The HelloFresh Family

I recently started medical school so I’ve been super busy! On one of my first days in town I was checking out the campus, and a random guy approached me and started trying to sell me something. Honestly, I usually try to excuse myself from those situations quickly, but he was so friendly and earnest, and I really had nothing better to do since school hadn’t yet started, so I listened to his pitch, and ended up actually buying something!

HelloFresh is kind of like Blue Apron-you pick some recipes that they have available and they deliver everything you need to cook them. I opted for the plan that delivered 3 recipes (6 meals) worth of ingredients in a box that was very appropriately insulated for the summer.

I don’t have too much time on my hands right now, but I will post pictures of the ingredients and the finished recipes if anyone wants to see them. I will say that everything I got was very fresh and the recipes were delicious even according to my picky tastebuds. The serving sizes were pretty big and I ended up with more like 9 meals for myself than 6.

Cooking is pretty new to me still, and these recipes were very easy to follow and detailed in the instructions. You get a pretty info card for each of the recipes so you can save it for later and cook it again if you really loved it. Preparing each recipe probably took me about 30 minutes and helped to build my confidence for being in the kitchen in the future.

Overall, I loved my experience with HelloFresh and I’ve already referred some of my friends who enjoyed it as well. For every friend you refer, you get $20 and they get $40 off their first purchase!! I just ordered my second box since my boyfriend is visiting soon and I wanted to cook together, and got a pleasant email today that informed me that I could give 4 free boxes out to my friends, so that was a nice surprise as well 🙂

I won’t be ordering HelloFresh every week–it’s very easy to skip weeks if you’d like–because $60 for 6 meals that I have to actually prepare myself is a little too steep for me. However, since it’s so easy to get discounts by referring people and I like to switch it up in the kitchen, I will definitely continue to treat myself when I find myself in a rut (maybe when eating cup ramen too many nights in a row lol) and need a cooking break from studying so much.

If you want $40 off your first box, you can use my referral code: https://share.hellofresh.com/x/j60gYm

Scanner Pro

This blog is about to get way more random. I’ve decided to make some posts about things that make my life significantly easier. One of these things, which I discovered early in college, was the Scanner Pro app. I remember getting it for free during a promotion, and I use it so often now. I have a printer at home with a scanner, but it is still time consuming to physically scan documents, and at school I don’t readily have access to a scanner sometimes.

Scanner Pro is an app that allows you to scan documents and pictures into your phone using your phone’s camera. It’s so easy to use, and I often use it to easily send completed forms for school or work, or whatever purpose. It only takes a couple seconds to scan each page, and you can organize your scans into PDF documents or JPGs and email them to yourself. When you aim your camera at a sheet of paper, it automatically corrects for distortions and detects where the borders are!

Here is a link to the app on the iPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scanner-pro-pdf-document-scanner-app-with-ocr/id333710667?mt=8

This is not a sponsored post–I just love this app so much because of the time it has saved me!

Boxed.com

I absolutely love Costco and would go there at least once a month even if I didn’t need to at home. Unfortunately, I am living alone away from home and I don’t need to go often enough to justify getting a membership.

Last week, I heard about boxed.com from a coworker, and decided to check it out. It sells a lot of products that are available at Costco, but without the need for a membership or even a trip to the store! I’m planning on making my first order soon and I’m so excited I literally have 50 items saved to sift and pick through already. Even better, shipping is free on your first order and you can get $15 off an order of $60 or more with a referral code. Here’s mine in case anyone wants to use it: https://www.boxed.com/invite/CBVYL

I haven’t actually ordered from them yet, but they look promising and there’s even a section for perishable goods that you can buy and choose a time for a delivery person to bring it so you can make sure you’re at home for that. I will update after I order about my experience!

Escape The Room

I want to write about something fun that I’ve been doing with my boyfriend lately on our dates. He really enjoys puzzles and we’ve done a few escape the room games on apps and on the computer, but a pretty new thing that’s been popping up is real life escape the room places where you are locked in a room for an hour and have to solve puzzles to find the key and escape it.

