Bad Day? How to Heal Yourself with Be Good's Edelwise Handmade Scrub (A Self-Love Advice)

It's never easy to deal with a bad day. And I personally have my own fair share of bad-days, and I can tell you that after a bad day, all you want to do is:

1. Plonk on the sofa in front of the TV
2. Stress-Eating/ Eat comfort food: Ice-cream or anything that would be able to 'comfort' you
3. Do nothing

My bad days are usually weekdays, and I would come home after work feeling terribly exhausted with low energy. I don't force myself to do anything that I don't feel good doing. I would tell myself that, after having to deal with so many things during the day, I deserve to... as what Justin would always say... "just chill and relax!" This man knows me well.

Personally, I think that if you are already in a foul mood and unable to think straight, don't force yourself to do any sort of work or chores... unless of course you are the kind of person that likes to paint, draw or craft after work because it helps you to de-stress- then by all means go ahead.

As for me, I have my ups and downs. Sometimes, kicking back with a craft project helps, but most of the time it doesn't. Because after a long, hard day, I just want to be able to find a way to heal myself.

I used to do the 3 things mentioned above to make myself feel better only because I have forgotten how much I enjoyed my self-pampering rituals that I used to do for myself ever since I was in high school. So, I was doing these 3 for sometime, and it finally dawned on me that no.2 was definitely not good for me at all because gluten would just make me feel bloated and make me feel depress even more. Then a month ago, I was introduced to Be Good's Edelwise Handmade Scrub, and it helped me with my self-healing rituals.

In my previous posts, I have mentioned several times how much I enjoy natural homemade bath and body products. Before I came to appreciate homemade body scrubs that consist of healing properties, I used to use rock salt to help with rejuvenation. (fyi, salt is commonly used for traditional ritual cleansing, besides lime or flower baths). However, Be Good's Edelwise Handmade Scrub also comes with healing content such as essential oil and herbs like thyme (stimulates immune system and blood circulation), geranium (release nervous tension or stress) and sage (an anti-depressant). Besides salt, sage is also used for body and space cleansing otherwise known as smudging to remove any form of negative energies.


Ever since then, Be Good's Edelwise Handmade Body Scrub has been reserved as my remedy for bad days or whenever I feel the need to cleanse my own energy. I use Edelwise combined with my own ritual method just as how I use it with salt-cleansing.

Here's how to heal yourself with Edelwise Handmade Scrub:

Step 1- Light a blue or purple candle, or essential oil like Ylang Ylang.

Step 2- Turn on a calm music, one that can transport you to another world. I recommend Medicine Woman by Medwyn Goodall. Perhaps transfer it into your phone or whatever that works for you...


Step 3- Turn on the shower, rinse and wash yourself with your own soap.

Step 4- The cleansing begins. Take a scoop of Edelwise and apply it on your body; scrub yourself with it and breathe in the fragrance.

Step 5- As you are scrubbing yourself, imagine you are literally removing any form of negativity from your body. It takes a little imagination in this, but it works for the mind.

Step 6- Now that you are done. Stand (or sit on your bathroom floor, if you are comfortable with it) underneath the shower, eyes close and allow the water to wash your body from head to toe.

As you allow the water to clean you, imagine all forms of stress, sadness, anger or negativity be washed away to the ground and flow away with the water. Channel your worries that way...

You may even say to yourself:

"All forms of negativity, 

may it leave me be,

and return to mother earth."

Step 7- When you are done, embrace the goodness by allowing yourself to feel fresh. Pat yourself dry, groom yourself and cozy up with a good movie and maybe with a nice refreshing drink (I said, refreshing ya, not some kind of a comfort drink)

Go ahead! Get yourself an Edelwise Handmade Scrub by Be Good and try this self-healing ritual. Share with me your thoughts if you have any. 

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Want to win CASH and a pack of Be Good products named after you? Join their #BeGoodLipfie contest and stand a chance to win this awesome prize!

#iheartbegood #begoodtoyourself

How to Pamper Yourself with Handmade Lavender Oatmeal Body Scrub by Claire Organics (Review + Giveaway -closed-)

In my previous post about self-pampering, I expressed my interest for home/handmade natural bath body products. As I have said before, I'm not at all a beauty lifestyle blogger. I don't really spend much on purchasing hair & beauty products, but unless it is made of natural ingredients, I don't mind it at all. If it is good for the skin, treating our bodies naturally, why not. I love em' all! Bring it on to me! The more natural, the better.

