#foodadventures: Oriole 9, Woodstock, NY

Hello boys and girls... I'm not even going to apologize about being m.i.a. for nearly three months. Because honestly, I don't even think being busy with work and life is a valid excuse anymore (a.k.a. I've just been so sh*tty at managing my time that the blog is getting a bit neglected).

BUT, I did want to introduce a new series of content for you guys. As y'all can probably see from my Instagram account, I've been doing a lot of day/weekend trips and have been trying out A LOT of food places. I figured, I'd share mini reviews of the places I've been exploring along with the food places we (my bf & I) have been discovering.

So, first on this series is Oriole 9 in the quaint town of Woodstock, NY. The town is quietly tucked in the Catskills region in upstate New York. My boyfriend and I have been doing a lot of driving to some random towns to explore, and this gem just happened to pop up on our radar after a brief (and failed) hike through one of the trails.

I'm sure you've heard of Woodstock though (if not, read up: Woodstock) and the artsy cultured vibe of this super cute town. The town was dotted with so many small shops carrying anything from clothes, trinkets, and other odds and ends, that we wish we had more time to explore everything.

We ended up stumbling into this cute spot called Oriole 9 as we were walking around and figured we'd give it a try, since we're always up for anything (especially if it had anything to do with food). The place was pretty quiet when we got there, just a few tables were occupied, which of course we didn't mind at all. I wish I got to snap a few pics of the place since it was a pretty simply decorated place, with the walls lined with artwork from some local artists.

alfredo pasta w| chicken, greens & toast, rating: 8/10

The menu itself was pretty small, but I didn't mind it at all because it wasn't overwhelming and honestly, the food sounded promising. Plus, the prices were reasonable too. My bf got a beer, I decided to go with a mimosa, and we split a pasta dish from their daily special list since it was a huge serving (from what I remember it was some sort of chicken alfredo with a twist?). This was really good, the chicken was moist, the pasta was al dente, and the sauce was perfectly creamy, albeit the toast was definitely a bit burnt (but really a little slice of bread shouldn't ruin the entire meal)

banana nutella french toast, rating: 9/10

Afterwards, we decided to try out one of their sweet breakfast treats and ordered the banana Nutella french toast. I'm already not a big fan of super sweet things, so initially I thought this was gonna be a bit much, but to my surprise, it was actually REALLY good (and really huge). We didn't even finish it an ended up bringing the leftovers home. Only thing I would say about it is I wish the bread was a bit more crisp on the edges maybe rather than soggy. Overall though, Oriole 9 and Woodstock was a great experience.

When I have some time, maybe I'll share our drives through the Catskills and the amazing landscapes of the area. It's definitely worth a day/weekend trip.

-Frances

K-Beauty Roundup! (Korean Beauty Mini Haul)

First off, my sincere apologies for being MIA for almost two months guys! Between graduating college and setting out to a two and a half week vacation in the west coast, the whole blogging thing kind of took a backseat ): Don't fret though! There are going to be a lot of content coming your way, and the first of many will be all about a few Korean beauty goodies :)

So not too long ago (okay, maybe almost three months ago) my mom went on vacation to the Philippines and happen to have a pretty long layover at Incheon Airport in South Korea. So naturally, I asked her to grab a few K-beauty goodies from me since they were WAAAAY cheaper there than if I'd gotten them here.

Since I've had about three months to try these products out, I figured why not post a little something about them on here. So if you want to know what I got and how I feel about these products after using them, scroll down below!

MISSHA: M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++

I actually really like this BB cream. The only issue I have is I got a much lighter shade than what would match my skin tone. However, I figured I can mix this in with a foundation (like my MAC Pro Longwear) to add a bit of color. It's super light on the skin and I can't beat the SPF. If it was the correct shade for me, I can definitely wear this on its own with or without a powder to set it. This has been one of my go-to products in the past couple of months, and the Korean BB cream hype is REAL. My skin has been bright and clear and I haven't had a break out in a while!

MISSHA: M Signature Real Complete BB Cream SPF 25 PA+++

This is very similar to the Perfect Cover BB Cream, but I feel it's a little more watery. But, I have been mixing this with my MAC Pro Longwear every now and again and it's made my makeup base very hydrating to the skin. I wouldn't say it's an amazing BB (since I much prefer the Perfect Cover one), but it's probably much more suited to dry skin types (...and I'm an oily acne prone type of girl). Nonetheless, the formulation is gentle and very nourishing without causing any irritation or breakouts.

