Jasmin Loves Coffee

Brew Review: Dalgona Coffee

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 12:38:00 +0000

Dalgona coffee has been all over social media during quarantine. Being that I love all things coffee, I decided to try it out at home.

Dalgona coffee originates from Korea and is made by whipping together instant coffee, sugar, and hot water, and then typically serving it iced with your favorite milk or milk-alternative beverage. I tried it recently and it was super easy to make and delicious. What's nice about this recipe is that you can adjust the sweetness by deciding how much sugar to put in it. The recipe below is per person.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon instant coffee (I used Nescafe)
1 tablespoon sugar (I used raw brown sugar)
1 tablespoon hot water

Directions
1. Combine instant coffee and sugar in a glass or mixing bowl.

2. Add hot water.

3. Mix until you develop a fluffy, light, airy concoction. It takes about 3 minutes or so if you are using a mixer (and probably longer if you mix by hand-- I've heard up to 8 minutes).

4. Add ice and milk to a tall glass. Scoop the mixture on top.

5. Mix well, and enjoy!

Femme Luxe Review Encore

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 14:25:00 +0000

You guys. It is now week 12 of quarantine...week 12! How did we get here? I don't know about you, but I'm ready for things to return to normal. These 12 weeks have felt SO long, but at the same time, how is it June already?! I feel like it was just New Year's Eve a few weeks ago. Despite everything going on right now, I hope you are all well and staying safe and healthy.

Today, I am back with another review from Femme Luxe. If you missed my last review, which featured cozy and comfy loungewear that is super cute and affordable, you can click here to read it. After my initial post, the brand reached out to me again and asked if I would do another review of items other than loungewear, so I happily agreed. For those of you not familiar with the brand, they are a British-based online retailer that features affordable, trendy pieces (think Forever 21 meets Angl).

Femme Luxe offers a variety of items to choose from, such as joggers, loungewear, and comfy t-shirts. Below are the four items I picked out, with my honest review of each.

1. Khaki Green Cargo Slim Fit Trousers (Pants)
These cargo pants looked so cute on the website, so I was excited to try them. Unfortunately, they were a little bit too short for me (tall girl problems-- I'm 5'9"). In the picture below, you can see that the hem comes up a little bit too high, so I would not recommend these for anyone my height or taller. But if you are under 5'8", I think these would be super cute. The fabric is very comfortable and these could be worn with sneakers or sandals. These also come in a variety of colors and are a slim fit, meaning they tapper off at the bottom and are similar to a skinny jeans fit, but are true to size.

2. Black Yves Saint Love Graph Print Slogan Tee
I love a cute graphic tee, and this one fits the bill. You can pair it with joggers, jeans, cargo pants (see picture above) etc. for a cute and polished look. Here's a picture of me wearing it last week before my weekly grocery store run. This shirt does run small, so I would recommend sizing up when ordering. This top also comes in white.

3. Black Long Sleeve V-Neck Leggings Loungewear Set
Since I love all things lounge-y and comfy, I had to order another loungewear set with my order. Unfortunately, the leggings were too short for me. I would recommend this set if you are under 5'8" or so. I do like that it's long-sleeve though, so it can be worn in the early fall or spring. This also comes in a camel color, which I feel is very in right now (as is anything nude or neutral).

4. Wine Belted Bodycon Midi Wrap Dress
And finally, we have my favorite item from this order. This wine colored dress is so beautiful and can be worn off the shoulder or on the shoulder. For a bodycon dress, it's super comfortable. This would look cute for Valentine's day or the holidays, when red is in season. The color on this is a deep burgundy. I would recommend pairing this with black or nude heels. This dress also comes in other colors such as pink, white, black, green, and khaki. I think for summer, the white version with gold sandals would look amazing for a date night.

Shipping from Femme Luxe was very fast the second time around (I received my order in less than a week). In addition, the website often has online sales and promo codes that you can apply towards your entire purchase. In all, I found their pieces to be reasonably priced. If you're looking for cute, fashionably finds and don't want to spend a ton of money, especially during this time, I highly recommend you head over to Femme Luxe to take a look.

