Search Results

Happy holidays to all you Easter bunnies out there! With a site called I Love Bunny, it should come as no surprise that this is a time of year which I hold very dear. Those chubby cheeks chomping away on hay and treats are enough to melt the coldest of hearts. That’s why this time every year, well-meaning families and friends go out and buy cute little bunnies for their loved ones for Easter. What they might not realize is that having a bunny is essentially the same as becoming a parent overnight. Bunnies require a lot of time, attention and commitment. Many folks are simply not prepared for the commitment and end up abandoning their bunnies soon after Easter. Our innocent furry friends, frightened and unable to fend for themselves, mostly perish on the roads. That’s why I implore you and anyone you know, not to buy a bunny, adopt if you must, but only if you’re looking for a life companion that will always be there for you but at the same time will also always depend on you completely. A bunny is for life, not just for Easter. And for those of you who want to do more to protect our furry friends, you can! For the last few years I’ve been closely following the global efforts of certain beauty brands who have made significant efforts to use their positions to drive positive change. One such brand is The Body Shop. This was a landmark moment, but most other countries, including major Asian countries still have no laws banning animal testing. With recent technological advances, alternatives to animal testing such as computer models, studies on human tissues, cell cultures or even volunteer studies, are proving to be cheaper, faster and often more effective, especially when you consider that with our differing biologies and physiologies, cosmetics and ingredients rarely affect humans in the same way they do animals. So let’s work together and ban animal testing worldwide! Show your support by signing this petition now – thebodyshop.com/ban-animal-testing With all this in mind, let me share with you some of my current favourite The Body Shop products which are all made from only ethically sourced ingredients. Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask ($32.90) It’s estimated that by 2030, 60% of the worlds population will be living in urban areas and with such extreme urbanization, we can of course expect there to be lots more pollution. Bad for the environment and on a more personal level, it’s very bad for your skin. But let’s not wait until 2030 before we start doing something about it. This Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask can help to remove the pollution, oil, makeup and debris from your skin that unchecked could cause cellular damage, dryness, inflammation, pigmentation and premature aging. Think of it as younger looking radiant skin in a tub! The Body Shop’s Drops of Light Pure Healthy Brightening Range Next up we have The Body Shop’s Drops of Light Brightening Essence Lotion (160ml – $32.90 and Eye Cream (15ml – $36.90). The Essence is a refreshing lotion that quickly penetrates into the skin to deliver light hydration, enhance clarity, brightness and even skin tone. This Drop of Light Brightening Eye Cream is great for a quick fix offering visibly brighter skin after just the first use. Formulated with brightening Red Algae Extract harvested from the North Atlantic, rich in vitamin C, minerals and nutrients, with regular use, both products can help skin appear brighter and healthier, while skin texture is smoothed, refined and plumped with moisture. Down To Earth Quad Eye Shadow ($36) The Quad Eye shadow palette offers a wide range of neutral shades to highlight the natural beauty of all skin tones and eye colours. Available in eight shades and three different finishes (true mattes, iridescent shimmer and eye-catching sparkles), if you have a few sets, you can swap out individual shades from the case to make sure you have your fave colours with you while the in-case mirror means you’ll always be ready to go. The shades can be used dry for easy blending, or wet for more intense, vibrant colours and looks. Vitamin E Gentle Cleansing Facial Wipes ($12.90) Formulated with Vitamin E, wheatgerm oil and Community Trade Italian Olive Oil, these multi-purpose cleansing wipes are suitable for all skin types and can remove makeup, tone and moisturize simultaneously, making them your new best friend when you’re packing for your next trip. I’m Wild About You Some of you might remember a The Body Shop event I had the good fortune of attending in 2016 . The event which was held in the run-up to Christmas, was lovingly called Jungle Bells (a spin on Jingle Bells gettit???) and I received this too cute to use personalized ‘Wild About You’ body butter. The event was jungle themed and we were introduced to The Body Shop’s Bio-Bridges initiative to regenerate 75 million square meters of jungle and forests worldwide by 2020, making a commitment (and deadline) to protect forests from exploitation, poaching and unsustainable harvesting. The Body Shop works to establish corridors to connect isolated habitats, joining healthy rainforests with deforested or degraded lands to restore ecosystems so endangered plants can regenerate and animals can breed and thrive again, what they have lovingly termed ‘Bio-Bridges’. Every purchase of the 2016 body butter saw proceeds going to this initiative and now The Body Shop is back at it again with a brand new product! Woohoo! Amazonian Saviour Multi-Purpose Balm ($16) Featuring an exclusive design by renowned UK tattoo artist Saira Hunjan, the Amazonian Savior Multi-Purpose Balm is a multi-tasking wonder, suitable for nourishing severely dry skin, revitalizing the appearance of tattoos as well as improving the appearance of skin marks. £1.30 (S$2.30) from every Amazonian SaviourTM Multi-Purpose Balm purchased will go towards building bio-bridges to help protect endangered species whilst enabling communities to live more sustainably. The product is 100% organic, made from nine natural and ethically sourced ingredients (including Babbassu Oil from Brazil and Beeswax). I’ve always been very impressed with The Body Shop’s unwavering commitment to giving back to the community and raising awareness about environmental issues. Sourcing quality ingredients and accessories from expert producers around the world for 30 years, The Body Shop continues to support community trade by talking the talk and walking the walk, practicing ethically and working to enrich the communities and environment we all depend upon. Kick The Bag! Now before you go rushing down to your local The Body Shop store, hold it! One last tip! Bring your own bag! Every time you shop at The Body Shop and bring your own bag, The Body Shop will donate 10 cents to protecting wildlife through their Bio-Bridges initiative. No fret if you’ve forgotten, you can pick up one of The Body Shop’s own reusable bags and they’ll still donate 10 cents on your behalf. So what do you say? If we all do our part, we can make a difference! Are you with me?? Finally, have an egg-cellent and egg-citing Easter! We’ll speak again soon! Muuuuaaah! Top by Joop Boutique , skirt by MDS and heels by Pedro. Your friend, Juliana #SponsoredPost #TheBodyShop

