Book & Beauty Connection: Max Factor and "Ballet Shoes" by Noel Streatfeild

Hands up if you grew up reading books about ballet and aspiring ballerinas. If you did, chances are, you have come across the "Shoes" series by Noel Streatfeild at one point of time or another.

Published in 1936, "Ballet Shoes" is a very old book. However, it has never gone out of print and I always find myself buying second hand copies to give away to little girls or friends who don't think themselves too old to be caught reading children's books. "Ballet Shoes" isn't the best children's book ever but there is something very engaging about it.

"Ballet Shoes" was Noel Streatfeild's first children's book and tells the story of Pauline, Petrova and Posey Fossil -- three orphans who are adopted by GUM (short for Great Uncle Matthew) and raised by his great-niece Sylvia. GUM disappears while travelling one day and after money runs out, the children are sent to an academy to train in acting and dancing. Pauline discovers that she has a talent for acting, Posey is handpicked for private ballet lessons, while Petrova hates it. Her passion lies with automobiles and aeroplanes.

The book is chock-full of details about acting, dancing and performing on stage back before the Second World War. Noel Streatfeild herself was an actress so she drew on her experiences when she wrote "Ballet Shoes".

Flipping through the other day, I came across this passage which made me laugh. Don't you love discovering how long some products have been around for?

It's a Rip Off: Watsons VIP Card

Ladies, don't get the Watsons VIP Card. It's an absolute rip off and a ridiculous waste of RM 12 which you are never going to get back in a year.

Let me lay out the facts for you.

The Watsons so-called VIP Card is like any other customer card we get from Isetan, Robinson's and the like. The idea is simple: the more you spend, the more points you earn and the higher the rebate.

And We're TWO!!!

Hello lovelies!

Over here at So Loverly, we're all really abuzz with the fact that we turned TWO over the weekend!!! *wooot!*

It's almost scary how time just seems to whiz by, and before you know it... well, we're here! That said, it's been a fun-filled two years (for us at least), and we certainly look forward to many more years to spend with you, our loverly readers.

We know we've said before, but we're saying it again (and we really do mean it straight from the heart): We really wouldn't be here without you. Thank you. =)

For all our fellow blogging sistas, thank you for making feel we're not alone in our makeup mania.

And as an anniversary request, we would really really appreciate it if you could drop a line to let us know what you like or dislike about our blog. After all, everything's about constant improvement, no? Tell us what you like about us, so we can keep it going, and also what you may not like about us (but gently, please? *squeak*) so we can hopefully work on it and be even better.

Thank you lovelies, and here's to a better year ahead! *clanks lipgloss*

Love,
Syen, Kahani & Eli.

What's your number, pouty lips?

Bet that got your attention, din it? *grin*

No, no. Nothing scandalous of any sort in this post here. But I've recently been looking at my ever growing stash of makeup, and the pile of lipsticks and glosses I've accumulated over the years.

If I haven't mentioned it before, lippies are my original sin. I started with one Estee lipstick and it went baaaad from there. Right now it's blushes AND lipsticks.

Oh dear.

So I was just wondering. Does this sound familiar to you? You see a lipstick/gloss, and you have this insane voice going, "I waaaaants this." Nevermind if you already have 10 other lipsticks in the same shade sitting in your stash back home. The thing is, you need THIS one.

Some friends of mine have maybe five, or six, lipsticks and they run it through before they feel the need to get another one. One colleague of mine has only three. A coralish, a pinkish and a reddish.

"Why would I need more?" asks she.

But if you're anything like me, you'd bring that lipstick home too. Where you let it make friends with the other 15 coral lipsticks sitting on your dresser. Which begs the question, as some of my colleagues and friends have asked: How on earth do you ever finish a lipstick?

So now I'm asking you girls too. Do you finish your lipsticks and then buy more? Or buy more, regardless?

Anyhoo, what I started wondering then was how many lippies I actually own. And that got me counting. So my number is - 71 lipsticks and 29 glosses.

So 'fess up. What's your number? =P

My Wedding Snapshots ~

Finally! The wedding photos are here. And as promised, here are some shots I'd love to share with you girls.

The wedding was held on Aug 8, 2009, in Kuala Lumpur. We had a church wedding, and the weather was bright and sunny (if a little warm). It was then followed by a Chinese dinner reception in a hotel.

To all you dearies who turned up for it, the hubs and I thank you! All you girls (and guys) made our day. And oh boy, what a day it was. =D

Enjoy the piccies!

Getting fidgety with the engagement ring while waiting for the then fiance to arrive.

Me and my parents. I thought my mom looked lovely in her cheongsam.

With the bridal team at my parent's home, save the ringboy and the flower girl, who went straight to church. Our wedding, albeit a Christian one, took on some Chinese traditions, such as having the groom pick up the bride from her home.

Aren't they sho cute? He's a first-timer. She's already a pro, with five weddings to her resume.

Daddy walking me down the aisle. What was in my head? - "Don't trip. Don't fall. Don't trip. Don't fall." LOL.



The newlyweds! =D

Oooh. I loved my wedding cake. Simple and classy, just how I wanted it to be.

Me and my hoard of childhood friends. I grew up with a lotta guys. Thanks for coming darlings!

Me and my besties - Kahani and Mich. I love you both. *mooooaks!*

No Chinese wedding dinner can be complete without the customary "yaaaaaaaam seeeeeng!!!"

The new Mr & Mrs! Wheee! =D

And today I turn a year older too. Oh, I feel ooold. *tee hee*

Note: Photos by Wondrous Vision.