travel diary -- french pharmacies

it’s time for a #beautytalk — but a Parisian version!

what better way to start the new year with one of my favorite topics? SKINCARE! and hey, any chance to re-live the Europe trip right? french pharmacies are on almost every corner in France noted by a green cross. it was something i was really looking forward to since pharmacies in France are actually stocked with skincare in various price ranges. so not what you would typically think. in these pharmacies you’ll find crammed aisle after aisle of beauty products along with typical homeopathic medicines as well. let’s just say, as a skincare addict, i could spend hours looking at every product, -ooohing and ahhingg. unfortunately, they would probably kick me out and i didn’t have the luxury of time on my side. so i had to find the “must-have” products to lug home with me (in my non-existent check in luggage) = PP (poor planning).

in some quick google searches i made a list of a couple of things to look for. while you can buy pretty much anything online these days, you’ll be paying a premium here in the states. and hey i was in Paris so what the heck. tips & list of items i purchased after the jump.

side ramblings: it’s hard to believe that we’re in 2023 already. i started off this year with a new annual tradition of going to the crystal store for some healing stones. it’s always a fun trip and i learn more each time && even if you’re not super spiritual, the stones always make great decor pieces! with an intentional year ahead, i created/decorated a memory box and plan to putting random things in it that are associated with a milestone or memory (ex: a receipt to a memorable meal, hotel key to a place i traveled to). it’ll be a good exercise to reflect on at the end of 2023. i also plan on creating a vision board in canva, and maybe a list of INs and OUTs. i’m not really a big new year kinda person. but idk, this one feels different and it can’t hurt to be more intentional and vision-focused. i wish you health and happiness in 2023!

currently on my playlist: vienna by Gretta Ray

oui oui to all the [Paris] skincare goodies!

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tips //

  • take screenshots of the actual products you’re looking for. it’ll be easier when you’re asking for help locating something particular — also helps you get in and out faster because they can get crowded depending on location.

  • if you see something go ahead and purchase it then vs. waiting because you might not see it again. all pharmacies stock very different brands & items.

  • if someone asks you if you need help, take it! the associates are supposed to be very knowledgeable but unfortunately i was on such a time crunch each time so didn’t get to do this 😐

  • some items are located behind the counter, so these are where the screenshots come in handy!

  • if you’re out of luggage space (also needs to be a check in for most items) go with beauty products you can’t readily get in the states. i put an * on the ones that you can’t really find here in the USA.

  • and as always, before you use a new product, test it on a small part of your skin before going full-on!! everyone’s skin is different and reacts to different things!

the conversion from USD to EUR was almost 1.00 when i was there AND it makes it easy to calculate the “cost-savings” below. so really it depends on the product. sometimes the cost-savings isn’t that much for you to lug home, esp if you can find it in the states. but sometimes the cost-savings is half price… which then… you just gotta get it! gotta prioritize on the skincare haul 😄

le list //

01. Biologique Recherche P50W lotion* — $138.00 USD // 62.00 EUR

this is supposed to be a very iconic Parisian brand. known for their P50 lotion, a lotion that is supposed to exfoliate, mattify, and purify your skin. i’ve never heard of tried it. in fact, i couldn’t find it at a french pharamacie but ended up finding it in Le Bon Marche (department store). i purchased the P50W for sensitive skin, the regular/original version is P50. i also heard this stuff smells slightly funky so that’ll be interesting.

02. Biafane* — ?? can’t find this on Amazon // guessing 9.00 EUR

this is a moisturizer in a metal tube used for post-chemical peel, sunburns, and general dryness. it’s almost an all-in-one cream equivalent of Aquaphor that’s been around since the 70s.

03. Embryolisse lait-creme concentre — $29.00 USD // 13.99 EUR

also another moisturizer for all-skin types. i read that a lot of make-up artists use this cream. it’s another one of those multi-tasking products: moisturizer, makeup primer, makeup remover, moisturizing mask.

04. Homeoplasmine* — $16.99 USD // guessing 7.00 EUR

this is an ointment that is supposed to help with skin irritations such as when you blow your nose too much. it’s also used on dry lips. basically the equivalent to vaseline in a metal tube. apparently people use it to tame their brows too!

05. Filorga time filler eyes — $59.00 USD // guessing 45.00 EUR

i picked this up specifically for the puffy eyes target. i feel like my under eyes have gotten puffier over the years so we’ll see if this stuff works! pretty clunky packaging for eye cream IMO though.

06. Caudalie resveratrol-lift serum — $84.00 USD // 44.90 EUR

Caudalie was my first brand intro to premium skincare when i was in my early twenties. it started with the SOS serum (sadly, they no longer make this). Caudalie makes some amazing products so this was the chance to try them for more age-related skincare concerns such as the resveratol-life serum. you can also purchase it as a set to try here!

07. Caudalie premier cru serum — $139.00 USD // 79.90 EUR

i’ve tried samples of the caudalie premier line and it’s NICE. so this was the perfect opportunity to bring a bottle of the premier cru home with me at HALF the price!

