Priceline Haul [3]

Hi everyone!

Priceline is currently having a massive sale, which 50% off the entire Maybelline range. I decided to pop in early yesterday morning - the calm before the storm! It was lucky that my friends and I were the only people in the store.

  

 All my purchases. A grand total of $109.90

 Real Techniques Core Collection $44.99

First off, this wasn't on sale but I bought it as a gift for a friend. I have my own set and they're fantastic. I definitely recommend them, especially for beginners. If you're able to shop online, I know iherb has them for a much lower price!

 Maybelline Falsies Waterproof Mascara $9.62

Originally $19.25

Finally the right version of Falsies for me! I mistakenly bought the non-waterproof version, and then the Falsies Everlasting but found that I wasn't happy with either one. The former, being non-waterproof, made my lashes look pretty good but caused them to droop and lose their curl since I have the typical straight Asian lashes! The latter just didn't appeal to me and I liked the formula less than the non-waterproof one. However, this one is perfect! It gave me clump free, long lashes and held the curl really well. 

Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Liner $6.97

Originally $13.96

Maybelline Master Liner $6.25

Originally $13.50

My favourite of all 'drugstore' eye liners! I have oily lids, one of which is slightly monolid-like, so smudgeproof and waterproof liners are a must for me. I decided to stock up, even though both of the ones I'm currently using have quite a bit of product left in them.

Maybelline Color Tattoo in 'Too Cool' $5.97

Originally $11.95

A steal at only $5.97! These are amazing - they give an intense colour pay off and will last from the moment you apply it to the moment you decide to remove it. Fantastic for people who have oily lids like me. I had my eye on 'Barely Branded' as well, but unfortunately the 2 stores I visited were both out of stock! I will be visiting Priceline again next week before the end of the sale, so hopefully they would've restocked everything.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer in 'Medium' $9.47

Originally $18.95

Definitely one of my favourite concealers. Perfect for under the eye as well as over blemishes. My shade is light but I bought this for my sister since she is much more tanned than I am. 

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in 'Coral Crush' $8.47

Originally $16.95

Absolutely gorgeous colour! It isn't too drying on the lips and has a fairly moderate staying power without a lipliner. I'll definitely be purchasing a few more of these on my next Priceline visit.

Maybelline Baby Lips in 'Energising Orange' $1.97

Originally $3.95

I'm sure everyone knows of the hype surrounding these. This is my 4th Baby Lips and they're great! I usually like to have a lip balm everywhere (seriously - in my bag, wallet, car, bedroom, study desk, bathroom etc :P) and this was such a steal! I'll definitely be purchasing a few more on my next visit.

 Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover $8.99

Originally $10.89

I wanted to try out some new eye make up removers since I ran out of my favourite Garnier one, so I picked this up since it was on sale for 20% off. So far, I really like it but I still prefer the Garnier 2-in-1. It works quite well but it just doesn't have the same lightness that the Garnier one does.

 Nivea 3 in 1 Waterproof Make-Up Remover $7.19

Originally $8.99

Another make up remover I picked up to try out. It has the consistency of a thin moisturiser which I don't actually like very much. It takes quite a bit of product to remove waterproof makeup, mascara especially, but it definitely has the moisturising properties. I don't think this is a product I will be repurchasing after I finish it.

If you haven't been into Priceline recently or you need to stock up on a few beauty products, I definitely recommend you visit ASAP! The sale ends on the 26th of August - I know I'll be back in a week's time to pick up some more goodies!

Vy
xo

Nordburger

Another burger joint in Adelaide! Nordburger is fairly new to the burger scene, but I'd heard a couple of good reviews so my friend and I ventured over to Norwood for lunch at the beginning of the week. 

 A few seats by the front and at the counter, as well as some standing options at the back. We chose to sit right by the counter!

 Fridge of soft drinks, including American ones such as Dr Pepper and Tab, above their shake station

 Nordburger $7.90

Beef, pickles, tomato, lettuce, mustard, ketchup, Nord sauce

Small Tater Tots $2.50

Salted Caramel shake $7

I decided to go with the Nordburger. It contained all the typical burger fillings, as well as their special Nord sauce. I really enjoyed it! The beef patty wasn't as thick and juicy as those from Burger Theory, but they still tasted great, especially with the Nord sauce. I also liked how the bun was quite soft and sweet, and was in a perfect ratio to the fillings. 

