First of all I want to wish you all the very best for 2014, that your dearest dreams will come true, just like mine did in 2013… thanks to you!
You gave me the strength to work hard and the energy to make it happen, I am so grateful for your friendship and support that there is just no calm way to express my happiness today, honestly all emotions are out, I love you and cherished every minute with you. I wished for this blog to gather like-minded people from all over the world in a cosy and respectful atmosphere and this is how I feel about this whole adventure and how this community has evolved during 2013. I am blessed and no words will ever be strong enough.
In regards to 2014, I cannot tell you all that’s going to happen because I am kind of superstitious, so I’ll have to keep some secret for now. But some things I can share with you today. Remember my Japanese hauls ? I have some product reviews that I still need to share with you, SK-II, Yojiya, Chicca, Three, Sonia Rykiel, Addiction… but I also have planned reviews on Charlotte Tilbury’s, Chantecaille and Burberry for example, there is material for 2014, without even counting the several brush posts that will be published!
I want and plan to have more fun in 2014, play more with makeup since I should have a bit more time for that. Last year has been super busy and the items that got used the most were related to very neutral-fast-easy looks, but I did buy stunning makeup items so we’ll look more into that.
I have been requested many times to do my favs or holy grail picks for 2013 so that’ll come soon 🙂 For now, since I wanted to add some color to this little post, I take this opportunity to answer some of your questions regarding my organization and some items that have been picking your interest in 2013…
The Angel cups : the big is called Angel Time and the small Angel Express, created by Pylones, a company based in Paris born in 1985. The wings are rubber and the cups porcelain. The big one is 15 EUR and they are designed by Green & Associates, of course I like them because they just go well with the theme of this blog…
The Mao 2 porcelain bowl : same Pylones company, this time designed by Créa Créa. Costs 18 Eur and I actually do not use it for food but as a little bin in my beauty dresser, you lift the hat and you put your dirty beauty cottons inside… I will spare you the inside. It’s the first time you see this little guy in the pictures because it’s very new but since I was in this topic I add it too.
The Heart Bell : you know these… I received many questions about them, these exact ones are from Athezza, I bought them in France in Cote Maison. I know that I have French readers here, I add more specific info for them. There are many options like this, see here how many little bells there are… It’s a cute way to prevent dust from falling onto the kabukis.
The microfiber cloth : interesting how many of you asked me where they could find them. They are everywhere, I got these in a big Swiss mall called Manor. I find this one more pleasant to handle (touch) than others I had in the past and it’s more beautiful to look at 🙂 furthermore, it’s white, means that I can see more clearly when it’s dirty. It was quite cheap, I think they were around 5 usd for 2 of them, the brand is Nodorsil (Swiss brand) but I can see on the cloth that they are made in China. If you don’t find them in your local supermarket, have a look in car shops “do-it-yourself”, all men clean their car with a microfiber cloth… well… that’s what my bf is telling me right now.
On the 31st, we had to run to that same shop called Manor, things there are more expensive than ordering anywhere online but we had until the 31st to use up vouchers we had received, quite a lot of them so the trip to the shop was worth it. I could have bought make up and skincare but it was “his” vouchers 😛 … still, when I popped at the kitchen counter I could not leave without this Villeroy & Boch Dragon collection, gasp this is beautiful! 29 Chf (around 30 Usd) for this commemorative plate. Half-price because the year of the dragon is now long passed and we have to wait till 2024 to see it back again 🙂
Useful to store the dirty brushes I am using, while I am using them actually, instead of putting them on the table where there is more bacteria due to hands always touching. Also the round handles won’t roll so it’s sort of “one stone-two birds”…
We still had some vouchers left so my sweet geekish bf went for the Dyson Tangle-Free turbine tool, I know many of you have dogs or cats so that was a mandatory accessory for us, -for him… since I don’t even touch the vacuum/hoover- 😀 lucky meeee! He also got something that he can’t stop talking about for a very long time… a Kyocera Ceramic knife for the kitchen -for me to use this time. Gosh it just hit me : Kyo- (Kyoto), -cera (ceramic) duh. Headquarters based in Kyoto, blade produced/shaped in an island in the south of Japan if I am not mistaken. Amazing technology here, very praised by Japanese chefs because the blade won’t transfer any metallic taste to Sushi, or any smell. It’s also very sharp so chopping is a delight, the only problem is that it’s a bit too short so the fast chop-chop-chop with thicker veggies is not that fast for me, if you take a longer knife you have more height…. I don’t even know why I am commenting on this knife but it’s from Kyoto… and we love Kyoto, right ?