08. VICHY mineral 89 daily booster serum — $32.99 USD// 17.99 EUR

this is a pretty mainstream brand you can find at Target (let’s give it up for Target who has come a longgg way in beauty/skincare brands). however the price was too good not to lug home to try. apparently there’s an eye serum too that could be a light daytime option!

09. Arnican* — ?? can’t find this on Amazon // guessing 6.00 EUR

arnica is a herb that treats bruises. this is a roll on and pocket size! it’s supposed to cut down the coloration time of bruises due to the anti-inflammatory component. i have used a similar Chinese medicine based one so i believe this stuff really works. great for those that are prone to bruises!

10. Avene eau thermale — $18.00 USD // guessing 10.00 EUR

there are a lot of facial sprays and mists out there. and tbh, facial sprays really aren’t necessary if you’re starting on your skincare journey. you should invest in more solid skincare products than a mist, this one should be last on your list! however, when you’re at a place and misting yourself this one is special since it uses thermal spring water (contains natural minerals) #mistyourself

11. La Roche Posay cicaplast baume B5 — $17.69 USD // 6.99 EUR

this is another multi-purpose cream for dry and irritated skin. fragrance and paraben free. i’ve also been using their gentle hydrating cleanser in the AM (milky side) and love it!

*not readily available in the USA

catch you at the next #beautychat!,
JD

travel diary -- france (lyon & paris)

bonjour!

next stop… FRANCE! from milan we took the earliest train to france. the transportation system is pretty cool there in terms of getting around! i loved france so much. gosh, just writing about this and adding all the photos reminds me of the great memories made and all the sights i was able to see/take in! what i loved about france was the abundance of pastries (hello carbs), the shopping, the french pharmacies, the architecture. everything was so gorgeous. it stole my heart and i hope it won’t be long until i see myself in France again.

>>> IG REELS for more visual & music: LYON & PARIS part I & part II

currently on my playlist: paris in the rain by Lauv

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LYON

Lyon was a good introduction to France because it was a quieter city than Paris. and apparently it’s known for its food. unfortunately, we went during a time when most places were closed due to holiday travel. even the ginormous food hall was closed, it was a bummer. we checked into our AirBnB and i was not sure how i was going to survive without A/C. well i didn’t. none of us did. with the heat wave it was hard to function let alone sleep the first night. we ended up checking into a hotel for the rest of the stay. LOL. the things you take for granted living in the USA i tell ya. i enjoyed the beautiful and quiet streets of Lyon. it was a good precursor to Paris.

some memorable moments included: not being able to survive without AC, my brother almost got pick-pocketed at the train station — this is where speaking a second language comes in handy! lol, my mom and i already saw this guy eyeing my brother bad. it also didn’t help that most of us were wearing athleisure, so we completely stick out as tourists! in Lyon, we woke up every morning in search for pastries. it was the best #simplethings

BEST ECLAIRS!

praline bread goodness!!!!

first order of business everyday

attractions //

  • St. Antonine Market — local farmer’s market where there are all sorts of fruits, veggies, cheeses, and even chicken being roasted as the grease drips down on come cooked potatoes (regret not getting some)!

  • Catherdrale Saint-Jean Baptiste — aka: Lyon Cathedral

  • La Part Dieu — did some shopping/browsing in this center where they had MUJI (organizer lover’s heaven), UNIQLO, and they had a french pharmacy which ended up being my favorite because it was massive!!! the funny part was it was early in the France trip so i was going to wait until we got to Paris. but you know that gut instinct!! i ended up going back and purchased A LOT. in hindsight, it had the best prices with almost EVERYTHING i was eyeing.

eateries //

  • Creperie du Major — my first real crepe in France! while i love dessert crepes, i opted for savory. interesting how it’s made of buckwheat flour. bu

  • Les Eclaireurs Patissiers — my favorite eclair place. we went 3x. the eclairs were perfection, from design to taste and variety of exotic flavors. i loved the rose + lychee and the passion fruit ones!

  • Les Halles de Lyon — the famous food hall in Lyon! unfortunately, 75% of it was closed due to people being on holiday. so that was a huge bummer, esp for my BIL who was really looking forward to it.

things i learned //

  • the city is known for this praline bread. just imagine this bread with hot pink speckles all over it with a crusted exterior. oh my. it was SO. GOOD. i wish i could take loaves home. i googled a recipe here.

  • there are free restrooms on the sides of the streets that automatically wash themselves! sooooooo. interesting. and for the most part, you have to pay to use the restrooms (that’s why they are clean)!

  • the french do not refrigerate their milk or eggs.

  • when in france, the first order of biz is always PASTRIES. and coffee!!

Catherdrale Saint-Jean Baptiste

PARIS

our final stop was Paris. saved the best for last! i was very eager to get to Paris. unfortunately, the food we had wasn’t that good. this is probably because we were limited in needing to eat early (traveling with kids) and most restaurants don’t serve dinner until 7PM. i know. it’s crazy. like who eats that late?!?! since this was the last leg of the trip, there were many purchases to be made from gifts for friends/family, and of course gifts to ourselves lol.

despite all the things you hear about Paris, I LOVED IT. i’m not sure when i’ll be back but by golly, i hope soon!

the Vendome right outside our hotel

out suite at the Park Hyatt Vendome

streets of Paris

comp breakfast!

