What is in my makeup bag?

     #Instaekim or Instaoctober's 3rd day question: What is in your makeup bag?

     My makeup bag is a Victora's Secrets one. I bought it in Istanbul Ataturk Airport when I was going to Albania last summer. It is beautiful. I am sure all pink lovers would like it. It fits a lot of products and has a hanger to use while traveling. That's why I choose it in my trip to Bodrum.

There is Benefit Porefessional Skin Primer, my favourite. This primer is perfect to fill the pores.

Estee Lauder Doublewear Foundation, a full coverage foundation, is a favourite too since my hiperpigmentation got worse during pregnancy. I apply it with a dump beauty sponge and it doesn't feel cakey at all especially if I use a transparant powder and not a usual one on the top.

Nars Blush in Orgasm is a pechy pink goldy sparkles blush. I like it because is very natural, it isn't too shimmery. It doesn't look like a stain in the cheek but you can build it up if you want. 

Urban Decay Naked Basics eyeshadow palette. I love this palette because I can do very natural makeup with it. It really enhances your beauty and make it look and feel like you don't have makeup at all. It is the one all boyfriens love ;) But if you want you can use it to do some smoky eyes too. It's all up to you. I should also mention that is traveling friendly because is small, sleek and compact.

There is YSL Glossystain no 27 Peche cerracolla, a beautiful peach lipstain, "your lips but better" kind of one in one coat and a beautiful peachy, shinny, smooth stain in two coats. 

OPI nail polish in Melon of Troy is the best to accomplish the lipgloss. Love it especially in summer. It suits all colourful dresses I wear. Put it on and forget about so you don't need to paint your nails  again and again for each outfit you wear.

   I was in vacation when I took this photo that's why my bag is full of high end products. My usual daily makeup bag is a lot simpler than this :) I will share it sometimes in the future. Keep on waiting.

Magnificent Albania

Magnificent summer photos from Albania.

I was born in Tirane the maincity of Albania. It is a city 20 minutes away from sea. 

There is sea all over the west coast of Albania. It is sandy in north 2/3 and rocky in south 1/2.

The south coast has clear turquise water in contrast of the north one which has more bluish water. Both coasts are beautiful.

The last time I went to Albania we decided with my brother, my aunt and cousins to take a trip to south coast. 

We went to Vlore and Yale. The trip itself was amazing because the car road follows the seaside.

The sea was bright green and limpid. The sun very shinny and since it was first days of june it was chily only in some high rocky places from where the panorama was breathless.

I tried to take some pictures but I swear it's nothing beside the real view.

It takes 4-5 hours to get there from Tirane. We woke up early in the morning and took a break in halfway, in the city of Librazhd to have breakfast.

In Vlora we went in a hotel to see the view and drink cofee. This was the view and I wrote it down to come sometime in the future and have a full holiday there.

I was wearing short blue jeans, bright coral t-shirt and here I felt the necessity to wear my grey cardigan.

The entrance of hotel is from its back then with elevator you descend to rooms, restaurant or cofeeshop.

I loved Liro Hotel in Vlore.

Than we kept moving to Yale. There are some small hotels and private beaches there.

We went to Folie Beach. One of the most trendy ones.

You have to book during the week, to go there in weekend because it's always full.

A lot of young beautiful people, rich people and famous one go to sunbath there.

It's normal to see full make up and even curly ironed hair in girls on the beach.

Not to mention colouful nail polishes and bikini covers.

Even some work places like a cell phone company we saw, book there for theirs co-workers to have some holiday.

Under these white tends is a beach disco.

You can dance like a fool, party until next morning or have fun in a bubble party.

Here is the other coast I went to. It's the city of Durres, in middle Albania.

It is 20 minutes away from Tirana the capital city of Albania where I used to live.

So it's the seaside I most frequently go to.

It is only for people who love the crowds. If you want a quite place you better go to south cause there are some empty seasides there.

I spent all my childhood in this beach that's why it has a special place in my heart.

In Durres there is a long straight seaside where you can run or walk early in the morning or enjoy the sunset in the evening.

