Advertorial Celebrate the advent of the Year of the Dragon with Nail Indulgence De Beau‘s Gelish Nails! P.S. Nail Indulgence has revised the Honeyz offer for this Chinese New Year to $35. Red is an auspicious color to the Chinese. It signifies good fortune and joy. Needless to say, red was the main color of my Chinese New Year (CNY) nails. Nail Harmony UV Gel Add some bling! Spoilt for choice. Chanel inspired bling. I had to attach nail extensions as the nails on my index fingers were not long enough. Please allow me to present you…. Drum roll please! Nail Indulgence De Beau: The Chinese New Year Edition The Gelish nails were courtesy of Amanda, the pretty owner of Nail Indulgence De Beau. Like the nails? I have GREAT NEWS for you. Quote ‘Honeyz‘ at Nail Indulgence De Beau (uBeau) to enjoy a gelish nail manicure at $35. (The original price is $50.) So ladies (and gentlemen), bring your mommy, grandma, girlfriends and aunties to Nail Indulgence De Beau too! With these low rates, everyone can afford to be pampered with manicures and pedicures! Nail Indulgence De Beau (uBeau) is located at No. 1 Liang Seah Street, #02-14. (Opposite Bugis Junction) You may call them at +65 6333 1687 for an appointment. (Remember to quote ‘Honeyz’!) Click here to view their Facebook page! This Lunar New Year, get all fired up with Nail Indulgence De Beau Gelish Nails! Your friend, Juliana #gelishnails #gelishnailpolish #uBeau #nailsreview #advertorial #nails #NailIndulgenceDeBeau

Give our Asian elephants a big Ang Pao this lunar new year by participating in the Elephant Parade! I was first introduced to the Elephant Parade by my cousin Belynda when she encouraged me to ‘buy’ an elephant. I remember my first reaction was… ‘Say what?!’ Intrigued, I googled the ‘Elephant Parade’ and found a whole lot of information about it. The Elephant parade project is spearheaded by father and son Marc and Mike Pits. The idea was conceptualized after they met a baby elephant Mosha, that had lost her leg after stepping on a landmine. To raise funds for Mosha and other elephants in similar predicaments, they founded the Elephant Parade. Meet Mosha. Mosha has since received a prosthetic leg, which was co-financed by the Elephant Parade. So how did Belynda get to know about the Elephant Parade? Her school, Diploma in Retail Management in Temasek Polytechnic (TP) partnered TANGS for an Elephant Parade Singapore Workshop held in TP last year. She attended the workshop and thought it’s a meaningful cause to support. Besides decorating elephants and letting creative juices flow, she also learnt the importance of elephant conservation and the urgency to do something now to help these animals. If you’re still confused and curious about the value of the Elephant Parade, don’t worry. I’ve compiled the following Elephant Parade Fact List for your information. Elephant Parade is the world’s largest open air art exhibition of decorated elephant statues The open air art exhibitions has created worldwide attention, public awareness and support for the cause of elephant conservation (the elephant statues never go unnoticed by the wider public and mass media) Painted by local and international artists, each elephant is a unique piece of art. After the exhibition, all elephants are auctioned off by a leading auction house. Elephant Parade’s concept is a unique combination of Art, Business and Charity. Art drives the value of the Elephant Parade: the life size elephant statues are exhibited in well-known cities and auctioned off at prestigious gala events. Smaller size hand painted limited edition replicas are sold in ‘Elephant Parade Gallery Stores’ and the Webshop. The more superior the quality of the Art, the more successful the Business, the higher the amounts raised for Charity. Elephant Parade is not a charity, but it is probably the most charitable enterprise in the world. Part of all proceeds from Elephant Parade auctions and retail benefits various projects and organizations, dedicated