MISSHA: The Style Lip & Eye Makeup Remover

This one isn't special (very similar to my oil free Shiseido), but it does a great job removing my eye makeup, and any other makeup for that matter. It's not greasy and plus, it's super affordable. I actually got a pack of three for about $8.

Etude House: Precious Mineral Any Cushion

I know there's been a lot of hype about cushion foundations. There are a few brands out there now offering the same formulation, but I decided I should probably go ahead and go the Korean way, since they did originate this whole 'cushion foundation' thing. I got this one from Etude House in the shade 'honey beige' and it's actually a really good match. it's not too gray and it has enough warmth to match my face's skin tone. I would say its light to medium buildable coverage since it isn't too heavy. It definitely lets my skin breathe, but I definitely need to get used to the coverage because I've been so used to full coverage foundations.

Etude House: Dear My Jelly Lips (Lipstick)

I was actually disappointed because I wish I got a few other shades. These lipsticks remind me a lot about the Revlon Lip Butters when it comes to how the color comes off on my lips. I wouldn't say these are full on lipsticks because it is a little sheer, but I actually don't mind. Formulation wise it's very moisturizing and goes on smoothly. This is especially good for me because I have uber dry lips that are almost always chapped.

Etude House: I Need You Mask (Green Tea - Sheet Mask)

I'm not exaggerating, but these sheet masks are amazing! I'm kind of disappointed because I only got the green tea ones, but I will definitely be grabbing a few other varieties. This mask is very easy to use, fits my face well, AND it has an ample amount of serum infused in the sheet. Super moisturizing and gets rid of redness. I love putting this on for about 20-25 minutes because it's so cooling and refreshing. This is something I'd definitely recommend to add on your skincare regimen.

So, if you're thinking about trying out a few K-beauty brands and products I hope this helped you out a little bit!

-Frances

Hooray for Gay Marriage!

I know I've been MIA for months.... 

BUT, I want to use this opportunity to express my happiness for today's Supreme Court ruling.

Congratulations to the LGBTQ community... after fighting for so long, it's finally here!

Celebrate and flaunt that PRIDE!!!!!

Much love, Frances

image via HuffPost

image via HuffPost

YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara

So when it comes to the eyelash department, I'm not blessed at all with long, voluptuous lashes. Instead, I have short, sparse lashes that need a whole lot of loving (and a sh*t ton of mascara)

Luckily enough, I was able to work with YSL Beauty (via Influenster) with the re-release of their bestselling Volume Effet Faux Cils mascara.

So before actually trying this baby out, I had to look into the product more. I'm a bit picky when it comes to eye makeup. On the product page, this is the description that they provide:

NEW improved formula does not dry out. The best gets even better, the original false lash effect mascara, now with an all new Lash Care formula. Achieve absolute dramatic lashes in a single stroke for eyes that instantly pop. Its secret is the Triple-Intensity Formula: intense volume, intense color and now intense care. The nylon fiber brush coats each lash in deep color and maximum volume from root to tip, while B5 Pro-Vitamin strengthens and protects lashes. Available in 6 signature YSL shades to compliment eye color or to create a customized look.

So obviously this mascara is supposed to give you a false lash effect, which is perfect for my poor barely-there lashes.

First impressions: I was really intimidated by the brush/wand mainly because I'm a huge fan of the plastic ones (e.g. Maybelline's rocket volum express brush wand) for lash separation and volume. But to my surprise, the brush works pretty well! Also, the formula is lovely and goes on so smoothly. With the type of brush, I was expecting A LOT of clumping, but that wasn't really the case for this one. This YSL mascara isn't really that great for lengthening, but it does provide noticeable length to my REALLY short lashes. Lastly, this stuff comes off fairly easily. No need to scrub you lashes out to remove this mascara, any old eye makeup remover (and even just regular wipes) will do just fine.

image via yslbeautyus.com

Final verdict: 

This is definitely a great addition to anyone's eye makeup arsenal!

- great for adding volume to lashes

- provides a bit of length

- no clumping

- doesn't flake or smudge

- easy to take off

P.S. this mascara is definitely a splurge with its $32.00 price tag, so if you feel comfortable spending a bit on a good quality beauty product then definitely try it out, BUT there are definitely some pretty amazing mascaras out there for less than $10

eyelash curler: revlon | brow liner: anastasia brow wiz | mascara: ysl volume effet faux cils | liquid liner: l'oreal lineur intense

**Sponsored post: YSL mascara provided complimentary by Yves Saint Laurent via Influenster. All opinions are my own. I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.**

BaubleBar Sample Sale!

