Travel Destinations: Egypt

The Land of the Pyramids

I thought I will share with all of you my favourite holiday destinations! So to begin this series of travel destinations, I'd like to start with EGYPT! One of my all time favourite places I have visited!

Travel Route

We started off at Cairo, the capital of Egypt and I have to say my first impressions were not that great. It was a bit dirty, and the climate was cold (I had packed for hot weather). Apparently, the day I landed was the 'one day of the year' when a sand storm hits! How  unlucky!

The next day we took a flight down to Luxor (you can see in the map), because we were about to embark on a cruise! Its a cruise which goes down the Nile to Aswan. Whilst stopping over to see monuments.

Then when we reached Aswan we did a 6hr trip to Abu Simbil (see photo below). We then took a flight back from Aswan to Cairo and completed our tour with after seeing the Pyramids.

Interesting Facts

I was really taken aback from the enormousity (if thats a word) from the pyramids. It was amazing, to think that people made this huge structure 5000 yrs ago without the current technology we have now. They used to use mud ramps to pull the heavy stones into place. The stones generally came from Aswan or Luxor, and were transported by the river, which used to run very close to the Pyramids.

Another interesting fact was that the Pyramids used to be covered in a layer of white limestone, so they used to shine in the sun. Unfortunately, later on people took it to make mosques, buildings etc.

Markets at Aswan!

Abu Simbil

Pyramids of Giza

Cruising down the Nile.

GHD tips and tricks

This weekend was quite busy, with me running around to attend weddings and farewell parties! One of the highlights of my weekends was the purchase of a GHD straightener! I was so excited to finally get my hands on one. I got the GHD Midnight deluxe collection.

Also, I'm not sure if this is worldwise but in Australia if you take your old straightener into a participating salon on their website, you recieve $30 off your purchase for a GHD!!!

The package came with a straightener, a mini blowdryer, a treasure chest, a heating mat, a mirror and sectioning clips.

Natural curls

The Trick: For natural body, don't start with the GHD too close to the root, start about 7cm from the scalp. Using small sections of hair, clamp the GHD so the handle is facing diagonally upwards. With your other hand, hold the end of the section of the hair and wrap it wround the GHD. Roll the GHD away from your face so that the curls flick outwards, and pull the GHD through to the ends.

TIP: if youre in a rush, curl a few random sections at the front only.

Super Straight

The Trick: A comb is essential for achieving poker straight locks. Give yoru hair a quick blow dry, especially if its naturally curly. The finer of section of hair you use and the closer to the root you put your GHD, the sleeker your hair will be. Comb the section of hair and follow it with the GHD, abotu 5cm behind. Let the hair fall out of the GHD- do not twist or move your wrist. You might need a bit of hairspray at the part line to get rid of any frizzies.

TIP: Pull the GHD slowly through the hair. If you go too quickly, you wont have dead straight, shiny hair.

Mermaid Waves

The Trick: This is all about your wrist action. Hold the secion of hair loosely with one hand, and the GHD horizontally with the other. Clamp down about 2cm fromt he roots and twist your wrist (the one holdign the GHD) so your palm is facing up. After a second, twist your wrist again 90 degrees, so your palm is facing down. Repeat this twistin action gently down the hair.

TIP: To turn this into a grungy, edgy hairstyle, just add hairspray and mess up your hair with your fingers.

Let me know in the comment box below if you have any tips or tricks!

Keep Smiling :)

Simple Starry Night Look

Simple Night Look

I used these three products. You will need:

• dark brown shadow
• Dark/almost black purple
• Loose golden shadow
• Light golden shadow
• White Highlight shadow

Apply the base all over the eyelid and underneath the eyes.

With a brush apply a dark brown to the eyelid not going past the crease.

This is what it should look like when completed.

Now take some deep purple shadow and drag it from the outer edge of the eye to the inner corner but for this look also bring it above the inner eye. This opens up the eyes.

It should look like this when you're done.

Now blend it out with a blending brush. Also bring the colour down to the lower lashes/outer edge of the eye. The change in colour in the photo is due to flash. I realised the other pictures werent doing justice to how pretty the colours were looking.

Now pick up a loose dark golden shadow and put onto lid. There will be fall outs so it might be wise to apply foundation after you have done your eyes. At the same time line your lower lashes with the same shade until the middle of your eye.

It shoudl look something like this after blending it all out.

This is what it should look like when you have have applied the white shadow on the brow bone (underneath your eye). Bring the bottom colour onto the top making two creases, this makes your eyes appear bigger.

Voila! Finished product. You can line your lower lash line with eye liner, but in this instance I thought it was better to leave it and stick with the beauty of the shadows.

Hope you enjoyed this look!

Keep smiling :)

Art for a Cause- Colourful Fishes

This is my second painting in my installation for "Art for a Cause". It is called "Colourful Fishes", and I was inspired by the Koi Fishes of Japan.

Again, like in my previous post, I am having this series of artwork for a 'cause'. Some percentage of the money will be going towards an orphanage/medical set up in India as well as a Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai.

If you have a keen interest in buying my art work please leave a comment below. However, you must be living in Australia (sorry international bloggers).

Disclaimer

This work is an original oil painting, produced by Artist by Design. I bought all the paints, canvas and art tools with my own money. This piece of art cannot be reproduced under any circumstances and sold for profit.

Keep Smiling :)

OOTD: Maxi Dress

It's a hot summers day here! What more than to enjoy it with summer colours.  I decided to pair my maxi with a crochet bolero, to give it a more casual feel to it.

Maxi Dress: Forever New
Necklace: Forever New
Bolero: Temt

This works great with a pair of golden gladiators and some nice bangles.

Keep smiling :)

Forever 21

I bought this dress on a trip to Singapore. Unfortunately I dont have a Forever 21 near me! I will be ordering a few things online once I get the chance.

I love this dress, I can wear it to work as well as make it casual depending on what I pair it with.

Keep Smiling :)

Ravishing Revlon Colours

Steel her Heart

Sweet Tart



Revlon red

Swatches of the colours. The grey is darker on the nails than in the bottle!

I've had these three polishes for a while and I thought I would do a post because I absolutely love them! I tend to use the red and pink in the summer time for my toes and the grey for my fingernails for the winters.

Grey- Steal Her Heart
Red- Revlon Red
Pink- Sweet Tart

I've had alot of compliments for the pink, because its a unique colour which I havnt really found anywhere.

A few strokes later...
These polishes are good quality and the application is easy. They dry almost instantly!

Rating 4/5