Photograph

** This post is reposted from here 

where I have started a 31 day photography challenge **

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So, to get me in a photographing mood, I have decided to start this challenge with a GIANT camera, and SPARKLES. (wait, are they called sparkles? I don't even know. Whatever, you know what I mean!)

Regardless, here is how it happened:

This is the main image I started with,

now the thoughts that I had while doing this are:

• needs to be expanded and cleaned up,
• the pillow should be exchanged with a camera,
• my feet have to be reconstructed,
• we need to add some sparkling lights to the diffusers.

so here we go:

this was done through stitching in some of the images I have taken of the scene without me in it. However, we now still have to remove the shadows from the T.V...

Now we added the camera (taken in the same light and location of the main image so that it can fit in and not look so 'superimposed' into the image)..

After that, I am adding back my arms from the original image (since the camera was slightly bigger than the pillow)..

after I added my hands in, and blurred them a bit (since my arms were more in focus and the camera body is out of focus.. so a little of Gassian Blur is added!

yaaaay!! now we are getting somewhere! added some life to those diffusers! yum!

yes, yum.

Since I love all things vintage, I am adding some textures to the background (on soft light), then erased it off of me and the camera.

Some curves adjustments!

et voila!

enjoy xx

Showg.

note: Photo inspired by Joel Robison

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I think happiness is overrated.

I consider myself a happy person, but I still think that happiness is overrated.
I think we should all get over the idea that we 'need to be happy' because it's okay not to be. It's okay to be sad and it's okay to be upset and not to be okay. It's okay to spend all day in bed and feel like you don't want to get up, and don't want to move.

You can be the happiest you can be, have all the luck in the world, be surrounded by so many loved ones, but a switch in your mind goes off and you feel like you no longer have the energy to smile.

Happiness is not a destination. Happiness is not the final prize we should try to attain or achieve. Happiness is a state of mind, a mood, an emotion: Happiness is the journey.

1. Find content: (I mean satisfaction not the contents of something)

If you are happy, but not satisfied, you're happiness is a waste.
instead of looking for what makes you happy, look for what satisfies your soul.

2. Write. It. Down:

this may seem to be extremely old fashioned, and you may thing I am crazy, but there is something extremely therapeutic about getting pen on paper.



find a nice thick glide-able pen (It's about time you splurge and get that Mont Blanc pen you have been drooling over since 7th grade, go on, it's okay - I bought myself a Parker), get a notebook that's unlined (I think lines constrict us and forces us to think we have to write in sentence form rather than abstractly), and just write. you don't have to journal, you don't have to write in it every day, or even talk about your day, all you have to do is write. Thoughts, Ideas, to-do lists, doodles, anything. 



3. Be grateful

This goes to my previous point. get a notebook specifically for this. 
everyday, write the date at the top and write 3 things you are grateful for on that day. it may sound easy, but, the rule is you can never write the same thing twice.



Before bed, make some tea (camomile or peppermint maybe? something uncaffeinated, camo helps you relax and wind down, peppermint has antidepressant abilities, so both these are a good choice) or take a bath, and write down 3 things you are grateful for that day. 

Then, whenever you feel down, you can look back into all those things that make your heart swell with joy, and you can see how lucky you are, and how 'this too shall pass'
at the end of each month, write 10 things you are grateful for at that month, and by the end of the month, you will have around 100 things you are grateful for every month! 
isn't that something?

3 Ingredient Homemade Bounty Bars!

I don’t remember the last time I ate a candy bar (I bet you a kidney it was a Mars Bar though..) I just stopped eating them a while back since I stopped enjoying them..
now I just look at people eating them and think: "How can they tolerate them?" - I don't mean to sound braggy, however, you can adjust your tastebuds. It's been a long journey, and I am still in it, I am trying to change the way I filter food so that I can no longer tolerate anything that's not "Real" or full of chemicals.



