Lifestyle News: 名模 Amanda S. 的法式餅店 petite Amanda

Petite Amanda 內以法國女僕的打扮售餅員和一列 crayola 蠟筆色彩般的蛋糕。

• 還是模特兒的 Amanda S.


• Amanda's Verrine: 美麗但有點悶

• Delice Aux Abricots 適合一些不太喜歡他們的甜點有太多味道和質感的人。


• 每天蛋糕運到店鋪前（11:30 a.m. 和 3:30 p.m. 前）都開始見到人龍。

香港名模 Amanda Strang 位於 IFC 的 petite Amanda 開業了。

• 單單看這前模特兒的名字，已足夠吸引一班耐心的顧客於每天的 11:30 a.m. 和 3:30 p.m. ﹣﹣蛋糕的送貨到達時間﹣﹣在門外靜靜守候著。




• Amanda 放棄了她的模特兒事業，到法國馳名烹飪學校藍帶廚藝學院修讀甜品課程，並於 Carprice、Ladurée 及 Jacques Geninquit 實習。 毫無疑問，她創立了一間很像樣的法式甜品店。




• 可是，這不等於此餅只應天上有。




• 我們不是覺得這些甜品有什麼出錯，但不要期待一場味覺的煙火表演。這些甜品是簡單而無侵略性的，同樣地，它們欠缺了令人一試難忘的獨特個性。




• 我們探訪當天，是一個香港典型的濕熱下午。甫到 petite Amanda ，我們就被清新柑橘顏色的 Delice Aux Abricots 和店中其中一招牌 Amanda's Verrine 所吸引。




• Amanda's Verrine 那輕淡的 sabayon 中幾乎嚐不到任何酒味，上面就鋪著淺淺一層多汁的桔子果凍。隨 Verrine 慷慨地附上一大包自製的餅乾屑，餅乾屑的牛油味和甜味頗夠。一小匙的 Verrine 是牛奶、橙、曲奇結合出來的美味。




• 我們享受這個質樸簡單的甜點，可是離味覺高潮還有一段距離。Amanda's Verrine 的價格為 $70 ，皆因甜點以獨家法國 Le Creuset 小杯奉上。




• Delice Aux Abricots 是一個外型很討好可愛的白朱古力幕絲加上杏子餡、碎餅乾底。外表鮮豔的蛋糕可能會把你騙了，沒有燦爛提神的味道，我們得到的是很纖巧、優雅的味道；我們幻想著一套浮誇的金線 jumpsuit 但看到的竟然是白色蕾絲？




• Petite Amanda 同時也有出售法國麵包，更被著名食評人蔡瀾形容「出色... 店裡的牛角包，更是出色，不然來一條法棍，和在法國吃到的一模一樣。」




• Openrice 食評辣子就有以下見解：「我的牛角包看起來很不錯，可是沒有強烈的牛油味。質感有點乾，缺乏那種牛油般的滋潤口感。它可以更片狀就更好了。以這個價錢，我大概可以在附近的 Robuchon's 買一個更好的。可是，想，你怎能把它跟有幾十年經驗的大師比較？」




• 你有沒有嚐過 petite Amanda 的出品？你對它的判決又是如何？留言讓我們知道吧！




• Petite Amanda. 開放時間星期一至五 8 a.m.﹣ 8 p.m.; 週未 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Shop 2096, 國際金融中心二期, 中環, +852 2234 7222

Summer Holiday/Vacation

안녕하세요!! こんにちわ皆様！HEY EVERYONE!

I'm away for my Summer holiday tomorrow, so I will be on hiatus for approximately one month!! Don't worry though, there are plenty of posts scheduled to update my blog daily despite my absence...

However, it will mean replies to comments will be slightly delayed. There will be lots of idol photos, and interesting posts, so I can assure you, things will run as usual! (*^-^*)

I am off to the wonderful South East Asia to get my yearly dose of amazing food, fashion and generally quirky Asian things!!! I've been stuck here in the UK for far too long this year, working hard, so I'm really excited to finally get a break hehe (*^^*).

You can expect an oasis of photos of my travels and accomplishments when I'm back! \(*^0^*)/

Please keep visiting and supporting this blog!!

I will do my best to keep you all interested! Fighting! がんばりますよ！

p(*^-^*)q

Converse x Undefeated “White” Ballistic Capsule Pack

Here are some more images of the "White" Ballistic Capsule Pack from Converse and Los Angeles based Undefeated. Included in the collection are the Academy Low and Star Player High, both built in a mix of leather and and ballistic nylon. A white rucksack is included in the collection and also combines leather and ballistic nylon. 

