Saturday 29 March 2014

Weekend Drugstore Haul

reviewed by L

Hey guys! This is going to be a short post, just on a few items I picked up whilst running errands at Parkmore Shopping Centre.

Technically I was meant to take my brother to Kmart to get him some Khung Zhu toy, because he bought a race course set to race 'hamsters' (which he doesn't have) so now he has a race course with no hamsters to race. Being the great sister I am, I took him to Parkmore, and dragged him straight to the make-up section in KMART and Priceline. I managed to purchase all of these for under $20! 


Ok so just quickly on what I managed to purchase today.


BYS - JUMBO Liquid Eyeliner Pen 
Store: KMART
Price: $5.75

I've been wanting to get a jumbo liner for awhile now, noticed this on the shelf and read that it was water-proof and smudge-proof (AWESOME) and figured I'd give it a go. Application is easy, the pointy tip offers good precision and is ease of control. 

© Copyright. All Rights Reserved. www.lipstickandbrunch.blogspot.com.au. Taken by - L.

Face Of Australia - Glossy Lip Crayon; Raspberry Coulls
Store: KMART
Price: $4.75 (Originally $7.95)

Saw that the FOA lip crayons were on sale, I thought I'd grab another one to add to my collection. Love that these are so moisturizing! How could I not get more? 


Essence - 'METAL glam' Highlighter Powder
Store: Priceline
Price: $5.35

I needed a highlighter, Essence had one in their new "METAL glam" range. Meant to be. So I grabbed it. It's well pigmented.




Essence - 'METAL glam' Gold Topper
Store: Priceline
Price: $3.50

This was a splurge buy, it basically just layers pieces of gold flakes on top of your nails. The great thing is that it dries quick, I would suggest though putting a thin layer of clear top coat on afterwards as well. (You can see in the two swatches above of how the gold topper looks).



So what did you think of my haul today? Feel free to leave a comment below :)

Oh and my brother's KUNG ZHU 'hamster' ended up being a discontinued toy line. He's pretty upset over it. Poor fella. 

Swatch & Review: Shanghai Suzy Lipsticks

reviewed by - S. 



Sorry I have been away for a while, but back with another review on some of my favourite lipstick purchases this past month. I first saw some pictures of these lipsticks on Instagram and my curiosity got the better of me, as I was straight away exploring their website. I had never heard of Shanghai Suzy Lipsticks, but was so mesmerised by the packaging. (I am a sucker for packaging)!
Initially, I thought that the lipsticks came in black cardboard paper packages like other lipsticks usually do. Imagine my surprise when I realised that the sharp rectangular packaging was actually the lipstick lid itself. This minimises the need to waste paper and was very clever and unique as I had never seen anything like it. I also love the way the colour of the lipstick is displayed at the top of the lid to make it so much easier to distinguish between them. I think it is absolutely a bonus how classy and expensive looking the lipstick tube is, where it only retails for $12.95 per lipstick!


But there is more to these lipsticks than just pretty packaging. The brand was founded by Melbourne model and former cosmetics marketing executive Joanna Wheaton. It is a brand solely focused on delivering quality lipsticks at affordable prices, and was launched in August 2013. The fragrance was inspired by grape bubblegum (my absolute favourite flavour) and are not tested on animals, nor do they contain animal-derived ingredients.

There was an option to purchase 8 lipsticks for $65 (around $8 per lipstick) which I jumped on straight away. The order was placed smoothly and came quickly within the week. It was nicely packaged with some flower petals and a handwritten note. Definitely quality service!


So what do I think of these lipsticks? I LOVE THEM. They are by far my favourite lipsticks in my collection. They have some of the best matte formula lipsticks I've ever tried. They are moisturising and nourishing on my lips and do not dry them out at all!


There are a beautiful range of colours to choose from each with a sassy name! In addition, I believe they release new shades every season, and I honestly cannot wait to grab more. They are genuinely a great quality lipstick with vibrant colours and deep pigmentation.


Below are some swatches (excuse my rushed job).
From left to right:
Miss Sophia - LILAC
Miss Amy - BABY PINK
Miss Kitty - BLACK PLUM
Miss Georgina - PINK PLUM
Miss Hannah - BLOOD RED
Miss Sarah-Jones - NEON CORAL
Miss Simone - BABY CORAL
Miss Sanja - Fuchsia




Check out their website for further details: www.shanghaisuzy.com






Hope this was informative. Stay tuned for more! :)

- S. 

