Brilliant bargains in Karachi!

For the times when your wallet is light but you need something really bad, bargains are the problem solver. However, living in Pakistan, descent bargains in the beauty region are pretty hard to find. You have to make sure of a lot of things: is it a real product (as in an original rather than a copy), has it been tested before hand etc. There are some things and places where bargains are pretty darn good in Karachi. You really do "gain" something with a bargain. (See what I did there? he he)

* Make-up brushes: Why spend a lot on brushes when you can find the same thing, a whole lot cheaper? The only difference would be the brand of the brush but honeslty that really doesn't matter. Just remember to give it a good wash before-hand (that goes for all brushes). 

You can find make up brushes in Karachi on Tariq Rd behind Tariq Centere (the big, green building) in any of the make up shops.

* Nail Polishes: A couple of years back before I was on the make-up + nail polish bandwagon, I spotted the OPI nail polish in Bubble Bath in one of the shops behind Tariq Centre for three times cheaper than in an normal department store. I regret not picking it up till this day. Nail polishes are something that you have to take a chance with. Brands are that much of an issue, either the nail polish is a keeper or complete crap but it's better then spending a buckload on one polish rather than spending the same amount of money but for four to five nail polishes at the same time! BARGAIN! 

You can find nail polishes in Karachi on Tariq Rd behind Tariq Centere (the big, green building) in any of the make up shops.

* Rare beauty finds: Sometimes, if you're really lucky you may be able to find an awesome make-up product for half the price in these shops. But if you do, be careful and take care of the following things:
1. It's a sealed item. A lot of of the time, they have some pretty rad beauty finds (Wet'n Wild products, Covergirl) but the items have been used for testing etc. If you like a product a lot, make sure to ask if they have another piece that's sealed and never buy the item if they open it and test in front of you, that just means that they open other products as well. 
2. It's an original. How do you know if it's original? Just by the font of the packing. Every company has a specific font and if you look long enough you'll see a fake miles away. Also, the packing can give a lot away as well. You just have to keep a sharp eye. 
3. Don't trust what they shopkeeper says. In the kind of hops were bargains are possible, the shopkeepers are not the best salespeople. They'll sell you the product, but mostly with lies. Make sure you're smart about your purchase, don't let the shopkeeper talk you into a bad buy.
I found the Rimmel Glam'Eyes HD Eyeshadows in English Oak in one the shops, it was sealed and hadn't been tested and the best thing - it was HALF THE PRICE! I didn't buy (waiting to get paid) it but hopefully it'll be there when I go back in a couple of days. 

*Books:Other than beauty finds, there are some great places - online -where you can find books for a great price! Books in Pakistan are pretty darn expensive. I mean, you could also buy a fake (but my heart doesn't allow me to do such a cruel act) so I'm always on the lookout for a discount of original books.

 If you don't mind second-hand books, try Sunday Bazaars. They offer an array of books and magazines for a great price and sometimes originals and first-hand copies.

If you're like me and you want a new copy of a book, try READINGS. It's an online bookshop with amazing (and I mean mindblowing, phenomenal) discounts. 

Maybe if I buy a resonable amount of bargains, I'll post about it?

Have you found any good bargains lately?

Hope this helps! 

January Mini Beauty Haul

January always comes with resolutions and I made a couple, one of them being not to but any more make up until April and I lived up to that - kinda - I had ordered these things in December but they arrived in January.

O.P.I  Sweet Things Avojuice Skin Flavour Pack

The pack of six mini handcreams. And when I say mini, I mean tiny. My go-to handcream has been the rose one from The Body Shop but I thought I'd give this a try. From "coconut melon" to "peppermint shimmer", this pack gives an array of choices. 

essence tinted moisturiser - "light skin"

I have never used foundation, BB cream or any of that kind of coverage of my face. But for a while now, I've been wanting to try a tinted moisturiser that would give my skin a slight glow. Being a fan of essence, I decided to give this a try and so far so good. It's not full coverage, hardly had any coverage at all, but gives a slight glow and evens the skin out. 

essence Quattro Eyeshadows - 05 To Die For

This eyeshadow palette (would we call it a palette?) is my go-to for eyeshadow. The colours has super pigmented and the the selection of shades is perfect for either an everyday and smokey eye. The palette consists of a highlighter (upper left), a champagne-y shade (upper right), a shimmer, slightly sheer brown (lower left) and a matt brown(lower  right). I would recommend this for anyone whose just starting out, doesn't want to spend the big bucks, or who just wants to add a bit of sparkle to their life. 

