Tutorial: How to make a twisted necklace from a Hermes scarf

Fold your 90cm silk scarf 5 times as shown above. It doesn't have to be perfectly folded nor do the corners have to be aligned.





Now hold one end of the scarf and use your other hand and fingers to twist and turn. Make sure the twists are tight. Bring both ends together and tie a knot.

 Voila! You've got yourself a hand-made necklace.

3 Fun ways to wear your silk scarves

I've neglected my Hermes silk scarves in lieu of my cashmere shawls. I decided to reignite my love of these 90cm by 90cm scarves with slightly more edgy ways of wearing them. Why not turn the silk scarves into necklaces? You can twist and turn and within minutes, you've got yourself a new necklace. Or simply let it drape and be the focal point of your outfit.

A consignment of scarves and shawls have just come in. Click here to check them out.

Scent-sational

Geodesis Rose & Jasmine Reed Diffusers

It's no secret that I'm a Francophile at heart. Therefore, it is inevitable that I should prefer French clothes, bags, shoes, scarves, fragrance and patisseries. Ever since I've taken my first whiff of Geodesis scented candles, I was hooked. I wasn't keen on having to light up or distinguish a candle so the next best thing was their reed diffuser. I've got the Jasmine in my lounge and my favorite, Rose which the aromatic Orange Blossom undertone in my bedroom. Geodesis reed diffusers are very concentrated so I'd recommend that you use half of the reeds provided.

 

I beg my family to fit as many boxes of Stassen Jasmine tea whenever they come over to England. They're ridiculously affordable but have an exquisite Jasmine fragrant and taste just as delicious. This is the most requested drink from friends when they come visiting.

Ren Neroli & Grapefruit Bath Set

I'm loving this lightly scented shower gel and lotion set from Ren. While their courier delivery leaves something to be desired, I can't fault their products. The fragrance isn't overpowering. The essential oils used in both products leave the skin moisturized.

Laduree: Sucre - The Recipes

Beautifully presented with gold sleeved edges, this velveteen hard cover book by Laduree is a work of art. It took me two months of waiting before Amazon finally delivered this book. While technically, it's not a fragrance but I can imagine the delicious scents from the delicate macarons wafting from the pages of the book.

Fettucine with Mushroom Sauce

This foolproof recipe from Julie Biuso's Viva L'Itali cookbook is the surest way to your impress your guests without having to slog in the kitchen. I've made the mushroom sauce more times than I can remember with countless requests to share the recipe. This is the original recipe but you can just about use any kinds of mushrooms - wild, chestnut, portabellini or oyster as long as skip the first step. If you don't care for spring onion, replace it with flat leaf parsley as I've done here.







Serves 4 as a main course.

30g (1 tightly packed cup) dried porcini (or cepe) mushrooms
50g butter
1 spring onions, finely sliced
salt
freshly ground
70g ham off the bone, sliced and cut into thin strips
125ml (1/2 cup) cream
400g fettuccine
freshly grated parmesan cheese for serving

1. Put the porcini mushrooms in a small saucepan using 250ml(1 cup) hot water and bring it to a simmer for 10 minutes. Reserve 175ml of the strained porcini liquid.
2. Heat a large frypan over a medium heat and add the butter. When it is sizzling, add the spring onions and cook until they are wilted and a pale golden color.
3. Mix in the chopped porcini mushrooms, stir well, sprinkle with salt and grind on some black pepper.
4. Pour in the reserved porcini mushroom liquid and bring the sauce to the boil. Lower the heat and cook gently for about 15 minutes or until reduced by about two-thirds (the porcini should be floating in the liquid but not drowned in it).
5. Add the ham and cream, cook gently for a minute or two until combined, then turn off the heat.
6. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in plenty of gently boiling, well salted water until al dente. Drain briefly and turn into a heated serving dish. Pour on the sauce, toss well and serve immediately with parmesan cheese.

1 outfit from day to night

Outfit: Isabel Marant Atika Jacket, Alexander Wang t-shirt, James Jeans, Hermes belt, Hermes Evelyne PM, Ankle boots, Chanel Timeless Clutch and Ferragamo pumps

Thanks to the ever changing and fast moving world of technology, we're busier than ever. I'm guilty of trying to cram a million things into one day. Thankfully, I'm fortunate enough to have a group of fellow moms who live no more than a 10 minute walking distance from me who are a back up support to each other whenever help is needed. Once every few months, we would make the extra effort to catch up over a glass of wine at a local pub or restaurant. Let's face it, we love our husbands and kids to bits but we'll love them even more once we've managed to get a breather from them as well.

