shop@Sarah's in Seri Kiulap Mall now.

As for me, I think I'll be taking advantage of the Privilege Member promotion. I've got the Redemption Card and I'm not even halfway filling it, and now's the chance for me to buy myself one of those makeup kits and possibly, the Sigma brushes as well.

Then, I'll FINALLY be a Shop@Sarah's Privilege Member. YAY!!

Shop@Sarah's has been providing Victoria's Secret products since November 2007 and open the doors of their store n Seri Kiulap Mall in December 2008. Despite running Shop@Sarah's for more than 3 years, the couple behind the store still maintain their enthusiasm for their products and eager to expand their collection.

Visit them at :

Unit L2/5, 1st Floor, Seri Kiulap Mall

Between 10am and 9.30pm everyday (Closed for prayers on Fridays, 12.30pm to 1.30pm.

Find Shop@Sarah's Facebook Profile and Facebook Page.

What say you?

Just mere hours ago, I attended the Pre-Twestival Dinner at Kitaro Japanese Restaurant in Gadong. I was so not prepared for such a crowd!

If you're on Twitter, then you'd probably notice the flood of tweets on the first ever Twestival Brunei. The Twestival Brunei 2011 is THE biggest social media event to be organized in Brunei.

The Twestival Brunei 2011 is an offline gathering amongst friends and soon-to-be friends on Twitter, with fun and food, in an effort to raise funds for the Child Development Centre (CDC).

It will be held on Thursday, 24th March 2011, at Swensens, The Mall Gadong. This first-of-more-to-come event is organized by three of the most visible personalities on Twitter; BruneiTweet, EmmaGoodEgg and Zul-Fadly.

And tonight, I had the pleasure of meeting the team behind Twestival Brunei 2011 and many others, at the Pre-Twestival Dinner held at Kitaro Japanese Restaurant.

It was really awesome to finally meet most of those whose tweets I read every day since the day I joined Twitter. I was all nerves and excitement too, because it's like, I'm meeting people I've never seen before, and yet, I know I'm also meeting friends.

And the Kitaro Sumo Challenge was so entertaining to watch too! I mean, imagine a row of people, gobbling up rows of sushi filled with wasabi as fast as they can to finish first. 

The winner of this round was DJ Angel of UBDfm, with an astounding record of just under 3 minutes! She's the one seated on the far left. That's just crazy! Do you think YOU can finish 10 (or was it 20?) wasabi-filled sushis in under 3 minutes???

Oh man. What a night! 

I didn't have the guts to join this challenge, because I don't think I can manage wasabi very well! But I did my part by ordering the special Angry Birds bento set, that was made especially for this event. 

Proceeds from the full-house restaurant will go towards the purchase of developmental toys, teaching aids and equipments for the children who undertake therapy at the Child Development Centre. 

And I was more than happy to eat and contribute my share. :)

Now, the dinner at Kitaro was just a prelude. The REAL event will be at Swensens this Thursday, where proceeds for that night will also be contributed to the Child Development Centre funds. 

I expect another fun-filled evening, especially with an ICE-CREAM Challenge that night. I was told that for the challenge, teams of three people will have to finish a huge ice-cream dish (The Volcano? The Earthquake? Can't remember what it's called), that consists of 8 scoops of 3-ounce ice-cream, in the fastest time possible.

So, if you want to see me stuff my face with ice-cream, get down to Swensens, The Mall Gadong, this Thursday at 7.30pm.

And remember, your money spent there will help the special needs children at the Child Development Centre.

Twestival® (or Twitter Festival) uses social media for social good by connecting communities offline on a single day to highlight a great cause and have a fun event. Twestival is the largest global grassroots social media fundraising initiative to date.

Join the Twestival Brunei 2011 Facebook Event.

Find out more about Twestival Brunei 2011.

Join the local Photo Competition to win ONE return ticket to S'pore.

How to give your support if you're overseas.

A preview on an upcoming blog post on Shop@Sarah's current and upcoming promotions. Watch out for it as I will be showing what's new in store.

For now, I'll just show a sneak peek of some of the items. But if you want to get closer, head over to Shop@Sarah's in Kiulap to check out their current promotion in conjunction of International Women's Day in this month of March!

