cushycottage

free to fab

2011-08-14T22:51:00.006-05:00

mr. adventure and i was driving back from dinner and saw a pretty large crowd in front of a house yard. they were a lot of stuff lying around and i thought they were having a garage sale or something, so we parked the car and got down to see what's on sale. nothing was on sale. even better, everything was free. there were a lot of broken furniture and garbage. sadly, the nice furniture were already taken :( there was a eviction notice at the door. the tenant probably left in a hurry and left everything behind.
i managed to picked up a broken mirror with an extremely ornate frame. i love these kind of frames. makes me giddy.

i removed the mirror and spray painted it grey. added some nice vintage looking fabric from garage sale for $1.

one of the corner is missing the cravings. it bugs me at first, but now I think it adds character.
total cost: $5.5 for a very nice piece in my hallway.
fabric: $1
card board: $1
paint: $3.5

chandeliers with crystal makes me wow

2011-08-02T22:09:00.003-05:00

recently i've been decorating again. looking at diy blogs make me itch!
i picked up this free old brass chandelier last year and it's been in my storage since. i know, what a waste. i've been lazy...:P
here's the chandy before

after 4 coats of white spray paint (it's hard to get every single spot)

added some crystal that i got from an estate sale for $3 :) it wowed me. absolutely stunning. can't wait to start decorating my shabby corner(which is actually a formal dining room). the photo doesn’t do justice. I blame the lighting.

linky
coastal charm
wow us wed 25
thriftydecorchick

side table revived

2011-07-18T22:14:00.002-05:00

painted a side table with a light bluish grey paint and added some ebony stain to create a worn look.
before paint job

during paint job
after paint job

i'm using it as a table to put my makeup containers.
linking to these parties
Between Naps on the Porch {Metamorphosis Monday}

3.5 weeks vacation in asia

2011-01-19T13:18:00.005-06:00

woohoo~~~~ i will be traveling to asia starting next week until feb 20th. i won't have any blog post until i return.

if you're interested to look at some lovely travel blog post, hop over to cushyblushy where i will be posting my travel journals.

itinerary: austin - la - tokyo - seoul - kuala lumpur - ipoh - melacca - johor bahru - singapore - kuala lumpur - seoul - la - austin

if you know of a good places to eat/shop/hangout/party in any of these cities, please comment! :)

window shopping

2011-01-07T14:37:00.011-06:00

i had a week off between christmas and new year. i stayed at home while the mr. adventure had to work. we didn't have any travel plans as we're travelling to asia in end of this month. can't wait!

so, i did a lot of window shopping. i'm refraining myself to purchase anything for the home until spring. i still have tons of projects in my garage that i need to work on. here are some of the things i wish i could buy

from homegoods

from tjmaxx

love this lampshades

from target. even they are going to the quatrefoil motif

Link parties

i’m back! entry console table

2010-12-16T12:08:00.002-06:00

i’ve been MIA lately. I was busy hanging out with friends during thanksgiving and bringing him around town since it’s his first time in austin. also, it’s too cold do work on any projects. don’t you agree?

anyway, I’ve worked on this console table for a while. just didn’t have time to blog about it. oppss……I forget to take a before picture just imagine it’s ugly rustic wood color that doesn’t go well with anything in my house. after primer and 2 coats of valspar summer grey (loving this color). i need to fill the bottom with some baskets. I’m so into quatrefoil motif ever since I learned about it. ballard designs has very gorgeous products with quatrefoil motif, but they’re beyond my budget. so, I decided to ~~make~~ grab a stencil from living livelier and painted my console table with the stencil. it’s hard work. took me a whole afternoon to finish 2 coats of stencil. if you look closely, the painting isn’t perfect with lots of brush strokes and smudges. but I think it adds more charm to it

have a nice week!

linky

halloween fun

2010-11-03T17:58:00.001-05:00

i would like to introduce my new blog chusyblushy. i started blogging about beauty and fashion, but switched to home decor and furnishing after moving into our 1st home. i missed blogging about beauty and fashion. so, if you're a beauty junkie like me, head over to my other blog chusyblushy.

how was your halloween? i had so much fun handing out candies and chocolates to cute little and big kids. wish i celebrated halloween when i was a kid. they came with cute pumpkin/cauldrons buckets to giant pillowcase(smart kids).

candies and chocolates all ready for the little goblinstrick-or treat !!! using the basket i found on a church yard sale. cutest superman ninja assassin?? bloody boy air force & mermaid princess (he posed nicely for me) mantao(my kitty) was very worked up throughout the evening. he missed his nap time as the doorbell rang every 5 minutes. the kids love him and he got all the attention(besides the chocolates). he dozed off right away after they stopped coming around 9pm. for some reason he loves sleeping on my dumbbell. our very last minute spooky decor. made with white curtain, black paper, hemp and a “latern-style” light. he’s a boogieman. i did dress up from for the evening. i was alice and the mr. was goofy. we just dug through our wardrobe for our “costumes.” did you have a spooky halloween?

link parties

pick me up D-table + halloween

2010-10-30T18:26:00.001-05:00

saw this broken old D-table by the curb on the way home from work. it looked so sad and lonely. i decided to make a U-turn and jammed it inside my trunk.

before makeover. the leg was wobbly. can’t tell from the photo, but it was there.

i put some nail glue to stabilize the leg. after 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of valspar summer grey paint on the legs. i painted the top with minwax ebony stain. love the end result.

my simple and only fall/halloween decor. i’ll probably get some pumpkins and add more halloween decor on my front yard before the kids come trick-or-treating. oh….i need to get candies and chocolates too.

Spray painted the pumpkin white and the column stand metallic silver. thrifted for $0.50 each :)

have a spooky halloween peeps!!

