Oh, look. It's 2015!

In case you didn't know, 2015 has arrived, and with that comes new plans, goals, and all of that other jazz.

I did have big plans to write a New Year post with my goals for 2015, a review of 2014, but last years end of year blog lull follwed me through into the beginning of this year. However, 14 days into the new year and I'm going to break the lull. So in case you are interested here are some of the things I want to do in 2015...

There's the usual:
- Exercise more
- Make healthier choices
- Be more creative
- Travel more
- Make more effort to stay in touch with people

But this year there are some extra ones:
- Read at least one book a month
- Learn how to use a camera
- Learn Cantonese (after two years living in Hong Kong, I should give it a go).

As for goals for this blog, I want to:
- Get more organised, so that I can...
- Post more regularly (without it being a chore or resorting to posting just for the sake of posting)
- Make sure it stays fun for me to do and for you to read  - that is if anyone out there is actually reading it.

However, my main aim for this blog is to make it a reflection of me. I started this blog in my 20s when I thought I wanted to work in fashion journalism, so I tried to make that the focus. However, as the years have past and my interests have changed, I kind of lost my way with it. I wasn't sure what to write about, or what this blog was even about anymore.

Last year, I narrowed down the things I wanted to write about, to: Beauty stuff, not because I want to be a beauty blogger but because I genuinely am a beauty/skincare junkie and want to share the products I like.  Travel, as I like to travel and stay in nice hotels. Arts & crafts, as I try and fulfil my annual resolution to be more creative, and Photography - not because I'm an expert (because I'm not), but because I enjoy taking pictures. These are my interests now that I'm in my *ahem* 30s, and who know's, they may change. If they do, I'm sure it will make an appearance on this blog.

If you have any ideas or suggestions for things you would like me to write about, leave me a comment.

Anyway, I hope 2015 is off to a great start for you all. Enjoy the adventures this year will bring!

Let Me Spell It Out...

Sometimes you buy something and the moment you leave the store you're hit with that horrible feeling of buyers remorse. I can safely say that when I bought this Lightbox from Typo, I did not experience that at all.

In fact, the words above accurately describe how I feel about my new light box.

So far it has come in super handy as a blog/photo prop, fun personalised welcome sign for when people have come to stay with us, and just general display of silly words and messages.

An A3 sized version recently appeared on the Typo website, and although I am tempted, I am strongly resisting the urge. Seriously, I would have nowhere to put it.

Let me know what would you use the lightbox for?

It's Business Time!

Guess what arrived in the post today?... My business cards from Moo.com!

It turns out, you kind of need business cards here in Hong Kong, because:
1) You never know who you're going to meet
2) Everyone else seems to have them.
There's been a few awkward moments when someone has extended a business card to me and I haven't had one to give back. Those moments will now be a thing of the past.

I had been meaning to order these for a while now, and when a free shipping code landed in my inbox, I thought - BINGO!

I opted for one of the existing Moo designs as the last time I ordered stickers from Moo using my own design, I got the sizing all wrong and they came out a little fuzzy. Oops. So I thought it would be best to play it safe this time round and figured the 'Hello' theme tied in with my Hello Jesso blog.

Anyway, that's all I wanted to share. It's always nice when you get something fun in the mail.

Let me know if you have any great networking tips in the comments below.

This is not a sponsored post. 

LA Adventures: BEAUTY HAUL... and some other stuff

It's been about a month since now since I got back from LA, and it's taken me this long to sit down and do a mini haul post on what I bought whilst in La-La land. I didn't do much shopping on this trip, but I did manage to go to Sephora which was at the top of my 'Shops to go to' list.

If you're sitting comfortably, I'll do a quick run down of the things I bought... ready?

LA Confidential

Actually, it's not really confidential as I'm about to share with you all the things that I saw, places I went, and food that I ate during my recent trip to Los Angeles.

Here is my LA diary - http://bit.ly/Jesso_In_LA

Travel Packing - My Ideal Wash Bag from Cath Kidston

New toiletries bag alert!

Ok. I'm excited as I have travel plans on the horizon - I am going to LA for the first time! Even though I hate packing my clothes and shoes etc, I actually like packing my toiletries so I am always on the look out for the perfect toiletries bag / wash bag / whatever you want to call it.

My criteria:
- Can't be too big or bulky
- Must fit EVERYTHING I need. Eliminate need for extra bags/pouches etc. (excluding carry on toiletries pouch)
-Must fit everything NEATLY
- Looks nice

Obsessed with Roommate

Image via: Roommate SBS

Don't worry the title of this post isn't as crepy as it sounds. I haven't gone all Single White Female on you, nor am I talking about the creepy Leighton Meester / Minka Kelly movie - The Room Mate. I am refering to the  South Korean reality TV show currently on SBS - Roommate.

In a nutshell, Roommate is 11 Korean celebrities  - comedians, singers, 'idols', models, actors, actresses, sports personalitlies - ranging in age and fame, all brought together to live in a house filled with lots of cameras to watch their every move. Sound familiar?

Worth it's Weight in Alpha H - Liquid Gold

Growing up, the age old adage of 'Cleanse. Tone. Moisturize' was drummed into me by my mum. I however, did  not understand the 'tone' part and so pretty much skipped that step until my mid '20s. That was until I discovered Liz Earle's Instant Boost Skin Tonic on good old QVC. It's a lovely floral concoction of natural goodness that feels nice and refreshing when spritzed on to the skin, and I still use it. Thankfully it is now more widely available across the UK and can even be ordered internationally from her website. 

Anyway, I digress...

Since my first foray into toners was a success for my skin, I've been more intrigued by them - especially exfoliating toners. Now that I'm in my '30s, I' suppose I'm trying to make up for the years and years of skin 'toning' that I missed out on. 

An exoliating toner is exactly what is sounds like it is - a liquid solution that exfoliates the skin without using beads, grains, scrubby things etc. Instead, it uses acids. Now before you run for the hills at the thought of putting acid on your face. Let me tell you that it's not as scary or as harsh as you think it sounds. 

Make & Do: Handprinted Stationery

Work in Progress. Image made using - Studio

Making something takes me to my happy place.
People often talk about the rush of endorphins they get from doing things that make them happy, well making stuff does that for me. After a day of writing at the computer, sometimes all I need to do is get out my pens, watercolours, and a notebook and just doodle.

However, there are days when I want to actually make something tangible. I am by no means a professional arts & crafter, and a lot of what I do is trial and error, and often looks like a 6-year old made it (no offence 6 year olds) but it is the process of 'making' that I find most pleasing.

About a month ago now, I decided I wanted to make some stationery so that I could write some letters, you know - taking communication back to the old-school. So, I got out my tools and did just that...

SEINFELD - Funny then, Still funny now

Image via: Parade.condenast.com

"Say Vandelay!"

This quote screamed by George as he runs across the room with trousers around his ankles before tripping and falling has got to be one of my all time favourite Seinfeld moments. 

In the last couple of months, Edward and I have watched all of Seinfeld again, and I must say it's as funny now as it was then. In fact, I think I found it funnier this time round. 

The antics and coffee shop conversations of these four New York friends who seem to be irritated by the world around them, and at times with each other, just entertain me.