The beach is full of yellow sand. You can have a sunbed or even throw a towel and lay on it and feel the worm sand heat your back. 

I can't say enough for the sea too. The sand continue all under it so you can stand in water and do exercise without fearing to sleep because the rocks or algae.

The seawater is worm and it gets deeper gradually. So it is perfect for families with small children.

It is common to do sand castles, play chess, backgammon, beach volleyball or football in the beach.

It's better to have sunbathe in morning and late afternoon cause 13:00 - 17:00 is extremely hot and you can get sunburn.

At last I advice all of you to swim a lot because it's the best exercise I know. It widens your shoulders, help losing weight, massages all the body and help with the skin issues.

I love sea, I loved my holiday and I invite all you to go in Albania and see these beauties by yourself.

My favourite instablogger

     The second question of Instaoctober is: Favourite instablogger.
     First I want to explain what is an instablogger. Neither I nor some of my friends did know what is an instablogger. We have had instagram accounts for some time but didn't heard such a term.  

     Intsablogger is a person who shares in her instagram bio (profile), daily photos and some information just as you do in a blog. She may or may not have a web page. You can follow her in instagram. It is fast to follow an instablogger. It can be enough if you love looking at photos and reading just little information because you don't have time to read long web blogs.

 For the moment I am following 67 instabloggers, foreing and turkish. Some of them are beauty gurus; some post fashion, others decoration or home design. I think everyone can find instabloggers to follow according their interests. 

     My favourite instablogger in Turky is +makyajmidedin , who does You Tube videos too. Her name is Aysegul, she is a beauty guru. She shares make up photos and the photos of products used to create that look. So she helps people find good quality make up. She is a very successful makeup artists and such a funny girls :) All make up lovers can follow her in Instagram or You Tube.
     The second Instablogger I want to mention is a foreing one, her account is @jessjanemakeup . She is adorable too. She is very talented. Her make up photos are flawless. The eyeshadow transitions are perfect. I love her. Please check her in Instagram.

     And last you can follow me too in Instagram as @esmeraldapocari .

Intraduction. Who am I? My extraordinary life story.

     The first question of #instaekim, #instaoctober was to introduce yourself but because I feel there is not enough information about me in my website I decided to expand this question and let you know me better.

     My name is Esmeralda Çoban. I am born in Tirane, the main city of Albania.

     Since 6 years old I did ballet and in middle school I was part of the aerobic team.

     I have been writing poetries since 11 and prose since 13 years old. My poetries have been published in a book "I am a teenager, don't I?" in Albanian in 1997 and many others are published by "55" newspaper and "Ujvara" magazine.

     While middle school I partecipated in children radio programs in International Radio of Albania and did some translation work for Hitparade Top 20 in International Television.

     In high school I was collaborator in preparation of schoolbook.

     I love foreing languages and beside Albanian which is my native language I can speak Engish, Italian and Turkish.

     In year 2000 I won a scholarship in Turkey and was subjected to university exam. I won 9 September University Medicine Faculty ( 9 Eylul Universitesi) and moved to Izmir. I loved Izmir. I studied 6 years there and was one of the coordinators of the Sociaty "Albanian Students in Izmir". During those years and later on I partecipated in a lot of seminars and cogresses related to my branch.

     I worked in a Beauty Center, learned botoks, filling, laser, carbossiterapi and mezoterapi. I helped a lot of people to loose weight and worked as a makeup product specialist as the products used were imported from Italy.

     Then I worked at a Healthy Living and Complementary Medicine Center.

     In 2012 I won the exam of Specialisation in Emergency Medicine.

     Since my job is a stressful one I went as hobby to a Professional Makeup Course.

     I am happily married and mom of a 3.5 months old.

     I have had my blog for sometimes now and then I got on Instagram (@esmeraldapocari). In my blog and instagram I share especially make up looks but also photos and thoughts about fashion, health, happiness and everything that makes life beautiful.

    

Instaekim or Instaoctober

     Some days ago two sweet turkish instablogger one of them also you tube-r @melodininmakyaji and +makyajmidedin initiated the tag #instaekim, #instaoctober in turkish. It is a translated and edited vertion of #instaoctober.