I had another chance to share about another handmade bath and body product by Claire Organics again. When I first met Louise, the magic-maker behind Claire Organics, I told her how much I love Lavender especially if it is the essential oil. So, I was recommended the Lavender Oatmeal Body Scrub, one of Claire Organics' popular range. This unique body scrub contains contents that are definitely good for our skin. Lavender, oatmeal and sea salt are the natural key ingredients that will help remove dead skin cells when you exfoliate, leaving your skin smooth and soft almost like a baby's skin.

Personally, I like it very much and it has been gentle on my skin. Mind you, I have eczema, and I am pretty careful when selecting bath products suitable for my skin-type. However, the lavender and sea salt really helps. My skin does not itch or feel dry at all, plus the sea salt helps with body/aura cleansing and lavender helps calm your mind and energy level.

When you are on busy schedule, and perhaps can't afford a Spa at the Spa Centre (I don't feel bad because it is costly), the best way to de-stress the natural way in the comfort of your own home is using a natural Body Scrub.

Take some time off (I like in the evenings or at night), spend some alone time and pamper yourself.

Here's How to Pamper Yourself with Claire Organics' Lavender Oatmeal Body Scrub:

1. Dim the lights and turn on nice relaxing music. I would suggest; classical, or perhaps compilations of music for Spa, Yoga, Meditation or even Soft Jazz music.

2. Light Blue scented candles (usually Blue is scent of the sea) or light your aromatherapy burner, try Claire Organics' essential oil. Try mixing 3 drops of Lavender and 3 drops of Ylang Ylang. There are combos you can Google up.

3. Then get in the shower and start the pampering process:

Wonderful! There you go, your self-pampering process. I urge you to try it because self-pampering with natural bath & body products really does help to take the pressure off your mind and physical stress from a very busy day or week. It helps with having a balanced work life.

Want one? Good news! Christmas is early this year at The Artsy Craftsy because Claire Organics is giving away TWO (2) Lavender Oatmeal Body Scrub to 2 lucky winners!

To grab one is really easy, just click on the link below and you will find out how you to participate:

Post by The Artsy Craftsy Blog.

Hurry! Giveaway challenge is from 1st December - 10th December 2014 (10 days)

[Giveaway Closed]

Review: Rosemary Lavender Hair Treatment Oil by Claire Organics ( + Giveaway -Closed-)

Before I blog any further, as much as this can pass off as a beauty post, I would like to say that I am not a Beauty Blogger. I am just a big fan of hand & home made products, and my recent treasures are natural homemade body, bath & hair products. Love organic, love natural!

Unlike most regular Asian Chinese girls with straight hair, I am a little different. Not only do I have tan, honey skin colour, but I also have natural curls. Since I was a teenage girl, one of my biggest dilemma is struggling with frizziness. As I grew older, I began to appreciate my own natural curls, and aimed to have long mermaid-like curls. People tell me that I am really lucky to be born with natural curls. Well, I have my grandmother and mother to thank then, because it runs in the family. With that in mind, I have been searching hi low for the right hair care to tame my curls. I've tried several hair solution including olive oil beauty remedy, and then I discovered 'Nourishing Rosemary Lavender Hair Treatment Oil' by CLAIRE Organics.

The Rosemary Lavender Hair Oil can be used many ways. It is known as an all-in-1 hair treatment because you can:
- Use it as an intensive treatment for dandruff, especially itchy and flaky scalp
- Use it as a pre-wash hair treatment
- Use it as a post-wash hair oil to tame your hair, detangle and even split ends.

In my case, frizziness and softening my curls...

The natural-made hair product is special because it doesn't have strong chemicals that damages your hair in a long run. With natural ingredients like jojoba oil (which I know is really good for hair), extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, rosemary and lavender, it is no wonder it is eco-friendly and has healing properties.

