Banana Shampoo

Saturday , February 16th 2011 - 4:30 PM

Without mentioning details, i have recently feeling down, not getting out of the house much and feeling the need to stay distant and as far away from people as possible. Of coarse nothing anyone can ever say will ever make me cheer up except some retail therapy of coarse. However, the usual retail therapy does not work on those days as no matter what kind of t shirt, pair of jeans or even bags you wear will make you feel lifted, as these are all exterior and will not change how you feel.

Something that will make your body feel a bit different or better are usually creams and other drug store materials.

Although I did not buy anything too fancy, using them sort of made me relax as I the aftermath of using them when I went home was sort of like a getaway spa alone at home, which is exactly what I need. No distractions, no wonderful view or 5 star service, just by myself, a time to think.

Banana scent shampoo from Body Shop <3 

and a cheap product of Cocoa Body Butter that smells lovely

every day scent!

Saturday, February 19th 2011. 5:44PM

As an average typical girl, one thing we love ad adore is perfumes! Just when you think that there's enough for a girl to talk up (fashion, makeup, chocolate...and the rest of the never ending list...etc), one thing I haven't talked about is perfume!

I do love all kinds of scents. In my room, i have those oil burners, and make sure my room always smells of something (the oil aroma I currently posses are Coconut, Jasmine, Lavender, and Lemon).

I love Perfume. My favorites are the fresh smelling ones, i am not too crazy for sweet scents, so I am definitely not a fan of Nina Ricci type of perfumes. I love Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Burberry... you name it! As much as I love them however, I kind of don't like spraying those pricy perfumes on me during the day for work. Not that it is waste, because I do put them on to smell good for me, but for roughly 60 dollars a bottle, I just don't have the heart to do it.

Even though I do live by Coco Chanel's quote " A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future".

Which leads me to the purchase of the day! I went to Zara to see what is left of the sale, (naturally did some damage in Mango ... oops!) , on the cash stand, i bought a perfume for the price of 9 JOD (roughly 9 Euros , for a perfume that is sold in Europe for 6 Euros... Damn customs and taxes!) called Rose, and though a little sweet, it is the natural sweet smell of a rose, and just feels natural when wearing it. A small bottle that I can carry with me to work and spray on without feeling guilty and can go about my day and work smelling lovely!

To have more to blog about, this would be my first post for perfumes, and will be followed by the perfumes I currently own, and my wish list!!

Love,

Peculiar Ami

Hair Treatment

Saturday, February 18th 2011 11:27 PM

Being half Japanese, my Asian genes dominates most of my features, including my hair. I naturally have thick strong black hair and it has a lot of volume. When I was younger, my hair was very straight, but you can say right now it is somewhere between straight and a few waves. The longer it is the wavier it gets, and when I have my hair short, it is just simply straight!

Although I love make up, and fashion, and all other girly things, hair is not something I put a lot of effort into. I do not straighten my hair at all - last time I blew dry my hair was 3 years back, other than that I would occasionally curl my hair for weddings or parties.

Even on a regular basis, I don't even tend to do some styles with my hair by putting some pins up. It is always pretty much the time. Split on the side, and falls straight down.

I will be trying to be a little more girly and put more effort into doing my hair properly!

However, luckily for me, my hair is also very healthy. And since I stopped blow drying my hair, I have a lot less split ends now, and I only go occasionally to trim the ends so it can grow longer.

For the past year I have been putting a lot of effort to making my hair longer, and is working quite well. I have also noticed the better eating habits, the healthier everything in general tends to be, from my nails to my skin.

I have heard so many times before girls commenting on how they are trying to grow their hair, and the problem they face is the split ends they have to cut off.. Basically going one step forward and two steps backwards. A product I use to help protect my split ends have saved my hair!! However, I have also stayed away from the hair straightener and anything that might damage my hair. I do not color my hair either. I only dry my hair after I wash it, leaving a little wet, so I keep the moist in it. Over drying the hair with high temperature is the worst thing.