Aloha, peeps!

Just last weekend, I paid a visit to The Face Shop at Times Square to take advantage of their latest promotion.

If you take a look at your current The Face Shop membership cards, you'd notice that it expires in August of this year. So, The Face Shop had decided to give the public an opportunity to renew or apply for a membership, and get some freebies along the way.

Ok, so first, let me show you what I've got to make up for the B$29 I needed to renew my membership. I don't usually shop much from The Face Shop, but they do have some pretty awesome products such as their face masks and cleansers.

I first tried this cleanser when I was out of my usual cleanser, and this happened to be sitting on top of the washroom counter top (It actually belonged to my sister, and I got told off for using it so much). The cleanser is white in color (for obvious reasons) and contains tiny little grains for a bit of exfoliation. 

It's a pretty mild cleanser, but I love how the pores of my skin were minimized after using this. I liked it so much that I got one for myself. :)

I prefer the lazy way of wiping off the makeup and grime off my face :- Face wipes. My choice of face wipes from The Face Shop is the Herb Day Cotton face wipes.

It's not that great of a makeup remover, so I usually follow up with a cleanser which removes any leftover makeup. 

Like I said before, The Face Shop's mask sheets are not bad. For the Power Treatment Gel Mask, you can get 1 free if you buy 3 sets at B$9.90 each. They have pretty good deals for other ranges of mask sheets as well.

Once I had accumulated enough products to renew my Face Shop membership, I got a goodie bag full of stuff.

First off, there's a booklet of vouchers with various discounts off certain ranges and services. Click on the picture below to see the vouchers.

Also, in the goodie bag, there a few products which are interesting enough. All of them are in sample size, except for the masks which are full-sized.

As you can see, I've already open up the packaging of the Fresh Fruit Pomegranate Mask Sheet before I thought of taking a picture. Lol.

I was using the mask when taking this picture. The mask is not bad, but I think you can only feel a difference after regular use. 

I actually wanted to try this mask, but I had a feeling I'll be waking up with most of the mask on my pillow. So, I think I'll save it for another day.

The mask is supposed to tighten up your skin and define your face contours.

I've been using the toner and emulsion from the White Tree Snow range, and I got to say, I pretty much like it. It's a bit tough to find a moisturiser that doesn't leave your face feeling greasy, and the Hydra Advance Emulsion absorbs right into the skin after usage. 

I'd consider getting a full sized bottle of this. :)

So, this is my new membership card, which will expire only in August 2013. It's in shades in green and purple, rather than the previous pale yellow and green. 

There's a secondary snap-off bit attached to this card actually. But obviously, I had already snapped it off and gave it to the friend, who was kind enough to come along with me on my mini-shopping spree. :)

Ok, so that's my round-up on The Face Shop's promo. Hope that some of you also managed to get the freebies! 

Til next time!

The Face Shop's products are known for their natural ingredients. They currently have 4 branches throughout Brunei, the latest being the ultra-bright outlet located at Times Square, Berakas.

3rd Floor, The Mall, Gadong         : 242 4987

Ground Floor, Yayasan Complex : 223 3363

Ground Floor, Times Square         : 233 7372

Jalan Pretty, Kuala Belait               : 334 0823

Find out more about their membership perks here.

More details about the membership promo here.

Have you renewed YOUR Face Shop membership?

Phew, there has been a slew of Red Carpet shows held this month! I have been glued to my TV screen and Twitter feeds to catch the celebrity looks walking across the red carpet.

Out of all the awards, the most fascinating one is the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, recently held on 13th February 2011. There were many amazing outfits and some, hmm not so amazing. I'll let you see for yourself.

Nicki Minaj, hip hop and R&B singer, decided to come as a leopard to the Grammys. Not only is she covered from head-to-toe in Givenchy leopard spots, she also donned 'Bride of Frankenstein' hair-do to finish her look.

Her outfit is not really something I would wear, but I think Nicki Minaj does look great in her own way. Fashion is about fun and self-expression, and she certainly looks like she's having fun!

Rihanna's Grammys look probably made all the men and women take a second, third, fourth and maybe a fifth look.

