Battling Anxiety During a Global Pandemic: 18 Months Later
Remember how I said I would never dye my hair red again? Well... I lied. Although to be fair, I really didn't think I was ever going to dye my hair again after having it dyed every 5 weeks for 10 years. But at the end of May, I began to consider going back to being a redhead again. I had stopped dyeing my hair for 5 years, so my hair had returned to it's natural hair color (dirty blonde) and grew really fast. But as I remain in Hong Kong during the pandemic, I thought about doing something exciting, and my beau encouraged me to think about returning to red hair for a little bit.
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Maintenance for Red Hair
Is it just me, or did summer truly fly by this year? It feels like just last week we were welcoming spring, but now we are 3 weeks away from officially entering the autumn season. On these last few days of August, I am finishing up all my floral scented candles before I replace them with woody scents, and I am about to switch out my summer wardrobe for my autumn wardrobe.
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The Last Days of Summer
It's been a little while since I shared something fun about me, and since I have a lot of new readers here, I thought I'd re-introduce myself with some personal facts. A lot of you have been following me or reading here since my blog began in 2014, so some of these facts you may have already known. Most of you know that I was Miss USA in 2011, and most of you know that for 10 years I was a redhead. Most of you know how much I love to travel, and most of you know that I am obsessed with my fur babies. Inside are some fun facts you probably didn't know. Do we share any fun facts in common?
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10 Fun Facts About Me
Words Have Power
Two weeks ago, I turned 31. It wasn't a milestone birthday, but since I had spent my 30th birthday in quarantine after returning from London at the beginning of the pandemic, I wasn't going to object to doing something special this year. As COVID-19 restrictions have eased in Hong Kong, as well as case numbers continuing to decrease (0 new cases were recorded during our visit), I was looking forward to a more "normal" birthday. So when the Four Seasons Hong Kong invited me for a rejuvenating staycation over my birthday weekend, which happens to coincide with the Four Seasons brand's birthday, I packed my bags several days beforehand and couldn't wait to finally visit one of the most renowned luxury hotels in the city.
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A Rejuvenating Birthday at Four Seasons Hong Kong
Despite chopping my hair shorter, I didn't really need to change any of my hair care products that I had been relying on to grow my hair out naturally and to keep it healthy. I did switch things up a bit for a little while, but ultimately decided to go back to my usual routine and usual products, which I share below. I just want to point out that hair care is more than just what you use on your head - it also involves eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, using certain tools, and limiting heat.
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What I Currently Use On My Hair
From warmer, sunny days to the scent of fresh flowers beginning to bloom, it's official - spring is here. It was a pretty dreary winter for many reasons, so spring feels like a much needed and very welcome arrival. The birds have started singing their seasonal hymns and there's a feeling in the air of brighter, happier days ahead. What better way to fully immerse yourself in springtime than to have it reflect in your wardrobe colors?
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The Best Color Combination for Spring: Lilac and Green
For those that have been following me for the last year and a half, there's been one special furry addition to my life. Over a year and a half ago, I was introduced to a lovely little lad named Argos here in Hong Kong. You've seen Argos make a few cameos on my social media, usually by photobombing my photo shoots because he loves attention, and he's even appeared on the blog when we stayed at the Rosewood Hong Kong back in 2019. Named after Odysseus's loyal dog in The Odyssey, he's my beau's dog, having been adopted in Australia. He is one unique little fella, both in personality and physicality (he has alopecia on the underside of his body which makes him feel like smooth velvet). I wasn't sure what our relationship would be like when we first met, so this is the story of our journey and our new bond.
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Argos And Me: Our Story
Hong Kong is a very vertical city, with skyscrapers and buildings towering over the winding streets below. It's difficult to have a bad view of Hong Kong from pretty much any point, however being up in the sky provides you an opportunity to oversee everything in the city. Towering over the neighborhood of Admiralty on Hong Kong Island is the JW Marriott, and on the top few floors of that houses one of the most luxurious hotels in the city - The Upper House.
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Up in the Sky at The Upper House
There were so many aspects of Bridgerton that we loved, with the costumes making us swoon (along with the handsome Duke of Hastings). While we don't dress that way anymore, although personally I don't think I could remain in a corset all day long, the style is still an inspiration today. With elegant patterns and modest silhouettes, it's possible to feel like you're on the set of Bridgerton this spring and summer. I'm sharing some beautiful pieces that are very Bridgerton-like, as well as sharing who my favorite character is. I bet you can guess though...
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