I've decided to make today a PHONE OFF DAY!

Living in the city I realized that people are spending way too much time indoor than outdoor. And even so they are indoor they hardly connect with people around them anymore as everyone are always too busy with their cellphones. In Findhorn I realized, people around me, even the young ones are never with their cellphones. They would either be reading books, admiring the nature or connecting with friends. And there I learnt to abandon my phone to spend time with myself. The minute I stopped worrying about searching for wifi everywhere I go was a total relief, I now no longer need my phone to keep me company because I know I am my own best company. And I was happy.

Back in hong kong when you are not surrounded by such people and energy, we know we need some extra help to keep ourselves off the phone. So I've decided to make today a phone off day so I can sit down and spend some time with myself.

So what have I done on a phone off day?

I started off by listening to some of my favorite music. Sat down with my eyes close and listened with my heart. It was only when your phone was off where you can listen to songs like this without the interference of any notifications. Had a yummy lunch, read then I head out to my garden for some sun and meditation. I meditate everyday when I was in scotland, but now that I've stopped for a week, I almost forgot how good I feel meditating in nature. I feel complete.

We are too busy dealing with the outside world we forgot about the world inside us. It's important to take some time off everyday to visit that inner world of yours to give it some love and attention. And it's the best to do it with your phone off. If turning your phone off for the entire day is a luxury for you, start with an hour. Sit down and just be with yourself. If you are not a fan of meditation, do something you love! Read your favorite book, listen to your favorite song, watch a movie or even eat some ice cream! Pamper yourself. Your body and soul will thank you for doing this.

Now can you do it? Can you live without your phone?

baking soda magic | does brand matter?

When you don't know what's going to work, use baking soda, well at least that's what I thought. Baking soda are like magic, they work almost on anything, but I especially like it in the beauty department.

To some people, putting baking soda on your face would sound like a terrifying thing to do. I know because up until now, people would still scream when they saw me using them. I've been using baking soda as my exfoliator for almost a year now, and I didn't really feel it up until now. FYI, I have super sensitive skin so they get irritated and red very easily. When I first started out with the baking soda remedy, I was worried because they burnt and leave my face really red. But since everyone were saying how great the result is, I seriously don't want to just give up. But to be honest, for the first half year, except for the fact that my face turned bright red after the exfoliation, nothing magical had happened, at all.

I got tired of the bottle of baking soda sitting in my bathtub, so I went ahead and bought a new box thinking that it will give me a new experience with the whole magical journey. Ended up pretty accurately because it really did gave me a totally different experience. My face didn't burnt nor get red at all after the exfoliation, and they also leave my skin feeling very clean and refresh afterwards.

This whole new experience leave me thinking whether the brand has anything to do with the result.

I was using baking soda from a well known supermarket brand here in Hong Kong. The new one that I bought is from Arm & Hammer which is probably the most common brand of baking soda one would use. Just by feeling the texture, you can tell that the latter one came out finer, which maybe the reason why it is not as harsh on my skin. But except for the texture, they are both 100% baking soda now why would it make such a great different? I don't want to make false assumption but from my experience you know, even the most basic thing can come out impure.

When you go into the supermarket, you will find baking soda selling in various price. I know the effects of branding, but doesn't it make you wonder why some brand can sell their stuff in such a low price? I am not encouraging everyone to buy only the expensive here, but I would definitely be more careful when it comes to products which we will eat or put on our face (which would be absorb into our bloodstream too guys).

Have you ever thought that pure things can also come out impure?

A Green Home Shop - one stop shopping for green lovers

you've got one week, one week to feel the green in Hong Kong in one shop.
thanks to A GREEN HOME SHOP, bringing together international and hong kong based sustainable brands, for us to feel the green shopping concept in hong kong.

when we say green living, we want to cover everything. from the environment, furnitures, homeware, beauty products, the fashion and the food we are going to put in our stomach. A GREEN HOME SHOP covers everything. I am pretty upset by the fact that they are only opening for one week. but it's okay, because after this, we will have all the access to places where we will find things that protect the environment and our health.

I missed out the opening party today, but I will definitely find time to go visit this week. hopefully will be able to join the closing party on the 11th for some yummy desserts.

Where: Fuk Sau Lane (off Third Street), in Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong

http://agreenhomeshop.com/

hope to see you there xx

my summer wish list | for now...

1. Ikat print booties (pixie market | $694hkd / $89usd) 

we know that the fashion world is going all crazy for prints right now. besides wearing printed accessories or clothing, shoes are also a great option for the input. im very much into wearing all white at the moment, and now a colorful booties will be perfect to give a little spice to your outfit. 

2. Reed Karkoff boxer leather and canvas tote (mytheresa.com | $8570hkd / $835euro)

one word! obsess! beautiful neutral colour. perfect for spring and summer. 

i think this will go really well with my all white bike. lol

3. Physicians Formula organic wear 100% natural origin mascara (iherb.com | $78hkd / $9.55usd)

not a mascara person, but because i've tried and love the eyeshadow palette as well as the eyeliner from physicians formula, i believe this won't fail me. 

4. some nice dairy free ice cream (homemade | photo from thekitchn.com)

who doesn't want ice cream in summer? 

what's your wish list for summer? xx

etsy treasures find - iphone cases

ever since I have been using iphone, searching for beautiful cases has become my habit. 

believe it or not, but I've actually known someone who bought the new iphone 5 just because she couldn't find nice iphone cases for iphone 4 anymore. it's true that people are starting to abandon iphone 4 these days. you can hardly find anything in stores anymore and all you left with are your wear out broken iphone cases. 

well. don't worry because the internet has always got our back. there are tons of places online where you can find one of a kind cases for your phone, whether it is a 4 or a 5. 

when it comes to treasure hunt, etsy is a great place. in case you've never heard of it, I will describe it as a online market place for creative designers. so there you can find excellent unique pieces for creative designers all around the world. 

after long hours of searching, I found this seller named by csera. I thought I want one with crazy aztec pattern, but these have a really raw and subtle feeling to them. and I love how the designer plays with the wood pattern. super cute. 

besides the two that I've purchased, these are 4 other ones that I really like and had struggled whether I should get them during the shopping process. if you do not like my taste, they do offer a lot more different design at their etsy store. 

my thoughts on their cases - amazing qualities. I am kind of surprise by how well-made and sturdy the case felt. with the cost of only around 160hkd (20usd) each, I would definitely call it a bargain. 

links to these iphone cases just in case you are too tired to look

1. wood pattern with coloured lines 

2. mix pattern 

3. native american pattern

4. aztec tribal pattern only at the bottom 

5. white aztec pattern
6. colorful tribal pattern

sorry for my awful description. I really have no idea how to properly describe then. lol.

have a wonderful weekend xoxo