With that being said, I still enjoy some sweet treats (with the modification on the sweet part - this desert has no sweetener in it) and I was really craving coconut!

so here you go: my 3 ingredient (could pass for 2) vegan bounty bar! 

I don't really have a recipe for this, however in total I used:

1 bag (2 2/3 cup) unsweetened shaved coconut
2 cups chopped dark coco (about 85% - but anything over 70% would work)
1 tin (160 ml) coconut cream (optional)

1. I started off by creaming 1/4 cup of the coconut flakes in a food processor until it churned into butter, then folded the rest of the flakes in, then put it in the fridge to chill.

2. while it was chilling, I melted the chocolate and started coating the insides of the molds, then put it in the freezer to set.

3. once the chocolate has set, I scooped around 1-2 teaspoons of the coconut mixture into the chocolate and then covered with some more melted chocolate and put it in the freezer to set again.

you could transfer it into the fridge as a snack, or keep in the freezer as an ice-cream bar.




there is 2 more methods for this dessert:

1. you could cream all the coconut in the blender: this will tern your center into a soft peanut-butter like consistency (think Reese's cups.

2. you could mix the shaved coconut with the cream (don't use all of it, add a little at a time until desired consistency is reached): This would make it a more chewy dessert with bits of coconut.

This recipe makes a LOT of dessert (about 30 small cups and 4 big ones) I tend to make the huge batch then freeze it so I can pull out pieces whenever I have a craving for some chocolate!
believe me, one is enough!

I hope you enjoyed this dessert recipe!

When removed from the mold:

Planning your week!

I am no stranger to planning.. I have always had my little Post-its and coloured pens and religiously bought a new calendar yearly. The thing with me is that I prefer written plans and to do lists; nothing beats writing things down on paper.. it has a calming effect.
However, I have noticed that it is sometimes hard to keep track of your daily tasks when it's at home on your bed, and that there are tasks that we should all do daily that we forget!

In the spirit of reconnecting with my life and being a better me, I have decided to make a little weekly planner for myself, hang it on the fridge and see how things go!

I have posted this in it's "original size of A4" so that anyone can download it and print it out! #FUN!

this is more tailored to me, so feel free to change it up!

*It is actually on a white background*

Here's a rundown of my tasks:

A. Daily: These tasks you have to do every day!

Be active: Generally to reach my goal on my Nike+ FuelBand. 

Read: My average is 100 pages a day.

Take a photo: Any photo you can.

Go outside: Even if it's for a walk around the block.

Laugh: For any silly reason, even if it wasn't a good day: "Everyday might not be good, but there is something good in everyday."

5aday: 5 a day of your fruits and veggies!

Organise my space: Just a daily cleanup and wipe down :)

Yoga: Mostly would be before bed.

Tea: Because I love tea. and it's good for you!

B.Thrice weekly: Each task must be done 3 times a week!

Take a walk: for no reason at all. Just walk.

New movie: A movie I have never seen before.

Don’t eat out: Don't buy a single pre-made food. eat everything from your house. Even if it was a sandwich.

More than 8 cups of water: I generally drink more than that on a daily basis, but for 3 days, I will count them to be more than 8!

Plan weekly meals: sit down for 20 mins and plan the meals you want to eat.

Go vegan/Go carbfree: For these two, the reason I am doing it this way is cause of all the debate of which is better for you, becoming a vegan or cutting out carbs and sugar! so I have decided to divide my week as such and see how it goes! I am thinking of adding a 1 day a week: Go paleo! (I believe that dividing my week as such would force me to cut down on unhealthy food types: you can't have a cookie on vegan day because of the eggs and butter, and you can't have it on carb free day cause of the sugar and flour! and if I add paleo day, I cut it out all together, without really cutting it out! - however, I may just go for including paleo twice a week (once with a vegan day, and once with a carb free day), this will allow me one day of mixing foods up! I'll see how it goes and post an update c: )

Read a new quote: Read something inspirational and new and try to live by it!