Link parties

Pottery barn knock off corkboard

2010-10-18T23:42:00.001-05:00

time for another project inspired by green willow pond & PB. check out her lovely paris style corkboard. i took a shortcut and made a simpler version.

supplys: corkboard, empty frame, mod podge, burlap, stencil, acrylic paint, foam brush, scissors, hot glue gun.

done! got those vintage bingo papers from an estate sale. still have lots left for other projects total cost: $2
empty frame = $1
corkboard = $1
other have in hand :)

so many bloggers “bragged” about anthropologies' knobs. “coincidently”, i passed by one on the way to happy hour last friday. i found this lovely knobs on sale for only $2.95 each. Scored! No idea what i’m going to do with them yet, but they are nicely display for me to admire now :) also, snatched up 2 napkins with map print for $3.95 each. probably going to use them as pillow covers.

Link parties

antique show VS church rummage sale

2010-10-14T22:18:00.001-05:00

i was really excited when i found about the bi-yearly anitique week show at roundtop & warrenton. tons of blogs featured this event and i want everything single item in those photos. so i made an effort to wake up early and drove 1.5hrs to the enormous “yard sale” 2 weeks ago. apparently, A LOT of people had the same idea.

antropologie look alike

Pottery barn is selling these too for a lot more expensive. i got one from wimberley market days!

don’t you wish everything belongs to you owl craze. are you infected? lunch at popular zapp hall. everything was good except “texas caviar” which is just beans…bleh. the crowdholiday signs

dreamy chairsunfortunately, i came home with an empty car. i do find a lot of goodies that i want, but they’re priced beyond what i like to pay for. i think it was because i went to a church rummage sale in the same morning and bought from a nice lady who priced everything below a $1. i’m spoilt!

everything for $2.50

little red table

2010-10-03T23:32:00.001-05:00

Rain rain rain almost the entire week. it’s a shame for my visitors, but it didn’t stop us from having lots of fun visiting texas. from rodeo to shamu, bbq, german sausage, tex-mex, trade days etc. it sure was a busy weekend for me.

i managed to squeeze in some DIY time before picking up my visitors at the airport. let me introduce you to “little owl table.” this retro style side table is a curb side rescue. in order words, it’s FREE. the mr. picked it up after work. don’t get the wrong impression, i had to begged him for it. but it was worth it :)

before…ugly laminate and warp corners
after…..lots of sanding, priming, painting, cutting and gluing

after after…..searching, printing, cutting, sponging. owl is so BIG this season

Since halloween is around the corner, let me share a “dark” photo taken at Fredericksburg trade days…….

btw, they are opening a 1st Homegoods here. i heard so much about it in the blogworld. i'm so excited and it's only 10 mins away. guess where i'm going to spend my free time :P

Linky

Number terracotta pots

2010-09-15T18:12:00.001-05:00

1,2,3,4………numbers!!! decor items with numbers painted/printed are so popular. who would have guessed such a simple graphic would make such a huge difference. whoever came up with the idea is a genius.

look at some number items from pottery barn. these are not available now in case you’re interested. found some cheap terracotta pots from estate sale. 4 for $0.50. steal!! got a stencil from hobby lobby when they had 40% off and some flowers. off i go painting the numbers on the pots with black acrylic paint. easy, rite? NOT!! maybe it’s just me, but i had a hard time keeping the stencil in place. haha…..if you look closely there are smudges all over, but i’m too lazy to do over.

my estate sale haul from 3 weeks ago. i had so much fun. i think i paid less than $5 for all these :)

my finished project. i kinda cheated by using 2 stems for 4 pots. oppss……no curtains yet.

Linky

link parties

2010-09-08T11:22:00.000-05:00

hurricane hermine?

2010-09-07T23:52:00.001-05:00

happy belated labor day peeps. i had a well rested weekend considering the fact that i didn’t paint my kitchen cabinet, which i was supposed to. on my defense, i did complete one tiny project.

hurricane glass. they are so popular as i’ve seen this everywhere in blogsville. even pottery barn & west elm have them. they are going for $20-$70. ouch!

inspired by thirty decor chick, decor chick, my backyard eden i decided to jump on the wagon and look for glass and candlesticks that will work. a visit to the thrift store and came home with more than what i’m suppose to get. can’t help it as they are only $0.50 each.

mantao thought i got him new toys :P

after washing, drying and gluing them with gorilla glue(this thing is dangerous) and running around the house to find items that will fit in the glass…..here’s what i came up with.

i love how versatile they are. i can change the contents in them anytime i want and they would look different every time. speaking of hurricane glass, texas is hit by hurricane hermine. it rained whole day today and still haven’t stopped. on flood and tornado watch. hope it’s a mild one. drive safe people.

switching topic, i checked out wimberley lions market on saturday. it was a nice 40 mins drive to the hill country. this place is huge. they have more than 400+ booths. i was so excited to check out the booths like a kid on the toys aisle at target. they have everything from vintage, antique, handmade etc. it’s hard to describe how wonderful the place is, so here are some photos…… antique phone table real hurricane lamps love this painting. the girl is so cute dreamy chair….no wonder it was sold so quicklyshabby chic, cottage style

super delicious german recipe popcorn. it has a hint of sugarmy haul. finally found star fish for my beachy decor. only $0.50 each.

Linky

fun with mod podge

2010-09-02T23:24:00.001-05:00

after reading a lot of blog posts about mod podge and how wonderful it is, i decided to get one from hobby lobby. since then i’ve been having loads of fun with it.

i have some photos from my europe trip and decided to do a little project putting them up. i got some wooden clothes pin and scrapbook paper. love the prints on these paper. cut and mod podge them onto the clothes pins. easy, easy

i used a wine cork that i got from a consignment shop and tied a long yarn around it. then i just put up my photos with the clothes pin. it really helps to fill up my empty wall.

my new love…..lil’ mantao. adopted him a week ago. he’s the cutest

mantao is a chinese delicacy. i think lil’ mantao resembles it a lot with his white and brown stripes

White dresser

2010-08-25T00:12:00.001-05:00

the dresser that i have it’s not going to work for the cottage theme that i’m creating for my bedroom. so, the old dresser is hauled to the guest room and i went hunting on craigslist. found this gorgeous dresser. it’s not in the best shape as it was stored in a shed for a long time. cleaning, sanding and painting will turn this plain dresser to a beauty, don’t you think?