The first two rooms we did were by ourselves on the same night. Most of the time there’s an 8 person limit for a room, and we were in the Poconos which is a fairly secluded area, so it was just the two of us. We booked the hardest room available and got through only 2 out of the 3 rooms in that sequence, which was a bummer, but taught us not to overestimate our own abilities. The employee could see that we were bummed and offered us a discount if we wanted to go to the easier room, which we readily agreed to do. This time, we got out of it with barely enough time, and felt way more satisfied.

The second time we went to Last Minute Escape in NJ. We booked the room but ended up having to go in with another group of 5, which we were initially bummed about. After entering the room, we realized that this was a good thing though, because there were so many puzzles and clues to find that we could not have made it out without other people helping. We made it out with barely a minute left, and it was an incredibly satisfying hour!

One difference I noticed between Poconos and LME was that at Escape Poconos, we were given a walky talky to communicate with the staff and could ask for 3 clues, after which each additional clue would be added on to our total time needed to beat the puzzle. The clues were very straight forward, telling us what we needed to do to move on. However, at LME, there was a TV screen where clues would pop up on their own (at convenient times, manned by the employee watching us through the camera) and were pre-scripted and kind of riddle-like. There were more clues at LME but it didn’t feel like they were just handing the information over to us, which I appreciated. LME’s room was better decorated and themed, and the puzzles were also more elaborate by far.

One more thing that LME did better was that on their website they clearly indicated the difficulty levels of the available rooms and even included the percent of people who made it out in an hour (15% for the room my group completed!). I think this is really important to include, because people are entering with different levels of expertise and experience, and you definitely want to choose something that is at your level and doable. It is frustrating to not complete a room.

I would definitely recommend checking out Escape the Room places near you if you’re into puzzles, and definitely see if there are groupon deals for them as they can be pricey. This is the perfect activity for a date, hanging out with friends, birthday parties, etc.

 

 

 

The Bird And The Bee

It’s been a while since I found a new music artist that I can’t stop listening to since I’ve been pretty lazy and going back to old favorites (mostly kpop). I stumbled upon this duo last week and fell in love!

I’m not sure what this genre is but it’s kind of hipster and reminds me a little of Lily Allen at times. Most of their songs are pretty chill with unconventional lyrics and the singer’s voice is very easy on the ears. I have noticed that they have very strange music videos sometimes (ex, the one below and the video for Polite Dance Song) but I like the quirkiness.

I really love the compositions and the lyrics, and every time I hear one of their songs it feels like it couldn’t have been done better by anyone.

Korean sauna experience

Hi! I’ve been slacking because I’m busy with interviews and applications but I’m back now. I went to King Spa in NJ with my parents yesterday when they visited me, and it occurred to me to make a post about going to Korean saunas, which is something I really enjoy.

I’ve only been to King Spa, which is in Palisades Park, NJ, a very Korean area lol. I’m not going to post pictures because you can see them on their site and I was too busy relaxing to really take them there. I’m going to describe what happens when you go in and tips for easy navigation!

There is valet parking for $2 I think which is what I usually use, and a shuttle from Flushing to and from the sauna (there is another sauna location in Flushing but I haven’t been there yet). I would recommend coming on weekdays if possible, but I was just there yesterday which was part of the holiday weekend and even then it wasn’t that crowded after the initial line.

Admission is $45 but there is usually a Groupon deal for $26: https://www.groupon.com/biz/palisades-park-nj/king-spa-fitness and I think if you buy tickets in bulk it’s cheaper too.

You leave a form of ID or credit card at the front, pick up a bracelet with a key for your locker and a barcode to scan in case you buy any services or food inside so you don’t have to bring money around inside. Then, you pick up a set that includes a big towel, small towel for hair and face, and clothes.

