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FR: Le weekend dernier j'ai reçu les lentilles de contact que j'ai commandée chez Opticea par l'intermédiaire d'Amazon. Elles sont arrivées super vite: en seulement 2 jours! Ils offrent un grand choix de couleurs et meme des lentilles fantaisie pour les cosplayeurs. Moi j'ai choisi la couleur Menthe Claire de la collection "Lentilles 1 ton super naturelles" car ma grand-mère avait les yeux verts alors que moi j'ai les yeux bruns, donc je me suis toujours demandée comment ca m'ira avec des yeux comme ceux de mamie. Et plus je voulais quelque chose de naturel, car au lycée j'ai eu des lentilles bleues mais elle était assez bizarres (pas du tout réalistes...).
EN: Last weekend I received the contact lenses that I ordered from Opticeavia Amazon. They arrived super quick: in 2 days only! They offer a large choice of colours and even some fantasy lenses for the cosplayers. I chose the colour Menthe Claire (clear mint) from the collection "Lentilles 1 ton super naturelles" (super natural 1 tone lenses) because my grandmother had green eyes while I have brown eyes, so I always wondered what I would look like with eyes like my grandma's. Plus I wanted something natural, since in high school I had blue lenses but they were quite bizarre (not at all realistic...).
EN: So here is the packaging, which I find very cute and modern (especially the owl logo). There were 2 windows that allowed to see that the lenses are intact. Inside, there was a case for preserving the lenses when not worn and the 2 lenses, individually packaged and preserved in a sterile solution. It's great that they added the storage case, since it's more hygienic to have a dedicated case for each pair of lenses. The duration is 12 months once the packaging is unsealed, otherwise the lenses can be preserved for 2 years. It's a bit short compared to my prescription lenses that can be kept unopened for 5 years, but it's not a bothersome thing. And of course, these are estethic lenses without any correction of the vue.
FR: Dans les 2 prochaines photos vous pouvez voir la difference entre mes yeux naturels (gauche) et la lentille de contact verte (droit). Dans la premiere photo j'ai utilisé le flash de l'appareil photo alors que dans la 2è photo c'est de la lumière naturelle + incandescente (en gros, une lampe). La lentille n'était pas plus difficile a poser que mes lentille de prescription, il faut juste un peu d'habitude. Et ca ne gênait pas: pas d'irritation des yeux, pas de vision floue.
EN: In the following 2 photos you can see the difference between my natural eye colour (left) and the green lens (right). In the first photo I used the flash of the camer, while in the second one it's natural light + incandescent light (a lamp sitting at the right hand side). The lens wasn't harder to put in than my prescription lenses, you only need a bit of practice. And there was no problem: it didn't irritate my eye or blur my vision.
Flashlight (and looking weird..)
Natural light + lamp
FR: Me voila en fin avec les 2 lentilles posées. Le diamètre est tout petit peu plus grand que mon iris donc ca couvre bien ma couleur naturelle. En plus, le rendu est très réaliste, je suis plutôt contente. La seule chose qui m'intrigué, et peut être que c'est à cause de ma lumière, est que la couleur semble plus vive, plus saturée que dans les photos de promo sur le site. Mais j'aime quand meme et je ne peux que recommander d'aller y jeter un yeux si vous aussi vous cherchez des lentilles de contact naturelle. Moi j'ai déjà en projet une paire bleu et une rose (et oui...)
EN: Here I am finally with the lenses in. The diameter is just a bit larger than my iris so it covers well my natural colour. Plus the effect is quite realistic, I am rather pleased. The only thing that surprised me and maybe it's due to my lighting, is that their colour is more bright and saturated than in the promo picture on the website. But I love them even so and I can only recommend you that you go have a look on the website if you are also looking for natural contact lenses. I've already set my eyes on a blue pair and a pink one (yes yes...)
About a month ago, I went visiting some family friends with my parents at their countryside house and was astonished to find a gorgeous Gingko biloba tree in their garden. So I didn't miss the opportunity to gather some leaves and they have kindly allowed it.
