shopping | sharon pakir

Tag Archive for shopping

fragranced

September 17, 2011 Beauty, Shopping No comments

I was talking to a girlfriend last week about our shopping weaknesses, and she confessed that she had makeup and beauty product addictions, and bottles of potions lay about in every nook and cranny of her apartment. Whilst I’ve gotten my product addiction down to control (I think!) – my perfume one is insatiable, and if I don’t have my basic “wardrobe” of perfumes on my dressing table at all times, I feel a bit empty.

Ah yes, the joys of first world problems.

I love perfumes, because there’s nothing better than when a beautifully scented person walks past you and your nose, a sense that’s often subjected to cruelty, is indulged with a waft of heaven. Also this quote I found, is just pure honesty:

“The sense of smell can be extraordinarily evocative, bringing back pictures as sharp as photographs of scenes that had left the conscious mind.”

Baby girl insists that I have a signature smell, despite the fact that I use an array of perfumes, and have kept switching as the years have gone by. Well I hope this signature smell is a GOOD one, because I certainly can’t tell.

These are my basics, tried and true ones that I’ve been using over the past ten years, and keep buying when I finish them up. Of course, there’s others in rotation, but these are my favourites.

L-R Top row: Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, Estee Lauder Pleasures

L-R Bottom row: Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb, Prada Eau de Parfum, Ralph Lauren Romance

As you can tell, I love sweet florals.

Do you have a perfume wardrobe? Do you have similar perfume leanings as I do? Anything you’d like to suggest for me to try? Tell me. My wallet is eagerly awaiting some suggestions!

torquay weekend

March 4, 2011 Love, Travel One comment

Every so often, S and I like to take a 2 day roadtrip somewhere to re-connect, regroup, and just spend some quality romantic time together. We try to book these in advance – my weekend dance schedule often means weekends are fraught with busy-ness. Last weekend was booked in months ago, and we decided to head to Torquay since it’s near the end of summer. We figured trying to get any sunshine would be good!

We did a lot of things in 2 days – the things about S and I is that we both love activities, and we love doing things together. We started our Saturday with some coffee and munchies at Scorched, a gorgeous little restaurant by the Esplanade.

mmm snackies!

fried school prawns at scorched, torquay

I had the fried school prawns. Delectable.

the view from Scorched

Then we cafe-hopped a bit, watching the day go by with newspapers, coffees, and lovely chatting time.

how could you not enjoy sitting across this magnificence?

After a wonderful morning, we checked in at the Crowne Plaza, which had come recommended by a friend. We weren’t disappointed, it’s a really nice hotel with friendly staff, really nice facilities, and close to everything as well! As soon as we got in, S suggested I go do a couple of spa treatments whilst he went to the gym. TOTAL SCORE, HE IS SUCH A CLEVER MAN.

Off to the spa I skipped off to, and then later, feeling very relaxed and glowing (and him all gym-bunnied), we met for a steam room session, and then jumped in pool for a bit of a splash. It was an afternoon of absolute pampering and fun, with lots of giggles, an impromptu swimming coaching session for me, and super invigorating.

We had a quick drink in the hotel bar – you gotta love big hotels sometimes for their facilities. Thirsty? Just go downstairs and order a cold golden ale! Whoo hoo! Then got primped and ready for dinner. We headed to Geelong, and had dinner at a bar right on the water.

ZOMG the handsomeness!

S wanted to see me in dress featuring some colour, so I happily complied.

silk dress from bali market.

mmm a wonderful night!

Date nights with S are always dreamy – we stroll, hand in hand, the wind in our hair, we order comfort food and have a few drinks, and everything always seems to pass in some kind of wonderful, light-drenched movie scene kind of way. The photo above reflects it perfectly!

We ended date night by watching a quality movie together (a tv screen with Brad, George and Matt in Oceans Thirteen, and a handsome man right by my side – PERFECTION!).

Sunday morning, we checked out, then headed to Geelong for some crepes. If you haven’t been to Panache, you MUST go – it’s just awesomeness. Their chai lattes are also wondrous, especially on a day that is pretending to be the last day of summer but feels more like the dead of winter.

a gorgeous way to start the day!

bolognese stuffed crepe. OH MY GOSHNESS HEAVEN.

Then, because I whined until he agreed, we hit up a couple of wonderful antique markets. And ended up having so much giggling fun with antics, poses and whispered agreements about items we would NEVER buy, that at one point, I laughed till I nearly had a asthma attack. Uh huh. We are just really mature like that.

hello, handsome!

Yes, I’m wearing S’s shirt from the day before. Don’t judge me – it was cold and the shirt was SO comfy!!

medieval dental chair

With that much laughter beneath our belt, and so much romantic time and all round glowing happiness, it was time to head home.

driving home sweet home!

