19 July: We finally got ourselves an outdoor table set!!

The weekend turned out lovelier than expected. In fact it was a gorgeous sunny weekend with bits of rain here & there.

My BFF is coming to visit next week with her friend. I guess that gives me a good reason to drive out to Ap Lei Chau- Horizon Plaza to finally hunt down a cheap table set. Something which we have been putting off for months. Plus, it gives me an excuse to drive out rather than sit around the house like 2 huge potato sacks.

I wanted something small, something foldable, something with a good solid feel, something that will not break my bank which means something that is not in the ridiculous 5 digit range or even 4 digits in the high range. Ikea has stuff about HK2000-5000 range but they are all wood. Wood is a pain in unsheltered rooftop because u need to glaze it yearly or it will look really shiiity, with cracks and stuff.. Nah...wood is my last choice.

My first stop was at Patio mart but everything is wood there and nothing really caught our eyes. So I moved down to level 7 where Garden Gallery is. Amazingly, we found the "perfect" table for us!

It's not those typical by the poolside cheap plastic table. A pure polyethylene unmixed with UV protection & shockproof, constructed to withstand heavy loads and with a damn good sturdy feel to it. The ergonomic Norman chairs turned out surprisingly comfortable and mould nicely to our butt and upper butt as you lean back. My fav part is that it actually has a nice feet perch. What do u expect? German usually make good stuff:)

What made me even happier is the price for this ZOWN product. (Website here)
At HK880 for the square table and HK380 per seat (with 10yr & 5 yr warranty respectively ), I could literally chuckle & do my sexiest Aloha Hawaiian dance out of there. We did pause to consider if we wanted a more elongated version at Hk980 but I figured a square table is more functional for our needs and should we move again, I think a square table will fit into our place better. Plus the fact that both my man and I are hermit by nature and hardly have guests over, having a big table is really an overkill.

Since they were light to carry to our car, (the nice staff loaned us a trolley) so I saved another HK100 for delivery.

The first thing I did was to unwrap everything. Tada!!! Totally in love with our outdoor table set!! Apart from it's usual functionality, this table gives much needed shelter for my basil & mint!! 

20th July (Sunday)

Since the weather has been lovely today, I decided to stay up the roof and type this while happily seated on my new chairs, sipping my cold orange juice and having a nice gentle tan with my plants, complete with my MacAir & mozzie coil of course...

18 July: They have sprouted!!

The picture says it all:) 

My chilli plant has finally fruited!!! 

Hip hip horray! 

Finally after all the depressing flower drops, I found a shady but unblocked spot behind a bigger plant for this chilli fellow. I found a big tile and provide some minimal shade from direct rain pelting. 

These few days have been Typhoon 3. The wind strength was ghastly n so I made the decision to bring my plant down before it snap in two. My plant has grown up to my waist now and since it isn't bushy n heavy bottom (but heavy top), I didn't want to risk it. 

The other 4 are still up there looking abit sickly, deprived of much needed sun due to the shower curtain covering them from heavy rain pelting. I couldn't be bothered to move all of them (too much work). So only my basil was brought down as well. Not sure if the other will perish from too much water. We will find out soon enuff...

3 July Beauty: Sofina Primevista Multibase Cover

My old stuff are finally out and so I'm off to try something I had been eyeing on the last past year. Sofina makeup stuff. 

Hailing from Japan under Kao, it's currently only available in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong retails outside Japan. 

What interests me isn't the colour series but the cover that will minimise the pores for combination/ oily skin. Have heard so much about it but I had been stalling since I don't want to clutter my bathroom with half used products.

In the end, I purchased the Primevista multi base cover and the face cake powder. 

The multi base comes only in 1 shade. Their principle award winning item is The long wear UV base targeted at 10hr long wearing makeup with SPF. It is clear and don't conceal pores. Since I don't wear make up much and my sole need is to cover pores, I tried the multi base cover instead. 

As indicated on the packaging, the small 25g tube (at about Hk300) aims to conceal pores, dullness, blemishes & helps to apply the foundation stay better. Not scented and has (mild) hydration purpose, which I take it more as non drying and translates to non caking:) 

I was recommended to take shade 5 for the face (foundation) powder for neural shade. 

I gave it a test run today. 

The multicover base glides on easily and dries quickly without stickiness. Applied to only T zone area and spread out sparingly to cheekbone to cover pores.  

Pores definitely look minimised but don't expect it to work like concealer on its own for freckles. Thought I would top up with the powder to try out the duo power. All it take is a very light pat n the powder coats n adhere to the base easily. The point to note is NOT to layer too much powder or it will cake n look patchy. 

The face feels matt. I thought it look a little light when matt but once I step into the HK sun n humidity takes over, the color melts n blends perfectly to my shade. Best thing is that the pores def look "invisible". 

I sweat a lot today and did workouts n the face thing did not run or go patchy. Stayed on as promised. went to shower n rinse my face n the holding power remains after I pat my face dry. 

All said n tested, I love this new product for lazy person like me who do not like layers of stuff on my face. 

That said, with such great delivery on staying power, that means u really got to clean ur face thoroughly to rid them when the day ends!