Now while I’m certainly no angel, if I see a brand innovating and thinking out of the box to help us become a little more eco-conscious, I’m all for it and that’s exactly what I discovered with VIVAIA . What’s the deal? They make shoes out of plastic! Wait, aren’t we supposed to be using less plastic? Exactly! VIVAIA recycles plastic bottles to make swoon-worthy footwear that looks stunning and anything but plastic in nature! I went for the Stella Heels in Olive Wildcat and have been literally head over heels at how comfortable they are! How on earth these are made from six plastic bottles is beyond me but it’s definitely a ‘step’ in the right direction! Pointed shoes always pinch my wider than average forefoot but to my surprise, these beauties really fit perfectly, so much so, that I’m already window-shopping online and adding shoes, boots, flats and loafers to my future wish-list! With VIVAIA, the conscientiousness doesn’t stop with their shoes, every little detail is in sync and that really speaks volumes about their commitment to their goals! The shoes feature super comfy natural latex insoles (take note if you’re allergic to latex), carbon free rubber outsoles and you can even machine-wash these beauties because, let’s face it, life can get a little messy! 😅 Even their shoe boxes are made from 90% recycled cardboard, featuring a quirky quote that says, No waste, just misplaced treasure. How apt and clever to remind us to do the same and upcycle the box once we’re done storing our shoes in it (which my hubby already did to create a DIY storage system for his old pen collection). With VIVAIA, I think we have a real winner on our feet, belles and beaus! Psst! Shop for your very own sustainable footwear and enjoy a 10% discount with my promo code: LOVENE at www.vivaiacollection.com Your friend, Juliana

Achieving a fresh youthful visage is something a lot of us want, be it via diet and nutrition, makeup or even surgical procedures. It can help to boost your confidence, your self-esteem and even your mood. Of course we are more than just the face we present to the world, we are greater than the sum of our parts, but it’s difficult not to acknowledge that we also live in a world where that first visual impression makes a difference. Now I’ve done the diet, done the nutrition (though the experts seem to change their tune every week about what is healthy and what isn’t), I’ve done the skin care routines, but time waits for no woman and those fine lines be coming my way! Even though invasive cosmetic procedures are becoming more and more commonplace, I still find myself searching for alternatives. So what alternatives are there? One option is Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing Treatment . I met up with Dr. Dylan Chau at Celevenus Aesthetic and Wellness Clinic after hearing his praises being sung by so many of my friends. I was excited about what Fractional CO2 laser treatments could offer while also cautious about the potential risks and Dr. Dylan was acutely aware of this. I even brought to him many of the concerns you as my readers had raised, concerns such as skin thinning. Dr. Dylan took his time to ensure all my queries were answered. So does it? Does fractional CO2 laser resurfacing thin your skin? Read on to find out! Now I probably have the lowest pain threshold in the world, I’m talking award-winning low, like if I saw you getting injured, I’d be the one crying first! With this in mind, the kind folks at Celevenus applied not one but two applications of numbing creams to my treatment areas and what’s more, they let the numbing cream soak in for a whopping 40 minutes before proceeding with the procedure. As a result, I hardly felt any discomfort during the treatment. They expertly guided me along the journey and what to expect at each step, applying cool packs and fanning my face and providing me with a nice cool refreshing drink at the end of the treatment. Cheers! Before the treatment After the treatment My face kinda looked liked a giant rose, all red and super swollen. I accidentally touched my face and could feel liquid oozing out of my skin. It was a real low point, but I had to tell myself no pain no gain! By some miracle, however, my phones face ID could still recognize me! Haha! Things were already looking up and hubby said he could see my redness and swelling settling with every passing hour. Most of the blisters had dried up but I still didn’t want to scare the Amazon delivery guy, so I wore a mask when he came to deliver my groceries. I also went to work in the evening and gave gym a pass. Oh and no sun is allowed during this stage! Most of the swelling had gone down now. A few blisters lingered on my forehead but things were definitely on the road to recover. Some of the staff at Celevenus told me that some patients go as far as blacking out their rooms completely so I decided to follow suit! Blackout curtains were drawn and I retired to my bed like a vampire. Bye bye sun! Hello confidence! Almost ready to conquer the world! Some slight peeling during my shower, but so close! Peeling with a vengeance today! Skin was patchy, red and very raw! Some friends came over for a mini Easter party and I was quite conscious of my skin but they assured me they could see the light at the end of the tunnel coming my way. Best friends forever! Swelling had significantly reduced and redness was also much better. With a photo-shoot coming up in just 2 days, this was crunch time! My skin looks significantly better in the next couple of days! Thank you thank you! 🙏🙏 Fast forward a few months! Be sure to take these factors into consideration if you’re planning on giving the treatment a go, but I really think the end result was worth it. There was definitely a noticeable change in the condition of my skin, as was exemplified by all the enquiries I was receiving from friends and family about what my new foundation or skin care routine was. So here’s the million dollar question! Does fractional CO2 laser resurfacing treatments thin your skin? Well actually no. Dr. Dylan informed me that although there are various laser treatments, like laser peels which can be more extensive, Fractional CO2 Laser resurfacing treatments only target the superficial layers of your skin. The treatment stimulates collagen production within the skin which actually leads to the formation of new, healthy and overall thicker skin than before. Treatments can be repeated safely as early as monthly though given the downtime, most people prefer to go for longer intervals between treatments. The treatment also does not go deep enough to damage hair follicles and the wavelength of the light is not the same as IPL, so you need not worry about losing your eyebrows or lashes. My face was noticeably brighter and clearer, pores appeared less obvious and brown spots were lightened, all of which meant I could get away with much less akeup. A big bonus for me and anyone else keen to give fractional CO2 laser resurfacing a shot! Goodbye pigmentation! Yay! Thank you Dr. Dylan Chau and your dedicated team at the clinic! Celevenus Aesthetic & Wellness Clinic Address: 391B Orchard Road #16-03/04 Ngee Ann City Tower B Singapore 238874 General E-mail: beauty@celevenus.com.sg Telephone: +65 6410 9621 Operating Hours: Monday – Friday – 10.30am to 7pm Sat – 10:30am to 3pm Closed on Sundays & Public Holidays. Have you tried Fractional CO2 Lasers too? Did it work for you? Let me know by commenting below! Your friend, Juliana Disclaimer: Please rest assured that even though this post was created in partnership with Celevenus Aesthetic & Wellness Clinic, it does not have any bearing on the content of this post. Opinions stated are objective and genuine. Also note that all sources, information, content, links are valid to change at any time.