The tater tots didn't taste like the cheap frozen ones you buy in supermarkets, so my friend and I enjoyed them a lot! The burger and tots may look like a small serving, but I was stuffed by the end of the meal.
The salted caramel shake was DELICIOUS. I loved the distinct flavour of salted caramel and how it wasn't too overpowering. I'd definitely recommend it to salted caramel lovers like myself!

 Hotburger $8.30

Beef, pickled jalapeño, red onion, Doc's coleslaw, chipotle mayo

Large tater tots $3.00

This was the 3rd time my friend had ordered this burger and she loved it! 

We didn't end up finishing all of the tater tots or the shake, so we took them back to school and my sister was happy to take them off us. Even after the 5 minute drive back to school, they still tasted great, albeit a little closer to room temperature!

I noticed that a person behind the counter had a pretty cool tattoo! A fork, knife and spoon. Dedicated lover of food, maybe?

I have to say I had a great first experience here. The people behind the counter were really friendly, especially the person who served us - he actually made an effort to hold a conversation with us when he noticed our uniforms. Pretty cool! We were also able to see the food being cooked and assembled, and I noticed that the bench tops were always very clean and well organised. My friend and I were able to pick up on the system they had going on the benches, which we thought was very effective in allowing food to be quickly made and sent out. Our food was ready within 5 minutes, though my friend had been here before for dinner and had to wait 30 minutes for her food. Nordburger also offers takeaway, which would come in handy!

Great food in a great location. I can't wait for the next time I visit! I have my eye on their pretzel specialty shake.

Overall, 8.5/10.

Vy

xo

Tan Nhu Y

My little brother was running around the house telling everyone that he wanted pho for lunch, so Mum and I took him to Tan Nhu Y! 

Disclaimer: The family of my best friend from primary school owns this restaurant, however I assure you that this will not affect any of my thoughts on the restaurant.

On the day we visited, there was a function going on so the restaurant was very busy and packed. The service was still great in that the waiters and waitresses were all very friendly and helpful, especially the owner Hang, but the food was a little slow coming out which I think was understandable. 

Small Pho $10.00

HUGE serving for a small - mum and Vinny shared it but they couldn't finish it! Both mum and I thought that it was lacking the richness in flavour compared to other places we've been to. Not the best we've ever had, but I've heard other people raving about it. Maybe it was just bad luck?

Small Combination Broken Rice $10

I wasn't in the mood for pho so I decided on the combination broken rice. There was a huge mound of rice topped with a variety of different proteins, as well as fresh and pickled vegetables. My favourite was definitely the grilled pork. My little brother loved it so much that he kept picking it off my plate, along with the roast pork and cucumber (he just enjoys stealing my food). This wasn't necessarily a bad thing because I couldn't finish it! Tan Nhu Y is definitely one of my favourite places for this dish. 

Hang caught my brother stealing the grilled pork of my plate a number of times, so she sent out a complimentary plate of just the pork. Great service or what? She's such a lovely person and is well known for her fantastic people skills!

Avocado Smoothie

My little brother ordered this for himself and dug in as soon as it arrived at the table. It was very thick, creamy and perfectly sweet, just how I like it!

Jackfruit Smoothie

I adore fresh jackfruit and this smoothie is just as great! On this occasion, it was a little thin for my liking and but still had the sweetness and delicious flavour of jackfruit.

Occasionally, my family and I also like ordering takeaway from here whenever we're having a bit of a lazy evening and want to take a break. Some of our favourites are the Sweet and Sour Pork, Salt and Pepper Squid (great to have with a beer), Szechuan Beef and Salt and Pepper flounder.

Tan Nhu Y is one of our family's preferred places for a quick lunch or takeaway for dinner, and the service here is always great. I am not biased at all when I say that I would recommend it!

Overall, 8.5/10

Vy

xo

East Terrace Continental

Having my Ps, and being up early on a Saturday morning meant that my friends and I were able to grab a quick bite to eat for breakfast before beginning an intense study session!

On the adjacent wall to the right of this, kids movies were being projected. During our breakfast, we were able to watch a bit of 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'!

 The food came out approximately 10 minutes after ordering. Quite speedy service for a busy Saturday morning!

 Soft Poached Eggs $13.60

with prosciutto, spinach and Hollandaise sauce with a drizzle of napolitana sauce on wood oven toast

+ Extra spinach $3.80

This was my choice for breakfast after deliberating over whether I should pick something sweet or savoury. I love poached eggs so I couldn't say no to this. It was obviously way too early in the morning because I accidentally ordered extra spinach thinking that there wasn't any with the dish. Oops! Can't say no to some extra nutrients though! 