Pierre Herme macarons

Pain Pain pastries

Stohrer bakery

Bon Marche

ferris wheel in Jardin du Tuileries

Cedric Grolet Opera

the Lourve

attractions //

  • Tuk Tuk in Paris Tour — this was actually really fun! it was a quick and easy way to have someone show you around to get a jist of the city and the history behind it. they stopped at all the top attractions and let us down around the Eiffel Tower for photos!

  • L’Atelier des Lumieres — this is the exact spot where a scene was shot in Emily in Paris. it’s soothing to see the images and songs but not sure i would make a trip all the way out there for this again.

  • Louvre — the Louvre is HUGE. it would take more than a day to go through the entire museum. and good luck trying to find your way out of there!!!

  • Galleries Lafayette Haussmann — this shopping mall was GORGEOUS. probably my favorite. the tundra in the middle was just stunning.

  • Bon Marche — this was also a pretty shopping mall as well, much quieter than Galleries Lafayette Haussmann.

  • Champs-Elysees Avenue — this street is so beautiful. we went down it on the tuk tuk tour and i was so fascinated by the trees that flank this street. like who cuts them and how do they cut them so rectangular…

  • Arc de Triomphe — tickets were bought way in advance and you’ll want to do this because the lines are long if you don’t. this was on our last day and i was exhausted. at this point my feet were hella tired and i really wasn’t sure i was gonna make it up all those stairs. it’s a pretty view at the top but also something i wouldn’t do again.

view at the top of the Arc du Triomphe

eateries //

  • Galleries Lafayette Le Gourmet — this place was very BUSY. forget trying to find a place to sit for 8 people. i like how it’s basically an upscale food court you would find in a mall, but in a building adjacent from the mall (Galleries Lafayette Haussmann).

  • Pierre Herme — did you really go to Paris if you didn’t get a macaron? peirre does a good job!

  • Laudree — more macarons!

  • Pain Pain — probably the most epic in terms of pastries and cafe menu items! there was a line out the door so be prepared to wait.

  • Grand Epicerie — great little upscale grocery store with some eateries inside.

  • Cedric Grolet Opera — i’m one of those people who have problems when i go to bakeries. suddenly my eyes become wayyy bigger than my stomach and i end up buying goodies for what seems like a family of 5. and when you’re on vacay, price does not matter (i’m not the only one on this right?!) i ended up picking up a tart (small) that cost $45…. whoops. #yolo rest assured i made sure to eat the whole thing. each bite was HEAVEN.

  • Stohrer

  • Kintaro Ramen — yes, we had ramen in Paris. haha, everyone was so tired of crepes!

things i learned //

  • the shopping malls in Paris are interesting. they are categorized by floor. example, perfume and cosmetics on floor 1, handbags on 2 etc… then on each floor each brand has it’s own section with a representative and checkout. very interesting!

  • Parisians dress very nicely! athleisure is not a thing there.

  • a regular dessert crepe in just butter and sugar!

Arc du Triomphe

travel diary -- italy (venice & milan)

buongiorno!

i spent the earlier part of august in Europe and it was an AMAZING trip. it feels SO GOOD to finally mark it off my [short] bucket list. it’s a place i wanted to see for so long and it fills me with so much happiness and gratitude to be able to finally make that journey over there & experience it with my family. the fashion. the food. the shopping. the architecture. all of it was so beautiful so as you can imagine, coming back to reality was hard. but i’m so ready to document this trip here on JDC!

we spent two weeks in Europe — our destinations were Italy (Venice & Milan, covered here) and France (Lyon & Paris, next post). two weeks was a long time to be away from home. i was really feeling it at 1.5 weeks but the plane ride to get there was so long that the stay had to be worthwhile. we probably went at the worst time as this huge heat wave was hitting all of Europe — and some places don’t have AC. on top of that, this is apparently the time everyone takes holiday in Europe so a lot of places we planned to eat at were closed. there was a lot of improvising and deviating from the itinerary. but isn’t that nice? just close up shop for however long! the Europeans know how to live life! before diving in, i must thank my jetsetter sister & BIL for planning this entire trip! that was a huge task and i’m so glad they took care of all of us! they’ve been before so we were in good hands.

>>> IG REELS for more visual & music: VENICE & MILAN

packing was a challenge because it was a long stay but i didn’t want to check anything in. i picked lightweight fabrics and pieces that would dry quickly. this included linen, cotton, lyocell etc.. for shoes, i packed flip flops (to wear in the hotel/AirBnB #germaphobe) and a pair of KEDS. yep, two pairs of shoes. i picked a lot of casual dresses, some athleisure (note: wearing athleisure makes you really stand out as a tourist in these cities because the locals do not wear that stuff!), shorts, tees, and tanks. NO jeans or pants, nothing tight fitting (bc hello, carbs) && i didn’t even bring any jewelry/flashy either.