 

HUDADAK

reviewed by L


© Copyright. All Rights Reserved. www.lipstickandbrunch.blogspot.com.au. Taken by - L.
Craving for some Korean food, I dragged my boyfriend down to Hudadak for some late night dinner. A small local restaurant; with a very casual atmosphere and welcoming staff. The first thing I noticed when entering was how humid the place was, it needed better ventilation inside because it got really stuffy within a few minutes of sitting down. 

They're a typical Korean Restaurant with the typical Korean menu (Clay pot soups and rice, sizzling BBQ hot plates, bulgogi etc), they're signature dish would be their Korean Fried Chicken. I haven't had them before, as they're a bit on the pricey side,  but I have heard of good reviews on them. So they are on my 'to-try' list.

© Copyright. All Rights Reserved. www.lipstickandbrunch.blogspot.com.au. Taken by - L.

Their banchan (side dishes) consisted of; Kimchi, Beansprout, marinated tofu and I believe white radish with a type of mayonnaise. I was a bit disappointed with the small selection.


© Copyright. All Rights Reserved. www.lipstickandbrunch.blogspot.com.au. Taken by - L.
Chicken Bulgogi - $12.90

As they put this dish in front of me, my mouth dropped. The sizzling and the smoke and all that delicious fragrance in the air was absolutely amazing. The chicken was really tender, the sauce was a bit lacking, and would have been good with a bit more. Otherwise, it was a pretty good dish.


Rating: 7.5/10


© Copyright. All Rights Reserved. www.lipstickandbrunch.blogspot.com.au. Taken by - L.
Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap - $14.90

The dish I was craving for all week! BI BIM BAP! It came in a hot stone pot, which is the way I liked it. That combination of the crackling and sizzling as you mix all the ingredient together..is ..the..BEST! As a personal preference, I love to completely drench the rice with the kochujang sauce, the more the better! Overall, it wasn't the best Bi Bim Bap I have ever had but it did it's job. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Hudadak is a great casual Korean Restaurant, that you could enjoy with large groups of mates. The staff are friendly, and the atmosphere is good. Their food is flavorsome, portions are generous and quality is decent. 

Store Location & Information
Shop 9 /309-315 Clayton Rd, Clayton VIC 3149
TEL Phone: 9543 4276
MOB Phone: 0433399575

Trading Hours (Closed Wednesdays)
Monday-Saturday: 11am - 10pm
Sunday: 5pm - 10pm

Hudadak on Urbanspoon

Monday 24 March 2014

WAYA Japanese Restaurant

- reviewed by L




Hey Guys! So today I will be sharing with you my experience at one of my personal favorite restaurants. Waya Japanese Restaurant, it's like a little slice of Japanese heaven located up in Glen Waverley. 

The store is usually crazy packed with people! They don't offer bookings for small groups, so most likely you would have to grab a ticket and wait for a table, but trust me it would be so worth the wait. Yesterday was actually the first time I didn't have to line up, probably due to it being a Sunday. Lucky us~

The first thing I think of upon entering the venue is: "love their interior design!" and the second thought is: "gosh there are so many staff people". Which I guess is a good thing, there will always be someone near by to help you. Is it just me or does anyone else feel awkward having to look around for staff, then try to make obvious eye contact as a hint that you need some assistance? 






The next winner for me; their menu! I am someone who; EATS. WITH. HER. EYES. The thing I love about menus with images is the fact that I would be more willing to try new dishes if I could see what it looked like. Generally; S and I are hesitant to try out new dishes, in fear that we'd feel like we've wasted our money one something that didn't taste good. So, Waya's menu, was a big TICK for the checklist! 

Lemon Lime Bitters - $4.00      Orion (Can) 500ml - $9.00
Ika Ring (12pcs) - $7.00
Deep Fried Calamari served with Mayonnaise Sauce
Waya Maki - $12.50
Inside Out Roll with Salmon, Cucumber and Avocado topped with Tobiko and Spicy Sauce

The Waya Maki; one of their signature dishes, was one of those 'eat with your eyes' order, the presentation looked absolutely gorgeous! Both in the menu and in person. Because I ordered the dish with my eyes; I didn't realize that it had raw salmon in it, a lot too. Personally, I don't really like to eat a lot of raw salmon, it's just something that my taste buds don't like. I did though eat one roll, it was quite amazing, filled with plump salmon, avocado and cucumber, could do with a little less salmon (for me though). 