Exercise for an hour: because on regular days I do 20-30min workouts, so I feel like adding those extra 30 mins would be a nice boost of energy!

Catch up with a friend: Someone I haven't spoken to in a while.. just because I like to keep in touch!

Blog: just sit here and write!

C. A la carte: These are things I plan to choose from and do 10 of them a week:

Go out with a friend: just to enjoy someone's company

Have a coffee: because it's more special this way

Disable the alarm: because I don't understand people who wake up with no alarm but I feel it's something I should be doing more often!

Bike ride: Because I love taking a bike ride, and it's something I should do more often

Laundry: I am very lazy with laundry and only do it when I no longer have anything to wear (I would like to think that I am protecting the environment haha!)

Buy flowers: I love flowers, and I Should buy myself more of these :)

Empty fridge:  I have once forgot to do that and found rotten cheese, never again!

Send mail: like actual post mail. because I believe the written word shouldn't be dead! and it's special sending someone something in the post!

Juice fast: my paleo day? I love doing juice fasts, and if done once a week on a lazy day, it would really help boost you, cleans you, and prevents me from bing eating everything in my fridge cause I am bored.

Shopping spree: Because we all deserve a little shopping therapy.

Bake something: Even if it was dinner

Make something: I believe that making something is very admirable. 

Go to the cinema: If you can't tell, I LOVE movies haha.

Donate/sell something: To cleanse your home and soul, not just your body.


Hope you enjoyed!

Dealing With Hyper-Pigmentation

Being born with the oiliest skin in the world is both a blessing and a curse..

The curse - (which we all know and can relate to..) is mainly pimples (i.e. scarring and hyper-pigmentation!!!!) make up sliding off, and a lovely shine on your forehead and nose!!

The blessing - while not well known - is generally the late appearance of wrinkles, because your skin is always hydrated!

for the past few months I have been using 3 products that (together) I believe have been the main reason for clearing up my skin (including the "healthier" diet and drinking more tea and juice! *I'll discuss in a future blogpost c:* )

it is a nighttime routine, and the best part about it is that it could be placed on your bedside table, and slathered on at night before sleeping!  *you can be as lazy as you wish*

1. CLINIQUE: Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector:

The first product (which - in a perfect world - would be placed on cleansed skin .. something I don't do every night..)

This product I have used on recommendation from my sister.. I had bought the 1.7oz bottle (only one in stock) used half and discarded it under my sink since it did nothing to me. I have then found that many people have reviewed it saying that you have to use a couple of bottles of it for it to work.

After washing my face one day, and finding that I don't have a serum to put on, I dug it out and applied it, continued with the rest of my routine (consisting of the 2 below products only) and woke up with AMAZING skin. I. Was. Sold.

If you have this under your sink, dig it out and use it again in this way, you will love it.

It is very lightweight and dissolves almost immediately when applied on the skin. I find if applying it to slightly damp skin, it is easier to blend and more likely to be soaked it quicker.

2. Kiehl's: Midnight Recovery Concentrate:

After waiting a couple of minutes for the serum to dry (this is a must, otherwise the concentrate will curdle - for lack of a better word - and your face will just be gross, and you'll have to get out of bed and wash your face, something we are trying to avoid here, folks!)

I used to apply 4 drops, then I got tired of counting and just started holding the dropper and just going insane! I started to learn how much have to be in the dropper for it to be enough, you will get to that level once you are a lover of this product (until you get there - 3 to 4 drops is generally perfect)

After so many curdles and late night walks to my bathroom (once those teeth are brushed, I don't want to go back, people!!) I have found that the most effective way to apply this is to pat it on rather than smear it.

then shake your hands in front of your face and pretend you just won Miss Universe! (why is there no Mrs Universe? Can't they marry?) to let the serum(s) dry.

3. KORRES: Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial:

Now, I had to search a bit to find this product, because initially I couldn't find it ANYWHERE.. but after finding it and using it, I loved it.

it is a thick but light weight cream that dissolves instantly. I love adding a thick layer so that it feels like a FACIAL and that I have a very soft face tomorrow morning. 

