Updates

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M by Mendocino Opens at Yonge Eglinton Centre

The Mendocino Clearance store prevously on Yonge and in between Eglinton and Lawrence has officially moved a few blocks south at the conveniently located Yonge-Eglinton Centre! The store is great for those who love the store but can't quite afford the merchandise at their regular stores (though I must admit...the regular priced stuff is so much nicer).

*EDIT*The catch is....you will receive a gift with any $50 purchase to celebrate their new store opening!

This may be old news, but I only found out yesterday and they opened on Thursday.... so hopefully they still have some left. Hurry everyone.

Let's see what shoesies I've acquired in the past few months..

Hello hello. It's been eons since I last blogged. Work is busy blah blah blah. I hate my job, but I'm lucky to have one blah blah blah.

The important thing is yay, updates! You all know what my favourite things are. Shoes! So moving along.

Salvatore Ferragamo Granny shoes! Loafers that are cut low...so they're kinda a cross between loafers and ballet flats. These were gonna be my work shoes. My goodness, they are just so comfortable.
The difference between part time work and f/t is that you really become tired for f/t. You put less effort and strive for comfort. They look less granny on the feet..regardless, I think I'll be passing these onto my mom.

The 'new(er)' Converse. Jack Purcells in dark silver. I've been searching for a pair of these babies in this colour forever. I searched high and low on Sneaker street in MK with no luck. I found these 2 days before I left HK, and they were 50% off at a shop on Grandville road in TST!

I'm a hypocrite. I never bought into the high-heeled oxford trend. I'm still not 100% on them, but the chunky heel and the bootie shape was perfect for all my wide legged dress pants throughout winter.

I'm in love with the Pedro Garica ones...but had to settle with these knockoffs . Now this is jewellery for your feet! Strings of pearls and rhinestones make this a real attention getter. 'Blair' isn't really my style....but the girly girl in me couldn't resist.

Of course, I save the best for last! My first pair of Choos :) The perfect non-boring work shoe! The pointy toe, the heel height, and the neutral colour screams 'career'...but the d'orsay cut and the cutout detail make this a little more interesting. And yes, those are the airplus gel steppies in there.

I just signed up for twitter! I'll prob tweet more than I blog, so you can follow me at keeponshopping

Estee Lauder Passport to Beauty @ Holt's

From the Holt Renfrew site,
The exclusive Passport to Beauty Collection is yours with any Estée Lauder purchase of $100.00* or more. Find your own golden glamour with these Estée Lauder essentials...

• 2 Estée Lauder Signature Hydra-Lustre Lipsticks
• Golden Brow Perfecting Duo compact
• Artist's Eye Pencil
• Special 7-day supply of luxurious Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lifting Eye Creme

Even better, all these products come in a ready-to-travel, golden-weave envelope clutch, with cosmetic bag and passport holder. Drop by the Estée Lauder counter at your nearest Holt Renfrew location today to receive your Passport to Beauty Collection.

* Before taxes. ** One Passport to Beauty Collection per customer, while quantities last. Gift will not be shipped and are redeemable in store only.

O.B. Free sample pursepack!

I don't use these....but they look cute and convenient. Get this fun freebie here

Help Shelternet by completing a short survey

I've received this in the email pertaining to the L'Oreal offer in my last post. You can help someone just by using a few minutes of your time, what can be better than that?

"Matchstick is looking for feedback from anyone who may have seen my posting regardind L’Oreal Beauty Tubes. If you click on the link below and complete the survey, you will be helping them by donating $2.00 to Shelternet, so please Click Here to take their short feedback survey.

For every survey that is completed, Matchstick will make a $2 donation to Shelternet (shelternet.ca), which is a Web-based Women and Children’s Crisis Support Center that provides aid and financial support to locally based women’s shelters across Canada.

Your time and feedback is greatly appreciated"

$5 Off for L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara

This reminds me of Blinc's Kiss Me Mascara, where tubes are formed around your lashes so that you won't get any raccoon eyes, only cheaper. With $5 off by entering the Reference Code W9KW, it becomes even more inexpensive. Totally MY style ;)

ENJOY!

