Christmas Gift Ideas for Her 1.0

Estee Lauder Modern Muse Eau de Parfum, fresh and floral, great for everyday wear.

Bvlgari Rose Essentielle, a romantic scent with a modern twist.

Some Wall Décor for an Artsy gal

Macarons, gluten free and delicious

Rosewater toner, great for all skin types

DIY Art, you can personalize it

Statement Art & Literature

For a Hostess Guru

For a home spa night

Scented Candles

DIY mugs with dots, how adorable

Fashion: Autumn Favourites from Forever 21

The temperature has cooled, the leaves have changed to beautiful shades of red, yellow and orange. Winds have picked up on speed and the colorful leaves are floating about. Pumpkin Spice Soy Lattes, pumpkin pie and ginger snaps. Autumn is one of my favorite seasons.

This season Forever 21 has a lot of potential in adding a little bit of bohemian flare, prints and modern chic to your wardrobe. I'm very impressed with the many pieces I would recommend from this retailer.

All pieces are $50 or under. 

Loving this Chevron print dress, wear with a bright coloured

Statement necklace to a formal event.

Khaki and Vegan leather motorcycle jacket.

Faux Suede Booties with Strappy details. Great with skinny jeans.

Loving the two tone tote and quilted details.

Tie dye braided headband. Love it for those bad hair days.

Red and Navy, one of my favorite combination of colours. Loving my paisleys.

Modern Chandelier earrings in Gold.

Chain link earrings.

Geometric Stacking Bangles in Gold.

Geometric Stacking Rings in Gold.

Wear this dress with opaque tights and riding boots. 

Loving the bohemian look this Autumn.

If chambray shirts and nautical shirts had a child. This would be it.

What are your favourites from F21 this season? 

Let me know in the comments below.

Statement earrings for a night out with the girls.

Statement earrings for an elegant soiree.

2013/08-09 August September Favourites

Hello Beauties,

Sorry for being away for a while. I'm back with an updated monthly favorites.

S K I N C A R E
Officina Profumo di Santa Maria Novella Rosewater, purchased while in Florence, Italy. Can be used as a toner or light fragrance.

Origins Super Spot Remover, the packaging has changed to a blue bottle. The formula may have changed as it no longer has the slight sting when applied to blemishes.

M A K E U P
Elizabeth Arden Brow Shaper & Eyeliner in Sable 03, the perfect brow powder that lasts quite a while. I also use it to shade the outer corners of my eye for the lazy days.

Rimmel London Kate #17 Lipstick, the perfect pale pink nude. My every day go to lipstick.

Nivea Vanilla & Macadamia Lip Butter, smells divine and moisturizes like a gem.

H Y G I E N E
Colgate Optic White Toothpaste, first purchased a travel sized version for my Italy trip. I really like this toothpaste. As it doesn't irritate my sensitive gums and it whitens my teeth.

F R A G R A N C E
Burberry London Eau de Parfum, purchased at Coin in Florence and has loved it ever since. I wear it on special occasions.

Lavanila Laboratories Pure Vanilla, is my daily signature perfume.

H O M E
Home Trends Juicy Fig Candle, found this as I wandered in the aisles of Walmart. It was love at first smell. :)

F A S H I O N
Sterling Silver Tear Drop Earrings from Etsy, simple and contemporary.

Armani Exchange AX235 Glasses, a cross breed horn rimmed cat eye pair of prescription glasses. Perfect for work, as I stare at a computer all day. This allows my eyes to breathe.

Leopard Leggings, comfy for summer, fall or winter.

Faux Snakeskin Strappy Sandals, comfy for the summer and walking around.

Danier Cognac Purse, this can be dressed up or down. The color is good for fall, winter or summer.

Peacoat Trench in Navy Blue, good for rainy days as it repels water and has a hood to keep my hair dry.

J.Crew Bubble Necklace in blue and a yellow, these statement necklaces are on the pricy side, but they sure jazz up a plain outfit with a great splash of color.

I hope you enjoyed this month's favorites. Leave me comments below and let me know what your favorites are this month.

Travel Blog: Las Vegas, NV

Odd weather in Las Vegas this September. It was extremely humid and gloomy. We got hit by thunderstorms and wind blowing at 58km. I've never seen the strip free of pedestrians in Vegas. We stayed on the 30th Floor of the Treasure Island Hotel.

Some recommendations of places with Good Eats in Treasure Island Hotel:

Treasure Island Buffet - they have great melt in your mouth Prime Rib au jus & horseradish, Tender Turkey & mashed potatoes, BBQ Ribs, Steamed Crab Legs & Shrimp as well as Cajun style shrimp. I especially loved the sauteed collard greens, fresh fruit selection and macaroons. They have a variety of cuisines available. Regular drinks are included. Any alcoholic beverages are extra. Approximately 30 pp. Gratuity not included.

