January 2019 Favorites

1. Tea, not coffee: The biggest discovery I made this month was that the best way to keep myself energized is not to drink cup after cup of coffee (as I’ve literally been doing for years, to the effect of crashes / jitters / 1 hour of energy followed by hours of this weird limbo state), but to drink tea! Better yet, green tea. The secret here is to drink more than 1 cup of tea – if you’re like me, one cup won’t cut it, but if you keep sipping on throughout the day (and especially through the difficult afternoons), you’ll be rewarded with a consistent, no side-effects energy kick.
   
   My favorite tea of choice has been the Tazo Green Tips tea (really only because my office upgraded from our Lipton bags)
2. Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
   
   
   Yes, like much of the country I got completely sucked into this, and marathoned the whole thing over the span of two days (while organizing my house). I don’t usually like procedural, HGTV style shows, but this one was just so charming and cheerful to watch. It also inspires you to clean and organize your house, which is never a bad thing. She’s also so adorable, and despite not really speaking much on the show, carries it and brings it such warmth.
3. Project 62 Madrot Glass Globe Floor Lamp from Target

After watching the Tidying Up show, I’ve decided my new policy is all about buying functional items that give me joy, rather than just cheap and unenjoyable things as I’ve done all of my college and adult life. That said, I’m living in a rental and don’t want to go all out buying expensive furniture items that I may need to donate or move. This lamp is perfect – it’s no ridiculously pricey (especially if you can get on sale as I did), and it’s so gorgeous. I just like looking at it, even if I could have gotten by without another lamp in my space.

4. LED lightbulbs 
I discovered this while shopping for my lamp above. I’m still using the old-school spiral, mercury-filled CFLs through most of my house, and realize there is a much safer and more fashionable option now for energy efficient bulbs. I purchased one from GE that’s vintage style (and looks like an old-school incandescent bulb but is super efficient and long-lasting), and while I’ll have to exchange that for a smaller one, the revelation that these bulbs exist is simply life-changing. No more being afraid of breaking my bulbs or figuring out how to dispose of them safely in trying to be energy efficient! And bonus that they look great too.

5. 99 Flavor Taste all-you-can-eat hotpot

I finally got a chance to go to an all-you-can-eat hotpot in the city, and must say I’m a big fan. It’s almost overwhelming to look through the menu and decide at first, but nothing is more satisfying or fun on a cold day. At $22.99, it’s also quite a decent price for NYC.

What I’ve Been Loving – December 2018

Wanted

1. After Hours podcast by Harvard Business Review (HBR): This is the lesser-known cousin of the HBR podcast, and after listening to multiple advertisements on this while listening to HBR I finally caved and downloaded this. I’ve listened to the first few episodes of Season 2 so far, and must say I love this even more than the original podcast! While the original is more purely academic in nature, exploring and interviewing article topics from HBR, After Hours is structured less formally and involves the three hosts (Youngme Moon, a very well-respected Business Administration professor at HBS, Mihir Desai who teaches Finance at HBS and HLS, and HBS strategy professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee) debating and discussing relevant cultural, business and political topics. As someone who could do a better job staying up to date on the news and who wants to hear well-rounded discussions on key topics, this is perfect fodder. I not only enjoy the discussions, I also feel like I come out of each one learning about new ideas and new things to try (each host provides a weekly recommendation on a book, show, or miscellaneous item at the end of each episode)
2. Memories of the Alhambra on Netflix: A Korean drama about a man who gets in way over his head when he starts playing a newly developed AR/VR game. Sounds good but the execution is perfection. What a brilliant show. Each episode reveals new pieces and rules to the underlying game, threading a delicate line between creepy yet wondrous. Definitely the best show I’ve seen in 2018. It’s only about halfway done airing on Netflix, so I’m crossing my fingers that it stays good through the end, but so far I’m in love with. For new viewers, I do recommend staying at least through episode 3 – the beginning few episodes are admittedly a bit exposition heavy, and the characters, especially the hero, doesn’t completely grow on you until later on. But then boy does this payback.
3. Pacifica Beauty Devocean lipstick in Firebird: The perfect holiday red. I bought this on sale at Target, and must say am really impressed with the formula. Most lipsticks will dry out my lips, but this one is creamy and actually makes my lips more hydrated after applying. Gorgeous formula.
4. Dons Bogam Black: I’m a big fan of Korean bbq restaurants, but most in NYC are far to loud and rowdy (we’re talking painfully loud levels of noise here). Not so Dons Bogam. It’s a classy, understated environment with plenty of space between tables, light jazz music, and, importantly, delicious food at very reasonable prices for the ambiance. My new favorite in the city.