Advertorial My shorts, swimsuits and mini skirts are protesting against my jiggly jello thighs. It’s been weeks since my first treadmill workout and my thigh muscles are still firmly hidden beneath the stubborn layers of fat. Urgh! How frustrating! I’ve tried several slimming treatments in the past but they usually involved only massaging and steam baths that produce short-lived results. I’ve always been very intrigued by London Weight Management’s ads that claim effective, fast and non-invasive procedures. So when they approached me last month for free trial slimming sessions, I leapt at the opportunity and signed up immediately. Now read on to find out if their claims add up! My treatments were carried out at London Weight Management’s Tiong Bahru Plaza branch which is located on the 6th floor. While my assigned consultant Esther, prepares the room and facilities for my treatment, I spotted this banner near the counter. I was extremely excited yet puzzled at the same time. I wondered which part of the body was the ad referring to, though I was secretly hoping it’s the thigh circumference. :P The premises were plastered with photos of gorgeous looking girls who weren’t stick thin. Instead, they were healthy-looking girls with beautiful curves. Esther explained that London Weight Management encourages healthy eating and does not condone body hatred or distorted body image. Hence, their treatments only seek to shed pounds the healthy way for a more wholesome lifestyle.I was glad to hear that as I was certainly not ready to go on crazy diets or set unrealistic body goals for myself. All treatments at London Weight Management are customized according to your requirements, preferences and body conditions. I was 45kg last year but I gained close to 4kg this year. No thanks to the carrot cakes, steaks and burgers that I’ve been having excessively this year. This is me before any treatment was administered. I used to wear Size S for both tops and bottoms and now I wear a large M on the bottom. This means I can’t fit into 80% of my wardrobe now. :O To wear those skinny jeans and short shorts again, Esther suggested body contouring treatments that concentrate on the thighs and hips. 😀 Esther conducted a comprehensive evaluation by taking measurements of my limbs, waist and thighs and analyzing the underlying causes. She also asked if she could take photos of my arms, butt, tummy and thighs for comparison later. Of course, if you’re uncomfortable with the idea, you can always refuse. Esther highlighted my problem areas in the form below- flabby arms, wide hips, back fat and excess inner thigh fat. She suggested snuggly contouring body wraps, electric muscle stimulators combined with aromatic steam baths to obliterate the fat problem. On top of those, she also suggested a scrub treatment to lighten the skin on the knees. 😀 Sounds perfect. But before we began, she warned that the treatment may increase the heart rate slightly promoting blood flow and circulation like a mini workout. As such, she recommended that I drink plenty of fluids before the treatment to prevent dehydration.Since menstruation also usually results in dehydration due to the loss of fluid and blood, she discourages clients who are having menses to go through the treatment. And now we proceed to the treatment!I was given disposable panties and a robe to change into before I proceeded to the steam room for an aromatic steam bath. This treatment is called the Aromatic Steam Bath and as the name suggests, aromatherapy oils are introduced into the air to help clear respiratory passages for easier breathing and to enhance skin luminosity. According to Esther, this process not only helps to open pores for improved absorption of the products later, it also elevates the heart rate creating a workout for the heart that is similar to a brisk walking workout. The treatment lasted for a good 30 minutes before Esther led me to my next treatment – Lavender Sea Salt Scrub. Esther applies a layer of lavender sea salt scrub on my body then wraps me with their infra-red warm blanket for another 30 minutes. Needless to say, the scrub functions as an exfoliator, sloughing off my dead skin cells for a healthy glow later.But what about the infra-red warm blanket? Well, it reduces water retention that causes bloating and improves my metabolism to help me lose weight without cutting back on the calories. Honestly, this was my least favorite treatment. I felt like a clam being cooked. The blanket became pretty uncomfortable after a while as I began to sweat profusely. Well, I guess you’ll have to sweat like a pig to look like a fox later because, according to Esther, the treatment burns as many calories as a 2.4km run! The treatment is finally over. Phew. I’m alive. I haven’t turned into a dried squid. 😛 And here comes the best part! Shower time! Haha! The cozy shower, that was situated just beside the steam room, is fully equipped with a careful selection of toiletries including personal care products, shower caps, cotton swabs and hair dryers. Their shampoo and conditioner carries a gorgeous mint scent that feels absolutely invigorating and refreshing on the scalp. And now, the final treatment of the day – Electrical Muscle Stimulation. I know the name sounds menacing but it really isn’t. In fact, this is the most relaxing part of the entire slimming treatment. Esther commenced the treatment by spreading the thermo trimming ampoule over my belly and limbs – basically the flabby parts. Then placed the gel pads on my arms, waist and thighs. Thereafter, Esther secures the position of the pads with velcro straps. The pads deliver gentle electric pulses to the skin to stimulate the muscles and trigger contractions which will in turn, tone the muscles. I’ve looked this up and according to Wiki – The impulses mimic the action potential coming from the central nervous system, causing the muscles to contract. So I guess there is some logic to this claim. 🙂 And guess what? The legendary Bruce Lee endorses it too! According to him – “Three minutes is like doing 200 Another 30 minutes was dedicated to this treatment and… … I was finally done with my very first London Weight Management Treatment. I thought I looked more radiant too! The treatments made me feel like I’d had a hard core workout at the gym. Esther made me this Strawberry cereal drink to replenish the energy and fluids lost. How thoughtful!  