If you haven't heard about BaubleBar's sample sale, which started yesterday, then you might just be living under a rock. That being said, Baublebar is having an amazing sample sale at 260 Fifth Ave. (a very common venue for sample sales in the city).

So, if you happen to be in NYC from April 1st until April 3rd, then you might want to check this one out.

Sample Sale Details:

Tuesday, March 31 until Friday, April 3rd. 

Wed & Thurs: 10am - 8pm

Friday: 10am - 7pm.

P.S. Nothing is over $25, so stock up on some amazing baubles to accessorize this spring!

Below was everything that I got from my visit. Can you believe I snatched all of these babies up for under $100?!?!? JACKPOT!

Everything totaling $92 w| tax

double strand necklace: $10 | bar necklace: $10 | cuff bracelet: $5 | rings: $5 each

necklace: $10

necklace: $10

necklace: $10

necklace: $10

stud earrings: $5 each

I didn't get to take a photo of the scene inside, but it definitely got crowded. I managed to drop by a little early, around 5:30 pm yesterday (the first day of the sample sale), and managed to beat the long lines... the wait for me only took about 10-15 minutes. SO DROP BY EARLY GUYSSS!!!

Happy shopping!!!

xoxo Frances

Keeping my Evian Facial Spray handy! (plus, a GIVEAWAY!)

Spring break is literally just around the corner so here I am panicking about what to bring. If you guys were wondering, I'm headed to Austin and Houston, TX for spring break. I'll hopefully be crashing some SXSW events (e.g. parties) during my short stint in Austin and most importantly, I'll be seeing my boyfriend! And then I'm headed to Houston to visit my best friend who goes to school in the area.

Anyway, the lovely evian® Facial Spray and Wilkes Group team sent over a bottle of their magical, multipurpose facial spray for me to use. Also, I've teamed up with them to give you guys a chance to win two bottles of your very own 5oz sized evian® Facial Spray! Details are going to be at the bottom of this post!

Why magical you say? well, for one, I've literally used this for just about everything! I've used it as a setting spray, makeup brightener, I've spritz this on my face to revive my makeup mid-day, and also as a super effective skin hydrator. For someone who has really oily (e.g. problematic skin) this stuff works wonders to keep my face hydrated AND my makeup in place.

That being said, I'm definitely going to be carrying a travel-sized (TSA friendly) bottle of Evian Spray on my carry-on (airplane cabin air is brutal on the skin and super drying. Plus, it makes my face super oily, so that's a definite no-no)

bag: marc by marc jacobs marchive hilli hobo | studded phone case: diane von furstenberg
sunglass case: rebecca minkoff | sunnies: forever 21

Here are some tips for using your evian® Facial Spray!

intensifying your eye shadow: Spray some evian Facial Spray on your eyeshadow brush before applying your eyeshadow to create an intense look without making your eyeshadow chalky, and to prevent it from creasing.

blending: Before blending bronzer with foundation, wet a Beauty Blender or other blending tool with evian Spray to create an airbrushed, flawless look. You can also use evian Facial Spray to blend foundation along the jawline and neck to eliminate unwanted foundation lines. 

setting your makeup: After applying foundation, powder, or eyeshadow, lightly mist skin in a circular motion with evian Facial Spray to set your makeup for a more natural look. A quick spray over the eyelids can set powder eye shadow without disturbing eyeliner or mascara.

reviving your makeup throughout the day: Using evian Facial Spray throughout the day can instantly revive color to help makeup look fresh and vibrant even hours after makeup was applied. For best results, lightly mist skin in a circular motion. Can be kept in the office, gym bag, or purse to freshen up makeup after work, before a party, or any time you need a quick touch up.

hydrating your skin: going bare faced without any makeup? Just mist some evian Facial Spray all over your face to hydrate your skin throughout the day and give it a bit of a (cooling) healthy boost!

For more info on this cool product, head on over to http://www.evianspray.com/ or www.facebook.com/evianspray

evian® Facial Spray giveaway time! 

evian® is giving away 20 two 5 oz Facial Sprays. Winners will be chosen at random. To enter the giveaway, just fill out the form below and you're all set for a chance to win two bottles of evian® Facial Spray! 