Have a wonderful week, stay safe, and happy online shopping!

Disclaimer: I received these complimentary pieces in return for my honest, unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Friday Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 22 May 2020 12:10:00 +0000

It's been so long since I've done a Friday favorites post, mainly because I have been so un-motivated during quarantine to blog for some reason. I finally have enough favorite things to share with you, so here they are!

1. For those of you who are near a Trader Joe's, I would recommend trying their refrigerated pizza dough. I picked it up this past weekend and it was hit (I made margherita pizza using the plain dough, and a veggie pizza using the garlic and herb dough). The dough was super easy to use and turned out delicious.

2. I ordered this body cream three weeks ago and it finally arrived. Although it's a bit pricy, it smells amazing (like sophisticated, warm vanilla).

3. This exercise bike I ordered (I did a ton of research before deciding on this one because of price, durability, reviews, etc.) . I've been using it conjunction with the Peloton app to work out (because the Peloton bike is insanely expensive and quite a commitment). If you are curious about the Peloton app, you can download it for 30 days free. It has live and on-demand classes such as strength training, boot camps, yoga,, etc. It's not just for cycle classes. I've been loving doing a 30 minute full body strength class each day followed by a half hour low interval ride on the bike.

4. Did you guys know that it's recommended to clean your washing machine every 30 loads? Yeah, I didn't know either, until one day I caught a faint musty smell coming from it. I did my research and found this cleaner that is recommended for every 30 cycles (apparently, detergent and water residue can cause build-up, which causes the odor). I used three tablets consecutively as recommended on the package for first time users and am happy to report that the smell is gone.

5. Have you jumped on the dalgona coffee trend yet? It's basically whipped coffee made with instant coffee. I tried it using this instant coffee and it was amazing! Review and recipe coming next week.

6. And finally, we are ending with another Trader Joe's item. You have to try this popcorn, which I believe is one of their new items that came out this month. It's amazing. It tastes slightly like BBQ chips, so if that's your jam, pick up a bag.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Stuffed Poblano Peppers

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Thu, 21 May 2020 14:36:00 +0000

Happy it's-almost-Friday! I have been cooking so much during quarantine that I've stated seeking out new recipes to mix things up a bit. This recipe came about because of an accident. I had placed a Walmart grocery delivery order for some peppers and accidently ordered poblano peppers. When my order was delivered, I realized how huge these were and figured they would be good to stuff instead and serve for dinner. These turned out to be delicious and easy to make. Below is the recipe I made (I had 4 extra large peppers and did have some stuffing left over at the end).

Ingredients
-4 extra-large poblano peppers
-1 lb lean, grass-fed ground beef
-1 small white onion (chopped)
-1 small can corn
-1 small can black beans
-1/2 cup long-grain white rice
-1 small jalapeno, chopped
-3 cloves garlic
-1 small can diced tomatoes
-3 tablespoons fresh cilantro
-Shredded cheese
-1 packet taco seasoning
-salt and pepper

Directions
1. Chop the onion, mince the garlic, and combine with the grass-fed beef and cook thoroughly on the stovetop. Add the taco seasoning per the directions on the packet.
2. Cook the rice.
3. Slice the poblano peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and stem. Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F, or until soft. Remove from oven.
4. In a large bowl, combine the cooked ground beef, cooked rice, corn, black beans, diced tomatoes, chopped jalapeno, diced tomatoes, and fresh cilantro. Season with salt and pepper and mix.

5. Stuff each pepper with the filling.

6. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.

7. Bake for 15 min or until cheese is melted.

These can also be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge until they are ready to pop in the oven. Enjoy!

Quarantine Fashion: All Things Cozy with Femme Luxe

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Tue, 12 May 2020 15:51:00 +0000

Hello friends! Happy Tuesday (though the days of the week seem to blur right now, right?). I hope this blog posts finds you safe and healthy, give the current state of the world. I don't know about you guys, but as I write this, I am going on week 9 (!) of working from home/sheltering-in-place.