After applying those products, I let them soak in for a few mins so they don't smear all over my pillow.

4. *BONUS!* Kiehl's: Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution:

I know that this post was only supposed to be a night time routine with 3 products. However, just as an added bonus I wanted to include this product because I have bought it the same time as I did the Midnight Recovery (Thank you for sucking me in DXB international!) and have been using them in conduction, and have really noticed a difference! I use it under my morning mousteriser and sometimes on it's own.

I used to also count 4 drops exactly, but now I just steam it onto my fingers, and it's really nice because you can use it on your body as well, so I just wipe the excess on my shoulders and upper arms.

* * * *

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it was helpful!

Regards, 

The Little Cloud.

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Top 4 High-End lipliners!

I go back and forth between lipliners.. sometimes I Love them, sometimes meh.

however, when I do reach for a lipliner, it is generally under a lipgloss or to make a very nude lipstick more wearable. (my skin tone enjoys dancing around.) I also like to wear some of the creamier ones as stand alone lip colours. 

so here they are, my top picks (from lightest to darkest..):

1. Bobbi Brown: lip liner in Sandwash Tulle:

- This is a pencil, and it is on the dryer side. it is a ‘your lips but better’ colour. A good enough lip colour for the day time, or under a runny lipstick to make it stick in it’s place and stay longer. 

- From a scale of 1 - 10 (1 being wipes off when drinking water and 10 being must scrub off) it would be a 7 in the range.

- Doesn’t get on your teeth.

2. M.A.C: Cremestick Liner in Pink Treat:

- Being much creamier than a pencil, this lip liner is a great stand alone lip product. I Also love using it under the Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in No. 31: Pink Blossom or NARS lipgloss in Piree, the colour is FANTASTIC and it is one of my favorite lip products ever. This is my second one of it.

- it is probably a 9 in the ‘long wear scale’ doesn’t rub off easily, and doesn’t leave you with that awkward lined lip look as it fades. 

- may get on your teeth if you don’t wipe it off the insides of your lips well, so make sure you do that!

3. INGLOT: Lipliner in 860:

- This one isn’t for everyday (not that I don’t use it every day!) it’s a nice hot pink that’s very smooth and easy to apply. I love how it’s not very bright, but it’s just bright enough to give you that summer’s glow. I am very adventurous with my lip colors, and am most likely to be seen sporting a bright / deep colour than a nude, and this is just perfect for that. I use it as a stand alone lip colour, and I don’t think that matching it up with any colours would ever do it justice!!

- If you don’t eat, it’s quite long lasting (around a 7?) however, if you start eating it will start to fade, doesn’t really rub off, but the colour would probably need retouching if you want it to be as bright as it is.

- Doesn’t really get on my teeth, however, I would recommend wiping it off your inner lips just to be sure, since it is a bright colour!

4. Burberry: Lip Definer in No.04 - Bright Plum:

- To be honest this is my newest purchase and I haven’t really used it as long as the rest, BUT I really love the colour. it’s a nice bright plum (duh!) that can also be passed off as a red (to deepen your red lip!) it’s a pencil so it’s drying (I have found that all Burberry pencils - including eye pencils are very drying) so remember to add lip balm underneath (I usually add lip balm under all lipliners, they help them go on smoother, but they do sheer out their colour)

5. (BONUS!) Burberry: Effortless Kohl N0. 02 Oxblood: 

- Now, this isn’t technically a lipliner, it’s an all-in-one product (says the guy at the counter) but I have only tried it on my lips. My experience with Burberry is that the products don’t really last long ‘on you’ however this was a bit better than other stuff I have from them. It’s a beautiful blood red colour that would look gorgeous under any clear or lip plumping lipgloss.

- I would say it is about 6 the long wear scale.

- I haven’t found that it really got on my teeth, however, if you apply something over the top, check you wipe your inner lips well!

and that is it! happy lip lining :)