Dinner at work

Dinner at work is almost always yummy. Here's what we ate yesterday (of course everything is accompanied with Thai Jasmine Rice - we are Thai after all):

Golden Stir-fry with Mixed Seafood, Veggies and Chicken! The sauce is composed of curry powder, unsweetened condensed milk and eggs (among other seasonings), which makes this dish savory and slightly creamy at the same time. Hmm!

Son-in-law Eggs. Eggs that were hard-boiled then deep-fried again and served with a sweet and tangy tamarind sauce, crispy shallots and dry chillies as garnish.













Alright, it's almost 2am in Melbourne which means time to wash up and hit the sheets!

xoxo

Another day in the life and some Priceline goodies

So it has been raining cats and dogs for the entire day, and as the weather forecast says, it might damn well continue to do so well into next week. Noooooooooo.. I think drizzling rain is refreshing "in moderation" and I do love the smell of the air right before a rainstorm, but that doesn't mean I'm a fan of this perpetual heavy, freezing rain accompanied by gusts of cold wind.

Bueno. Hasta este momento no acaba de llover. Dios mío. ¿Por qué? Porque se dice que seguirá lloviendo hasta la próxima semana. ¡Ay, noooooooo! Por favor, no. A mi me gusta la llovizna y también el olor del aire antes de una tormenta de lluvia. Pero eso no es decir que me fascina esa lluvia perpetua y helada, la cual está casi siempre acompañado por las ráfagas de viento frío.   

I went to Priceline again - they had another sale going on, I just couldn't stop my feet from dragging me in there. But restricted myself and kept things just at AUS 19.95 total. It was tempting to get a whole bunch of stuff for 50 bucks and get a goodie bag with skincare and haircare products in there, but I really don't need to spend $50 on skincare right now. It would probably be better if I were to spend that amount on something I really need, such as a heater. Which I will buy some time this weekend.

Yo fui a Priceline - una farmacia que también tiene productos de belleza y cosas tal - y hubo un "SALE". Esa palabra pequeña pero a la misma vez peligrosa. Peligrosa porque me atrae y entonces hoy no pude para mis pies y entré en la tienda. Compré algunas cosas pero dado que tengo un "make-up ban" tuve que restringirme y gasté un total de 19.95 dólares. ¿Debo sentir orgullosa? Un poquito, pero sería ideal si no hubiese comprado nada. La campaña fue lo siguiente -comprar productos para cuidado de la piel de un total de 50 dólares y recibir una bolsa llena de productos de valor de 220 dólares. Pero es que no tengo tanto dinero de comprar productos de cuidado de la piel. Sería mejor si usara esa misma cantidad de dinero para algo que necesito, como por ejemplo, un calentador.

So with that 19.95...
Entonces, con 19.95 dólares..

Australis Mineral Powder Brush. This was on sale for $2.99. And with good reason, since it sheds like crazy and the bristles were a bit scratchy despite being densely-packed. But because of this "scratchiness", it'd be good to use for picking up powder blushes that are packed or heavily pressed (does that make sense? lol) I would put this on my face only for depositing color, but definitely use a different brush to blend it out.

The handle itself is quite sturdy, easy to hold in general. Just the scratchiness of the bristles is what bugs me.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Hand/Elbow/Feet/Knees Concentrated Cream (Travel-size) for $3.39. I bought this to keep in my handbag, as winter's here and I work in a restaurant, so my hands do get dry patches, especially near my knuckles. This stuff smells amazing!!! I tried it on today and the cocoa smell really does linger for hours. It's a concentrated formula, so a little goes a long way. So far, I've only used it once, so I'm not quite sure how it will perform in the long run, but so far, I am definitely loving it.

Avene Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream for $10.39. I cannot wait to try this. The skin on my cheeks has been acting up with redness and rashes lately, so hopefully this will save the day. I've heard many good things about this brand too, so if this helps with troubled and sensitive skin like mine, I will definitely be re-purchasing again. If it really works, then chances are I might even keep one in my handbag, as I almost always get random redness or rashes that appear out of the blue. I wanted to try a higher-end product which would not be too steep in price, and I still have loads of my usual moisturizer at home, so no need to buy more just yet.



And last but not least,

Softlips Vanilla SPF 20 for $3.19. One can never have too many lip balms, especially in this cold weather. Not to mention the dryness in Australia in general, plus the wind. So I always need a lip balm within reach. I've currently got four - an EOS one (used 75% already), two Burt's Bees ones, and this is my fourth and last for a month or two at least. I bought this one because of the SPF. None of my other ones have SPF, and I spend a lot of time in front of my laptop, so this should hypothetically help protect the lips even more.And because it's vanilla flavor. I do have a weakness for cocoa and vanilla smells. haha.