So that was that folks, what goes on when S and I disappear for the weekend! It was truly long overdue (we haven’t been away since I’ve been injured because long car rides make Mr Spine angry), and exactly what we needed. It’s also given us a taste of our upcoming overseas trip in May, so we are now doubly excited in anticipation! Hurray for love and days away!!

cute lil’ carry bags

January 20, 2011 Fashion, Shopping One comment

I, like most women I know, used to have to carry just about the entire contents of my house in my handbag around with me, day after day. It’s incredible what a resourceful woman can fit in her handbag, and even more the random items that can accumulate in there after days of use! Sunglasses, over the counter meds, tissues, makeup, eye drops, every card for every store known to mankind – ask me for it, and I’d usually have it!

Yes, I used to be one of those women, but since my back injury, I’ve had to rethink this model and how useful it is. When I started venturing out of the house again, the single biggest factor to my fatigue was that heavy, dastardly thing dragging my shoulder down and bumping into my hips. I wondered just how I would fare with the basic necessities, and here’s what I carry now:

1. Phone

2. Keys

3. Lipbalm (just ONE)

4. Small card holder – contains ID, credit card, cash

(I have another small card holder with all my store cards, and I only carry it if going to the shops).

Surprisingly, i have ADORED the liberation from fishing through my bag for things. I no longer lose small (or large) items in there. No more fumbling for my phone when it rings. No more wondering if I’ve got everything on me. I always know whatever I’m carrying at any given time – if my sunglasses aren’t hanging from my collar, then I don’t have them. There is no chance they’re hiding in my little 6inchx4inch handbag I’ve been toting around. I haven’t missed anything I used to carry around – anytime I’ve needed a Panadol, a mint, or a tissue pack, I’ve simply bought one – we do after all, live in a modern city with stores everywhere.

I think I’m a convert.

I’ve been carrying around a little handbag with a long shoulder strap – an LV one that my gorgeous mummy loaned me – I love it, but it’s a tiny bit small. When I’ve got both my phone and my card holder in there, it’s a bit snug, and I’m terrified that my keys will fall out everytime I gently manoeuvre anything out of it. I’ve been err, perusing these others too. Just for inspiration, of course. Pretty, no?

mmm... come to momma...

1. Chloé – Marcie Small Calfskin Mini Bag – AUD 710

2. Marc Jacobs – Quilting the Large Single Leather Bag – AUD 652

3. Marc by Marc Jacobs – ‘Classic Q High Schooly’ Top Handle Satchel – AUD 516

What do you think? Could you go bare with your bag? Try it – feel your back and shoulders thank you for it!

naughty wants

December 20, 2010 Fashion, Shopping No comments

Have been flicking through the MNG Autumn-Winter 2010 collection, and the below are things I covet – hopefully they’ll still be in the Singapore stores when I’m there in February!

Want want want. So naughty. WANT ANYWAY!

gift guide – the old fashioned way

December 14, 2010 Shopping One comment

My dad is an old-fashioned, gentlemanly kinda guy, and if there’s one thing he’s always done, is buy my mum gifts of not just shoes or not just a bag, but a matching set. One of my favourite memories of gift shopping with him for the -perfect- gift for my mum, was when he specified a red handbag, and we went traipsing all over town to look for it. When we found THE bag, he had a cheshire cat’s grin on his face – he knew she would love it.

The only problem?

It didn’t come with matching shoes.

My dad was a little bewildered. What had the world come to, that designers didn’t make handbags and shoes that matched? What was a self-respecting lady to do? How on earth was my mum going to cope with *gasp*, just the handbag? Surely it was going to be impossible to present her with such an awful, lonely gift? Wasn’t it fashion suicide to have mismatched shoes and handbag??

I still giggle thinking about it, but truth be told, his idea of old world charm really touches me. So just for the old-school, style-lovin’, matchy-shoes-&-bags lovin’ amongst you, I went and had an online rove with my shopping eagle eye.

WORK:

Christian Louboutin patent leather pumps; Prada soft calf satchel

WEEKEND:

Burberry buckled strap sandles; Marc by Marc Jacobs convertible strap satchel

NIGHT:

Christian Louboutin Maralena pumps; Diane von Furstenberg Lytlytton clutch

gift guide – for your man

December 14, 2010 Shopping No comments

I don’t know about you, but my man is one of those ones that is really hard to buy for. Avid shopper as I am, I still struggle ever Christmas and birthday to figure out what to get him. Still though, I DO have fun looking! Here’s a bunch of stuff I found that may suit the needs and Christmas wants of the special men in your life.