to the conservation of the Asian elephant. To date, this unique concept made it possible to contribute over 4 million Euros to this goal, and is put to good use in projects varying from elephant hospitals and corridors to lobbying governments and research. Source: elephantparade.com So how can you help? Support by buying an elephant! The elephants are painted by local and international artists. Here are some familiar names – Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Palin, Sarah, Duchess of York, Goldie Hawn, Lulu Guinness, Dick Lee and even our former president, Mr. S. R. Nathan! This is Mr Nathan’s work – the Calligraphic Elephant. I bought an elephant too! Happiness Maximus by William Sim I got my 10cm (priced at SGD59) elephant at Temasek Polytechnic’s 1st Avenue Retail Studio. There are other sizes available and you can check them out at Elephant Parade Webshop . Many elephants have been saved by the Elephant Parade and The Asian Elephant Foundation but many more elephants are still desperate for our support. Many animals have gone extinct since the start of this century such as the Golden Toad, Baiji Dolphin, Pyrenean Ibex and many more. I’m sure you don’t want our Asian elephants to suffer the same fate. So visit www.elephantparade.com to find out how you can lend a helping hand to these elephants. Paint a brighter future for the Asian Elephants today. Your friend, Juliana Disclaimer: I’m not an official spokesperson for any of the organizations mentioned so the views expressed in this blog post does not necessarily reflect those of the organizations. #charityawareness #ElephantParade #TheAsianElephantFoundation

My new wardrobe achilles heel – Jeggings! I just can’t get enough of them! Megagamie Go Neon MNG Jegging in Boat Blue As seen in Megagamie I wore this pair of boat blue jeggings in the last Christmas Gelish Nails post – The Best Holiday Gift for Her. Here are some pictures for recollection. Individual photos of me in the jeggings. Please pardon the lousy quality of the photos as this photo shoot wasn’t premeditated and the pictures were taken with my iPhone. Afterthoughts… I’ve never worn or bought jeggings so I had no expectations when I purchased this pair from Megagamie (MGG). (I only prayed that the fabric is not too thin.) Well, the quality of the apparel turned out to be really good. Define ‘really good’ Thick, comfortable and smooth material, excellent workmanship (no loose threads or uneven edges) and gorgeous cutting. It’s pretty elastic too despite the thick fabric. See below for proof.   The boat blue color is gorgeous. Here’s a picture of it in natural light. Alas! It’s not all perfect.  Well you know that jeggings = jeans + leggings So it combines the curve hugging properties of leggings and the thicker material of jeans. (It is not as thick as denim though) These two properties combined made the jeggings slightly unbreathable at times. In addition, it shows the contours of the legs and butt since it’s rather tight. It is not that obvious though. However if you advocate the notion that wearing leggings or equivalent as pants is a fashion faux pas, I suggest you pair this with a longer top.  All in all, I love this pair from jeggings from MGG as it is able to create versatile and chic looks with different pairings of tops. I also love the elastic band as I’m never a fan of buttons and zips. I’m already contemplating more jegging purchases from MGG. 4 Honeyz crowns! Model Before I sign off,  here’s one last amateur ‘yoga pose’! Tata! Your friend, Juliana Disclaimer:  I know I’m going to sound like a broken record but I would like to emphasize again that Honeyz fashion reviews are NOT advertorial posts. I do not endorse any of those brands featured. Rather, I’m trying to show you how normal girls (girls with non-supermodel statures) look like in clothing from these famous boutiques. This is to aid you in making informed purchase decisions when it comes to updating your fashion wardrobe.

