Preserving Memories - Adoramapix photobook review

Dineish enjoys photography and recently made a photobook of our trip to India. After much research and reading reviews, he decided to go with Adoramapix to create our album.

Adoramapix is an online photo lab catered for not only the professional, but anyone regardless of their photographic expertise can create masterpieces. The image finish is of high quality and photobooks are made with Fuji Archive paper, not print. So not only is your album looking very stylish on the coffee table, but the images are amazing.

The cover was very thick and had a metallic sheen. 

 

The paper is of high quality. The pages were extremely thick and sturdy, and again had a nice sheen to them. There is a slight texture on the page, which can take away from the photo finish.
Some of the images were not edited to the best standard, so next time we would go back and correct and brighten before finalising.



As AdoramaPix uses real photo paper. You cannot see it here, but finger prints can be picked up on darker pages.



Spread

 

Page thickness

Crease down the middle of page and between a full page spread - image is not lost.

Photobook laying flat and spine.

Book dimensions: 10"x8", 14 pages
Software: Very easy to use. There is an option to either choose from their standard layouts or customise your own (as we did).

Paper quality: Archive paper in professional lustre finish, so these memories are forever! The pages were very thick and durable, and have a nice sheen finish (not glossy or matte). There is a slight texture, which take away from the sharpness of the image.

Print quality: Really good. I think next time I would invest a little more time in ensuring that the photos we use have been thoroughly edited to ensure that the finish is clean.
Cover quality: Very thick with a metallic sheen finish.
Prices: This book (without shipping) costs $32.95USD. Check their website for pricing, shipping, sales and delivery time (ours took a little over 2 weeks to arrive).
Overall thoughts: The book is perfect and I love flicking through the pages! Since making this album, we have bought both our families a copy to keep - it's a really great gift idea :)

Hopefully I will be making one very soon of our honeymoon!

xS

Benefit Boi-ing & Watt's Up! review

I'm starting to take my makeup skills to the next level and decided to go out and buy a concealer and highlighter to play with. After several visits to Sephora and the makeup counters at Robinsons, I narrowed down to Benefit Boi-ing concealer (shade 3) and Watt's Up! higlighter, hope you enjoy my review!

Boi-ing concealer in shade 3

I have mainly been using this to brighten my under eye area and a little to conceal any blemishes. It has a creamy consistency and is really easy to apply and blend. It builds well to cover those stubborn marks. However if you apply it a little too heavy it can look cakey. Considering that it gives really good coverage, I recommend you use a little and go over with some setting powder. I am using shade 3, which is slightly ligher than my skin tone but not too light that it looks ashy. I have tried it on several times now in the humid Singapore weather and it stays well for almost 6 hours, but I might need to blot/touch up with powder.

Concealer shade 3 which I use as a under eye highlight (sorry for the really bad lighting)

Unfortunately I am not a fan of the price at this stage, at $34SGD it isn't the cheapest concealer out there but it is the best one I've tried. I will definately be using Boi-ing for a while in the future because a small amount goes such a long way and I love how it brightens the areas where light hits the most! Hopefully I can start playing around with it a little more and get those Kim K contours!! 

 

Watt's Up! highlighter

I've been struggling to find a good highlighter that suits my skin tone and was excited to try this out when I came across it! Highlighters, in my opinion, helps accentuate your features in even the dimmest of lighting :) When you start contouring with bronzers and concealers, you need something to bring back the dimension!

Watt's Up! comes as a stick which is designed for easy application with one hand. I like it because there is no brush applicator (no dipping and wiping off the excess liquid) or powder flying everywhere, just a simple double ended stick. The packaging looks like a light bulb (hence the name 'Watt's Up!') with the highlighter at one end and a transparent plastic cap revealing the 'soft glow blender' on the other (which I haven't really used). I feel like it's smudges the foundation/concealer underneath so fingers are so much better and sometimes the best tool. 

The highlighter blends well, as the formula is creamy. The champagne color sits well with my brown skin tone and the glow/pay off isn't over the top.

 

You can also apply to wherever the light naturally hits your face. It can be worn alone or on top of makeup.

 

Again, the price was a little steep at $48SGD :( But because I have finally found a highlight that I can see on my skin, this one is a keeper!