after i aired, cleaned and removed the disgusting and dirty liner (those things are extremely sticky), i’m ready to sand and prime. i just did 1 coat of prime and 3 coats of valspar summer grey (same as my vanity table). Add a coat of polyacrylic to protect it. i was planning to keep the original hardwarre rusty look but, decided to spray them since i will use this dresser often and don’t want my hands to have the rust stench every time i open the dresser. so glad i did.

final product!!

i think my painting skill is slowly improving. the dresser stands handsomely in my room. the mr. was unhappy cos’ we traded a dresser with rails to one without. oh well…..he’ll get use to it.

more photos……

i used fabric & modpodge(didn’t know its existence until i join the decor/craft blogsville wagon) as liner for all the drawers. it was hard work, but well worth it. don’t think i’ll put my clothes in it without liners :P

i love the doorknobs accessories holder inspired by madewell clothing store decor. will post about it soon…..

price breakdown:
dresser $30
paint – from another project
spray paint – from another project
fabric $15
modpodge $5.99
total $50.99

quirky photo….i was cooking breakfast and the mr. walked by and saw 2 eggs shells in a spam can. with a sharpie he drew……..pretty creative, huh?

Linky

The DIY Showoff
Blue Cricket Design
These Creative Juices

yucky to yummy chair

2010-06-29T14:59:00.000-05:00

was hunting for a chair for my vanity table. i've seen blogger fixing up chairs with new paint, fabric and foam. i’m having lots of fun reading up blogs about DIY projects. trash indeed turns into treasures with some “magic touch.” i’m not a crafty person and certainly can’t sew at all. once i tried to sew a loose button for the mr but ended up poking my fingers several times. the mr sew it himself after seeing those red stains on his pants :P i’m happy to find out sewing is NOT required to reupholster a chair. all i need is a staple gun which i found from one of the estate sales for $4.

picked up this chair from goodwill for $6. it has all the curvy details that i’m looking for. the cushion is stained and dirty, but it will be replaced. I had trouble fitting this chair in my coupe. with a few adjustments, it finally fits in the passenger seat. lol…..i wasn’t planning on hauling furniture when i bought the car. i envy all of you with SUV and trucks.

made a trip to hobby lobby for my supplies. was lucky that they were having sale on fabric and foam. but, i got the wrong size for the foam. mental note…..measure before heading out to the store. no one tells me hobby lobby closes on sunday. blah…..the project was delayed by another week and i’m stuck sitting on a hard wood chair for another week.

finally, after a few coats of krylon white spray paint, tug&pull, stapling and screwing……DONE! (please ignore the messiness).

i have lots of extra fabric. maybe i’ll use it for lamp shade? wall art? it’s going into my drawers for now :p happy tuesday!

Linky

vanity table makeover

2010-06-28T17:27:00.001-05:00

i can't seem to find furniture that i want from the stores. when i find a piece that i like, they don't have the color that i want. then i started looking at blogs that feature diy projects for home, furniture and decor. i had no idea an old piece of furniture can be beautiful with new coat of paint or new hardware etc. before i wouldn't look at old junk or someone's used stuffs or go to thrift shops. i had only been to goodwill to donate. i had never stepped inside the shop. the idea of using someone used item creeps me out. after looking at cool projects from other bloggers, i figure i can overcome my fear and start hunting for unique and rare pieces at a much lower price. besides, there's always anti-bacterial cleaners and hot boiling water to kill all the germs.......rite??

one of the most important furniture that i need is a vanity table. it's where i spend 20 mins every morning. i don't want anything too big or too little counter space. i finally found this gorgeous table. it's meant to be a sofa/entry table. but i see it as my vanity table :) those curvy legs and wavy trims and of course the price....$40 make me tingle.

how it looks when i found it

after one quick coat of zinsser primer.

after 2 coats of valspar summer grey. voila!

we painted the room ourselves. we matched the color from benjamin moore's french lilac to sherwin williams harmony paint (supposed to be environmentally responsible and zero VOC). love the soft, romantic, soothing color. it was a hard 5 hours paint job. we went to bed that night with a whole new respect for painters. can't imagine doing this every day. phew~~~~~

LINKY

Estate Sale finds

2010-06-07T16:09:00.000-05:00

i have been thinking about how to decorate the master bedroom for a long time. i been browsing around the internet and decor magazines for ideas and finally decided to go with the cottage(shabby chic) look. i've always like cottage decor (hence my blog name). it makes me feel comfortable, relaxing and cozy. so, i'm going for it! but it's only limited to the master bedroom since the mr wants to keep the other parts of the house more contemporary.

i also want to find furniture/decor that are unique and rare with lots of characters. so instead of going to furniture store, i'm going to estate sale ;) i have never been to an estate sale before and have no idea what to expect. i was quick to realize that people do get up early on saturday morning. estate sales usually starts from 7-8am. bleh....i'm not usually a morning person, so this require a bit of effort.

it's all worth it when i return with so many treasures.

a shabby lamp with platform to hold my other decor. i like the mix green and white paint, the 3 pedestal legs and the price. only $25

other treasures: frame ($0.50), jewelry box($2), crystal($2), ornate mirror($3), very old board game($3) and a book from 1940s($3)

close up details of the jewelry box

Brussels Trip + Paint Job

2010-06-07T15:51:00.000-05:00

i didn't know smurfs are from brussels before the trip. did you know? brussels is not a very clean city. the metro stations are dirty, old and shabby. you wouldn't want to travel on it by yourself.

too bad EU headquarters was closed for christmas. it would be interesting to get some souvenirs there. so, we headed to the atomium(i call it a mad scientist project) and mini europe instead. not a good day to visit. gloomy sky and chilly wind

there were lots and lots of belgian chocolates in different sizes, shapes and flavors. yummy!

nice packaging. expensive feel.

she's real btw. pretty neat!

went to one of the earliest shopping arcade Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. interesting little shops along the narrow street-like courtyard

my favorite place Grand Place-Grote Markt love those old european buildings. look at those fine details on every arch and statues. they are so intricate and full of historical evidence.

who's going to miss the chance to try real authentic belgian waffle with caramelized sugar (gaufre de Liège-Luikse wafel)? not me certainly!