Hi belles, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for your unwavering support in the past year and for making fashion, beauty and traveling so fabulous, exciting and fun for me. I wish you and your loved ones all the compliments of the season and a joyous yuletide celebration ahead. Your friend, Juliana #2012 #greetingcard

Have you planned your next beach vacation yet? It’s gloomy winter again. I’m certain that many of you have planned to escape the chilly winds of winter and travel toward warmer climates. For those who are already en route to your chosen beach resort, have fun and snap lotsa photos! For those who haven’t, I have a suggestion for you – Hua Hin, Thailand. Hua Hin is a famous beach resort town that is located in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, 200 km south of Bangkok. To get there, you’ll have to fly to Bangkok (as there are no direct flights to Hua Hin from Singapore or anywhere else), then take a bus, train or rent a car to travel to Hua Hin. The journey by car takes about 3 hours. For further information on travel options, click here . Here’s a pictorial account of my trip to Hua Hin last Christmas. I arrived in Bangkok (BKK) late on Christmas night so I checked into Conrad Bangkok Hotel. Here’s the beautiful Conrad lobby. Check out the gigantic Christmas tree! Visited the pool. At the poolside. Another Christmas tree! Yawn. This is getting boring. Whee! This huge snowman livens up my spirits again! Come! Give me a hug! Oops… tummy growled. And the hungry monster heads out to dinner. I was at a really cosy restaurant near the hotel but I can’t remember the name of the restaurant. The food was brilliant especially the Tom Yam soup and the soft shell crabs. Soft Shell Crabs Toured the streets of bangkok in a cute tuk-tuk (auto rickshaws). Back to the hotel. Love the spacious and lavish design of the room. I was given a rubber ellie! Spot the cute rubber elephant! Another cute elephant from the hotel. After a good night’s rest, I’m all ready for my Hua Hin Adventure! All prepped! Took a cab to Hua Hin from the hotel. After an exhausting three hour drive from Bangkok, I arrived at InterContinental Hua Hin Resort. The staff were very warm and welcoming and the lobby was beautifully decorated with silver tinsel reindeers. I stayed at Room 3102 which boasts a modern resort design, a patio that overlooks a private pool and entertainment systems that provide in-room movies. The humongous bathroom. The patio. I like that the room provides ample natural light. Very beautiful bedsheets! Took a stroll outside the room. The poolside. These girls were really good. They reminded me of the string quartet, Bond. I took some videos of the poolside area. It was an impromptu decision so the video clips are slightly jerky. No “play-by-play” either. To compromise the bad quality, I mashed them up and added some music. Here it is for your viewing pleasure. 🙂 The pool was amazing especially the jacuzzi which has three portions as shown below. The different portions offered different temperatures – Hot, cold and lukewarm. This is a picture of the In-Pool Jacuzzi by night. Courtesy of travel.bart.la I grabbed this picture from Travel.bart.la as I did not take any photos of it in the evening. (I was too busy soaking myself in the pool 😛 ) It was beautiful in the night as the three areas were lighted up with dark blue representing cold water, red representing hot and light blue for lukewarm water. I’m sitting on Santa’s slay! The beach was so-so. The sand was soft, fine and white but the waters were dirty and unclear. This was a nice rooftop balcony above the restaurant, Azure, that overlooks the pool and the sea. At the spacious and clean hallway. Dinner at Pirom, a traditional Thai Restaurant that offers authentic Thai food by a famous Thai Chef. I can’t recall his name but I remember that he provided excellent service. He explained the making of each dish and the ingredients used and even served us personally! Rise and shine! I spent the morning playing with the motorized curtains. Easily intrigued. 😛 I could see the restaurant from the patio. Took a dip in the pool. Didn’t like the experience at all. The water was salty and there were some impurities in the pool. The main pool near the beach front was so much better. Walking in the clouds… It’s almost time for lunch! The cabana behind me belongs to the Pirom Restaurant. I dined there the night before. This is how it looks like in the day. I’m on a tuk-tuk again! I went to the famous Chao Lay Seafood Restaurant for lunch. Love the tiffany blue chairs and table cloths. And the beautiful sea view. And of course, the yummylicious menu! There was another pier restaurant beside Chao Lay but it was rather empty. The Restaurant Pet! Hey kitty kitty…! When you’re in Thailand, you ought to try Tom Yam Goong in every restaurant! Let’s dig in! Going home! Dreadful three hours car ride back to Bangkok. 