Shower/Bath

Once you enter the men or women’s locker room you have to take off your shoes and put your stuff in a locker. I usually take a quick shower, which is required to enter the tubs. They have this awesome almond shampoo and conditioner that I always forget to record the brand for, but it always leaves my hair clean and feeling better than it does when I shower at home. They also have bar soap, which I use sometimes but I prefer to bring my own shower wash and face wash.

Then you can go to the tubs which have varying temperatures. There are hot ones, lukewarm ones, and really cold ones, and it’s fun to spend a few minutes in each. There are also steam rooms that help open up your pores which I really enjoy. I don’t know about the men’s baths, but there are two women’s baths and I find that the new one that is further from the entrance is usually more peaceful and less crowded so I go there even if my assigned locker isn’t there lol.

DISCLAIMER: Keep in mind that everyone is naked. I don’t think you’re actually allowed to wear a swimsuit or underwear and if you did people would probably judge lol so don’t go to a Korean sauna unless you are comfortable with being naked and seeing nakedness.

Amenities in locker room continued

Some people spend the night at the sauna, and there are plenty of amenities to use. You can ask for a toothbrush and razor, there is toothpaste, blowdryers, lotion, hair gel, q-tips, combs, etc. There are rooms with mats on the floor in the women’s section if you want to sleep without any guys around.

Spa services

I’ve never personally used these services but they seem really worth it even though it can be pricey (example: ~$65 per hour plus $20 tip for a massage). There are women in lacy black bras and panties that can give you a massage or full body scrub on tables in the bath areas. They also do cupping, hip baths (not really sure what this is), manicures, etc.

Common Area! 

Here you can regroup with your friends of the opposite sex, after you dry off and don your spa uniform (baggy thick cotton pants and shirt). I really like King Spa’s decor even though it is kind of tacky sometimes. It’s really homey and also makes me feel like I’m actually in Korea. There are a ton of plants everywhere and traditional Asian decorations as well as random statues. Once you get into the common area there are plenty of mats on the floor for sleeping in some areas, sofas to lie down on, comfortable seats where you can chill with your friends and play cards, computers, etc.

There are also things that look like stone igloos with little doors, and these are the dry sauna rooms! Each room can probably fit 5-10 people depending on how big it is, and has mats on the floor where you can lie down and enjoy the heat. The rooms are themed and decorated differently, with some of them claiming medicinal properties but I don’t really know about that lol. For instance, there’s an amethyst room, a rock salt room, and a room that looks like a beautiful golden Egyptian pyramid. One is supposed to get to around 200 degrees and I’ve never been in there, but you need to take a blanket in if you want to go and sweat it out. There’s also a refreshing ice room for when you’re getting sick of the heat, though I can’t stay in there too long either before it becomes unbearable.

There are water dispensers everywhere so you don’t die of heat and thirst after sweating in a sauna. There’s a juice bar where they make smoothies with real fruit, and a restaurant with pretty decent albeit a bit overpriced food, drinks, and desserts. I usually get the sikhye which is a cold sweet rice drink.

Done?

After you’ve decided you’ve had enough of lounging around and visiting saunas, say bye to your friends of the other gender and go back to the locker room. At this point I enjoy the baths and steam rooms a little bit more before showering thoroughly and changing back into normal clothes. I also usually weigh myself on their scale to see if all the sweating changed anything haha (it usually doesn’t by much T_T). Then, go out to the front desk and pay for everything you might have bought inside.

 

Whew! That was a lot longer than I expected. Maybe I should have included pictures but oh well. One more tip I have for you is that if you want to spend the night, you get charged again ($10 I think) if you stay past 2AM. What I have done before to save money is come after 2AM and sleep over in the sauna which I have to say is not a bad experience. It’s cheaper than a hotel so I would actually recommend staying over if you’re in town for the night and if you time it right!

