Living At Home In Your 20's

Moving back in with your parents is pretty normal nowadays and nothing to feel bad about. While there's some really great things about it, there are also some times where it can be a little frustrating. 

I've been living back at home for over a year now, since graduating university and here are some little quirks i've noticed. 


Never use mums chicken without asking:

You try and be independent, cooking your own dinner and feeling proud of yourself. Then you hear mum open the fridge....a slight pause and then a yell.. scoff that evidence!

You will feel 10x more guilty about being hungover:

That disappointed look in your parents eye when you run to the sink  for the fifth time in an hour to spew your guts out, will remain in your memory forever. 

"You're eating again? / Stop skipping lunch!"

Whether you eat too much or too little, theres always gonna be a comment. My personal favourite was when I was making scrambled eggs and I heard.. "you will never be able to afford your own lifestyle" didn't know eggs and milk were so pricey?

Lazy days only last until 11am:

So long to the uni days where you'd lay around in your pjs all day. If their noisiness doesn't wake you up at 9am, they'll come into your room wondering whats wrong. Should get one of those "do not disturb" signs.

Your clothing choice.. or lack of clothing will be judged

If you wanna give that whole bralette trend a go, home is not the place. Unless you wanna be compared to a lady of the night..thanks mum!

Always offer to make tea for whoever is around

If you don't it'll quickly come to bite you in the bum while everyone else is sipping their tea and no one asked you. 

Watching cooking shows will become second nature

I never thought I needed to know what a "thyme air" was, but I'm sure it'll come in useful one day. I may not know anything about any recent tv shows but damn that "air" was perfect! 

You parents have a better social life than you

Nothing makes you feel like a loser, quite like coming home to an empty house on a Friday night. Especially when your parents drunk eat your snacks.. they are literally the only good thing I have! 

Don't rant about your job or lack of job

Whatever you say there will always be some story about "back in my day" honestly it's not worth it. 

FREE FOOD & CUDDLES

Although living at home does cause a little bit of friction at times, nothing beats having food and cuddles pretty much whenever you want. You'll miss it IF you finally move out... 

xx

Last Minute Halloween Costume | Fortune Teller

It's that spooky time of year again! For all you guys who can't ever seem to plan a costume on time, look no further! Using whatever I could find in my draws and a quick 10 minutes for makeup, I created a spooky/ slightly sexy? fortune teller look. You can choose whatever colour you want but I chose purple because it's a pretty spooky colour right? I dunno..anyway here's how to do it!

EYES 

The main feature to this look is the eyes. Starting with a base of purple shadows, I used a mixture of light and dark tones, cover the outer edge of you eyelid. Don't be afraid to go over the lid towards your eyebrow...the more the merrier at this point! 

Add black shadow or another dark shade into the crease and begin to blend it out and around your eye to give you a smokey, deeper shade. If you use a clean brush to blend you can avoid accidentally  placing more eye shadow then you intended...wish I followed my own advice..

Taking a silver shimmer liner and a brush (You can also use a black liner pen and add silver shadow ontop as a replacement) neatly draw a wing first, ending it in line with your eyebrow. From there you can easily line around the top of your eye, extending the line down from the corner of your eye. The bottom line doesn't need to be as think as the top, so just slowly paint the liner on starting from the corner until it meets the wing. Fill in any gaps or neaten it up making sure it's evenly distributed.  

Because brows need as much attention as your eyes, add a little purple shadow over them because why not? you can also add a little bit of that silver liner if your feeling really crazy. 

FACE

Now for every basic bitches favour part of their makeup routine, contour. For this look I went a little over board with the bronzer and highlighter because theres only really 2 days a year you can go look like a glowing goddess.. halloween and your birthday. 

LIPS

Now its time for some ruby lips. If you have a berry/ purple shade then that would be perfect but red can work just as well depending on how noticeable you want them to be. I always find darker shades hard to apply so if you're a little clumsy a brush makes all the difference. 

Back to that trusty silver liner again, using a brush apply a light coat around your lips as a sort of liner. You can also add a little onto your lips but make sure you can still see that colour through it! This just adds a little mystical touch to turn your look from normal to halloweeny. 

Now that the make up is all sorted and have that mystical glow, you just need to throw on some jewellery to finish off the look! I put on some purple hooped earrings, 3 gem stone necklaces because the more the merrier! and used a coin necklace as a head piece by pining it into my hair. (yes I moved rooms for the last 2 pictures so I look more tanned #paleproblems) 

Now you're all ready to cast some spells and cause some destruction  ;) 

Happy Halloween xx 

How To | Get the Best Travel Photos in Hong Kong

Recently I had a little visitor come and stay with me in Hong Kong, which gave me the opportunity to become a tourist in my own country. I'd advise anyone whose lived in a country for a while to do this, as it makes you appreciate and enjoy things you might have forgotten about. 

