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Sunday 31 August 2014

Community: Best Buddies Friendship Walk Malaysia 2014

Happy National Day! As Malaysians, I have a question for you... Do you know someone with intellectual disability? I hope we treat them all equally. Please don't forget that they're as Malaysian as you are, as human as you are. 

Before you proceed, kindly watch the heart-breaking video above and think... Have you ever been a friend to someone in need? Someone with intellectual disabilities? The video really makes you think twice about how you can help...


I will tell you honestly that I have not known of anyone with mental disability, so I never had a chance to be a friend. I just hope I'm not one of those people who shun them in public.. But I do know, that I have donated to special childrens' homes before. This is the first time I'm hearing of a charity walk for the mentally disabled. The aim of the Friendship Walk is to change lives, as participants walk for inclusion, friendship, leadership, and opportunity for people with and without Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Unfortunately, the online registration is over but what you can do if you're interested to join is drop a message on their Facebook event page wall and the right person will contact you regarding the event :)

This is the first ever Best Buddies Friendship Walk in Malaysia! In the Best Buddies Friendship Walk Malaysia, the goal is to generate awareness and also to showcase the program to other schools, universities and corporations so that they too would adopt our program and help us spread the vision of a Malaysia that actively practices INCLUSION. This program will also help people with IDD find lifelong friendship.  It's not easy, but it's not impossible as well.

"Walk for inclusion. Walk for friendship. Walk for a better community."


Time: 4.30pm - 8.30pm
Date: 6th September 2014
Venue: Taman Tasik Permaisuri, Jalan Tasik Permaisuri 2, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Price : Only RM30 for this amazing experience! *
for UCSI students, RM40 for the public
Each participant will receive a limited edition Best Buddies T-shirt, wristband and a goodie bag.

Best Buddies® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) international organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the latest and greatest life-changing movement created by the Best Buddies organization. Since 2009, tens of thousands of participants have walked in countries all over the globe, and raising millions of dollars for Best Buddies.

If you can walk for hours on end in a mall, imagine what you can achieve if you channelled that energy into walking for a good cause. Do join in the event if you're free and have nothing to do on a weekend. There's a special bonus 10 ECA points if you're a UCSI student XD Better yet, join the event because you truly want to help these people in need lead better lives. To you, they may be just a small part of your life, but to them, you might be the most important person ever. Don't ever discriminate because no one is born perfect. I'm sure you know how lost it feels to be without a friend... Even if you can't go, please try and donate. For RM40, who knows maybe we can shed a little light in their lives. :)

For more information, like Best Buddies UCSI on Facebook to receive further updates.

Cheers,
Carinn 



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Disclaimer: this is NOT a sponsored post.



Saturday 30 August 2014

Travel: Fly Me to Bali! [My AirAsia Free Seats]

If I had 10 AirAsia Free Seats, I would go to Bali, Indonesia and I'd bring along my parents, younger sister and brother, both my grandmothers, my boyfriend and my Aunt Ellen and Aunt Mary - and here's why! Not only will it be a great family gathering for both my paternal and maternal side of the family, Bali is the perfect place to soak up the sights and sounds while learning about the beautiful Balinese culture alongside the most important people in my life. In fact, we haven't had a vacation in years! The last trip was to Japan which we flew with- surprise, surprise- AirAsia as well! Dad has actually promised to bring us to Bali this year but due to unforeseen circumstances, the trip had to be cancelled. But I think if I'm resilient, my dream of going to Bali will come true.. And here comes my window of opportunity!

image from Naples-Florida-Sun

Tell me this isn't the prettiest view you've seen? I've always longed to soak up the sunshine at a beach with a gorgeous view like this! It's one thing to stare in amazement from the computer screen, but it's another thing to see it with my very own eyes and gape in awe. Simply breath-taking. Plus, an Instagram addict like me would definitely find it  to be the perfect place to take more photos! :p
I can just imagine my grandmothers sitting in the shade with their sun-hats, sipping mocktail or Coca-cola (paternal gramama's favourite drink) while the rest of us grandkids will be busy trying out beach activities and taking photos along the beautiful coast of Jimbaran Beach. Then for dinner, we'd enjoy delicious Balinese food along the beach while admiring the beautiful painting in the sky that is known as the sunset - a gift from Mother Nature. Clean white sands, clear blue waters and a beautiful view... This is life.

