The Heat & Eat Petite Potato - Quick & Easy Eats for 1!

I made a half-hearted attempt to eat less rice-based meals after the onslaught of "Don't eat so much~", "I didn't say it, the doctor said so~ so you better watch it." and "Don't blame me when you get fat and can't lose the baby weight." so I threw together a tub of salad and went shopping for something to keep it company whilst I demolish it hurhur =D

So, it's been awhile since I browsed the range of potatoes available in the supermarkets but the last last last time I definitely didn't see this brand (Kangaringa Station) of Heat & Eat Petite Potato packs. Quick & easy, why not?

S$3.90 for 500g (about 10 potatoes)

Got these at NTUC by the way. Available in all white, all red or mixed packets~ I've never noticed them before, hopefully they'll be stocked often!

Comes with instructions and a quick recipe on the back.

The nifty thing is this is one of those packs that you can throw straight into the microwave (in the sealed pack) if you're preparing a meal for the family, so convenient right? But I was only preparing for myself so I had to skip testing that method..

Used my trusty kitty collapsible steamer thingy from Japan~

The instructions said 6 - 8min in a 1100-watt microwave, I put my 3 potatoes on a 600-watt setting at 8min and set about plating my salad and frying the paprika & garlic mixture in a bit of butter~ Added a dash of dried peppers & seasalt to taste~

8min later...tadah!

Salad with cucumber, tomato & egg with a side of garlic butter potatoes for 1! Ok maybe 1 1/2 haha~ I feel the potatoes were just a tad overdone though so I'd bring it down to 7min next time. Oh and the red potatoes were delish! Sweeter than the white, oh-so-good!! =)

As my luck would have it, my mom then comes after inspecting the fridge and tells me not to eat too much salad cos it's too 'cooling', not advisable for pregnancy =_____=

(；￣д￣）/  "but...but....but salad's my favourite diet food!!!!"

(一。一;;）"too bad"

(✖╭╮✖) 
TSK.

Kyusoku Jikan 休足時間 Cooling Leg Sheets - Now at Watsons!

Remember the cooling leg sheets I bought (and used) on my Tokyo trip last year? Well, Watsons has brought it in! On sale now too at S$6.95 for a pack of 6. Of course this is more expensive compared to Japan where I bought my 12-pc 休足時間 Night Aroma pack for a mere 498yen (approximately S$6) but oh well~

Formulated with Lavender, Sage, Rosemary, Lemon and Orange, you know it's gotta smell and feel good after a long day at work, out and about or after a workout =D These cooling knit-type sheets coated with a high moisture gel give the pads a very very slight sponge-like texture that adheres well and stays put even if you leave them on overnight. Just don't stretch them too much and they'll stay on just fine =) Extremely gentle on the skin, it doesn't hurt one bit during removal~

Do note however that they're mainly for the cooling sensation and are not really meant for pain relief like, say, SalonPas. It's just an enjoyable feeling for tired legs =)

Definitely gotta pop by Watsons soon ^^ I just hope my neighbourhood branch has these!

Just a little ramble and a romp~

How do you like the new banner? I think it looks kinda babyish XP but since that's where I'm headed in a few months it seemed quite appropriate hehe

Chinese New Year has come and gone, with much less fanfare as compared to previous years =( The Husband isn't a fan of visiting so my outings have dwindled after our marriage..talk about the old ball & chain huh.

Not sure if it's hormones but I get bored easily and go through bouts of irritability during this 2nd trimester...oh I'm a little past 5 months now by the way~ *flashes a peace sign* Gained like 6kg only to be told by the doctor that that's too much weight too soon! Blaarrgghhhhhh~~~~ my husband and my mom are more than happy to wave that bit of info in front of me now whenever I reach for my beloved rice (or anything remotely related to carbo and sugar). Pppfffttttttt I hate it when people get between me and my food.. ( =_____= )|||

On the other hand, I did manage to wander around Takashimaya and Westgate mall over the last couple weeks and managed to buy a couple of items to inject some life into my otherwise boring beauty routine!

Maybelline Hypersharp Wingliner snagged at S$11.90 at Watsons!

White Wash Carbonated Foam - whitening & brightening facial foam S$26 at Tokyu Hands

Lits Wistea Skin Revival Lift Ex serum - Bought from Matsumoto Kiyoshi on my Tokyo trip but is
also available at Tokyu Hands Westgate in Singapore. Retails around S$50-60 from what I remember =P

I've only been using the Lits Wistea serum and WhiteWash facial foam for a couple days so I can't say much about the effects as yet. But I've experienced no adverse reactions, which is a good start!