Girugamesh "Color"

Song Released on 7th of July 2010

Converse Chuck Taylor Hi x Super Mario Bros.

For all the nostalgic 80's kids, Converse had been releasing a collection of Super Mario Bros. themed versions of the Chuck Taylor Hi. Here we see two additions to the collection, which feature screen caps from game play. Available in Tokyo.

DJ Yuki Weekly [2011.08.28]: Janice "Pretty" MV

SHINee "Kiss Kiss Kiss" [Japanese]

별The Star (You've Fallen for Me OST) by 강민혁 Kang MinHyuk (CNBLUE)

Converse x Nintendo Super Mario

Converse Japan is helping Nintendo celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. with a limited-edition Chuck Taylor shoe.

The classic high top with a Nintendo twist will be available in black or white, and the Converse logo is set to feature the star from the game - the one that gives Mario the power of invincibility and speeds up the background music.

According to the Japanese blog Shoe Master, the shoe will be released in July. The design features the original 8-bit video game portrayal of Mario.

Dr.スランプ Opening Theme!!

Does anyone remember this? Ah.. my childhood favourite! (*^.^*)

Givenchy x Converse Leopard Print!

Of all the limited edition collaborative designs cropping up, this one was the most surprising of all. They may only be available in Japan, but that doesn't make these Converse Chucks any less jaw-dropping.

And we mean jaw-dropping in the best possible way. It's about time the classic All-Star Chuck was introduced to a monochrome leopard print, after all.

The shiny black-on-black Converse Addict Givenchy is not the first of its kind - the companies collaborated once before, in 2008, but these are the first Chucks to feature the iconic animalistic designs of Riccardo Tisci.

The black-on-black theme is a continuation of what Givenchy brought in the label's 2011 Spring/Summer Men's collection - and these one note wonders may be the chicest thing we've ever seen from Converse.

Girugämesh [ギルガメッシュ] "Crying Rain"

A beautiful melancholy number by one of my favourite J-Rock Visual Kei bands...

My (lack of) Summer Holiday So Far...

Hey everyone!

So whilst everybody else was having their Summer holiday, being out of the house, catching sun, or what little of it.... what have I been doing? I wasn't entirely on a Summer break, despite having completed my Master's Degree dissertation...

I have been preparing to submit my Doctoral Research Proposal; yes, I'm applying for a Doctor's degree, a PhD. I had never thought of it before, until in June, my Father suggested that I should give it a try just incase it was an option I wanted to take, and could achieve - you never know, it may come in handy if jobs were scarce. 

It was on the day all exams had finished, and on the way home, I was excited to begin a decent break from revision for exams since Easter and begin my MSc Dissertation. Little did I know that I was going to be still working on documents from Easter break until now!! It's end of August!

[110630] T-ara Roly Poly (Live)

ANIME Princess Tutu Opening "Morning Grace" & Cantonese Chinese Version 醜小鴨天鵝湖 by 薛凱琪 Fiona Sit

This was one of my favourite anime not long ago, the OST is beautiful.. Partly because it features a lot of the most beautiful pieces of Classical music and incorporates a plot consisting a combination of many well known fairytales. A beautiful touching ending and morale too.

Fiona Sit Version (available on her Album 'F Debt'):

Goguma Beauty Help: Masks. What to do? When to do?

How often? When? What do I do? What should I use? How do I do it?

Not sure how to use your masks best? These are some of my thoughts (*^^*)

CN.BLUE - One Time [Sound Plex Performance]

Beauty News: 秋季化妝品率先睇！ Clé de Peau Beauté 絲柔粉底霜 [Hong Kong ELLE]

Silky Cream Foundation SPF 20・PA++ ($980)

雖然香港的暑天漫長，但其實在不經不覺間，我們已踏入初秋。在這轉季時分，皮膚容易出現乾燥情況，導致底妝欠缺貼服，因此當你正準備張羅秋裝之時，也別忘記為皮膚換上質地滋潤的粉底，讓肌膚散發健康光芒。

• Clé de Peau Beauté 將會推出的Silky Cream Foundation也許是你今個秋冬的必備化妝品，這絲柔粉底霜質感輕柔如絲緞，產品更以視覺修護管理的光學技術研製，有效令膚質倍添細膩豐潤，由內至外煥發肌膚的自然光澤及立體感。


• 此外，Silky Cream Foundation亦含有高效修護乳霜，它擁有持久的補濕效果，而成分中防止蜂巢油分更可確保粉底維持細緻貼服，免卻脫妝的煩惱。


• 推出日期：8月22日

Snow White ~ Another Gift by D

Sarino x Vans Authentic Lo Pro & Sk8-Hi D-Lo “Hello Kitty” Pack

Sarino has connected with Vans to craft a collection of Hello Kitty themed sneakers. In the mix are the Authentic Lo Pro and Sk8-Hi D-Lo, both built in canvas covered with a Hello Kitty print.

