Car Rides, Crabs, Caverns, Oh my!

It's a peculiar thing that when you get married, your family grows. I had a hard time conceptualizing it when I was engaged about to be married and even had a hard time understanding it fully even after I got married. 

Three years in, I'm still learning but it's a pretty cool thing - more people to love and to be loved by. 

This past weekend, my parents, my brother, the husband and I packed our Honda Accord and headed down to Northern Virginia for the weekend to get together with my in-laws. 

The car ride down was full of traffic but nothing some Backstreet Boys Millenium couldn't cure. 

On the way down, we stopped by Maryland for some crabs.

Preparing for warfare 

Oysters on a halfshell. 

My three favorite guys 

Boys will be boys - what they do while waiting for crabs 

Mamabear and I 

Red looks good on you. 

It's on! 

Onion rings at sunset 

Friday Favorites

This past week was filled with precious time with precious people: brunch with one of my FG girls, weekend with best girlfriend from college, reunited with my parents. I couldn't have thought up a better way to spend my first week off from work. 

The other day, I even got to meet up with my best friend from middle school and we met up in our hometown. I hadn't been back in years and as I made the all-too-familiar drive approaching my hometown, I was unexpectedly flooded with memories. Some precious, some difficult. That's the funny thing about memories. They hit you at the most unexpected times. 

Mean girls. Broken hearts. Immigrant life. Reunions and goodbyes. Regrets. 

As a counselor, I have learned all too well the need to "seek healing". I often work to help others seek and find healing but little did I know it would hit me so suddenly that I myself need it as well. But there's beauty in the broken. And time, reflection, family, friends will do my soul good. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

The picture does not do justice but this crispy, wonderful goodness is a chicken quesadilla from one of our favorite spots in Boston: Anna's Taqueria. 

Was introduced to herbal jelly milk tea last weekend in Boston 

Delicious almond french toast at Patisserie Florentine, my new favorite brunch place

The world's cutest little madeleine served with my coffee also at Patisserie Florentine 

Berries galore at local farmers market 

Favorite Videos

I was asked to write a post with some of my favorite videos so here it is! 

I have had the melody of Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" stuck in my head nonstop thanks to these two videos. 

A hilarious parody about pregnancy. And no, I'm not pregnant but I did send this to a few of my pregnant friends! 

I love impersonations. This duo's improvised impersonation challenge had me on the floor laughing. 

Though we only have one cat, I imagine she thinks some of these very things and she may tell our dog some of them, in secret of course (because she's too cool to hang with the canine). 

A Beyonce medley and choreography? Um, yes please. Yes, they are just THAT in sync and yes, they're in heels. 

And I will leave you with what I would define as a feel-good video.

Sisters Lennon and Maisy Stella cover a song they love, "That's What's Up". I love the lyrics, the harmony, their chemistry. Enjoy! 

(No) Makeup Monday

As much as I have confessed my love for makeup, I also love the feeling of taking off my makeup after a long day. And I love that feeling all the more when I use a really good makeup removing cleanser. 

Initially, the idea of washing my face with oil felt quite contradictory and odd, especially considering my combination/oily skin. But as they say, iron sharpens iron and I guess oil dissolves oil! 

I was first introduced to the Shu Uemura oil cleansers by my friend. (Shu Uemura has one for every skin type). But within the last year or so, I've switched over to DHC (mainly because it's easier to find). 

The DHC Cleansing Oil is quite brilliant. It takes off all my face makeup (foundation, powder, bronzer, blush) but it also takes off waterproof mascara! 

I take one pump of the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil (I sometimes mix in castor oil - purchased from Whole Foods - recommended by CloudyApples) into my dry hands and massage it into my dry face. Then I take some water and continue massaging my face. Then (my favorite part) I take a washcloth and run it under hot water, wring it out and then lay it on my face to let the steam work its magic!  

Sometimes, I follow up with a second cleanse with a gentle cleanser but lately I have just been using the oil cleansers. 

After I finish this bottle, I may go the all-natural route and just use organic pure olive oil. (Or coconut oil!) 

Let me know if you try this out! 

Friday Favorites

School's out!!! It's been a whirlwind of a school year with its share of "rainbows" and "clouds". But I am so thankful for those rainbows. And right now, I'm thankful that I'm on summer vacation!

Isn't it funny that it's so difficult to wake up when you have to and yet it's so easy to wake up when you don't? Oh, the human heart... I've been up since 6:30 and have already gone to an appointment, made myself a green smoothie for breakfast, had a cup of coffee and sat on my deck with the pup with a great book. A productive start to my summer, I must say! 

Happy Friday to you all! 

Last weekend, Y and I went to IKEA to pick up a few things and enjoyed this simple (&cheap) lunch. 

I have been consuming quite a variety of fruits lately but watermelon is definitely a recent favorite. And this video inspired me to try a new twist on the good ole watermelon and boy am I glad I tried! 

The World Cup is one of my FAVORITE sports events and we're repping our pride. (How do we hang out flags, you may ask? Binder clips, of course...) 

Wednesday was an incredibly long day but my sweet sweet husband brought me home my favorite. Yes, you guessed it. Sushi. And of course I ate it all in bed. 

I've always been a bit obsessed with handwriting. Dabbling my feet in replicating the look of calligraphy, inspired by this post