If it's one thing I've learned during this time, it's that I don't have enough cozy/comfy/loungewear to work from home five days a week looking both put together and feeling comfortable. So I was delighted when Femme Luxe reached out to me for a collaboration and offered to send me three pieces of my choice to review. Being that I am in need of comfy clothing AND I'm not planning on leaving my home anything soon, I naturally gravitated towards loungewear and all things comfortable.

Femme Luxe has a variety of items to choose from, such as joggers, loungewear, and comfy t-shirts. Below are my three picks and review of the items I ordered, along with photos I took once they arrived. The photos I took show how I would style these items.

1. Black 'Ooh La La' Oversized T-Shirt
Being I love all things French (I studied abroad in Marseille, France, my senior year of college) and comfy t-shirts, this was a natural choice. It's oversized, which means it's super comfy when worn at home. You can pair this with skinny joggers for a comfy look, or if you want to wear this outside the house, you could probably knot it on one side and pair it with a pair of jeans of comfy sandals. Another option would be to wear this to the gym (nothing motivates me to work out more than comfy/cute gym pieces). Below is a selfie of me wearing the t-shirt this past weekend, before I left the house for a much-needed grocery run (the highlight of my week, these days!).

2. Black V-Neck Boxy Loungewear Set
I ordered this set in black (because everyone looks good in black, right?) and was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable it is. I'd also feel appropriate running to the grocery store in this or for errands on the weekend (Home Goods, how I miss you!), once the stay-at-home order is lifted here in California. This set is also available in other colors such as gray and pink. The pants are cropped slightly, so if this is something you don't like in loungewear, then skip this set. The waist band is elasticated, which I love (hello, comfort!). Another thing to note about this item is that it's somewhat shiny because it's made from polyester and elastane. Due to the nature of the fabric, this item would be best for spring or summer wear, in my opinion. It would look cute paired with a pair of comfy flats or sandals, or sneakers.

3. Khaki Loungewear Tracksuit Set
I LOVE all things khaki, so when I saw this set, I had to order it (most of my loungewear is black and boring). One thing I love is that this is a coordinated top and bottom, which I actually don't own up until now. I find that having loungewear that matches makes you look more put together, even if you are simply wear this around the house or working from home. This set comes in four additional colors and has an elasticated fitted ankle and drawstring front. The material is a stretch fit which I love because it means it won't lose its shape as you wear it (I have a pair of skinny joggers that are cotton and I find that they stretch out over the course of the day). Of all the items ordered, this was by far my favorite and the one I will be wearing the most. The set is soft and cozy and is perfect for lounging around at home year round. Below is a picture of me trying it on (I only have a full-length mirror in the guest room, which has since been turned into my gym/exercise bike room because my gym is closed).

Shipping from Femme Luxe was good despite the current situation with the quarantine. I found that the website often has online sales and promo codes that you can apply towards your entire purchase. In all, I found their pieces to be reasonably priced. If you're looking for comfortable loungewear during the quarantine and don't want to spend a fortune, I highly recommend you head over to Femme Luxe to take a look. In addition to loungewear, they also have shoes and accessories. The site also allows returns, though I haven't had the need to make any thus far. One last thing worth mentioning: I did wash all these items upon arrival and they held up very well in the wash (no shrinking, wrinkles, etc.). I simply hung everything up to dry and they were ready to wear the next day, which is great, because the last thing I want to do right now is iron. ;)

Have a wonderful week, stay safe, and happy online shopping!

Disclaimer: I received these complimentary pieces for free in return for my honest, unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Banana Bread Recipe (Because It's Quarantine)

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 14:41:00 +0000

Happy Monday! I hope that you are safe and healthy, wherever you may be.