currently on my playlist: hold me closer by Elton John & Britney Spears

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top | Quince vintage wash tencel camp shirt in white (wearing size XS)
bottoms | Quince 100% european linen shorts in black (wearing size S, probably could’ve gone w an XS)
shoes | Keds x Kate Spade champion leather sneakers in rose dew pink (old) — original canvas champions #teamkeds // also love the ace

VENICE

famous Rialto Bridge

bell tower outside of Doge's Palace

inside Doge’s Palace

quiet streets of Venice

wall of cured meats at the grocery store!

i didn’t realize Venice was a destination that will one day be underwater so i’m glad i was able to see it. it’s historic!! everything is basically ANCIENT. for the most part, people don’t drive cars, they take water taxis. it’s interesting. imagine how trash works there?! or how one buys furniture or pieces that are too large to walk home with?!?! once we arrived we took a water taxi back to the AirBnB. it was scorching hot out but we basically walked everywhere that our feet would carry us. we hit the ground running with gelato & pasta. and it was like the for days. being a city on water… i felt like the island was moving the whole time i was there. so did my sister and mom. apparently, it’s a real thing that doesn’t go away for a while!

one of the best stories was that i’m pretty sure the AirBnB (ancient) was haunted LOL my brother and i heard some weirddd sounds one night. the other was that when we took the water taxi to the train station to Milan, in the midst of boarding the water taxi in really turbulent water, my brother forgot one luggage on the dock. he didn’t realize it until we got to the train station, and turned back around. to everyone’s shock (and always to thomas’ luck) it was still there! he’s a lucky SOB. you know those people where life just automatically works for them, like always?!?! that’s my brother.

attractions //

  • Doge’s Palace — if you’re a big history person this would be worth it. but it was SO HOT (no AC or ventilation) that we just scanned the whole thing and left quickly. honestly, the outside is worth an IG photo/visit IMO. but the tour, i’d skip.

  • San Marco Plaza & Bell Tower — the plaza is such a beautiful open space in the middle. the bell tower allows you to see some breathtaking views of Venice via elevator.

eateries //

  • Nico gelato — one of the better pistacho gelatos.

  • Lo Squero gelato — small but really GOOD.

  • Nevodi — resys required. this was probably my favorite meal in Venice. the pasta nevodi was PURE BLISS.

  • Rossopomodoro — i think this is a chain but the zuccini pasta dish was so good! also enjoyed the

  • Cantina Do Spade — originally we wanted to go to All’Arco but it was closed for construction. so my BIL found this spot since we really wanted to try the cicchetti (small snacks or side dishes [think tapas?], and mostly served on a slice of bread. i really enjoyed cicchetti and will need to find a fix somewhere…)

favorite meal: pasta nevodi (with prawns and pistachio pesto) + aperol spritz

things i learned //

  • bread + a really good olive oil (am i crazy to say it tastes even better there?!) + a sprinkle of freshly ground pepper & salt is all you really need. the italians really like balsamic vinegar in this dipping mix too!

  • aperol spritz. when in venice, one must sip on an aperol spritz.

  • gondola ride in the canals does not equal a gondola ride in turbulent waters from one island to the next. we tried this to save some money on the water taxi and it was worth it. just grasp on for dear life 🤣

  • grocery stores have a wall dedicated to curated meats!! i was in heaven.

  • there is no tipping! apparently, it’s just an American thing!!!

  • italians like their pasta a smidge before al dente

  • brushetta in the states does not equal brushetta in italy

  • they call it “take away” not “to-go”

  • coffee is meant to be consumed hot. ICED coffee? not really a thing there

MILAN

Golden Triangle (boutique shopping)

CELINE (my fave handbag designer)

in Milan, my baller brother hooked it up at the Park Hyatt. as always, he picks the best hotel with grand service. not only was the service one of the best i’ve received, it was in the perfect location. literally right outside of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II = hello shopping! Milan was the city that kicked off all the shopping. from designer, to boutiques and department stores. it was endless. it was very different from Venice, like we were finally back at civilization again lol. at this point in the trip, most were tired of pasta and pizza (i know, it is possible) so we ventured out to asian & greek food and there is nothing to note here except the one korean place i have listed below under eateries. needless to say, i really enjoyed Milan despite the lack of photos.

some notable memories was ordering room service with my brother at midnight for a lamb chop (right after he came back from the gym and told me he broke the mirror because he forgot the weights are in KG! hahaha). it was probably one of the best ones i’ve had! the Park Hyatt also offered comp breakfast every morning and it was so nice to sit and enjoy breakfast with everyone. i also got to accompany mama Doan to help her purchase her first designer bag in person. she deserves it! we also went to this vietnamese place for dinner (not good), and we learned that the owners were chinese so there’s that.

attractions //

  • Duomo — pretty sight to see from the outside, but nothing super spectacular in terms of the tour.

  • Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II — luckily this was right on the strip of the Park Hyatt Milan. major shopping center in with designer brands. the atrium is beautiful and a sight to see!

  • Golden Triangle — outdoor shopping area spreading across a couple of streets. here’s where mama doan bought her first designer bag in person!

eateries //

  • PECK — a gourmet grocery store where you will want to buy everything. fresh pastas, olive oil galore, sauces, ready-to-eat food.

