Tips

I mostly write about home, food and travel but this year, I’ve made two regular features on the blog, Beauty Stash and Style Musings, because like most women I’m also fascinated with beauty and style, and both topics are essential in living a charmed life. In Beauty Stash, I share finds and tips on grooming and staying beautiful.  Style Musings was formerly known as Fashion Fridays but it has evolved into sharing my thoughts on style and design. I hope you will enjoy these two features as much as I enjoy writing about them.

I have mentioned in a previous entry that it was only when I moved to Sydney that I followed a skin care regimen. While I did start putting skin care products when I was a teenager, it’s when I was 28 y/o that I stopped jumping from one product to another. It was all thanks to Murad
Beauty Stash: Dr. Murad
Growing up, I’ve battled with acne for most of my teenage years. It comes and goes. I even had a theory before that I seem to get an attack of acne every four years.  When I turned 25, the breakouts lessened but I was aware that I need to find products that will suit my skin needs, especially that I’m not getting any younger. So when I moved here, I seek professional help, had a few session of facials and went home with Murad products to maintain the health of my skin.

I exclusively used Murad (as in no other skin care product touched my skin) for three years. Their products are a bit expensive but I soldiered on because I wanted my skin to get better. It was all worth it as my skin did improve. I still have acne scars but  at least my skin texture has improved, it is less sensitive and it’s not as oily as it used to be. 

Murad Products I’ve Used:
Refreshing Cleanser.  A gentle but thorough cleanser. It’s perfect for my sensitive skin. I feel like I’m washing my face with milk. It also keeps the skin hydrated.

Skin Perfecting Lotion. One of the best moisturisers I’ve used so far. It’s very light but my skin stays hydrated during the day. Perfect for daytime use and when indoors.

Perfecting Day Cream with SPF30. Similar to what I felt with the Skin Perfecting Lotion but only this has SPF. Moisturiser and sunblock in 1. After learning that it’s a must to put on sunblock ALWAYS, I switched to this.

Perfecting Night Cream. Moisturiser for night time. 

Energizing Pomegranate Moisturizer SPF 15. One of the moisturisers from Murad that I used just because I got tired of the Skin Perfecting Lotion. Great for daytime as this has SPF15. I love wearing this during summer as it has cooling effects on the skin.  This is also best for combination skin as it keeps the Tzone and dry zone areas of your face balanced.

Essential C-Cleanser. The last cleanser I used from Murad. This didn’t sit well with me as I noticed it gave me a pimple of two after I use it. Although it felt light and mild, I don’t know why it didn’t work well with my skin.

If you noticed from the products mentioned, when I acquired my Murad skin regimen, I basically did two steps: cleanse and moisturise. While it is common that toning is part of skin care, I was told by professionals that it is not necessary. And it worked for me. I’m grateful that their advice saved me time and money.

I have stopped using Murad for sometime now. While I can afford their products and a few drops is all it takes to get you skin cleaned and moisturised (a tube it last loooong time), I find it a bit expensive. Murad has given me better skin and now I’m able to use other products without being prone to pimples.

Based from my experience, I’d highly recommend Murad for those who have sensitive and problematic skin. Ask a professional about Murad before making the switch.

I have once shared that I have a bamboo tea organizer for our tea bags at home.  However, the Husband and I also like drinking loose leaf teas.  Some loose leaf teas are packaged in plastic and must be stored in an air-tight container to maintain its freshness.


Here’s how I store our loose leaf teas:


I buy a couple of 600ml containers.
Storing Loose Leaf Teas


I cut out the packaging.  Then place the name of the tea on the surface of the container and stick it with clear tape.  I also include the expiry date of the tea.
Storing Loose Leaf Teas
Storing Loose Leaf Teas


I transfer the loose leaf tea unto to the container and seal it properly.  These containers are kept inside our pantry.
Storing Loose Leaf Teas


Other options for storing loose leaf teas: spice jars or spice bottles.  

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Since November 2011, the Harry Potter Exhibition housed at the Powerhouse Museum has given Sydney the excitement and wonder of seeing hundreds of iconic props and costumes that appeared the Harry Potter film series.  It is a treat for movie enthusiasts to see each character’s wands and outfits worn in the movie, the flying car, the Horcruxes, the Twizard Cup, pieces from the Wizard’s Chess, the Invisibility Cloak and the full version of Buckbeak.  You can also experience playing a miniature Quidditch, lifting the screaming Mandrakes and sitting on Hagrid’s massive chair inside his hut.   