Rating: 8/10 


Katsu Curry Don - $11.50

Their Katsu Curry Don would have to be, hands-down, one of the best Japanese Curries that I have ever had. And I think I can talk on behalf of S, and say that she would 100% agree with me. They are generous with the curry sauce, so there was more than enough to mix through the rice and plenty left over to just drink up (YES, WE LOVE OUR SAUCES). It comes with a piece of Tonkatsu (Deep Fried Crumbed Pork), the meat was beautifully moist and had an amazing crunch. The flavors are strong and rich and had that slight punch of spiciness.

Wait Time: 8 mins
Rating: 9.5/10


Tonkatsu Bento - $12.80


The Bento Box, a classic Japanese dish. One of the great things about bento boxes, is having that variety of different foods to try out. In this case, we had the Tonkatsu Bento. Consisting of; Tonkatsu (Deep Fried Crumbed Pork), Yakitori (Grilled Chicken Skewer), 2 California Rolls, Tamago (Grilled Japanese Omelette), Mixed Salad, Seaweed Salad and Rice. It is one of those dishes, where you want to dig in straight away but don't know what to start with first. Their salad could have had a bit more dressing on it, it was very plain to eat. The Tamago was served cold, which I believe is their traditional method of serving it (I'm not too sure), but it would have been something that I preferred eating hot. Overall, the flavors were great, everything worked will with each other. A very enjoyable meal. 

Wait Time: 5 mins
Rating: 9/10

Their main dishes are priced reasonably well, however, their side dishes are a little over-priced. The wait time for the food to come out is incredibly short, which is absolutely great! I do warn you though, that they are very busy most of the time, and the chances of having to wait for a table is high. But, I assure you; the food quality is really good. WAYA is a restaurant we would put on our regular go-to list. 

Have a browse through their website here.

Store Location & Information 
100 Kingsway, Glen Waverley, VIC 3150
Phone: 03 9561 3388

Trading Hours
Lunch - Dinner, 7 days a week

Waya Japanese Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Sunday 16 March 2014

The Groove Train




Hey, L here! The other night S and I decided to doll ourselves up and head to Chapel Street for some dinner. The only problem was, being the indecisive people we are, we couldn't agree on a place to eat. Everything smelt and looked so good! After much walking and working up an appetite, we stumbled across The Groove Train; located on the busy roads of Chapel Street and only a 3 minute walking distance from the Jam Factory. 

My first impression of the restaurant was, 'wow cosy!', it had such a laid back vibe. Which suited to my liking. The waiters/waitresses were very welcoming and made us even more excited to try out their food, they were also very considerate and didn't mind the fact that we changed seating locations, twice (we wanted the booth seats :P). Once we were finally seated and handed our menus, I had a look around the restaurant and was completely drawn into their ceiling light features. They were at such a large scale and created a lovely warm orange and yellow light, that just glued together the atmosphere, certainly very groovy


Their menu offers a wide variety of western foods, and not to our surprise, caused an uproar in our hungry bellies. If we had it out way (aka. if we had the money and if we could eat it all) we would have surely ordered a table full of food. Click here to check out their full menu.



Porterhouse Steak - $26.90
Reviewed by L.

After much deliberation I decided to get the Porterhouse Steak served with roasted Kipfler potatoes & beef just ($26.90), cooked medium-rare with mushroom sauce and a Lemon Lime & Bitters ($4.50). One of my biggest peeves when ordering steak is when and asking for medium rare, and getting it well done, I don't like my steak cooked all the way through as I find it too tough. It's quite annoying having to second guess whether I can trust the chef to cook to my preferences. However, The Groove Train hit the nail on the head! I asked for medium-rare and medium-rare was what I got. 

