Project Wedding: Invitation Cards (T-46 days)

Found this really useful template for creating sophisticated wedding invitations with a touch of romance. The template comes in a complete suite including RSVP cards, Menu and Table Number printables. So convenient and best of all, FREE for use! Perfect for a budget-conscious bride 

There are so many other DIY ideas from this site. It really inspires me to do much more to personalise my wedding.

Next project: making a crinoline for my wedding gown...(,")

Skin care discipline

Not that I've been slacking off or anything but loosing my regular facial therapist was traumatic. I've been unable to bring myself to put my face in another therapist's hands after two bad experiences where my face was treated bread dough that needed a good kneading before putting to bake. Not funny at all.

So I told myself to do self-maintenance at home. I've been fastidiously cleansing, toning, serum-ing, moisturising and spot treating my skin for the past 5 months. Unfortunately, haven't been very disciplined in masking once a month much less the recommended weekly regime. Oh well, you get what you put in. My skin hasn't been fantastic. The last bout of flu had be breaking out after a course of antibiotics. If I could use a word to describe my skin condition, it would be "ANGRY". I had the worst breakout I've every experienced in my life. There were several clusters of painful pimples and acne all over my cheeks, chin and upper lip. Trust me when I say it was truly painful.

Thankfully after 2.5 months, the painful swelling and redness reduced and my skin regain some form of normalcy. Granted there were still slight bumps and some scars (I couldn't resist not scratching and pressing!). Most importantly, I didn't look like I was in the throes of puberty. But I knew that my skin needed help cos I'm getting married in December!! Have you ever seen a "mo peng" (pock marked) bride? I don't want to have layers upon layers of make-up piled onto my skin just to achieve the smooth-skin look.

I need professional help. And I need it fast!

Then I saw a deal on a popular group discount website for an Assata Intensive Facial Package for RM68 (normal price of RM826). Decided to give professional facials another go. I bought my coupon and made the appointment.

Will blog about my experience in the next instalment.

For now, I need to keep to a disciplined regime to ensure bride-ready skin.

Eyelash extensions vs perms

For me, the standard go-to for gorgeous model-worthy eyelashes are falsies that can range from sparse to furry caterpillar like things... Or in this case, twigs like things...

Freaky, much?

So the fascination with eyelash beautification started when I read Tiffany's review on eyelash extensions (read it here) and later learnt about eyelash perming. Imagine having that many options to beautify the itty bitty hairs growing on the eyelids. Curiouser and curiouser!

The scary thing (to me) about extensions is that they glue fake lashes to your existing lashes. Few concerns came to mind:-
(a) what if I'm allergic to the glue?
(b) what if the extensions were to heavy and my natural lashes broke?
(c) what if the broken lashes don't grow fast enough or worse, never grow back?
(d) what if my lashes grew out the extensions and I look like a retard?

So many what ifs...

My SIL told me that her friend had bald eyelids from an extension job gone wrong! Oh eem gee...! *shudders* I cannot not have eyelashes. Mucho freaky-o!

Then I came across this alien concept (to me again) of eyelash perming. What I learnt from the world wide web (Google is your friend!) is that it is not quite unlike perming of hair. Apparently this procedure has been around longer than eyelash extensions, about 22 years give or take some. Gee... I have been living under a rock!

Armed with new information about beautifying eyelashes without the hassle of curling and/or falsies before mascara , I was quite tempted to try eyelash perming. Imagine waking up every morning with ready made eyes. Kinda like "just add water" and I'm ready for work.

I shot an email to my besties for a quick opinion poll. None has done perming save for one who has tried extensions. M warned me not to try anything drastic with my looming nuptials just 2 months away. But the thought of not having to wear falsies which could potentially fall off into my soup is so so tempting. What to do...? What to do...?

Then I saw a promotion for eyelash perming on a popular group discount site. Within a heartbeat, I clicked my way to a discount coupon and made the appointment. I refused to allow myself  to think further about whether I am making the right decision for my eyelashes.

Came the appointed time, I made my way to the saloon.I spent a total of 45 minutes in the saloon (including a quick trip to the toilet before the procedure). Although my eyes were closed the entire time, Connie talked me through each step of the process. It went like this:-

• she applied a sticky strip to my closed eyelids which were supposed to help my lashes curl better
• then she applied a liquid on my lashes before attaching a felt-like-rubber strip close to my lash roots 
• she proceeded to curl my lashes onto that felt-like-rubber strip and wrapped a piece of cling-wrap and warm towel around my eye area
• I was told to rest for 15 minutes... siesta!
• when she came back in, she removed the towel and cling-wrap and applied a peroxide-base solution to my lids. It really brought back memories of the time when my mom used to go for cold perms at her friend's saloon while I used to play with the curlers *nostalgic*
• then back came the cling-wrap and towel and I was given another 20 minutes to nap while the solution  worked its magic
• the final step was to apply a moisturiser to my lashes and I was sent on my way

It's been 24-hours since, and my eyelashes are still curled perfectly upright. Well... at least the left eyelashes are. The right side ones are kinda unruly if you look closely enough. I tried combing them  and they behaved for all of 30 seconds before going wonky again. Connie advised me to use non-waterproof mascara to instil a little discipline on the rascals. I'll stave off for now. Afterall, the whole point of getting my lashes permed was so that I can do WITHOUT the mascara.

After I got the perm, only then I dared to read the horror stories and bad experience.

 So, if you are also in a dilemma whether to go for extensions or perms, my take is to pick the least scary option and whose results you will be able to accept and live with. That said, I think I got off quite lightly with this whole perm thingie (",)