Chapters

When I think about blogging and beauty and all things in life, we can't just limit ourselves to one thing. There are so many aspects in life that makes everything beautiful and unique and wholesome. 

After many months of back and forth, I've decided create a lifestyle/travel blog :) I will still write about makeup, but as you've seen I'm sure you've noticed that I started writing more about travel and incorporating photography in the more recent posts. 

I hope to see you there... =) 

The Bored Room :)

www.jenniferngan.com

"Be Someone Who Makes Everyone Feel Like a Somebody"

Happy November, peeps! :) Sweater weather is in full swing.

Over the past year, I have been on a journey to positivity. I tend to think the glass is half full in most instances but because i wanted to make a change in my outlook, I decided to make a lifestyle change to be more happy. Which is why I started traveling more, seeing the sights and sounds and engulfing myself in experiences as substance. I think it's definitely made it a much easier journey, and identifiably more enjoyable. My wallet, though, is not the happiest haha But that's to be expected.

Some of the things I've been doing outside of work and blogging is enjoying staycations and visiting family and learning. Learning about anything and everything - from reading books to having conversations over coffee. Being immersed in finding solace and peace through small towns and big cities. There is a piece of the old world sense in every place I've visited and i find it excruciatingly charming and something I want to hold onto dearly. 

Source - Pinterest

We journey through life in a series of ups and downs, goals and projects. Do we ever really just sit for a moment and observe ourselves? We probably don't. More often than not, I don't. Once I fall victim to failure, I become disappointed in myself, not because I failed but because I have so many excuses to blame regret. And throughout my journey, i've learned that regrets are bad. Regrets are what makes us question our decisions, hesitate, and not succeed. A culminating negative experience. I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason so regrets or not, things will fall into place by way of attraction (the Law of Attraction). Which is why thinking positive and being accountable has helped in my life. I also think it's with age and experience but mostly it's outlook. 

Life is too short to dwell on small things.

Experiences are fleeting but memories last forever. I've come to abide this self imposed mantra in my life and have been so much happier because of it. It is a continuous journey of self improvement and learning and I am not perfect. I am student of life, gravitating toward meaning that makes me whole and happy. Like experiences, happiness is also fleeting, and it's a continuous endeavor to chase. Because will we ever be truly happy? Is true happiness attainable? Probably not. We experience happiness, fleeting or otherwise, but to go after it is a lifestyle in itself. The best kind.

I hope to transform this blog into a travel blog someday, interlaced with beauty and skincare but with a hearty well-roundedness of world and culture. Of life and experiences and memories.

Be in Peace, Not in Pieces

Happy Friday!

Every day we should find one moment to relax, as we often forget to breathe in the midst of our busy lives, smart phones and traffic jams. There is never a shortage of everyday stressors.

I started doing yoga 3x a week during lunch hour and it really helps me center myself and recalibrate. It breaks my day down, and also i feel so much positive fluttering energy by the time I get back to the office. I didn't realize, but I had been holding a lot of stress in my body and not even realizing it. 

On Tues and Thurs, I started incorporating spin classes with some of my coworkers and it's been super fun! We have an instructor who plays concert raging music and I think i've gone down a dress size from spinning alone. Once back in the office, I feel great and more productive than ever. I'm also grateful to have an full service on-site gym at my work campus so that I'm able to exercise and regenerate with fun classes and great instructors.

What about you? How do you deal with stresses? 

Filmed my first YouTube video! O_O

Hey lovelies! As the title suggests, I filmed my first Youtube video!!! I know I sound and look awkward but I did it as a challenge for myself to overcome camera shyness, and to build confidence :)

I hope it is watchable. Can you guys give me pointers or suggestions like how do you not say UMS and AHS in the transition? 

Goals for September

Having come back from Vegas just a day ago, it is really hard to get back into the grind of things. Thus, goals.

1. Organize my closet, dressers, shelves. I've got a ton of potential space that I could utilize if I just get rid of stuff I haven't worn. I'm looking at you, strapless corset dress.

2. Makeup purging. enough said.

3. Gym time. I'm lucky enough to go to the gym before or after work without having to drive there bc it is right there, centrally located in the work campus. I'm hoping to take more yoga classes. Maybe a Zumba lesson here and there.

4. Travel frequently. Plan in advance. One of my most desirable things to do on weekends is to staycation. I love taking day trips, or packing an overnight bag to stay somewhere 2 hours away. 

