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Beautiful Stranger Bridal Studio.

25 Saturday Oct 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Deeper Than Fashion, Review

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Tags

lotus saree, online saree malaysia, rainbow saree., saree review, sarees

I love sarees. I think the 6 yards of fabric that can be draped in many styles while baring just the right amount of skin is incredibly sexy. This obsession has grown over the years, starting with me wearing sarees passed down to me from my mom to now owning a vast collection of these beauties of my own. The best part of it all, it comes in so many types of material, styles and designs that you’ll be spoilt for choice.

That’s exactly how I felt when I came across Beautiful Stranger Bridal Studio. The extensive range of gorgeous sarees left me staring at the screen for hours trying to decided on which I absolutely needed to own. I stumbled upon them by chance & I’m so glad I did.

I’m usually really cautious about pre-order items online as I’ve been disappointed one too many times before. But I decided to risk it since I fell head over heels with this semi-rainbow piece that had lotuses on it; spss_5909-a

Two of my favourite things; colours & lotus flowers. Also I thought to myself, “It’s only fabric. It should be fine!”

It was more than fine. In fact it was so much more beautiful in real life! The silky soft fabric that was so incredibly easy to drape, the contrasts of patterns and colours against each other: the blouse was a darker shade of green from the saree with tiny polka dots giving the saree a more modern abstract look. IMG_20141026_022933IMG_20141026_015311I absolutely have no regrets of purchasing this piece, so I decided it was a worthy share on my blog. Fast shipping, good customer service and quality product. You can take my word for it 🙂

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Shiny Happy People.

01 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Accessories, Review

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

accessory, beyonce flash tattoo, bling, flash tattoos, flash tattoos malaysia, shiny happy people, stick on tattoo, temporary tattoo malaysia

As a kid, I always loved those temporary stick on tattoos. You know, the kind you get from a pack of gum with really cute designs of cartoons and stuff? Yup, those. I thought they were super cool.

As an adult, I finally got inked. After that painful and amazing experience, I never thought I’d ever, ever go back to liking temporary tattoos again. I was dead wrong because temporary tattoos now come in the form of flash tattoos which inked tattoos can’t provide. Sometimes a girl just needs a little bling 😉

Infusing foil-like shiny, these tattoos are inspired by jewelry. They’ve been trending like crazy online, and I absolutely fell in love with how pretty they were. And then it happened… Beyonce, the queen herself, started rocking them! yonce

I’ve been searching high and low for these gorgeous temporary tattoos in Malaysia & found Shiny Happy People! shappyShappy (short for Shiny Happy People, how cute!)tattoos is fairly new and comes in limited designs for now. Regardless, I’m already a fan and bought two packs for myself 🙂

IMG_20141001_075707

Perfect for that beach vacation or even music festival as they are water-resistant & long lasting (with special care).

Here are some easy steps and useful tips to follow when putting on a temporary tattoo;

  1. Peel off the plastic surface that protects the tattoo and choose a spot on the body you’d like to stick it on. Flatter surfaces and also parts of the body that require least moving/stretching is ideal if you want it to last longer.
  2. Make sure the image is face down when you place it. Also, due to it’s sticky nature, make sure you are positive about the spot you want to stick it on.
  3. Once it’s stuck on, use a wet tissue or cloth to gently wipe over the back of the tattoo. Hold it on for several seconds (preferably more than 15).
  4. Hold a corner and slowly peel off the paper. Make sure it’s done slowly to avoid the tattoo design from moving (since its still wet) or even for pieces that are still stuck to the paper, you can still fix it by sponging it again and waiting for a longer period of time.
  5. When that’s done, allow your tattoo to dry. It’s still mildly stick, so you can either just gently dab it with your fingers so the stickiness wears off, or you can dust it with talcum powder. Also, don’t move that part around until it settles down in order to avoid the design from tearing.
  6. To remove, you can use baby oil & give it a good scrub. IMG_20141001_204252

Look how pretty! I love how it stands out against my dark skin. I can’t wait to try them all out! Also since Deepavali is around the corner, instead of the traditional henna, this year I’m looking forward to rocking these 🙂

Here’s another picture just because I wanted to show it off again :3IMG_20141001_204434Get your own set at Shiny Happy People! <— click it!