Today, I am sharing the banana bread recipe that I have been making on repeat while I am quarantined at home. If you go on Instagram, this seems to be the obligatory thing to make during quarantine, right? I am on my third loaf (this is week 6 of quarantine), so I thought I would share this recipe not only because is it super easy to make, but it turns out delicious every time. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
1 stick butter (8 tablespoons), softened
3 ripe bananas (the riper, the better)
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Dash vanilla extract
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (or walnut pieces)

Directions
1. Spray 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan with coconut oil (or you can butter the pan).
2. Cream sugar and butter in a bowl until fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, beating well. Add a dash of vanilla extract on top of each egg before beating.
4. In another bowl, mash the bananas and add the milk and cinnamon.
5. Add the banana mash mixture to the creamed mixture and hand mix until combined.
6. Add the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt) on top of the wet ingredients and hand-mix until combined.
7. Add in chocolate chips and walnuts, and combine again by hand.
8. Pour batter into pan and bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
9. Enjoy warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Have a great week!

Friday Favorites - Christmas Gift Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 12:07:00 +0000

In honor of Christmas being only 12 days away, here are some last minute gift ideas for those who are stumped.

Gift Ideas for Home
1. A candle is always the perfect gift, especially when it's as cute as this one and can serve as a decorative statement piece.

2. Who doesn't love cheese, right? Create the ultimate charcuterie board with this beautiful cheeseboard.

3. These monogrammed coasters make a beautiful statement and are functional.

4. Make mornings fun with this chic soap dispenser (or jazz up your powder bathroom).

Gift Ideas for Her
1. This beautiful Dyptique candle set is on my wish list. :)

2. Cozy slippers are a must for winter.

3. This designer bag is perfect for springtime and is under $1,000.

4. These running shoes will be motivation to get moving.

Gift Ideas for Him
1. This gift set is perfect for home or travel.

2. These designer slides are under $250.

3. This cozy robe that's perfect for winter.

4. If he's a music lover, he will love this deluxe turntable.

Happy shopping!

Kitchen Remodel

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 14:01:00 +0000

Today's blog post features my kitchen remodel that I finished a few weeks ago. Below are the before and after pictures, as well as links to sources such as cabinet paint color, pulls, etc.

Going from brown cabinets and darker flooring to light cabinets and flooring has made a HUGE difference (it's much brighter now and the space looks a lot bigger). My cabinet guy said the style I chose has been around forever now, so I'm confident these shouldn't go out of style any time soon.

The entire process of choosing everything took quite some time, but I can now confidently say that if I ever have to remodel another kitchen, I know what pitfalls to avoid and which companies to avoid (ahem, any large chain store).

Before:

After:

Barstools available here.

Stacking jars available here.

Cabinet pulls available here.
Cabinet color: Sherwin Williams Greek Villa
Tile: Daltile Northpointe Greystone 12 in. x 24 in. porcelain floor tile
Grout: Fusion Pro in color Platinum
Sink faucet available here.

Canister jars available here.
Electric kettle available here.

Have a great day!

Friday Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 13:48:00 +0000

Man, it has been a minute! I'm back with my Friday Favorites post, which is a semi-tribute to Fall coming up since I have some pumpkin spice products listed (those who know me, know that I am team #pumpkinspiceforlife). Here are my favorites for the week:

1. My nephew was baptized last weekend and I was honored to serve as the Godmother. :) Here we are afterwards with the blessed oil still in his hair. :)

2. I recently purchased a new Nespresso machine (the VertuoLine one) because it has options to make both espresso drinks and regular coffee drinks (plus it has specialty flavors such as hazelnut and pumpkin). The limited edition Pumpkin Spice Cake flavor was released two days ago and it does not disappoint. It's delicious both cold or hot. Bonus: There are no artificial flavors or sweeteners in these, which I feel is the problem with other pumpkin drinks that make their way on the market in the Fall.

3. Speaking of overly sweet pumpkin drinks, there is one that I can recommend after trying it: the pumpkin cream cold brew coffee. It's not overly sweet and packs a good punch if you're tried and need energy.

4. I am remodeling my kitchen and floors currently so I am also shopping for new furniture to match. I recently purchased these bar stools (they're so plush and soft). I can't wait to unbox and use them once the remodeling is completed and the dust has settled (literally!).

5. My birthday month! I celebrated with lots of cake. Once of my favorite cakes was from Cold Stone (red velvet with Cake Batter ice cream and snicker toppers). Try it sometime; you won't be disappointed! :)

Have a great weekend!

