jazstatements

So at the end of May, I took a cruise to Mexico with my parents. That week-long cruise was much needed. It was relaxing, and I was able to spend some quality time with my parents. I caught up on some readings as well (thanks to the lack of distracting wifi/phone service). The cruise took us down and past Baja California, stopping at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

When I went to New York, I tried Lady M's famous green tea crepe cake, and it was delicious. (See photos of the crepe cake & my trip to NY on my Traveling Alone blogpost) As Mother's Day was approaching (yes I am aware that it was a few weeks ago, this post is mighty late), I pondered about what I can do for my mother that she would enjoy and is budget-friendly. So why not a crepe cake? Here documents my cooking adventures in creating a crepe cake!

Another round of empties is here! I love reading blogposts about what people have finished using so that I can truly see what they thought of the product. It usually is quite informative, good for people like me who research a lot before buying the product. So here's my share of products that I have finished up recently!

I drove from San Francisco to Portland for vacation with friends in the month of March. We stayed in Portlandia for about five days. That city definitely screams hipster all around. If you are into the java culture or microbrewery scene, then Portlandia is definitely a place you must visit!

I have always lived next to the Pacific Ocean. From Hong Kong, to San Diego, to the Bay Area. And recently, I have been given the wonderful opportunity to move to the East Coast! Wooohooo! This is really exciting. It is my passion to travel--to try living in new places, to experience and taste all the wonderful creations that God has made.

So I recently ordered the Everlane Twill Snap Backpack in Navy. Now I have been eyeing Everlane's products for a long time. It just so happened that my good ol' trusty Jansport backpack was wearing down, so I decided to invest in a new backpack for myself. In addition, I do admire Everlane as a company who claims to provide quality items without all the middleman costs. So I thought I'd share my thoughts with you :)

Time flies. It is already the middle of week 3 of the Daniel fast! My last update before it ends. It is oddly bittersweet to realize there is only two more days left. The energy that I felt during the fast kept me up and running was truly amazing, all due to God's provision!

You got to make do with what you can eat... and so I made a Daniel fast appropriate garlic toast! It is super quick & easy. It does not have the same buttery goodness, but it is a good alternative.

So I have been fasting for approximately 1.5 weeks so far. I am at the halfway mark. Here's my update on my fast. Keep reading for food ideas! I will make a separate post for recipes.

And once again... my money has been spent on beauty products. Truly, the cosmetic + beauty industry is the bane of my existence. But anyways, it does bring me joy to obtain these items. Materialism at its finest, isn't it? Haha. Anyways, lets get into the haul, shall we?

December is upon us!... and so is the dryness of winter. Thus, I wanted to share what I deem as essentials for this chilly and drying holiday season. These products will be more focused on hydrating and replenishing water into the skin.

Sephora has done it again, providing another fabulous gift set for the holiday season. It is perfect for those who want to dabble in the world of high-end eyeliners, or those who have perfected every eyeliner look and want explore more. This is also a great way to get travel sized eyeliners that you can carry on-the-go or on vacation. It gives you a taste of various eyeliners: pencils, liquid and even a gel.

Another round of empties. You know, it's kind of hard to accumulate these empty bottles and containers just for this blog. It is collecting a bunch of "precious" trash... For the sake of blogging, here it is!

Kuan Yuan Lian (廣源良) Cucumber Water
This is a no-frills, butt-cheap type of toner that I obtained in HK. It is perfect for refreshing your skin in all conditions. After I wash my face, I put this on with a patting motion in the morning. It is great when my skin is oily and don't need some heavy duty hydrating toner like the Aquamoist toner. It is good and gentle, awesome for everyday use. I love this.
TL;DR: dirt cheap + refreshing + gentle, what more can I say?


Neutrogena Fine Fairness Lotion SPF 30 PA++
My sister gave this to me when I was in need for a morning moisturizer. Unfortunately, this was somewhat a disappointment. It left a slight whitecast, but I often wear foundation over it to cover it up. It can sting a little bit after application if your skin is raw and red. Also, it is fragranced, so sensitive skin: watch out! Repurchase? Nah.

I got this in Hong Kong (again, most of my products are Asian because I believe it suits my skintype). This bottle lasted me half a year. I soak a cotton pad with this cleansing water and swipe it all over my face to remove any light makeup. It is gentle enough to use as an eye makeup remover, but it does make your eyes blurry. However, this is a light cleansing water, so don't expect it to remove heavy duty makeup! As for brightening effects, I am not so sure that it worked. Overall, it is a good alternative to Bioderma. Definitely worth the money!


Innisfree Green Tea Cream
I bought this cream in Korea last Christmas and it lasted me til the summer time. Now, I used this as my moisturizer, mostly during the evening. The cream is thick in texture, but once you smooth it onto your face, it sinks in like a dream. I would definitely recommend it for normal/combo skin, but it will probably work for most skin types as well. I am an oily gal, but I used this religiously at night to give my skin ample time to absorb. It did not break me out (yay!). I would probably repurchase this in the future, but as of right now, I have some stuff I should use up first!


Trader Joe's Spa 100% Pure Jojoba Oil
This bottle definitely lasted me a long time. It is very versatile, affordable and easy to obtain!  I have used this as a moisturizer, an eye makeup remover, a body oil and hair treatment. Jojoba oil is supposedly very similar to the natural oils that your face produce. Therefore, by applying it to the face daily, it can condition your face to slow down its oil factory. I have used it on my face after cleansing, and I will say that it gives you a very greasy look that go away after a long while. If you do use this as moisturizer, use it at night so that the skin can readjust itself. As an eye makeup remover, it can add a film that can blur your eyes. But it is good for getting those last mascara remains with a q-tip. It is great as a body oil and hair treatment, no complains there. However, one problem was the packaging. It is not very travel friendly because the cap tends to get all greasy after pour the oil out a couple of times. Best to keep this bottle standing on your bathroom counter. Overall, it is a good product that cannot be beat. Will repurchase to keep in stock!

The infamous late summer heat wave has come and is slowly dwindling in the Bay Area, however, I would still like to share my current favorite treat during these hot suffocating seasons. (As you can tell, I am not a big fan of the sweltering heat. I like my temperature in control, preferably not too hot or too cold). This treat is perfect for those who love to enjoy the fresh goods that nature has to offer.