In Jean Paul Gaultier, Rihanna's white ruffles-striped couture gown left little to the imagination. She had nude coloured pasties and underwear to cover her modesty. But really, I think 'modesty' is the wrong word to use here.

That said, I believe Rihanna looks incredible. But then, of course she would, with that body of hers. It is a gorgeous gown with the ruffles being varying width down the body. I just wish there was something more to cover the practically nude body.

When Nicole Kidman walked across my TV screen on the arm of her husband, Keith Urban, I gasped at the beauty of the  strapless floral gown from Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2011 collection.

After her blah gown at the Golden Globes, I wasn't expecting much at the Grammy Awards, but she totally blew me away with her more-daring-than-usual choice of JPG. She even paired the gown with a leopard print peep toe heels.

Kim Kardashian came to the Grammy Awards looking less than stellar (in my opinion) in the this Kaufman Franco gown. The drapes in the front were too loose and protrude forward, which did not flatter her figure.

Although I have to admit that the fabric of the dress is pretty gorgeous with its gold sparkles, this was not a gown I'd have picked for Kim K. I also wouldn't have paired them with nude Christian Louboutin pumps.

Come on, Kim! I know you can do better than this.

If you hadn't caught the Grammy Awards and is now asking, 'What the heck is THAT?', then let me tell you about the egg that the flamboyant Lady Gaga arrived in.

Actually, why don't you just watch the egg arrival?

In a pod designed by Hussein Chalayan, Lady Gaga yet again created a fashion havoc on the Red Carpet. As told by one of her minions, "She's in an embryonic state and won't be born until the performance."

Lady Gaga only emerged out of the pod during her first perfomance of the new song 'Born This Way'. She performed in a sheer latex Thierry Mugler creation, complete with freakishly pointy shoulders.

The next major Awards show to watch out for is the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, otherwise known as The Oscars, which will be held on 27th February 2011.

Expect more glam, glitz and fashion!

Did you spot any egg-cellent fashion moment?

How many of you had caught the Golden Globes event that was on last week? If you had, then you must as entranced as I am with the amazing and gorgeous parade of Red Carpet gowns.

As you know, I love to watch these shows just to see who is wearing what on the red carpet. The Hollywood stars CANNOT make a mistake in choosing their outfit, because if they do, they will be ripped to shreds by the media publicly. Just as the 'E' Fashion Police did recently to some of the badly dressed women in the Golden Globes.

Now, on to the gowns. Whose dresses did I absolutely love and who had the worst?

This sparkly chocolate brown Marchesa dress worn by Olivia Wilde was voted as the best gown of the Golden Globes, and I am inclined to agree! The Tron: Legacy star wore a strapless, sparkly ballgown that ends with a princess-like skirt.

Emma Stone of Easy A wore another of my favourite dresses on the Golden Globes red carpet. She opted for a minimalistic style in peach, accessorized by Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry.

The gown looks simple and classic. But the best thing about this dress?

Uuh! How gorgeous is that cut-out at the back? Phenomenal dress.

Another star that was sporting a sexy back was Anne Hathaway from Love and Other Drugs. This Giorgio Armani Prive evening gown is from the Fall Winter 2010/2011 couture collection and is embellished with pailettes and Swarovski crystals.

The sleeves are slightly puffed on top and stretches tight down the arms. Another simple-looking dress that focuses on the silhouette and adornments.

And here's the sexy low cute back I was talking about.

The gorgeous actress from The Tourist stepped out in a shimmery emerald gown by Atelier Versace, that was encrusted with Swarovski crystals. It's a little similar to Anne Hathaway's gown with the long sleeves and all, but has a softer and more flowing look.

Angelina Jolie completed her ensemble with Ferragamo shoes and Robert Procop jewels.

Helena Bonham Carter is one of my favourite actresses. She's like a female Johnny Depp to me!

During the Golden Globes, she stayed true to her personality by wearing this quirky floral print dress by Vivenne Westwood. Although her outfit was slammed by the 'E' Fashion Police, I think that her outfit was really cool and absolutely fits her.

Plus she's one of the few personalities I know that can pull off mismatched shoes!