Beyond Meat Beyond Burger: Worth the Hype?

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 12:19:00 +0000

Happy Monday all! I hope you all had a fabulous holiday weekend. Today, in honor of Meatless Monday, I am reviewing Beyond Meat's Beyond Burger.

Although I am a meat eater, I could easily go without meat (I joke that I'm a closet vegetarian). I decided to try the much-hyped Beyond Burger this past 4th of July to see if it truly lived up to the hype (after all, fast food chains such as Burger King have started serving meat-free alternatives similar to this burger).

After watching a YouTube video on how to best prepare the burger (make sure you heat up the pan with oil on high for 5 minutes before cooking), I took the plunge. The result? A burger that tastes very good and truly fools your taste buds. Each patty also packs 20 grams of protein, is vegan, and is soy and gluten free.

Taste: Very similar to beef.

Texture: Also similar to beef and much like a true beef patty.

Cooking ease: Very easy. Cook in a hot pan with some oil for 4 min on each side.

Price: A little bit pricier than other veggie options (I paid $5.99 for two patties; available here).

Verdict: A great alternative for days where you are craving a burger but don't want to indulge in red meat. However, it's important to note that this is high in saturated fat (6 grams per patty), so those who are meatless for heart-health reasons, beware. However, I personally would definitely buy these again.

I also purchased the Beyond Meat "Hot Italian Beyond Sausages," which I will review in another post. Stay tuned.

Bedroom Corner Makeover & DIY Metallic Chair Legs

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 13:19:00 +0000

I have finally gotten around to a little bedroom makeover that I have wanted to do for the longest time, primarily because I had no reading space in my bedroom. I sleep on an Eastern King bed, so finding something that would fit the small space was a challenge. Luckily, I was able to find a small accent chair at TJ Maxx that wasn't too large. It was small enough, in fact, that I was also able to add this charging side table to the area (bonus: it has an inner compartment to store small items AND has four charging ports total, both traditional and USB).

The chair I found at TJ Maxx had walnut colored legs, which I didn't love, but I did love the size and price (similar style linked here).

I decided to embark on a DIY project where I would spray paint the legs metallic gold to match the bench in front of my bed (it has light cream fabric and metallic gold legs). After some research, I decided on this metallic paint since it had excellent reviews, was inexpensive, and was available at my local Hobby Lobby. I also learned that you need to seal the color using this sealer; otherwise, it will transfer to your hands when handling the chair.

Step 1: Cover all exposed parts of the chair with painter's tape. I used plastic bags as well (you can also use newspaper).

Step 2: Spray one coat in a well-ventilated area, keeping a distance of 10-12 inches from the surface you are spraying. I sprayed my chair outside in the backyard. Make sure you wear a mask and gloves, and spray on a day where temps are below 80 degrees F for best results.

Step 3: Let area dry for 10-15 minutes.

Step 4: Apply a second coat of spray. The directions say you can spray a 3rd coat at any time after that to refresh if needed (I only did two coats and felt that was sufficient).

Step 5: Let dry for one hour.

Step 6: Apply this sealer (it's also available at Hobby Lobby) and let sit for 4 hours (the sealer is dry to the touch in 15 min but takes 4 hours to cure per the directions).

Step 7: Remove all painter's tape and bags, and pray that you sealed everything well (lol).

Bedroom corner before:
With a bar stool that I never used because it was too high to sit on (my bar stools came in pairs and I only needed three, so I had put the extra one in my bedroom but it was useless).

Bedroom corner after:
Small reading nook with a side table that serves as a charging station. Win win!

Have a great weekend!

Friday Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 31 May 2019 13:46:00 +0000

Happy Friday! Here are my favorites for the week:

1. Last week I posted about the Red Thai Curry from Trader Joe's. I tired their yellow curry last night and it was amazing! I served it over brown rice, with chicken and veggies. It was such an easy meal to prepare and is excellent-- it tastes like a restaurant quality dish.

2. I have an anniversary party to attend by the beach tomorrow, so I thought this dress would be perfect! It's super comfy and laid back. I'll be pairing it with nude heels.