By the time I tuck Lil L in bed after dinner, homework and bath, I barely have time to change and get ready for an evening out with my friends. Often, I would wear the same outfit, swap the accessories and voila, a different look.

**A huge thanks to my photography guru, Alice of Lingered Upon who taught me how to create collages. Always cheerful and exceedingly patient with my million and one questions. This girl's going places. Check out her amazing photography here.

1 Chanel jacket, 3 Outfits

Casual

Outfit: Chanel tweed boucle jacket, Uniqlo t-shirt, Hermes belt, Uniqlo jeans and Stuart Weitzman Jean nude wedges

Smart Casual

Outfit: Chanel tweed boucle jacket, Equipment silk shirt, Hermes Birkin 30cm,  James jeans and Stuart Weitzman Jean nude wedges

Cocktail Party or Work

Outfit: Chanel tweed boucle jacket, Comptoir des Cotonniers dress, Chanel Timeless clutch and Ferragamo heels (thrifted)

Thank you all for your insightful comments on the previous "uniform" and "Beauty from within" posts. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading them and gained a whole new perspective as well.

Recently, a friend asked where I'll be wearing the Chanel jacket to, I quipped, "school run". The poor thing. I think I gave her quite a shock. Perhaps my point of view is a little outlandish but ultimately, it is a jacket not a crown and will be treated as such. Rules can be stifling at times. After all, fashion is our creative outlet so why not wear what you want as long as you're comfortable with it?

Seeing that my lifestyle is rather casual, I will have to include my daily staple pants - the denim. As one of my readers, I-Ping said, just replace the jeans with a pair of black trousers and the outfits will be suitable for work.

A good friend of mine was curious and inquired about my monthly clothing expenditure. She was gobsmacked when I gave her a figure. "Is that all?!," she exclaimed. To give you an idea, the Comptoir des Cotonniers dress in the third photo cost £40 two years ago. The Ferragamo pumps were from a thrift shop reduced to £5. Basic tees and jeans from Uniqlo cost no more than £8 to £29 per piece. I'm not above buying secondhand clothes if they're in unworn or near new condition at a much reduced price. In fact, I nabbed my Hermes belt from a seller in France more than a decade ago for £60 and it's still going strong. Finally, I often recycle any unworn pieces to pay for new purchases. Is there such a term called being fashionably frugal?

Beauty from within

Argiroupolis, Crete

Anogeia, Crete

Anogeia, Crete

Dimitsana, Greece

Cappadochian region, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey

Hampshire, U.K

Anna Rais, Borneo

In this day and age, we're constantly bombarded with images of impossibly beautiful, skinny and tall individuals. Furthermore, they're exquisitely dressed with immaculate make up and hair. It's enough to make us feel rather dowdy. Whilst I'm not saying that one shouldn't do all this, I can't help but notice that the bar being raised with the rise of social media (pinterest, twitter, instagram, facebook etc) where beauty opens doors. Let's face it, we all like to look at pictures of beautiful people.

I love fashion like every other woman. It's easy to get sucked into the fashion whirlpool. There's the next miracle anti wrinkle cream. Or the ultimate foundation that profess to give us the luminous look. It's little wonder we end up with a million products crowding our bathroom. I'm often asked about the scratches on my Hermes bag. Hey, the first scratch is pretty hard to swallow, the next few are easier and the rest.....bring'em on, baby. It's no different to the fine lines on my face. One doesn't know happiness nor compassion unless the person has experienced pain, rejection and hardship. Every line on this face is earned and through it all, I hope that wisdom has been gained along the way.

While the exterior has been expounded by the media to the nth degree, it's the beauty from within - kindness, thoughtfulness, charity, grace etc that we often forget. When I think back to the people who have helped me, it's their act of kindness or generosity that lingered on and stayed in my memory forever, thus making them beautiful in my eyes. The love and affection from your family. A friend who dropped everything to help you. Whenever I travel, I'm naturally drawn to people. I often end up taking lots of portraits. Their lives, be it hard or easy - bitterness or innocence are all etched on their faces. I'd like to show you some of the portraits of the locals that I'd met over the past decade. I found beauty in all of them.