Yikes! I have to agree with 'E' Fashion Police on this one. The daisies were all wrong for a sophisticated event such as the Golden Globes. And seems like the gown wasn't even fitted properly for Michelle's figure.

Michelle Williams is a beautiful woman, but the outfit and makeup kind of makes her look matronly.

We can expect more Awards shows in the next four weeks. And you know what that means. More Red Carpet fashion!

This Sunday, there is the Screen Actors Guild Awards show and in February 2011, we'll be able to check out two of the big annual Awards shows of the year; ie. The Grammy Awards and The Oscars.

I can't wait for these events, as they are sure to be televised on Astro. What other fashion hits and flops can we expect from them???

Stay tuned with me!

xoxoxo

The 68th Annual Golden Globes was held on 16th January 2011 at the Beverly Hilton and was hosted by the witty and funny Ricky Gervais.

Upcoming Awards Shows:

Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards - 30th January 2011

Grammy Awards - 13th February 2011

Academy Awards (The Oscars) - 27th February 2011

Emmy Awards - 29th August 2011

American Music Awards - 21st November 2011

Who wore YOUR favourite Golden Globes outfit?

Too Faced and POP Beauty are two of the cosmetic brands that Shop @Sarah's has recently stocked, as mentioned in my previous post. There's a variety of makeup kits available for these brands, and I love the combination of colors and usability!

For the day, I'd pick POP Beauty's Sunny Bouquet that contains 4 highlighters, 8 eye shadows, a waterproof bronzer and highlighter duo, and 9 lip gloss shades.

Seriously, with this kit, what else do you need for your every day makeup especially in our hot weather?

And for night, I'd pick Too Faced's Fun in the Dark that consists of 4 eye shades, 2 lip shades, 1 brightening blush and 1 bronzer.

What's awesome is that the mirror in the cover lights up when you open it! Perfect for touch ups when you're out and about.

And since my first post featuring Shop@Sarah's, they have added a couple more cosmetic brands; namely Sephora and Urban Decay. Sephora's Blockbuster makeup kit is HUMONGOUS while Urban Decay has one of the best eye shadow primers ever created.

Victoria's Secret is, of course, well-known for their collection of intimates and lingerie, and you can find some of these at Shop@Sarah's as well. All apparel were at 20% off, so I checked out the racks of clothings there.

And I have got to mention the Victoria's Secret's home slippers. They're ALL at 40% off. There's even a  pair of cute pink bunny slippers that I liked.

That heavenly scent when you enter Shop@Sarah's? You know it's from the shelves and shelves of all sorts of body lotions, body mists and other scented products.

These have various discounts off, depending on which range they're from.

Near the back of the store, Shop@Sarah's had made a little clearance corner, where there are more cute stuff to be found. These items are all at very reasonable prices, and I can't help going through some of the knick knacks arranged on the table.

My pick is the snakeskin-like passport holder that's down from B$45.90 to just B$32.13. It's not made of real snake skin, if you're wondering, and I like its glossy finish.

I actually thought this was a makeup bag until Lisa Sarah corrected me. "No lah, it's a bag to store your panties when you go travelling.", she explained.

Oh, how I know jua kan? And it's so cute with its heart shape and pink frills. And it's only for B$15.54!

For those hygiene-conscious people, you might want to re-stock on sanitizing tissues from Shop@Sarah's. The Victoria's Secret sanitizing tissue are selling off at only B$5 each! There's still quite a lot left, and you can't find these tissues at a better price than this.

There're really a lot of products available at Shop@Sarah's and most of them make really good gifts for friends and family. Since most of my girl friends are into makeup, it'll be pretty easy to get one of the well-known brand makeup kits as a gift.

And this is what Shop@Sarah's is aiming to be known for:- to be the ONE-STOP shop for gifts. If you ask me, I think they're already there. :)

But if you think otherwise, share your thoughts by completing the short questionnaire when you visit Shop@Sarah's. Who knows? You could be the one to win the VS Ultimate Makeup Kit. Just don't forget to jot down your phone number at the bottom of the questionnaire.