Being fans of the movie franchise, the Husband and I can’t let the exhibition pass without seeing it.  We waited for a long time for the exhibition to arrive in Sydney and finally we saw it last month.  


I felt nostalgic as we were about to enter the exhibition that I can’t help but say, “Imagine, we grew up with these films.”  It was a bit similar to that feeling of nostalgia when we saw the last Harry Potter film, however, this time I had feelings of thrill as well because the exhibition really made us feel like we were part of the movies’ journey throughout the years.  The experience made us love the Harry Potter films even more as each item helped us remember the most memorable scenes from the franchise. 


Just a few tips for you:
  • Buy tickets online and avoid the queue and disappointments on when tickets are sold out for the day.   
  • Arrive at the museum at least 15 minutes prior to the time printed on your ticket. Late arrivals will be guaranteed prompt admission and will have to wait until the next session.
  • A few things not allowed inside the exhibition: food, drinks, taking photographs and videos and touching the artefacts.
  • Once you’re inside the exhibition, you can spend as much time as you want.  So just relax and take time looking thru each artefact.  Enjoy!
  • Want to bring home some Harry Potter souvenirs?  The museum’s shop has several Harry Potter merchandise to choose from.  You can pay by cash or credit (with a surcharge of 2.5%).

One of the things we bought and enjoyed from the exhibition were these HP Chocolate Frogs.  Other than the chocolate being yummy, we enjoyed getting souvenir cards enclosed with it.  

You won’t know what card you’ve got unless you opened the pack.  Grateful we got the Potter Family and Albus Dumbledore cards.
 

If you are a Harry Potter fan, I recommend that you experience the magic of Harry Potter one last time.  The exhibition will be shown at the Powerhouse Museum (500 Harris Street Ultimo, Sydney) until 9 April 2012, tickets available at ticketek.com.au 

Part of the joys of travelling is to indulge in different cuisines.  In my list, food comes second as to why we travel that’s why my Husband and I also list down the food we want to eat at a certain place during our travel preparations.


Our preps also involves preparing our tummies for the food we may eat or drink during travel.  No one wants to be sick during the holiday, right?  


I have a simple tummy prep before travel and that is to eat yogurt.  Eating yogurt for a few days before travel helps as the healthy bacteria in yogurt is a powerful tool for staving off tummy troubles.  We usually have yogurt at home anytime of the year but I make sure that we have more yogurt intake before we travel.



During travel, we still eat yogurt at least once a week or drink Yakult to keep our tummies healthy.


Not into yogurt?  My Husband doesn’t like yogurt very much.  Although he tries, he just can’t finish a small tub.  So instead of forcing him, we also buy Yakult which he loves.


Lactose intolerant?  Get yourself a “probiotics” capsule from the pharmacy or health food store.  A good probiotics capsule should contain various strains of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium logum.  

Here are a few tips from HCF fit@wwwell on how to avoid tummy troubles during travel:

Don’t let illness spoil an overseas trip. There are some simple precautions you can take to help avoid tummy troubles abroad. 

Traveller’s tummy can take the form of diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, or all three. According to Aussie Travel Advice, recent statistics suggest around 20% of travellers will lose at least one day of their trip to illness. This is due to unfamiliar germs infecting the digestive system.


Minimise the risk of tummy trouble by:

  • Avoiding uncooked meals in developing countries. If you can’t boil, peel or cook it, eat something else instead
  • Avoiding seafood, it’s a major risk in many countries
  • Avoiding pre-cooked food. Hot food should be steaming all the way through
  • Choosing thick-skinned fruit you can peel
  • Avoiding dairy unless you can drink canned milk or you know it has been refrigerated
  • Sticking to bottled beer and wine rather than mixed drinks
  • Washing your hands regularly. Consider taking alcohol-based hand-wash with you.



Rules for water:

  • Avoid tap water in developing countries
  • Boil water for over a minute before drinking
  • Buy iodine tablets to purify water before drinking
  • Use clean water to brush your teeth
  • When buying bottled water, always check the seal is intact.



Don’t hesitate to see a doctor if you become ill and symptoms persist.

Happy Wednesday!