MUA Power Pouts - Crazy in Love

Being a kid inside, I've always wanted to get my hands on either Revlon's Just Kissable Lipbalms or Bourjoius's Color Boosts but their so dang pricey where I live so I decided to give this a go. I tried it once and I have to say, it's very nice. It has a slight pepperminty scent to it but unfortunately, the tip of the balm is wiggling, hopefully it won't fall off.  

Luscious Cream Eye Liner Pencil - Black Onyx

First off, "onyx"?! Pokemon anyone? Ha ha. Right now in my small but very loved makeup collection I don't have a black eyeliner (shocker, ain't it?). I thought I'd try this one out and use it, very lightly, on my lower lash line - I'm not one for the dark black waterline look.

So that's all for now - beauty wise, anyway. I'll be back with a non-beauty haul, with books and more pretty soon. Until then, what have you bought so far? 

2014; Beauty Wishlist

2013 was more of a bust than a win, but I'm hoping for a better 2014 - in the shopping area of life- to be better now that I have a job. So here is my wishlist for 2014; beauty related. 

1. The Body Shop's Honeymania Eau de Toilette

                                               

I bought the Honeymania Body Butter a month back and am nearly out, but what can I do? The Body Butters are super moisturising and smell, like, heaven. Anyway, I loved the scent of the Honeymania Body Butter- it does not have a strong scent of honey at all, rather a floral scent with a slight honey undertone. This bottle of yellow yummy-ness is a must!

2. Milani Baked Blush - 03 Berry Amore

                                     

Unlike the US, Milani is expensive here. I've been wanting the perfect blush/bronzer duo for a while now and this baby seems like want I've been waiting for. It's has a soft shimmer to it along with light golden undertones. Yum. However, with such a hefty price tag, I have a feeling this may be on my wishlist for a while...

3. Lusciuos Ultimate Face Case 5PC Makeup Brush Set

                                   

Aside from the 80's sliver quilt pattern, this brush set is worth the price tag. My want for a stippling brush has taken it's toll and the fact that this set has other brushes along with it pretty good. Hopefully, I'll be getting my hands on this soon.

4. Revlon Nail Enamel in Minted, Gold Coin and Vixen

Say whaaaat?! Just a couple of Revlon nail polishes, right? No. Just like Milani, Revlon is damn expensive here as well. I've been eyeing these three shades for a while now. I mean, look at them! LOOK AT THEM!!!!!

5. OPI Out Ragerous Neon Mini Set

                                  

Who doesn't love neon nails? I've been wanting to try them out for a while and this amazing set not only give's you five neon polishes but a top coat for free!!! (Well, not free but you know what I mean...)

6. Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Thingys

                                 

*Siiiighhhhh* Me wants...but obviously can't get. However, to subdued my feels towards these lippy's, I've bought the MUA Power Pouts. Let's see if their good enough or I'll want the real deal in the end. 

In the words of a Veruca Salt

What's on your beauty wishlist? Have you bought anything up above? Do you like them?

2013 in a nutshell (found on Tumblr)

1: What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?

Talked to humans. It's part of my job.

2: Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

A couple & yes I think I will

3: Did anyone close to you give birth?

If they did I wouldn't know.

4: Did anyone close to you die?

THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #toosoon

5: What countries did you visit?

Well - I went to the UK with Sherlock, around time and space with the Doctor, France with Queen Mary - nowhere. 

6: What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

Tumblr time

7: What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

June something (can't remember) -> started Doctor Who
October 21st -> 18th birthday which no one remembered - felt like Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles minus Jake Ryan...
December 23rd -> Day of the Doctor

8: What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Leaving the house to go watch Frozen in a cinema with people in it and discovering "The Neighbours" (go watch it and you're life shall be complete)

9: What was your biggest failure?

Leaving the house to go watch Frozen in a cinema with people in it.  oh and losing all my friends and shutting people out but like, whateves

10: Did you suffer illness or injury?