Villa Samadhi Retreat Kuala Lumpur

09 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Review, Travel

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Tags

getaway in kl, villa samadhi, villa samadhi ampang, villa samadhi by samadhi retreats, villa samadhi kl, villa samadhi kl review, villa samadhi review, weekend getaway in kl

In dire need of the hustle and bustle of city life, I decided it was time I treated myself for working so hard on a little escape. However due to time constraint, I had to opt for staying somewhere within Kuala Lumpur & was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon Villa Samadhi on this quest.

While going through pictures I found online, I was completely excited about being able to escape to a place that had a Balinese-Thai feel to it.

The reservations were fairly strict & not so customer friendly. Only with credit cards or a specific bank could you book a room. After booking was made (full payment), a confirmation letter is sent.

I loved the idea of being able to escape the city within the city, but of course that meant which trying to do so, getting stuck in the unpredictable city jam. For future references and in order not to waste precious time, I shall make a mental note to leave an hour earlier.

Thankfully, you can find the place quite easily using Waze. When we reached, there was strict security before you get in.

IMG_20140917_083011I was automatically taken by this huge Buddha statue. Peace, zen and all that, I found out that Samadhi means the highest level of meditation.

The entrance had some really cool water feature (which was off) and bowls that were meant for candles or decorations of some sort (also empty), so I wasn’t truly as impressed as I should’ve been but I kept up with the optimism in order to enjoy my retreat.

The welcoming committee was friendly and did a fantastic job. Definitely good PR. Also, we were welcomed with a honey ginger infused tea which was pretty yummy 🙂 Our view was even more yummy though! PhotoGrid_1410913634728PhotoGrid_1410913656024After signing in, we were escorted to the room. I booked the Crib room that was the cheapest at RM600++ per night. The room was beautiful with its rustic design with some modern twists.

The king sized bed was elevated on a platform, making it easier to view the tv on the other end. They also have a DVD player (upon request) for those who want to stay in and watch a good movie. PhotoGrid_1410914628890PhotoGrid_1410914615563There was also a day-bed which I thought was really pretty. However it served no purpose as there was no view outside the windows except a bunch of shrubs. I did sit there to make some accessories though, my own private work space.

Yes, I actually brought accessories to make while on a holiday -___-

PhotoGrid_141091464218110502319_10152366343872058_6601177338244394291_nIn between, they sent us snacks (traditional nyonya kuih and fruits). Also the range of teas that were provided in the room were fancy. TWG in an array of choices.

Unlucky me, I had to wait for the rain to stop before I could walk out to the swimming pool that had bed to lounge and be lazy after enjoying a dip in the water. PhotoGrid_1410914657649PhotoGrid_1410914672228There’s an in-house restaurant but didn’t look too interesting and the prices were out of my budget. The perk of being in the heart of KL? You’ll never run out of food options. The night ended with good food, drinks (my own) and some movies.

I love hotel/retreat breakfasts. Especially when there’s not time frame give. The idea is to let you enjoy your rest and wake up, take your time and then get some grub as and when you are ready. Definitely a plus point.

More than anything, I love pancakes! So when my free breakfast set had a pancakes option, I was really excited; PhotoGrid_1410914688069However was let down by the taste of it. Their homemade pineapple jam wasn’t up to standards and didn’t really go with the pancakes. Besides that, it was an okay meal.

All in all, the place was beautiful and we got great treatment. The downer was definitely the food. If you ever need a quick getaway that feels like you aren’t in KL anymore, I’d definitely recommend this place.

Olay Pro-X Microdermabrasion Set Review

31 Thursday Jul 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Beauty, Review

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Tags

exfoliating brush, facial cleanser brush, facial cleansing brush, microdermabrasion set, olay pro x, olay pro x microdermabrasion set

I’m constantly on the hunt for ways to improve my skin. I’ve said it one too many times, I have incredibly difficult (which is a nicer way for saying ‘crappy’ skin!). Mostly I use natural and organic ingredients on my skin, as well as whip up my own masks. However on days I don’t do the mask, I use the Olay Pro-X Microdermabrasion Set.IMG_20140731_102502

To be honest, the main reason I got it was because I wanted the Clarisonic but my bank balance wouldn’t permit spending so much (atleast not yet). This was highly recommended by several friends & also beauty and makeup gurus online who felt the same way (about spending!) & got some really good results.