image from HDWallpapersInn

I'd love to find one of these mini chalets too, since I've never had the experience of staying in a chalet. Bali is not only known for its beautiful beaches, even their hotels have top-notch pools and hospitality as well. Being a rocker, Hard Rock Bali would be a must-stay hotel for my dad! He is an avid and loyal fan of Hard Rock, and a hard-core collector of Hard Rock Cafe shot glasses and displays it in a glass case at home. Staying at his favourite hotel which has world-class service would truly excite him. And who knows, maybe I can take the chance to teach my boyfriend how to swim too :p  Not to mention, Hard Rock Cafe has great food and good music! 

image from AsiaRooms

Taking a break from the beaches and modern lifestyle, we'd go and visit the historical towns and sights of Bali too. I've heard that Uluwatu Temple is a great place to visit because of its historical meaning and beautiful building structure. My architect sis would find this interesting! In fact, I've heard that the scenery and Kecak dance performance alone is reason enough to visit this place. Grandmamas would appreciate this!

If I really do win these 10 free seats, it will be my gift to my loved ones as a "Thank You" to them for all their love and care. I'd love to plan a trip with my family just before I enter into the working life. I won't say I've seen and travelled to many places in my 21 years of life and people are always telling me, "Go and travel before you start working. It will be a good experience to learn and grow. You'll never get a chance like this again nice you start working!" It's easy to say, but not easily done. Believe me, I've been saving up for it to make my dream come true. It can be daunting for a girl to go travel alone, but with my family by my side, I know I'll learn and love the travel experience so much more. Seeing photos on Instagram of my friends who are travelling around the world has been a great sight, but it would be even more wonderful to see some of these beautiful sights of the world with my own eyes. Indonesia has so much to offer, and I'd love to see and experience it with the people I love.



The most beautiful gift is the gift of love. Travel broadens the mind and soul. Show your family and friends that you love them too by bringing them on an eye-opening, mind-blowing journey with you! Take part in AirAsia Free Seats contest with your family and you could win the trip of your life!

You can join the My AirAsia Free Seats contest HERE. Log on to AirAsia's website and Facebook page for more info! Thank you AirAsia for the generosity! :D Lastly, here's wishing all Malaysians a Happy Independence Day in advance! We should be proud of our homegrown airlines, homegrown natural islands, homegrown everything! Selamat Hari Merdeka!


Cheers,
Carinn 



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Thursday 28 August 2014

Beauty: Maybelline Volum'Express The Falsies Big Eyes Mascara #bigeyesmy (Mascara Showdown!)

Which girl doesn't want big, beautiful eyes? As Asians, we have been stereotyped to have small and long eyes.. But with the help of mascara, big eyes is not unattainable! 

Introducing the latest secret from Maybelline - The Falsies Big Eyes Mascara. The name can't get any more direct than that. Maybelline has always been the number one drugstore brand mascara and they're always having new innovative formulas to suit any kinds of lashes. Mascaras have a short shelf life, hence you don't really need an expensive one, in my opinion. 


Maybelline Volum'Express - Falsies Big Eyes Mascara in Very Black is the first innovative waterproof mascara by Maybelline which has a dual-ended brush for a captivating eye-opening false lash effect. It promises dramatically bigger eyes with no smearing, no clumping and no flaking. It is also ophthalmologist tested and suitable for contact lens wearers. This chunky shaped mascara has a really wild purple colour which I find is so sassy! 

This post is going to be a little different from other reviews.. I'm going to have a MASCARA SHOWDOWN! I'll be comparing the Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes Mascara with The FaceShop FACE it Collagen Volume Mascara which I got as a birthday gift and Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Extravagant Waterproof Mascara that I won from a giveaway... Let the showdown begin!

