Viva Labs Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

I have been using this product since last November and it's one of the best things I've ever used on myself. Coconut oil has many great benefits for eating healthy but there's also really awesome benefits to use it externally on our skin and hair! I am raving about this particular one because it's USDA certified organic and also comes at an amazing price for the amount of coconut oil you get!

First of all, the texture is what you expect coconut oil to be. In cold temps, the oil is solidified (below 75 degrees) and is a straight solid fat. In higher temps (above 75), it becomes an oil.

Coconut oil has a lot of fatty acids that are good for skin. Lauric acid, which is a chain of fatty acids present in coconut oil are said to have antimicrobial properties and will actually ward away bacteria. I have used this coconut oil on my face (evenings) on days when my skin is irritated and zitty. Overnight it actually helps lessen the irritation and heal it. I think that's quite a feat that many skincare products have a hard time doing. Because the oil goes through the pores in our face, it's quite effective at moisturizing our skin and keeping it glowy and healthy.

The scent of this coconut oil is divine! It's so beautiful. Very coconut-y and warm.

I also use this coconut oil as a substitute for body lotion and also on the ends of my hair. I end up using this for pretty much everything. It's a great all in one multitasker. During my DIY phase, I also used this coconut oil to make lip balms! You can see the post here!

Price-wise, you can order it on Amazon for $12.95. I think it's a great deal for what it does and knowing that it's organic is a good way to know what you're putting on your face and body has no harmful pesticides.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti

An oldie but a goodie. 

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti is the perfect summer shade. The rich moisturizing balm and the tinted reddish coral is seriously a juicy rush of all things SUMMER! 

I have several shades from this collection (my other fave is Lollipop) and this one is by far my favorite. Not only is it wearable, it also doesn't have any shimmers so it glides on like a naturally sun kissed lippie. I absolutely adore it and it is a must in my handbag! Part of the reason I like this so much is that it stays ultra balmy and feels great on the lips. 

Natural lip

One swipe of Tutti Frutti

Being that it's a drugstore brand, it's affordable (BOGO deals!) and readily available online and off. I got mine at Target for less than $6.

What's your favorite summer color? :)

June and July in Photos

These past few months have gone by in a blur. I'm so in love with the gorgeous warmth of summer and the long days and busy nights. It's nothing but utter bliss. Aside from work, I have been trying to make every weekend a do-something weekend whether it's dining out, exploring a new city or visiting family, just getting outside is wonderful. As a kid, I remembered how much i longed for summer and how blissful it was to be out of school and get ice cream from a truck and be with friends at the poolside, enjoying good company and gossiping with the girls ;)  

So in the spirit of summer days, here's a post highlighting some of my little adventures within the past 2 months.

A J. Crew clutch I bought while shopping with my mom in Pasadena. I've looked high and low for an envelope clutch and was about to give up until I saw this! It was super marked down as well... from $100+ to $19.99! 

This lovely park area situated at the back campus of my workplace. I usually take a stroll around here after a gym session to cool off. 

A beautiful restaurant in Malibu i took my parents and brother to last month. It was called Kristy's. They have a really nice brunch and great for casual dining. 

My purse items I took with me on the plane. These were all recent things I purchased! hehe. The Iris cream from Crabtree & Evelyn smells sooooo pretty! i also bought the perfume mini as well. 

The Pure Essentials deodorant was something I purchased from Etsy. To be honest, I like the size and the scent (rose) but I didn't like the way it felt. It was too runny and didn't work as well as I hoped it would. I'm testing out one from Geo Deo right now and I'm hoping that one will be a better alternative. 

My last post was dedicated to the African Botanics Marula Oil as pictured in here. LOVE it :) 

I finished the Ole Hendrickson African Red Tea Serum already. I liked it but didn't love it. Texture-wise, it felt really nice and hydrating on my skin but the scent was sharply noticeable and sometimes the serum would actually irritate my skin.

The Bobbi Brown bb cream (reviewed here) is one of the only mini's i have so I'm trying to use it up! hehe. 

Lastly, the 3W Clinic suncream I purchased is great! It's a brand that's quite well known in Korea. They make products that are science driven and sold in clinics but you can purchase them at pharmacies and makeup places. The sunblock has a very soft cream finish and actually feels very nice. It's basically a cream that has a hydrating base. I really REALLY like it. For this to have SPF 50 PA+++, it certainly doesn't feel heavy or anything. I will have to do a proper review on this!

Just a showcase of Kate Spade bag and Banana Republic bahama hat I'm loving so much right now!

This was a little store in New York that sold traditional Taiwanese snacks! It was good although I'm wondering if their name Tea Twitter is violating Twitter's copyright policies.... ;)

In NYC, I saw Person of Interest (CBS show) being filmed! It was great!! This was near NYU, I believe. 

Also, The Good Wife! I'm a hugggge fan of that show! I was able to see Alicia (Julianna Margulies). I remember her from her ER days! 

I also visited the newly opened 9/11 Memorial. Everything inside was really sad, and the events that were shown and captured and memorialized was horrific. But the museum and the dedication and the remembrance really pulled at my heartstrings and I saw in detail how much this memorial meant to the survivors and the families of those who lost their friends and loved ones.

Another busy day in NYC

After running about, a white wine sangria was definitely a refreshing treat in hot and humid NYC.

Back to CALI! ... for those of you who are Popcornopolis fans (ME!!!), they now make organic versions of your favorites! That's definitely happiness!!! I found this at Costco.

My home this past weekend! I had such a fun time relaxing!

Of course, when you're in SF, there is absolutely no shortage of artisan coffee. This one was from Hollow (Yelp). The store has so much personality in their decor, oaky looking, dark. The espresso in their coffees are great. Just a wonderful way to spend your mornings.

Day 2 was another special coffee place in the city - this one is called Andytown. Just reading the story of how Andytown came to be was enough to bring me there. They started a Kickstarter campaign and raised enough money to open shop! That's incredible for a coffee store. I knew I had to check it out and I'm so glad I did. Their baker is phenomenal, and so is their hot coffees. 

A little shopping after lunch. A pretty assortment of heirloom tomatoes.

Took a little time out of my day to people watch over a cup of tea. This is honestly so relaxing! 

Some of the fun little knick knack's at the Hollow coffee store. Lots of worldly goodies, hand creams and personal items. And a bull beer opener!

More photos of the things lined up :)

Just a random photo of one of my favorite places in Palo Alto called Vino Locale. This is just perfect for a nice summer night. I came here a few times with colleagues and celebrated a bday. It's seriously a gorgeous spot. They call it the "secret garden" ;)