meneiken pis. no idea why it's so popular. just a statue of a pissing boy. can you say vulgar?

completed the paint job in my master bed/master bath/living room after hours and hours of sweat, up and down the ladder, taping the edges, etc. finally, the gorgeous end results. goodbye plain white walls. will post photos when the rooms are more presentable.

i'm back!! rotterdam/amsterdam trip

2010-05-17T14:22:00.000-05:00

i have been neglecting my blog for the past few months. i think i have a valid reason(hope you agree with me). i was in the midst of searching for a home, packing, moving, cleaning, organizing etc. this is in addition to my work which is pretty hectic recently. phew~~~~~finally, i'm more settled down in my new cottage, although i'm still sleeping on the floor like a nomad :) i'm starting to feel that being a homeowner ain't easy. my grass is dying and weeds are appearing everywhere. arghhh......i have no idea what to do. i used to dislike rain(i don't like being wet and caught without an umbrella), but now i'm hoping that it'll rain more often to avoid watering my yard&trees ;P

on to another subject, my much delayed post about my christmas '09 trip. it was a long journey from london to rotterdam. all because of eurostar not working in the cold winter :S we took a train from london to harwich way before sunrise. yawn~~~~~~ then we took a ferry to hoek van holland. it was a huge ferry and was packed with people. i slept most of the journey in the uncomfortable seats for ~7 hours. one ironic thing was they were showing a movie about a sinking ship. not a good movie to be shown to the ferry patrons, don't you think? then we took a train to rotterdam from the port. alas, we arrived! only to be stranded in the heavy snow and the tram stopped working. we finally made it to our hotel after lots of detour. the local people are really nice and helpful.

rotterdam is full with unique and weird architectural buildings.

can you imagine how cold it was?!!

windmill...the only one i saw at Delfshaven. it's a working windmill

amsterdam is famous for pancakes. this is bacon strips with vege...yum

the only tulips available are in Bloemenmarkt. i can imagine how beautiful it is in spring

erotic chocolates. i'll keep to myself what i saw in red light district sshhhhh......

next project: painting my room....how does french lilac sounds? psst...the organizer is given by shop n chomp. using it everyday :)

Happy Earth Day !!!

2010-04-22T15:54:00.000-05:00

What's your contribution to give back to mother nature?

Here are some ideas

RECYCLE......it's not that hard, really
Use reusable bags when you shop......put them in the trunk. that way you'll always have them with you
Plant a tree
use energy efficient light bulbs, appliances etc.
turn off the water while brushing your teeth
take shorter colder showers
use a mug instead of paper/plastic cups
sign up for paperless bills

what other ideas do you have?

ps: in the middle of moving. hence, the slow posts

london part 1

2010-04-06T11:24:00.000-05:00

went missing for a long period of time. no excuse. just feel like taking a break from the blogging world ;-P time to rewind and playback my Christmas+New Year vacation in UK&Europe. Everyone told me it was a bad idea to go there in winter, but what did I do?? ignore their advice and went ahead to a cold cold adventure >_<>

london was snowing when i got there. it almost never snows in london. what happen to our climate?? i'm happy to find out my friend's place is not too far from the tube station. don't want to be frozen every time i leave the apartment to the tube station.

first meal in london.......BURGER!! not what i wanted, but every pub that we went was full. apparently thursday evening is also drinking evening. surprisingly it was good (psst....maybe i'm just hungry)

mince pie...a london christmas dessert. a bit too sweet for liking

pub scene in london

love the christmas deco along oxford st.

close up look of london eye

big ben at night

steak mushroom and cheese suet pudding. love the sauce. delicious!!

i'm addicted to tea. love those teapots, cups and tier plates. i'm hunting for a afternoon tea place in my area.

curry bratwurst from winter wonderland a.k.a. christmas market. londoners love curry. they have curry sauce to go with McNuggets....yummy

missed the train to paris due to severe weather. no paris for me

Happy New Year !!

2010-01-11T17:07:00.000-06:00

it's a bit late to wish you all, but it took me a while to get back on my routine after a long vacation. after all, it's still january :D so.................

what's better than kicking off the new year by receiving love package?? nothing!! i was thrilled when i found out that i am the winner for shopnchomp's recent giveaway. this is my 1st win from the blogger world. lisa is so sweet to include many extras in the package.

i wasn't expecting a huge box ;-D

all the lovely goodies

love this dress on the card :D

a pair of dainty leave earrings. comes in a rose print box

extras extras!! which one i should try 1st??
tsumori chisato/shu uemura mirror and planner. cute star, cat, ribbon print.

thanks to sweet lisa from shopnchomp!!

Happy Holidays + Happy New Year

2009-12-16T14:19:00.000-06:00

i will be travelling and won't have access to the internet. so, happy holidays and happy new year to you all. hope 2010 will bring more joyous moments to you :)

my christmas haul from sephora with the coupon they sent out recently & mini smashbox haul

see you cottagers next year!

December Giveaways

2009-12-09T12:46:00.000-06:00

Eki's 1400+ followers Giveaway

Prize:

Jill Stuart LE Anniversary cosmetic pouch with matching mirror*book will not be included its too heavy to mail sorry*

your choice of one free pair earring from ekiLove♥

Limited edition Japanese kit kats :D

Matcha lattes

My HG face masks, My beauty diary mask in white pearl, catena crystal collagen eye mask, Japanese Hyaluronic acid mask

nailene french nail tip pen in black

Revlon fantasy lengths

crazy rumors organic perk lip balm in coffee bean

Rules:

Be a follower and leave a comment in this post let me know why you like Jill stuart and my blog! :)

that's it!

for extra entry:

you can enter another entry by posting a link about this giveaway and leave a comment with the post link!

Shan's Shan's First Giveaway

Prizes:

-Sleek I-Divine Mineral Eyeshadow Palette in 'Original'

-Aveeda lipstick in 702 Sheer Saffron (It's a deep deep strong browny burgandy red)

-Nail Art Kit

-Nail Buffer

-2 x Poppets (toffee/mint)

-A pack of Mikado

-Some Samples

Rules:

- Follower

- Re-post the giveaway on blogger or on twitter or youtube

- Comment 'Enter me' as well as the link to where you re-posted

- You need to leave your email, If I can not contact you through blogger (If the winner does not answer within 42 hours, I will pick another)

Voyager 100th Follower Giveaway!!!