It also means you can up your travel Instagram game, without even stepping foot onto a plane. Here are some of my locations, tips and tricks on how to get the perfect travel photos in Hong Kong 

Where: The Big Buddha [Ngong Ping Rd, Lantau Island]

The Picture: Many people find it hard to get a good picture here as getting the Buddha and you in the same shot requires sitting on the floor and standing on your tip toes. Try getting your photo from a more unique angle such as from the side or distance. There are also some amazing views of the landscape and temple, which many people forget about as the main attraction is the Buddha. 

Edit Tips: If the day is a little gloomy, you can enhance the sky and add some more saturation and contrast to give your pictures that extra colour boost. 

Where: Sai Wan, Sai Kung 

The Picture: Getting the perfect shot in front of this waterfall can be tricky, as it is usually very busy. Be patient and wait for a time when people are out of the water, then quickly take the picture. Remember to stay in the centre of the waterfall in order to get the whole scene in the frame. The pools below are usually quieter but less dramatic. Hope you like Fernando the Flamingo.. he is a great prop. 

Edit Tips: Cropping is your best friend when it comes to busy places! Also you can add some structure to the water to make it look more dramatic. 

Where: The Peak Observation Deck [The Sky Terrace 428]

The Picture: Since you are so high up it's easy to fit in almost the whole of HK's skyline in the background(even in a selfie!). But be sure your body isn't covering any of the famous buildings such as IFC,ICC and China Bank. It can get busy up there, so go to the sides of the deck rather than the middle as they are quieter and still give you that amazing view. 


Edit Tips: The buildings are such an iconic part of this view so add some structure to help them stand out. You can also enhanced the colours but make sure skin tones aren't changed too dramatically so that you turn orange! 

Where: Central District 

The Picture: Photos amongst the buildings can give you some really good effects. Although a little dangerous try go in the centre of a quiet road and quickly get a snap to really capture being in the heart of the city. During the evening/night when the street lights come on is the perfect time to capture this picture. 

Edit Tips: By darkening the colours slightly you will create an enhance the lights in the background. If it's too dark to see yourself, only lighten you or the people in your photo while keeping the background darker. 




If you wondered why I had my back turned in most of these pictures, it's because Hong Kong is so hot and I'm always a sweaty mess #keepingitreal. 

Happy Traveling xx 

10 Productive Things to do in a Typhoon

Everyone loves that morning when you wake up and hear the rain bashing against your window and the wind howling, you look at your phone and are blessed with a typhoon 8+ warning. You immediately fall back into bed with the prospect of having a day of doing nothing. 

But after snoozing until midday, you tend to feel a little restless and with nothing open or running you're pretty much stuck in all day. So instead of eating and watching your way through the typhoon here are some productive things you can be getting on with: 

1. Bake a cake 

Nothing makes you feel cozier than your house smelling of baking. You will most likely have all the essential ingredients shocked in the back of your cupboards, so you won't have to worry about going out. It also means you can eat cake for the rest of the day. 

2. Re-arrange your wardrobe 

This is a chore that I always think about, but can never be bothered to do. Just suck it up and get it done so that you can enjoy a nice organised wardrobe for the next week...or few days..

3. Catch up on emails/ work stuff 

Although you have the day off work, you might have some emails or bills to get sorted (or a blogpost to write cough-cough) rather than leaving it until the last minute when you're busy and stressed, get them out the way now. 

4. Read that book you've been trying to read for months

We all have a book that's on our bedside table waiting to be opened, you may even take it with you sometimes in the hope that you'll open it. Reading also gives you a great excuse to stay tucked up in bed. 

5. Take photos/upload photos 

Footage of storms can make for some really great Instagram material, just as long as there isn't too much risk in going outside! On the other hand, you can spend time uploading your pictures from your last holiday, which you've been putting off for weeks. 

6. Discover a new look 

Brought some new clothes recently? have a box of hair colour waiting to be used? Why not change up your look and experiment in the comfort of your own home. 

7. Learn to meditate 

This is something I've always wanted to do, but sitting on my bed for half an hour just really doesn't appeal me when i've got 10 other things I could be getting on with. So, while you've got some quiet time give it a go. The noise of the rain is supposed to help? right?

8. Pamper Yourself 

Life can be stressful and you can easily forget to treat yourself sometimes. Spend an extra 20 minutes singing in the shower, use a  body scrub or even take a bubble bath. Your body and mind will be thankful. 

