Throwback Thursday: KORA Organics Love

Happy Thursday loves! Today, I have a little throwback Thursday for you. I'm going to take you back to Christmas 2013. I never really tell you what I got for Christmas except for a little sneaky mention of the Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette, some Topshop lipsticks, and a limited edition MAC lipstick ... which you can read here ;)

One of my favourite things I received this past Christmas from my parents are these gems from KORA Organics. 

For those of you who don't know about KORA Organics, you are missing out. I've talked about KORA Organics before in an old post (.. I think it was August Favorites? where I mentioned the Tinted Day Cream). Miranda Kerr is the founder of KORA Organics, and if you don't know who Miranda Kerr is, you can stop reading this post now and go to google, find out who she is, then come back. Done? :)

Aside from creating an organic skincare line, Miranda Kerr also writes. 

If you've read my previous posts, you will know that one of my favourite books that I absolutely love is Treasure Yourself. I talked about it here. When I heard Miranda came out with a second book, I knew I had to have it.

The second book is called Empower Yourself which at this point in time I have finished reading. Empower Yourself, like Treasure Yourself, is a self-help book and guide to self-developement. This is my official new 'bible'.

Another treasure I received is a Beauty Pack in a Christmas-only-limited-edition sleeve, a la:

I received the Purse Pack, which contains all full-size products: Daily Hand Cream, Vitamin Enhanced Lip Balm, and the Energising Citrus Mist. I have used numerous products from KORA in the past but I have yet to try these 3 items so the Purse Pack is perfect for me :)

I'm not a big hand cream kind of girl because I hate the greasy feeling (even the ones that claimed to be "non-greasy" still feels greasy to me) and having to touch everyday objects like my phone, my purse, my laptop or my pen ... I just can't do it. Plus I wear rings every single day so the idea of getting them all greasy as well .. I just can't.

I've always just dealt with dry hands in the past but ever since I've gotten the Daily Hand Cream, I think I've been converted. It smells amazing and it leaves my hand super soft to the point that I became so obsessed with soft hands I forgot all about the "hand cream greasiness" and I didn't mind. (Now I feel weird with dry hands, mind you, I need these babies next to me all day!)

If you knew me, you'll know that I am a big sucker for lip balms. Not that I need any new ones but hey, the more the merrier. My lips are on the bigger side so I welcomed all lip products and embraced them with open arms. So getting the chance to try KORA's lip balm, safe to say, I was quite excited!

And boy was I not disappointed! I love the scent (I can't describe it as you know, but I'm just going to conclude that KORA has its "unique KORA-scent" and that's what the lip balm smells like. It smells like all the other KORA products - herbal, earthy, light, luxurious, spa-like.)

The last product in the Purse Pack is the Energising Citrus Mist. It is a face mist which revitalize and moisturize your skin, advertised as great for on-the-go. I use this product 2 different ways: as a toner before I put on my daily moisturizer and somedays I will put it in my purse and take it with me as I go. When I want a "pick me up", this Energising Citrus Mist refreshes and hydrate my face (think Evian Mineral Water Spray - it works like that).

Overall I love these products so much. I will definitely be repurchasing every single item when I run out. KORA Organics is one of my all-time favourite skincare line. Not because it is created by Miranda Kerr who is my absolute idol, but because it is an organic line which is good for you and good for the environment :) I highly recommend to those of you who have yet to try the KORA line. I know it may be a little on the expensive side but it is worth every penny. I believe we should invest in skincare products because we will be living in our skin for the rest of our lives. If you have any questions about the KORA products, feel free to ask me anything and I will answer you as best as I can :)

Until next time

from Film with love, 

xx

First haul of the year!

Hello beauties! I have a haul for you today on something (or should I say some things ...) I've had my eyes on for a while now. As you can see from the picture above, they are the infamous Benefit's Rockateur blush and Dior's Diorskin Shimmer Star in Amber Diamond.

I finally bit the bullet and spent a whopping C$45 for the highlighter(*cringe* I know, but I've been eyeing it foreverrrrr) because I've heard soooo manyyyy amazing things about it and ever since a couple of months ago I've started to become very obsessed with highlighting my face (a la Kim Kardashian's cheekbones and such). I've also decided to hop on the rose gold bandwagon, hence the beautiful slightly shimmery Benefit blush.