  • Caccio gelato — this was my FAVORITE gelato place. my gosh.

  • Zia Esterina Sorbillo — this is a famous fried pizza place. it was piping hot. the dough was super soft but i wasn’t a fan for some reason. too hot to enjoy and the contents were all melted at the bottom making it harder to eat.

  • Hana — yummy korean place we tried. i had the pork belly dish!

Duomo

France coming at cha next!,
JD

travel diary -- iceland

Howdy jannadoan.com followers!

First off, my name is Yen (@cremebroolay), Janna’s sister.

I’ve recently returned from a trip to Europe and Janna asked if I could write a short blurb about it on her blog. I said I would love to, since everyone needs to know about the beauty of a place called ICELAND!

Hello Reykjavik, Iceland!

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In its spring and summer, Iceland is a beautiful country with an abundance of green pastures and picturesque mountains. It is not a frozen arctic tundra -- which would be Greenland. I know. Confusing. The Vikings are so smart.  

Viking ship model

When visiting Iceland, the Blue Lagoon needs to be on the list of things to do/visit.

Yes, it's a touristy place, but I mean, just look and imagine... the water is a warm 98*F. The crisp spring air blows your baby hairs into your face. Your husband drops his GoPro into the murky water that is visually impenetrable 3 inches below its surface...

And there are so many waterfalls to chase. Totally my kind of thing.

Skogafoss

Seljalandsfoss
You can go behind this waterfall to take pictures, but it is SPLASH ZONE city. My clothes & phone were soaking wet.

Gulfoss

Ăžingvellir 

geothermal pool at Geysir

Notes on Iceland:

  • English is widely spoken within Reykjavik. The farther you are away from the city's center, the more difficult it may be to communicate -- unless you're at a tourist attraction.
  • Warm-ish to hot water smells like sulfurrr. Even in the shower. Even at blue lagoon. Frigid, cold, water does not and is perfectly safe to drink. Icelanders know this and don't buy bottled water, but they sell it for wary tourists.
  • Lamb is supposedly the best in Iceland because of how they are raised and what they feed on, but I don't eat lamb and can't attest to that.

Now, SKYR, I ate a ton of. It's a skim-milk cheese that's high in protein but has the texture of yogurt. Think: really smooth and good tasting Greek yogurt. (Siggi's, sold here in the states, is not the same)

drykkur = drink

If you've ever considered travelling to Iceland, I urge you to go. Icelandair even as a deal where you can stopover in Iceland for up to 7 days, before making your way to a number of other European destinations, at no additional cost!

Iceland is a gorgeous country that's fun to explore and a great place to unplug. Seriously, my cell reception was spotty at best. 

Signing off,
YD @cremebroolay

the perfect travel bag & essentials

i decided to do a post on the perfect travel bag and essentials that i took with me on my last trip to NYC. 

bag 

when i travel, i never carry anything designer (i.e., CHANEL, Celine...) mainly because i do not want to worry about the bag getting scratched, rained on, stolen? to me, the ideal travel bag must be a few things: 1) crossbody = hands free, 2) durable, 3) lightweight, 4) fit the essentials, 5)  zip closure, 6) have compartments. the Tory Burch robinson mini dome satchel in dust storm (taupe grey-ish color) fit the bill on all counts. it measures 9"L x 3.7"W x 7"H; 23" crossbody strap. in addition, the strap is also removable in case i needed to go to an event or anything. i LOVE this bag (and all mini bags in general! they are adorable!). this one in particular has a side zipper and two pockets for your phone or keys on the inside. the top handles also fold down which i really like. lastly, the entire Tory Burch robinson line is made from saffiano leather; which is scratch resistant. this is an older model but i have linked a few similar ones below. 

  • Tory Burch robinson small multi satchel -- $495 USD. comes in black, tiger's eye (cognac), french grey, and jitney green (which is a BEAUTIFUL fall color). 11"L x 5.25"W x 8"H; 4.5" handle drop, 22". three compartments, two are zip closures and the bag itself is a snap closure (a little downside). saffiano leather, detachable straps, and the handles fold down. sign up for Bloomingdales emails and receive 10% off. 
  • Michael Kors medium cindy saffiano dome satchel* -- $258 USD. comes in blush, cornflower, black, and navy (my pick!.. if i needed one...) this is the closest dupe to the Tory Burch dome satchel in the picture above, but a little larger at 12"L x 4.5"W x 8.5"H; 6" handle drop, 17" to 19" strap drop. zip closure, saffiano leather, detachable straps, and the the handles fold down. 
  • Coach nolita satchel in crossgrain leather* in beige/light gold -- on sale for $206.50 USD; regular price $295 USD. this looks like saffiano leather and i really like the shape/design, the finish of the leather on the sides is very streamlined. this color is very close to the TB dust storm. it measures about 11"L x 7"H x 5"W; 22" strap drop. zip closure, detachable straps, and the handles fold down. Coach has definitely stepped up their game in the recent years.