DJ Yuki Weekly [2011.08.21]: HwangBo R2Song (Arisong)

CN.BLUE YongHwa Singing Girl (Lee MoonSe) [Sound Plex Performance]

Beauty News: 必買Duty Free 限量版：YSL 旅行彩妝盤 [Hong Kong ELLE]

Yves Saint Laurent 旅行彩妝盤  ($430)

筆者其實還蠻喜歡逛免稅店，因為在 duty free shop 中，每每會找到一些門市買不到的精美限量版妝物，像Yves Saint Laurent 最新推出的旅行彩妝盤就是好例子。

對Yves Saint Laurent而言，色彩是每段旅程的精髓，因此品牌以「現今旅程」為靈感，設計了是次的旅行彩妝盤。這彩妝盤以桃紅色包裝，並以金色YSL 名牌點綴，就像一件時尚飾物，伴你遊走各個愉快旅程。

此外，彩妝盤中有齊唇膏、眼影和胭脂色調，再配上小巧實用的化妝掃，讓你隨時隨地也可打造完美華麗的妝容。

Beauty Trends: Dior Diorsnow UV SHIELD BB CREME [Hong Kong ELLE]

Dior Diorsnow UV SHIELD BB CREME SPF 50 /PA+++  ($370 )

這蘊含獨家的新一代色彩改善色素，將保護和修飾作用合而為一，成分中的氧化鐵和二氧化鈦色素，能作出輕微修飾效果，顯著淡化斑點和瑕疵，瞬間創造完美柔滑肌膚。

編輯評語：

產品的珍珠色澤可做到不俗的煥膚修飾效果，把它用作妝前打底之用亦可令底妝更持久，做到雙得益彰之妝效。

Beauty Trends: Maybelline Pure Mineral BB Cream [Hong Kong ELLE]

Maybelline Pure Mineral BB Cream

Maybelline Pure Mineral 8合1 純礦物 BB Cream (Natural)  SPF 26/PA+++  ($99)

產品含有8大天然礦物健康精華，不會堵塞毛孔，而且成分不含香料和油質，敏感肌也能放心使用，塗上後具即時減淡暗啞和改善膚色之效，同時提升肌膚光采。

編輯評語：

色調比想像中明亮，深淺適中，而且亦做到改善膚色和自然遮瑕，效果叫人滿意。

DJ Yuki Weekly [2011.08.14]: Janice "Morning"

Goguma Beauty: New Body Shop Lip Roll On [5 Flavours]

As you may already know, I try out dozens of products regularly, and review them here for YOU, my beauty, fashion and health conscious beautiful people!!

I'm currently trying out this flavour out of the 5 wonderfully fruity and natural lip roll on. It nurtures your lips, reducing flakiness and cracked skin whilst giving a light natural, non-sticky gloss shine!

So here's a description and my rating for this economical, effective and great lip care product!!

Beauty Trends: Estée Lauder BB Cream 用 BB Cream 打造白滑祼妝 煥發健康美白神采 [Hong Kong ELLE]

全能細胞亮白防曬調色底霜 SPF35/PA+++

$350/30ml

CyberWhite Brilliant Cells Extra Intensive BB Crème Multi-Action Formula SPF35/PA+++ 

透薄嫩滑的裸妝是今個春夏季的重點底妝潮流，想輕易地打造無瑕底妝，除了使用一貫的粉底外，建議你不妨試試最近極具人氣的BB Cream，透過產品輕盈的質地和自然顏色，令肌膚煥發最健康無瑕的神采，即使不化全妝也可精神奕奕上街。

Beauty Trends: Biotherm BB Creams [Hong Kong ELLE]

BIOTHERM WHITE D-TOX TRANSLU‧CELL 全能光感美白BB 霜

BIOTHERM WHITE D-TOX TRANSLU‧CELL 全能光感美白BB 霜  ($300)

不含油的BB 霜能為肌膚24小時補濕，而且產品不會堵塞毛孔，成分中亦含有10% 礦物粉末塗抹後於任何光線下，都可透現完美瑕美肌。

Beauty Trends: Lancôme BB Cream [Hong Kong ELLE]

Lancôme UV Expert Active Protection BB Base SPF 50 PA+++

全方位防禦抗曬BB粉底

Lancôme的全方位防禦抗曬乳一直備受用家稱讚。今次品牌更順應韓國妝潮，推出BB粉底霜。

此全方位防禦抗曬SPF 50 PA+++ BB粉底不但可隔離紫外線及具美白功效，而且其色調與亞洲膚色非常切合，可遮蓋色斑、細紋及粗糙等面部瑕疵，故可單獨或於塗粉底前使用。

Converse Jack Purcell Helen x Marimekko

Finnish label Marimekko continues its Converse connection with the release of the Jack Purcell Helen. The kicks are canvas built with a Marimekko print and the "Converse <3 Marimekko" tags on the tongue. 