The steak and the roasted Kipfler potatoes were cooked and seasoned perfectly! The mushroom sauce though, was a bit too salty for my liking. Usually for my taste buds, the more salt the better cause it meant more flavor, and for S and I we're all about FLAVOR! But this mushroom sauce, I could handle the first few bites; but as I kept on eating all I could taste was the sauce, it overpowered the dish too much, less salty and it would have been a great dish, which was a shame. 

Rating: 8/10



Groove Steak Sandwich - $19.90
Reviewed by S.

Now I'm usually more of the pasta and risotto lover, and I've always been too afraid to try new dishes in fear of wasting money on something I wouldn't like. But I'm breaking at habit! I would've however, much preferred a menu with images of the food as that would've greatly assisted with my decision; instead of going in blind with a large selection. Does anyone agree or is it just me?

Anyway, I decided to try the Groove Steak Sandwich. It consisted of minute steak, large chunks of sliced tomato, tasty cheese, red onion jam, rocket & aioli, served with a side of chips.

When the dish came out, I realised how 'minute' the steak really was, and there was very little of it. (As you can clearly see or not see in the images below). The steak was a bit tough for my liking but everything on the plate helped to nicely complement each other. In the end, it was a dish I did somewhat enjoy but not something I would rush to eat again.

Rating: 6/10



The pricing is decent and the food quality is good. They are open 7am 'till late, 7 days a week. They also offer pre-orderings and takeaway services that tailor to your needs. We have included a few quick links below for your convenienceWe definitely recommend you guys grab a few mates, head down to The Groove Train, try out their food and have a groovy night, cause we certainly did!





Quick Links: BOOK | PRE-ORDER | TAKEAWAY

Store Location & Information
Shop 10 & 11, 500 Chapel Street, South Yarra VIC 3141

Trading Hours: 
7am 'till late, 7 days a week.

Contact:
Phone: 03 9826 4444

Groove Train on Urbanspoon

Monday 10 March 2014

Priceline 40% off All Cosmetics Sale!!


Hey Lovlies! 
So just letting you know that Priceline is having a two-day only 40% off promotion on all their cosmetics! 

Tuesday 11th of March

&

Wednesday 12th of March

It will be available both online and in-store. However, if you have a Priceline Payback Voucher then you would have to go in-store as they won't accept them online. Standard nationwide shipping for online orders is only $5.95 and is free for orders over $100! 


It would be the perfect time to splurge on something that you've always wanted to buy but thought was way too expensive! With this 40% off promotion, it would be SO worth it! Don't miss out!

So tell us, how will you be taking advantage of this fabulous promotion? 

Saturday 8 March 2014

Papa Gino's



The other night we decided to have little dinner date on Lygon Street. Unsure of where to eat, we ended up just peeping into restaurants after restaurants after restaurants. After much deliberation we decided on Papa Gino's since S has been there before and claims that they have good risotto (and we were STARVING!).

Upon entering the venue; there were smiles all round, it felt like we had just come home from a long and tiring trip. Certainly, a very homely and welcoming atmosphere. 

Lemon Lime Bitters - $3.50
Complimentary Bread 
Bowl of Wedges with Sour Cream & Sweet Chilli - $7.00


I was a bit disappointed they bought out the Bunderburg - Lemon Lime Bitters instead of making their own. Not being picky or anything but I believe that the in-store made ones do taste a lot better than bottled ones. My second disappointment was the complimentary bread, because it was just that...plain bread. We really didn't know its point, until later on when we noticed that other tables were given butter with their bread. Certainly would have made more sense if we were given butter as well. Once the wedges came out we were pretty thrilled, they looked and smelt amazing! They were generous on the sour cream and sweet chilli, which is a big plus for us. Cooked wonderfully, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Great wedges!

Porterhouse Steak 400gms - $24.50
with sauteed mushrooms or cream brandy pepper sauce $3 extra
- L

I ordered the Porterhouse Steak with sauteed mushroom sauce. The waitress asked if I wanted the sauce to be creamy, obviously by this I thought she just wanted my preference on how I wanted my sauce made. Little did I know, it was an extra $2.50 to have my mushroom sauce creamy. But I guess it turned out alright, because the creaminess helped me finish the meal. The steak it self was a bit under-seasoned to my liking, which made it hard to eat and was a bit over cooked for me. I asked for medium rare more on the rare side but i got medium rare on the cooked side. The biggest let down was their salad, it had no dressing of any kind, I don't know if it's just me, but I don't enjoy having plain salad. Overall, an ok dish. 

