Before Jakarta!!

I must say I feel positively elated that we are flying to Jakarta tomorrow morning. This is the very first time that my kids and I can finally see their father side's of relatives IRL instead of pictures!!!! ^^ Including my hubby's 3 brothers, their families, and all the cousins...... hum, the emotion is like meeting my boyfriend's family the very first time as well. lol

After 3 weeks adjustment, my skin and body finally get used to the humid weather in Taipei. No rashes on my face, and not much swelling for my legs neither, except I still can't get quite comfortable sleeping on a hard surfaces.... I long for our extra thickness and softness mattress back in USA!!! ><

These days I am trying out Jill Stuart make-ups and see if I really like the color palette on my skin to decide whether should I buy more. (I don't normally apply foundation so please pardon me, if my skin's surface appears wrinkled.) lol

Normal Contact Lens.

Black eyeliner w/ pink eyeshadow around under-eye. 


Thanks to 素貞 for inviting us. (This is a members' only club)

Dinner gathering at Pacific Club in 天母。

After dinner, kids can join the other room at the same building for a not-so-sporty exercise game fun!!!

Ticon Gray contact lens. 

Jk (bought at Target) navy eyeliner at top and bottom.

I applied a little dark lavender gel eyeshadow (far right little jar) only on double eyelid. 

w/ Chantecaille kohl pencil eyeliner in Green at top and bottom. 


I personally like the green eyeliner w/ gray lens better than blue eyeliner w/ gray lens. 
Please don't mind my expression. :P

I had a half day off from hubby and kids as my lovely friends took them to 北藝大 (a university at 關渡 n' a Germany restaurant for a day.  Then I will be able to pamper myself w/ a beautiful gel nail art manicure and pedicure. 

大安路83巷7號！


光療指甲 is what I did yesterday! And NO, it is not the same as applying a fake nail on top of your nail. It is gel/glue based polish and thus last longer (almost a month) w/o chipping nor fading!! 







After 4 hours of manicure and pedicure, I strongly believe I only want to do it ONCE a year.... geez, it kills me just by sitting there!! :P

The final look of 2D gel floral art w/ Swarovski crystal manicure. (the gluey stuff is wiped off later. )

After kids all done for their nap around 6 PM, Dad took us to a new department store near Taipei train station at 華陰街！！

If you like Korean and Japanese style, this is the place you MUST visit. 
Their price in general is not high and you get to see a LOT of different brands. 


After couple bowls of soup, the noodles began to cloy and I had to walk to help to digest it. 



I also like the high ceiling of its food court!!



This seems to be one of Taiwanese celebrity's brand and lots of celebrity wear it label in public as well. 


A Korea brand. 






ON SALE. 






Iphone cover. 


Hand-made jewelry/accessory/rings


This is down stair B2's restroom..... lol. I like the mirrors all over the whole restroom!!


Are those belong to a dog's long ear?? ^^


We only had time to visit couple lower floors and since rest of floors are similar from other department stores in Taipei, I'd simply skip them!! 

I culled several looks from the web which I particularly like the rich colors and textile on the model, except the first one is purely attracted by her expressive body language.  ^O^

Marshell


whowhatwhere.com


credited to style Bubble


Karen walker

Karen walker

karen walker




Karen walker..by me. :P


During our stay at Taipei, the only thing that Heidi cares the most is: Are we taking a cab, mom?" ^^


Today I am meeting high school classmates whom I never met after at least 10 years. 


Got in touch w/ old friends???
xoxo Rachel 

FOTD: Summer Makeup From the Fashion Runway

Featured in this months Allure Magazine, the beauty guide featured the look from the Michael Kors Spring 2009 show.


I love the look so much that I just had to post some extra photos.


It's all about clean simple eyes, a defined contour with a peachy-rose blush and a rich peachy-red lipstick or lipliner.

What are some of your favorite summer lip colors?


XOXO,
Awilda

Crown Princess of Sweden Wedding: Royal Fashion Hits & Misses by Nick Verreos

Royal CoutureStockholm Queen: Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden enters the church with her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf

Today the country of Sweden celebrated a Royal Wedding. Their beloved Crown Princess Victoria married commoner Daniel Westling. And as far as Royal Weddings go, this was probably "The Wedding of The Year"! There was a lot of controversy back when the nuptials were announced, since Victoria's father, King Carl XVI Gustaf did not hold back his disdain for the fact that his oldest daughter (and the next Queen of Sweden), was marrying a a fitness trainer with no royal blood (like that matters in 2010, but I guess it does to him). But all that was set aside and it was a day of royal celebration.
Now to the important part: Let's take a look at "those crazy royals" and their "unique" fashion sense ranging from chic Haute Couture to "Oh No She Didn't!".