The FaceShop FACE it Collagen Volume Mascara RM 48.90
This mascara is in the mid-price range and promises to give you voluminous lashes with the added its hydra collagen. It has a sleek, gold packaging which is susceptible to fingerprint smudges and is quite big to bring around in your makeup bag. It is available in two brushes and I got the curvy, spiral one which is suitable for curly and voluminous lashes.


Maybelline Volum'Express The Falsies Mascara RM45.90 
This mascara has a conventional shaped brush for the upper lashes to push lashes up and wide and also a mini brush that grabs and coats every tiny lash. This will give you wide-open, true eye-popping glam.

Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Waterproof Mascara RM 100
This mascara might burn a hole in your pocket with its price but it has one of the best formulas ever. Also another mascara with a uniquely shaped and innovative brush, it promises to deliver long-wear without clumping and gives off dramatic impact and graphic precision. With its bulbous shaped brush, it is easier to get more product on your lashes in just one swipe.

Effects in creating big eyes & ease of use:
This is to test if the mascaras really enlarges my eyes and combs my lashes upwards and outwards, without clumping and flaking.

The FaceShop FACE it Collagen Volume Mascara: Doesn't really make my eyes bigger, lashes tend to clump together but doesn't flake. Very easy to use, just do a zig-zag movement from the roots to the ends of your lashes.

Maybelline Volum'Express The Falsies Big Eyes Mascara: Less clumpy and doesn't flake. Eyes look slightly bigger with well-combed out lashes.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Extravagant Waterproof Mascara: Effective in opening up lashes, doesn't clump and doesn't flake. However, due to the shape, the brush is less effective when used on the left eye (for some reason) and on lower lashes.


 Volume & curl: 
For this test, I tried each mascara for at least 6 hours each day to test how well it holds a curl. Remember I have straight and stubborn lashes that just won't curl no matter how long I use the curler? I used my Forever 21 curler here before and after applying each mascara to see how nice the effect will be. All three mascaras lenghtened my pathetic lashes quite well.

The FaceShop FACE it Collagen Volume Mascara: Average effect at giving volume as hydra collagen is said to promote blood flow. Lower lashes are lengthened as well. However, the curl doesn't last long for me.

Maybelline Volum'Express The Falsies Big Eyes Mascara: Quite good at providing volume. Requires two coats to give more volume. The curl doesn't last for me as well.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Extravagant Waterproof Mascara: Lashes are nicely combed out as product is equally distributed. Holds the curl all day long with just one coat of mascara.


Ease of removal: 
For this test, I used my Purevivi Cleansing Lotion and soaked each cotton pad before holding it on my eye for 10 seconds and wipe off in one swipe to see how much product is removed.

The FaceShop FACE it Collagen Volume Mascara: Very easy to remove.

Maybelline Volum'Express The Falsies Big Eyes Mascara: Quite easy to remove, lashes are clean in about three swipes.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Extravagant Waterproof Mascara: Difficult to remove, requires longer time to hold the cotton pad over eyes for it to come off. Can be quite harmful for lashes cos a lot of rubbing are involved to fully remove the product.


Final Thoughts.....


All three mascaras are waterproof and smudge-proof, which is great! Each mascara has its own pros and cons - I guess there's no such thing as a perfect mascara?
 For me, The FaceShop FACE it Collagen Volume Mascara is the easiest to use, considering one brush can be used for both top and bottom lashes, unlike the Maybelline one. The mascara dries quite fast, unlike the Make Up For Ever one. However, it doesn't seem to give any effect to my lashes as they fall flat within an hour or so. 
The Maybelline Volum'Express The Falsies Big Eyes Mascara requires an additional brush to coat the bottom lashes, but is effective in giving volume and achieving that big eyes effect, just like wearing false eyelashes. In fact, I would actually prefer to purchase this as the price difference with The FaceShop one is not huge, but the effect makes a big difference. Two coats or more is needed for it to be more voluminous and curly. As promised, it also does not smudge or smear at all, giving you clean lashes all day long.
Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Extravagant Waterproof Mascara is the best of the lot in giving length, volume and holding a curl. It is also less clumpy and doesn't smear. The downside is that some practice is required in mastering the brush for your lower lashes, and that it is pricey. Oh, and it is also quite tedious to remove at times, especially the lower lashes. This could be due to its waterproof properties.