I had purchased Ginkgo tea before in bio stores, but it can be hard to find and quite expensive, depending on the place selling it. Ginkgo is a great* veinotonic (relieves the feeling of heavy legs) and also supposed to ameliorate memory and concentration. (*Please see notice at the end of this article for safety concerns).
Being a pharmacy student, the workload is huge and the data to be memorised - endless. So ginkgo tea has become a part of my diet at the beginning of the term and during the stressful days of revision. And having had the chance to gather a handful of leaves for the first time, I thought I could spice up my tea a little. I tried to imagine what else I could add based on smell and taste and then checked in my herbal medicine books to see if I had guessed right the effects. I was quite happy to find that I did: all my choices had some use in memory, concentration and energy boosting - just what I was looking for. And so was born my ginkgo - rosemary - clove blend which I named A Student's Best Friend Tea.
Recipe:
The main part of the blend is ground Gingko biloba leafs. If you get the chance to pick some fresh leaves, spread them on a tray and let them dry for about 2 weeks, preferably protected from light. Then crunch and rip them up with your hands and use a mortar to ground them a bit more. Depending on your infusion system, you might want to keep in small to moderate sized pieces rather than go all the way to obtaining a powder that would sip through the infuser.
If you can't get fresh leaves, you might check your local bio and herb stores or even buy the tea and cut open the sachets.
Next I added some rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) dried leafs that I also broke in two and ground up a bit in the mortar. Rosemary is a great herb to have in your garden or even in a large pot in the kitchen. It is a great addition to many dishes but also has some interesting medicinal properties thanks to its oils. One of these properties is that it can prevent age-related mental decline and improve the quality and speed of memory. It also tastes great when powdered and mixed with tomato juice and it will have the same benefic effects (just add 750mg powdered rosemary to a glass of tomato juice)!
The final ingredient was clove (Eugenia caryophyllata). It is
supposed to work as a mind and body stimulant, also improving memory, according to my Encyclopedia of Medicinal Herbs by D. Kindersley. I have crushed a few dried flowers, then added everything together in a paper bag and shaked well.
I used 4 parts ginkgo to 1 part rosemary and 1 part clove. This was based on how much ingredients I had, but you can change the ration to adjust the taste to your preference. The taste can be a bit strong or weird at first and might take some time to get used to. You can add some honey to sweeten it.
Additionally, you can also add ginseng (Panax ginseng) root to the blend or use it to replace the rosemary and clove. I don't have any at the moment and I am yet to find a place to sell it.
If you make your own blend, do share! I would love to hear of your experience with it!
*Notice: These herbs may not be suitable during pregnancy and lactation! Ginkgo may also alter blood pressure and sugar levels. For any concerns, please consult with your doctor before using them. For more info: MayoClinic.
Image source: Google and Getty Images
I had purchased Ginkgo tea before in bio stores, but it can be hard to find and quite expensive, depending on the place selling it. Ginkgo is a great* veinotonic (relieves the feeling of heavy legs) and also supposed to ameliorate memory and concentration. (*Please see notice at the end of this article for safety concerns).
Being a pharmacy student, the workload is huge and the data to be memorised - endless. So ginkgo tea has become a part of my diet at the beginning of the term and during the stressful days of revision. And having had the chance to gather a handful of leaves for the first time, I thought I could spice up my tea a little. I tried to imagine what else I could add based on smell and taste and then checked in my herbal medicine books to see if I had guessed right the effects. I was quite happy to find that I did: all my choices had some use in memory, concentration and energy boosting - just what I was looking for. And so was born my ginkgo - rosemary - clove blend which I named A Student's Best Friend Tea.
Recipe:
The main part of the blend is ground Gingko biloba leafs. If you get the chance to pick some fresh leaves, spread them on a tray and let them dry for about 2 weeks, preferably protected from light. Then crunch and rip them up with your hands and use a mortar to ground them a bit more. Depending on your infusion system, you might want to keep in small to moderate sized pieces rather than go all the way to obtaining a powder that would sip through the infuser.
