Lanikai Beach (Hawaii 2022)

I was able to visit my favorite beach in the world again!! Lanikai Beach in Kailua, Oahu is clean, and has the most gorgeous water, and fine white sand imo.

Lanikai during the day, above, and during sunset, below.

Koko Head Crater Hike (Hawaii 2022)

Traveled to Hawaii this year with a large friend group to attend my roommate's wedding! I chose this hike because I wanted to conquer these stairs 👊

I'm grateful and happy I brought food and friends on this hike.

(going up!)

(close up on how they converted the old rails into stairs)

(almost to the top!)

(view from top - facing North)

(view from top - facing South)

(going back down!)

TIP: Start early in the morning if you want to avoid baking under the hot noon sun!

Grinter's Sunflower Farm

Back in September, my friends and I were fortunate enough to visit Grinter's Sunflower Farm! Sunflowers aren't always in bloom, and once they do the petals can wilt within a couple weeks! Enjoy my pics if you never get a chance to see 🌻 in-person!

August Empties 空瓶

Below are my emptied skincare products from August 2022! 以下是我8月清空的护肤品！

Sekkisei Emulsion 2.3 oz - lightweight moisturizer that's perfect for summer/humid weather, would repurchase if on-sale again.

Innisfree Jeju Pomegranate Revitalizing Serum - liked it, but wouldn't repurchase unless it was on sale again

Pro Strength Hydrabalance Brightening Moisture Infusion - unlikely to repurchase because I didn't love the texture and it pilled sometimes

Exuviance Bright Eyes Eye Cream - my dark circles didn't get lighter, so I wouldn't repurchase

Cocokind Oat to Milk Cleanser - fine as a second cleanser, but I didn't like the strong scent or texture so I wouldn't repurchase

May Empties 空瓶

Below are my emptied skincare products from May 2022! 以下是我5月清空的护肤品！

Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion Spf 50 - Applied easily. No white cast. I would repurchase.

Shiseido Revitalizing Treatment Softener - Effects difficult to see. And I didn't like the dispenser. Won't repurchase.

 

Exuviance Sheer Refining Fluid Spf 40 - Applied easily and was lightweight. Would only repurchase if on sale, because $50-62 is not budget friendly!

Cosme Nippon Sheet Mask - I wouldn't repurchase, even though the formula was hydrating, because the mask was too small for my face. For example, the eye holes of this mask touched the corners of my eyes!

Unlikable Cleansers

Here's a list of facial cleansers I didn't like and wouldn't repurchase:

Lancome Creme Mousse Confort - stripped my skin, and my face didn't feel clean!

Shiseido Senka Perfect Whip - This is a very popular product, however, it's too much work for me. To get the best effect you have to foam it up with a net or sponge, and I just do not have the patience to make the foam. There are great cleansers out there that do just as good a job, albeit at a higher price point.

Cocokind Oil to Milk Cleanser - Overly strong floral scent. Also, it didn't feel like it removed my sunscreen, so it's better as a second cleanser.

*Not all images are my own

Cosme Nippon Sheet Mask Review (400th post!)

Recently got the Japanese @cosme nippon root vegetables sheet mask (in carrot) to try for free from my sister!

This 10 pack comes in a resealable bag, so it's more eco-friendly, but possibly less hygienic than the usual 1 sheet-mask  per pack...

You're only suppose to leave this sheet mask on for 5 minutes!! Any longer and you might feel get tingly skin.

This face mask delivers serum, but I still applied my night time serum and lotion  afterwards since my room is dry.

I wouldn't repurchase, even though the formula was hydrating, because the mask was too small for my face. For example, the eye holes of this mask touched the corners of my eyes!

There's also no expiration date on the packaging, so I will try to use up this bag ASAP to avoid contaminants.

Shop here for free delivery

Shop here for a lower price

Mad por Madrid

A quick 3 hr train ride from Barcelona is Madrid, the capital of España. We could only stay for dos dias, but they were filled with delicious food and an exciting flamenco demonstration!

[Had my 32nd birthday dinner in Plaza Mayor!]

(Museo del Prado)

(Royal Palace of Madrid)

(Almudena Cathedral)

(EatMyTrip Brunch & Cocktails)

(Taberna 4 Tapas) 

 

The food in Madrid was muy delicioso!! 

 

Overall, the rainy and windy weather in Spain gave me a cold, and Spain didn't wow me like France, so I don't know if I'd visit again... but maybe I'm too judgmental 😅

Barcelona es Gaudí

After 5 days in Paris, we took a train south to Barcelona and reunited with a precious friend who flew up from Liberia!

 

It was my first time in Spain/España and I enjoyed the people, tapas, and sangria! However, I must confess that after 4 years of Spanish in high school, my speaking accent is horrible.

 

We visited most of Barcelona's major sites:

(Mercat dels Encants)

(Arc de Triomf)

(Palau Güell)

(Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria)

(La Rambla)
 

(Sagrada Familia)

(Casa Batlló)

(National Art Museum of Catalonia/Museu d’Art de Catalunya)

(Parc Güell)

Oops... I went to Europe again!

So, I went to Europe again 😅 Because my sister found round trip tickets for $400 (a price I couldn't refuse)!! 

I'm so grateful to go on another sister's trip overseas, and it was exciting to experience springtime in Paris, and see Spain for the first time!

We chose Paris to be our first stop, again. We are both boosted, so we entered France with ease.

This time around we visited:

(Père Lachaise Cemetery)

(Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile)

(Vendôme Column)

(Palais Garnier, also known as Opéra Garnier)

(Montmatre Sacré-Cœur basilica)

(Parc Monceau)

 (Musée de l'Orangerie)