Pebble Penn

If you have not heard about the opening for Japanese Brand Uniqlo and the newest shopping centre complex Emporium and you live in Melbourne, I can assure you  - you live under a rock!

This was such an exciting thing for Melbourians! Finally fashion is catching up and it no longer has to be fast fashion. Feeling like we finally caught up with the rest of the world. I went to Uniqlo over the Easter weekend with my parents because they obviously wanted to check out and compare it to the items and prices in Asia.
There was a line into Uniqlo, but it was fast moving and took maximum 5 minutes before we got in - alot shorter that the H&M queue. Uniqlo occupies a total of four levels of the Emporium and it is a decent sized shop. It is split into levels associated with kids, mens, womens and then a mixture.


Plenty of staff were on hand, and they were presented immaculately with the same level of service whomever you approach. To be honest I didn't expect any less as this is a Japanese company, and they thrive on politeness and I guess also a standard operating procedure for all staff to follow.

About a year or so ago, I actually went to the interviews for Uniqlo Graduate Position and I could tell that they really pride themselves on having a good plan and being organised. I didn't end up with this lovely company as the timing was not right (I was in Korea on holidays and I didn't see their email until I got back 2 weeks later - so it was a missed opportunity; but I like to view it as - just not meant to be. )
So for me to be interested and apply for the company, I already had a great impression of the brand and company itself.

I purchased another pair of their trusty leggings that were opening specials, normally priced at RRP AUD 29.95 they were on sale for AUD 19.95! I would described them more as jeggings to be honest, because they are the flexibility of leggings - nice and stretchy and comfy - however has the feel and look of real jeans; including two real bum pockers! So they are absolutely awesome and I now have black, electric blue, red and pink from them!
They had other pants that were stretchy but more formal for $29.90, however I preferred to purchase what I knew was good.
Le bf aka Superman loves buying their t-shirts, it doesn't matter whether we are in HK, Korea or Japan, he will just buy t-shirts and shirts. Of course, when we went he purchased a t-shirt inspired by Judo moves. It felt like the t-shirt was designed specifically for him! haha



We didn't stay in there for long, because it was very crowded and slightly clusterphobic to be in because everyone wanted to have a look. And people left right and centre were just trying on jackets, merino and cashmere tops and just grabbing anything that was in site! So we left the cray cray with a restraint purchase of once item.

Although I did discover at Uniqlo an area that specifically sold Ines De La Fressange, which I assume is a french inspired line of clothing. Like its other designs they were simple, basic but quite elegant. I saw quite a lot of middle aged ladies flocking to that area! I had no idea they had this! Learning something new everyday.


I am glad my favourite japanese clothing store Uniqlo has arrived, in the same complex as my second favourite store MUJI, in my now newest favourite shopping centre Emporium.
The bliss of feeling like I am shopping in Asia all in my own backyard. <3

As I write this post, I am looking slightly ridiculous - hair in a weird non-heat curly things, face with Etude House face mask and teeth with teeth whitening strips! This is multitasking to the extreme… but anyway…

Who doesn't want to smile and have gorgeous pearly white teeth, because I know I would love to!
Sometimes brushing and flossing just does not cut it, so I have been seeking a scoopon or a groupon to whitening my teeth, but of course my procrastination got the better of me and 1 year on, I still haven't tried teeth whitening.

I saw a few ads for Oral B, 3D White and decided to give it a go. Since it doesn't require me to drive to unknown suburbs (I am terrible with directions) or for me to take half a day off to go to the clinic I made a spontaneous purchase at Coles.



The Oral B 3D White consists of 14 Whitestrips, the box states that 14 treatments will visibly whiten teeth and results may be seen in five days. This packet is worth AUD $29.95 RRP.
The instructions tell you to use once in the morning and once at night, which means that 10 treatments will start to show results.
But for me, it is not plausible to have a treatment in the morning before work, and to be honest my teeth is not a horrible colour, they are at most a little tea stained coloured when I use the wrong shade of lipstick. So I have been using the treatments every night for half an hour (as per instructions) and amazingly I feel like my teeth have become less tea stained!