My Updated Travel Tips

It’s time for a new edition of my travel tips, as there’s a few things I’ve learned over the past few years that I figured would be worth sharing:

1. Get Global Entry: It includes TSA precheck (which you simply NEED – no taking off shoes, no going through radiation-filled detectors, no taking out your laptop). You get this, plus the benefit of expedited customs process for when you travel internationally, all for $100 for 5 years (which to me is so, so worth it)
   1. Note that some companies will reimburse you for Global Entry, especially if you travel for work
2. Selecting a seat:
   1. Always check SeatGuru – there are surprisingly awful seats in rows you wouldn’t expect, like row 24 of United’s domestic flights have this loud machine in place of the overhead storage, meaning you get extra noise and no space for your luggage
   2. Try to never sit directly behind the wings of the plane – that’s where you get the strong fuel smell, especially if your plane taxis for ages
   3. Never upgrade to JetBlue row 6 (aka that row right behind the mid-plane bathrooms and snack cabinet. There’s so much noise, plus people will take the liberty of standing in that space right in front of you, which you can’t politely say much about but which will annoy you the whole way
3. Packing:
   1. Refillable water bottle is a must – you can never count on service on a plane (there can be lengthy delays, and when there’s turbulence service may be cancelled altogether)
   2. Use a short roller bag (I have one that’s about half the height of a normal roller but wider) paired with a large duffel bag
      1. It will be so much easier to pull the bag – nothing is worse than pulling a high roller that has another bag on top – the center of gravity is off so you’ll be half carrying the bag the whole time
      2. You can fit just as much or even more into this combination of bags as your standard roller + small briefcase – the duffel is super convenient
      3. When they run out of overhead space, I can still take my bags on, because my roller takes up far less space than a normal roller in the overhead bins and my duffel can fit under my seat
      4. Note the duffel does take a lot of space under the seat, but honestly I don’t really mind
4. Pre-flight meal:
   1. Drink a smoothie, or generally consume something that’s healthy, low-sodum, and rich in water (smoothies or acai bowls are best). It will help you stay hydrated on the flight, seriously it makes a difference
5. Drink tons of water during the flight– this is obvious, but a lot of people to avoid using the lavatory will try to avoid this. I’m telling you, there’s nothing else that will ease jetlag except for staying hydrated. You must drink water, and significant amounts given how dry the air is.
6. Keep a ready-packed bag of toiletries and items at the ready at home, so you don’t even need to think about packing
   1. Aka, I keep a travel-ready set of toiletries + skincare, small scissors (a MUST when traveling btw), a bottle of sunscreen, a water bottle, scarf, extra phone charger, pain relievers, feminine products and my passport in my suitcase in between trips, so when trips come up all I need to do is add in clothes and then I’ll be set. This is the top thing you can do to prepare for travel and avoid the headache of forgetting items during a trip.

Happy travels!

Le Cordon Bleu: Saturday MasterChef Class Review

Tags

Food, Reviews

One of my coworkers let me know of the $99 3-hour workshops Le Cordon Bleu hosts on Saturdays. Intrigued, especially since I’m a Masterchef fan, I signed up for one last weekend. The theme was “A Taste of Spain” and all in all I was pleasantly surprised.

The course took place at their Pasadena cooking school, which is across the street from their restaurant “Technique.”