If you can't get fresh leaves, you might check your local bio and herb stores or even buy the tea and cut open the sachets.
Next I added some rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) dried leafs that I also broke in two and ground up a bit in the mortar. Rosemary is a great herb to have in your garden or even in a large pot in the kitchen. It is a great addition to many dishes but also has some interesting medicinal properties thanks to its oils. One of these properties is that it can prevent age-related mental decline and improve the quality and speed of memory. It also tastes great when powdered and mixed with tomato juice and it will have the same benefic effects (just add 750mg powdered rosemary to a glass of tomato juice)!
The final ingredient was clove (Eugenia caryophyllata). It is
supposed to work as a mind and body stimulant, also improving memory, according to my Encyclopedia of Medicinal Herbs by D. Kindersley. I have crushed a few dried flowers, then added everything together in a paper bag and shaked well.
I used 4 parts ginkgo to 1 part rosemary and 1 part clove. This was based on how much ingredients I had, but you can change the ration to adjust the taste to your preference. The taste can be a bit strong or weird at first and might take some time to get used to. You can add some honey to sweeten it.
Additionally, you can also add ginseng (Panax ginseng) root to the blend or use it to replace the rosemary and clove. I don't have any at the moment and I am yet to find a place to sell it.
If you make your own blend, do share! I would love to hear of your experience with it!
*Notice: These herbs may not be suitable during pregnancy and lactation! Ginkgo may also alter blood pressure and sugar levels. For any concerns, please consult with your doctor before using them. For more info: MayoClinic.
Image source: Google and Getty Images
This beautiful little red corset is one of my favorite pieces in my corset collection! It comes from Aranea Black and was made to measure so it fits like a glove and is comfortable to wear! There are six panels per side, reinforced with double boning. There is also a modesty panel at the back and plenty of grommets to keep the edges of the corset from warping and to allow for a greater control of your tight lacing.
I absolutely adore the fabric she chose too, the delicate red flower pattern and the black lace edging with pearl details make this a very feminine and elegant corset. The red - black combo is one of my all time favorites! The fabric is thick and high quality, the interior of the corset is lined with beige cotton. My favorite detail is the matching black busk!
I must say, I am in love with this little gem! Be sure to check the Aranea Black facebook page too, where you can see more examples of beautiful corsets, accessories and even glimpses into the construction process! One thing is sure, this a perfect place to get a high quality, hand-made, unique corset for a very good price and the piece you will receive will be a true work of art!
Also wearing: H&M black lace shirt, Louboutin red heels, Lanvin baroque pendant
Recently I have had the pleasure to try out a corset from Quantic Corsets and I must say that I have fallen in love with it! Wearing it felt only like a tight hug, it was that comfortable! And I quite fancied myself a princess in the royal gold brocade.
All the panels are perfectly pattern matched and the fabric is of really good quality, pleasant to the touch. It is lined with black cotton and also bound with black to keep in theme with the busk and eyelets. Black busks are used less often so it was a detail that I found made this corset even better.
On each side there are 7 panels and 9 steel bones. There is also a hidden waist tape. This pattern has a low back and low hips and is very curvy!
Quantic Corsets came to life in 2012, taking inspiration mostly from 1940s and 50s fashions but also from fetish styles, with an interest for extreme silhouettes. Marianne, who has taught herself how to design and make corsets, is very friendly and helpful so I would totally recommend her work to someone looking for a special corset!
Glamulet are an online store offering Pandora style charms for DIY bracelets. The style has surged in popularity in the last years, with the possibility to create your own unique mix and add charms relating to special events like birthdays, graduations, or new friendships. Their silver jewellery comes in many designs and there's something for everyone's taste!