Prizes:

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant

Dior J'adore Beautifying Body Milk

Dior Addict High Shine Lipstik (travel size)

Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour (travel size)

Clinique Cosmetic Pouch

Clinique Mascara + Lipgloss

Etude House Juicy Pop Tube

SK-II Journal Book

Taiwan Mask Sheets

Hello Kitty Wipes

Mirror

A few Samples

(All items are Brand New!)

Rules:

1. Must be a follower of this blog

2. Leave a comment with your Username (the name you use to follow me)

3. And tell me: What do you think of my blog? (please be honest, you will get more loves for being honest :D)

Extra entries:
Post this giveaway and the link on your blog, leave me a link (1 extra entry)
Follow me on twitter @DinaEstyXu and tweet about this giveaway including@DinaEstyXu, leave me a link to your tweet (1 extra entry)
For my first 100 followers, you earn 1 extra entry automaticly for being awesome! :D

Please leave just ONE COMMENT, i'll count the extra entries for you. Multiple comments will be deleted.

This giveaway opens for International readers and ends on December 31st, 2009. you have more than one month to enter this giveaway, so don't hesitate to enter!

Jbreezy Holiday Giveaway

RULES:
Must be a follower 
Must be at least 18 years old to join (If you are under 18, please ask mommy and daddy first :])
1 entry- Leave a comment to this post and tell me What is your favorite Christmas memory? 
Additonal (1) entry- Repost this Giveway on your blog and leave another comment for this (make sure you answer the question for the 1-entry)
Additional (1) entry- Follow me twitter (Check Right Sidebar) and message me on twitter saying "HI" or "Hello" or "bitch.. you aint all that"... anything! You can also retweet this giveaway. Make sure to still leave me a comment on this post stating you have done that. (and make sure you answer the question for 1 entry)
**Make sure to do the 1 entry before doing additional entries. Winners are chosen using Random.org.
Deadline for this Giveway is on Wednesday, DECEMBER 16, 2009 @ 11:59 pm Central Time. (Mom's Birthday!)

my new toy + yu + thanksgiving

2009-11-18T17:28:00.000-06:00

finally i got my 1st dslr. i've been hunting for one for a long time. this is the only camera(besides my lousy phone camera) that i have now, since i sold all my point and shoot. i'll probably need to get a new point and shoot as well. maybe when i get my bonus (wink *_^) i'm going to take real good care of this baby. fingers cross ^_^

went to a japanese restaurant 2 weeks ago for a scrumptious dinner. the bill was @_@, but it was worth it. here are some food pics. the chilean bass was so tasty. it's marinated in miso sauce for 48 hrs.

hope everyone had a great thanksgiving turkey eating fest. i went to denver with some friends for a short trip. it was really cold compare to austin and the scenery was mesmerizing. there are snow top mountains everywhere in mile high city. our thanksigiving dinner was *bleh. we had buffet at grand hyatt hotel. the food was cold and bland. totally not worth paying for. we drove to aspen/snowmass for skiing. it was a pretty exciting journey. we saw wild ram and dead deer on the roadside. it was so peaceful out there. it started snowing a little. sitting on the ski lift and watching those tiny snowflakes gently descend to the white covered ground gives you a peaceful and calm feeling. there weren't enough snow for snowmobiling :( but the women worldcup was held on the same weekend. we watched a concert and fireworks from aspen ski slope. something special from the trip. no shopping/hauling this trip ^_^ on a side note, it snowed in austin last friday. it was a rare sight down here.

shopping!!!! victoria secret is giving a free cute pup with any pink purchase. comes in silver, gold, pink, blue, green. hurry and get yours! y4ou'll also get a free pink panty with a printable coupon from pink nation. just sign up and print.

christmas is just around the corner. have you put up your decoration? i'm pretty lazy as i've just came back from the trip and will be leaving again next week. don't think i'll put up any decorations this year. picture is taken from silvertree hotel in snowmass village.

November Giveaways

2009-11-06T12:21:00.000-06:00

Shop N' Chomp Giveaway

Prizes:

* Tsumori Chisato 2010 calendar book

* Limited Edition Tsumori Chisato for Shu Uemura mirror with pouch

* Handmade gold leaf stud earrings

* Various sheet masks

* 2 boxes of Revlon Runway Collection artificial nails

Rules:

For 1 entry:

1) You must be a follower of "Shop N' Chomp" blog

2) Comment on this post with your email address and tell me what your #1 holiday wishlist item is.

For 2 additional entries:

1) Spread the love. Enter a second comment that includes a link to your own blog or your tweet where you have shared my giveaway. Include the 1st pic above showing the prizes.

A Watercolour Sky 2nd Anniversary Giveaway

Giveaway ends November 11, 2009

Prizes:

China Glaze Nail Lacquer in For Audrey

Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate

Dior High Shine Mini-Lipstick in Catwalk Mauve

MAC Pro Makeup Remover Sample

Rules:

1. Be a public follower via Google.

2. Leave a comment with your current beauty obsession [e.g, pink lips, perfect skin, etc.]

3. If you are one of the first/existing 308 followers, you get another entry. Leave another comment saying so.

4. [Extra Entry] Mention this giveaway on your blog and leave another comment with the link.

**There will be a new giveaway every week, so 3 giveaways in November.

Sweetcheek's Giveaway

Giveaway ends November 16, 2009

Prizes:

St. Moriz Tanning Mousse

Eyeko Fat Balm in Raspberry

ELF Mineral Lipstick in Nicely Nude

NYX Round Lipstick in Sash

Neutral Eye Palette

Rules:

1. Must be a follower

2. Comment saying "Enter Me"

3. [Extra Entry] Mention this giveaway on your blog and comment with the link.