Going to the sauna is always a pleasant unwinding experience for me, and my skin always looks awesome afterwards even without any treatments. Let me know if you’ve been to one or are planning to, and if you like it as much as I do!

 

Best Toners I’ve Tried

I’m always looking for holy grail skincare products, though recently I’ve been paying a little too much attention to makeup… Here are all of the toners I’ve used extensively and my opinion on them. Disclaimer-I haven’t actually tried that many lol.

I have combination skin that is pretty dry in the winter and can get oily pretty much everywhere besides my cheeks in the summer. Even in the summer though, I get dry flakes sometimes if I am working indoors, which I usually am.

There is no real order to this list. It’s mainly chronological for myself to make sense of.

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2

This is the first toner I’ve ever used and the only one I used up until sometime in high school. I didn’t really choose to–it was just what my mom handed to me when I started having breakouts! It is definitely very much an astringent and I started noticing that it was pretty harsh to my skin in the winter months and sometimes burned a little. I also started getting into skincare and making my own decisions so there’s that. It was very effective at taking everything off, but maybe too much so. I give it a 3/5.

Laneige Power Essential Toner

I got this in the 6-piece hydration trial kit from Target. I think it’s awesome that Target is carrying Laneige and I hope they expand to more Asian brands in the future. I liked most everything in the trial kit. I feel like this toner is different from most of the other ones on this list. It does clear off dead skin and dirt, but is also oilier and moisturizing, and more of what I would consider an Asian “nourishing” toner vs. an astringent. I still liked it, and enjoyed using it with the emulsion in the kit. The floral smell is pleasant to me but a little strong, as are most of Laneige’s products so I wouldn’t recommend if you have a sensitive nose. 3.5/5.

 

Thayer’s Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Toner with Lavender

So many reasons to love this toner. This is the highest rated and most popular toner on Amazon which is why I bought it. In college, I started having little bumps on my face that would not quite surface as full-on pimples that really annoyed me. After a lot of online reading, many people pointed me towards witch hazel toners, specifically, this one. It’s really cheap for a big bottle, gentle, and gets the job done, leaving my skin soft and calm. I still have the tiny bumps sometimes and I’m not sure what they’re called, but they don’t bother me nearly as much now. I give this a 4.5/5.

Skinfood Peach Sake Toner

I got this in one of Memebox’s Lucky boxes a while back and was really excited to try it. The packaging is adorable and looks like a bottle of peach sake with frosted glass and it smells delicious. It was effective at taking stuff off my skin and made my skin feel good in the summer, but sadly was a bit too drying in the winter. I gave it to my friend because at the time I had a ton of toners and was gushing over the Thayer’s which was also new. I probably wouldn’t repurchase but I liked the creativity with this one. 3.5/5

Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence

I got this in Memebox’s Benton box, which as a whole I liked, though some of the products were underwhelming. This product did its job but it wasn’t very exciting to me in the way it was packaged, smelled, or felt on my skin. I would have been happy with it if I hadn’t discovered better products already. I also ended up giving this to a friend because I was still too busy gushing over my other new products and Thayer’s… I was on a skincare binge at the time and not watching my budget at all. 3.5/5.

Kiehl’s Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner

My mom bought a bunch of Kiehl’s stuff so I got to try this out. I am not crazy about the scent but it isn’t unpleasant to me either. I’m not that picky about smells and this one is quite refreshing. This is one of my favorite toners and I think I’ll steal some from her. It’s gentle and feels quite nice on my skin during and after use. 4.5/5.

Innisfree Volcanic Jeju Volcanic Pore Toner

My friend gave me the Jeju set which included the clay mask, as well as a travel size of this toner and some samples. I made the mistake of not opening this set until about a year after I got it, and still haven’t tried the mask because procrastination and I don’t really like messy masks that you actually have to apply. I’m sure it will be awesome when I actually try it. I digress.