Shop@Sarah's has been providing Victoria's Secret products since November 2007 and open the doors of their store n Seri Kiulap Mall in December 2008. This means that they're also celebrating their TWO year anniversary! 

SALEbration/Anniversary Sale at Shop@Sarah's ends on 18th January 2011.

Check out A SALEbration at Shop@Sarah's here.

Check out their 'In The Spotlight' post here.

Visit them at :

Unit L2/5, 1st Floor, Seri Kiulap Mall

Between 10am and 9.30pm everyday (Closed for prayers on Fridays, 12.30pm to 1.30pm.

Find Shop@Sarah's Facebook Profile and Facebook Page.

What have YOU gotten from Shop@Sarah's?

If you've been checking out my Facebook or been reading the newspaper, you'd know that the Brunei SALEbration is on until 6th February 2011. About 400 stores are participating in the Sale event and the event was planned to coincide with Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and of course, BONUS TIME.

 Going through the store, I found that, literally, there were discounts on almost everything in the store! Trust me, I'm not exaggerating.

So, let's see what bargains we can get our hands on.

One of the new products Shop@Sarah's has recently stocked on are the Sigma makeup brushes. I own a couple of Sigma brushes and I'm really loving them. They're quite popular around the world, but pretty hard to get them in Brunei. So, I was quite excited to them at Shop@Sarah's.

The popularity of Sigma brushes is due to its high quality. At the moment, Shop@Sarah's stock Sigma Beauty Kits which consists of face, eye and lip brushes (depending on which kit you pick).  They can be quite pricy which means that NOW is the chance for you to get one of these kits at a discounted price.

Click on the pictures below to find out more about the Sigma kits.

Victoria's Secret has an extensive range of beauty makeup collection that is one of the most popular beauty brands in the world. that were designed and endorsed by the likes of Heidi Klum and Christian Siriano.

As you can see from the pictures, Shop@Sarah's has stocked quite a large collection of the makeup. For the SALEbration, you'll be able to get discounts between 10% - 40% on some of the VS Very Sexy products.

Just pick your choice of scent from the shelves of the popular Slatkin & Co candles at the store. 

Next things that I looked at were the totes and bags from Victoria's Secret. There were quite an array of them, with the Gold Metallic Runway Tote and Secret Pink Tote Bag being among them.

ALL the bags are on discount. Some are on bigger discounts than others, so they're great bargains because the original prices of these bags cost about $50 to $60.

Oh, and one more thing! Shop@Sarah's are conducting a survey on how customers feel about the store. They're also throwing in a free bonus for one lucky customer who does fill out their questionnaire.

So, head over to their counter where you'll find a stack of questionnaires. Fill it out, write down your phone number at the bottom and put it in the box on the counter.

The above are only half of what I went through at Shop@Sarah's. But if I post them all up, this is going to be a REALLY long post. So, I'm going to put the rest in a Part 2 blog post next week.

But if you can't wait for the next post, by all means, drop by to Shop@Sarah's at the Seri Kiulap Mall. Also, you might want to do that soon, because they were quite a few customers there taking advantage of their sale while I was there.

Until the next post, peeps!

Shop@Sarah's has been providing Victoria's Secret products since November 2007 and open the doors of their store n Seri Kiulap Mall in December 2008. This means that they're also celebrating their TWO year anniversary! 

SALEbration/Anniversary Sale at Shop@Sarah's ends on 18th January 2011.

Check out their 'In The Spotlight' post here.

Visit them at :

Unit L2/5, 1st Floor, Seri Kiulap Mall

Between 10am and 9.30pm everyday (Closed for prayers on Fridays, 12.30pm to 1.30pm.

Find Shop@Sarah's Facebook Profile and Facebook Page.

Any questions about the sale at Shop@Sarah's?

I'd like to take some time to say a Merry Christmas to any of you guys out there who celebrate Christmas.

Christmas is one of the most joyous celebrations of the year and I love the sense of good will and joy the season brings! There's a slew of Christmas pictures and blog posts on the internet, and I'd like to share some of them with you.

I think this is a wonderful Christmas message from The Wheat, and I hope that it reaches to more people as it had me.