🙁 My ‘last meal’ in Thailand… This was taken in a restaurant at the airport. I can’t remember the name. Tom yam again! Goodbye Thailand! I’ll miss you. I hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of Honeyz Travel Review. Like Honeyz Facebook Page to receive first hand news on the latest free samples, blog posts and the gamut of privileges that you can enjoy as Honeyz Readers! Your road to a sparkling lifestyle begins here . With this, I wish you a great 2012 filled with much joy, happiness and fortune! Enjoy the new year booze! (Don’t drink and drive though.) Your friend, Juliana #Thailand #Photography #InterContinentalHotel #travel #HuaHin #travelreview

Short of time? Only have 30 minutes to spare for make up? Don’t fret! Here’s your 20-minute party make over! (And you’ll still have time to catch your breath.) Hey ladies, It’s finally Christmas eve! How are you doing? I’m sure many of you are already busy preparing for the big party tonight. So am I! I’m wearing the perfect dress, accessories, shoes…… Urgh! I forgot the make up! And the party starts in the next hour. Great. I hope you’re not in this predicament right now, but if you are. No worries! Here’s your 20-minute makeup makeover tutorial… … to achieve this look. 🙂 Before you apply makeup, always remember to wash, tone and moisturize your skin. Here goes! 1) Apply liquid foundation on face evenly to conceal flaws. I used L’Oreal True Match Foundation G3, Golden Beige. 2) Then pat loose powder on face to smooth out lines and pores and set the look. I used Etude House’s Loose Powder in Clear Beige. 3) Then use a face powder brush or a kabuki brush to spread loose powder evenly. This is to ensure maximum coverage and to produce a more natural look. I used Elizabeth Arden’s Face Powder Brush. 4) Next, fill in eyebrows as needed. I used Skin Food’s Black Bean Eye Brow Pencil. Evening the color with an eyebrow brush. I used Manicare’s eyebrow brush. 5) Apply a highlight color under brow bone and inner tear duct. I used The Face Shop’s Baked Triple Color 01 and Etude House’s Eyeshadow Brush. Usually the lightest shade on an eyeshadow palette is the highlight color. Apply the eye shadow within the eye frame. 6) Apply a dark eye shadow color on the eyelid as a base. This will create more intensity. Pat on eyeshadow underneath eye crease. 7) Pat a lighter eyeshadow color on top of the dark eyeshadow color. Blend off the edges carefully. 8) Using an eyeshadow applicator, apply the base color on the lower outer edge of eye. This is how it should look like. 9) Line the upper and lower lashline with a black eye liner pencil. I used Skin Food’s Black Bean Eye Line Pencil. Slightly thicken the eyeliner and wing it upwards on the outside of the eye. 10) Next, please welcome the falsies! Curl eyelashes before applying false eyelashes. Apply glue at the base of the false eyelashes. I used an individual false lash for easier application and a more dramatic look. Blow the glue till it’s semi dry to keep any excess glue from running. Then position the eyelash along the base of upper lashes toward the outer corner of eyes. I used Sephora Party Queen’s False Eyelashes. 11) Apply generous coats of black mascara on your top lashes and bottom lashes. I used The Face Shop’s Extreme Mascara Magic Eyelash Curler. During application, use a piece of tissue under your lower lashes to prevent smudging. 12) Highlight the brow bone, tear duct and inner lower lash line with a shimmery light color. A cream glittery eyeshadow is recommended as it makes the eyes pop instantly! I used Skin Food’s Eggplant Soft Stick Shadow. And we’re done with the eyes! 13) Add a splash of pink blush to warm up your cheeks. Brush on blusher on the bridge of your nose for a sunkissed glow. I used Laneige’s Blusher #01 Pink Gradation. And MAC’s Blush Brush. 