My hair savor product I have been using for 6 years now is:

The Bed Head - Ego Boost - Split End Mender.

After I wash my hair and towel dry it, just before drying my hair with the hair dryer quickly, I put a few pumps on my hand, and just place it on the ends of my hair, to protect it. You will notice as you dry your hair, that the ends of your hair are the last places that dries, so the heat does not get to your hair. :)

This has been working great for me, and I have never dried my hair without it since it entered my life! Hope this works for you as well.

xx

Peculiar Ami

Valentines + A weekend of money spending

Monday, February 14th 2011 - 8:43 PM

Although this is suppose to be a time where I am saving money, and not buying too much so I don't have to carry a lot with me when I move, except necessary items, the weekend of February 11th & 12th, I seemed to find exactly what is absolutely necessary and pissed my money away!!

1. EXTREMELY NECESSARY ITEM NO. 1: An adidas Originals casual wear training suit because one day before I was watching "stomp the yard" and it always fascinated me how everyone dancing looks so good, funky, hip and young. Although I wont be dancing anytime soon, you do need a good pair comfy wearing track suit to go grocery shopping with! and everyone's rockin' Juicy Couture and is just too cute for my taste!

Hot!

2. EXTREMELY NECESSARY ITEMS NO. 2 : Make up

Revlon - Lipgloss - Pink Crystals (no. 21)

Bourjois - Lipstick - Sweet Kiss (no. 41)

L'Oreal Paris Blush - Rouge/Concrete

Revlon - Lipstick - Soft Nude (No. 070)

The attempt of buying drug store make up was not to spend money on expensive label makeups, a phase I was going through, spending over 100 $ on make up like MAC and Clinique!

However, the outcome was the same, as the quantity I buy is much more, so the amount of money I spent in the end is just as bad. These products however, I am loving, and you don't feel as bad when using them because each is roughly about 10 $, unlike my 28 $ MAC lipstick... used on occasions and with so much care...!

3. EXTREMELY NECESSARY ITEM NO. 3 : BOOK

Also as I was running out of creams (ones I blogged earlier this month) and went out to buy these necessary items that were running out, could not help but stop at the book store (Yes, I do have around 10 books I still haven't read, but I love entering book shops and purchasing books). Most of the books I read are usually mystery and adventurous fictions, as I love novels written by Dan Brown and Steve Berry, they are so complex. However, recently (winter) I find it really hard to stay up in bed and concentrate while reading, so I needed an easier fun book that doesn't require my brain to be 100 % operating, and been reading those girly books. A friend of mine introduced me a few Sophie Kinsella books, and although I never thought I'd say this, those girly silly pink novels are so spirit lifting. It is amazing how much you can relate. Although I do love chick flicks, movies don't really tell you how they feel when they break up, you just see them crying in their PJs in their Manhattan apartment eating Hagen-Daz... But in the book when the character tells the reader : I feel humiliated, I am so embarrassed, I was a joke to him, I can't show up at work tomorrow. You can't help but completely understand how she feels. Two books I read for Sophie Kinsella are "Can you keep a secret?" and "Remember Me?". I preferred the first one

Completely went off the topic, I bought a book written by the same author who wrote Sex and The City :

I bought the book for the obvious reason, the cover was so cute!! And next to it is my fluffy doggy book mark, although purchased many months ago, thought I'd share as it makes book reading so much more exciting!!

4. EXTREMELY NECESSARY ITEM NO. 4: Valentines Gift,

Last but not least, today is valentine's day, and although single, I am a happy valentiner! It never bugs me that I am single and have as much reason to celebrate. On the contrary, instead of spending money on someone else, I get to spend money on myself and get what I want (instead of getting a present, which a lot of the times is lovely, but not exactly what you want...).

A Heart shaped Strawberry Tart!! (^_^) - and just like Valentine's Day is suppose to be, mine with filled with LOVE! well my tummy was <3

Peculiar Ami

What you'll see on my office desk...

Wednesday February 9th 2011 - 9:30 PM

Something a little funny to share after reading my last blog, the kind of boss lady in the office I want to be. This is what you will actually find on my current desk, I took of the pictures today.