…wishing you a wonderful 2014!
Yours,
Sonia
14 comments
Hey Sonia,
Happy new year to you! I was at Manor too on the 31st, scoping out the sale in the beauty department, before going to Globus and Marionnaud at Balexert. Had to restrain myself from spending too much but I’m pretty happy with the items that I got (just blogged about them). I’m waiting to check out the sale at Sephora France as they usually have some By Terry stuff on clearance.
2013 has truly been an awesome year, and I can’t wait to see what other adventures you take this year 🙂 Hope your next trip to Japan materializes soon!
Thank you Iris!! oh no, we were at the same shop and I missed you!! I would like to meet again for lunch by the way…
…going now to comment what you purchased 😀
I hope it will materialize! can’t wait!
.. oh I think that we were in the same mall but not in the same location … that explains why I did not see you, after all it’s tiny here! 😀
Oh Sonia, such a fun, funky and feminine collection! Your makeup area must be a delicious place to enjoy daily.
The brush rest was an “aha!” moment as I have a similar shaped plate made of Japanese cloissone or shippo yaki which literally means “heavenly treasures” … production of cloissone in Japan can be traced back to the Nara Era (A.D. 646-794) according to the original pamphlet. I am so delighted to have finally found an appropriate use for this momento which belonged to my mother-in-law.
Thank you for the great idea 🙂 Do you know what an inspiration you are?
Next week I have to move all the contents of the room away, they will make a hole in the wall, put a second window, etc etc… then maybe in February I will be able to get it decorated and enjoy it…
Your shippo yaki seems to be totally appropriate for that purpose, if you wish to send me a pic please do not hesitate! I would love to see it 🙂
I am thrilled it was inspiring, my mother-in-law to-be-maybe is an antiques lover and you gave me an idea, I will send her on a Japanese mission 😀 see.. bi-directional inspiration ^_^
Dearest Sonia and Brush-Loving Readers –
Wishing you a most Happy, Healthy, Prosperous, and Joy-Filled New Year…
May we all get everything we want, and want everything we get.
And Sonia Darling, do I hear wedding bells?!
xoxo
Thank you Lillian, Happy New Year to you too 🙂
I love your quote!! 😀
nono, no wedding bells at all… “maybe” one day but absolutely no plans at all!
Done! MIL to be maybe? That sounds nice:)
Loved the pic!!! thank you!
no gosh maybe because who knows.. but no, I confirm again, no wedding!
but we bought a house together, sometimes it’s even more impacting than a wedding… 😀
“Mother-in-law-to be-maybe”…hmmm, interesting 😉 I got very excited when I read that you’ll be playing more this year and stunning makeup items are involved. Fun for Miss Sonia is fun for us all! I’m getting a plate for makeup brushes that need a clean and a lidded bowl for my micro cloth – I can’t stand seeing a cloth that’s partially used. Uggh. Thanks for the ideas 🙂
Best, Star.
Nonono loool sorry that was confusing 😀 mayyyybeeeee one day.. who knows, I consider her like my mother-in-law since it has been 12 years but nothing else is planned 😀
I started today, was wearing Three 😉 it’s relaxing to take some more time for an usual makeup application, feels good.
you are very welcome <3
That Mao bowl and Villeroy platter are so adorable and beautiful, i just love it
well in fact, i love reading your comment about the ceramic knife the most – things get ‘Wicked’ …now you know i needed a pic of that (you & knife) , lol
can’t wait to see your favorites of 2013 🙂
actually… I have planned “wicked moments” in this blog for 2014.. you know.. for example my attempt for a Charlotte’s feline flick, I am sure the result will be wicked, not necessarily in a good way 😀
I could include a wicked moment with a Kyoto knife… >:) just for you!
Omg, the Kyocera knife is amazing and you’ll love cooking so much more. The problem for me with the knife is that it chips easily, the handle can get a bit greasy if you don’t wash your hands often and that the blade stains easily. Besides that, it is the best knife around especially for vegetables. I highly encourage you to have a knife protector or keep it away from other knives!
thank you Panglu!
my bf told me how to take care of it, not use it on hard surfaces for example, he also told me that this was not a toy although it looked like one 🙂 It’s always inside its plastic protector so no worries 🙂
I guess you love cooking then ?