3. I love all things clean, so when I saw this product, I was super excited and ordered it immediately. Given how much we handle our cell phones, this purchase was a no brainer. Apparently it was on Shark Tank. Such a great invention!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Friday Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 24 May 2019 13:52:00 +0000

Happy Friday! I am SO ready for a long weekend AND warmer weather (it's raining today in Cali!). Here are my favorites for the week:

1. I have a baptism next week, so I was on the hunt for the perfect spring dress. I found this one and will be pairing it with these shoes. Not only is this dress super comfy, but it's under $60. Score!

2. What would a favorites post be without some Trader Joe's? I recently tried their Thai red curry sauce with chicken and it was amazing! Serve with some veggies and rice for a complete meal.

3. The lake I leave nearby has ducks, and it's duckling season! Look how cute they are. I snapped this picture last week when talking a walk. :)

4. Have you guys tried Edible Arrangements? I received the sweetest thank you gift from a friend in the mail. I usually am more of a chocolate person, but these were dipped in lemon (and white chocolate I think?), and they were amazing!

5. I have finally found the best of both words: a primer WITH sunscreen. This stuff is incredible! I used it for the first time when I was at Disnelyland last month because it was so sunny. It kept my makeup in place all day and protected by skin from the sun. Win!

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day!

Elephant-Themed Baby Shower

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Wed, 15 May 2019 13:18:00 +0000

Today, I am sharing some pictures from a baby shower I helped organize. I was in charge of the décor, dessert, drinks, and games. I had a blast planning everything, but it was also a lot of work. I decided on elephants for the theme since it was for a boy, and choose baby blue and gold as the colors. I listed the sources below each picture not only for you readers, but for myself should I ever need to purchase these items again. :)

I made a diaper cake by purchasing a kit that came with the cardboard cutouts. I purchased the diapers and stuffed animal topper separately (I found both the topper and the diapers at Home Goods). Since the base was cardboard, I purchased a plastic cake stand from Hobby Lobby so that the cake was more sturdy. Making my own diaper cake was SO MUCH cheaper than ordering a pre-made diaper cake from places such as Etsy (the prices range from $50 to $75 for each one plus shipping!), and it was relatively easy (you just need lots of rubber bands and a good YouTube video tutorial.

Diaper cake kit (no longer available, but similar here)
Diaper cake base (used a plastic cake stand similar to this)

Favors
For the favors, I made mini honey jars. These turned out super cute and the guests loved taking one home. Since the jars are glass, they can be re-used also or repurposed for something else.

Mini honey jars (exact style unavailable; similar here)
Mini honey dippers
Tags (custom made)
3D bee stickers

Dessert
For dessert, I dipped home made rice krispie treats in white chocolate with baby blue food coloring. Each treat was embellished with sugar pieces that either looked like a baby's face or baby feet. I individually wrapped them and placed in them in a fun children's chest for display.

Blue food coloring
Individual bags
Metallic gold ribbon
Gold foil lollipop sticks
Children's dome trunk (exact style unavailable; similar here)
Elephant picture frames
It's a boy tags
Corduroy elephant (exact style unavailable; similar here)

I also ordered custom made elephant sugar cookies from Etsy. They were from this store. They arrived perfectly intact (not a single one was broken) and tasted fresh. The exact cookies I ordered were these, but I changed up the colors to match the theme.

The main focus of the desserts was the beautiful custom cake I ordered. I found a similar design online and emailed it to my cake designer. She did an AMAZING job. The cake stole the show AND tasted great too (the flavor was strawberry cream and chocolate ganache).

Table Setting
For the table setting, I chose gold chargers to go under the plates to tie in the theme colors. There were advice cards for the mom-to-be at each plate setting, along with a honey jar favor and water bottle wrapped in an elephant sleeve.