The Ultimate Lash Mantra Give Away

Rules:

1. Leave a comment to say Enter Me and become a fan of Lash Mantra on Facebook if you have a Face book account.

2. Post about this give away on your blog, if you have one. Include the Prize Picture above.

Duration: 2 weeks (9th November – 23rd November) See Timer in my side bar.

Winner will be drawn on the 24th of November by Random.org and your address will be sent to Lash Mantra for direct mailing from there.

Savvy Mode's giveaway here

Rules:

1. Be a Savvy Mode follower for one entry since this is to kickoff holiday shopping for Savvy Mode readers.

2. Share this giveaway for 2 additional entries.

3. Sorry, this is open to US and Canadian readers only.

4. Entry period Nov 9 to Nov 19, 2009

The Polka-dotted Apple's FIRST Giveaway!

The winner will get (all brand-spankin' new!) :

Rules:

1. Must be a follower.

2. One comment per person. If more than one, the person will be disqualified.

3. Giveaway ends on November 29, 2009 at 11:59PM EST

4. Must have more than 10 people enter or it will be cancelled.

5. Winner will be chosen at random via random.org.

6. Include your email in your comment.

7. Open internationally.

Answer these questions in a blog post and link back to my giveaway post**:

What is your most prized possession?

my computer. it's my work, entertainment, communication box :) no way i can pass a day without touching my computer (except travelling maybe)

What is your definition of beauty?

hmmm.....don't really have one. i think everyone can be beautiful with the correct aesthetic techniques. fyi, i've seen too many before and after photos. well, that only answers for outer beauty.

What makeup item (Brand and name of product) would you recommend to me?

ecotools blusher brush. it's a good brush that doesn't hurt your wallet.

What is your favorite KIND of makeup item and why?

bbcream/foundation. it covers up all your flaws.

A weird factoid about you. :B

i'm a heavy sleeper. i won't wake up even if you kick me zzzzz

What is the fondest memory of your childhood?

fighting with my siblings. it helps to build character :P

Describe yourself honestly.

i'm a dreamer. i have lots of thoughts/ideas about what i'll do, but most of them have not materialized. i'll try my best to do them whenever possible cos' life's too short :)

Tell me something I could do to improve my blog.

your blog's title font/color. it's hard to see with the background.

new wintery layout + bats

2009-11-03T22:50:00.000-06:00

decided to change my new layout to a more wintery look to match with the season. it's going to get colder and colder pretty soon. it's kinda depressing every evening when i leave my workplace the sky is already dark. i'm going to miss the warm sunlight.

went jogging at town lake. it was nice and refreshing to see the calm sight.

guess what i bumped into??? bats!!! it was around dusk and they were going to forage for food. austin congress bridge has the largest urban bat community in america. sometimes i see bats in my office. i've no idea where how get into the building. i better keep my snacks locked up!

the picture quality is pretty bad. those tiny black dots in the sky are bats. it's time for me to get a new camera :P

on to beauty related post :) i received sephora holiday catalog in the mail today. they're having a promotion when you buy 12 deluxe sample size scents($50), you'll receive a full size bottle of your favorite scent for free! this looks like a good deal. what do you think?

had a small NYX haul some time ago when ULTA had $5 off $10 coupon. read tons of reviews and tutorial related to NYX, so i just had to get my hands on some :) pretty good excuse, eh.

lipstick: flower, indian pink

felt tip liner

trio shadows for esxy babe's eyes only!

lipsticks are pigmented but it's not glossy or shimmery. gotta add lipgloss of course! i'm loving the liner.

Nails!!! Revlon Tropical Temptation. like the neon color

jack-o-latern + spooky nails

2009-10-26T22:23:00.000-05:00

it's so hard to pick the perfect jack-o-lantern. you want it to be in perfect round shape without any bumps or dents. have you picked yours yet? i wonder if ppl still go out to the farm to pick from a pumpkin patch when they can be easily found in your local grocery stores. i guess it's more fun for the kids to get on the hay ride, petting those cute farm creatures, circling in the maze etc. i feel like going to one now :)

lots of colors, shapes and sizes

my pick!!!

my carvings. pretty different from what i had in mind. suppose to be a scary haunted mansion, but it didn't turn out that scary. i got lazy at the end :P

halloween theme nails. spooky??

I've been tagged !!!

2009-10-06T16:40:00.000-05:00

i was tagged by the lovely WithLove,Elle from aussie. arigatou ne. check out her blog!

6 sorta interesting facts...........

1. i found out that i'm allergic to nuts, caffeine and dark chocolate in my junior year. been trying my best to stay away from all the temptations.

2. i'm 10k++ miles away from my family.

3. i love watching horror movies. i do get freak out and gross out and i might even scream, but i like the excitement, suspense and thriller. can't wait to go to a haunted mansion for halloween :D

4. i enjoy the smell/scent of freshly cut grass (kinda weird, huh?). it just gives me a warm feeling inside but i hate the noise from the lawn mower as i'm usually still in bed >_<

5. i hate doing dishes. i don't mind cooking, vacuuming, dusting, washing etc. i just don't like touching all the greasy leftovers.

6. i always daydream. i can even dream while i'm driving. fortunately i can still keep the wheels straight :-P

tsubaki + oktoberfest (weird combination)

2009-10-04T15:16:00.000-05:00

cloud + rain = thunderstorm

i love shiseido tsubaki treatment with Camellia oil EX. my hair is usually dry and frizzy at the ends, but after using tsubaki my hair is so soft and silky. i applied it on my hair and put on a shower cap for 10 mins before rinsing. like the camellia scent as well.

here is Japan CM for Shiseido tsubaki products. It features a lot of japan celebrities. i like Maki Horikita in Hanazakari no Kimitachi e and Atanshinchi no Danshi. had a good laugh watching these dramas. also the song in the CM is by SMAP (Dear Woman). it's a catchy tune.