*this is apart of the Bloomingdales friends & family sale so get 25% off by using code "FRIENDS" at checkout. also, shipping to TX is TAX-FREE! details on this sale here.

electronics

  • mophie powerstation (mini) -- i've mentioned this before in one of my current lemmings, and purchased one for myself (again, i take my recommendations very seriously!) i can't tell you how much i love my mophie! i've used it on a normal day-to-day basis, but it really comes in handy when you travel and outlets are limited (i.e., your traveling groupie be using all of them!). the only thing you have to do is remember to charge it. AND... did i mention that this is a great gift idea!? the mini is good for two FULL charges on my iPhone 5s, and also works on Android.
  • Symphonized premium in-ear noise cancelling earphones -- i purchased these for the NYC trip, and the moment i put them in my ears for the flight, i vowed to never go back to the CRAPPY Apple earphones. it's one of those things you discover where you ask yourself, "how have i lived so long without this?!" while my sister was listening to her music at the highest volume, i was listening to mine at one or two notches. i had to put a stop to the feeling of deaf-ness/ears ringing when getting off the plane from listening to high volume audio. these peaked my interest due to price (only $25!, regular price $99) and rave reviews (4.5 stars, 6,500 reviews). the cords are also nylon so they are not easily tangled. i mean, untangling Apple earphones?! ain't nobody got time for that! it also comes in different colored headphones/cords and three different silicone ear tips for a custom fit. I CAN'T RAVE ABOUT THIS MORE. JUST GET IT. 
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 -- this was borrowed from my SS (thanks soul sista!). it's a pretty cool camera that has a touchscreen and you can take pictures with different filters like instagram. the downside = no zoom. i will be investing in my own travel camera soon! #moretravelingplease!  
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health & beauty

  • Jack Black intensive therapy lip balm SPF 25 -- my friend introduced me to this and i've come to REALLY LOVE it more than my Kiehl's lip balm (gasp!)! it is much longer lasting and it has SPF 25 (high). like skin, lips are also prone to get freckles too, i know i see one on my lip right now. so SPF is a must for lip balms during the day. purchase a pack of four (one for each purse!?!) and save $5. 
  • Dior Addict lip glow in sheer pink coral SPF 10 -- this is a great alternative to lip balm for those who want a little tint. this is supposed to, "enhance your natural lip color while moisturizing and protecting the skin." looks extremely natural. 
  • Emergen-C in pink lemonade flavor (my fave flavor!) -- i'm a germaphobe so i usually take a packet the day before i leave and when i arrive at my destination. i always bring extra packets and for some reason... i come home with none! it's because i'm giving them away to my traveling groupie so they don't get me sick. LOL. 
  • Eucerin skin calming daily moisturizing creme -- you can get a 1 oz. tube in the travel section at Target (just try to only pick up one item in that section! i dare you!), its small enough to fit in your bag and what's great about this is that you can use it on your hands AND your face (in case it gets super dry or irritated from being in different environments)! it is also unscented and great for sensitive skin! 
  • Kleenex, Advil, Band-Aids -- these are great items to have for headaches, random cuts/bumps/scratches, blisters? 

needless to say, i'm someone you want to travel with! i'm usually prepared for anything/everything. 

life is short. travel (and smile) more,
JD

travel diary -- nyc eats

when in NYC, you snacky snack all day, everrrr-day. 

its been almost eight years since my last visit to NYC, so this trip was long overdue. this time it was all about FOOD. besides fashion being my hobby, i am also a huge foodie. my definition of foodie is someone who lives to eat, can talk about food 24/7, dreams about food, looks forward to the next eatery, has long lists on their phone of all the places they want to eat at (this includes multiple cities).

so here's my travel diary, perhaps it should be re-titled as my eating/nomnomnom-ing diary?! i have never eaten so much in just three days y'all!!!! but it was all sooo worth it and such #goodtimes with my groupie. hope it is a good read!!!

PS (disclaimer): these are not the best pictures because when you travel with other foodies it is impossible to get the best angle, lighting etc... before everyone gives you HANGRY faces. lol.

PaTea Bubble Tea

135 Mott St.  NYC, 10013 | cash only | pateabubbletea.com
my name is janna. i love bubble tea. i could drink it everyday. it makes me happy.
this place was super cute and super small! but their bubble tea was AMAZING! i had the 'Black & Yellow' which is a brown sugar milk with grass jelly, flan pudding, and boba. it was out of this world. we went back again and i also got the 'Brown Sugar Oolong Milk Tea.' they make their bubble tea in shakers however they also have a machine that does all the shaking! you also get to pick your level of sweetness and level of ice!! pretty cool. i seriously think austin needs to up its bubble tea game. as i write this i honestly wish i had one in hand. 

Joe's Ginger

25 Pell St. NYC, 10013 | cash only | joesginger.com
so originally the itinerary planned for the infamous soup dumplings at Joe's Shanghai, but the wait was 40 minutes. after waking up at 4AM to catch a flight at 6AM and then walking to chinatown... a 40 minute wait was not looking good. so my brother-in-law suggested Joe's Ginger which is a few doors down, and NO WAIT. apparently it's the same owner as Joe's Shanghai. the soup dumplings were great! we also had CRAB soup dumplings, scallion beef roll, cucumber salad, shredded turnip shortcake, and green onion pie. all were great, however i did prefer the regular soup dumplings over the crab soup dumplings. skip the line and eat at Joe's Ginger. 