Here Are Your Scores:

Disorder	Your Score
Major Depression:	Very Slight
Dysthymia:	Very Slight
Bipolar Disorder:	Very Slight
Cyclothymia:	Very Slight
Seasonal Affective Disorder:	Very Slight
Postpartum Depression:	N/A

11: What was the best thing you bought?

My new laptop though it was a birthday present (my only birthday present)

12: Whose behaviour merited celebration?

 what does that even mean?

13: Whose behaviour made you appalled?

 a gif is with a thousand  unspeakable emotions. 

14: Where did most of your money go?

I have no fudging idea! 

15: What did you get really, really, really excited about?

DOCTORWHODOCTORWHODOCTORWHODOCTORWHODOCTORWHODOCTORWHO!!!


and arrow and reign and Sherlock

16: What song will always remind you of 2013?

"Waiting for Superman" - Draughty 

17: Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?

Sadder; thinner; richer and poorer all at the same time.

18: What do you wish you’d done more of?


19: What do you wish you’d done less of?

20: How did you spend Christmas?

Don't celebrate it... but I watched Doctor Whooooooooooooo

21: Did you fall in love in 2013?

Yes. I fell in love with Bradley Cooper. 

22: What was your favourite TV program?

Really?! Okay; here goes: 
 aaaaand The Neighbours cause it's brilliant, just brilliant. 

23: Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No. I collectively just don't like anyone. So, yeah.

24: What was the best book you read?
Silver Linings Playbook and so many more.

25: What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)


26: What did you want and get?

A job as a secondary teacher

27: What did you want and not get?

A man.

28: What was your favourite film of this year?

Frozen. Elsa is my patronus.

29: What is one thing that made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

The cards my students make for me, it's like


30: How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?

"I don't give a fuck" and very berry lips with a cat eye. So you know, same old, same old.

31: What kept you sane? 

Happy Meals and illegally downloaded TV shows. 

32: Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Again, Bradley Cooper with a side of Andrew Garfield and a sprinkle of Matt Smith. 

33: What political issue stirred you the most?

The refugee children in the Middle East

34: Who did you miss?

Who or what...?

35: Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.

Family is one craaaazy shit and:



36: Quote a song lyric that sums up your year

"A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I'm the queen" - Let It Go

I tag anyone and everyone because I'm a unicorn and unicorn's share, sometimes. 

Post Doctor Who Disorder *In the words of River Song - SPOILERS*

The long awaited 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who came out on the 23rd of November aka #thedayofthedoctor  and OH MY AMY POND. It was epic. Epic. Give or take a couple of things.

The premise of the episode wasn't what a lot of people expected. Personally, I thought that the episode would take off from "The Name of the Doctor". It didn't. The episode itself covered the deepest secret, or rather regret of the Doctor - the last day of the Time War. 

Bits I loved

1. David Tennet! He was an absolute gem. It would have been hard to pick up the character after such a long time, but he's performance was brilliant.  

2. Play on words from the past Doctors and little things, like the scarf made a Whovian feel proud. 

3. Billie Piper as Rose "Bad Wold" Tyler rather then just Rose Tyler. It would have super weird and awkward bringing Rose Tyler back from the parallel world. 

4. Brining all 13 Doctors, that's right THIRTEEN Doctors into the episode, one way or another.

5. Clara being a teacher. 'Cause I'm a teacher, so yeah.

6. The score. Amazing.

7. John Hurt's regeneration. I shall not say more.

8. The Tenth Doctor's "I don't wanna go".

Bits I didn't love

1. Clara! She didn't have many lines and didn't bring oomph like she does. They used her for more of a "you should do this now" type of role - a filler for words if you will.

2. Not enough alien encounter. I wanted more Daleks. Shame.

3. IT WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH! 

I have a feeling I'll know the lines of this episode by tonight. 

I have no idea why I haven't had a seizure considering how many times my mind was blown. 

Writing is more then a passion...

“I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I am afraid of.” - Joss Whedon

Exactly. When I tell people that I want to write for the rest of my life, I'm faced with the facts. The facts that writing doesn't pay (J.K Rowling is one of the richest women in the world), writing isn't a dignifying job (who hasn't heard of Jane Austen?) and so on. But when I think about writing and all the possibilities it brings, I realize that one of the best professions is being a writer.  

Cause a writer gets to be whatever they want to be. A dragon slayer? A damsel in distress? A spy? Hell yeah, you can be an ant for crying out loud. You create people out of ink and those people can influence anyone. The power of words is what gives a writer strength.