This is my first Dior product and Benefit blush box. I bought these babies just a couple of weeks ago and I am unashamed to say they are quickly becoming my favourite product because I've been reaching for them every single time I go out. These products make my skin look so healthy and I seemed to be "glowing" (stranger's words, not mine).

I noticed that The Rockateur blush has a very light scent. Since I'm really bad at describing scents, I can't tell you what it smells like. But it smells good. That's all I can say. It's not too strong, but it is strong enough for me to notice it every time I sweep it across my cheeks. I think this rose gold hue is perfect for this time of year (winter). It complements most of our (I'm assuming everyone is at their palest this time of year) paler skin tone so well, as I find it gives me that "flushed from being outside in the snow" look (lol). I love its slight shimmer as well. Just perfect!

Dior's Amber Diamond is an ivory/champagne/tan/bronze/peach highlighter. It feel (and look!) so luxurious. I read somewhere that you can totally use this powder all over your face with a light hand but I have yet to try so. So far, I've only been using it to highlight my cheeks, my cupid's bow, and you know .. all that jazz. I went to the MAC counter the other day and the makeup artists there stopped me and asked what I was using for highlighting my face. I told them it was the Amber Diamond so then they walk across their counter over to the Dior section and they each purchase one right then and there! Hahaha! It is my most favourite highlighting product I've ever own (my former love is the MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle). But the Amber Diamond now has my heart. I love it so much I want to go out and buy it's sister - the Rose Diamond (pearl/pink/mauve/soft plum/pink) but I'm afraid because of it's cringe-worthy price tag, my dream would have to wait.

Until next time ..

from Film with love,
xx

Goals and Resolutions

Whilst browsing through Lauren Conrad's blog, I came across her list of New Year's Resolution. I think it's such a fun and good idea so I want to do the same thing. It will be nice to come back this time next year, 2015 to see what I've accomplished! Feel free to do this too :)

A bad habit I’m going to break:
Procrastinate!

A destination I’d like to visit:
A new province in Canada that I've never been to.

I’m going to work harder at:
Doing cardio. That includes: sweating, getting my heart rate up, exercising.

A project I’d like to finish:
Get back in shape (in my ballet/dancing days).

A class I’d like to take:
Pilates.

I’d like to spend more time doing:
Outdoor activities.

A food I want to eat more of:
Raw food (fruits and veggies)

I want to wear more:
High heels. I own so many but I never ever wear them.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Until next time,

from Film with love xx

The "F" word

Hello, hello! Today I want to do a blog post on the "F" word. Not that F word. This F word: Fitness. I know, I know .. 8 out of 10 times when I see a blog post about fitness I'm either skipping over or rolling my eyes. "Being fit" is such a hype in 2013 (don't know why ... ) and you see "fitspo" and constant talk of "eat clean, train dirty", "look like a beauty, train like a beast" and all that jazz everywhere. Like I mean, everywhere. Tumblr, Instagram, ... you name it.

BUT, as part of my new year resolution, "SWEAT EVERYDAY, AT LEAST 30 MINUTES A DAY" I have decided that it's finally time for me to get off my ass and do something about my body. So that means that I, Film, am jumping on the Fitness bandwagon. But fear not my readers, I solemnly swear that I will never go crazy like all the fit advocates in 2013.

Summer 2012

Let's go back to 2008 when I first came to Canada ... Being not used to the rich and heavy food, it is no surprise that I gained weight. A lot of weight. I was the heaviest and the biggest I've ever been. I am 165 cm, or 5'5". I weighed around 50 kg (110 pounds) before Canada. After a year, I was around 60 kg (132 lbs)! It was insane. I had no self control and I HATED exercising. I went back to Thailand the summer of 2011 where I lost some weight and I was around 56 kg (123 lbs). I came back to Canada and I managed to maintain my weight (didn't lose and didn't gain any) in my senior year of high school.

In 2010, I started my first year of university. I think I was around 55 kg at that time (121 lbs). Last summer after my second year of university, I went home to Thailand and managed to lose some weight. We were traveling around for a bit on vacation so there were a lot of walking and hiking. I weighed around 52-53 kg (115 lbs) but as soon as I came back to Canada once again, my weight went up. I haven't weigh myself since that summer of 2012 so I have no idea what I weigh now. But from looking in the mirror and how my clothes feel on me, I feel like I'm back to around 125 lbs.