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Wafles & Dinges

209 E 2nd St. NYC, 10009 (food truck also) | waflesanddinges.com 
on our way to the comedy show (below) we stopped by this place for a quick snack. i ordered "de throwdown wafel" which was a waffle with their own 'spekuloos' (cookie butter, aka like the best invention ever, but i'm gonna have to say Trader Joe's speculoos cookie butter is better) and whipped cream. it's called throwdown because it was featured on Bobby Flay's Throwdown series! my sister ordered "da bomb" with strawberries, whip cream and chocolate drizzle. nothing too notable here, the waffles were a little too chewy in my opinion. and honestly, my sister makes the best leige waffles (the ONE time she made them!). her homemade waffles ARE DA BOMB.

Upright Citizens Brigade (Eastside) 

153 E 3rd St. NYC, 10009 (multiple locations) | ucbtheatre.com
i'm actually not much of a comedy-show person. however, this was my first improv show and man it was pretty hilarious! i highly recommend this place and will def go back on my next NYC visit! shows range from $5-10, this place was so awesome and had me rolling plenty. i will have to go again on my next visit and glad my sister booked tickets without asking for anyone's thoughts. (ahem ahem).

Bon Chon

even though it was so dark and you can't see what you are eating, this is still fried spicy goodness. 

325 5th Ave. NYC, 10016 (multiple locations) | 32ndstreetny.bonchon.com
my BFF urged me to try my this place after i had crossed it off the list. wow, i'm so glad i did. the wait for dinner at Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong (korean BBQ, below) was almost an hour and right around the corner was a Bon Chon. it was meant to be. we had a little snacky snack before dinner and ordered both the mixed wing and drum combo and split the order in half to try both sauces -- spicy and soy garlic. i highly recommend the SPICY sauce. spicy with a heck of a kick. the wings were fried to PERFECTION. the only drawback was the drumsticks were actually drumsticks (go figure, but i guess small drumsticks are technically called drumettes at wing places) and once you get toward the bone, it was kinda bland. if they were drumettes, that would've been better. (not that i'm a chef of anything...) literally drooling right now. 

Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong

prime boneless short rib GOODNESS. 

thinly sliced brisket. L: steamed egg, R: cheesy corn

1 E 32nd St. NYC, 10016 | baekjeongnyc.com
i love korean BBQ. my foodie friend @vietdinhvo recommended this place and said it was his favorite korean BBQ place he's ever eaten at. when a foodie makes a statement like that, you have to go try it. i have to say, this is one of the best korean BBQ places i've had. when you arrive at your table, it is already set in terms of dipping sauces, greens, and a few korean side dishes. we ordered the 'Small Beef Combo' which consists of thinly sliced brisket, seasoned prime short rib, and prime boneless short rib. the small combo is only supposed to feed two people, but it was plenty of food for us considering everything else we ate. the meat was so fresh, and each combo also comes with a beef brisket soybean paste stew or kimchi stew, steamed egg, cheesy corn (interesting), mushroom, sweet potato, and kimchi. PS -- Channing Tatum has eaten here. so..... yea.. !

Dominique Ansel Bakery

earl grey flavored cronut

frozen s'more!!!! Dominique Ansel does not joke around when it comes to a dessert on a stick.

189 Spring St. NYC, 10012 | limit two cronuts per person, only one flavor each month, pre-order available | dominiqueansel.com
my sister and i woke up at 7AM (while everyone else was still in food comas) to wait in line at 8AM, for the bakery to open at 9AM! we waited a total one hour and thirty minutes to try the original cronut. a cronut is a hybrid of a croissant and a donut. and i honestly do not know how we have ever lived so long without this invention. the bakery only makes ONE flavor of cronuts each month and for September 2015, it is earl grey. (i've been told they do not make the same flavor twice.) in addition to the cronuts, we also bought a frozen s'more which is a custard ice cream center that is covered in a thin layer of crispy chocolate wafer crisps and embedded in a marshmallow mixture on a stick that is torched to order.... YOU NEED THIS. i am so sad we only got ONE... it was devoured by the time we walked one block away from the bakery. we also purchased a few DKA's (Dominique Kougin Amann) which is a croissant like pastry with a caramelized crust. YOU NEED THIS TOO. ok, i'm gonna go out on a limb and just say i was impressed with these more than the cronut itself. 

Laduree

macarons are the most girlie, colorful, prettiest dessert!

398 W Broadway NYC, 10012 | laduree.com
with a Dominique Ansel yellow bag in hand, we stop by Laduree. i mean why not? it's a block away. (but so was Chobani... but we didn't make it there). here we order an assortment of macarons. they never disappoint. 

ViVi Bubble Tea

japanese matcha milk tea + lychee jelly and yellow moo milk (milk tea + grass jelly + egg pudding)

cute tops!