Pho - never thought I would find good Vietnamese food in Vegas. But we did, in our hotel. On the weekdays there are lunch specials available. The specials include an appetizer, a main and a soda or iced tea. Beau tried their Special House Rice Noodles & Beef Stew Rice Noodles. I tried their Chicken Glass Noodles & (lunch special) Spring Rolls served with fresh mint, cilantro, lettuce leaves & fish sauce; Raw Beef Rice Noodles (smaller size than a regular order) & an iced tea. All noodles are served with a large plate of sprouts, basil, lime and jalapeño slices. Eat table comes with a selection of sauces in a circular tray; hoisin sauce, rooster hot sauce, fish sauce & soy sauce. They also pour really stiff drinks. Only paid 5 for a glass of Sake Sangria about 750mL tall with lots of lemon, lime & raspberries.
Approximately 20 pp. Gratuity not included.

Seafood Shack & Mojito Bar - has fantastic mojitos. We tried the Shipwrecked and Pineapple mojitos and they were delicious. We started our meal with Jerk Spiced Wings with Dark Rum sauce. Mmm Mmm Mmm. Beau had the Blackened Chicken with Vegetables & Rice Pilaf. I had the Salad Nicoise which is a Seared Tuna over green beans, tomatoes, eggs, two kinds of olives, potatoes with a tapanade sauce. Delicieux ~ Approximately 35 pp. Gratuity not included.

Senor Frog - has delicious Pina Coladas, all mixed drinks come in three sizes. The smallest is a 12 oz. We tried the Salsa, Guacamole & chips for lunch out on the patio. The portions were so big, we packed it up for TV snacks later in the day. We had nice view of the Siren's ship and the Palazzo from the patio. It was hot and sunny outside, although we sat in the shade it was still warm.

Cirque du Soleil Shows are a must in Vegas. They are all fantastic.

This round we watched Zumanity which is an 18+ show. Lots of nudity I must warn. But if you're okay with the bits and pieces, then this will be a very entertaining show. Live singing, acrobatic performances, comedy, burlesque, body contortion, synchronized swimming and the hosts sure get the audience involved in their comedy skits.

On my last visit to Vegas I watched Kà at MGM Grand. Fantastic show about an Archer's daughter falling in love with a commoner boy whom is her long lost brother.

Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam are also great places to visit. Just look out for the desert snakes. Helicopter and tour bus rides are available to see these spectacular scenes.

After all, a great stay aside from the thunderstorms. We will be back.

Hope you enjoyed our show and tell.

Happy Travels

Music Review: Vivace

It was a real treat to experience the harmonies this quartet brings to the table. They hit the high notes and I was amazed by the baritone. This was the first time I've heard Tiffany sing live. But it was so amazing that this will certainly be a fantastic start to a new found love of mine. Being the consciously ontime type person that I am. We were the first ones there. We got a sneak peek of the last minute rehearsal.

I have been a big fan of Tiffany's since my last review of her independent music albums. I've gone gaga over the beautiful voice of hers. Finally early this year I learnt about her classical quartet named Vivace. I was mesmerized by their harmonies. The group consists of DJ Calhoun, Marc Devigne, Melody Mercredi & Tiffany Desrosiers herself.

I liked the mixture of different genres performed at the Vancouver Fan Club back in May. I was in awe when Melody started singing Creep by Radiohead. One of my absolutely faves but of course via Melody's twist of the song. Beautifully performed and captivated my attention.

Thank you Marc for performing your song Nothing. I loved it.

DJ Calhoun I very much enjoyed your funny comments throughout the night. It makes the show even more amazing than it already is.

Trevor Hoffmann brought life to the music he played on the piano. Music is your type of expression, a marvelous performance.

Last but never the least, Tiffany; I look forward to seeing you and Vivace perform again in the near future.

Bravo, bravo

Always a pleasure ~

Vivian ♡

Art & Travel Blog: Rome, Italy - Vatican City

Finally I can write a post about my globe trotting experiences. As some of you may know Traveling is my passion, my heart and soul. I love it more than anything else. Immersing yourself in a different culture and learning about the history of the city, the Art and Architecture is a real treat.

After studying Michelangelo's paintings and sculptures for almost 2 decades of my life. I was definitely in awe to see the real original works of the grand master himself. As I sat at the end of the Sistine Chapel staring up at the ceiling, it was at that point in time that I found myself tearing from it's beauty. It was beyond believe of how someone could paint such massive fresco murals on a ceiling in such short time.

Fresco, the painting technique is to apply a layer of plaster and applying pigment or paint to the plaster when it is still wet. With this technique, only 2' x 3' sections could be painted at a time. I'm sure the math is easy as Michelangelo completed 12,000 sq ft of ceiling space in 4 years, 9 murals from the Book of Genesis. Basically depicts the story of how the world was created by God. Birth of the Sun and the Moon; Creation of Adam (mankind); Birth of Eve (the creation of women); Temptation (the forbidden fruit); and etc.

