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Half and Half: Beauty Edition – featuring EOS Lip Balms | Product Review

July 18, 2015

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Half and Half.”

Half and Half is such an interesting concept because it transcends different fields and industry. In this post, I am going to take Half and Half into the world of beauty and makeup.

The beauty industry is not new to the concept of dividing something into two, as it deals with painting characters for prints, and the big screen. Two such characters are Cruella de Vil, the antagonist from the 1956 novel, The Hundred and One Dalmation (one of my all-time favourite stories), and Two-Face, an insane crime boss who was once an ally of Batman.

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Division in half is now common in the construct of makeup products, such as pan powders, and brushes. In recent years, the concept made its way over to lip balms, namely, the Evolution of Smooth (EOS) Lip Balms.

An EOS Lip Balm comes in an egg-like container that is about two-thirds the size of a chicken egg. The container is cut in half, and the top half could be turned open to reveal the lip balm. The turning mechanism is good and clicks tight so the balm will not dirty your bag. The lip balm looks like a delicious half sphere of ice-cream sitting on top of the bottom half of the container, as shown in the collage photo below.

EOS Lip Balms come in a variety of flavours and corresponding colours such as Tangerine (orange), Honeysuckle Honeydew (green), and Lemon (yellow), as featured above. The flavours are strong in both fragrance and taste, which I enjoy. The flavour selection is also very wide, and often ranging into limited edition ones. All of which can be found on their website.

The lip balm itself fits nicely onto closed lips, in a manner where the user is kissing the balm as the balm is smooth left and right along the lips.

Some of the specifications are, 100% natural, 95% organic, certified by USDA. Gluten-free. Counts olive fruit oil, beeswax, coconut oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E amongst its ingredients.

The EOS Lip Balms are imported by Smoochiezz,in Singapore, and costs a hefty $15.90.

The EOS Lip Balms are truly quite a novelty that uses the concept of Half and Half to make the balm more ergonomic, such that it fits the lips a lot better than standard stick balms. The usage of Half and Half also completely eliminates the need to twist up, removing the inconveniences of stuck balms in the tubes.

EOS Lip Balms are well-worth the price if one is going for more value than just a product to smooth the lips.

What do you think of a lip balm in this shape?

Enjoy.

Disclaimer:

I bought the lip balms, and have no affiliation with EOS.
One half each and the relationship will not sour

July 17, 2015

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Half and Half.”

The saying goes, “One-half each and the relationship will not sour.” This line is a translation from part of the lyrics in the popular Hokkien (a dialect of Chinese) song, One Half. There is also the version sang by a stage singer, Liu Ling Ling, and the Chinese duet version (my favourite).

This saying reflects the belief of sharing that entrenches deeply in my culture. Sharing is a way of life, as people live in communities and do things together. It is in this light that I have chosen pictures of drinks that I had enjoyed together with my partner for this photo challenge. 1. Two cups of soya bean curd in brown sugar. My partner and I were shocked yet delighted to find this in The Philippines. Surprised because soya bean curd in sugared water is a Chinese dessert that is readily available in our country (and Malaysia, Taiwan, or Hong Kong) but is hard to find even in China itself. Delighted because it gave us comfort amidst the tasty seafood and simple grills. It was something light on the palate. 2. Yoghurt drink and mango yoghurt drink. Both my partner and I love thick yoghurt drinks. 3. We were having cocktails on the beach. 4. Two glasses of chilled drinks to welcome my partner and me at the resort. An honourable mention goes to the little bouquet of Ixora flowers by the side. I have a soft spot for Ixora flowers because of they are so cute and bright. You could eat the saps of Ixora too!

5. Orange juice and ice coffee (if I recall correctly) during a meal at Boracay.

Enjoy!

Cheers to sharing half and half, and to an enduring relationship. Enjoy!
Learning to see the world in my childhood – Colours of the Rainbow

July 17, 2015

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “ROY G. BIV.”