205 Allen St. NYC, 10002 (multiple locations) | vivibubbletea.com
after we scarfed down some cronuts and napped, we headed to get bubble tea because that's how we roll in NYC. my sister and i ordered the matcha milk tea and the yellow moo milk. nothing extremely notable as PaTea, but they do have a tiramisu milk tea, and an ice jelly tea series which i did not try and should have. #regrets

Luke's Lobster

L: lobster roll, R: crab roll + new england clam chowdahhh combo 

93 E 7th St. NYC, 10009 (multiple locations) | lukeslobster.com
bubble tea in hand, we walk to get a lobster roll. Luke's is almost standing room only and their lobster roll was pretty dang good. but keep in mind i've never been to Maine and i'm pretty sure they have the best lobster rolls on the planet.

Artichoke Pizza

artichoke pizza @ artichoke pizza

328 E 14th St. NYC, 10003 (multiple locations) | artichokepizza.com
so after lobster rolls, we walk to Chelsea Market (more food of course) and on the way we stop by Artichoke Pizza. here we ordered the artichoke and a margarita by the slice. the artichoke pizza was VERY cheesy with a super thick, dense crust with artichoke hearts, spinach, cream sauce, mozz, and pecorino romano cheese. it was much better than the margarita in my opinion.

Chelsea Market

the DOUGHNUTTERY -- L: caocao boy, R: urban monkey

75 Ninth Ave. NYC 10011 | chelseamarket.com
by the time we walked from the lower east side to Chelsea Market, and despite all the food we ate along the way... we go into Chelsea Market and look at... you guessed it! MORE FOOD! Chelsea Market reminds me of the Ferry Building in San Fran, it was amazing. here we walked around and there was SO MUCH food -- fresh seafood, homemade pastas, tacos, mini donuts! (btw, i have major major weakness for mini donuts..) the doughnuttery was super cute with so many flavors to choose from. i tried the caocao boy which was cacao nibs, chocolate cookies, mesquite, and the urban monkey which was coffee, banana, coconut and that flavor was GOOD. the groupie stuffed themselves with sandwiches, tacos, and pasta. we all had a bite of everything. 

Spot Dessert Bar

top L: lychee panna cotta, top R: golden toast, bottom: green tea lava cake

13 St Marks Pl. NYC, 10003 | spotdessertbar.com
my foodie friend also recommend this place. i love dessert. every time i go out to eat my eyes always wander to the dessert menu first because life is short, eat dessert first. after Chelsea Market we took an uber (first time for me!) to Spot Dessert Bar where we ordered the following dessert tapas: chocolate green tea lava cake (warm chocolate cake, green tea ganache, green tea ice cream, and walnut "soil"), golden toast (honey butter toast, condensed milk, strawberries, ice cream) and the lychee panna cotta (seasonal; lychee panna cotta, raspberry sorbet, and raspberry caviar). i liked the lychee panna cotta the most, it was very light and refreshing. everything was amazing and carefully crafted to perfection. 

Mamoun's

22 St. Marks Pl. NYC, 10003 | cash only | mamouns.com
we didn't eat dinner until 10PM that night because... we were all feeling so sick and full. but what do you do when you only have three days?!?! you take pepto and move on. Mamoun's is dark and dingy, is cash only, and is known for their falafel's. they are literally frying them fresh for you right there. it was pretty good, i have tried falafel's before but nothing was good as this place. and $3.50 for a falfael sandwich, you can't really beat that. 

Russ & Daughters

179 E Houston St. NYC, 10002 (multiple locations) | russanddaughters.com
on the last day, we woke up and walked to get breakfast at Russ & Daughters. here, you can pick your own bagel, cream cheese, and your own smoked salmon -- there are a ton to choose from! this place was extremely crowded and there is no where to eat inside. the only place to actually sit down was outside on the two benches the flank the storefront. ok, this was the BEST BAGEL and lox i've ever had. it would've been better if the person who took my order tell me that tomatoes and red onions were extra. so despite those two things, i was still pretty happy with my everything bagel, chive cream cheese and irish smoked salmon. 

Play J Ice Cream Truck

brother-in-law modeling the chocolate and vanilla J cone!

food truck life | playjsicecream instagram
one last stroll in SoHo had my brother-in-law and i curious about these "J" shaped things people were eating, so we found the truck and tried one. it's a puffed corn cone in the shape of a "J" filled with vanilla and/or chocolate soft serve!! it's like a cheeto minus the cheese? we pondered and talked about this after each bite... i don't know, but it was good little treat! 

Vanessa's Dumpling House

spicy wontons.

118 Eldridge St., NYC, 10002 | vanessas.com
this was our last meal in the big city. so it ended with a bang. the dumplings from Vanessa's were LEGIT. you can see them making the dumplings! everything is served in styro/paper plates. considering what we ate earlier in the day, and the fact that we were down to a crew of three, we ate all 32 dumplings and took some pancake sandwiches to go. we ordered four different types of dumplings: beef, shrimp, chicken and basil dumplings, spicy wontons, sesame pancakes with beef and pork. i think my brother-in-law and i can eat dumplings everrr-day. 

cheers to #nomnomnom,
JD