A Valentine's Dinner that's Affordable??

As some of you may already know....Winterlicious ends on Feb.12 this year. Don't fret though, cos I received an email from Allusion Restaurant showing me their affordable Valentine's day menu, as I have been there a few times and signed up to be on their mailing list. I would do a review...but I didn't take any pics the last few times I ate there.

Anyways, I really like the restaurant. The ambiance is great, the staff provide great service...and of course, one of the most important things for me is that you get great food at a great price. This combination is hard to find uptown. They also have live music every Saturday night.

The location is a little 'off' as it is at a strip plaza surrounded by Chinese dim sum shops and noodle houses...so many of the people who visit that plaza may not be interested in checking Allusion out.

I'm feeling the love already..so I would like to share the menu with readers and hope that Allusion doesn't mind me posting it here.

St. Valentines Menu at Allusion Restaurant

Butternut Squash & Apple Soup

Choice of Appetizer

Hearts of Romaine
Romaine hearts tossed with allusion classic caesar dressing &
shaved parmesan

Allusion Salad
Organic greens, avocado, tomatoes, cucumber with hearts of palm
& gorgonzola in champagne vinaigrette

Escargot
Sautéed with pancetta, shallots
& mushrooms in a Chianti jus

Grilled Tiger Shrimp
Served with pineapple-mango salsa in a lime vinaigrette

Choice of Entrée

Seafood Linguine
Sea scallops, tiger shrimp & green lip mussels
Prepared in a fresh oregano and Roma tomato sauce

Rack of Lamb
Served with truffle mashed potato, asparagus, roasted portobello mushroom and cabernet reduction

Surf & Turf
4oz Striploin & Tiger Shrimp On a Saffron Risotto

Butter Chicken
Tender chicken breast marinated with classic Indian spices,
roasted & simmered in a rich creamy tomato base sauce
served with basmati rice & seasonal vegetables

Chilean Seabass
Gently cumin crusted sea bass in a saffron beurre blanc
served with baby potatoes, sweet peppers, fennel & haricots verts

Choice of Dessert

Cheese Cake
Served with fresh fruit & blueberry sorbet

Or

Lindt Milk Chocolate Daquoise
With fresh berries, chocolate sauce, & vanilla cream anglaise

$45.00

Address:

9021 Leslie Street,
Unit 7 & 8 (Fusion Parc)
Richmond Hill, Ontario
L4B 0B2

(905) 889-7001

http://www.allusionrestaurant.com/

FOR SALE: Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer

I'm having my first sale!

I have CDP concealers up for sale. They are NWOB (new without box) and in the packaging/case (shown above) as the line has since revamped their packaging. Colours available are Beige and Ocher.

To determine your best match, see below for MAC foundation matches:
Beige: suits fairer skintones NC-20 to NC-30
Ocher: suite medium skin with yellow undertones, NC-30 or darker

It depends if you use it for under your eyes (go lighter) or facial blemishes. I have fair Asian skin and I use Beige mostly since I mainly use it for dark circles. Ocher matches me perfectly for facial skin imperfections, and in the summer when I am slightly tanned.

You can read reviews on this concealer on makeupalley.com or just google for plenty of info/reviews.

I'm selling them for $50 CAD each. Meet up/pick up only in the GTA.
However, if you're not located in Toronto but still want to purchase, give me a shout! I'll try to work things out.

I'm disabling comments, so please email me instead at gsquaredmail@gmail.com if interested.

I will be posting more pictures shortly to show the products in better detail.



photo courtesy of soaps.com

Birkins, Speedys, and Caviar leathers fear no more!

I was quite excited to receive this pursehook made by My Tagalongs.

I don't usually keep my bags on the icky floor anyways, but it is always uncomfortable to place your bag on the back of your chair and be forced to sit on only half of the seat. When space is limited, your baby is not always able to have its own chair, especially at tables for two.