You know that gooey feeling of warmth and happiness. The feeling that gives you a goofy smile and a odd feeling of hope. That's what I get when I think about writing. Writing screenplays, poems, short stories, articles, blog posts - writing whatever I want to because I am the writer.

The best writers, Hemingway, Sylvia Path and many more were all psychologically distressed. I think that's the reason they loved writing. It was a way out. A way out from reality. And quite honesty, I think that's the reason I adore writing. It's gives you the ability to do the things you always wanted to do without leaving your chair. You create people from scratch, people who may actually talk to in reality.
              

So when I tell people that I want to write for the rest of my life, I think about the myths. The myth that writers actually help people discover themselves. The myth that writers create places that people never knew they wanted to see. The myth that writers can get people to laugh, cry, feel hopeful, scared just by words.

The bottom line is that the myths are quite real contrary to the facts.   What do you think?                

This month I was OCD for...

It's been a crazy month! Hectic and tiring but at the same time I've been glad that I haven't had a moment to myself in a while - you learn the importance of solidarity when you don't have the luxury ample.

Anywho, I'm not one to completly let go of myself and forget about things I adore. So here are the things I have been loving for the last couple of months and the current month and totally recommend them to you!

1) Reign 

Okay, if you're into period, monarchy, forbidden love, blood and gory and of course supernatural forces - then this show is for you. I knew about the show since I watched the preview a couple of months back but forgot about the show when it aired because life happened. By the time I got around to watching it three episodes had already aired so I didn't mind watching back to back amazingness. 
The show is about Mary, Queen of Scots and her engagement to Prince Francis of France. Though the show isn't historically accurate, it does leave you itching for more. 
I absolutely adore period movies and now a period TV show with all the elements I love! Fangirling is an understatement when I think about this show.

Actors? Perfection with accents 
Love? Um, so much of it! Forbidden love, love that isn't right, the fact that they don't realize how in love they are!
Supernatural? A girl with a potato sack roams around the palace and sleeps under Mary's bed. 'Nuff said.  
Blood? Hell yes! 
So? Watch Reign already! You won't regret it.






2) Maroon5 "Overexposed" 


I had only heard a couple of songs from the album way back in 2012. Then I heard "Payphone" and downloaded the entire album in the beginning of October'13 (I catch on slowly) and haven't stopped listening to it!

Lyrics? Perfection. Nothing less then perfection.
Singer? It's Adam Freaking Levine - instant love.
So? Downloaded and love it.






3) Matthew Quick's "Silver Lining's Playbook" - the book & movie.



EXCELSIOR. I watched the movie first then read the book (arrest me) and I instantly knew that Quick know's the magic words create. The premise of the book is so simple but you hang on to every word because you understand Pat.
The movie is just as good. Dramatic, yet comedic. I love how the little things are big beaucse in reality when you hold someone's hand the first thing that comes into your head is "what is this?" (if you've seen the movie then you know what I'm talking about) The words you always think but never say are portrayed by actors that speak them with perfection.

The book? Buy it and read it then read it again.
The movie? Watch it then watch it again.
The actors? Two words = Bradley Cooper. 
So? If you want to be understood, read the book and watch the movie. Best therapy there is.

4) OneRepublic's "Native"                                                              Good Life, Stop and Stare, Marchin On...a few of the songs in my never ending playlist all by OneRepublic. You know when you hear a song you get all "Holy fudge, that's how I feel". Yep. Every single song in this album will have at least one line that will make you replay the song again just to hear the one line, because that one line is you.

Lyrics? Like they came out of your mind.
Singer? Ryan Tredder, need I say more?
So? So press the download button and enjoy the ride.

5) The Hangover Trilogy


The gif basically explains the three movies perfectly. I watched the censored movies and there always something about them that didn't ring the bell. When I watched them online, the bell rang - loud and clear. The movies are the very few nowadays that don't require any actual thinking. Clear plot, crazy twists and hilariously stupid dialogues make that movies so damn good.  

Funny? The best thing about the movies, is that the comedy is so stupid, it's what makes it so good. (Oh the confusing human mind)
Actors? Zach Gallafinakeas, Bradley Cooper and two other funny guys. 
So? If you had the week from hell, watch the movies and you won't feel that bad anymore.