**A HUGE thank you to my dear friends, Mandi of Find me a Muse, Meg of Haus of Gala, Melody of Chicology and June of Stylish with a Budget for the awards. I was really touched when I read what Melody and June about  wrote about my blog.

Melody - "I like her style of writing, I like the nicely taken photos of her blog, I like her somewhat minimalist and classic dress sense, I like the varied content of her blog. It's like reading a magazine (sometimes fashion pieces, sometimes sharing recipes, sometimes just sharing lovely pics of her travel or on her daughter, Little L). Her latest series of entries on using chemical free products has influenced me quite a fair bit". June also wrote, "I love this blog because it's more of a diary of blogger's life, everything. Fashion, travel and cookies. I just love that touch of ease & luxury in life". The support and encouragement from fellow bloggers and readers alike have been tremendous. Thank you.

Cultivating A Uniform

Outfit: Alexander Wang t-shirt and Uniqlo jeans

The Basics

Though I'm no clotheshorse and shopping in large stores scare the heck out of me, I'm vain enough to admit that I want to look fairly decent when I walk out of my front door. When I'm at home....... Well....that's a different matter. Let's not get into that because I don't want to scare you. Anyhow, let's start with my blank canvas aka a t-shirt and a pair of jeans befitting my casual lifestyle.

Outfit: Isabel Marant Bator jacket, Isabel Marant Warwick sweatshirt, Uniqlo jeans and ankle boots

Winter Outfit

Through trial and error, I've slowly cultivated a daily uniform around a few staple pieces. This would be my t-shirt and jeans with a rotation of various jackets depending on the weather and my mood.

Outfit: Jigsaw straw trilby, no brand trench coat, Petit Bateau striped top, Uniqlo jeans, Hermes belt and Repetto flats

Spring Outfit

Outfit: Chanel jacket, Alexander Wang t-shirt, Uniqlo jeans, Hermes belt and Stuart Weitzman wedges

Summer Outfit

Outfit: Rag & Bone blazer, Uniqlo t-shirt, James Jeans, Stuart Weitzman boots and Hermes Lift GM pendant

 Autumn Outfit

My hubby was gobsmacked when he opened my closet the other day. "Is this all you've got?," he asked looking rather shocked. Yup. That's it. I share my closet space with Lil L too. It just goes to show how many outfits one can still create despite a miniscule wardrobe. What is your uniform?

All about Wedding Gowns with Celest Thoi

Celest with Mike Loh, CEO of Snips Group, Malaysia

Valentine's Day is all about romance, weddings and love. I figure today's the perfect day to introduce my readers to a personal friend of mine, Celest Thoi who's also a bridalwear designer. Formerly from Singapore and New Zealand, Celest is currently based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Every time I saw her, she was immaculately dressed with not a hair out of place even despite being a busy working mom.

Tell me about yourself.

Hi, I am Celest Thoi, a bridal designer. I am mom to 2 awesome girls. I love to dress them up and they are my biggest fans. ;p

How would you describe your personal style? Who are your favorite designers and why?

I like my style to be simple, elegant and timeless with a touch of detail. My favourite designers are Sass and Bide, Elie Saab and Vera Wang.

Sass and Bide - They inspired me with anything is possible with passion. Eli Saab & Vera Wang - Classic and beautiful dresses, eye for details and ethereal materials.

Supermodel Ling arrived to lend her support

How did you get involved with bridal wear? What got you interested in fashion?

I have always loved fashion since I was a little girl. It was not until the preparation of my wedding 8 years ago that got me hooked on everything bridal. I was looking for something really simple and elegant at that time and nothing seemed to tickle my fancy. I decided to design the dress, shoes, ring pillow and invitation cards myself. From then on, I loved the whole process so much that after my big day, I did not want to stop what I was doing and decided to make that my career and opened a bridal boutique in New Zealand before moving back to Malaysia.

You're a mom, business owner and wife. How do you juggle the demands of  all 3 facets of your life?

I must say it’s never easy for moms to have their own business. I am sure all moms will agree that there will come a point in time where you will feel torn having to live up to the expectations of being a “good” caregiver and a “client centric” business owner. Luckily I have a very supportive husband and family behind me that I can turn to whenever I need to.

We met in NZ and years later, we're all off to different parts of the world. How has it been for you settling down in Malaysia? What challenges did you face being back in Asia?