The romp through Tokyu Hands really....REALLY....made my heart ache for Japan (Y__Y) If I had known I was gonna get pregnant at this time I would've shopped more during last year's trip!!!! ARRRGGHHH!! So tempted by the Yokohama Canvas totes by the way >_< the designs are so classically simple Japanese and the canvas feels SO tough! But forking out S$200 for a simple tote seems....extravagant at this moment when I'm forking out hundreds for hospital visits every month.. =((( Contemplated a sakura-viewing trip this year but mom does not approve for fear of~~~ get this....radiation ( =____= ) *throws hands up in exasperation*

Sigh....oh Tokyo, when can I see you again~

Marc Jacobs Beauty - Lust for Lacquer Full Coverage Lip Vinyl 202 Paint It Review

Ever since I got pregnant, I haven't been buying anymore beauty or makeup products since I decided it would be safer so cut down my skincare regime to the bare minimum and not working also means I'm at home a lot so there goes the need for makeup...*looks wistfully at her mountain of goodies from Japan*

BUT!

Dinner with a girlfriend last week inevitably led to some strolling down the makeup aisle and a romp through Sephora turned up a 30% promo on the Marc Jacobs lippies! Up came last year's temptation to get the Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl (U.P S$39 / 5ml) and so I skipped away with a full coverage version in 202 Paint It~

Pictured with a few other recent purchases =)

Product Description:

Satisfy your lip gloss craving with Marc's color-drenched, champagne-infused lip vinyl. This gently plumping formula wears like no other, while the unique pillowed applicator is an experience that leaves you lusting for more.

Available in 6 full and 6 sheer coverage color palettes, with names inspired by Marc's favorite music. Full Coverage is decorated with a black logo and features a pointed applicator for a more precise application, while the Sheer formula has a silver logo and an oval paddle for an effortless application. 

Extracted from marcjacobs.com

202 Paint It has been described as a terracotta red but strikes me more like a corally pink. A very easy colour to wear, sort of a vibrant my-lips-but-better shade! 

The packaging is simple and sleek, a transparent flat-ish oblong tube with a screw-on top that pops up on it's own after a few turns. Seems sturdy enough and I haven't experienced any sort of leakage so far.

The pointed applicator is pretty sturdy and makes for precise application. The formula is on the light side, like a slightly watery gel and not as thick or sticky as some lip glosses. Gloppiness is a big turn-off for me so thumbs up for that!

Swatches true to colour~

Nice gloss factor!

I had the swatch on for about 10 seconds while I took the shots and it left a slight stain that removes easily with water-based makeup remover.

On the lips, one swipe out of the tube was enough for full on coverage:

A clearer lip swatch - taken in natural daylight

In indoor white light

This is really one of those shades that goes from day to night easily if you're not vamping it up. The plumping effect is quite minimal but my lips are on the full side already so maybe it's just me. There's a minty feeling after application that lasts about 5min that I quite enjoy, nothing too strong. The packaging says 'Champagne Grape infused' but it smells more minty than anything, reminds me of the Chuan Bei Pi Pa Gao (Loquat Cough Syrup) we take when we have a bad throat. It's not a strong fragrance so you probably wouldn't notice it unless you put your nose to the tube~

Headed out for a wedding dinner and came back about 5 - 6 hours later with a pretty good stain still on my lips. Only touched up once halfway through dinner for some photos and dabbed my mouth at least 10 times over the evening.

Sorry for the slightly blurry pic but you can see that the stain is pretty decent! ^^ Despite being in aircon all evening, my lips weren't too dried out so I would say there's a slight hydrating effect. After removing the stain I realised there was actually a small dry patch on my upper lip that was completely camouflaged by the lip colour, that's a plus!

So to wrap up, the Marc Jacobs Beauty Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl:

• Easily available at Sephora, slightly pricey at S$39 but you can always look out for in-store & online deals~
• Available in both sheer and full coverage shades, 12 in total.
• Sleek, sturdy tube, transparent so you know when product is low, with custom applicators for sheer and full coverage shades.
• Full coverage as promised, dabs well and leaves a pretty good stain considering this is one of the 'gentler' shades in the the full coverage lineup.
• Has a light watery gel texture that isn't thick or sticky, very comfortable!
• Leaves a refreshing minty feeling after application that lasts about 5 min.
• Didn't notice much plumping effect on me.
• Slightly hydrating, didn't highlight any dry patches or fine lines, didn't bleed either!

With the 30% promo, this was a really good deal! I love me a lightweight full coverage lip gloss anyday, and in such a pretty colour no less =) Well worth checking out!