You don't have to own a designer bag to justify the use of a purse hook...we all want to protect our precious bags! I cherish my Damier Speedy 30 as much as my purple lambskin satchel by Danier (a Canadian leather company), even though it is a fraction of the price. Actually, I am more afraid of damaging the delicate lambskin of the Danier than getting the coated canvas of the Speedy dirty, as it can easily be wiped off. Anyone living in a climate of snow, rain and ice will probably need this even more. Can you imagine placing your bag on a bed of wet, melting snow and salt and getting waterstains on your leather? *shudders*

Visit MyTagalong's website for more details. They also offer a variety of funky stuff made for ladies, such as the Emergency Valet, Little Black Dis-tress kit, and the Contented Purse.

Canadians, you can purchase the pursehook in the handbag section of The Bay for $15.

Thanks to Ashworth & Associates for sending me the pursehook!

HK Shopping: Leather Jackets

These were some of the ones I had in mind when I planned to purchase my first leather jacket...

Moschino Cheap and Chic Double Breasted jacket-nice bright colour, and I LUUURRVE the buttons and the belted detail on the sleeves. Not too fond of the cropped sleeves though.

Juicy Couture shrunken leather hoodie, minus the shrunken part. If I'm going to get ONE leather jacket, it better be practical and keep you (slightly) warm. This is more plain, but simple means that it will go with everything. Plus, I've always had a thing for hoodies, they are just too comfy!

Jenni Kayne Asymmetrical Motorcycle Jacket-this look is hot! It adds an instant 'coolness' to your outfits whether you pair it with simple tee/tank and skinny jeans, or with a flowery chiffon dress + military boots. I would pair it with outfit one, as it is more my style....

I saw these all over stores in HK...yet didn't want to shell out $3000+ HKD ($500 CAD, $400+ USD) for a jacket that I would only be able to wear during the non-rainy days late days or spring or early autumn. With the amount of rain we got in Toronto last year....it just wasn't really worth it. I saw plenty of pleather jackets in this style too...but they still cost $600+HKD, and I really go for quality > trends.

In the end...I got:
A deep eggplant coloured lambskin motorcycle jacket. It's really more of a deep purple than it appears with the flash in this picture. I love purple, and it is dark enough of a shade to appear as a neutral, so goes with most of my outfits easily. I like the snap collar. The cut is slimming, and the details are simple making this, what I would call a staple in my wardrobe. I wore this EVERYWHERE during the chillier days in HK with a lavender pashmina scarf...cos I'm really into monochromatic dressing :P
AND, unexpectedly, I got a second leather jacket! The big angular collars satisfy my obsession with motorcycle jackets like the Jenni Kayne one above. White leather is tricky...but it looks really good. The grey elastic lining runs along the sides of the jacket and the sleeves, so that I don't have to worry about gaining or losing a few pounds and not be able to wear it again. This was only a little over half the price of the purple jacket!!! It was a super deal that I found at the most obscure of all places to shop in HK..........Stanley!!!!!

I was crazy over buying coats/jackets on my HK trip...2 down, and more to come!

Keep on Shopping: Hong Kong Edition-Day 3

I must say, there is probably no where better to shop than HK!!! I'm at day 3 right now, and will be here for many more days to come. The best of both the East and West meet here, there are no taxes, and you can get dirt cheap market scores to the most luxurious designer brands, all in once city!

After shopping for 3 days straight and hitting up 4 huge malls, and 2-3 smaller shopping centers, I've already scored several items, from clothing, to jewellery, to shoes, from affordable chain stores, local brands, and designer duds. Arggh...must pace myself before I spend all my money! Will need to take pics of my items and post them here :D I only got my adapter today at Apliu street, so I hven't bheen able to use my computer for 2 days already. I'm so gung ho about shopping that I don't even think I feel my jetlag!

Any tips for shopping and eating from local HK-ers highly appreciated!

Please check back for updates! :D

Review: CARE by Stella McCartney Calming & Soothing Elixir

"Infused with chamomile, arnica, and licorice, this elixir gently soothes stressed-out skin. Use daily before your 5 Benefits moisturizer—or anytime your skin cries out for calm." is the description on the back of the package.