Yes, it’s amazing how we have evolved and how we are doing things that we love doing, Marlene. Coming back to Asia has been great…I reckon the opportunities here are plenty! I must say the market is a totally different ball game now and I am learning heaps. One thing still excites me; I get to work with happy people and knowing them better too.  Many of my clients have now become my personal friends whom we will catch up over a cuppa now and again.

What tips can you give to a bride to be when choosing bridal gowns?

 Always try on as many gowns as possible. The envisaged gown from your childhood dreams may not be the one that will flatter you most. Only bring those whose opinions you value and trust the most for fittings to avoid getting more confused in the end.

Finale walk with Deborah Henry, Miss Malaysia/Universe and her two adorable little girls

Now I heard that you had a fashion show recently with a princess in attendance, no less. How has the journey been from starting your business in Malaysia to the showing of your first collection ?

I must say I am very blessed to have met many angels in my life. My clients are my best testimonies and they are also the ones who have prompted me to start my very own label here in Malaysia.

What inspired your collection?

This collection named “The Celestial Spark Collection” was inspired by the treasure trove of pretty trims and haberdashery from my mother’s keeping that I have grew-up dearly to. It was like heaven to me. I will always remember that feeling of just taking a peek at them and it will thrill me with ideas to create.

This collection was sparked by clients who supported and encouraged me to start a bridal wear line under my own label in Malaysia. My gratitude and thanks to them all.

What's the best advice anyone gave you?

Be confident and trust your gut instinct. 

Her family from Singapore

Obsession with Chanel Bouclé Tweed Jackets

I can't sew even if you put a gun to my head BUT that doesn't mean I can't recognize exquisite workmanship or material on a garment. I was rendered speechless the first time I clapped my eyes on a Chanel jacket. I'm no clotheshorse. I prefer a handbag over clothes most days. However, I have a weakness for jackets. Any well executed and beautifully tailored jacket will bring me to my knees.

Chanel jackets transcend time. The timeless factor won me over. Who wouldn't like a classic jacket that will still be relevant in a decade's time? In fact, a tweed bouclé jacket that I fell in love at a Chanel exhibition was well over 45 years old.Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could pass my Chanel jackets to Lil L when she's old enough to appreciate them?

More than a decade ago, I used to see Chanel jackets at my local consignment stores going for ridiculously low prices. They were always a couple of sizes too big. At the time, I didn't know that a Chanel jacket is made up of multiple panels which you could easily alter 2 to 3 sizes up or down. A word of advice here. If you don't have an excellent tailor who can tackle a job like this, go to a Chanel boutique. I had a tailor who bungled an alteration. Argh.

Did you realize that Coco Chanel used tweed in 1930s because it was cheap? That said, they're anything but cheap these days with a jacket running in the £2500 - £3500 mark on average. The brass chain that runs along the seam weighs the jacket down for a better drape and fit. I have been obsessing over a contrasting ivory and black Chanel bouclé jacket for many years now. Imagine my delight (okay, that was an understatement. I was whooping for joy. How unladylike of me.) when I finally located one in near new condition in my size. It fits perfectly as if the jacket was made for me. I guess the saying patience is a virtue rings true here.

Product Review: Burt's Bees Shampoo, Conditioner & Argan Oil

Burt's Bees Grapefruit Sugar Beet Super Shiny Shampoo £8.50

Burt's Bees Grapefreuit Sugar Beet Super Shiny Conditioner £9.99

Primavera Organic Pure Argan Oil £14.50

Remember that week when I purged my entire bathroom of chemically laden products and replaced them with natural alternatives? I was blown away by the amount interest this has generated as well as the outpouring of information being shared. Thank you. After obsessively reading the reviews on Makeup Alley, I decided to try Burt's Bees Super Shiny Shampoo and conditioner. Instead of using my usual Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer, I've now turned to pure organic Argan oil. Truthfully, I was a little apprehensive. My first attempt at using a so called natural hair shampoo was a disaster. The residue build up was awful after using it twice. My scalp was unbearably itchy and my hair was greasy.

Here's a little lowdown on the Shiny shampoo and conditioner. They contain no sulfates, silicone and paraben amongst a long of list of no-no chemicals. It's made of predominantly citrus, sunflower and coconut oil as well as sugar beet extract and soy protein to nourish the hair.   My Asian hair is really thick and coarse. It has a tendency to frizz and is slightly dehydrated. Yuck. After using both products for 2 weeks, I can safely say that I'm impressed. So, what do I think of the shampoo and conditioner?