Rating: 6/10

Pollo e Spinaci Risotto - $13.50 (dish size: entree)

- S

Having eaten here before, I really enjoyed their risotto. So I decided to have it again with the Pollo e Spinaci sauce, which is a combination of chicken and spinach in tomato and cream sauce.  I really loved how they've cooked the rice so perfectly; it was fluffy and melted in the mouth. However, there was too much chicken in the dish I would have preferred if there was less. The sauce though was on point; wonderfully creamy, full of flavor, not to dry and not too saucy. A very enjoyable dish overall.

Rating: 9/10


Store Location & Information
221 Lygon Street, Carlton, VIC 3053

Trading Hours: 
Monday - Saturday: 12:00PM-2:30PM & 5:00PM till Midnight
Sunday: 12:00PM-11:00PM

Contact:
Phone: 03 9347 5758
Fax: 03 9347 5757
Email: papaginos@bigpond.com

Papa Gino's on Urbanspoon

Haul & Review: ELF Cosmetics from iherb.com

reviewed by - S. 



Hey there again guys!
I have yet another haul for you! Now from years of watching YouTube and hearing about how inexpensive and wonderful E.L.F cosmetics were, I longed to get my hands on some. Since they did not previously stock any in stores around Australia, I had to go online and search for ways of hoarding some. 
The E.L.F Australia website was always a let down as most of their products were always out of stock, and did not have as wide of a range as the American site had (which unfortunately did not ship internationally); the prices were also much higher. Now, as many of you may already know, E.L.F is now being stocked at Kmart stores around Australia. Even so, the prices are a bit more pricey and the range is very selected.
This is where iherb.com comes in. I have found a very reliable site that stocks a LOT of legitimate E.L.F products. I also bought my Real Techniques makeup brushes from this site a while back so I knew for sure it was a very reliable site. iherb.com does not offer free shipping, but using some coupon codes, often you are able to cancel out or reduce shipping costs drastically. I chose DHL shipping which costs around $8.00 but it was very reliable and got to me within a week (business days).

click here to go to the site: http://www.iherb.com?rcode=LVV834

Want a discount? I've got a discount code for you! You will receive
$5 off your first iHerb order! If your order totals $40 or more, take $10 off!
Add your items to your cart and apply this coupon code to your order.
LVV834
Or start ordering through this link: http://www.iherb.com?rcode=LVV834





E.L.F Jumbo Eyeshadow Sticks


 
Retail Price: USD $2.99 on iherb.com
I have been an eyeshadow user for the longest time. But I have never used jumbo eyeshadow sticks before, nor was I ever a big fan or user of cream shadows. But for around $3ish Australian dollars, I thought why not give it a go? I found these to be of a very rich and creamy consistency. The colours are very vibrant and true to the packaging. They are not matte as they do possess a sort of mild sheen and are quite sheer when applied. The colours are definitely build-able and easy to blend. In saying so, I have found that the cream does rub away easily. But if used as a coloured base for powdered eyeshadow, I believe it would work wonderfully for a more intensified and longer-lasting look. Below are some swatches of the shadow sticks I purchased.








E.L.F Baked Eyeshadow Palette


 
Retail Price: USD $10.00 on iherb.com
I purchased this more neutral coloured baked shadow palette in California, not having much experience with baked shadows before. In saying so, after swatching these, I do believe they will work much better applied wet or with a primer underneath (especially the lighter colours in the top row of the palette). The colours are very nice and work really well against my darker brown eyes. The bottom row is a lot more pigmented and I am absolutely loving the matte colours! There are just so many ways you can use this one palette, and so many different combination of colours will allow you to create countless different looks. 
I also love the fact that they included a large mirror, but am a bit disappointed they didn't at least include a brush of some sort for on-the-go touch ups. 
Overall, I am very happy I purchased this!










E.L.F Single Eyeshadow


 
Retail Price: USD $3.00 on iherb.com
I am a very big user of eyeshadows. And as far as eyeshadows go, this one is terrible. I am not sure if the quality varies between the different shadow colours, but this eyeshadow in Pebble was chalky and felt very tacky. It is not pigmented and I feel like I would get a lot of fallout from this product throughout the day. It could work better with a primer, but I would much rather reach for something else to save the hassle. It's a pity though, I really do like the colour.