You can get the Maybelline Volum'Express The Falsies Big Eyes for RM48.90 at all major pharmacies and drugstores nationwide. Log on to their website and Facebook page for more info.

So, what's your favourite mascara? Share with me your thoughts and preference cos I'd love to find more mascaras that work on my poor lashes! Have a great day ahead! :)




Cheers,
Carinn 



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Disclaimer: Only one of the product was sponsored and the review is based on my honest personal thoughts, experiences and preference after trying out each products. Effects may vary depending on individual eyelashes condition, method of using and other factors. 



Wednesday 27 August 2014

[La Vie En Rose: The Heist] Behind The Scenes x Giveaway!

It has been more than a month since my first debut as Agent Eriko for our photoshoot project, and I feel I should document it down so that I'll be able to show this to my grandkids in the future (hopefully). If you do not already know, the Ma Cherie Johor Bloggers are my Johor blogger friends and we debuted with a bang with our first fashion editorial project.


'La Vie En Rose: The Heist' is a story about 9 girls contrasting, independent roles."La Vie en Rose" means to view "Life through rose-tinted glasses" in French and when our scripwriter and dreamer, Eryn, was writing this, she imagined these beautiful characters- each with a dream of their own and their unique ways of working towards that dream.  Eryn was inspired by the beautiful song La Vie en Rose which has one of the prettiest and most addictive melodies ever. Of course, we can't all be secret agents and top models in real life, hence it is about viewing life from a different perspective. 

Money, men and power - these are the three main elements of the story. These are the things that are believed to be able to change a women's destiny.. A woman can do anything a man can too, and maybe even better. Hence, this project aims to help each one of us step out of our comfort zones to take this projct to new heights.

On 6th July, we gathered at this beautiful hotel nestled in Bukit Indah for the big photoshoot project. Special thanks to Hermess Hotel for sponsoring the venue!


Busy girls and our obsession with looking pretty, lead to this huge pile of bags in one corner of the room..

We have worked hard for months, anticipating this project and planned right down to the tiniest detail. I'm glad to be part of this dedicated and creative team because at the end of the day after looking at the fruits of our labour, it feels so satisfying! We believe that this is a unique idea and hopefully, it will benefit all of us in gaining more exposure and experience. We have too many people to thank along the way and too much fun for me to describe, so I shall show it to you in pictures :)

This project really utilised all our individual skills and talents and put it all to good use. Thanks to our awesome Jennifer for her professional make-up skills!

And of course, a really huge credit goes to Kelvin, our photographer for being willing to bend, kneel, lie anywhere just to capture the best shots. Thank you, Kelvin!





Not forgetting the mastermind behind the project, Eryn, for running around helping us with our poses, prepping our hair, planning our outfits and of course, editing the photos! This project wouldn't have happened without you!

Btw, this is Eryn's baby Isabelle. Isn't she the cutest? While the rest are hard at work, we couldn't help stealing her away for a moment to snap some selfies :p




The above images are credits to Audrey, LerLer, Eryn and Edlyn.

This is the first time I'm getting so pampered with a full makeover from head to toe. Thanks Eryn for doing my hair!

It feels weird yet "glamorous" at the same time to have so many people snapping photos of you while you're doing your makeup. I feel like a celebrity XD

Big thanks to Audrey dear for doing my makeup! <3


Not forgetting my sis and bf for coming along to support me and run some errands for us girls :)

With Princess Neverland aka Agent Malkina.

The final outcome. Agent Eriko is a fun-loving, rich young lady who knows how to enjoy life, but her biggest secret? She's an agent in disguise. Do not be fooled by her youthful looks for she is one of the most capable characters in the story....




Annndd... It's a wrap! 