 So, how to use? It is very easy, nothing complicated, and it isn't oily at all once your hair has absorbed it.
Since I recommend using it as a post-wash, here's how I did it:

1. After washing your hair, dry your hair thoroughly with a towel.

2. Pump 2-3 pumps of oil (or more depending on your hair) on your palm.

3. Apply it on to your hair; you can do it part by part, like me, because of the thickness of my hair. (Yes I have thick hair for an Asian Chinese girl. During humid hot weather, my hair looks like a Lion's mane. But not anymore with Claire Organics Hair Treatment Oil!)

4. Leave it to dry, and let the magic do its work!

I left it overnight and love the results the next day! This photo was taken the next day, to show you how my hair has soften so much. Mermaid-hair yay!

I encourage you to give it a try! You are in luck because CLAIRE Organics is giving away to 2 Lucky Winners, 1 Free Hair Treatment Oil  (Worth RM38) each!

WANT TO GRAB ONE? CLICK on the image below to Participate in the Giveaway Contest. So simple, join now!

Post by The Artsy Craftsy Blog.

Edited: Contest Starts from 4th - 10th Sept; Only 1 Week, 2 Winners, 2 Hair Treatment Oil, made with love! Hurry!

[Giveaway Closed]

Body Loving with Natural Handmade Soap & Body Scrub

Firstly, you need to pardon my attempt on blogging about bath & body products because I don't get this chance very often to do this. However, since handmade stuff is my cuppa tea, I am truly grateful that this time, I get to blog about natural handmade soaps by yours truly Earth Care Soaps.

Whenever I go toiletries shopping, it's very important for me to select the right body wash with right fragrance and benefits. I am a sucker for 3 things:

1. The name of the product, it has to be sensual, mystical or magical sounding.
2. The packaging; the more magical the better.
3. The flavour or fragrance. It has to be something where I look at it, and I know I can feel it on my skin already and how relaxed I will be.

And by relax, I mean, the kind where you can imagine yourself, coming out of the shower feeling fresh, and then you cozy up in bed. You feel all squeaky clean too.

The Wake Me Up Body Scrub

I recently got to try Earth Care Soaps's Wake Me Up Body Scrub that contains exquisite natural ingredients such as Himalayan Sea Salt, Coconut Oil, Essential Oils, Grape seed oil, and more that is definitely recommended for the skin. I tried it, and I realized that the refreshing feeling comes from the Himalayan Sea Salt and Essential Oils... now not many natural body products that I've used has this special ingredient. And of course, the other specialty is, that it is made with Love. I am sure Soap Artisan, Samantha Tan, has put in great effort, with the thought in mind that her customers will reap from the goodies she has crafted altogether.

The Bubblegum Berry Soap

The other is Bubblegum Berry Soap an organic handmade Body Soap that looks like a cake! I swear I was really tempted to take a bite to taste it because it says Bubblegum Berry, it smells sweet and bubblegummy! haha! This scented moisturizing soap has its own qualities too, because it has extra virgin olive oil, castor oil (which by the way, is very very good for skin, especially for eczema or dry skin), Essential oils of course, organic Australian Red Clay, to name a few. It is not harmful to skin because as I have mentioned it is natural. Earth Care Soaps also make sure that the ingredients used will provide extra nourishing and moisturizing effect while reducing itchiness and/or dry-flaky skin.

I won't say that commercial bath and body products out there aren't good. We have brands out there that try to achieve similar uniqueness to offer to their customers because currently in trend, natural is the new thing. But that's that, a brand is still a brand, and it isn't the same with homemade or handmade products where the csoap artisan puts a lot of heart & soul into crafting it with the right ingredient. I also like the fact that more and more artisans like Earth Care Soaps are taking the initiative to change the world by encouraging their customers to use natural products with ingredients given to us by Mother Nature.

Here's a little info about Earth Care Soaps:
- Committed to create affordable natural products for your skin's well being, using quality pure ingredients and beneficial that will nourish and moisturize the skin.
- Products are suitable for normal to sensitive skin even skin problems like eczema and psoriasis, which is one of the reasons why there are beneficial ingredients like shea butter, herbs, etc.
- Products are freshly made and organic skincare products are 90% to 100% vegan using quality ingredients.
- No use of lard or tallow in its products.