I remember repeating the colours of the rainbow over a long period of time, actively attempting to memorise the colours from red to violet, and recite them backwards from violet to red.

I repeated the colours of the rainbow in Mandarin,

“红 (hong)，橙 (cheng)，黄 (huang)，绿 (lue)，蓝 (lan)，靛 (dian)，紫 (zi)。”

And I repeated the colours of the rainbow in English,

“Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.”

Eventually, I could identify these colours easily and name them.

The colours of the rainbow always bring up fond memories of my childhood. And if seen together, they would stop me in my tracks, just like this one:

What a wonderful way to decorate and provide shelter for an eatery.

Enjoy your meal!

[Photo: Taken at Boracay, Philippines, in 2013]
Flower of the Day – July 17, 2015 – Orchid | cocoaevenings

July 17, 2015

Finally, I am posting the photo of an orchid! I love orchids because it reminds me of homeland, Singapore. I also love orchids because they always look like beautiful ladies dancing elegantly in the wind.

This flower below sure looks like a beautiful lady. I am not sure what the species is, but I like this shade of pink.

Cocoa’s notes: The national flower of Singapore is Vanda Miss Joaquim, a species of orchid. And Singapore has a sprawling 74 hectares Orchid Garden, with Orchid Breeding & Conservation Biotechnology Laboratory.

Do you take a liking to flowers of your favourite colour? Or do you like certain flowers because of their structure?

Enjoy!

[Photo: Taken at Batam View Resort, Batam, Indonesia (also the place where I captured the sunset in my header image), in 2013.]
Travel Theme: Land Meets Water | The Sandbar Is My Wedding Aisle

July 17, 2015

In response to Where’s my backpack? Travel Theme: Land Meets Water.

Do you have a favourite spot where land meets water? Yes, of course!

The Sandbar Is My Wedding Aisle

I still cannot forget that magical moment in which I walked down a sandbar with my partner. I felt like we were walking down the church aisle with the sounds of wedding bells. Hand in hand, we relived our promise to one another.

Below: The tides were lower when I first stepped on the sandbar.

At the same time, I felt the immense sense of satisfaction, as I witness a geological phenomenon playing itself out before my eyes and literally under my feet. I was walking on a pristine, white, sand path that was slowly, but surely disappearing under the sea, as the tides rose by the minute.

The side of the sand path that was being hit by strong waves, slopes down steeply and was very rocky. The rocks hurt my feet as I attempted to walk into the seawater from that side. The other side of the sand path, that was facing gentler waves, slopes down gently and had no rocks. The soft, clean sand caressed my feet as I stepped gingerly into the sea. The sea level was below my knee for as far out as five metres. The currents were strong though.

Below: The tides had risen after some while. Click on the image to enlarge.

I, had never expected that I would meet with such a wonder before I went on the trip. I had not even know that a sandbar exists.

It was so unplanned that I still do not know where exactly this place is in the world. We were brought there by the boatmen along the way back to Phuket main island.

So it was that I kept looking back at the sandbar which had gone underwater. I waded back up the aisle to board the boat with a reluctant heart.

I felt the drizzle on my face and was sure that heavens could not bear the parting as well.

Below: The sandbar underwater.

Later on, we found out from the boatmen that the skies are always stormy around there. Winds are huge, and waves are strong. The locals do not settle there.

Below is a look at the vegetation at the sandbar:

Where land meets water, I savour the memories we had together, especially on this sandbar.

Enjoy.

There are many locations where land meets water. What kind do you enjoy? Comment and share below.
Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Older Than 50 Years (1965) – My Singapore, My Home

July 16, 2015

In response to Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Older Than 50 Years (1965).

My Singapore, the place that I call my home.

Singapore is celebrating her golden jubilee this year. She is into her 50th year of independence after 144 years of British rule, followed by merger with and separation from Malaysia. Many sites and memories of Singapore come from her time under British rule, and are well above 50 years of age.