The eggs were perfectly poached, with the yolks just holding together, only to burst onto the perfectly toasted piece of bread with a poke of my knife. I think the Hollandaise was lacking a bit of its distinctive tanginess, but that would be the only fault. 

Eggs Benedict $12.60

with leg ham, tomato and Hollandaise sauce on an english muffin

 Chill Bar $13.90

traditional Turkish breakfast of poached eggs atop warmed garlic yoghurt, drizzled with paprika butter served with sauteed mushrooms and warm Turkish bread

The garlic yoghurt and paprika butter sounded very interesting. I might have to order this the next time I visit!

 Celery, apple and pineapple juice $6.50

I ordered this to accompany my breakfast and it was SO good! I often juice fruits and vegetables at home and this is one of my favourite combinations. 

Banana smoothie $6.50

East Terrace Continental definitely left a good first impression. Delicious food, great value and service - definitely a fantastic start to my morning! I'm sure I'll be back soon. This would also be a nice place to bring younger children because it has a very casual atmosphere and is child friendly, and they'll be kept entertained with the movies on the wall.

Overall, 9/10. 

Vy

xo

 

Wasai Japanese Kitchen and Mother's Crepes

As a belated post UMAT celebration, a small group of us went out for dinner at Wasai on the weekend.

I had my expectations set quite high because I've heard such great things and most people seem to adore it.

Since I made the booking the day before, they were able to squeeze us in at 6pm but asked that we leave by 7:30pm. I was a bit worried that we would be rushed through our meal, but they assured me that the service would be very fast and we would have plenty of time to eat. I didn't think they actually meant it, but it was completely true! Within about 5 minutes of ordering, our food had arrived.

 Lemon & Lime Bitters $4

Hot Japanese Green Tea $2.20

We decided to get two drinks each. I am a tea lover and I really enjoyed the green tea!

 Deluxe Sushi and Sashimi Boat $58

I'm not a huge fan of sashimi and usually have little or none of it when given the option. However, we settled on this so that we could try as much as possible. I thought the sushi to sashimi ratio was a bit off, though. In my opinion, there should be a bit more sushi! The sushi that was on the boat was delicious, and I can't help but wish that there was more of it. I had no idea how to judge the sashimi since I don't usually eat it, but my friends seemed to enjoy it. We ended up leaving quite a bit of the sashimi, though.

 Takoyaki $8

We loved this! They were really light and fluffy on the inside with a very slightly crispy outer layer. I definitely would've liked a little bit more octupus in it, though.

Aburi Salmon Roll $11.50

I'm really glad we ordered this. It was delicious and I definitely recommend ordering it if you ever visit!

I know that we will definitely be returning to Wasai in the future. The waiters and waitresses were very friendly and the food was fantastic! However, next time I think we might stick to more sushi and less sashimi, and maybe even try out some things on their dessert menu. This is a place I would recommend and I can see what all the hype is about!

Overall, 9/10.

Our tummies weren't quite full so we decided to walk to Mother's Crepes on Grote Street for a bit of dessert. 

 Strawberry Brownie Crepe $6.20

Initially, I asked for this with ice cream instead of whipped cream but they said they were unable to do that. I was surprised because they have a whole section of ice cream filled crepes on their menu and I honestly wouldn't have minded paying an extra dollar or so. I ended up just asking for no whip cream at all. Firstly, what surprised me was the amount of custard in this. The ratio between the custard and everything else was seriously off. I did manage to finish it but it made me SO full! 

Small Black Sesame Ice Cream $2.80

A good friend of mine was raving about this and she'd had it twice in three days, and insisted that I try it! We shared this between us since each of us had a crepe, but we all loved it. It had a really nice nutty flavour and the perfect amount of sweetness. It might not look as appetising as the other options, but I definitely recommend trying it!

The service that night was great since it wasn't too busy when we were there. I have seen it really busy and the wait for a crepe would be approximately 5 minutes. Based solely on the experience I had that night, I would give it an 8/10.

Have a great week everyone!

Vy

xo

Red Door Bakery [2]

Hi everyone,

Today, I paid a very brief visit to the Red Door Bakery. It was pouring outside and very packed inside!
This was my second visit and I already had in mind what I wanted to try; a salted caramel brick. My sister's friend knows I love salted caramel and recommended that I try one the next time I visit.

 Salted Caramel Bricks $4.50 each

Creme Brulee Tarts $4.50 each

I ended up picking these up for myself and my family.