Earth Care Soaps specializes in:
Natural & Organic handmade skincare products: Cold processed Soaps, glycerin soaps, body scrubs, lip balms & scrubs, body balms & treatment oils and bath salts.
Special & Personalized services: Door gifts, corporate gifts, wedding favors, party packs, bridal or baby showers, birthday gifts, full moon gifts, gift baskets, customizable gift sets and more...


And to let you peek into the product, here's a video on how I used it:


Have a great day~

Visit Earth Care Soaps
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earthcaresoaps
Blog: http://www.earthcaresoaps.blogspot.com/
Email: earthcaresoaps@gmail.com

Home and Creative Organizing with the Infinity-tier storage container

As a crafter, I have tons and tons of craft materials from the big tools to the smallest bits like jump rings.

As an artist, I have tons of brushes, all kinds of fabric and acrylic paints, to different coloured markers and more.

There are times I don't know where else to put them; sometimes I find myself putting the small things in small containers.

But the small containers has to be kept in another compartment, and in the end, you still allocate a lot of space to keep these big to small compartments. And if you are anal like me, that have to have her arts & craft supplies categorized, then you might want to consider this infinity-tier container.

To be honest, I don't really have a name for it; I only found it super amazing and a space-saver so I called it the Infinity-tier storage container because you can stack it up as high as you want or stack it up according to category.

I made this awesome purchase from Tedzukuri Gifts (Thank you Shearly!)

The Review:

-The Infinity-tier storage container is a set that comes in 3 tiers and a lid. 

-The material is plastic, quite a sturdy plastic. In the inside of the container, you can make adjustments because it comes with plastic partitions; there are 10 sections to be exact, so that means you would have 30 sections in a set. You can make space however you want it to be, or if you have an item that will take up the entire space inside, then you can remove the whole main partition.

-To stack up, you will be able to remove the lid and stack it up by securing it tightly on top of each container and locking it at the sides. 

-The lid also comes with a handle in case you want to categorize your container and carry it around with you. But please do not try and stack up 3 sets and carry it by the handle altogether. It is very sturdy but just to be safe, you wouldn't want to break it.

I decided to make a video on how I put the container to good use in case you are wondering how it works.

A note: the materials used in the video are not as much as I mentioned because I only brought along with me some when I go to my boyfriend's place. But I am sure you can do all kinds of wonder with it once you have watched my video.

Want to get organize? Visit Tedzukuri Gifts on Facebook.

How to Choose an E-commerce Platform

Hello creative biz owners!

Choosing an e-commerce platform is like choosing the best piece from the box of chocolates! There are different flavors and you want to make sure that the one you put in your mouth will give you the best taste! The one that melts in your mouth with the right flavor!

E-commerce is not a piece of chocolate, no. But when you select your platform, it is like selecting the right piece that will satisfy you. Although in this case, your selling needs as an entrepreneur of an online store.

I was 18 years old in college when I first became an entrepreneur. I registered a company and started providing fabric painting on clothing service to couture houses and boutique owners, and also sold some of my own work too. At that time, with the very little knowledge about blogging, blogshop or online business, I could only rely on consignment arrangement with shops and tattoo parlours, and relied on word-of-mouth. Business was excellent but eventually I had to slow it down because of the lack of resources- an online store to reach out to a wider audience. Looking back, I really wish I could have the chance of building my own online store, but with the little knowledge and budget, there wasn't much for me.

Today, more and more companies are coming up with e-commerce platforms, giving every individual the chance to experience what it's like to OWN a store. However, each and every business owner has different requirements. It really depends on their nature of business and selecting the right platform can be tricky.

Nonetheless, there are a few things to look for when it comes to choosing the right platform. Remember, you want the BEST taste, the BEST flavor, not too sweet though or else it will be overwhelming!

Eventually years later, I started my biz again and this time through a blog. From there I learn my requirements and what to look for when it comes to signing up with the right e-commerce platform. I definitely don't mind sharing it with you here. Here's my take on what to look for in an e-commerce platform:

1. Usability

Making sure that your e-commerce platform is user-friendly is very important. Not just for yourself to understand and to use, but for your customers/visitors too. Can you imagine how it will make your customers/visitors feel if the site is complicated? Even as a user yourself, you would be turn off too if certain things on the platform is difficult, such as photo uploading, weird photo size requirements, lots of details to fill up, and more. I have come across one myself that I found undeniably complicated!