The photos below show two shophouses built in 1916 and 1939, along Joo Chiat Road, Singapore. It was common for the year of completion to be stated clearly on the outside of shophouses back then.

Click photo to enlarge.

These shophouses are now under conservation, so there could be modern commercial activities being carried out in these shophouses, such as the Awfully Chocolate cafe seen in the photo above, or minimal change.

The sights along Joo Chiat Road are truly unique and full of contrast. It is a site well-worth visiting if you tour Singapore.

Do you prefer the past or the present? Elaborate.

Click on the banner below to read more and/or participate in the Black & White Photo Challenge.

You may also find Cee’s response, to this challenge for this week, here.

Enjoy.
A Photo A Week Challenge: Perfect Sky – 31 Sky Moments That Took My Breath Away

July 16, 2015

In response to Nancy Merrill Photography‘s A Photo A Week Challenge: Perfect Sky.

If there is a type of view which I am more mad about than sunset evenings, it will be the sky. No amount of words can express how head over heels I am with skies, so I will let the photos below speak for me.

*Pick your favourite photo and let me know.*

1. On the plane back from Bangkok.

2. From one of my beach holidays.

3. From one of my beach holidays.

4. From the bank of Singapore River, opposite OCBC Building. I love the contrast between the preserved shophouses by the bank and the towering skyscrapers behind.

5. From Bedok Reservoir.

6. From Bedok Reservoir – bright blue.

7. Nagoya, Japan. It looks so sunny, but I swear that the temperature was about 10 degrees Celsius in that day of autumn, and I could hardly take off my gloves.

8. From a plane again – the sky was all clear.

9. Gorgeous soft clouds and huge setting sun with a parasail in the sky. Nothing beats bright blue with horizon and sunset.

10. I like it when the clouds look like they are gathering in a circle for a meeting. This photo was taken from beyond Station 1, outside of Spider House Resort, Boracay, Philippines.

11. This photo has that crazy ink blue that looks like it was photoshopped, but not. I observed that the small fishing boats only go out after sunset.

12. SO. MUCH. SKY.

13. I woke up at 5.30 am to catch the sunrise and captured this. That day, I walked two-thirds the way down White Beach, Boracay, Philippines. It was a great morning exercise.

14. This photo may not be the best photograph, but it has one of the best skies because of the light clouds with whimsy patterns.

15. What makes this special are the carefree kids.

16. Sunrise. This picture has my favourite shade of white for clouds. And I love having sunlight coming from behind clouds (unless it is a sunset).

17. It is the clouds, the clouds, and the clouds!

18. Fifty shades of blue.

19. One of the best types of a sky to me – little clumpy clouds dotting the sky and look like they all radiate out from the same point. This photo was taken from Karon View Point, Phuket, Thailand.

20. Taken by my brother with his ASUS phone, Bali, Indonesia.

21. The horizon!

22. A unicorn was peering from behind the clouds.

23. Purple skies from a resort on the sea in Malaysia.

24. I was so captivated by this sight that I stood in that spot for 2 hours trying to capture the perfect angle. This photo was taken by a Nokia N95 handphone at Toa Payoh, Singapore.

25. I title this, The Windows XP Wallpaper. I used a Nokia N95 handphone to capture it at Bukit Gombak MRT Station, Singapore.

26. This picture is the special one of the lot as it is a moonlit night featuring black sky. I captured the moon using an iPhone 5 on Mid-Autumn’s Festival evening, in 2014.

27. The jetty where I waited for the boat to Gili island. To me, this kind of blue is the perfect sky blue.

28. Apart from blue skies, I also enjoy watercolour skies like this one. I love the interplay of colours.

29. Another incredible watercolour sky.

30. I cannot get enough of clouds that seem to spray out from the same point, so I updated this post with a new photo.

31. Last, but not least, is arguably the best sunset in Bali. This place gets crowded with locals and tourists by 6 pm. Everyone will find a spot and wait patiently for the golden half hour, from 6.30 pm to 7.00 pm.