I weighed myself again and I went from 48.8kg to 48.2kg within 2 hours! Remember this poster from earlier? I finally understood how the numbers are derived. Esther measured the circumference of my body parts before and after the treatment and noted them as follows. And my total loss? 12cm! Whoopee! I was invited to a second session three weeks after and my weight decreased further to a whopping 47.5kg. I was also given a set of slimming products that were used during the treatments. Oxygenating body scrub: Specially formulated with ingredients from the Dead Sea to tone and trim the body. It cleanses and exfoliates to make skin younger and healthier. Body Trim Fluid: Contains active elements that help to tone, trim and contour the body effectively. Oxy Trimming Gel: Formulated to trim flabby areas and soothe sensitive skin. Afterthoughts… To be honest, I was filled with scepticism before the treatment. It is hard to fathom how a 2-hour treatment can help to lose weight. I did some research after the program on the steam baths, warm wraps and electric muscle stimulators used during the treatment. And the result was – they do help to slim down to a certain extent. I would say if you’re looking to slim down without straining your muscles or injuring yourself within a short period of time, London Weight Management would be your perfect slimming fairy godmother. Of course, you should also exercise regularly and maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes a lot of vegetables, grains and other high-fiber foods for a slim and healthy body. As mentioned many times before, slimming treatments and products will only support your slimming journey by expediting the weight loss. For best results, you’ll still have to watch what you eat, sleep well and stay happy! Finally, I wanna thank London Weight Management, especially Esther for the treatments and fruitful consultation sessions. I learnt a lot about our body composition, fat percentage and the right ways of dieting. Esther spent 45 minutes explaining all these to me. Some of the diagrams she drew. 😛 I also liked the fact that the treatment was customised for my body type and my desired results. These were the other ampoules that customers can choose from for different functionalities like lifting and soothing. For their effectiveness and great service, 3.5 Honeyz crowns! Exclusive promotion for Honeyz Belles! Sign up now at http://londonweight.blogspot.sg/2013/09/blogger-campaign.html  and you’ll receive a complimentary slimming Session and 1 set of slimming products (total worth $368) and a chance to win a $2000 Slimming Package and London Hamper worth $268, when you sign up! Website: www.londonweight.com London Weight Management Outlets in Singapore • PREMIUM! Suntec City Mall • Novena Square • Ang Mo Kio Jubilee • City Square Mall • Clementi Mall • Ngee Ann City • Singapore Post Centre • Tampines One • Tiong Bahru Plaza • Woodlands Civic Centre • Yew Tee Point Contact them at +65 6222 1234  for your appointments. Have fun! ❤ Your friend, Juliana #advertorial #beauty #beautyreview #LondonWeightManagement

A year in a day? Nah, it’s just a little behind the scenes of my day-to-day as we transitioned from 2020 to 2021! Catch a glimpse of what it’s like prepping for the reopening of our mobile clinic, RESCU, spending some quality time with the fam and me cooking delicious recipes from our upcoming fat-loss cookbook!! Lots of exciting stuff to come in 2021! Let’s win this year! Your friend, Juliana

How have you been? At this point, I can empathise that it may not be an easy question to answer. I hope you're still hanging on and believing there's light at the end of the tunnel. If you've been following my blog and Instagram, you probably already know I lost my beloved father-in-law a month ago and the situation was made tougher because of border restrictions and pandemic-related concerns. As such, both Bobby and I weren't able to say our goodbyes even though Bobby flew back to the UK immediately after receiving the news that he was sick. It's 2021 now, a brand new year and instead of thinking about new resolutions, new goals like yesteryears, I've been exploring new coping mechanisms, trying to create new financial and emotional safety nets to brace for what's to come and also aspiring to strengthen my relationship with my loved ones as much as possible. That's not to say we don't have new ambitions or desires for this year, I feel like the pandemic has given us an alternative perspective about what's important to us. We do have goals but the goalposts have shifted and we're now charting a course on a new direction towards focusing on our well-being so we can make a bigger difference in our family's lives and in our community. That's why I thought it was important for me to share a session I had with Clozette a few months ago called #ClozetteChats: Mind Yourself with Clozette Community where I got to engage in a fruitful discussion with the Clozette team (April Tan, Vania Quah and Amanda Arambulo), content creators Kaycee Enerva , Linora Low and Dr. Maria Micha , an experienced Psychotherapist who dispensed many tips during the session on how we can navigate the change and maintain our emotional well-being. Clozette summarised the session's highlights in this beautifully-edited IGTV video below. As you can appreciate, in the interest of time, not everything we discussed made the final cut of the video, including a lot of valuable stories and wellness tips that you might be able to gain from, so here are the questions that were posed to us and my full replies to each of them. What is wellness to you? For me, wellness is about me-time where I embrace my inner thoughts and be at peace with myself. Being in control of my situation where I allow myself to let go. It's the point where I embrace the world we are in right now. The situation is not great and I can't do anything about it but I can control my emotions, actions, my perspective and my reaction to our predicament. Wellness is all about giving yourself a chance to let go and giving yourself an opportunity to find your own endorphin and dopamine. Has the pandemic affected you and your lifestyle, and if yes, how so? Definitely. I run a house call doctor service, a mobile clinic. House call requests shot up immediately after the first case was announced in the news as patients were extremely afraid to go to a regular clinic or even visit the hospital. Since then, my life has changed. We were working almost 18 hours a day, sometimes more to keep up with the requests. If this was any other business, we would be joyful