After trying it out for the past three weeks, obvious results can be seen after 2 weeks of using it, depending on what type of skin you have. I doubt I’m going to splurge on a Clarisonic anytime soon 🙂 IMG_20140731_102237

What comes in the set is the two types of brush heads & two cleansers. My favourite is definitely the foam head & the Thermal Crystal Polisher which is used to exfoliate your skin. It is advisable to use it twice a week, non-consecutive days which is great on my end because I can still use my organic masks for different skin problems. The crystal beads actually heats up, so you can feel the warmth as it does a proper and through cleansing, said to be 7 times better than a regular scrub. However, do not over exfoliate, the more sensitive your skin is the less time you should use it.

The other brush, I use almost on a daily. You can choose your speed level based on your skins needs. I usually stick to the slowest speed (for lighter cleansing) on non makeup days, and a more advanced speed for a deep clean on days I wear makeup. I thought I used to get all my makeup off when I used my makeup remover (double dose) & washing my face, but I was so wrong. Using this brush, it is really obvious how much makeup remains on the skin even after all that.

Using the Pro-X Microdermabrasion, you’ll see a noticeable improvement in the appearance of fine lines, radiance, brightness and pores. After several uses, it brightens dark spots and evens out your skin tone. Visible improvements,

Washing my face with my hands? No, thank you. I’ll stick to this more effective method 🙂

I got my Olay Pro-X Microdermabrasion from Supermodel’s Secrets; Click HERE!

Alternatively you can check out all these links for what else they have in store, you won’t be disappointed! 🙂

 *Supermodel’s Secrets beauty store *
SS gallery: 1st Floor, 41A, Jln SS 15/4B Subang jaya
WEBSITE: http://www.supermodel2u.com
BLOG: http://www.supermodels-secrets.com
MOBILE (SMS/Whatsapp): +6 016 280 1990
EMAIL: talk2us@supermodels-secrets.com
INSTAGRAM: @Supermodels_Secrets
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/Supermodel2u

L’Oreal Mat Magique – Complete Review Video

17 Thursday Jul 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Beauty, Deeper Than Fashion, Review

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Tags

l'oreal, l'oreal malaysia, loreal foundation, loreal makeup, loreal mat magique, loreal matte, loreal powder, loreal professional, makeup, makeup base, mat magique

My review of L’Oreal Mat Magique review with thanks to Tongue in Chic & The Spacemen.

Watch the video here;

Also, here’s a little blog post about the entire behind the scene experience: Click me!

Mermaid Hair at Number76.

17 Thursday Jul 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Beauty, Review

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

dip dye hair malaysia, mermaid hair, mermaid hair don't care, mermaid hair malaysia, number 76 bangsar, rainbow hair, shaun number 76, ultrasonic hair treatment, where to get mermaid hair malaysia

For the longest time, I have been obsessing over mermaid/rainbow hair. I was never fully happy with my hair length for it, so I let my hair grow and as it grew, I did my research on where to get my hair done. After looking at several places, I was sold when I saw my beautiful My Little Pony friend Audra, had vibrant rainbow hair. She told me she got it done at Number 76 in Bangsar. 

I kept that in mind, but didn’t make any plans to get my hair done at that point of time. As it was nearing my birthday, I decided it would be the perfect gift to gift myself. Mermaid hair. For the self-proclaimed Indian mermaid. How fitting! & as fate would have it, another friend Shobini posted a picture of her hair done by Shaun at Number 76. Immediately after I checked his work, and gave him a call.

Went in for consultation, where he got to see my hair length, texture and colour for himself before quoting me a price as well as advising me on how we would go about this. What really sold me was when he saw the samples I gave him, he told me; “This will take time, it’s not just hair, it’s art”. That’s exactly what it is; art.