I love it because… 

- Super Simple and Convenient 
Previous at home teeth whitening kits I have involved making a mould of your teeth, and placing solution into the mould (like a mouth guard) and so on… it was a fiddly and took more time off my hands. This is so easy, peel off the plastic and place onto your teeth.

- Effective 
My teeth is not ridiculously stained or anything, but I feel like after I have used it once a day for 5 days straight that my teeth has become visibly less tea stained. It is super effective given its simplicity

- Affordable
RRP29.95 at my local super market (Coles & Woolies), includes 14 treatments (which is 24 strips - upper and lower)


I dislike it because…

- Sustainability is questionable 
I am not sure whether this is a longer term solution, or if it requires constant use to the product to sustain the results. This is probably just a concern I have at the moment and only time will be able to tell whether it will last longer than say  1 or 2 months. I guess it also depends on your lifestyle (smoking, coffee etc…)




For the time being, for me, it is an awesome quick solution to having brighter whiter teeth. Le bf aka superman has also purchased a pack today and is starting to use this as well. Of course he didn't believe me when I said it worked, it took overhearing Miss J commenting about how my teeth was visibly brighter before he starting the routine! haha

Keep Smiling All!! 

xoxo
Penn

Yes, it is THE shopping trip B and I have been waiting for! There has been a lot of hype with H&M opening at Emporium. There are heaps of "Australia's First's" happening at Emporium and I am sure I am one of thousands of girls who are super excited for all of this to happen!
It makes Melbourne that much more awesome than it already is, and I can't wait to spend my weekends eating, shopping and chillin in the city at Emporium Australia.

H&M is located at the GPO with entrances at Bourke Street, Elizabeth Street and Little Bourke Street, however due to the overwhelming response from the fashionistas of Melbourne, Bourke Street is where you will find the queue into H&M.
I must say, there was a lot of dedication today, with B and I taking the bus at 8.10 and arriving in the city just before 9. The line was not too long, and the wait was bearable (we are really glad we didn't go on the first few days where the lines were massive!)

And so the shopping begins, some things weren't as affordable as I thought <insert poor student working part time story> however basic tops, bottoms and sportswear were extremely affordable. To be honest, taking a step back, a blazer for $50 to $60 is still within my acceptable range, but I am currently just feeling really poor.
My favourite was the H&M Home department (sucker for homeware stuff!) where we found #WhaleWithMoustache and #Panda soft toys. I loveeeeed it! Everyone needs a Whale with a Moustache! Hands down!

              

First it was the Revlon Parfumerie Ginger Melon and Fresh Linen that broke my self-imposed ban. And to matters worse, while I was at Target (where they had a 3 for the price of 2 promotion) I saw the Revlon 3D Jewel Appliqués packs and could not resist.


I have never used nail stickers before, because I always wondered whether it was a hassle removing them and also because it is quite expensive (RRP 15.95 - I think), and you can only use it once, alot less versatile in comparison to a bottle of nail polish!
But I had read a few blogs about it, and it was highly recommended by many, so I just brought it! (Was poor for that week, so I ate in and was pretty much a hermit and did not go out to make up for it! No pain no gain!)

To the left is Beaded Couture, by Marchesa
And the right is 01 About A Pearl, 3D Jewel Appliqués Wild Flowers 


So as per instructions behind the packet, I wiped my nails with standard remover ( I use Cutex Nourishing Nail Polish Remover)  and then took out the kit.
It was less Nail Art stickers than what I had expected, probably only enough for two applications of both hands. However this did not curb my excitement!
I measured my fingers against the Nail Art stickers and got straight to it.
I removed it from the film, using my fingers to hold the top of the sticker - which I later realised could not be cut in half to use on another finger, therefore the top will never make it on your nails, so it is no bigger to have a firm grip of the top of it.
Aligning the sticker to my cuticles turned out to be a harder task then I had anticipated, I didn't want odd gaps, or bumps so I took some time hovering and attempted to place it perfectly. And then once it was on, I use the file provided to file off the ends.
And that was it.
I absolutely could not believe how easy this was, nails look so gorgeous and elegant right now, but with limited effort. If I were to be drawing with nail polish onto my nails with the same design, I would be here all night, with a perfect left hand design and a wobbly wonky right hand one.