Oktoberfest !!! a celebration commemorating Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen marriage. went to Fredericksburg which is 1.5 hr away from austin. it's an old historical german town. some of the old buildings are still in sight. the weather was playing games with us. it was raining practically the whole day but it didn't stop the crowd from enjoying the festival. anyway, the journey was pretty interesting. saw horses, cows, sheep, goats and i think i saw camels. my friends didn't believe me. they said it's a llama. wonder who's right........

cows that look like tapir (white patch in the middle) + raindrops on my window

a historical museum greeting us......finally arrived !!

a stamped on my hand indicating that i'm part of the festival :)

tons of german food (sausages, bratwurst, Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), Sauerkraut, german potato sald), music etc.

non-stop supply of german sausages

had bratwurst and sauerkraut with a roll. my mouth is way too small for this giant sausage. had to bite some bread, sausage and sauerkraut bit by bit

drank german wheat beer from the oldest brewery in the world. yummy.

long rows of beer tap

german flags deco

german live music. couples dancing and having fun

people dressing up for the festival...cute!!

Love package + Sasa haul

2009-09-28T23:33:00.000-05:00

sun is out again after a week of rain and wetness........

received a surprise love package from WithLove,Elle. she included a lovely Dior bracelet with studded heart charms. i'm crazy about accessories. this is gonna be added to my collection. also a dangling cross earrings. SK II whitening skin sample and a chapstick (in time for fall. my lips get so dry when it's cold).

a huge haul from sasa. they're offering free shipping when you purchase above $75. apparently, it's free shipping now when you use paypal until mid october. great time to check out their website. i've seen a lot of negative reviews about their customer service. i'm lucky everything went well for me. they didn't charge me when i added an additional item after i placed my order. shipping takes about 10 days. not too bad considering they ship from hong kong.

relax relax......not everything is mine. i'm ordering for my friend and WithLove,Elle as well. i tried kose coenzyme Q10 sheet mask. it doesn't contain a lot of fluid and it dries off pretty fast. don't think it's doing anything for my skin besides hydrating it. it's cheap though :P

had a late nite snack in downtown. it's highly recommended in yelp. always wanted to try one, but it opens at 9pm and i can't wait that long to fulfill my hungry tummy. i had lamb and beef kebab. would prefer more sauce, otherwise it's tasty. the first bite was extra yummy as i was really hungry.

that's not me in the pic :)

Food + Flag

2009-09-23T21:59:00.000-05:00

Gloomy Rainy Day...............

it basically rained the whole day. the weather changed from 100 degrees to 57 degrees. brrr........shiver shiver. it's time to take out my sweater, jackets, scarfs etc.

nice gloomy purplish sky outside my apartment. pardon the blueness as my hands were shaking.

interesting food pic. country flags made out of local delicacies. feel like travelling to these places.

australia

switzerland

italy

france

japan

$1 Swedish Meatball.....mmm

2009-09-21T22:02:00.000-05:00

Ikea had $1 Swedish meatball meal over the weekend. how can i resist??!! always like their meatballs. it was extra yummy since it didn't hurt my purse :P

then i walked around for a bit and look at their new designs. i like to see how they decorate the tiny little spaces they have in those cubicle rooms. i promise not to buy anymore big furniture as it's going to be difficult when i move next time. there were a lot of new lower price items. got a new set of quilt cover + 2 pillow cases although i don't need any. it's only $2.99!!! what if i spill juice on my bed and need a fresh new quilt cover one day?? :P the material is a bit hard, but i bet it'll be soft after a few washes.

went to mall to pick up some leggings. fall is coming. it's buy 1 get 1 50% off.

Dinner time.....went to Chen Noodle up north. they make their noodle from scratch. i had egg and tomato. suppose this is good for my skin? it was yummy. like the sauce and the noodle is sooo smooth.

finally.......my bamboo plant is dying :( forgot to water it. this plant is suppose to be one of the easiest to maintain. guess i don't have green fingers.

Stop N' Chomp Giveaway

2009-09-01T10:35:00.000-05:00

Join her giveaway!

Prizes:

* Christian Dior "my Dior" Notebook
* Revlon DoubleTwist Volumizing Mascara in blackened brown
* Sally Hansen Spa Foot Mask
* Stripe Rite Nail Art Paint in Silver Glitter
* L.A. Colors Art Deco Nail Paint in Black
* Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
* Japanese bang/fringe clip (for blow-drying)
* Mimi's Diva Dryer microfiber facial mitt

This contest is open to EVERYONE!

Rules:

1) Must be a follower of "Shop N' Chomp" blog.
2) Comment on this post and tell me what your favorite comfort food is and why? Include your email address so I can contact you if you win.
3) For an additional entry, share this giveaway (along with the pic above) on your blog and include the link as your second comment.

Entries not abiding by the rules above will be disqualified.
Contest is open now through MIDNIGHT Sunday, September 6, 2009 PST.
Winner will be selected using Random.org and notified via email the next day.

BBQ fest....overstuffed !!!

2009-08-30T23:00:00.001-05:00

My parents were visiting and they were so excited to try Austin famous Salt Lick BBQ. It's 20 mins away from downtown. So we took a slow and relaxing drive. Nice scenery with all the green. Saw some cows and deers on the way. Feels good to be in the nature away from the bustling city for once. There was a huge Saturday hungry crowd when we arrived. We waited20 mins to be seated. I don't mind the wait since there was a man singing with his guitar entertaining us. I was very hungry by the time they seat us. We quickly ordered and waited for our food. We had ribs, briskets, sausages and coleslaw. Too bad they were out of pulled pork. Really wanted to try it. Well, maybe next time. We dug into our food. The ribs was excellent and the sauce is tasty. I was so stuffed after the meal. Better workout tomorrow!

Food: 9/10 (Brisket is a bit dry for me)

Ambiance: 10/10 (nice country setting)

Service: 10/10 (No complains)

Went to borders to catch up on my manga reading :) browse around their cute stationary sections and found a cute purple monster mouse pad. i figured i need a new mouse pad to replace my dirty old one :P it was on sale for only $1. i got a cute birthday card as well. now i need to figure out who's b'day is coming next!