Not sure if the color is clear, but this is Ami's pink (microwave friendly) mug that no one is allowed to use because I bought it! 

Another pink think you will find on my desk is:

Which in it you will find a bunch of paper clips and all in the color: 

PINK!!

Although they are finishing up. I actually took the time and went through all the color paper clips in the office, selected the pink ones to have in my box! The pretty box used to be filled with Pink Memo papers (which I finished and will be going soon to get some new ones soon, as I recently used white plain papers, and felt like there was no point labeling something when the label is so plain.... It's a LABEL, it should stand out!)

Besides these office essentials, there's always a lipstick or gloss laying around somewhere, a mirror, my iPod charging on the company's computer...etc. You can always find snacks (a box of digestives, cereal bars, or an apple)

As everything in the office is black and grey, My desk (hence the HR department) is always funky and lively with colors!

xx

Peculiar Ami

Angel wearing Prada

Tuesday February 8th 2011 - 10:46 PM

A little insight on the sort of person I want to be putting as little details as possible. I am a career oriented person. If I want anything, it is to be successful (by meaning and worth!) and professional.

No doubt that everyone who will read this blog have seen the movie "The Devil Wears Prada", a film reportedly based on Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour. I believe that most people who watch this movie, view the boss lady's character, Miranda, quite negatively,but apart from her cruelty and inability to set personal and work related issues aside (and the fact that she is moody), I want to be just like her!

I want that big space office with mirrors and my favorite flowers in a green vase. I want someone to pour my mineral water and fetch me Starbucks daily. I would like my newspaper to be ready on my desk when I walk in (No, I do not read the papers but thats what professional people do..)  oh wait, I take it back, I would like the company i pad to be sitting ready on my desk with it already open on current events (that's more like it!). 

Most importantly, I want all the bags in the world. I want all the brands. I want all the totes and leather briefcases, so expensive that it is a waste to put work material in it. I want an expensive laptop case. Always eat out because I can afford it, more because I know I will charge it to my corporate card as an entertainment expense. 

At the beginning, just like the movie, I wanted two assistants. However, I would not recruit someone who can't get an assistant's tasks done that needs yet another assistant. I would get the world's greatest assistant who will only operate on cellphones (no operator phones, it's the 21st century! ) to manage my schedule and meetings, travel arrangements, etc.......... but will never be the kind of person who asks her assistant to do my dry cleaning or book my facial appointments! Who does that? 

I have not decided yet if my assistant will be male or female, but women are always better organized as per my experience. Not being a feminist here, men are great, but hey if you have one at home, do you really need to bother understanding the male existence during work time and get a big headache because I don't understand how in the world they would reach such a dumb conclusion? Female, definitely. 

I like to be feared in the hallways though, not because I am mean or rude, but because work should be done right and there is no room for error. What are you getting paid for? To make errors? Go home. 

The impression I want to leave for my subordinates it this picture below:

But in general, I am a nice person. I do say "thank you" very often when a task I request is handed to me , or assistance is offered to me. I would take my assistant out for a good expensive meal (not an entertainment expense, all on me!) because she is a hard worker and send her to the spa for her loyalty. But remember, this is only for someone who gets the job done the way it is suppose to. I am not nice (even rude) when I have to repeat to something to someone twice or ask for something, and the bare minimum effort is put into the task. Just straight forward.

Disregarding the last part of when I am not being nice, I would see myself in a few years, playing the role of the upcoming movie, an Angel Wears Prada. Played by someone much younger and attractive (hence.. ME?). Who should I have play me? Any suggestions (No, not Lucy Liu!)

xx

Peculiar Ami

Tea Time

Sunday, February 6th 2011 - 9:00 PM

Been having trouble drinking 8 cups of water in winter, as water is an essence for a healthy life style and diet! So what I have been doing is making it up with warm decaffeinated tea.. Until the summer of 2010, was never really a big fan of tea. I have always been a coffee person, and like anyone else, Starbucks was almost an addiction.