And that comes to $19.95! Hopefully it was well-spent. We'll have to see ;)


xoxo

Niko Cafe in Oakleigh - Two visits

So when I said the post for Niko is coming right up, I really did mean it lol

I went to Niko (or is it Niko's?) for dessert/ afternoon meal with my friends on two separate occasions, and although I did enjoy the dessert and coffee I chose from the first visit more, I still love to try new food, so I really didn't mind as much :)

From the first visit: Short macchiato, I think. Strong but absolutely wonderful. A perfect accompaniment for...

This wonderful Greek dessert!! Hm... Cinnamon dusted walnuts, fresh cream, (vanilla) chanitlilly cream (not sure if it was custard since the consistency would have been a bit thicker), then at the bottom there were these crispy strands - almost like "mee krob" drenched in syrup. The crispy texture of the bottom layer and the walnuts contrasted well against the two soft and creamy layers. Ugh I want more..








From the second visit -

Cappucino on a chilly afternoon was perfect. It was a good cappucino, but I must say the dusting on top was a tiny bit messy. Would have enjoyed a dusting in a specific shape or drawing like my bf had in Japan!

My friend and I were really hungry, so we decided to give this a try. It was not bad, but nothing out of the ordinary. Because of my Asian tongue, I personally found this to be slightly under-seasoned, to be honest. Eggplant stuffed with minced meat topped with Bechemel sauce and grilled. The salad on the side was fresh though! Love the feta cheese on top, since it was a nice punch against the crisp and refreshing veggies.

I couldn't stop myself... and got the Pistachio macaron. Didn't like this very much. Way too sweet and not much of the pistachio smell. They had creme crulee flavored ones too.. But then again. The only flavor macaron I have ever loved is green tea, which I have yet to find here in Melbourne.

This is a fruit and cream-topped cake with cream in the middle and encrusted with almond slices. It looked really yummy in the display, and the flavors were good, but again nothing to come back for. Mental note to try their Bailey's cheesecake next time. I have been eyeing that since the first visit, but always got distracted. Next time!!










All in all, both visits were pleasant! The greek dessert with the walnuts was memorable since it was something completely new for me, and the coffee is great! The vibe and atmosphere is nice, so I'm definitely going to go back to try more things ;)

xoxo

Randomness - a few pics in the life, some things I am craving and missing..

My Hubby Babe!! She's a wonderful dog and I have been really, really missing her lots as of late. Look how my sister's old shirts no longer fits her 'cuz Hubby gained weight!! lol awwwww


















Asahi Beer :) Yummmm I saw this while walking on the street in BKK near my old office. Wouldn't it be nice to have one of these (especially if they magically re-fill themselves for free?) at home?

Garlic Fried Rice. I believe this was from a Korean Grill restaurant back in BKK. Maybe Gyu Gyu Tei. But I remember distinctly that it was delicious! 

My attempt at a whatever's-left-in-the-fridge risotto. It turned out quite well actually! I was in hungry mode and just put anything I had into the dish, which resulted in a white wine risotto with bacon and eggplant, topped with creamed cottage cheese and a mystery sauce (simply because I cannot remember what it was hehe).

Anzac Biscuits! I actually liked these. They served as my studying snack lol Not the healthiest, but it got me through the rough nights. I still prefer moist cookies with chocolate chips and nuts or buttery shortbread over crispy cookies in general though.

6) And speaking of studying...the Pym. I am so glad to be done with one semester! woo hoo :)

I recently went to a Conference downtown at the Exhibition Hall in Melbourne as part of my internship. Great experience in general!

Here's another view inside the hall

I was pleasantly surprised to see a Thai beer being advertised in Australia! pretty cool, eh! I wonder what it'd be like to see Canadian Molson or Moosehead advertised here in Oz!














Another post about my Saturday afternoon visit to Niko's Cafe in Oakleigh is coming right up!

xo

So I haven't really been a good girl :( Well, I mean in terms of spending, that is. Last week as a celebratory thing for the end of exams, I ended up hauling a lot more than I should've. Considering I only earn approx AUD 120 - 160/week, this isn't good. Which is why I will officially be on a make up ban until mid July the earliest! But I might stop by Target to see the Essence cosmetics counter as a final farewell (I think the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs collection is coming out next month? I am really anticipating the red polish for that - I still need a good classic red in my collection, as well as a nude. I did want to try their waterproof eyeliner pen perhaps in a dark brown but this depends on the applicator - otherwise I am considering Dolly Wink up next), and maybe purchase the Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly BB Cream first. I just might. Gah... I really do seem to have a makeup addiction. I don't really use them as much, (because I am already usually running late haha - something I also need to work on) but I love collecting makeup. Especially lip products oh my goodness, don't even get me started on that. And shoes. Sigh...

Oh, and diet will officially start tomorrow. I've been feeling sluggish lately, so I need to get cracking on a healthier eating and exercise routine! I guess we'll see how that goes.