 

If anyone can suggest another highlight, please please let me know as I am keen to try more out. In the mean time, I'm gonna tweek my highlighting and contouring skills :)

xS

Sri Lankan Shopping Haul

Dineish and I were in Sri Lanka early Feb to visit family and celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary. It was a fantastic trip, filled with so much fun, food and shopping of course!

The last time I went to SL was when I was a little over a year old on my way to New Zealand, so obviously I have no memories. I had no expectations of this trip (well maybe my benchmark was India where I have gone several times), but I was pleasantly surprised in so many ways and encourage everyone to visit when they get a chance :)

Anyway, like every trip I told Dineish I wasn't going to buy anything much. After all it's SL and how much more different is it to India (where we were only last Aug)?! But in true Shyamala fashion, I picked up a few things :P besides I need to keep up with my Mum!

This is going to be a quick blog mainly with pictures, but if you are interested to find out more drop me a message and I will be happy to reply (prices are in LKR).

In all our trips around Asia, Dineish and I pick up things that remind us of the place and some clothing if we like anything. We also got a few things for friends...

All the goodies we picked up - it was Christmas all over again!

The shops we visited (recommended by Dineish's Aunt who was my shopping parter in crime) are:

1. Odel (department store along the likes of Myers, David Jones) www.odel.lk
2. Laksala (home decor store selling authentic SL pieces) www.laksala.lk
3. Dankotuwa (SL's finest manufacturers of high quality Chinaware) www.dankotuwa.com

Odel

Both of us purchased clothing. I got some ethnic tops, beach kaftans and long skirts, whilst Dineish got SL t-shirts, cotton tunics and business shirts

Can't remember the prices, but it was so affordable!

There are a huge selection of picture frames. The sizes were limited, but so many colourful designs and finishes.
I picked random ones for around the house.
Prices ranging from LKR750 to 1,425.

Metal candle stands. I am going through a candle phase and picked these up.
Many designs and sizes available (these are 15 - 20 cm high).
Prices range from LKR1300 to 2,6500.

You can't go to SL and not buy Katta Sambal!! Love this stuff so much :-)
Price LKR680.

I had to pick up these candles, how economical are they set inside coconut shells? No mess :)
So many scented candles, shapes and sizes to choose from. And FYI they smell really really good, my comparison is Yankee Candles.
Price LKR450 each.

We always pick up a magnet where ever we go.
Traditional SL dancer (Ves dance).
Price LKR400.

So many cushions to choose from!! Cheap and great quiality
These were my favourite.
Prices range from LKR850 to 1,000.

Laksala

Highly recommend stopping by this shop if you want to pick up things for the house. If you are taking things overseas, let them know and they will package everything securely for you.

For work friends I bought handicrafts, the famous SL elephant ornaments and tea for tea lovers.
Elephant price range LKR 740 to 1,350 (inc. tusks).
Tea LKR750 (individual) to 1,800 (5 pack).

Handmade brass bowl on elephant stand.
Price LKR6,900.

Bell for our praying room.
Make sure to test the sound out before buying.
Price LKR1,450

Traditional SL masks, placed at the entrance of houses to ward off bad spirits/evil eye.
This one represents peace, harmony and happiness.
Many sizes and designs to choose from depending on what you want to signify.
Price LKR 6,900

Typical SL fisherman carving, 80cm tall.
Different sizes and wood colours to choose from. This one is the darkest and of medium height.
Price LKR17,500.

Dankotuwa

I have been looking for high quality porcelain/China tea cup and saucer set for a while now. SL is one of the manufacturers of these and very cheap purchasing from the showrooms there rather than buying it overseas.
I got a 17 piece set in the new Gold Plus range (24k gold finish) in a unique design: 6 tea cups, 6 saucers, 1 creamer, 1 sugar bowl with lid and 1 teapot with lid. I also purchased 2 more tea cups and saucers as a back up, just in case someone breaks it (hopefully the design will eliminate that).

I haven't opened the packaging, but here is a picture of the additional tea cup and saucer I got:

17 piece set cost LKR 21,925.
Additional cup and saucer set costs LRK1,422.
Many designs and combinations to choose from.

I hope this blog helped you out in case you are undecided about what to shop for in SL. They have some very unique things there and I will certainly be going back for more in my next trip!

(exchange rate 1SGD = 102LKR)

xS