Lets begin with the Bride:Victoria chose a Swedish designer by the name of Par Engsheden to create her simple yet very elegant gown. It was a cream colored silk duchesse gown with an off-the-shoulder neckline that came to a "V" back. It featured a fitted midriff bodice, A-line shaped skirt and a VERY LONG train (of course, she's the future Queen!). She also wore the same Cameo Tiara that her mother, Queen Silvia of Sweden, wore on her wedding day back in 1976. The tiara is thought to be from Empress Josephine-Charlotte of France and it was a gift from Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Queen Silvia's wedding gown was decisively not, by a Swedish designer, but actually from the House of Dior's then-designer Marc Bohan.
Speaking of Queen Silvia, the Mother of the Bride, looked REGAL, in a lilac lace embroidered gown with a side-front chiffon godet and scooped neckline. Let's just say as far as Mother-of-the-Bride dresses, this is how you're supposed to do it ladies! Victoria's sister (yes, the one with the Movie Star Looks!) Princess Madeleine looked dazzling in a sky blue multi-layered, off-the-shoulder gown. Not a big fan of her gown (maybe a bit too much for such a young, beautiful girl) but I have a feeling, she could wear a Trash Bag and still look great! Now, in case you wonder what a Mother-of-the-Bride should not wear? See below for what Groom Daniel Westling's mommie wore:Royal Divas:Queen Rania of Jordan didn't disappoint as one the most stylish women on the planet, as she arrived (with her husband, King Abdullah), in a deep purple crepe sheath gown with diagonal side slit.
A definite FASHION HIT at the Swedish Royal wedding was Best Dressed Hall of Fame (and a Valentino muse) Rosario Nadal y Fuster de Puigdorfila, Princess of Preslav (Bulgaria) after marrying the sexy Kyril of Preslav. Last year, it was announced that they would "live separately" but with no intentions of a divorce(?). They were at the wedding together looking like the "Brad and Angelina" of European Royalty. Her gown was Couture PERFECTION. She looked like a Grecian sculpture.Another HIT for me, was Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo and her mother, Queen Sofia of Spain. Elena has become a serious Fashion Plate, embracing her "Inner Fashion Diva", especially after her separation and later divorce from Jaime de Marichalar. I give her "ten Nick V Points" for just GOING FOR IT! Not only did she decide to wear a strong bubblegum pink silk gazar gown! But then she's like "You know, I don't think that gown is enough!" So she throws on a snappy embroidered Toreador bolero jacket: Viva España! Her mother Queen Sofia, elegant in a pale silk shirred bodice gown gave a nice subdued "balance" to Elena's "This might be Princess Victoria's day...but I'm going for it!".
Continuing with Spain, Crown Prince Felipe looked dashing in his military uniform, next to Letizia, Princess of Asturias. First of all, I have to say this: She looks TOO THIN! There, I said it, I had to get that out of the way. Her gown was nice, but I think the color choice was wrong. It was just too close to her own skin color. She should have looked at her sister-in-law Elena for some color advice.Points for Looking Like a Queen Should Look Like: Queen Sonja of Norway. It's a mess, yes, but I didn't expect anything less. It's still quite fabulous. It all evens out for me. The Fortuny-pleated coral full gown PLUS a matching Fortuny-pleated attached shawl-cape. I mean: Really!!! Total Queen!

The Royal Misses:
Well, now that we got the royals with some fashion sense out of the way, here were some royal guests who missed the mark. You just know that during the wedding reception dinner, people were saying "Did you see HER mess of a dress??" For now, I've just highlighted two, and they happen to be from The Netherlands (coincidence?): Princess Laurentien of The Netherlands. Oh Laurentien, your Mother-In-Law, Queen Beatrix would be proud (she loves them crazy prints!). The Black and White Print, on it's own is not too bad. But once you mix it with the Red sash, matching bolero jacket and Orange detailing(?) it became a definite Royal "What Was She Thinking?"...
But the prize goes to Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands): The slate-gray shirred bodice is actually nice, but then...wait...are those PANTS???? It's a cross between an outfit created by a bad Fashion College student and something from Victor-Victoria. Maybe she was trying to tell us that she's both a Man AND a Woman, when it comes to fashion, or she just wanted to be that "artsy fashion ingenue" royal. Whatever the case, in both instances, they are not giving Dutch Fashion a good name.

Well, Hej då! (goodbye in Swedish) from the Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and my own "Nick Verreos Red Carpet" Royal Fashion Report...Until next time.