E.L.F Eye Pigment


 
Retail Price: USD $3.00 on iherb.com
I do not know why this is rated so low on iherb, but this is one of the powdered products I do like. The colour is very pigmented and the formula is very creamy. I have yet been able to test it out to see how well it wears, but from swatches, I do really like it. The packaging is not too bad, but be careful as it can get quite messy when you open the lid!










E.L.F Contouring Blush & Bronzer


 
Retail Price: USD $3.00 on iherb.com
When I saw this, I immediately wanted it. The colours looked wonderful on-screen and they are truly a right match for my skin-tone. But in saying so, I regrettably must say that I don't like this product as much as I thought I would. Firstly, the powder is not as creamy as I would love them to be, and not completely pigmented as well. They are not matte and have a slight shimmer. It's something I wouldn't mind using (I mean, it could work well for someone who likes to have a bit of shimmer in their bronzer), and it is easily portable in my handbag for emergency touch-ups, but I would reach for others ahead of this if given the choice.






E.L.F Studio Blush


Retail Price: USD $ on iherb.com
Once again, as with a lot of E.L.F powder products, I've found their blushes to be more chalky than creamy. The colours are very subtle but buildable and can definitely serve its purpose. But every time I wore it out, I found that it was not as long-lasting as I would have liked. On the upside, the powder does not irritate my skin and did not seem to break me out at all. Would I buy it again though? More than likely, not.








E.L.F Baked Blush


 
Retail Price: USD $3.00 on iherb.com
This baked blush in Peachy Cheeky is a beautiful colour. It is very similar to the Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush in colour 16 Rose Coup De Foudre, but is slightly brighter with a bit more sheen. It is very pigmented and glides on beautifully. It is blend-able, buildable and possesses no noticeable fragrances. I also really like the packaging as it allows me to see the colour through it. However, the curved lid makes it a little harder to stack and store. Overall, this is one product in their range that I really do love, especially for the cheaper price tag. 











 E.L.F Lipstick


 
Retail Price: USD $1.99 on iherb.com
I did not like this product at all. I said it. The packaging was very tacky and felt cheap, and part of the lipstick was already smeared inside. The lipstick however creamy, still felt cheap. It wasn't long-lasting, and sort of just melted off my lips. With my sensitive skin, sometimes with lipsticks, if I put on a cheap lipstick (you know the ones with the crayon smells?) my lips will get red and itchy afterwards. The texture and overall feel of this lipstick made my lips feel as if it was going to get red and blotchy. So I immediately rubbed it off. It could work for someone else, but it definitely does not work for me, as I have found other drugstore lipsticks that have better formulas in my opinion.





E.L.F Matte Lip Colour


 
Retail Price: USD $3.00 on iherb.com
I purchased two of the Matte Lip Colour pens from E.L.F in shades Coral and Praline. My favourite shade would have to be Coral. It is a nice peachy nude colour that suits my skin-tone very well. Praline on the other hand is a bit more on the brown side and is a colour I wouldn't normally reach for. 
These lip colours can work well to line your lips or to fill them in. They are creamy and easy to apply and do not dry out your lips. They do however possess a bit of a subtle, dare I say, crayon smell - but is not so overpowering to the point where it would irritate my skin. It does not slip and slide and does not feel heavy on the lips. I do like it and have used it in conjunction with some lip-tints. I think it works very well and is something I don't exactly regret buying.










E.L.F Shimmering Face Whip



Retail Price: USD $1.99 on iherb.com
This E.L.F Face Whip is an awesome product. The formula is quite liquidy and runny but pat it on the highpoints of your cheeks, a bit under your brow bone, or in the inner corner of your eyes - it acts a beautiful highlight. There's quite a bit of shimmer but if used in moderation, it gives you the most lovely glow. You can even use it as an eyeshadow base under some powder. The possibilities are endless. These face whips come in several colours and is one product I do want to collect.







As with many cosmetic brands, there are hits and misses. What works for me might not work for you, and what doesn't work for me could work exceptionally well for someone else. So don't write some of these off completely. I have given you my honest feedback and I hope you find it helpful.

- S.