[Read my thoughts on the creme brulee tarts here.]

I would probably describe this as a rich, decadent, chocolate-y brownie filled with delicious salted caramel, topped with a layer of chocolate and sprinkled with salt. I love the fact that the salted caramel is perfectly salty, and that it oozes out of the 'brick' once you take a bite. Everything just works so well together, and I definitely recommend you give it a go if you're a salted caramel fanatic like myself!

This is definitely a place worth the hype, and if you've been needing a bit of a nudge to go and visit, this is it! I still need to try more of their goodies, but what I've had already has been delicious. I know for sure that I'll have to visit some time for a coffee. The people who work there are always really lovely, too!

Overall, 9/10

Vy

xo

Update + The Mac Factory

Hi everyone!

I'm very sorry for the lack of posts lately. Today I wanted to post a quick update of my life and what I've been up to since my last post.

Firstly, I'll give a quick mention to a place where I'd recommend you all visit if you haven't already and are a huge lover of macarons!

We were there on a Saturday afternoon so I think they were beginning to run low on macarons!

Left: 

Bottom layer

2 x Peppermint

2 x Salted Caramel

1 x Strawberries and Cream

1 x Espresso

Top layer

1 x Raspberry

1 x Jaffa 

Right:

1 x Strawberries and Cream

1 x Espresso

1 x Pistachio

The macarons here are ALWAYS on point. The texture is consistent every time I visit; chewy with the slightest crunch from the shells. The fillings are always deliciously flavoured and not too sweet. I've also ordered a macaron tower from here for my 17th birthday (below), and every single macaron was delicious! 

Sorry for the dodgy cropping - I was trying to conceal my friend's identity! 

This is probably my favourite place for macarons in Adelaide. I highly recommend it!

Now, back to my update! Unfortunately, I simply have not had the time to go out since school began again. I'm sure most of you would understand that Term 3 of a year 12's school year is quite possibly the most hectic and demanding term of all. Even after a three week break, I still didn't feel as though I was ready to go back. There was just so much work that had to be done, as well as plenty of new assignments/tests that were coming our way within the next few weeks.

There was also the UMAT to study for, which I did yesterday afternoon. They're not kidding when they say that it is the most stressful and difficult exam you might ever do. I am extremely glad that I decided to do a UMAT preparation course at the beginning of the year, because the practice really helped and I don't think I'd be as calm as I was yesterday without having completed it. For aspiring doctors/dentists/optometrists, I definitely recommend doing some form of UMAT preparation beforehand. In my opinion, it is not something that you should attempt without a prior knowledge of the types of questions and how to go about solving them. Also, for the lucky 2013 candidates, ACER decided to change the layout go the entire exam a few months before the test date! I'm so glad that it's over now and I don't have to think about it again until September, when we receive our results. As some of you may know, I'm aiming to study Optometry next year, so the UMAT is quite important to me! Another option I have been considering is to study Medicine and specialise in Opthalmology. However this route is 3 times longer than Optometry, which is slightly off putting!

In the second weekend of the holidays, I also had a driving test and I'm now a P-plater! I was, and still am, super excited about being able to drive on my own, though I must admit I was terrified while taking the test! It all went smoothly so I'm very happy. This is definitely a rite of passage for me, since now I have much more freedom because I don't have to rely on my parents to drive me around and they trust me to drive on my own.

Something I did in the last week of the holidays was study in a place with is different to my usual study environment. Since I was able to drive, I studied in town with one of my friends. We took the last hour off from studying and I drove us to the Mac Factory, one of our favourite places (see beginning of post)! We bought a selection of macarons, nearly all of which disappeared within the hour. We also wandered around in Chinatown for a while before going home. I think what was so significant about this was that we rarely get a chance to completely relax and do completely unplanned things, so it was great!

Now that August has arrived, I'm bracing myself for a month of birthdays! Today, my friend of 8 years turned 18 (Happy birthday J!). I also have my mum's birthday as well as a whole bunch of 18th birthdays to look forward to. So exciting!

Also, I think the countdown to the end of year 12 has now hit 10 school weeks... It's such a scary, yet exciting thought that my schooling life will be coming to an end so coon. Everything I've known for the past 13 years will be wrapping up in just a few months! However, I'm SO excited for uni life as well as the freedom that will come with it.

So that's it for my update - I don't want to bore you with any more details regarding my schooling!
I'll have a review or two up by early next week so stay tuned :)

Much love,

Vy
xo