And now you can get your own bracelet charms with a 15% discount! Just use this code when checking out: SHAREN15
We tend to have the misconception that everything coming from asian countries is of low quality and mass produced but we forget that even those countries still have their independent artists who are working hard to make unique pieces. It is why I was very pleased when I discovered Palamuti by PJ Valenciano. They have a group of women artisans who each specialise in different skills, such as embroidery or beading or wire wrap jewellery. Their accessories are uncommon, inspired by traditional Philippines' art.
Their guiding principles are:
- Sustainable livelihood
- Empowering consciousness
- Creative conditions for artisans
- Value for work and labour
- Responsible consumerism
- Promotion of local and homegrown materials
They had sent me a lovely clutch bag made by Paola Germar in black beads and stones, a beaded flower necklace in red and black by and a wire wrap necklace with real pearls, onyx and jet black beads made by Steph Lopez. As you can see in the photos, they are very well made and quite elegant, perfect to be the star of a cocktail evening.
So go ahead and check out their designs for sale, you will certainly find an original piece for you!
To be honest, I can’t imagine a world without shoes. Shoes became more than just to walk on and to protect your feet. Nowadays they’re statements, eye catchers. Yes, I am a shoeholic. I can fall in love with a pair of high heels or some knee boots so badly. The best thing is, now when the new season started, the (online) shops are filled with new musthaves. That’s why there is a new wishlist here on the blog, to show you my latest cravings.
Lately I discovered this awesome shoe boutique called Shoespie (http://www.shoespie.com/). You can’t even count the shoes they have! There are so many different sorts and different styles that I really love this site. They have loads of stiletto heels for women (http://www.shoespie.com/C/Stiletto-Heels-101409/). The ones with glitter or a touch of metallic you’re a 100% party proof! And I also found quite a few gothic looking boots that got me rethinking my budget.
So if you are looking for some fairly cheap high heels, here is where you can find them (http://www.shoespie.com/C/Heels-c1-101402/). As we all want the best products for a good price I think you should really check out Shoespie and the sale thy currently have going on. I am sure you’ll love it as much as I do!
Waist training is usually easier in underbust corsets, but it is not impossible to be done in an overbust as well if the pattern is well drafted. I was quite lucky to come across this gorgeous design and it was instant love. My favorite things about it are the contrast between the beige and black with that beautiful waist insert drawing the attention to the area, the beige stitching around the boning channels and the overall resemblance to a victorian corset from the 1880s.
This beauty was made by Valeria Toloknova of Vdesign, who is a bespoke corset designer and model. She can custom make your own garment to fit perfectly to your measurements for the most comfortable wear.
The corset has 6 panels and 8 steel bones (including the 2 that flank the grommets) in a mix of flat and spiral on each side, plus a sturdy but flexible busk. The busk ends lower, with only 6 loops and at the top it ties with a ribbon through hidden grommets, for the extra decoration. At the back, there are also 15 black grommets on each side. There is an attached front modesty panel and also a boned floating panel for the back, which I didn't wear during the shoot as I am stil seasoning the corset and this way I can tighten it easier (also the reason of the uneven gap, which I will ask you to forgive me for. It is the curse of a small busted girl, having to pull in the top while the waist is not yet accustomed). The fabric is a strong cotton coutil and the interior is lined with the same beige cotton. The sewing is very neat for this handmade corset and I was pleased to find that it is quite a comfortable wear too, despite the fact that overbusts are usually more restrictive. I can't wait to finish seasoning it and perhaps integrate it into some other future shoots, with a vintage flair. And I would definitely recommend it to someone looking to buy a quality overbust!
Be sure to check the Vdesign facebook page to see more unique works!
And many thanks to Jacques Hermitte for the photographs!
Hello, lovelies!
I have some news that might interest many of you and that is the fact that you can get some stick on golden tattoos from StyleMoi. They are free, all you have to do is cover the shipping. And anyone can get them! All you have to do is register for an account on their website. That's all! No extra purchase required, no number drawing or waiting. But do hurry up, the stock won't last forever and it's a first come, first serve deal!
Just click here to get them!