14) Apply generous amounts of lip balm on your lips so that lip gloss will look more even on lips later. (And also for maximum moisturization!) I used Lipice’s Mentholatum Mogitate Kajitsu Lip Balm (Click here for my review on it.) 15) Finish with lip gloss. I used Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Pearl 556. And tada!! Here’s the finished look of my 20-minute party makeover. More pictures of the completed look. Here’s a summary of the cosmetics and tools I used in this makeup tutorial. • L’Oreal True Match Foundation G3, Golden Beige • Etude House Loose Powder, Clear Beige • Elizabeth Arden Face Powder Brush • Skin Food Black Bean Eye Brow Pencil • Manicare Eyebrow Brush • The Face Shop Baked Triple Color 01 • Etude House Eyeshadow Brush • Skin Food Black Bean Eye Line Pencil • Sephora Party Queen False Eyelashes • The Face Shop Extreme Mascara Magic Eyelash Curler • Laneige Blusher #01 Pink Gradation • MAC Blush Brush • Lipice Mentholatum Mogitate Kajitsu Lip Balm • MAC Blush Brush My Makeup Stash I hope this tutorial saved your day. And now you’re all ready to party like a rock star! Toast to a fantastic 2012! Thanks for reading. I’ll talk to you soon. Meanwhile, have a great Christmas! Your friend, Juliana #beauty #Christmas #cosmetics #tutorial

Advertorial What’s the best gift for Mommy this holiday season? * * * * * * || ******* A pampering nail treatment! It’s the best mother-daughter bonding activity! And the best place to do it? Nail Indulgence De Beau of course! Don’t forget to give Mommy hand creams to maintain her soft skin after the manicure. Whee! Our “butler” is here! Argh! Almost fell. Thank God for “butler”. Poor me… The End. The colors I chose for my Christmas nails. Color: Wiggle Finger, Wiggle Thumbs – That’s the way Magic comes Color: Water Field Credits Models Mommy Dearest The Best Brother in the world Photographer YT The team at Nail Indulgence De Beau From left to right: Anna, Lisa, Joey, Me, San San, Wai Fun This is San San. The talented nail artist. She did my nails for this shoot. She’s gifted I tell you! Check out the intricate details on my Christmas themed nail art. She’s Wai Fun. She did my mum’s marble french nails. Another talented nail artist. 🙂 This is Anna. I love her cheery personality and her excellent service oriented attitude. She is Joey. My bro and I call her the ‘Belle of Nail Indulgence De Beau’. Finally, meet Lisa. My bro and I deem her the ‘Hottie of Nail Indulgence’. She did my pedicure last week. She spent a pretty long time massaging and scrubbing my feet and calves and exfoliating the heels and balls of my feet. Very attentive service I must say. My skin felt soft and supple after the treatment. Fabulous. This attention-grabbing silver color from OPI’s Christmas edition was also her recommendation. Like the nails? I have GREAT NEWS for you. Quote ‘Honeyz‘ at Nail Indulgence De Beau (uBeau) to enjoy a gelish nail manicure at $28. (The original price is $50.) That’s not all! You can also enjoy an additional 10% discount on other services such as nail art, classic manicure, pedicure, etc. So ladies (and gentlemen), bring your mommy, grandma, girlfriends and aunties to Nail Indulgence De Beau this Christmas too! With these low rates, everyone can afford to be pampered with manicures and pedicures! Nail Indulgence De Beau (uBeau) is located at No. 1 Liang Seah Street, #02-14. (Opposite Bugis Junction) You may call them at +65 6333 1687 for an appointment. (Remember to quote ‘Honeyz’!) Click here to view their Facebook page! This Christmas, make Mommy the ultimate Nail Goddess! Your friend, Juliana #beautyreview #Photography #beauty #nailsreview #advertorial #nails #NailIndulgenceDeBeau

Advertorial The nail veteran, Dashing Diva , is back with a new ‘French revolution’. Spotted! Starlets donning French Manicure. Jennifer Lopez Eva Longoria Victoria Beckham Selena Gomez Last fall, Dashing Diva gave us sexy and alluring Metallic Nails that were the talk of the town. (To view its glamor, click here .) This season, if you’re looking for a low maintenance but impeccable manicure, the Dashing Diva French Wrap and French Wrap Plus will be ideal for you. Through patented technology, French Wrap and French Wrap Plus are the first line of products to give natural nails a perfect French manicure (or pedicure) that lasts up to weeks at a time. Simple application. Easy removal. Perfect smile lines, every time. Now all professionals can achieve consistent, non-chipping, long-lasting flawless French color. 