2. Layout / Available Design Templates

This is one of the most important thing I look into when I am selecting a platform. I want to know if the "free" templates provided are presentable or simple yet attractive. As I have mentioned before in one of my previous post, a store's image is very important. Just like when selecting a piece of chocolate, you would choose the one that is attractive looking, not the one that is melted and squashed!



3. Features

Look out for features when you are selecting the best platform. These are EXTRA stuff, like caramel melting in your mouth or honeycomb crumbling on your tongue. These extra features can help you with expanding your online biz or making things easier for you to promote yourself. Or it can be in the form of providing international currency feature so that you can sell to your overseas customers.

4. Room for Improvement

Make sure you choose a company that continuously improve themselves in their e-commerce platform service. When a company improve and expands themselves, as customers/users yourself, you will benefit from this too. It can be in the simplest thing such as, new fresh templates, new features, etc.

5. Pricing

In this competitive world, especially in the business world, everyone's trying to come up with the best price. They want to sweep your feet away even before you putting that piece of chocolate in your mouth. When selecting a platform, try to look for the best deal/offer. Do your calculations and make your comparison of the features provided, and check with yourself, do you have this amount of cash to pay every month? Are you able to cover your costs? Things like that can help you make better decisions instead of impulsively commit yourself to a service that doesn't meet your expectations.

6. Efficient Customer Service and Assistance

I don't know about you, but I think that this is one of the most important element that I often look out for. I always prioritize in making sure that if I do sign up with a platform, as a new user, I want to be able to enquire with a personnel and get answers as well. It's just like walking into a store, and you want to be able to check with a sales person about a certain product; and you get frustrated when the sales person is unsure or seem care-less about your inquiries. So, do make sure that the customer service/assistance is efficient when you are signing up with the company. A good customer service will definitely make your stay with them worthwhile.

My tips and advices are usually a little different from the rest. This is because I tend to see things in detail, or perhaps just happen to notice the things that others usually over look. I hope that with this 6 simple tips, you would be able to check out the best simplified and user-friendly platform anyone can ever have.

Happy hunting!

6 Colours Great for Online Stores

Like design, colours are equally important for your online store's layout. It tells a lot about your business and what sort of image you want to portray. Each colour in the colour family symbolizes a meaning to your personality and possess certain qualities. It has its own effect on your audience, therefore it is important for you to know what sort of colours you want to have as your identity in order for you to:

1. Make your store recognizable by your customers
2. Make your customers feel comfortable so that they want to come back again

Here's the logic: If you are not a big colour pink fan, would you walk in the store that is bright pink with colour pink-related products? Of course not!

The idea of having a store that is drowned with splashes of pink gives you the impression that it's meant to attract really girly girls.

Me? I definitely am not quite a big fan of everything pink. I appreciate the colour pink just like how I appreciate other colours, but I am not quite a fan of it. And with that, says quite a lot about me. Colour preference really does tell a lot about a person.

Looking for a suitable colour for your online store? 

Here's a tip or two:

1. List out your top 2 most favourite colours:

There's a rule in the principles of art & design; i'm not a person who likes rules and authority, but when it comes to to principles and elements of art & design, I am one to follow and there's a solid reason why. It is called the Rule of 3 and it is applicable to colours and typography. Well, actually most designers would try to stick to 2, but in some cases the maximum is 3.

Now that you have selected 2, then choose an additional colour that can support your colours while making sure it is not a big difference. Example: Orange, Red and Green.

Try not to exceed 3 because then your layout will lose its theme and it will just look like another lost design where there's too much colours all over the place.

The 1st colour is your Main Colour, your 2nd colour is your Complementary Colour and your 3rd colour is (I like to call it) your Supporting Colour. It is usually for enhancing your Main Colour and your Complementary Colour.

2. Learn to understand colours and its meaning & effects:

If you appreciate all colours and you cannot decide what you want for your online store, you can start with listing out the nature of your business. Then look up and do a research on colours suitable for that field. Each colour has its own meaning and purpose. For example: Red is usually used for restaurants because it makes customers feel hungry after a long day of shopping.

To get you started, I have selected 6 Colours that are great for online stores.