     I decided to join them and I am really excited since it is the first time I participate in a tag. I think it will be funny and will give me the oportunity to find out new bloggers and instabloggers and more over meet people who share the same interests with me :)

      After partecipated for several days in Instagram I decided to bring #instaekim here so you know me better and share the fun together.


     The questions of #instaekim:
1. Introduction.

2. Favourite Instablogger.

3. What's in your makeup bag?

4. Favourite makeup product you own.

5. Makeup product you want to have before you die.

6. Tell us about where you live.

7. How did you decide to start a blog?

8. What's in your handbag?

9. Let someone else style you.

10. Favourite place / space.

11. A day in your life.

12. What are you reading?

13. Your favourite blogger.

14. Your favourite perfume / scent.

15. Childhood memory.

16. Do you have any hobbies?

17. Your favourite film.

18. Favourite tv program.

19. Your biggest dream.

20. A letter to your younger self.

21. The one thing you can't live wıthout.

22. Your favourite places to shop.

23. Favourite outfit.

24. Where do you hope to be in 10 years?

25. What was your worst fashion moment?

26. Throwback time.

27. Favourite youtubers.

28. Favourite song.

29. Year in rewiew so far.

30. Your wish list until new year.

31. Your best winter makeup.


Hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Goodbye Summer! Welcome Autumn!

   Goodbye Summer! This summer I gave birth my daughter. The first half I was pregnant but since the weather was cool I didn't get frustrated at all. That period of time seemed me like a year, it was that hard wating for the baby to come. My daughter was born in 9 July. It was the best day of my life. I was very excited.
The second half of summer I was in home healing and dealing with my baby. I went out as soon as I could. Since the babies need vitamin D I wanted my babygirl get as soon as possible some sunbath. Of course we brought her out early in morning or late in afternoon.

   Welcome Autumn! I am very happy autumn came, I hope it will be a warm one because we plan to have a late seaside holiday this season. I want my baby touch sea water, play with it, have some sand between her foot fingers. But I am also prepared if it rains. If so we can go out and visit several places in the town.
   Autumn is the season of my birthday. I always plan a small family party and generally I get a lot of presents.
   I also love rain but in Izmir it rains only a few days all year around. I love going out in a rainy day, get my hair wet and than come bac home and fall aslep under a flyffy blanket.
   So welcome autumn, I am happy you are here.

Pregnancy Fashion - Dresses and shoes

When we talk about pregnancy fashion we think comfort first and wearing dresses is confortable and fashionable at the same time.

 

 The dress I wear the most is the one I got from Gebe store in Agora Mall. It is a pregnancy dress, I can wear it after pregnancy also. It is a fine dress, a beautiful coral colour, you can wash and dry it immediately . It's the most confortable dress I wore.

At the begining of my pregnancy it was winter but as the weather become warmer I could wear a dress in the party organised for my friend who finished the emergency specialization. I wore a navy blu laced dress one number larger then my normal size. I combined it with a golden belt, a black smoky eye and nude lip make up.

Then in the weeding of another friend I managed to wear my regular sized coral satin dress and I loved the way it fit.

Another dress I found out the last days of my pregnancy is my red dress. I have had it in my wardrobe but didn't think would fit me.

First I wore sport shoes as my bump wasn't so big and I could lace them up.

 

Then I wore flats to not have to bend over. A nude pair of flats goes with every piece of cloth you have.

 Then you know flip flops are always a good choise. Only be careful some of them like my light blue ones can slip when there is water where you step up.

Last month I bought something that didn't slip and could be used as sandal or slipper. I used them at most as slipper. I found them beautiful because of their bright turquoise colour and very useful beacause as the pregnancy advanced my feet got wider and couldn't fit on normal sandals.

Pregnancy sometimes can be a difficult period but you can make it easier by spoiling yourself with some new clothes and shoes, by going out a lot especially after leaving the work and geting birth permition and spend some time caring of your home, yourself and your husband. Don't forget to get a holiday and go to the sea if you can!