but as you can imagine, this also signified to us that the community was really hurting, a true double-edged sword kind of situation. I was working throughout the Circuit Breaker, Singapore's term for a lockdown and also saw many hidden victims of the pandemic which worried us more. This meant people with pressing health issues refused to go to the emergency department due to fears of contracting COVID-19. As such, many left their illnesses untreated at home and by the time we saw them, it was too late as they had delayed treatment for too long. To be honest, we think my daddy-in-law was also a hidden victim of the pandemic as he too was apprehensive about going for medical check ups when symptoms of his illnesses first surfaced late last year. Fast forward a few months, as we moved deeper and deeper into the circuit breaker, our business started to face the opposite scenario, no one was calling! Seemingly staying at home protected us not only from flu-like illnesses but everything else too! We were soon facing tough questions, like many other companies during this time, of whether our business would be able to survive this pandemic and if it didn't, what would we do? The pandemic has definitely affected the way I view health and wellness. I treasure the people around me and I treasure my health even more. Despite having a busy schedule, with so much uncertainty, I still made sure I worked out five times a week and had as well-balanced a diet as possible. What is your daily wellness routine like these days? Candles, mini makeovers (I change my nail wraps every week now), walk on the treadmill (my dusty treadmill and dumbbells that were nestled in the storeroom finally saw the light of day again) while catching up on my favourite Netflix shows. Since the festive season is around the corner, I also watch a lot of home decor vlogs to remind myself that there's still much to look forward to! Does how you feel mentally and emotionally affect how you feel physically, and vice versa? Negative situations used to affect me a great deal and I'd literally go into a fight or flight mode when I was nervous or feeling some anxiety. Sometimes it would affect me so much I'd get migraines and gastric pains requiring medications. Over time and with more experience with unfavourable circumstances, I started to have a better understanding that I really have to give to myself first before I give to the world, to make sure I'm taken care of first, mentally and physically. The human mind is an amazing thing, when you take a deep breath and tell yourself everything will be okay -you may literally feel the weight of the world on your shoulders being lifted off. Trust me, mind over matter really works. The law of attraction means that sometimes we fear the worst and focus on it so much that we unknowingly actually make it a reality and play a part in bringing it on ourselves. The opposite can also be true, why not focus on the best possible outcome instead of the worst and go for it! You will have a much higher chance of achieving happiness and success than if you just sat down and accepted the worst case scenario. When I believe in concentrating more on my powers than on my problems, the mental state, emotions and physical feelings no longer intertwine with each other and that's when I can regain some form of control. Do you feel the pandemic has affected how you feel physically, emotionally, and mentally, and how? It definitely has as uncertainty is always scary. I am still running a business after all with no fixed income. You don't know when there's going to be panic buying again and we run out of food, you wonder if your savings are enough to last you a few more months. The scariest part is the health of my loved ones - my old- aged granny, my parents, our family who live in the UK. Everyday we worry we will never get to see them again. I have to constantly remind myself to not let these thoughts dominate me and focus on making the most out of the situation like checking on my loved ones frequently through Whatsapp video calls and putting aside funds for possibly longer rainy days or worse. Any tips for our community on how to practice self-love & care? Don't worry about what's ahead (not in terms of your goals and dreams but what kind of new situation the world will serve us next) and focus on the now. There is still so much to look forward to. If you're feeling overwhelmed or dejected, celebrate life's little wins with gratitude journaling! I've been doing that for five years now. Basically every night before I go to bed, I take time to reflect and jot down three things I'm grateful for each day. So instead of dwelling on the negatives just before I go to bed and possibly disturb my rest, I go to bed happier and more optimistic about the future. This also helps to improve my sleep quality and overall health. It doesn’t have to be big things - I'm looking at my own journal now and it's literally just having someone smile at me today, great weather, having my first pumpkin spice latte of the year. There’s growing research showing the benefits of keeping a ‘Gratitude journal’! It can increase a person's well-being by 10%! Happy people naturally take care of themselves more - they eat better, exercise more which releases endorphins so this means more happiness and more positivity! The bigger the boat, the less likely it will capsize. Life is always going to keep throwing curveballs at us. It is how we deal with it that matters the most! I choose to hit the curve ball with my positive and grateful thoughts in my stilettos and a glass of champagne in my hand. I hope this little walk through my mind was helpful for you and I truly wish you all the best in improving your well-being and finding your north star for 2021. Please continue to take care, stay safe and keep sparkling! Your friend, Juliana