From 2008 until today, I couldn't get back to my initial weight and back into shape. I was a hardcore dancer - I danced for 16 years. I was in shape. Ever since I came to Canada I stopped dancing. I stopped exercising all together. I was never one to go to the gym and run on the treadmill. I hated that. I even signed up for a year membership (I went a total of 10 times max). I canceled the membership after the year mark is up and then a couple of years later I joined again. And then I canceled again. I was never motivated enough to push myself to go regularly.

At this point in my life, I'm not looking to go back to my initial 110 pounds. I was 16 years old then. But I am 21 years old today, and I've been very unhappy with myself for a long time. Too long, in fact. I know that the biggest part of my unhappiness is how I feel when I look at myself in the mirror. Not only that, I am unhappy mentally. Not loving my body and not liking how I feel really hurt my self confidence.

So this year, 2014, I am finally doing it. After saying that "I'm going to do it" on and off for the past 5 years, I'm doing it now. Today, January 1st, marks the first day of my road to happiness. I will learn how to love my body again. I will learn how to love myself. I am fortunate enough to live in a building that has a fitness amenity. That means that I don't need to join a membership at a local gym. I have the convenience of easily walking down 2 flights of stairs from my room. Today I took advantage of that. I sweat for 30 minutes today. It was extremely difficult for me, mind you. I hate cardio and I hate running (I don't know how and I can't). But we all have to start somewhere (I walked on an incline today - didn't run or jog but it made me sweat) and you can bet your bottom dollar that I will be finding other ways to sweat it out for half an hour each day, everyday aside from running on the treadmill or going at it on the elliptical. I missed dancing so much so I will properly be dancing around in my room until I sweat for half an hour on some days when I really really don't feel like going downstairs to the Fitness Room. I have some workout DVDs at home too, some have never even been touched after I bought it, so that will definitely be coming in handy for this journey I'm currently on.

I'm setting a short term goal for myself. It is going to be a big challenge for me and it's going to be really difficult. But I won't give up, not this time. I am going into this with a completely new mindset (in case you're curious, I'm telling me to workout everyday like it's my job and I'm getting paid to sweat 30 minutes a day. A bit extreme? Maybe, but I'm going with a trial-and-error process so if this mentality doesn't work out I'll find something else but for now this will do). My goal daily is to obviously push myself to workout and sweat for 30 minutes. My short term goal is to be consistent for the next 6 weeks. After I conquer these 6 weeks I will be forming a habit so these workout will become my daily routine which will turn into a lifestyle. You know that quote that says "It takes 4 weeks for you to see your body changing. It takes 8 weeks for friends and family and it takes 12 weeks for the rest of the world."? This is going to be my reminder. I follow numerous accounts on instagram that are my fitness inspiration. My deadline will be my graduation in May.

If there are any of you out there who are having a really hard time like me, sticking to working out consistently, having no motivation to actually get up and move about, or the king and queen procrastinators out there who are constantly pushing to workout "later", don't worry. I know how you feel 100% because we are on the same boat! I know that somedays (like tomorrow, because right now I feel like as if my energy is completely drained and I just want to go to bed even though it's only 8 PM and my body is going to be screaming in protest tomorrow when I wake up from it's unfamiliar soreness) I will be needing double the motivation and double the strength to continue my journey on. My bed and my couch will be extra inviting and teasing tomorrow but I will not be weak. I will be strong. Hopefully this post will inspire some of you who are struggling to want to make a new change and turn your life around along with me. We can do it together. You can be my motivator and I can be yours? If you have any tips for me as I begin this fitness journey, please feel free to leave suggestions and your comments down below. Thank you so much for taking time to read this and thank you for your kind comments :) Let's do this!

Until next time, from Film with love,
xx

Chapter 1 of 365

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!

I hope this is your year - filled with love, health, and happiness! I hope your dreams come true this year. I hope you'll fall in love or even deeper in love if you're already spoken for ;). I hope you find yourself. I hope you become the person you always wanted to be. I hope you reach your goals. I hope you conquer your fear. I hope you get what you want. 

I'd like to share some photos from last night when we were out celebrating my boyfriend's birthday and countdown on New Year's Eve. Enjoy! x

Getting ready for a long night out!

 We had a reservation at a sushi restaurant - Mike's favourite

After dinner, we went for drinks.

My handsome birthday boy!

 There was a live jazz band too last night. They were amazing!

Took this when the clock striked midnight :) Happy New Year everyone!

Until next time, from Film with love, xx