Until coming across a lovely tea bar this summer where it has become a lovely simple hangout for my friends and I. In summer, however, we used to order ice cold tea drinks of various flavors, and most of them had mint leaves in them!! (^_^)

I have yet to try any of their warm drinks, sometime from now until before the end of winter season, this is one of the things I just have to try! If you live in Amman, you should definitely visit the place on Rainbow St.!

Meanwhile, in winter, as I am too lazy to go anywhere and loving the comfort of two things:

1. My bed
2. The couch

and coffee or any other source of caffeine is a definite "No No" for me at the evening time, I developed an interest in other kinds of caffeine free tea to keep me  warm in winter and a source of H2O Replacement! This is what I bought today:

Been drinking rose-hip peach for awhile now. Trying vanilla tea for the first time tonight! (^_^) 

Note: The Vanilla Tea : is a vanilla flavored black tea and has caffeine. Rose-Hip is the one that is caffeine free..

Love,

Peculiar Ami

Himalaya Skin Care

February 5th 2011 - 12:18 AM

Quality does not necessarily mean that you will spend a good amount of money on the product!

Since a teenager I was always looking for good skin care, trying one after the other, you name it! When living in Bucharest, Romania, there was one skin care that worked lovely, called Gerovital Plant. It is a local made skincare brand, all natural ingredients, but as the company became popular, a lot of other chemical ingredients were being added, and my skin didn't like the product anymore.

Now it has been one year, and I am using this particular product, that works even better for my skin. Surprisingly, you might expect to hear names like Neutrogena, Vichy,  Clinique or Clarins probably. Well I have tried them all, but my skin particularly feels lovely with this ( I am making sure to say MY skin, as I don't know how it will work on others, but a friend of mine tried the same, and gave me the same comments!). 

I use the Anti-Wrinkle Cream and the Revitalizing Night Cream from Himalaya Skin Care products:

The prices of each is around 6 Euros, and the texture of them is just lovely. The essence of moisturizing is purely natural ingredients, and your skin feels healthy. It might be not the ideal primer before makeup application or long lasting, as there is ZERO chemicals in these products. But for me, the more natural the better. I have noticed that even the best and most expensive creams, can make the skin become dependent on the products used in the cream, that without application, the skin would completely be damaged.

To me, the whole point of skin care, is not to feel good when wearing the cream only, but the cream should naturally help your skin feel healthier with or without it!

Also there are other products such as the eye contour cream or a toner which I am using at the moment.

On the back of the package the list of ingredients will show and you will be able to read that the only added substance would be parfum.

I am a major fan of natural products, so anything you would recommend to me would also be lovely!

Peculiar Ami,

xx

P.S. another "toner" I use on my face is Rose Water. Yes. Rose Water. usually used in food flavoring, and very good to drink when having an upset stomach. Also used in many cosmetic ingredients, but I find it by itself, the best toner. Rose Water toner, is one of the very few toners, that does not dry your skin, but on the contrary moisturizes your skin! Read more about it on wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_water

it's always the little things..

February 4th 2011 - 8:34 PM
Recently I went to Dubai for work, an HR summit for the region took place, and it has again come to my attention that it is always small tiny details that catch my attention. My taste and the things I like, or that make my day always are minor details in things...

I cannot give a proper feedback about Dubai, as I have seen so little and mostly at night time, as we were in the offices working during the day. However, I did have excpectations, and from what I seen (which isn't necessarily true), Dubai is way overrated!

I did see the tallest building in the world, and I did visit the malls and did my part of the shopping (will never miss that out), but I will share here some pictures I have taken of what I liked most!

The painting and the furniture pictures were taken at a cute cafe we had dinner at, and when I was back in Amman, this is what I had to show people. "Look at this cute furniture in Dubai!!" (like it was not possible to find it anywhere else!). 

I rarely take pictures, but I always need one when I find things I like. So here is a first! and hopefully will be a habit, unlike the failed attempt (SO FAR!) to be a blogger!