9. Find new recipes 

You may not be able to cook these recipes, since most supermarkets are closed in a typhoon. But you can go through all your recipes books, which have been sitting in your cupboard for months and label some you actually want to eat. 

10. Spring clean 

Some people love cleaning, while others hate it. I for one love it, especially when there's not much else to do. You can even put on some music and dance around while you do it, the rain makes it hard for people to see in your window!

xx

HONG KONG's most Instagramable café

If you're looking for the perfect place to get that #foodie #flatlay post, then Fara xoxo is the café you need in your life. With its pastel pink and mint green themed walls, white marble table tops, hot pink furniture and an array of different props to use, from palm leaves to inflatable unicorn cup holders. It's every instagramers dream. 

 The pastel coloured walls are also covered with cute artwork, neon signs and a notice board filled with postcards and unique summer themed bits and bobs, to really give you that instagram hipster vibe. Because who doesn't love hand drawn cacti and an inspirational quote to get them through the day? 

The interior of Fara xoxo is spacious, yet still has enough room to fit their many customers during the lunchtime rush. As well as the location looking good, the food they produce is also very photogenic. With pasta dishes that are perfectly plated and iced coffees served in an ombré formation. The food is also reasonably priced with the cafe offering special lunch sets which include a meal and drink from just HK$50.  

The café has been open for less than a week, but has caused quite a sensation online amongst the HKfoodie community. By getting free publicity from many of their customer’s social media posts, this business has tapped into the online buzz, which I'm sure many other restaurants and cafe's will soon follow. 

FARA XOXO is located at: 565 Fuk Wing Street, Cheung Sha Wan, Hong Kong.  

XX

LOCO for COCO | A Coconut Review

Nothing screams summer quite like coconuts. You can drink them, eat them, smell them and rub them all over your body... in that order. They are also a super food, making them that much more enjoyable to have. While on my little trip to Australia I thought I'd pick up a couple of new products, which you can't get at home and the amount of coconut flavoured and scented products was every basic bitches dream! So here's my coconut haul and review with ratings out of 5. 

Coffee Scrub | Bean Body 

Coconutyness: 0/5 

Effectiveness: 4/5 

Usability: 3/5 

I'd seen this product a lot on instagram so I thought I'd join in on the fun and give it a try. Since it's made out of coffee it smelt like walking into Starbucks, so the coconut oil didn't stand a chance of being noticed. But after rubbing it onto my arms and legs whilst taking a shower(at night for best results), I felt as smooth as the day I was born and that smoothness lasted the whole next day. The only inconvenience was that the scrub is pretty messy and you gotta wait 5 minutes for the product to sink in, so you have to stand there naked, awkwardly covered in coffee. 

Body Scrub | K-Mart 

Coconutyness: 2.5/5 

Effectiveness: 3/5   

Usability: 4/5  

This is the second body scrub which I brought and i'd have to say this one was not as effective, although it was considerably cheaper. The initial coconut smell washes away with the product, so don't count on it to leave you smelling delicious. Although it isn't an intensive treatment it is perfect for everyday use, as the scrub helps to get rid of dry skin and leave you feeling smoother. I usually use body wash afterward the scrub, to make up for the lack of scent. 

Dry Conditioner | K-Mart 

Coconutyness: 4/5 

Effectiveness: 3/5

Usability: 4/5 

Since I had never tried a conditioning spray before, I was rather intrigued with this product. You can use it instead of a shower conditioner for those days when you really just can't be bothered with life. The first initial spray is very coconuty but it lingers in your hair throughout the day as well (especially if you tie it up straight after and untie it later) It also leaves your hair soft and shiny. With this and dry shampoo, you may never have to wash your hair again...but shhh ;)  

Paw Paw Balm| Models Prefer 

Coconutyness: 4.5/5

Effectiveness: 4/5 

Usability: 5/5 

I'd been told about how good PawPaw balm is before, so it was on my list of things to try. The fact that they had a coconut flavour just made me all the more excited. It is a multipurpose balm with Jojoba oil, which you can use on your lips, skin and stretch marks. With a strong coconut smell and even a subtle taste (please don't eat it I just licked it) it wins the most coconutyness product. Since is small you can just throw it in your bag and use it whenever for pretty much whatever needs a little moisture.

Although nothing scored a 5/5, that's just because I'm super fussy and nothing will ever beat an actual coconut, but some of these came pretty close! 

xx 

The Dating Diaries | Are Cities Like Dating Buffets?