Angelic plum blossoms, Geisha streets, a magnificent gold-plated temple and an elegantly decorated boutique hotel. Aww... Kyoto, what more can I ask for?!? Click to read how I lived my wanderlust dream through one of the most famous Asian metropolises, Kyoto. Same time last year… I was hoping for a pink Spring with B – stroll down a beautiful park with many cherry blossom trees as the backdrop. Something like this… Okay, I know the above might be beyond the realms of possibility but I was hoping that it will be close. Can’t miss the full bloom of cherry and plum blossoms again! To fulfill our romantic pink dream, B and I went online to search for the ideal Spring destination. Kyoto popped up many times during our search and unknowingly, we were beginning to imagine our dream holiday – feasting on yummilicious sushi, indulging in hot spring baths and taking photos of scenic landscapes and historically rich shrines. And then we made our decision – Kyoto here we come! Since we intended to visit Tokyo too, we decided to fly to Haneda Airport (aka Tokyo International Airport) and take a train to Kyoto. We took the Keikyu railway line from Haneda Airport to Shinagawa Station then transferred to the JR line Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto Station. The journey to Kyoto takes 160 mins (2hrs 40 mins), so there’s a high possibility that you’ll feel peckish after sometime. Well, great news! The shinkansen offers delectable bites, bentos (box lunches) and a varied array of beverage options at reasonable prices. Confused with the multiple railway lines? You can always consult the Tourist Information Center staff at the Haneda Airport. We arrived in Kyoto at last! We spot our hotel! We chose the Hotel Monterey after reading its glowing reviews on Trip Advisor . What we loved about this hotel was its great location (Karasuma Sanjo in the center of Kyoto) that provides easy access to Kyoto’s best shopping districts like Gion, famous heritage sites and tourist attractions as well as popular dining spots. Walk into the classy hotel and be greeted by the sparkly chandeliers hanging off the ceiling, shiny floors and warm smiles of the Hotel Monterey staff. The decor of the lobby is heavily influenced by British culture and heritage, from the paintings, to the faux fireplace to the Victorian furniture. As mentioned on the Hotel Monterey website. “A hotel that combines the best of Kyoto’s stylish culture and Britain’s traditional heritage. The design is based on the arts and crafts of Scotland, particularly Edinburgh, its ancient capital. In fact Kyoto and Edinburgh are not only sister cities in name, but they also share many traits such as the lively street atmosphere and traditional culture. This hotel expresses the relationship between the two cities through its traditional architecture and warm atmosphere.” Ooh... they have a library too. Gotcha! It is not a real library. It is actually a cafe called ‘The Library’. The cafe/bar adheres to the english theme with a traditional British stately-home library design that is artfully adorned with 1870 ornaments. It also features an antique mantle piece and bar-counter, making for a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. And now we take the lift and head to the room! I felt like I was transported back to Japan again. The lift and corridor of the rooms spot a more traditional Japanese decor with floral motifs, Japanese art pieces and wooden walls. And we arrived at our abode of the trip! It is a cozy and functional little room that is well equipped with a queen-sized bed, comfortable robes, a washlet toilet, steam-free bathroom mirror and free wifi! On top of soft fluffy towels and regular hotel toiletries, Hotel Monterey also provides foaming face and hand wash! This is the kinda luxury and service I’m talking about. They take care of you from head to your pinky toes. 😛 And now we explore the room. The room boasts an elegant design by continuing the theme of the lobby and corridor with its english-themed dark blue striped walls, bedsheets and dark wooden furniture and Japanese lamp. On top of the basic hotel amenities, the hotel also provides an air purifier, anti-germ spray and trinket containers for our jewelry and knick-knacks. Other basics include a kettle, green tea sachets and a fridge of refreshing beverages. Not enough choices? Vending machine to the rescue! Vending machines are ubiquitous in Japan so I wasn’t surprised to find one along the corridor. Beer or green tea for you? Overall, I thought my room was perfect. My only gripe was the pathetic view from my window despite staying on the 11th floor. Oh well… There are many good eateries in close vicinity of the hotel that offers traditional, authentic and savory Kyoto cuisine. Here are my top faves. Minokichi (Kyoto’s Traditional Cuisine) Its signboard says it all. 🙂 If I didn’t read the signboard (below) wrongly, I think this next establishment is called Risami Sushi. It is a traditional family restaurant that offers the freshest and most delicious sashimi and sushi. These great restaurants were actually introduced to us by the friendly staff at the Hotel Monterey concierge (see below). Besides arranging transport for hotel guests, they also provide detailed travel guides and information. Trust me. They know Kyoto inside out and can easily name five good restaurants or attractions when you enquire. They are well-versed in English so you don’t have to worry if you can’t speak or read Japanese. And now here’s a quick rundown of the must-see tourist attractions in Kyoto recommended by Hotel Monterey Kyoto! Gion Gion (祇園) is Kyoto’s most famous geisha district, located around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west. It is filled with shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain. Gion attracts tourists with its high concentration of traditional wooden machiya merchant houses. Due to the fact that property taxes were formerly based upon street frontage, the houses were built with narrow facades only five to six meters wide, but extend up to twenty meters in from the street. (Extracted from www.japan-guide.com) I met a real Geisha! Kinkaku-ji or Temple of the Golden Pavilion (a Buddhist temple made famous in 1950 when it was destroyed by arson after surviving World War II intact.) The top two floors are fully coated with gold leaf! :O Kiyomizu-dera Temple Kiyomizu-dera is one of the most famous temples in Kyoto and was built at the end of the 8th century. The main hall was constructed in the 17th century, and is famous for its location overhanging a cliff. The platform of the main hall, which is supported by 139 giant pillars, affords a spectacular view of the town of Kyoto. It is designated a National Treasure. The three-storied pagoda in the temple precinct, which was rebuilt during the 17th century, is designated by the national government as an Important Cultural Property. The expansive site, with an area of 130,000 sq m, contains many Important Cultural Properties, including buildings and Buddhist images. Along the ravine to the south of the main hall grow cherry and maple trees. This site is known for its cherry blossoms in the spring, and its red leaves during the fall. (Extracted from www.jnto.go.jp/eng) That wasn't a shooting star by the way. It was just a beam of light shooting into the air. :P I took many shots and this was probably my best capture of the Kiyomizu-dera. I love it so much and I’m so going to hang this picture in my future home. 