1) the shampoo lathers well. Sorry. I still love seeing plenty of bubbles. I'm conditioned to think that plenty of lather equals clean.
2) despite the fact that my hair doesn't feel silky soft probably due to the lack of silicone, it's shiny. The first couple of days were spent in front of the mirror tossing my hair from side to side just to see the shine. You would too if you haven't seen your hair looking this good in a while.
3) I was a little worried when I rubbed the conditioner in. I guess I wasn't used to the lack of "creaminess" if you get my drift. However, my hair is remarkably manageable and so easy to style after a quick 5 minute blowdry.
4) I've got really long hair so I massaged 2 drops (instead of 1) of organic 100% pure Argan oil into my hair (not the scalp). My 3 step haircare - shampoo, conditioner and oil seems to work very well for now.
5) The fruity fragrance can be a little overpowering at times but I'll tolerate it as long as I have my shiny hair.

I purchased my Burt's Bees shampoo and conditioner from echemist.co.uk. I haven't been particularly impressed with the company. The service is slow. None of the bottles were bubble wrapped. The cap on the shampoo bottle was smashed during shipment and liquid spilled everywhere. Not cool. When I called their customer services, I had to take photos to provide evidence. The replacement shampoo they shipped out did not arrive as promised nor the day after. In future, I'll just buy from my favorite online store feelunique.com. P.S. I'm not affiliated with Feel Unique. I've been their loyal customer for the past 2 years.

Wearing Sweatpants

Outfit: MNG leather jacket, Zadig & Voltaire sweater, Alexander Wang sweatpants and ankle boots

Since a number of you have requested for pairing shots of the sweatpants, here it is. A number of my friends were rather effusive with their compliments about my sweatpants outfit last week so I decided that it's safe to share them here. After much trial and error in front of the mirror, I've come to the conclusion (for me anyway) that the baggier your sweats (or trackpants) are, the more fitted your tops should be or else you'll end up looking like you've gained 10 pounds. So no tunics or oversized tops unless you're very slim (in that case, I'm extremely jealous). Mine are slightly higher rise so to keep the balance,  I choose to pair them with cropped tops for the same reason as above.

I'm a fan of accessories. To elevate the look to the next level, throw on a shawl, hat, sunnies and a badass bracelet.

Accessories: Louis Vuitton leopard stole, Christy hat, Chanel sunglasses and Hermes Kelly Dog bracelet

So far I haven't had any success wearing these with a pair of sneakers. They make me look like I've just stepped out of the gym. The thing is they're so comfortable that one shouldn't get sucked into the trap of thinking of dressing them down. Jazzing them up with ankle boots, preferably ones with wider shaft, wedges, booties or heels work wonders.

Lazy Cook's Baked Camembert with garlic and rosemary

Thank you for the wonderful comments and encouraging words. I may not be able to respond to all of them but I read every single comment. The support from the blogging community never cease to astound me. Thank you!

Some of the best meals I've ever had were the simplest and cheapest to make. It's cold and dreary outside and you need comfort food. Or you're having a few friends over and you'd much rather spend the time to catch-up than slaving in the kitchen. Perhaps you've had a long hard slog at work and the last thing you want to do is cook but frozen TV dinners just doesn't cut it anymore. A simple classic dish like baked camembert is easy enough to do even if you're not a fan of cooking. This will impress even your most hardcore gourmand friends.

The gooey melted camembert infused with garlic and rosemary tastes absolutely divine with crusty bread and a glass of wine. For an even healthier option, cut up strips of carrots and celery. Just make sure you cut them chunky enough to scoop up the cheese. Why bother going out to eat when you can cook a "gourmet" meal for under £5?

All you need is a 250g wheel of camembert in a wooden box, a few sprigs of rosemary, 3 cloves of garlic and extra virgin of olive oil. Slice off the top rind and insert cloves of garlic into the camembert. Add the sprigs of rosemary and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Bake in a preheated oven for 10-15 minutes at 180 - 200 degree Celcius and voila, you've got yourself a meal. Simple, isn't it? The best thing of all.....practically no washing up. That in my mind makes this dish a winner every time.