As you all know there are two things that I love to talk about,food and dating AKA bad dating stories. Well I have a theory for you today that involves a bit of over indulging in some bad food. 

I'm pretty sure you are well aware of what a buffet is, but if you've been living in a hole most of your life here's a summary: They are a place where you can eat as much food as you like in a certain period of time and there is usually a huge selection of different types and cuisine's. But the catch is that it's more about quantity than quality. So you stuff yourself on everything there is to offer because, well you paid for it..

Since being back In Hong Kong for exactly 8 months, i've been thinking about how dating in such a condensed city can be so difficult. Here is why I believe it's similar to a buffet: 

• There is a huge variety, all different nationalities and styles. 

• No one wants to commit, why choose thing when you can pile your plate high? 

• The quality is lacking, so you make do with what's in front of you.

• Since everyone is invited to this buffet, there's always gonna be something/someone else. 

• You never know what course you are, are you a main dish or just a side?  

• It's easy to overindulge and find yourself in a bit of trouble later. 

Maybe it's time for a new restaurant to come to town 

xx

How To | Be A Girl Boss

Being put down for whatever reason Is horrible, especially If It's something you can't control. But as long as you stay confident and take control of your life, you can be the ultimate #girlboss. Here's a little bit of advice I have for being a woman in a world of men. 


Schedule People Around You 

Cancelling or changing your own plans and routines for someone else's benefit never leaves you with a good feeling. You will either feel like you've wasted your time or the person you cancelled for will assume you'll do it every time. In order to be successful you have to put yourself first.

Contacts are key 

It's easy to cut someone off if you don't like them or got in a bit of a fight, but sometimes keeping people sweet can get you what you want in the future. I'm not saying be friends with everyone, just try to avoid making enemies. 


Go Out Solo 

Since my job involves travelling around and eating out, I can't always rely on someone to accompany me each time. Although it's uncomfortable at first, I've now started to enjoy it. Yes, people give you a funny look when you say "table for 1" but you'll get over that. If you find yourself missing out on certain places you wanted to go to or things you want to do, because you can't find someone to go with, just take yourself out.



Stand By Your Decisions 

Whether this is with a toxic friend, family member or partner, it's important to stand you ground. Don't feel like going out? Don't go. Don't think you're being treated fairly? tell them. The sooner you take control and show them what you stand for the more respect you'll earn. 


Brand Yourself Not Your Relationship 

There are very few relationships I make public, especially online. Damage control is never pretty and it's easy to spot someone desperately hiding a heartbreak if that relationship as been so public, it effects future prospects and you own self esteem. Yes allow some pictures of you together if you want to but don't make your relationship your identity. 

Celebrate Achievements 

Finishing a book, getting more work done than you planned or even coming up with a blogpost idea after being in a creative funk (cough cough) are all achievements in their own little way. If anything gives you a sense of gratitude then hold onto it for a bit because you just did something to make yourself happy. It's these moments that help make your confidence grow. 

Happy International Women's Day  xx

Goodbye 2016.

It's time to say goodbye to 2016 and hello to the new and exciting 2017. 

As I was doing my yearly clear out and putting away my decorations, I began thinking about how important it is to have a mind clear out as well. I'm not talking about permanently removing memories from your mind, although sometimes I really wish I could.  What I mean is reflecting on the previous year and allowing yourself to make piece with everything and collect all the memories, put them in a file and store it away. 


2016 was a big year of growth for me. Some years are more of a work in progress while others offer you some serious insight into who you are and where you want to go. So i've categorised all the highlights from my year.  


University

2016 was my final year as a student in university. From writing essays until my fingers felt numb to producing an entire magazine about Hong Kong as my dissertation, I pushed myself over the final hurdles of my studies and graduated in July, which was something I never believed I could achieve. 

Travel 

I was lucky enough to get a good amount of traveling done, which I hope to continue in 2017. Firstly trips to and from UK and HK over the holidays. Some crazy partying in Malia with my best friends. I then moved back to Hong Kong at the end of the summer, ventured to Macau for my 21st and finally snuck in a trip to Vietnam with my family after Christmas. 

Work 

Getting started on the career ladder has been extremely eyeopening, I've learnt what kind of path I would like to go down, as well as boost my confidence in both my writing and myself. You can check out my articles on http://magazine.foodpanda.hk

People 

Every year you get to say hello to a selection of new people, some who merely just pass by while others grow to become main characters in your life. But with hello's also come goodbye's, which my year had a lot of. 

Obviously no year is perfect and sometimes sad moments are going to come, but I would rather keep them private. 

So here's to an exciting, successful and happy 2017, thank you for your support! 

xx