The end result, was magical;IMG_20140716_184326

It started off with him bleaching my hair. Yes, bleaching had to be done to get the full vibrancy of the colours against my black, black hair. He initially thought I had henna’ed my hair black because it was so dark. He also explained the full process of the bleaching and how it would affect my hair long term.IMG_20140717_120939It turned a yellow-ish shade after bleaching. Double bleaching can be done for extra vibrancy of the colours but I opted against it in fear of over-damaging my hair. Being quite a hair-virgin, I wasn’t ready to take that risk.IMG_20140717_120826I asked for a blend of pink, turquoise and purple. They use a product that is pretty well known in the market, so I wasn’t worried one bit. I just sat there and let Shaun work his magic!

After the colouring, I did the Ultra Sonic treatment. Its to further ensure your hairs strength as well as keeping it soft after the bleaching. They use a straightener kind of instrument which vibrates when in contact with water. Zero heat involved, and I’m sure because they made me touch it. It also came with some conditioner like mask for me to bring home to maintain my hairs softness. He also added some layers to my hair to make the colours look more obvious 🙂 The whole process took about 2 and a half hours.
IMG_20140716_230915IMG_20140717_121155Overall, I would completely recommend this place with its pretty & stylish decor, friendly staff and of course, Shaun (who was so much fun to talk to and was patient when explaining everything to me!). The price is slightly steep, but hey, you pay for quality 🙂

I suggest for further inquiries to personally contact Shaun himself, as he can recommended and advise based on your hair needs. Each and everyone’s hair works differently so its best to get feedback on what works for you! You can find Shaun on Instagram; IMG_20140716_213813

Or you can just give him a call at: 012-245 6055. Tell him I sent you over, you might get a better price 😉

Backless Dresses & Stick on Bras.

04 Friday Jul 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Review

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Tags

backless bras, blog review, indian blogger, malaysian blogger, stick on bra review, ultralite nubra review

Backless-strapless-stick on bras. I’ve always been reluctant to give them a try. Why? Because what if they don’t stick properly or worse *gasp* fall off in public! Imagine that nightmare and at that point there’s really nothing you can do about it. All these scary thoughts crowd my head when I was even considering that option, which is why I never wore anything backless, until I had to.

When being a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding, you don’t get to choose your own dress. & I was giving the prettiest pale yellow versatile dress (the one that can be tied in so many different ways). Due to the material and ways to tie it, I had to give stick on bras a  chance & I’m thrilled I did!

I opted for a toga style, this was the outcome;

10313542_10152118963732058_1799370978130332977_n10271537_10152118963597058_7387877954514056201_nCompletely backless! The best part, completely secure too! 😀
Being an avid (slight addicted) shopper at Supermodel’s Secrets, I emailed them regarding their stick on bras and asked them for their opinion and my options. After which I finally decided on the 3D padded push up Ultralite Nubra. Not only does it last and sticks on fantastically, it also gives some form of support and boost to the bust.

After trying it out and falling love (hello backless dresses!), I ended up buying two more!;

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOne plain black one which is really practical, and another one in white with lace design for a little extra sexy. It’s comfortable and sticks on really well. When I first touched it and found it really sticky, I was worried it would hurt when you remove it but didn’t feel a thing. *insert thumbs ups here*

Wanna get your hands on these? Check out: http://www.supermodel2u.com/store/index.php?doit=search&keyword=3d+padded&x=0&y=0

 *Supermodel’s Secrets beauty store *
SS gallery: 1st Floor, 41A, Jln SS 15/4B Subang jaya
WEBSITE: http://www.supermodel2u.com
BLOG: http://www.supermodels-secrets.com
MOBILE (SMS/Whatsapp): +6 016 280 1990
EMAIL: talk2us@supermodels-secrets.com
INSTAGRAM: @Supermodels_Secrets
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/Supermodel2u

Indian Mermaid by Ardana Haran

27 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Features, Review

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Tags

ardana haran, artwork, beach, illustration, indian mermaid, malaysian designer, mermaid, mermaid design

I love waking up to surprises! Especially it forms of art 😀
Illustrated artwork & costume design by the talented fashion designer Hariharan of Ardana Haran.