*note: the giveaway is hosted by the Wilkes Group and not by me. All winners will be contacted by evian spray representatives upon being chosen. Official rules are at the bottom of the giveaway entry form, so make sure to check that out!

**Sponsored post: Products mentioned are complimentary for review/testing. evian® Facial Spray provided by the exclusive USA distributor, The Wilkes Group. All opinions are my own.**

Try it: Amara Organics (Vitamin C Serum)

I don't know about you guys, but I'm almost positive I revamp my skincare routine every week. I've seriously been trying out so many products to see which ones work best for my super problematic skin.

Anyway, I've teamed up with Amara Organics earlier in February and they were kind enough to send me a bottle of their Vitamin C serum infused with Vitamin E & Hyaluronic Acid to try out. Okay, you're probably wondering... what the hell does Vitamin C serum do for the skin? Well, let me enlighten you all (as I've enlightened myself recently) about the powers of Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is known to be a potent anti-aging treatment for the skin as it protects the skin from free radicals. Vitamin C is also known to smooth/brighten the skin and prevent/reduce discoloration (which is great for me!) plus it helps facilitate collagen production to keep your skin's firmness and elasticity. Vitamin C is also really good for protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays so it helps in preventing hyper-pigmentation. Like I mentioned, this specific formula is infused with Hyaluronic acid, which helps skin retain its moisture and keeps it healthy and plump. Hyaluronic Acid is also good for preventing fine lines and serums, so yes... this little 1fl oz bottle is packed with some good stuff

Now onto the Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum!
The bottle sent over by the Amara Organics team is a 1fl oz bottle containing 20% Vitamin C, which is a good percentage for a serum. The product is also infused with Vitamin E AND Hyaluronic Acid (which I normally find being sold as a separate serum). I expected it to be a tad irritated by this because Vitamin C is kind of notorious for that, especially with my sensitive skin. BUT the irritation didn't last long for me, after my first and second use my skin pretty much became comfortable with the formulation. It is a teeny bit drying. but a good moisturizer after you apply the serum should take away the dryness.

That being said, I don't use the serum every single day, only because I honestly don't think I need to. The key function of Vitamin C is to prevent aging.... and quite honestly, being 22 doesn't really qualify as "aging" to me yet LOL. So I use it once every two days or sometimes every other day (depending on my ever changing skincare regimen). Though, I think I've seamlessly and gradually incorporated this to my current skin care routine so it's become a regular, though not daily, part of it.

As far as results go... this stuff is actually really good at lightening my acne scars. My skin has been less flaky in certain areas, especially my jawline... and to be quite honest this stuff is pretty awesome. I would DEFINITELY recommend this.

Info on the brand from their website: Amara Organics 
Amara Organics is committed to using the highest quality natural and organic ingredients in our skin care products. Our cutting-edge formulations will deliver results. Each of our products goes through a careful selection process and extensive clinical testing before it ever reaches the public. When selecting ingredients for our products, what is notincluded is just as important to us as what is included. Using organic, non-toxic ingredients in our skin care products is extremely important to us. Additionally, we never test our products on animals. Here is a list of ingredients that are NOT found in our products:

• No Petrochemicals
• No Parabens
• No Artificial colors
• No Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates
• No DMDM Hydantoin/Diazonial Urea
• No EDTA
• No TEA, DEA, or MEA
• No Phthalates
• No Methylisothiazolineone

There's a lot to like about Amara Organics and their products, so they're definitely worth a try!

**Sponsored post: Products mentioned are complimentary for testing provided by Amara Organics. All opinions are my own.**

room inspiration: bedrooms

I have had the same french style wrought iron bed for about 7 or 8 years along with the rest of my black IKEA furniture in my bedroom... I mean I love my bedroom furniture combination in general so I never really needed to look into replacing it all and completely redecorating. BUT, I do love looking at different  bedroom decor and of course, the internet saves the day by essentially being a black hole for productivity. Sooooo, I went ahead and pulled some images of my favorite bedrooms to share.

I don't really stick to a particular style when it comes to choosing inspiring bedrooms, so y'all are going to get a good mix of everything.

Anyway, here they are. Enjoy!

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

try it: Pura D'or

I love love love trying products out (especially bath and beauty products). Also, I have slowly been becoming a huge Argan Oil fan.  Luckily for me, the Pura D'Or team was extremely kind enough to send over a complimentary package for me to try out.