We made four dishes total:

1. Gazpacho

2. Patatas Bravas – essentially fried potato wedges coated with a spicy tomato sauce

3. Gambas al Ajillo – shrimp sauteed with olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, and cognac. Definitely the star. Delicious.

4. Churros

The class starts with the head chef demonstrating the cooking method for all four dishes upfront, and offering tastes as he finishes each. We were then let loose to cook our own versions.

Tip: Bring a bag. They have disposable containers for you to put your cooked food in (and trust me, you’ll have A LOT), but no bags to carry them out with. You can also bring your own reusable containers to save on waste.

Overall I thought it was great. I went home with an apron, some basic skills in cooking, 2 tubs of gazpacho and four containers with all of the other dishes. Definitely recommended if you have a few hours on the weekend.

A Sunday Afternoon at the Venice Beach Boardwalk

Tags

lifestyle, Los Angeles, Travel

My friend came for a visit last Sunday, and after mulling over what to do, we decided on lunch at the healthy-ish food chain Lemonade followed by a couple hours walk down the Venice Beach Boardwalk.

Tip: Try arriving before noon and finding 2-hour free street parking a few blocks up from the boardwalk. We ended up parking up by Lemonade, then walking the 0.8 miles to the beach afterwards. Parking right by the beach is minimum $15, and it’s super crowded.

It was my first time at Lemonade, and while I liked it, I agree with the consensus that it’s overpriced. The actual lemonades run $3 each, and entrees can be up to $6 a portion if you don’t order wisely. Avoid the hot items and go instead for the cold, cafeteria-style row of dishes when you first come in. They have everything from kale salad to mango chicken, for a much more reasonable price. I ordered 3 portions, which was more than enough for one person, for $7.50 altogether. You can get a large plate of portions to share with a friend, further lowering the cost per person.

Large graffiti Van Gogh mimic titled “Starry Knight” on the side of a building.

The boardwalk was one of the weirdest places I’ve ever been. Lots of strange people and strange shops (medical marijuana prescriptions appear popular). The beach looked lovely and uncrowded though, and there were plenty of activities (e.g. a tennis court, a random gym, and a zip line).

Alaska Cruise Part 4 (final): Shows & Shopping

Tags

Alaska, Cruise, shopping, Travel

This post is a bit late, but with cruise season once again in swing, I thought I’d share my thoughts on the miscellaneous activities, including shows and shopping. Note that I was on the Norwegian line.

One thing you should consider taking advantage of is the duty-free shopping onboard the ship. I’d recommend you hold out until the final days, as that’s when they usually start discounting the merchandise. They carry a large assortment of perfumes, cosmetics, jewelry, watches and miscellaneous other goods. I was seriously mulling over getting a Michael Kors watch, but figured I could probably score one for a better price online later (which I did).

While my mom picked up a souvenir sweater, I got a shell necklace and an Estee Lauder lipstick (shade Crystal Baby), during our last day on the cruise.

The shows are also quite decent, with the exception of the cheesy first one.

To be honest, aside from this there’s not all that much to do on the ship itself. The activities are geared towards an older, sedentary audience, so expect corny mystery games, karaoke, and the like.

Overall I had a great time and still think back fondly to the trip.

A Day at the Getty Center

Tags

Los Angeles, Travel

If you’re in LA, one of the key landmarks to visit is the Getty Center. It’s probably most noted for the sweeping views and eclectic exhibits, which feature everything from 15th century art to future LA development plans. Entry is free (minus the $15 parking).

I made my first visit today, and found it nice but underwhelming when compared to other museums I’ve visited. Tip: It’s super chilly and windy before noon, so definitely wear layers.

The entrance after you get off the tram

A path leading to the Central Garden

Close-up of the fountain-shrub structure in the Central Garden (filled with coins!)

There was a table where you could make your own free flower wreaths – great for adults and kids! Pity mine didn’t last too long 😦

Also had a tasty meal at the West Restaurant LA right after. Their lemon drops were fantastic – strong and sour!

