• Lifestyle

    Hello 2022

    January 1, 2022. Doesn’t that sound strange? One minute it was 2021, and the next 2022. While this is a time for celebration and ringing in the new, I always felt a strange weight on New Years. There’s always pressure to come up with resolutions and completely revamp yourself in the new year. I’m guilty of it. I’m guilty of not keeping up with some of my resolutions in the past few years. Instead of coming up with totally new resolutions, I’m extending what I’ve always been practicing and enhancing my current routine with better habits. Less pressure that way. I found that it’s hard to look forward to the…

  • Beauty

    My 5 Easy Tips for Healthier Hair

    Let’s face it, sometimes having the hair of our dreams comes at a price. Who doesn’t love a perfectly painted balayage, or endless options of hair styles and textures? Hot tools, hair color and even the weather affects hair health, and can really take a toll on or precious locks. If you’re anything like me and find it difficult to forego your styling tools (at the very least a hair dryer), have color treated hair, or just want to find more simple ways to add more life to your hair, here are a couple of tricks I incorporated into my routine to help minimize some of the damage (so I…

  • Fashion

    Favorite Fall Looks

    I used to dislike fall because I never had anything to wear. I always struggled to find outerwear during the “in-between weather” – not warm enough to wear something light, but not cold enough to wear super thick coats. To solve this problem (unintentionally), I happened to have accumulated a lot of outerwear this fall. Every time I browsed online or walked in a store, I in on outerwear. I used to make fun of my mom for doing this, but I guess the apple doesn’t fall from the tree. I’ve been loving a good neutral-colored coat with some white shoes or black booties and blue jeans (and the occasional…

  • Beauty

    2021 Holiday Favorites

    It’s November, which means it’s shopping season for the best time of year…. HOLIDAY SEASON! I’m sure many of you are compiling your wish lists and figuring out what to buy for your loved ones- I’m doing the same! I’m someone who likes to gift thoughtful, useful and practical gifts. Here’s what I think when I’m gift shopping: Has this person expressed interest in this item? Will they actually use it? Is this something that fits their lifestyle? I thought I’d share some of my favorites that I hope will inspire and help you during this gift shopping season. With Black Friday coming up- hopefully you’ll get some great deals!…

  • Lifestyle

    BIG 2021 Life Updates!!!

    Disclaimer: This post discusses experiences crossing the border. This post is of my experiences only and does not reflect any overall processes that apply to everyone. Please do your research on crossing borders accordingly based on your current circumstances. Oops – has it really been 3 months since I last posted? This summer went by so fast – and lots of big changes happened! Just wanted to pop by here and give you all a life update, since I know I haven’t posted much here lately, and maybe it’ll make sense why. We all know that this past year hasn’t been easy. I particularly have been feeling drained in my…

  • san franciso bay area
    Lifestyle

    A Week in The Bay

    Hello!! It’s been a while! I’ll be honest, this post has been long overdue. For the past 2 weeks I kept thinking about writing about my recent trip to California, but I am just NOW sitting down to write about it. I’ll be honest, I was nervous going on my trip. This was my first trip since COVID, and though I’m vaccinated, I felt anxious about being in a new environment away from my comfort zone and routine. I’ve gotten pretty comfortable being home all the time… maybe even a little *too* comfortable. But now, I’m already thinking about the next time I go on a trip – I forgot…

  • Lifestyle

    What I Do to Manage Anxiety

    Let’s be real – anxiety affects all of us and it sucks. Whether we openly talk about it, or (if you’re like me) internalize it, anxiety constantly hovers around us. I feel like I’ve constantly been on edge these days, and most of the time, I can’t really explain why or what exactly I’m feeling. Sometimes the feelings are so overwhelming I have to stop everything I’m doing just to deal. Can anyone relate? It’s not always a bad thing though – we all need some level of to motivate us. But anxiety is really good at overstaying its visit, constantly looming over us and getting into our heads. Mental…

  • chocolate chunk espresso cookies
    Beauty,  Food

    Chocolate Chunk Espresso Cookies

    So these may be one of the best cookies I’ve made till date. Chocolate + coffee = happiness. And what better way to enjoy happiness than in cookie form? So here’s another cookie recipe for all you coffee lovers! I made some slight adjustments to my beloved Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies from Tasty (which I use as the base of all my chocolate chip cookie recipes) and gave it a little kick of espresso. These cookies are seriously so good – and even better if you have a little patience. 😉 Yes, I let this dough sit overnight in the fridge — totally optional but SO worth it. I…

  • mani in a sari
    Lifestyle

    We Belong

    I’m carrying a weight for the past little while. I’ve been sad, angry, and confused by all of the senseless acts of violence towards AAPI (Asian American & Pacific Islander) and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities. Every time I hear about another case of racially motivated violence, the weight gets heavier. I’m not even sure what to write, so I guess this is another brain dump of my thoughts/emotions, but I don’t want to be silent. I grew up in a predominantly Asian community and I learned a lot from the friends I grew up with- from culture, food, language (I can count to 10 in Cantonese, with…

  • weekend adventures - donuts
    Lifestyle,  Wellness

    Weekend Adventures, Delicious Eats & Busy Work Weeks

    These past few weeks have been LONG. At work, my team and I are wrapping up a project, so these final few weeks are crunch time. So if there’s any wonder why I haven’t posted a blog post in about a month, that’s probably why. But, I have definitely been trying to use my weekends as time for myself– catch up on errands/cleaning, and do something fun and relaxing. I’ve mentioned this in a recent Instagram post, but not every day is perfect — I have had days and nights where I’m exhausted, unable to relax, and stressed… and it’s not entirely work-related. I think it’s finally starting to catch…