White

Despite its plain and clean slate reputation, the colour White is quite a popular colour in the business world. It suggests a simplicity, clean and safe outlook; safe especially if you are unsure what colours you want, and if you are looking for a colour that is spacious and not messy, you are safe with White. If use it wisely, you can use White and still look pristine and sophisticated. You can give your customers the impression that your business is well-planned and organized. Another added advantage is that you can focus on playing around with different typefaces (3 maximum for typography rule) while using white as your Main Colour.

Purple

Ahh, purple... I like the colour Purple a lot. Whenever I visit an online store that sells fantasy paintings and products, I am glued to it especially if it is Purple. This is because, Purple has a mysterious, fantasy and creative effect on individuals like me. The colour Purple itself is rich and feminine, so if you are running an online fashion store, you might want to consider a nice gradient hue of purple colour; maybe in deep purple to violet and burgundy for its Supportive colour?

Brown

The colour Brown is another safe tone, just like White. However, instead of it being clean, Brown has a practical and earthly effect that suggests a comforting and down-to-earth feel. Not only it gives a wholesome and healthy exterior, but this colour is inviting and also sophisticated if used wisely. Too much of a dark brown colour might result to a "dirty" and "dull, depressive" effect. Other than that, if coupled properly with other Complementary tones, the colour Brown can result to a mature and elegant style. A plus point, use it minimally and the colour Brown might be able to give a person a homely feel.

Blue

If you are looking for the winning colour for business with communication effect yet calming and convincing, the colour Blue is your choice! Take a look at successful internet businesses today like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and more- you will notice that their Main Colour is the colour Blue. Blue is a popular colour in the business world because it possess a strong and unifying image. It has an orderly and responsible exterior look for business, and when it comes to lifestyle interest, the colour Blue gives a calming, stylish yet peaceful and inspiring feel to your audience.

Black

There is a myth among Asians that the colour Black brings "bad luck", but truth be told, it doesn't have that sort of effect. The only negative energy that comes from is from the person's mind. Of course, the colour Black has an authoritative and powerful effect. It is also a sultry, sexy and mature colour, which is why it is commonly used in the fashion industry. The colour Black also has a sophisticated and stylish look, it is seductive in its own way, which makes it even more interesting for an online store. But of course, you need to see what sort of products that you are selling and who are your target audience. The colour Black appeals the youth, because it portrays cool with an edge!

Pink

The sweetest colour of the lot, yes I am ending my 6th recommendation with the colour Pink despite what I have said earlier about Pink. Even though it has a ditsy impression if it is over-used, however the colour Pink does have its advantage. Light pink or pastel pink coupled with suitable Complementary and Supportive Colour, can appear elegant and appealing to your audience.

The colour Pink not only gives a feminine touch to it, but the colour is warm and has a calming effect. This might make your customers feel comfortable and at ease when shopping on your store, considering that shopping online requires long hours on the computer screen. Since staring at the computer strains your eyes, try using Pink in its softer shade for your audience. Recommended especially if you are targeting young girls, not older women of age 30 and above.

Finally, these are only my recommendations. I personally think that for online stores, especially if you are
running a business, you would want to try and have suitable colours that are pleasing to the eye. After all, you want your customers to feel comfortable when viewing your products on the screen.

So, what's your favourite colour? Hope you have decided on one already!


*Photos courtesy of Squarelet

Top 3 Creative Ways to Promote your Online Biz

An online biz is part of the world wide web; a web indeed just like a spider's web. Because it is too wide, when running an online biz, you need to make sure that you promote your business as thorough as possible. Most people who run independent online blogshops using blogger platform, can only promote their business through social media announcements, be it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and many more. However, today, for those who engaged with E-Commerce platforms, have discovered alternative ways to promote their online business, and no longer limited by just social media announcements.

Here are top 3 unique ways to promote your online biz:

Top 1: Online Marketing Campaign

Now you can up the publicity of your online biz through online marketing campaigns. Online marketing campaigns is a less expensive way for you to reach out to your audience. Compared to traditional marketing to promote your biz, online marketing campaign allows you to fix a duration to promote your biz from start to finish. It allows you to reach your targeted demographics faster, and get quicker response, should your aim be to increase publicity for your biz.

Today there are many options to planning an online marketing campaign for your biz; you can opt to cast a wider net for your campaign on Google or another on Facebook.