This is the BEST toner I’ve ever tried. I’m almost out of the small bottle and looking to buy a full size right now. Innisfree has no-nonsense packaging unlike Skinfood, which kind of disappoints me even though it shouldn’t and I wasn’t as excited to try these products. I’ve only tried this toner so far but I’m so blown away by it. It does its job, is gentle, has a pleasant, refreshing, natural smell that I can’t really describe, and the formulation just feels a step above from Thayer’s, though I still use Thayer’s and will keep buying it. This feels luxurious and I always feel really clean and refreshed after using it. 5/5

Yadah Anti-T Toner

I got a trial size of this in Memebox’s Yadah Box, which kept selling out so I bought it the instant I saw it in stock again! I mainly got this box because of the sunscreen which some people were raving about, but ironically still have yet to try it. The packaging is really cute and quirky on Yadah products, and this series was an anti-acne kit. I like everything I tried in this kit, including the toner, which has a nice light scent. All I can say is it does its job and leaves my skin feeling nice, but still doesn’t have the wow factor the Innisfree toner does. I don’t have a huge acne problem besides the occasional stress pimple so I can’t really say how well this kit does for acne-control. I might repurchase as part of the whole Yadah set (the bubbling cleanser and emulsion are the standouts so far) but not on its own. 4/5.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Kiss and Love Collector’s Trio

I promise this isn’t a luxury beauty blog. I decided to splurge on this set of YSL lipsticks because I have a job for my gap year and I was tired of not having decent lipstick. Also I was intrigued by luxury branded makeup and if it’s actually worth the money.

I got this trio from Sephora for about $75, which is actually a good deal considering these lipsticks cost $37 a pop and it comes with a nice YSL bag (look at me trying to justify this lol). Unfortunately I think this is sold out everywhere so eBay is probably your best bet if you want to find it.

The set includes a collector’s pouch, and three lipsticks in Le Nu (70), Le Orange (13), and Le Fuchsia (19).

This is what the box looks like:

And what’s included (the zippered pouch is nice and roomy and looks expensive):

Excuse the terrible iPhone picture quality. These pictures definitely don’t do the lipsticks justice but look how pretty the packaging is! I can upload more pics and swatches if requested.

So, are they worth it?

I’m not sure that I would pay $37 each for more colors because I’m broke, but I will say that I did not regret my purchase at all. The special edition packaging is adorable (there are also little kiss prints on the lipstick that you can’t see from the photo) and the colors are just right for me because I love bright colors. Formulation is pretty nice; very smooth, creamy, and pigmented. I just wish it lasted a bit longer. The fuchsia looks scarily loud as a color but is actually pretty nice on (I’m a pretty fair-skinned Asian). It’s the one that stains a bit and lasts longest. The orange is beautiful and probably my favorite out of the three. The nude is alright but matches too closely with my lip color to really show up (or maybe I just don’t like nudes).

The other colors look gorgeous and I probably won’t get any in the near future but it bums me out that the Black Red (71) is VIB Rouge exclusive on Sephora. I wish I didn’t see it but I watched a Youtube guru with my skin tone trying it on and it was so spot on as a dark lipstick. Then I went on eBay and saw people trying to resell theirs for ridiculous prices T_T…

PS-Let me know if anyone wants to see more posts like this! I recently got a bunch of lipsticks from Nars and Bite that I could review as well. Also if you want swatches just let me know–I’m a lazy ass and I’m not going to do them unless people are actually interested lol

 

Hello

I’m a recent college graduate working as a medical scribe while I apply to medical schools during my gap year. My job is awesome in that I only work about 3 days a week (12-hour shifts), but this means I have more time on my hands.

I’m admittedly a shopaholic even though I’m supposed to be on a budget, and I always keep my eyes peeled for nifty new things. These include apps, websites, gadgets, services, skincare, and makeup. Once in a while I stumble upon a gem that really makes a difference in my life, or just makes me really happy! I have a problem committing to blogs, but I’m going to try. This will be a space for me to share my happy finds.