It's definitely not easy organising this and we love our sponsors Happy2u and LoveBag LoveBag for sponsoring our shoes, accessories and bags! Is this how a model feels like? Althogh I felt I could've done better, I'm still happy with the outcome. Next time, I'm definitely going to try out a role that is totally different from what I'm used to. Our only regret was Cece not being able to join us, or the project would be so complete. I would rewind time if I could to do this again because we all had such a good time!
Thank you for this whole experience :)


Now here's the fun part for you.. We have decided to host a giveaway cum voting contest for our readers to Vote for Your Favourite La Vie en Rose Character. All you have to do is follow the simple steps HERE to win attractive prizes! Contest is open to all Malaysians and is valid till 31st August 2014. 

In case you need to refresh your minds, here are a compilation of our stories that you can read and then cast your vote!



Till then, thank you for reading and I really hope we do a follow up of the story soon :)

- GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED -


Love,
Carinn 


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Tuesday 26 August 2014

Shopping/ Fashion: Shopbop.com - The Go-to Online Retail Destination

I guess it's no secret that I'm a shopaholic! And recently, I've stumbled upon this amazing website that caters to every women's fashion needs - from basics to designer clothes, from home decor, accessories to bags and clothes! Introducing.....

image from PRnewswire


Shopbop is a modest-sized online boutique specialising in women's fashion. Since it's launch in 2009, Shopbop has now grown to become one of the leading fashion retailers in the world. It is also interesting to note that they only carry authentic designer merchandise and are a subsidiary company of Amazon.com. All items are curated with the chic, modern woman in mind. You'll be blown away by their wide range of designer apparels and accessories! Shopbop has been featured in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Elle. They have a section that features limited-edition pieces from top and upcoming designers. Excellent customer service and a magazine-meets-boutique, easy to navigate website, it has brought the online shopping experience to a whole new level. 

For more information about Shopbop, do visit: http://www.shopbop.com/ci/aboutShopBop/customerservice.html?#page=10

PS: Please remember that it's ShopBOP, and not ShopBOB because I kept making that mistake initially and it led me to a totally different website 0.0

Anyway, I'm super excited to be given a chance to shop with them and I've spent days thinking hard on what to buy! I've decided to get just accessories this time, as I'm pretty sure the clothes might not fit me.. I've narrowed it down to these few, why don't you help me choose? :)



It's going to be autumn soon and Cambridge Satchels are the most suitable for the season! This one in brown is just so vintage and will match any outfit to give off the sophisticated, English feel. Plus, mini satchels are perfect for me as I'm so petite. It would have cost so much more to buy it in Malaysia but Shopbop is only selling it for USD114 during the sales period! But then, I couldn't decide between brown and red... :/




I've been meaning to get a sturdier, cuter looking laptop bag for myself and I think these two are absolutely adorable! Now I'm in a dilemma - should I choose the black neoprene one of the blueglow vinyl laptop case?




Aren't these gorgeous? I need a new case for my baby iPad too as my old case is getting dirty. Polka dots will never go out of trend while the Bruno Aires one has such a quirky drawing, I'm sure it'll stand out!



I find this wallet very girly.. It's not pink, it's coral. :p I'm a huge sucker for Kate Spade ever since my aunt got me my zebra bag. The logo itself is so pretty and just enhances the classiness of the wallet overall! This costs USD100 only, and it's made of leather omg??




I fell in love with the classy gold design of the watch.. And it's made even prettier with the pastel coloured and floral patterned straps.. It's not everyday that you see watches in these colours, you'll be the centre of attention for sure! Seriously, which should I choose?

I've had so much fun exploring Shopbop! It's so simple to use, plus the filters are very convenient and you can even  your favourite items for future references. I would really love to hear your opinion on what to buy.. Do leave me a comment below and I'll show you my haul next month? :D

Don't forget to check out http://www.shopbop.com/ for your fashion inspiration and for guys, don't fret! You can log on to http://www.eastdane.com/ and shop to your hearts' content!

Love,
Carinn 



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