After testing out the Stella McCartney line for awhile now ( a little over a month), I've found a new favourite. Sure, the packaging is pretty, it comes in a hygienic pump tube, it's certified organic, with 100% organic active ingredients and no petrochemicals or silicones, and not tested on animals-being true to Stella's values...but does the stuff inside work?

The Calming and Soothing Elixir certainly works for me! I've used this alone, with the CARE 5 benefits moisturizing fluid (as suggested in the instructions), and with moisturizers from other brands (which happened to be the very economical Avon Botanisource-LOVE!) and my skin has definitely improved which I attribute to this elixir. I have mild rosacea, redness on my cheeks usually, and even though it's not completely gone, it is certainly fading. Another confound or reason for the improvement in my skin may be due to the Vitamin B I've been taking...but that should only control for the stress bumps I get on my forehead.

Of course, to be critical there are two things I wish I could change about this product.
1) Change the container to be clear so that I can see how much product is left
2) Price! Unfortunately, this costs $64 USD (with the whole line's range being from $35-80)

All in all, I would probably repurchase this...just not so often.




Source: Sephora

On Thursday, Nov.6 receive 25% off any H20 Purchase

Got this in the mail since I'm an H20 plus member...so you're supposed to bring i the card to get the discount....however, you can also redeem this offer online by entering the promo code 080367.

My pick (what I want to try out) would be the new Sugar Plum purifying shower cream...cos I definitely need the moisturizing benefits for the dry skin in the winter. Heck, it's even snowing already here in Toronto....It's October, for goodness sakes!

Enjoy!

source: H2o+

I Got 'em Boots

So I ended up choosing fashion>function.

I swear I'm usually a comfort>fashion gal (except for Uggs, Crocs, and grey sweatpants for going out). I wore these out once...and goodness gracious, my left foot was scraped beyond relief! It was embarrasing how I tried to not limp (which probably made me look more ridiculous). I dind't know you had to break boots in! The right shoe was a display...so my right foot was fine. I was in pain all day and it took me twice as long to get from one destination to another. Someone tell me how these can retail for $495 CAD (found out online that they go for $395 in the U.S. Scam!) cos they're the most painful flat boots I own to date. I'm still cursing the leather sole too...I'm not a believer in them.

However, at the end of the treacherous day, the S.A. at Lululemon complimented my boots :D:D:D I guess "No Pain, No Gain" really worked in this case. So, I love these boots again and decided to stop cursing them. Yup, all it took was one comment to take the pain away...I still have a bandaid stuck on my foot as I'm writing this :(

Summer clearance buys that also work for fall

Over the knee stockings in deep violet by Miss Sixty. Not really my style, but I like it on other people so I'm giving it a try. They're actually not sheer when put on, but sheer enough to wear during S/S yet like tights, you can wear 'em under dresses or with shorts as shown above. It actually has the Miss Sixty studded on the leg of one sock (like the pic) which I don't prefer.... However, I haven't had much luck finding a pair that's not sheer. That, or it's more expensive (American Apparel). Now why would I pay more for socks made in L.A. when I can get cheaper ones made in Italy? The cheapo in me will stick to logowhoring for the sake of saving a few bucks thank you very much.

Burgundy embellished tank with ruching and silk empire waist by Development. I love this brand, especially when it was designed by Philip Lim early on... This is one of my favourite colours to wear and looked so flattering! Though sleeveless, the rich berry colour is perfect for autumn! The straps are embellished with tiny pieces of metallic red foil which looks really cool but is quite annoying because they fall off or hook onto other things.

Bright pink knit tank w/ circle pattern by Milly. I love the colour and the subtle circle print knit! I can try to winter-ize it by layering it over thin black turtlenecks and tees (I know...how creative! lol) Unfortunately, knit stretches out so the straps are getting looser with each wear :S

Lady in Red

"Rida"-Red patent leather pumps with 3.25 inch heel by Donald J. Pliner

Why is it that I can never stick to my wishlist?