The exhibits are obviously nothing next to the Smithsonian museums, but there’s good variety and you could invest hours just looking at that. I advise going as early as possible on Saturdays – by the time we left at 1PM, the line just to board the tram was completely snaked around.

My Study Tips

Tags

CFA, Study

As I gear up for the final months before the CFA (which btw is way, WAY more content than I originally expected), I’ve learned a couple study tips that I thought it’d be helpful to share:

1. Text to Audio programs: If you have electronic readings, I highly recommend downloading a program like Balabolka that essentially lets you paste in text and convert it into an mp3 audio file. You can then move this file to your phone (I use the dropbox app to export it, since I can’t connect my Android directly in) and study on the go. Just a few examples of when I listen to it:

• Driving 
• Doing chores
• Anytime I want to rest my eyes

It’s really, really helpful, and the narration is surprisingly clear. You can also change the speed of the reading; I do +1 which is fast without being incomprehensible.

2. Take notes! I used to think it’d be more efficient if I just breeze through the reading without having to stop for note-taking, but I quickly realized that you need an immediate, easy reference to refer to afterwards. Nothing sucks more than thinking back a few days later and realizing you’re not sure about a formula, then having to dig through the book again to find it. I now take notes on anything I think I may forget later, such as equations, lists of criteria, etc. It also helps cement the concept as you write it down.

Please feel free to share your best tips too!

Favorite Products for Spring / Summer

With warm weather already creeping in, I’m ready to introduce more summery items into my routine. Here are a few things that I’ve been trying out and really loving, especially in anticipation of the long, hot days. As you might guess, I’m a big fan of fruity scents and warm colors:

Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter

This is probably the best-smelling lotion I’ve ever used, and like a refreshing kick against the heat. The scent is super citrusy and sweet, like a fresh smoothie, and it absorbs almost instantly without feeling greasy. I use it primarily as a hand cream, and I can actually see and feel a difference afterwards. Skin is left soft and smooth after applying. I also love that it’s made with all-natural ingredients, without petroleum. I picked my tube up from Target.

Fresh Grapefruit Eau de Parfum 

This was instant love from the moment I smelled it in the store. It’s like spraying a fresh grapefruit all over yourself, potent and juicy and without the chemically-underlayer present in some of the drugstore grapefruit scents. The only shortcoming is it doesn’t last very long on me or on clothing.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me

I’m really loving vibrant lips for summer, and have started using this more and more. While it makes my lips chapped if I apply it alone, I’ve been using it over my EOS lip balm for just a a sheer coat of color. I do about 1-2 coats and it’s plenty.

Bare Minerals Face Color in Warm Radiance

Swatch in natural lighting for reference

I’ve literally had this for years, but dropped it in favor of the more trendy blushes. Recently I decided to retry it, and was reminded of why I loved it in the first place. On my olive-toned skin, it’s the perfect bronzey-red glow. While I love bright cheek colors like Benefit’s Hervana, I think this is much more natural-looking and well-suited for summer.

Bath & Body Works Market Peach Candle

I’ve already covered this in my candle review, but the scent has remained a favorite and I can already imagine it during hot, summery evenings. It does make me badly crave something fruity and sweet, but it’s worth it. I wish they had a lotion or body spray version!

Quick walk-around shopping in Beverly Hills

Wanted to share a recent midweek shopping trip I made to Beverly Hills and the Grove. The above and below are from the shopping block on Wilshire Blvd. (containing shops like Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus). 
Tip – all of the parking garages in the area have free 2 hour parking if you get in before 6PM. Street parking otherwise is a nightmare.

Also stopped by The Grove to check out the new Top Shop. I honestly wasn’t too impressed with it – the stuff is really overpriced for what seems an equivalent of H&M / Forever 21. I mean, their nail polishes are $10 each, which is higher than OPI. Also didn’t find any particular stand-out items.

That’s it! Just a quick post 🙂