Top 2: Discount Campaign

Discount campaign is another unique way for you to promote your online biz. It encourages your potential customers or target audience to check out your online store and see what you have to offer, and perhaps come back for more. With discount campaigns, you are able to plan the duration of your campaign. The recommended duration for a discount campaign is approximately 2-3 weeks.

Top 3: Newsletter

Newsletter subscription is part on an email marketing strategy. Inviting or encouraging your customers to subscribe to your online biz's newsletter helps maintain relationship with your target audience. It is also another affordable way to announce to your customers on what's new and what's happening on your online store. Plus, don't forget that emails are easy to share; and your customers might be able to help you spread the word about your online biz, heightening exposure for you even more! The idea is to make sure you are able to promote your biz to the right audience.


So now you have the top 3 ways to promote your online biz, I hope you find this useful and easy for you to apply to your online biz, especially if you are just starting up. Sometimes the simplest ways can be the best.
Good luck!


*Images have been edited to meet blog post requirements

DIY Lomo Camera- Recesky Twin Lens Reflex

Being a fan of cameras and digital or film photography, I was definitely very excited to receive this Do-it-Yourself Camera Kit and made it part of my weekend DIY project. 

The DIY Camera Kit isn't so complicated. Once you understand the manual, it is all an easy step-by-step process. The only challenging part is probably handling the tiny little screws and making sure those tiny parts are installed properly without losing it; cos if you do lose those parts, it might be the end of the assembling project.

One extra tip: Along the way, you might find your own way of assembling it; use the manual ONLY as a reference (think Lego).

Reminder: Also, please be extra careful when assembling. Do not use too much strength, be gentle and patient. Once it's broken there is no going back. Avoid tightening too hard or too loose. It is a bonus for you if you can get your hands on one of those magnetic screwdriver to gain some control over the tiny screws.

I have to admit, when I first got it, I was (gleefully excited) frowning half the time trying to understand the manual. You might feel a little nervous at first, but once you start, it gets addictive that you just want to go ahead with it and never give up when you come across challenging parts.

While it tests your patience, like I said, it is still FUN! If you find yourself unsure about certain parts or steps, don't be afraid to undo, and redo one more time. But to be honest, highly unlikely you will experience that. Again, it is pretty fun, easy and mind-boggling!

FYI, this blog post will be longer than usual. I will be featuring videos of the DIY camera assembling part by part and lots of photos too. So brace yourselves!

About Recesky Twin Lens Reflex DIY Camera:

This camera has a shutter speed of 1/125 seconds and has a focus of 50cm to infinity. It is a 35mm film camera, which is a good thing because you can still get 35mm films these days, both colour and black and white to complement its vintage outlook. 

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The important tools (you need small screw drivers)

The DIY camera kit (see photos)

The diy camera kit comes with a manual; it guides you from assembling to taking photos with this unique camera

Things to look out for when assembling the camera (see photos)

Be extra careful when you assemble this part; start from the inside first which requires the two different springs, and move on to the front, which is the shutter part (see next photo).

It should look like this on the outside once you have installed it. You need this to take photos.

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Be patient when assembling the spool; it is a little tricky. You need this part to put in the film.

Be patient with this part too, it is a little tricky. Refer to Part 4 video to see how I install this part.

When applying this, be careful not to get fingerprints on the mirror. See below how I assemble this part

It should like this (see above and here)

TAKE NOTE which side panels belong to which side; the one with the gear should be on your right

Installing the side panel with gear, you need 3 screws and the small screwdrivers. If you turn it the other way, it will be on your left

Installing the view lens frame. It should be in this order.

Make sure your lens is facing the correct side up or down.
Do not get your fingerprints on it

The view lens frame are different from one another.
See the rim, pointed with a screw driver

See here to see which view lens frame belong to top or bottom. Check first before you assemble

When assembling the view lens frame, make sure the teeth (jagged edge) of the gear fits in together properly. Slowly turn them, make sure it is not tight, you are not meant to tighten it. 

The Process (Part by Part)

Want to see it in FULL? 

Check out the video here (Featuring, the unboxing of the kit)

Got any questions? Don't hesitate to ask. E-mail me or leave me a message here. I'll get back to you soonest!