😀 Kurama Onsen Outdoor and indoor baths can be enjoyed at Kurama Onsen, a ryokan located at the upper end of the town of Kurama. It can be reached in a 10 minute walk from the train station along the town’s only road or along a nature trail following the river. Staying guests can use the baths for free, while daytrippers pay 2500 yen to use all of the baths or 1100 yen for just the outdoor bath. (Extracted from www.japan-guide.com) Hot Spring bath time! Men and women enjoy their hot spring baths in separate pools. The beautiful scenery outside the hot springs. After your soothing hot soaks, you could enjoy a fine cup of green tea or try Kurama Onsen’s homemade dishes at their family restaurant. They serve the healthiest and most palatable dishes I tell you. You might be interested to know that Kurama Onsen maintains a strict no tattoo policy. So if you have a tattoo, you might wanna skip this and head to this next destination. 🙂 Ryōan-ji Ryōan-ji (Shinjitai: 竜安寺, Kyūjitai: 龍安寺, The Temple of the Dragon at Peace) is a Zen temple located in northwest Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Myōshin-ji school of the Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism. The temple garden is considered to be one of the finest examples of a kare-sansui, a Japanese rock garden, or zen garden, in Japan.[1] The temple and gardens are listed as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Extracted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryōan-ji) Mini zen garden! Last but not least! Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine It was the third week of March and the cherry blossoms had yet to bloom. 🙁 But! The plum blossoms were already bursting out in bloom so we were just as excited. Plum, or ume, trees were introduced to Japan from China in the 8th century and are believed to ward off danger. On many older plots of land you will find plum trees planted in the northeast corner, the so-called ”Demon’s Gate”, from where danger and evil are believed to enter. Because of this belief, many family crests also incorporate the plum blossom into their design. Plum blossoms herald spring and offer the perfect occasion for the year’s first picnics, a sure sign that cherry blossoms and warmer days can’t be far away. Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine is home to nearly 2,000 plum trees. This shrine has become synonymous with plum blossoms, which are a prominent decorative motif in its lanterns, tiles, and woodwork. From about February 10th to the end of March, the plum orchard southwest of the main shrine is open for public viewing. (Extracted from http://www.kyotoguide.com/ver2/thismonth/plum2013.html) ‘Tenjin-san’ flea market outside the shrine It is a flea market that is held around Kitano-tenmangu Shrine on the 25th of each month. Everyday people sell second-hand clothing, pottery, and antiques here in small stalls. This is a fun place to chat with the sellers, learn about the items on sale, and even negotiate the prices if you feel up to the task. There are also plenty of food stalls as well. (Extracted from http://www.kyoto.travel/2009/11/flea-market-1.html) Finally, I bid my Kyoto trip goodbye with a sumptuous and calorific meal at Jouvencelle, Gion. They serve the best matcha fondue/ green tea fondue in town! Dip your favorite Japanese mochi (rice cake), fruits and cakes into a specially prepared matcha chocolate for the ultimate green tea experience. Finished your confections and cakes and still have some matcha chocolate left? Then transform it into a matcha au lait by adding some warm milk! This suggestion was made by a Jouvencelle staff. 🙂 Bon appetit! Farewell Kyoto! *waves sadly* I’ll be back! For more exclusive content on travel reviews, sampling campaigns, style books or to receive the full gamut of privileges as Honeyz readers, like my Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/ilovebunny.net Your road to a sparkling lifestyle begins here . Your friend, Juliana #HotelMontereyKyoto #Kyoto #travel #travelreview

Delve into the streets of New York City… Cute bunny guise! There was an Easter Carnival going on, thus the streets were exceptionally empty. Teuscher Chocolates. They have the best chocolate truffles! The Concourse at Rockefeller Center Cathedral of Saint Patrick The apple of my eye. Hehe! The Metropolitan Museum of Art aka Gossip Girl's 'Steps' Times Square I watched my first Broadway Musical - Mama Mia! That's all I've got of the theater. No photo-taking allowed during the show. Late night supper. 3am to be exact. My favorite - Eggs Benedict! The End. :) Culminating this pictorial post with this video. Your friend, Juliana #NewYorkCity #NYC #travel

With my hubby having to fly out of town last minute, sitting here alone, I truly felt Christmas had been cancelled for us both this year. Then I started to look around and saw the three Christmas trees we put up together (yes you heard it right, three!), the Christmas village we had set up below our TV, the garland we hung around our door, all the snowmen dotted around our home and even our beloved festive teddies that always come out this time of the year! Talk about OCD (Obsessive Christmas Disorder)! 😅 We didn’t miss Christmas after all! Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a feeling. It’s all the mess we made while decorating. It’s all the planning and feel-good moments leading up to the big day and of those, I’m so fortunate to have had so many! Not to mention all the impromptu meetups with loved ones and beautiful and heart-warming messages I have been receiving from all of you. Christmas is those unfiltered moments where your heart is so full of joy and happiness it could burst and while we celebrate it on one specific day, the true celebration starts the day you get that warm fuzzy feeling inside! Now let's jingle and mingle! Living Room Meet Barnables, our resident Gingerbread man who (surprise surprise) smells just like gingerbread! That's Frosty. He's a stunner and you'll see a lot more of him on my IG stories . Next we head to my girl cave where I created my own Santa's grotto with a blue to red ombre tree and adorned my unofficial elves Moo Moo (the cow ottoman), Mr Snowman and Hello Kitty with Christmas hats for some added festive cheer! Girl Cave / Home Office We do not have a lot of space in the bedroom so we opted for a flocked pencil tree to fit into this tiny corner of our room. No baubles or additional decoration for this narrow little guy as we thought the fake snow and fairy lights were enough to jazz up this tree. Bedroom This is Ratatouille who we actually display all year round to ensure our spirits stay bright all 365 days. Hehe! That's FatSnow, our smiley little Snowman whom Bobby has to pat and say good night to every night. Bobby got me this bougie Christmas-themed candle from Jo Malone last Christmas which smells super decadent without even lighting it up. I decided to leave it on my bedside table to intensify the Christmas experience even while in bed. Thank you for coming on this holiday home tour with me. I hope you had fun and also hope my home decor has inspired you to get one more tree for Christmas! Haha! Let me know in the comments below if you decorated more than one room in the house too! 👇 We managed to take a photo with Frosty and Santa just before Bobby went to the airport. It was 'snow' much fun! It is now our official family Christmas card for 2020. Whaddya think? Finally, from our family to yours... We wish you a very Merry Christmas and may you have an astounding 2021 loaded with good health, love, happiness and inspiration! Frosty kisses and snowflake wishes, Juliana and Bobby

“Self care is a divine responsibility.” Keeping my skin alive and fresh feels more and more like a losing battle week after week. City life has its perks but alas this is not one of them. Taking pause to comprehend what my skin has to go through, I’m not really surprised. Imagine long days on the road in the sun, disturbed poor quality sleep, dehydration, eating only if we get a chance, vehicle exhaust and digital light pollution at every turn, it’s like a multi-pronged attack. I have no choice but to apply some light makeup to camouflage the signs of fatigue, but the drawback to this is that after 15 hours on the go (occupational hazard of running a 24-hour mobile clinic), I really just want to KO onto my bed the moment I get home, which as I’m sure you know, is a big no no when it comes to good skin health. Failure to properly clean and take care of your skin leads to inevitable consequences such as clogged pores, breakouts, worsening of pigmentation and fine lines, which pretty much sums up the road I’m on unless I do something pronto! It doesn’t really help my cause that most makeup removers require multiple wipes to remove everything, so much so that I’m wide awake by the time I’m done! Thankfully, this all changed when I was introduced to Bifesta’s new line of makeup removers. But before we get to that, here’s a fun fact! I first started blogging in 2011 and the very first beauty product launch media event I was ever invited to was a Bifesta event! Little old me was excited, nervous, happy, anxious, there was a whole cocktail of feelings but ultimately I got to discover some great products. I’ve remained a big Bifesta fan ever since and now going full circle, trying these great new cleansers literally has me awash (get it) with all kinds of rose-tinted memories of those great times. Bifesta clearly hasn’t been sitting idle, their new line of cleansers are packed with all the latest goodness. Targetting Sensitive City Skin To reiterate the extent of the problem, the environmental aggressors of urban living have been inherently linked to premature ageing and aggravating skin conditions such as eczema and hives. Fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, caused by exhaust fumes, industrial processes, smoking, cooking and other common metropolitan activities, are many times smaller than the pores through which our skin breathes which in turn causes inflammation that accelerate the development of age spots and wrinkles. Sounds like we need a skincare superhero to fight these skincare supervillains! Well, the wait is over! The new Bifesta Sensitive Micellar Cleansing Lotion is refreshing, non-greasy and maintains a great balance between gentle care and powerful cleaning properties. Suffice to say, it effectively cleanses your skin without drying it out while the absence of harsh chemicals (oil, alcohol, fragrance) means it’s suitable even for sensitive skin like mine. Removing mascara has often been a point of contention for me. It usually takes so many wipes of cleanser that by the time I’m done, my eyes are sore and uncomfortable. To make matters worse, on one occasion I even developed a chalazion in my eyelid from using a more greasy makeup remover. It took a whole year of eyelid hygiene and warm compresses before it finally went away. Thankfully Bifesta’s latest Micellar Cleansing Lotion cut through my makeup easily, removing it quickly while not stinging or irritating my eyes at all. Its enhanced formula makes cleaning so much easier, without the tugging and rubbing. This is largely attributed to its key ingredient Pullulan that acts as a shield to lower friction and strengthen your skin with a protective barrier. This means no more redness and fallen eyelash casualties! Cool beans! As you can tell from all my gushing, this makeup remover ticked all the correct boxes for me. Effective, gentle, non-greasy and non-stingy. It’s no surprise that all my friends have been raving about it on social media too! So if you’re like me and in need of a quick, gentle yet highly effective cleanser, then here you go! And you’re welcome! You’ll be thanking me later. 😀 Now available islandwide! Good news everyone! The  Bifesta Sensitive Micellar Cleansing Lotion (300ml) is now available at all major drugstores, supermarkets and department stores and retails at SGD18.90 . Besides their iconic Bifesta Cleansing Lotions, they also offer a wide range of products such as cleansing wipes, eye and lid makeup removers and carbonated foaming whips to make sure your skin problems never rear their heads again. Hit up Bifesta’s website , FB and IG pages to find out more! Finally, have fun and keep sparkling, belles and beaus! Your friend, Juliana Disclaimer: Please rest assured that even though this post was created in partnership with Bifesta, it does not have any bearing on the content of this post. Opinions stated are objective and genuine. Also note that all sources, information, content, links are valid to change at any time . #bifesta #SponsoredPost