5. Work hard, play hard. Life is too short to not enjoy the little things around you. I am so fortunate that I have a job where they care about work/life balance. I will try to pace things out and work efficiently without overwhelming myself. Set work goals weekly! 

May and June in Photos

Hi lovelies! I hope you've all been well. I apologize for my lack of blogging as of late. I've been so caught up with the daily workings of life and career that I barely find time to do anything. Makeup is still a big love for me but unfortunately not a super high priority. I don't do as much hauls anymore bc I've realized that I've got everything I want ;) I'm using my Lorac palettes over and over and started becoming obsessed with brow powder. Maybe it's the summer heat but I'm getting into highlighters again. Will share a bunch soon! In the meantime, photos :)

Feb/March in Photos

Between a busy work schedule and other life maintenances, I enjoy relaxing on the weekends. It's a luxury that I cherish and often do! :) 

Enjoying wine, laughter and friends next to a gorgeous firepit. It was so hot and cozy, and beautiful :) 

A few weekends ago, one of my good friends moved to a gorgeous new home. We put together this patio in 1 hr! Hard to believe but it came out well right? I'm really in love with the colors.

I also bought a dainty little pendant when I was in LA visiting my folks. It's a gorgeous little addition to accessories. 

This was the other stone I bought. I love it very much. It adds such an air of simplicity to my necklaces. I often stick to classic looks year round. i like the occasional statement necklace but my love is all here! 

Saturday morning yoga poses! I practice yoga at home and feel like it's so good for my well being. :) 

I work at a start up at work and we finally launched our app. Check us out at Zenbanx! ;)

I purchased this BKR bottle in Feb and have been using it ever since! This is such a cute bottle for water. I take it with me everywhere, and use it all day at work. It's surprisingly hefty for a small 16oz bottle but the loop at the top makes it easy for carrying. Another cool thing is that this is a local company from SF!

Coffee after yoga. Always.

Tulips for days :) Makes such a difference to have fresh blooms weekly at home.

I can't believe March is coming to an end so soon. But Spring is FINALLY HERE!!!!

 What have you lovelies been up to?

Recent Little Purchases

Happy March! 

I can't believe time has flown by so fast. Seems like it was yesterday when I was preparing for the new year. Sometimes I wish time would slow down. On the up side, Spring is nearing and the days are getting longer which is a good trade off!

I purchase a few things recently and quite happy about them so far. First up is the BKR water bottle - it's just a sweet looking nifty bottle with an awesome design. I've been drinking water in this and lugging it around everywhere. Fits nicely in my bag and loops around splendidly on my fingers. I can't say no to a cute girly design! These bottles are made with incredible quality. Even the silicone cover is great. Good grip. The glass bottle is uber sturdy and the most important part of the bottle is the small nozzle, resembling a typical water bottle. I don't like bottles with too big of an opening because water spills all over and tends to look ultra bulky. BKR's are a nice little luxury that gets me drinking more water. Love it!  

My next purchases are the LaRoche Posay cream and the Vichy Liftactiv cream. The LaRoche Posay one is intended on getting rid of blemishes, which I have quite a bit of at the moment. This is my first time using the cream and so far I'm impressed by how lightweight it is and how it doesn't reek of chemicals. Smells quite fresh actually. The Vichy cream is another first for me but I'm applying a thick layer after washing my face. I really love how it feels on my skin - cooling, calming and soft. So absorbent. I've got nothing but good things to say about it. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday with your friends & family! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

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" ;)

May in Photos

Up in the air again. I really love flying in the morning because the scenery is just. Amazing.

Capturing Bacon ;) My sweet cat.

The sun's out :)

My new librarian cardigan

My May purchases: for hair and skin

Phil'z coffee at work. Best place ever!

I finally found Lady & the Vamp. It's pretty, but the shade doesn't stay that color.

Delicious capp from Four Barrel Coffee. What a treat :)

Last weekend I had the pleasure of using Airbnb to book a gorgeous cottage home to stay for a few days. It was definitely an awesome getaway! The house was like a fairy tale, complete with a secret garden, and vintage touches.

Cute vanity area

Quaint little area that's perfect to enjoy a coffee and a book

Figs from the garden. Beautiful!

Delicious Japanese food! So fresh tasting and what a variety!

One more shot of the garden.

In the kitchen with the morning light seeping through

Enjoying this fantastic merlot at Vino Locale for a friend's birthday. Sorry for the blurred photo! 

Happy Birthday to my beautiful friend and colleague! 

Birthday cake from Paris Baguette! YUM. It was an almond cake decorated with macaroons and mousse cups.