Le Garage Sale August 29-30

2009-08-27T12:23:00.001-05:00

is it worth checking out? it's $10 for a day admission and $7 parking

winding path - sunny

2009-08-25T23:05:00.000-05:00

unsatisfied with today's work :( the same issue has been bugging me forever. please oh puh-lease let me solve it tomorrow. give me some light to shine my way through.

had a strenuous, tiring, moody day. but my day lights up when i opened the door and saw a bouquet of daisies waiting for me to pick up. i couldn't help, but buried myself in it and the fresh flowery scent sent my misery far far away :) the day doesn't seem so bad after all.

well, i still wish tomorrow will be much better ;-> greedy, eh. gambarimasu!! fighting!!

Mays Beauty Obsession Giveaway

2009-08-25T12:17:00.001-05:00

Join Mays Beauty Obsession Giveaway

Rules:

Open to everyone!
1. Must be a follower.
2. Tell me your favorite face mask or eye cream.
3. Post about my giveaway on your blog (if you have one).

Mrs. Dumpling Giveaway

2009-08-25T12:09:00.001-05:00

Join Mrs. Dumpling Giveaway and have a chance to win lovely prizes.
http://mrsdumpling422.blogspot.com/2009/08/giveaway.html

Prize includes a Be Creation Sheet Mask, The Body Shop Blush in Blushing Daisies, a Revlon ColorStay Lipcolor in 180 Lingering Violet, a ELF individual lash kit, and a elf natural lash kit.

Rules:

1. You must have a valid account on blogger.

2. You must be a follower.

3. Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite "ice cream flavor" <--yummy!!

4. Double your chances by leaving a link to a post in your blog about this giveaway.

love package - slight rain (it's about time)

2009-08-24T21:21:00.001-05:00

it's been a while since i post anything. was pretty busy with family visiting and work.

i received a love package filled with paul and joe, lunasol, watson, wet&wild goodies. i love the cute packaging especially the japanese art with a tiger graphic on p&j the eye shadow. the lunasol pallette is gorgeous. i like that it's easy to blend. great texture. i'm using the watson chamomile sheet mask as i'm typing now :P very refreshing. hearts go out to the person who sent this!

Amy Naree's 50+ Followers giveaway.

2009-08-10T12:08:00.001-05:00

Lovely prizes!!

Here are her rules:
1. Must be a follower
2.Please leave a comment telling me how and why you got into blogging along with your email address.
3.You can double your chances to win if you post about my giveaway on your blog (you will be entered 2 times)! If you do please leave me a link to your posting :)
Winners will be picked through Random.org on August 18th (my bday!!)
So you have about 2 weeks to enter, good luck!!

L'occitane Haul - Rainbow in sight

2009-07-21T22:27:00.000-05:00

made a quick trip last sunday to the outlet. need to stock up on some L'occitane skin care products. i got 3 trial size items since i don't see anything else. i got the cleansing water which is good for traveling. you can use this as a quick toner. i also got the rice line toner as my toner is running out and i'm not sure which product i want to try next. so this is going to be my backup. next i got the shea cotton mask. will try this out.

Coach outlet was having additional 20%. i couldn't help it and walk into the shop. there were so many people in the store. i guess they must be having a huge bargain. lots of bonnie line totes, writlest, crossbody in the store.

it rained a little when i was driving back and we saw rainbow. haven't seen it in a while. not in austin at least. it's so hot and dry here in the summer.

i watched harry potter on sunday. i wish they had more exciting fight scenes with more new spells and magic. overall it's just ok.

SmashBox and Ulta Haul - hot day

2009-07-15T23:05:00.000-05:00

What I got from ebay?

Smashbox Cream Lipstick - Style
Shadow and liner Brush - Fan Club
Smashbox Lip Brilliance Duo - TEMPT

I have not bought anything from SmashBox before. This will be my first attempt to try their products. I don't really like the Lip Brilliance Duo. The texture is a bit rough. Still need to try the others. I'm not too good with eyeliner brush. Need more practice practice!

Next haul is from Ulta. They are having huge sale on Ulta makeup products. I can't help it and grabbed some stuff ^_^

I need a bronze brown eye shadow for everyday use and a shimmery silver shadow for night look! Got 2 eyeliners for $1 each! what a steal!! a brown and silver liner to go with my eyeshadow.

Milano Cafe - sunny

2009-07-06T23:51:00.001-05:00

another food craze......italian desert and light meal. heard about milano cafe from a website. apparently it just opened a few months ago. had to try another good cafe. the deco was nice and chic. i recognize most of them are from ikea :P

we had a tuna salad, blueberry cheesecake and milano chicken puff. the food is great. everything taste good. i love all the corn and apples in the tuna salad. the cheesecake is not too sweet and the chicken puff is flacky and yummy!

Food: 9/10
Ambiance: 8/10 (they have lots of magazines and some card games for you to chill)
Service: 8/10

4th of July - sunny

2009-07-06T23:44:00.000-05:00

it was a hot 4th of july in austin. fireworks taken from congress bridge. it was packed with people and the traffic was horrible, but it's worth it to see 23 mins of fireworks lighting up the sky :D

Beauty Haul: Origins - super sunny

2009-07-05T23:26:00.000-05:00

received a package from origins. was really excited to see and try their products :D it's comes in a really nice gift wrap and it's free!

i'm going to use the box to keep my rarely use accessories. i got a brush cleaner. really need one to clean all my makeup brushes. it's about time! and i got 2 free items. they were having a promotion, mega-mushroom face cream and mega mushroom serum. these are their most expensive line and supposedly good. i'm going to try them once i'm done with my CD snow serum and Vichy night cream.

Cafe Crepe Le - sunny

2009-07-04T17:10:00.000-05:00

was craving for crepe. dropped by this new place Cafe Crepe Le for a late brunch on sat. this place just opened in march. glad a friend recommended this place :P

i ordered Morning Crepe with eggs, spinach, mushrooms, onion and Swiss cheese. it was yummy :P the sauce pours out of the crepe as you can see from the pic.

food: 9/10
service: 10/10 (friendly folks)
ambiance: 7/10 (nice cozy place, a bit too small)

will come here again for my next crepe craze ^_^

1st post - sunny

2009-07-04T17:02:00.000-05:00

late warm sunny lazy sat afternoon. was staring in front of my computer and just decided to start a new blog! Enjoy!