Click BELOW for video of the Wedding (in Swedish):

Video Montage of Wedding Hair Trials

As promised, here's a collection of video clips of last night's hair trial.  I must apologise for the amateurish editing and graphics but I'm still learning how to use the software.  I'm sure I will get alot better at doing it as time goes on and hopefully it will appear more sleek once I've mastered it! I left the silly bits in the video because well...it's more fun that way!  I'm laughing alot in this video because I can't keep a straight face around my mum...she cracks me up.  She's mad as a brush but I love her for it.  There are still a couple of things that need to be tweaked about my hairstyle like fluffing up the ends of the hair more so they don't look so separated.  But overall, I love the volume it created!  I wish my hair could look like that everyday! Hope you enjoy it and feel free to ask any questions.

Summer Sandals for My Honeymoon

Lately I have been keeping an eye out for clothes/shoes that would be suitable for my honeymoon in Kuala Lumpur, Borneo and Hong Kong.  I'm sooo excited that we are going 5 star all the way because I NEVER travel first class and certainly never stay in 5 star hotels.  But I guess thats the whole point of a honeymoon...to make it special and something you will remember forever.  To give you an idea of what we will be doing in each place, here's a quick rundown:

4 nights in Kuala Lumpur - We will be staying in the Shangri-La Hotel pictured above, which is within the Golden Triangle with great views of the Petronas Towers.  This first part of the holiday is just going to be a chance for us to explore the city, relax in the spa and generally enjoy all the perks of being on our honeymoon!

5 nights in Borneo - We are booked into the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort which is right on the beach with 400 acres of tropical jungle behind it.  I can't wait to be sipping cocktails and looking out on the beach sunset like the pic from the hotel website above! AMAZING.  This is going to be the super relaxing part of the honeymoon but we have a couple of day trips organised to go and visit Turtle Island and the Orang-utans of Sandakan.  We both love animals so this is a great chance to see some amazing creatures in their natural environment.  We may also go to the Poring Hot Springs and Kinabalu Park.  Neither of us can sit on a beach for 2 weeks because we both get bored.  I mean 3 or 4 days of beaching it up is enough for us.

4 nights in Hong Kong - Although this may not be the most relaxing end to our holiday considering it's a bustling metropolis, we decided that we couldn't pass up the opportunity to go since it was in the general area.  We will be staying at the Kowloon Shangri-La so our room has great views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island...the room looks out of this world.  I've heard the shopping malls are well worth a visit so I will have to drag Chris along to one of them!  We both want to check out some Buddhist temples, country parks and off course the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak. I can't wait! Judging by the look of the hotel, I may have to take some fancy dresses with me or I may feel out of place!ha ha.

I'm sorry if I seem like I'm boasting but I'm really not, I'm just really excited about the whole thing!

So as you can see, this honeymoon will require a varied selection of clothes!  So for starters, I thought I better stock up on some beachwear so I found some sun dresses from H & M a while ago to throw on over bikinis.  I have cut up some of my old jeans that are a bit big for me now after my weightloss and made them into little shorts.  I have some gorgeous, embellished, colourful sheer kaftans from Monsoon as well that will be perfect for beaching it up.  I picked up some black, gladiator-style summer sandals yesterday for £12.99 from Shoe Zone...bargain! It isn't a well known store but it's basically just somewhere you can get cheap shoes that may not last for years, but hey, they only need to last as long as my honeymoon for that price.  You can check out their website here and find out if there's a store near you.  I have seen almost identical sandals in the likes of Dune, Faith and River Island for 3 times the price.  To be honest, I won't be wearing these for very long when I get back to Scotland because everyone knows our summers aren't the greatest so I don't see the point in spending large amounts of money on something I won't be wearing alot.

The next two pairs of sandals are ones I got from Ebay.  They are both from Dune, brand new and never worn and I got them both for £9.99 plus £2.50 P & P.  I thought that was an amazing deal because when I checked on the Dune website, the tan leather ones are currently priced at £55.00 and the wedges at £38.50 (sale price).

I love the tan ones because they will go with EVERYTHING, they are really comfy and really support my feet, with an easy zip up back and a very small heel...perfect! They are simplistic with a hint of detail which makes them perfect for all my cute little beach dresses.

I don't normally like this type of gold shiny material because it can look cheap but these will really go with the clothes I have bought for Malaysia.  Alot of the stuff I have from Monsoon will go with these perfectly and they will be great for night-time when I want a bit of height.  They are mega comfy and also not too high so I won't have a problem walking in them for a few hours.  Dune shoes always feel so high quality so these are ones that I can keep for a long time and store them in my wardrobe until next summer.

Have you picked up any summer bargains recently? Are you going on Honeymoon soon?