🙂 Here we are at Periwinkle again for our Diva fix. The Products FRENCH WRAP Dashing Diva Professional’s original innovation in long-lasting French manicures, French Wrap is easily applied over fingernails and is optimal for toenails. It comes in a slightly squarish shape, and its band thickness is between that of the French Wrap Plus Thin and Thick bands’. The French band is simple to spread and provides flawless results. FRENCH WRAP PLUS – THIN Molded using Dashing Diva’s patented double-injection process, French Wrap Plus uses the same concept as French Wrap, but adds a housing applicator to protect color and help provide even pressure during application for a more-secure adhesion. The Thin Band is ideal for clients with a shorter free edge. The Tools The Pretty Manicurist She is Christelle, the daughter of the owner of Dashing Diva Singapore. The Process My naked nails 1) File your nails 2) Buff your nails 3) Sanitize your nails with Dashing Diva’s Sani Spray Dashing Diva Sani- Spray (Antiseptic Spray) 4) Apply adequate glue at the middle and sides of the natural nail tip and the French Wrap tip with Dashing Diva’s Tailor Bond 5) Stick the French Wrap on your nails 6) Clip the plastic off with a nail clipper 7) File the nails again 8) Buff the glue and spray on sani-spray 9) Apply Dashing Diva’s Base Seal 10) Wait for the base seal to dry. Meanwhile, chat with your manicurist! Sidetrack… Christelle shared her ‘doodles’ with us. Apparently, she’s a very talented artist! Check out her awe-inducing works here. 11) Finish off with general coats of Dashing Diva Top Seal Whee! Here’s the finished product. Thanks Christelle! To see the full application and maintenance process, check out the video below. And now… Drum roll, please! Please allow me to present you Dashing Diva – French Wrap Plus So what do you think of the french wrap plus? Here’s my take. I’ve always loved french manicures as they are an epitome of elegance and sophistication, and I think they help you channel your inner Grace kelly. However, I rarely see them done well in that, they are usually not painted evenly. Some nails may have thicker tips than others or differing smile lines. Dashing Diva’s French Wrap is truly a godsend. All these problems are eliminated with each wrap’s standard thickness and shape. Moreover, they are long lasting! Here are my Dashing Diva french nails after one week. So if you’re a nail salon owner or a budding entrepreneur who wants to start a nail business, I greatly encourage you to join the Dashing Diva bandwagon. To find out more about the brand and its distribution rights, please contact Dashing Diva Singapore at +65 9679 1234 or email them at sales@fratelli.sg You may also visit the Dashing Diva Singapore Facebook Page for further information. Dashing Diva French Wraps – Bring grace and fun to the table. Your friend, Juliana #DashingDiva #beautyreview #Photography #beauty #nailsreview #advertorial #nails

Moving on from classy glamor and urban fashionista, Hello Blogshop brings you another look – Sweetie Pie Charm. Zara Inspired Ruffles Top As seen on Hello Blogshop Polish up the look by pairing the top with a nice scallop skirt to achieve an elegant and professional look that is ideal for the workplace. Afterthoughts… I was really smitten with the unique ruffle neckline. A neckline like this is ideal for hiding smaller bust and creating an illusion of a well-endowed figure. As the top is slightly loose, it tends to overexpose when I bend down. So fashion tape is recommended to prevent wardrobe malfunctions. The top is slightly sheer too. Since the ruffles are rather thick, the sheerness does not pose a problem to me. The thick fabric of the ruffles conceals the lingerie well. After wash, the ruffles were still in place and not crumpled. The rest of the top was also not badly wrinkled. City dwellers like us are always pressed for time so I guess we would all appreciate an outfit like this that does not require much ironing. 😀 Workmanship is so-so. Some loose threads here and there but not noticeable. Overall, a very tasteful piece that is suitable for all occasions. 4 Honeyz crowns! Model Hey belles, what do you want to see on Honeyz? Is it fashion reviews, travel tips or make up tutorials? I wanna hear from you! Please let me know what you want to see on Honeyz by clicking here. Meanwhile, have a great Saturday evening and I look forward to your valuable feedback! Your friend, Juliana Disclaimer: I know I’m going to sound like a broken record but I would like to emphasize again that Honeyz fashion reviews are NOT advertorial posts. I do not endorse any of those brands featured. Rather, I’m trying to show you how normal girls (girls with non-supermodel statures) look like in clothing from these famous boutiques. This is to aid you in making informed purchase decisions when it comes to updating your fashion wardrobe. 🙂 #fashion #review #Photography #HelloBlogshop #fashionreview

I can already hear the beach calling out to me. Can you too? Honeyz will be taking you to the beach this Christmas with Honeyz Travel Review: Hua Hin Stay tuned. #travel #travelreview