Coming up soon = Revlon Color Burst Lip Butters Review and Swatches/ Burt's Bees Lip Balm Haul/ Australis Nail Polish Mini Haul, Review and Swatches/ More BYS Nail Polish/ Australia Brush On Lip and Cheek Tine Review and Swatches

Is this not a sufficient indicator of how much hauling I've been doing lately? -__-'

Yo sé que tu no leyes mi blog posts. Claro que está escrito en castellano pero si hubiera yo escrito todo eso en inglés no haría leído tampoco. Estás tan ocupado con tu trabajo en Japón. Yo te admiro mucho. ¿Sabes?

Esta noche hablamos en skype. Tu intentaste de comprar los billetes de avión (¿como se dice en castellano 'flight ticket'?) esa mañana pero no tuviste tiempo. Entonces tratamos de comprarlos juntos por skype. Esa pequeña acción me puso muy alegre. Es la acción de decidir, de hacer algo juntos que para mí llevan mucho sentido, porque estamos físicamente tan lejos. Desafortunadamente no pudiste comprar los billetes por el internet - no estamos seguros porque. Además hay que obtener un pasaporte y una visa temporal de entrar en Australia. Me sentí un poco decepcionada que no pudimos comprarlos esta noche, pero en la medida en que los compres un día este mes, en la medida en que llegues aquí en Australia, en la medida en que pueda yo verte cara a cara, puedo esperar un poco más. Cuando empezaste de tocar el botón o click de comprar los billetes, me dijo "Ahora compraré!!!!!" lo cual me hizo el corazón palpitar más fuertemente. Te quiero mucho.. No estoy segura si ya sabes, pero te quiero mucho. Aunque te digo con frecuencia, hasta el punto de que no te parezca tan cierta u honesta, te quiero mucho. 

Mañana te voy a enviar una carta electrónica para decirte que tus acciones me afectaron mucho, que estoy muy afortunada de recibir tu amor...

~BYS Nail Polish + Sally Hansen Nail Color Dryer Haul~

So, today I had set my mind on going to the shopping center to get a pair of rain boots and maybe a couple of room socks and of course - food. I literally had nothing left in my fridge other than a single stick of carrot and a small tray of pears. I was too lazy to go to the supermarket right away (even though it was literally a 3-5 min walk) since it looked like rain outside, so I decided to just eat what I had left.

Bueno, hoy querría Anyway. 2 hours later, I was out the door and heading out to the shopping center. And the moment I stepped in, I was swept away. It's Mother's Day in Australia, and there were SALESSSSSSSSSSSSS arghhhhhhhhh I think a tiny alarm in my head was sounding, my eyes glistening and my feet were moving toward stores as if they had their own mind hahaha. So I obviously came back home with more goodies than I had originally planned. But I hadn't shopped for at least a month now, so I guess I'll try not to again until next month! :)

My birthday was at the end of March, and one of my friends was so sweet and gave me a Nail Gel Essence from Japan!

I haven't opened it yet, since the packaging is so cute! This was actually the inspiration for me to acquire some nail polishes, since I haven't shopped for nail polishes since I got to Australia 3 months ago. I'll be doing a review on this once I've actually used it.

So I went into this shop called Gloss, which is where they sell numerous cosmetics and nail polishes at a discounted price. Afterward I went to K-mart and found another gorgeous color on sale, so I grabbed it as well, since it looks exactly like my favorite liquid glitter eye liner from Etude House (mental note to write about that later) ^__^

Here they are <3

Such gorgeous colors!!! kyaaaaaa though especially more so for the fall!
Let's take a closer look, shall we?

N295 Make Love Not War

The color is called "Make Love Not War" - wow such a pretty name! I don't know if it's just me, but half of the fun is in reading all the names for beauty products! This color is a gorgeous pink (with a slight red undertone) which looks creamy in the package, but not sure how it'll turn out on the actual nails. It feels really pretty and girly to me, which is definitely my favorite style in general. I'll update pics in natural lighting later.

N215 Matte Grey

This one is perfect for fall and winter, I think. It's a dark grey that's not too ashy. It's supposed to be matte too!

N348 Diamond Glitter Silk

And, the last one... the one I'm most excited about! kyaa this photo does NOT do it justice at all! :( The real thing is gold glitter with multi-colored shimmers mixed in as well. The moment I saw it, it was love. I gravitated toward it lightning speed lol

And lastly, I got the Dry Kwik Nail Color Dryer to try out as well! I am a person who always manages to get random fingerprints or hair or wrinkle marks on my nails while letting them dry for some reason. Always. I usually like to do nails at night time, then go to bed. And wake up with slightly messed up colors on my nails. Sigh... Hopefully this will help! I wonder if it would work as a base coat too?

I got a nail polish remover as well, but it's nothing exciting. Just the normal drugstore one.
Well, that was certainly fun!

Will post up pics with all the polishes on the actual nails when I wear them :)

xoxo