Beauty Trends: Clinique BB Cream 隆重登場！[Hong Kong ELLE]

CLINIQUE Age Defense BB Cream SPF 30/PA+++可以單獨使用或作妝前打底使用。($265)

其實早於數月前，筆者已在機埸看到這只限於免稅店發售BB Cream，心想不知何時它會正式空降品牌專櫃呢？好消息，Age Defense BB cream SPF 30/PA+++ 已鐵定於6月24日全面上市，各位有心人以後要「入貨」可方便多了！

• CLINIQUE Age Defense BB Cream，是市面上少數同時具備抗衰老及防曬功效的BB霜，產品中的高效抗氧化成分維他命E ，有效保護皮膚中的骨膠原，避免因日曬而帶來的侵害；而咖啡鹼成分則 有助鎮靜及舒緩敏感肌膚，同時促進皮膚更新，進一步淡化皺紋。


• 另一方面，產品配方中亦加入了色素粒子雲母和鐵氧化物等色素粒子，它們可從多方位反射光線，從而遮蓋及修飾面上瑕疵，調和膚色，令肌膚色澤更明亮均勻，


• 此外，這BB霜也有助吸收多餘的油脂，持久控油，令粉底貼服自然，妝效更持久。

Beauty Trends: Bobbi Brown BB Cream [Hong Kong ELLE]

BB Cream SPF 35 PA+++ ($340)

BB Cream 是近年來最受歡迎的化妝品，可是，傳統的BB Cream色調普遍較灰，而且質地亦不夠滋潤，因此不是每位女士也能體驗到 由BB Cream 帶來的應有自然妝效。

• Bobbi Brown全新推出的的BB Cream SPF 35 PA+++，大概能解決以上提及的化妝問題，這 BB Cream 以黃色為基調，同時備有三種顏色選擇，再加上質地滋補細滑，讓你可輕易打造似有還無的零瑕疵妝容。


• BB Cream SPF 35 PA+++ 的質地輕盈，塗上後可仿如無物，感覺就像第二層肌膚般透薄，此外，產品亦擁有足夠的著色度，因此可有效遮蓋面上瑕疵，締造亮麗均勻的膚色。


• 另一方面，這BB Cream蘊含大量透明質酸，可在化妝之餘同時提供充足的補濕度，再加上成分中的天然六胜肽，能促進天然膠原蛋白生長，減少皺紋形成，並令毛孔更細緻。

Endy Chow 周國賢《陽光燦爛的日子》Sunshine Ver.

The "Sunshine Version" of this wonderfully soothing Endy Chow song《陽光燦爛的日子》

Goguma Beauty Section: Upcoming posts!

Hi beautiful girls and flower boys!!

Due to recent work, Goguma Beauty activities have been infrequent, but don't worry, there are lots of things coming up starting from tomorrow!

Tomorrow will be the start of a series of BB creams that you may not have noticed before, or that are brand new on the market!! So for those who want to appear fresh faced and flawless, the upcoming posts are for you! These are just product news, so in addition, the previous product reviews under the Goguma Beauty Section will continue!!

Products that will be covered and reviewed in upcoming Sweet Potato posts: Moisturisers, and pore minimising solutions... and much more!

(Non reviews will be tagged under 'Beauty' rather than Sweet Potato/Goguma or any other relevant tags)

Be sure to click on the tags in the side bar to not miss any!!!

(*^-^*)

MSc DEGREE FINISHED!!

Hey everybody!!

I've finally handed in my final paper, my dissertation! So I'm now all free to do what I want and wait for my results (*^-^*)v

Well... I'm actually still working right now, preparing my PhD project/research proposal, so I'm technically not free until that is due hehe. But at least it's one down, one to go! (*^^*)

As promised, I will be posting more often in the next 3 weeks (I will be away on holiday afterwards so posting may get scarce). So... to celebrate I will be posting some hot hot photos today!

Keep visiting and leaving me messages, I respond to them all!

(*^^*)

KARA in JEREMY SCOTT x ADIDAS [Fall/Winter 2011]

Jeremy Scott x Adidas:

OBYO Panda Tshirt and Logo Graphics Paw Tshirt