I try to...I really do. I was on the lookout for basic BLACK heels for work and play, and I come across these. The patent isn't too shiny, and the red isn't too bright which may tend to look a bit hookerish. Still, I call these my hooker shoes :P. DJP is known for his comfortable shoes so I'm excited to finally be able to own a pair. The soles are both leather and rubber which means no slipping and sliding! These will look great w/ LBDs and LWDs for weekends. These will make my somber/neutral work attire more interesting. Even though they came without a box or dustbag, I got them for 70% off at Winners (which are getting some pretty good shoes in by the way). HA, take that!

Sigh.

I think I just answered my own question.

Kors vs. Palmroth = Fashion vs. Function

Kors Michael Kors boots....they look better irl.
The pointed toe and leather sole means fashion>function since I won't be able to tread through the snow with these. I'd wear these during fall and early winter...to work or out for dinner on the weekends. I'd tuck jeans into them or wear them with skirts and dresses.

OR

Pertti Palmroth boots with rubber soles and lined with fleece on the inside and without the chain detail on back ( I couldn't find the exact pic..but these are similar). Learn about this Finnish brand here.
Same uses as the Kors pair. I'd wear these out on a weekend...and maybe to school too since the rubber sole can handle that.

Would it be really redundant to get both pairs...since they're both black and flat?

I have boots that look similar to the second pair already....but the fleece lining and sole is amazing! The construction of the Palmroth boots is wonderful and fit for a Canadian winter since they're made in Finland...but it's not like I'm planning to wear these to shovel snow or walk for miles over slush.

However, I like the looks of the KORS boots more. They're not as warm or comfy but the zipper detail and belt loops at the top make it look visually more interesting. Damn you leather sole!

OMG...I actually considered another pair of Kors boots w/ 3.5 inch heels...but I'm too practical so I'm not even gonna post those.

Biotherm Flash Recharge Concentrate

A few months ago, I was invited to a Biotherm event where were were introduced to new products and got to try some samples!

I waited out a few months before writing this because of the obvious reason/excuse of being busy...(hence the MIA) and because it's hard to determine if you really like something right away.

I will be honest...I haven't been using this consistently...so I don't know if it improved my skin or not. It certainly did not worsen it because the consistency is super light and oil free. It claims to give your skin an energetic glow. I don't know if my skin looked it, but it CERTAINLY felt recharged! I love the way it feels!

$49 CAD may seem a bit pricy as the bottle is small (30ml)...but if you get it during a GWP (which is usually $30) then I think this is worth it. It makes me feel really good...just use some luminzing powder on top to get that extra glow :)

Eye Enhancers

Nope, I'm not going to be talking about make up this time. Not mascara, eyeshadow, nor eyeliner.

I'm considering getting coloured contacts! I love how they are a subtle way to change your looks. Having dark hair myself, I find that blue or purple eyes looks striking! Often, those with Asian eyes tend to choose colours like hazel or grey because they look better...but having tried trial pairs in the past, I found out I look best in blue and purple....though I really hoped that I would look good in green. So, if you are planning to buy coloured contacts, I highly suggest that you go to your optical shop and ask for trial pairs before you decide on which colour(s) to get!

There are many options in terms of colours and brands to choose from nowadays. I started off with Freshlook Colors (opaques) which gave me more of that 'striking' look I was trying to achieve. The next time, I tried Freshlook Colorblends which are a little more natural.

I found an old pic of me wearing blue lenses. I don't think I was wearing makeup in this pic...so it'll probably look better if you piled on the mascara or falsies!

I've recently started wearing Acuvue Oasys...and boy, they are comfy! I previously wore hard RGP (Rigid Gas Permeable) lenses for the past 7 years...so I suppose anything would seem comfy. Regardless, I'm interested in trying the Acuvue 2 Color Enhancers in Aquamarine...anyone tried them before?

To look at more contact lenses, coloured or not, you can visit www.lensshopper.com. It's a site specified for contacts only, and I found it pretty easy to navigate through all the brands and prices.

There's also the new 'black' coloured contacts that are supposed to give you 'anime sized eyes'....but I'll leave that for another post ;)