Now, we all know that the one motif for Christmas is the Christmas Tree. The lighting of the Christmas Tree is usually made into a big occasion and I was lucky enough to experience one  in Brisbane's city square, Australia.

The tradition originated in Livonia and Germany in the early 16th century and today, the Christmas Tree are lavishly put up in homes as well as public spaces all over the world.

So, I thought, why not gather pictures of Christmas Trees from all over the world?

Just click on the pictures to see a larger images of Christmas trees that float on water, worth $11 million, is eco-friendly and even, a Christmas tree made of lobster traps!

If you have been following my Facebook or Twitter closely, you'd have known that I've had a guest blog post on Manisha Dhalani's blog.

That's the end of my Christmas blog post. To all who celebrate Christmas, I wish you again a Merry Christmas and leave this pretty Christmas tree doodle especially to you.

Happy Holidays, all!

Xoxo.

Wanna wish me a 'Merry Christmas' too?

Eating healthy. That's right, just eating the RIGHT food.

Most think that the most effective way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise like mad. I can understand why most would think so. But what I learnt from my latest advertiser, is that it is WHAT you eat that makes all the difference. And NOT just how much you eat.

So, the next question is... What DO you eat then?

Well, I'm not the expert on the subject, but I do know someone who is.

Suria has penned the book, '9 Greatest Weight Loss Secrets' and co-authored the best selling series, 'Living in Abundance' with Anthony Robbins and Dr Wayne Dyer.

Actually, Suria has a long list of credentials under her belt, but I'm going to let you find those out from her directly.

Thanks to RTS Management Services of Brunei, you can get a chance to learn from Suria Mohd as she will be conducting a workshop on Nutrition and Weight Loss in Brunei this coming Saturday. In this 3-hour workshop, you'll learn:

• The Top Ten Must Have food to boost your energy and keep your metabolic rate up for optimum slimming results;
• What really happens to your body when you go on a crash diet;
• Six Keys to nutrition that you MUST know to give your body what it needs;
• Special guide for individuals with diabetes, chronic health problems and for pregnant women;

And so much more!

You'll also get to see a cooking demo on how to prepare healthy meals, the right kind of food to get you on your way to a slimmer and healthier body. And yes, you get to taste the cooking too.

Now, if you want to grab this chance to learn about weight loss through nutrition from Suria Mohd, all you need to do is to register your name for a fee of just B$38 to attend the workshop to be held at SEAMEO VOCTECH this Saturday, 18th December.

Text RTS Management Services at +673 7153 139 or email rts.sent@gmail.com for registration.

If you've always been thinking of doing something about your health and weight, but didn't know how to start, you might want to check the workshop out. It may just motivate you to take the first step towards a healthier you.

Find the details below, ladies!

Toodles. :)

This is the first workshop that Suria Mohd will be conducting in Brunei. The details for the workshop are:

Nutrition & Weight Loss

Date       : 18th December 2010

Time     : 10.00 am - 1.00 pm

Venue   : SEAMEO VOCTECH, Jalan Pasar Baharu, Gadong

Fee         : B$38.00 per participant

Phone   : +673 7153 139

Email    : rts.sent@gmail.com

Any questions about Suria Mohd or the workshop?

On the first day, three magical items were selected as the trophies of the day. Embedded with the spirit of Cruella and Maleficent, it's no wonder that they are most coveted.

First one on the scene was Zie Rayyan, with the bid of $30 for the Cruella Lip Gloss (Wicked Ways), just seconds placed after the Auction was officially opened. A few more bids were put in throughout the day, with no clear prediction to who would win the MAC Lip Gloss.

And then SUDDENLY....

At 3 minutes before the clock struck 10pm, with a single blow, Maurina devastated all her opponents with her bid, and emerged victorious!

However, her win here had taken her focus away from another ongoing battle for the Maleficent's My Dark Magic Eyeshadow Duo, where she was head-to-head against Leya Mhb. Leya proved to be too fast for Maurina, and so, the item fell into the waiting hands of Leya. *Hurrah!*

Day Two brought more vile and vain creatures into sight, with the crowd gathered around The Evil Queen's Sinister Lipstick and Hot House Lip Gloss.