First off, didn't really know much about Pura D'or but after doing a bit of research I found out that there's quite a few things to love about the brand. All of their products are certified organic, so this means no harmful chemicals that are often found in many mainstream bath and beauty brands. I'm a sucker for reasonably priced, high quality organic products and for brands that have a genuine love for sustainability and being green/eco-friendly altogether.

Anyway, enough about me gushing over Pura D'or (BUT if you want to know more about this brand head on over to their website at www.purador.com) I'm gonna go right ahead and talk about the stuff that I got to test out.

Pura D'or Argan Oil Premium Organic Shampoo (Hair Loss Prevention Therapy)

Personally, I have super thick Asian hair... and it's been like that since I was a kid. That being said though, I also happen to shed A LOT. At one point (and maybe a couple of other times), I've clogged my shower drain because of the amount of hair I was losing while in the shower. I've been using this shampoo for about a week now and I don't think it's a substantial amount of time for me to determine if my shedding has significantly decreased. BUT I do have to comment on how great this leaves my hair right after a shower. Recently, my hair's been a little limp and dry (mainly because I think I have pretty damaged/color-treated hair) but this stuff makes my hair super soft and makes it even look super hydrated. Not sure if its the side effect of awesome organic ingredients or my hair just really like the formulation of this stuff. It also makes my hair feel more thick (but not heavy) and volumized which I really really like! Plus, the shampoo scent isn't overpowering at all and is actually a bit citrus-y. I will definitely continue using this and see how much it really improves my whole shedding dilemma. Final verdict? I think I like this product enough that I went ahead and suggested for my mom to try it out, lol.

Pura D'or Argan Oil Premium Organic Conditioner (Lavender Vanilla)

This stuff is really really good to my hair. First off, not only does this conditioner smell AMAZING (like a super sweet dessert) but it also makes my hair super soft and shiny. The formulation is super light and not like a thick conditioner, so it's really easy to massage into your hair and scalp and rinses real quick.

Pura D'or Argan Oil

Like I said, I am starting to become obsessed with Argan Oil, also I love the size of this bottle (4oz) because I actually have started to carry it around in my purse. I've been using it non-stop on my lips and on my face as an evening moisturizer. This is also great for my hands, especially because this east coast winter is drying me out so much. Recently, i've been mixing in a few drops of this with my regular body lotion, and it really has worked wonders on my skin. I'm less dry and it's reduced the ashiness of my skin (especially my legs and arms). Safe to say, Argan oil has been a savior for my skin, nails, and hair this winter.

Overall, really loving this stuff and would recommend this to friends. I think organic beauty brands are so underrated and this is definitely a brand that's worth a try.

**Sponsored post: Products mentioned are complimentary for testing provided by Pura D'Or. All opinions are my own.**

try it: Reese's Spreads

Chocolate is definitely one of the best foods out there, at least in my opinion... but I mean, who would really disagree with me on that one?

BUT Reese's Spreads are just something completely different guys. I didn't really know what to make out of the idea of peanut butter flavored chocolate spread... Like, I definitely got confused. All I know is, it is AHHmazing (that a couple days later, the jar was completely empty... with the help of my little brother, who is now obsessed with it).

I'm sure y'all are way more creative than me when it comes to the food department, but here are some awesome pairings to try with your Reeses's Spread if you haven't already:

1. Bread 

- Just like how you would pair hazelnut spread with your bread and maybe top it off with some bananas :)

2. Fruits

- Apples, bananas, strawberries, you name it! This stuff goes so well with so many fruits. YUMMM

3. Hot chocolate

- Get creative with your hot chocolate. Add a couple spoonfuls of your Reese's Spread into your hot coco and prepare for the peanut butter chocolatey goodness. (If you want to be REALLY creative, top it off with some jet puffed marshmallows and pop it in the oven to broil #SOGOOD)

4. Crackers

- Just dip away ladies and gents. This is bound to become your go-to easy/lazy snack.

5. Salted Pretzels

- It's like having chocolate covered pretzels but with a hint of peanut butter. Such a great combo.

6. Bagels

- I mean this isn't really that creative, but I happen to enjoy slathering my Reese's Spread onto a slightly toasted bagel. #nomnomnom

Anyway, definitely get a hold of a jar of #ReesesSpreads and test it out. I promise you, it will not disappoint.

**Sponsored post: Reese's Spreads provided complimentary by Hershey's via Influenster. All opinions are my own**