Of Toys and Co

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Lavshuca Noble On Color Eyes

I didn't really enjoy these Lavshuca Noble On Color Eyes (whatever that means), and partly it was my fault for choosing 2 palettes that are so similar.

Anyway, these palettes comes in 5 variations: PK-1, OR-1, BR-1, GN-1, BG-1. I bought OR-1 and BR-1 because from all the pictures I've seen, they didn't look so similar. The medium shade in OR-1 looked a bright peachy orange and the medium shade in BR-1 looked a golden sand color. I bought them, and although they looked kind of similar in the pan, I still gave them the benefit of the doubt. That is, until I tried them, and doh, they turned out to be similar after all. So similar, in fact, that there isn't much difference between the two after application.

OR-1

BR-1

BeautyMate Aqua Makeup Removing Wipe

Got this packet BeautyMate Aqua Makeup Removing Wipe as GWP when I bought a bunch of BeautyMate stuff a while back. At the time I was still using my favorite Lancome Bi-Facil and then the less effective Lancome Effacil (oh the irony).

And then I ran out of both and had to use these Aqua Makeup Removing Wipes. Not that I didn't want to use it, I just tend to save these wet wipes for when I actually travel, like visiting my sister during Golden Week (will post pictures of the trip next). And plus I normally only need just 1 qtip or 2 saturated with Bi-Facil or Effacil to take off my eye makeup, so to use a whole saturated sheet seems a bit too much and a waste if I don't wipe my whole face with it, ...and I don't want to wipe my whole face with it :P

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Cutie May 2011

I admit this Cutie May 2011 issue was an impulse buy. The Mercury Duo freebie tote didn't really catch my attention, and honestly I don't even remember why I bought the issue other than the fact that I bought it.

Feeling Loved ^.^ (Picture Heavy!)

I just had a *big* bday ^.^ NOT big as in a big huge bday bash where everyone gets themselves thoroughly trashed and then puked all over the train on the drunken trip home from Tokyo, but a nice milestone in life, the number that usually scares the beejeesus out of many women until they realize there's nothing they can do but to embrace it.

Knowing how impossible it is to buy me (or is it most women? :P) a gift my sweet hubby walked all over Chinatown to look for little things he finds meaningful. He knows this gal does carry around sentimental little things in her bag, like that cute charm he gave her almost a decade ago when they had just begun to date. New additions for the new milestone, no? ^.^

Among the things he found are these 3 adorable eco bags. I absolutely love the prints! And if you wondering why there are 3 of them, keep reading :)

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Come Rain or Shine

So the Japanese rainy season is coming, and I know this because it rained the entire last week! I was not happy. I hate rainy days, and the thought of having to slosh around in rubber fishermen boots that weigh a ton really put a damper in my spirit. Fine, those rubber wellies aren't that bad, but they are bulky and big and heavy and not exactly something I look forward to wearing.

Braving the rain to hang out with my gal pal H. last weekend, we stopped by an ABC Mart to check out the rain shoes offerings. Aside from the common wellies, they had this pair of rain boots by More x Nuovo on display. And the moment I saw them, lo-and-behold my mind was opened to a whole new world of rain shoes I didn't think exist! Fast forward to later that night, I went home and googled rain boots on Amazon Japan and Rakuten (the...erh...Amazon of Japan) and found the most amazing assortments of rain shoes ever!

My favorite of the bunch are these 2-way boots from Relaxis Aqua Shut (what a funny brand name...). They are super stylish, versatile, waterproof, have non-slip soles with treads, and best of all, they are feather light! These boots look nothing like the rain boots I pictured in my head, and I can still splish splash around in them all I want! I can wear these 2-way boots up or folded down, and there are 2 styles available. Both styles are round-toe, ruche below-the-calf booties with about 2-2.5 inch heels.

- Style #1 is synthetic waterproof patent (PVC really...) inside and outside, available in the colors Beige, Charcoal Gray, Dark Brown, and Black.

- Style #2 has synthetic waterproof patent outside and feminine flowery print laminate inside, complete with mary jane buckle details, and available in White, Silver Gray, Dark Brown, and Black.

***Pictures from Rakuten.co.jp.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Arisan Taiwanese Restaurant Part II

Went back to Arisan this weekend for my bday bash ^.^ I really wanted to give Arisan another try, and plus when more people are going, chances are they'll order things hubby and I normally wouldn't order and we'd benefit from the variety and, perhaps, discover something we love in the process.

Ha, I was right! All 6 of us ended up ordering a bunch of different stuff that hubby and I haven't tried, and holy crap they all were absolutely fantastic!

Water spinach sauteed with garlic was such a hit we ordered it twice because the first round disappeared in one bite. Hubby and I loved it last time, and to our relief it tasted even better this time.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Morinaga Hi-Soft Caramel Chews

My friend K. recommended these Morinaga Hi-Soft Caramel chews to me, and at first I was indifferent. I mean, it's just caramel, and although I love caramel flavoring, I don't particularly love caramel chews because they're, well, chewy and sticky. But K. insisted that I try them because these caramel chews were, in her opinion, the best she's ever had.

Top: Sweet Potato Caramel (left) and Regular Caramel (right)

Bottom: Salted Caramel