Combining his personal style of drawing and designing, to incorporate my love for mermaids and adding one of my handmade dreamcatchers to his design. Or to quote him “All I did was draw the real inner you, Ardana Haran style”. This was the result of that;
10330455_762539713798883_2533669436604972558_nHarry and I studied together & after college, he went on to working on many different projects (such as myself). He ventured into his own brand, Ardana Haran (creating beautiful dresses & also, doing makeup;
10497401_479746822159342_1038489217446454240_oBest known for infusing elements of the tradition Indian costumes and customs into his work. Here’s a sample of his collection that’s my favourite: Saree dresses;76708_224313617702665_455414797_nAlso, he does makeup. We even collaborated on a photoshoot where I had to be an Indian bride & he worked on tying the saree, doing my hair as well as the makeup;1604701_10151926362397058_1153028729_nNot too bad for an Indian bride ey? 😉 #aintnoindianwifey
Enough about me, check out his page for more of his work!

Jom Burgembira!

07 Saturday Jun 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Events, Review

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Tags

burgembira, burgembira kl, burger festival, kl burger fest, kl burger festival, makan makan di malaysia, om nom nom

If you are a foodie or a burger-addict, you definitely missed out if you didn’t head down to Padang Timur today. FriedChillies organized an I Eat Burgers event, 20 of the best burgers in Kuala Lumpur, all at the same place!

They sold coupons, canteen day style. Here’s a picture with all the information/links you should follow to make sure you don’t miss the next one;
10413354_10152170751837058_794869548508088662_nManaged to try quite a number of burgers (with the help of a friendly Dhina-saur). It was ridiculously hot and I was thankful I wore shorts and a loose tank top, as well as carried my rainbow umbrella. It made it wayyy more tolerable to stand in the long lines to get burgers;10372050_10152170751987058_3938488112397034845_n

Here are a few I tried, that will get you hungry;

10457923_10152170751652058_6044431994836343796_nMy favourite was the one with the sausage. The super sloppy, but super yummy, burger Om. Om is right, om nom nom much!

The next event will be a nasi lemak one, so if you are a foodie, save all the links as shown in the first picture!

& to end the post, the irony of it. They had a petting zoo. After eating burgers. I felt so guilty :/
Here’s me picking up a chick at the event;10393573_10152170751907058_4250839411602909363_n

Review: Xtreme Brite Gel from Supermodels Secrets

25 Sunday May 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Beauty, Review

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Tags

fix dark underarms, how to brighten underarms, xtreme brite acne spot remover, xtreme brite armpit, xtreme brite face cream, xtreme brite for underarms, xtreme brite gel, xtreme brite gel before and after, xtreme brite gel Malaysia, xtreme brite gel review, xtreme brite how to use

I am not, and will never be a fan of skin whitening products. However, the only time I would ever condone it is to brighten areas that have scarred, or darkened underarms and elbows.

I purchased the Xtreme Brite Gel from Supermodel’s Secrets after sending their customer service an email asking them to recommend me something that will allow me to lighten my underarms as well as my left elbow (yes, just the left due to leaning on it on a constant, the friction caused it to darken). Underarm darkening on the other hand, is very common especially women with darker skin. First world problems, but definitely fixable problems 🙂

IMG_20140529_183049

While I am not going to post pictures of my underarm here (because that’s just gross, so please just Google it and you’ll find some), I’m going to recommend it to anyone who wants to lighten the skin. Though this product is not completely organic, but still uses quite a few natural ingredients. The whole idea is for it to adapt and work with your body, making it a safe lightening process. Definitely one of the safest options of skin whitening there is out there.

I got this from another review which I found useful;
“Licorice extract is used in Xtreme Brite gel that prevents your body from activating one of its natural chemicals, known as tyrosinase. This lessens the body’s melanin production, and melanin gives your skin its color. So, licorice extract works at stopping the process that colors your skin.”

It actually makes a big difference. I’ve been using it daily for the past two weeks and I already see some major improvements. Don’t believe me? Give it a try! The link are below:

More info: http://www.supermodel2u.com/Xtreme-Brite-Brightening-Gel-1oz/q?pid=160&doit=order

SS gallery: 1st Floor, 41A, Jln SS 15/4B Subang jaya
WEBSITE: http://www.supermodel2u.com
BLOG: http://www.supermodels-secrets.com
MOBILE (SMS/Whatsapp): +6 016 280 1990
EMAIL: talk2us@supermodels-secrets.com
INSTAGRAM: @Supermodels_Secrets
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/Supermodel2u
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