Here are the final results, the pictures are quite large as it allows you to see the detail it provides.


I would recommend this for people who like convenience, and also likes to have awesome designs without having to have a steady hand.
It was so simple, and the patterns so so so so gorgeous! It ended up so elegant and looks like I have put a lot of effort into it.

I did put a top coat on in the hope that it will last longer! However I will let you guys know in a week or so how that goes.

For the price of how many times I can use a packet, its probably more in the expensive range for my current economic situation (being super poor and just paid nearly $5k for a USA holiday in July), however I really do love this, and once I get back up and running with a FT job and have more disposable income, I would say, Revlon 3D Jewel Appliqués all the way.

xoxo
Penn

The Perfect Canvas.

This is about the fifth time I have typed out this post, there are so many important messages I want to convey, but I realised that cannot all be done in one post.
I am on a Bare Face Challenge, it is something I have challenged myself to. It is not the traditional bare face challenge, where you have to go through X amount of days without make up a week.
I am well aware of the self-esteem issues and need for women to portray the images they see in media - the need women feel to be perfect. However, my Bare Face Challenge is not associated with that.

I am seeking a better canvas. Make up works best on a blank clean canvas. That canvas is your face, everyone possesses something amazing and unique (yes even twins do!) We all have different skin types and what works for you, my not work as well for me.
I love make up because, it is fun, a chance to portray a certain feeling, mood and style. I love it! However I have found it doesn't matter how many times or how many amazing products I seek to conceal, cover or contour, it is just not the same if my face is full of pimples, or dry, flaky and bumpy.

So I have put myself on the challenge, to seek a perfect canvas.
I am not changing my facial structure to conform to society's view of "perfect", I am aiming to perfect the canvas I have. In turn I hope, I will become more confident with going bare face, and that I will have a better canvas to work on with make up.


Here is the battle plan. The Bare Face Challenge. 

1. I will be more diligent with my skin 
The moment I arrive home, I will change out of my suit and wash my hands and clear all the make up and dirt off my face from the day.
Skin is wiped of make up, and cleansed with Phillips Visa-Pure facial cleansing brush.
Did you know? 
- Make up clogs pores
- Environmental pollutants will damage your cell structure
- May decrease collagen production
- Can cause premature wrinkles.

Picture attached is from www.dailymail.co.uk, where a women experimented with not removing make up for a month. Look how drastically it has changed! From flawless to irritated skin and deeper wrinkles! All credits to DailyMail UK.



























2. Bye Bye Pimples 101. 
It really is a never ending battle. They are on my cheeks and I am determined to get rid of them.
From my last post Pimples vs Penny the pimples have been contained well, no spreading on my forehead and chin and nose are an all clear!
Now the efforts have been focus on ridding it off my cheek and thats it! (Fingers Crossed.
Here is what has been happening. Selfies are bare-faced and no filter was used.

          Left is Day 01 of pimple flare.                                  Right is Day 02 with pimples but less flare.



Did you know?
- Hydration is very important when you have pimples!
Drinking at least 1 litre of water per day, and coming home and putting on moisturiser and sheet masks as required. *Handy tip, when you sit down to watch tv, study or being lazy pop on a mask it only takes 2 mins!
- Do not touch your pimples. Don't let hair, fingers or anyone touch your face, more than likely those things are dirty and can inflame your pimples.


So here I am committed to my Bare Face Challenge, where I will have a better face canvas.
Not only will it allow make up to go on nicer, but it will in turn make me feel better and have more self-esteem to just walk out and have bare face on those lazy days.

Updated photos will be posted soon! Fingers crossed for better skin!


xoxo
Penn