A couple of weeks ago, I had some quiet time in the afternoon, catching up with a passionate jewelry designer, whose name Kanika Mittal, about her beloved brand "Taula". Over a cup of tea, at her comfortable home, the conversation was about our personal story rather than a business relationship. Strangely, despite having totally different backgrounds and cultures, we found so many things in common. We have a passion for fashion and design (Kanika loves designing jewelry and I love making clothes). We both lead busy lifestyles with many roles (Kanika used to struggle between a corporate and a mom's life while I'm still balancing myself with my blog, my fashion brand, and my corporate job). Most importantly, we love sharing our passion and knowledge with other women. 

We even have the same problem which is finding a tasteful and timeless jewelry that can take us from day to night. Kanika had difficulty in searching for high quality jewellery for a long time. The type of jewelry that doesn't break a bank yet still has great value and can serve a dual purpose of complimenting work and a casual outfit. Kanika then, decided to design her own pieces and named them under "Taula". I, on the other hand, hadn't found any jewelry that can travel with me to many places and never fail to make me look outfit-ready. I was still on a hunt for a perfect piece until I met Kanika. 

Taula jewelry stands for modern women who are beautiful, simple, stylish. She has a strong character and timeless class. She is someone who goes out there, lives their life and achieves the biggest things. The more I heard about Kanika's beloved "child" story, the more I was connected to it. It felt like finally, there is someone who understands what busy women like us have gone through and offers us a solution. 

Technically, with "Taula" coming to life, Kanika has completely solved one of my biggest problems: finding #jewelryoftheday. I always receive many jewelry sponsorship invitations and I haven't accepted anyone. This is the first jewelry collaboration that you see on this blog. As superstitious as it may sound, I'd like to think that Fate has brought us together. Thank you Kanika for sharing your passion with me and letting me try on your beautiful designs. I'm honoured to know and to call you my friend. 

There were so many wonderful designs Kanika showed me at our first meeting, I was instantly attracted to these designs and immediately thought of how to present them to you. After weeks of keeping a secret and trying to contain my excitement, I can finally share with you the #CrystalPhuongforTaula project. It's for the women's who are going places. 

We both love seeing and encouraging women who dress professionally and appropriately for work and play. Taula and I would like to GIVE AWAY one pair of earrings (worth SGD100) to one lucky reader of Crystal Phuong. Coincidentally, this giveaway is also to celebrate my SAUCEink June cover and for being nominated in Top 10 Best Fashion Blog of Singapore Blog Award. To join this giveaway, please:

1. Follow Taula and Crystal Phuong on Instagram. 

2. Share a photo in this blog post on your Instagram and let us know why you'd love to win. Using hashtag #CrystalPhuongforTaula #Taulajewelry so that we can find your photo. 

If you don't have Instagram, you can join via Facebook. 

1. Follow Taula and Crystal Phuong on Facebook 

2. Pick one photo in this blog entry and share it on your Facebook page. Tell us why you'd love to win. Include hashtag #CrystalPhuongforTaula #Taulajewelry 

The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Friday, July 3rd. This giveaway is open to international readers. 

Good luck and thank you so much for reading! 

Thank you so much Taula for partnering this blog entry! 

My weekends are normally filled with a bunch of activities: photo shooting, blogging, meeting people or attending the events. Once in a while, whenever I have a chance to get away from all of these, to have some time for myself, I always feel so appreciated. Last month, the weekend during Easter was an example. No blogging, no work (except for taking these gorgeous photos for this blog entry), I spent my 2-day holiday walking around the beach, watching the beautiful sunset over the sea, eating lots of delicious foods with my 2 perfect beach partners: K. K & Havaianas.

*Read till the end to find out how to win a pair of Havaianas for yourself too.

Thank to FlopStore Singapore for sending me these 2 lovely pairs of Havaianas. To be completely honest, I've never paid any attention to flip flops, as I thought, they were the least important items to think about when it came to packing for a holiday. I could just grab them at any local beach store nearby for like $3. Those cheap flip flops with the bad quality material always ended up killing my feet after 15minutes walking. They gave me a blister in between my toes, broke my skin, left some ugly marks on my feet. It was such a torture.

I was so reluctant to wear flip flops to walk around on that day, but I decided to give Havaianas flip flops a try because they are Havaianas. Besides, they look much more colorful and prettier than those boring black flip flops that I wore before. Then, I started thinking about how to look chic and comfortable at the beach.

I didn't think much about the color coordination when choosing what to wear, but somehow, Havaianas flips lop matched perfectly with what I initially planned on wearing: yellow colored high-low beach dress, purple belt and Love Moschino tote bag.

 Happiness was so simple. It was when I had a chance to jump around like a crazy woman, in a perfect place, at a perfect timing, with somebody special who was patient enough to take lots of photos of me under the hot sun without complaining anything. I couldn't expect anything more than that.

My petite feet were thrilled with joy as they still looked adorable in Havaianas after a whole day of walking. For the first time, there was no blister, no broken skin, no pain, I could probably walk miles in those Havaianas flip flops.

There is nothing like the awesomeness of nature to quiet our mind, renew our souls and heal our hearts. Right there, where I was at, I found my inner peace. Peace was seeing the sunset, knowing who I should thank to.

Thank to K. K for helping me taking these beautiful photos.

Thank to FlopStore Singapore for introducing me to Havaianas so that I can start falling in love with all the happy, colorful flip flops, again.

Lastly, thank you guys so much for following my blog.

Because Flop Store Singapore and I love you guys so much, we decided to GIVEAWAY 2 pairs of the non- Swarovski Havaianas flip flop of your choice of color and size to the 2 luckiest winners. All you need to do is:

1. Like FlopStore Singapore Facebook page

2. Follow me on Instagram:

3. Subscribe to my blog:

4. Leave a comment below and let me know your Instagram user, so I can check. 

The giveaway is open worldwide. 2 winners will be selected randomly, and the result will be announced on 17th May 2014. 

Good luck!

::Outfit::

Havaianas flip flop- Thanks to FlopStore Singapore.

Love Moschino handbag- Also love this color

Forever 21 beach dress- Also love this one

Michael Kors sunglasses

Lovisa jewelry

Update on 26th May: Winners Announcement!

Congrats to 2 following winners: 

1. Kathy Hanley

2. Shim Ah Yan

You have won a pair of flip flop of your choice. Please email me your infos and shipping address to claim your prize. 

Thank you so much for joining! Hope to see you again in the next giveaway! 

***: This blog post and giveaway is in collaboration with Flopstore Singapore to promote for their Havaianas products. Comments in this blog post are now close. 

Let me give you some information about the brand. Nyassa is originally from  India and has been existing for 7 years. Their bodycare products are vegetarian, handmade, contain natural ingredients, pure essential oils and have high glycerin content for ultra skin care and not tested on animals.

These amazing products are wonderfully rich and moisturizing and suitable for most skin types. They have few different fragrances available and this is the one I selected just for you. I'm not going to tell you what is the fragrance but I know for sure that you are going to love it.

Now the only thing you need to do to take this set home is: join the giveaway











Alternatively, if you are still not sure whether you will like the smell or the products, feel free to drop by to SHEA Singapore store to touch, smell and feel it yourself :D. Their shop address is at:

 #B2-47/48, Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896
web : www.shea.com.sg ; 
Phone : +65 62381690 
Email : sales@theoldfactory.org

 I purposely chose the turquoise arm-candy to match with the watch and coincidentally, my handbag has similar colored detail too. How gorgeous!