I am always blown over by beautiful skies; they take my breath away.

Wow! It is as though the skies have chronicled my life.

Enjoy!

Which one of the thirty one skies above is your favourite? Feel free to also post the link to your blog response if you make one.
Flower of the Day – July 16, 2015 – Blue-eyed Daisy | cocoaevenings

July 16, 2015

This flower looks like the variant of a sunflower – with florets in the centre and many petals radiating in perfect symmetry around all 360 degrees. This flower even looks like it has pollen grains at the time of the photo!

EDIT: This flower has been verified to be an Osteospermum with common names, African Daisy, South African Daisy, and Blue-eyes Daisy.

However, it has a centre construct that is closer to the sunflower, with ray florets and disc florets. Meaning to say, the ‘blue eye’ consists of hundreds of miniature flowers, and is not a single flower on one stalk.

From far,

I cannot get enough of flowers with radiating petals. Beautiful nature.

Enjoy.

[Photo: Taken with iPhone 5 at Garden by the Bay, Singapore, in 2012.]
Cee’s Which Way Challenge: 2015 Week #28 – Roundabout Clockwork

July 15, 2015

In response to Cee’s Photography Which Way Challenge tag.

I looked out the window and saw this whimsical clockwork standing in the middle of the busy roundabout. This sight was surreal for it is a bizarre mix of dreamy fairytale clocktower juxtaposed with dusty city reality. This is the view from one of the rooms of Metropole Hotel, Phuket, Thailand, the old central of Phuket island.

Roundabout Clockwork

The traffic during the evening peak hours ran like clockwork around the clocktower. It was so fascinating that I spent a couple of hours watching the sunset and vehicles go round and round, and round and round.

Some cars would exit the roundabout into this narrow alley on the left of view. There were a few massage parlours and goldsmith on the ground floors of those buildings you see. There were also a number of clothing shops and a seafood eatery which I had a couple of dinners at.

As I turned the camera towards the left and upwards a little more, I captured a strange ‘V’ shape road, and a single tall building in the left middle ground. It looks strange because roads in my country are usually a more squarish and semicircular. ‘V’ forks are rare.

Then, I was most interested to visit that Robinsons building (large departmental store that also has branches in my country) in the centre of the picture. It is the one with green letter on white wall.

I wanted to go there because I had believed that it offered some creature comfort in the form of bright lights, air-condition, and high shelves.

I made my way there on foot on the last day of my trip, but by that time, I did not really want the creature comforts anymore. I was already accustomed to the Phuket sun, sand, sea, and slower pace of life. In fact, I fell in love with Phuket, and still love it.

Unfortunately, it was about to rain that day, and the sunset I captured was not clear.

I am thankful that it was sunset behind the mountains because I seldom get to see the sun setting behind mountains as there are no mountains in my country.

Also, I now have the very good memory of watching the Roundabout Clockwork. *Smiles*

Enjoy!

How do you feel about roundabouts (either watching or driving around)?

PS: There was no ice cocoa or hot cocoa that evening, but there was COCOnut water out of real Thai coconuts! *grins*

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Click on the banner below to participate and/or read more of Which Way Challenge Tag.

You may also find Cee’s response for this week here.
Flower of the Day – July 15, 2015 – Unknown | cocoaevenings

July 15, 2015

I love white, and so I could not help taking a photo of this little white flower growing in a bush by the overhead bridge.

I love how perfectly symmetrical the five petals grow. I love the apparent female pistil with tiny little stigma and style. I love the ten miniature stamen with pretty yellow anther and pale green filament. And I love the rich green leaves surrounding all of the white goodness.

Do you happen to know the name of this flower?

Enjoy.

[Photo: Taken near Tanah Merah MRT Station, in 2015.]