The Evil Queen is a very popular character  on this day. She was, after all, once the fairest in the land. For her Sinister Lipstick, a fierce fight was going on between Liyana and Syaziyah.

Blow after blow! Strike after strike! The crowd goaded them on. The combat heated up with intensity until Liyana stole the prize with her lethal bid of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS!

But what's this?

Not so far away, in the realm of Twitterverse, an enchantment is being casted by none other than... The evil Maurina! With Cruella's Lip Gloss already in her possession, it seems that she's got her evil eye on The Evil Queen's as well!

Still, could she beat the other bidders? Those who are fiercely outbidding each other, all equally desirous for the prize?

As the closing call sounded 10pm and the dust has settled, Maurina stood in the middle of the battlefield, with the Hot House Lipgloss firmly in her grasp!

The sun rises over the next three bewitching items, and amongst them, is the only Maleficent's Nail Lacquer that gleams orange, ruby and pink in the sunlight.

The last few minutes for the last Cruella's Lip Gloss saw serious bidders fighting to the very end. But as always, there can only be one winner - Congratulations, Salwa!!

The final day of the MAC Venomous Villains Auction has arrived. And those who had been quietly sitting on the sidelines, watching the bidding for the past few days, have finally decided to come out and play.

Bright and early, the first bids were placed for the last three pieces of the Venomous Villains collection. And one of these items is The Evil Queen's Sinister Lipstick again, the same one that had fetched a $100 on the second day.

Amongst the contenders, were Syaziyah (who returned to claim the prize she lost against Liyana), Audrey (the winner for the Penultimate Eyeliner) and even an appearance by Shop@Sarah's!

And in the blink of an eye, the opening bidding price leaped from $25 to $90! The raging storm urged on but it seems that Karin had scared everyone off!

But close to 10pm, a lone bid took the crown away from Karin. And that bid belonged to Audrey!

Throughout the day, there was one obvious contender that had slayed everyone who came in her way. From the very beginning, she had declared the Maleficent's Eyeshadow as her ultimate goal.

The cruel villainess, Karin, gave every opponent a smackdown, taunting those who dare to challenge her!

Even Thann Sanctuary made a cameo appearance in an attempt to add Maleficent's Eyeshadow to create the perfect 'Drag Look'. But Karin still knocked them down.

As the time tick closer to 10pm, Karin is nowhere to be seen! Is she just waiting for someone to outbid her? Is she going to just let SheQeen win?

Well, despite Thann Sanctuary's threats, no one had challenged SheQeen and, lo and behold, she won the last gorgeous 'My Dark Magic' Eyeshadow!

The MAC Venomous Villains Auction Event was such a success because of all of you who had participated. It had definitely shocked me to see bids went through the roof! The four days were so exciting to watch and we had people checking in, just to watch the bidding. :)

To all winners, you guys are awesome and the profits earned through the auction will be put towards the blog. I hope to add more store or item reviews in the near future, and this profit will help me do that!

So, THANKS, you guys!

Find out what the heck MAC Venomous Villains is here. 

Interesting read :

101 Things You Didn't Know About MAC Venomous Villains

Are you a venomous villain?

It's that time of the year again. The celebration of Hari Raya!

My memories of Hari Raya celebrations have always been festive and colourful. Laughter, joy and FOOD! Meeting relatives that you usually only meet during festivities. Exclaiming over how big your little nephews, nieces or cousins has gotten, catching up on what I've been up to, being asked when will it be 'my turn'. This year, it's no different. :)

* Pics taken from Tongue in Chic

Anyhoo, one of my favourite things about Hari Raya is the fashion. The variety of colours, materials and designs never cease to amaze me. Most women spend time and money designing, re-designing and producing their own baju fashion just for Hari Raya. And let me tell you, they're not called baju fashion for nothing.

However, in my opinion, the most important factor for a gorgeous baju kurung is the seamstress. You may have the most beautiful piece of material in the world, but with a bad tailor, you can consider money spent on purchasing the material as money down the drain.

But the tailoring shop owner(H) reassured me that her seamstresses would definitely be able to finish them before Raya. Still anxious, I checked in with her again about a week before Raya and she said,"Oh they're not all finished yet, but don't worry so much. They'll be ready before Raya."