Unfortunately no photography was allowed in the Sistine Chapel or else I could show what a beauty these paintings were. Approximately three years ago the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was cleaned and restored. This was only to reveal the beautiful bright colours in the fresco paintings done by Michelangelo. The Sistine Chapel is located in the Vatican city, at the top of the chapel there is a golden sphere that fits 4 people inside.

Those whom don't follow Art themselves may be interested in a bit of a background story. Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to do paintings on the large stretch of 12,000 sq ft of ceiling. These masterpieces were completed within 4 years time and were considered one of his crown jewel works of art. Michelangelo was one of the longest living artists of his time, he considered himself more of a sculptor than a painter, he was well versed with many talents. He was a poet, an architect and an engineer.

Vatican

Beauty Review: Dr.Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm

As a beauty blogger I've read numerous reviews and heard great things about Dr. Jart+ products. I was determined to climb the highest mountain and dive into the deepest ocean to find the perfect product for me. As a college graduate, I am constantly searching high and low for a proper product for my problematic skin.

Western market full coverage foundations covered my hyper pigmentation but it did not treat them; it often looked cakey as well. I've tried other light to medium coverage foundations, which required too much effort with layering and blending and setting with powder. Resulting in clogged pores and acne. Most foundations on the market didn't provide the breathe-ability that my skin requires. My skin is also intolerant to perfumed products, growing up with sensitive skin has taught me that even though a product is advertised as Unscented. There could still be some sort of perfume lingering within. I've tried drugstore to high end brands and somehow I found myself going back to the mid-range prices.

Asian BB Creams have often been too light for my complexion and too oily for my acne prone skin. Nothing has ever seemed right for my complexion. I'm constantly looking for the perfect marriage between all my day time skincare needs and coverage in a makeup product. I try to find a multitasking product to eliminate steps in my morning routine. I think I found "the one."

My method of usage and recommendations for this BB cream; as it has a light to medium coverage, it comes in one universal shade. Often I find the shade a little too light for my summer complexion but a great match for the fall and winter months. Hence I would only recommend this product for shades up to and including NC25. I am currently an NC 30-35, although it is too light for my skin tone, I compensate by using mineral bronzer (unfortunately there are not a lot of Asian brand bronzers on the market, I use the Bare Minerals Bronzing Mineral Veil) to contour the outer parts of my face and cheekbones to make it look more uniform. This resulting in an effect of the BB Cream acting as a highlighter. If you are using this as a cover up for scars or darker spots, you may need to put on a few layers and blend well. A translucent setting powder (Skinfood Buckwheat Loose Powder in Transparent)` is recommended for extremely oily skin, you can also use a finely milled rice powder (Skinfood Rice Shimmer Powder) to set it.

Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Cream has done wonders for my skin, it's not too oily, sticky or perfumed. The matte finish counteracts my oiliness in my T-zone, but it still contains moisturizing properties that eliminates scaly skin. This product is also marketed to both men and women. The other perks is that this product is free of parabens and sulfates, which are some of the top irritants for sensitive skin on the market these days.

After researching further into the ingredients of the Dr.Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Cream, I found a lot more hidden benefits as well. Caviar extract is found to speed up natural production of collagen and firms your skin as well as hydrates it. This extract is high in Vitamin A, D, B1, B2, B6 and Amino acids in which slows down the aging process. Caviar extract also protects the multiple layers of skin from pollutants and reduces inflammation. This product also contains active botanical ingredients that purify and calm sensitive acne prone skin. This is definitely a key selling point to suit my needs. I found most creams on the market that are made for acne prone skin are not catered to sensitive skin. Hence my skin flakes and looks dull and dry. SPF 25 to block out the sun's harmful rays and to slow down the aging process. Arbutin is a skin lightening agent which treats my hyper pigmentation.

BB Creams, Blemish Balm, Beblesh Balm or Beauty Balm was originally created by a German dermatologist as a post-op cream used to treat scars, moisturize, mattify and prime the skin in the 1960's. This product was later introduced to South Korea & Japan in the mid 1980's and has shown a great success. As in most Asian cultures porcelain skin is a prized asset and is well sought after as a form of beauty. These balms usually contain about 5 or more active skin care ingredients to moisturize and smooth dry skin; to prime and perfect the skins texture; used for colour correction or to create a more uniform skin tone; SPF to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Although being born in North America and brought up in the western culture. I prefer a bronzed glow over the porcelain skin look. Hence I have given you my method of usage in the above paragraphs. I hope you enjoyed reading my journey of hunting for the perfect product to suit my needs. And I hope you can find your "one" too.