On Hari Raya eve, I rang H again and now she said,"Oh sorry sorry. We have so much orders so your bajus are not finished yet. They'll be completed in a few days. So, just wait for our call." You can imagine, that at that point in time, I was already upset because Hari Raya was the NEXT DAY!

Do you know when I finally got my clothes? TWO WEEKS INTO RAYA! That's right, the 14th day of Hari Raya!

Omg, you can't imagine how furious I was.  And the worst thing was H's attitude about it.

 Me : Fine! I'll take the clothes but you obviously need to give a discount since they weren't completed on time.

H : Sorry, I can't and won't give you a discount.

Me : How can you NOT give me a discount?! If it's just a few days late, I wouldn't mind paying you in full. But it's been TWO weeks! You didn't fulfill your part!

H : But they're finished, aren't they? So, you have to pay in full.

Me : Finished TWO weeks AFTER your promised date of completion!! I had nothing new to wear for Hari Raya because of your lateness!

H : Sorry, I don't even give my own relatives much of a discount.

Grrrrrrrrr!

In the end, she did give me a discount. A measly 10% off! And the huge slap was... the baju kurungs were HORRENDOUS! The cutting was all wrong, the beading was sloppy, the sewing was messy! I immediately regretted paying for the clothes. I should've just left them, then at least, I would've saved a few hundred bucks.

Experiences like this are what we should be careful of. We have sunk hundreds of dollars into just purchasing the material, and to have them sewn into bad-looking garments is just a horrible waste of money. If you're lucky, you can salvage your baju kurungs by sending them to be re-sewn. If they can't be re-sewn, well, bye bye money.

At the moment, I'm still looking for that one seamstress who can create magical and breath-taking clothes. I've had little hits and lots of misses and I'm tired of searching. So, if you have someone to recommend for me, let me know and I may just let you in on which tailoring shop I just spent a whole blog post ranting about.

Toodles and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!!!

So who's your streamstress?

As most of you know, the 6th Consumer Fair Brunei Darussalam was held recently at the Bridex Hall in Jerudong. I've always loved to go to these fairs as there are all sorts of products available that you don't normally come across.

This year, some of our local online stores had participated in the 6th Consumer Fair, which is a big step into marketing their presence. If you had missed the Consumer Fair and so, missed out on the chance of seeing what our local e-stores have to offer, the following are a brief introduction to those who had participated. :)

Although I had missed out her booth, many had the opportunity to see, first-hand, what the store has to offer. If you are a new mother or soon-to-be mum, check out the store's Facebook page to join the women who are asking for advice and tips.

It's really great to have the chance to meet these e-stores in person. Fairs, like the Consumer Fair, allows aspiring e-business people to increase awareness of online shopping.

In this day and age, online shopping is not a dodgy thing anymore. And the above online blogshops, through participating in Fairs, show to the public that these stores are run by real people. This is sure to help boost the public's confidence in our local e-tailers.

So, to those mentioned in this post, hope to see more of you in future fairs!

Catch Orchid Row's guest blog post at ProjekBrunei on online shopping in Brunei. ProjekBrunei is the website hosted by the mysterious BruneiTweet, created to get to know about Brunei through the eyes of our locals. A must-visit as you can learn about activities, groups and people in Brunei that you had never known about.

Check out the ProjekBrunei Facebook page.

Tell us what you think of the 6th Consumer Fair Brunei

I'm no fan of football and I don't think I'd ever be one. But you know what they say. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

After doing a bit of research on the World Cup football shirts, I realised that there is much thought and effort that goes behind the design of the shirts. These shirts do not merely offer comfort and ease for the sake of optimum performance, but also symbolizes pride and glory of each country. Not to mention, the marketing value behind the designing labels.

With 2.2 billion people who had watched the games of the 2006 World Cup, the World Cup is the largest stage in the world. As such, the presentation of the participating countries is as important as the sport football they play. Sports labels companies Nike, Adidas, Puma and Umbro invest heavily in designing football shirts to not only market their brand, but also making the football players look like the hotties they are.