Advice card for mom-to-be
Gold charger plates (exact style unavailable; similar here)
Baby blue table cloth
White napkins
Mini plastic pacifier decoration (these were attached to the gold ribbon around the napkins)
Bottle wrappers found online
Metallic gold ribbon
It's a boy tags

Games
Celebrity Baby Name Game
Baby Bingo
Candy Guessing Game
What's in Your Purse Game
Word Scramble
The Price is Right

Food and Drink
Most the appetizers were from Trader Joe's (one of my favorite stores) and all the food was home made by my mother (she is an amazing cook!). For drinks, we served a non-alcoholic fruit punch made with fresh berries and sparkling lemonade, soda, and wine.

Blue and gold paper straws
Acrylic drink tub
Elephant picture frame
Bottle wrappers found online

Thanks for stopping by!

Favorite Trader Joe's Items

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 14:34:00 +0000

One store I visit weekly is Trader Joe's. It's one of those stores I love going to because they constantly have new items that I didn't know I needed (or wanted) until I get to the store. I rarely stick to the items on my list when I shop there because everything looks so great. So for today's post, I thought I would share what some of my favorite Trader Joe's items are (note: some are seasonal).

1. Cauliflower pizza crust. I did a review of this item on my blog, which you can find here.

2. Soyaki. I love using this as a marinade for meats, or stir-frying veggies with it.

3. Cold Brew. Trader Joe's has several different types of cold brews that I have tried. The best one, in my opinion, is the Dark French Roast. I have it by adding a ratio of 1 part cold brew to 3 parts skim milk. There's also a cold brew kit where you can brew your own cold brew at home using coffee bags that is pretty good.

4. Dark Chocolate Mini Heart Cookies. These were a seasonal item for Valentine's Day and I'm so bummed they no longer carry them. They. are. amazing.

5. Hot Cocoa Dunkers. This was a limited edition item for summer and fall. I was SO SAD when I found out it was no longer available. Fingers crossed they have this next year.

6. Ezekiel bread. I love the cinnamon raisin flavor which is delicious made as French Toast.

7. Secco. These (alcoholic) drinks are great for summer because they are light and fruity. Just chill lightly and serve! My favorite flavors are peach and mango.

8. Sriracha Ranch Dressing. I love all things Sriracha and this dressing is great on a southwestern style salad.

9. Recipe #99 Traditional Marinara Sauce. This is hands down my favorite marinara sauce. I use it for bolognaise, pastas, and my cauliflower pizza.

10. Thai-style Carrot and Sweet Potato soup. This is my favorite soup there. It's healthy and has so much flavor!

11. All things pumpkin! Yes, I'm one of those crazy pumpkin people when Fall rolls around. My favorite pumpkin items from Trader Joe's are the pumpkin biscotti (excellent with cold brew), pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin pancakes, and pumpkin cookie butter.

I would love to know what some of your favorite Trader Joe's items are. Please comment below to share the yummy goodness that is all things Trader Joe's. :)

Montreal Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 14:33:00 +0000

I was recently in Montréal, Quebec, Canada, and had THE best time, so I thought I would share some pictures, restaurant recommendations, and tips on things to do.

Things to Do
1. Walking tour of Old Montréal (East & West areas). We did this and seriously had the best time. The walking tour is 4 hours long, plus a 1 hour break after 2 hours where you can break off from the group to get lunch. We booked the walking tour through TripAdvisor and it was excellent! The tour guide was highly knowledgeable and let us know that tour guides are required to take a 2 year course in order to become an official guide. During their coursework, they learn about the history of Montreal, it's architecture, etc. You can find more information about the tour here. Here are some sights we saw during our tour:

The tour started near Notre Dame Basilica.

This Church burned down and the only piece left standing was the Virgin Mary statue.

City Hall

The most expensive hotel in Montreal. Celine Dion has stayed at the penthouse.

This historic bank building was converted into a café.

A piece of the Berlin wall that was brought over from Germany.

Old and new architecture collide.

The oldest hospital in Montreal.

2. Aura at Notre Dame Basilica. I was blown away by this performance. It's a light show with music inside the Basilica at night. It. Was. Amazing. It's a must see if you are in Montréal. For information or tickets, click here. We weren't allowed to take pictures during the show, but I did capture some images of the basilica prior. Fun fact: Celine Dion was married at the basilica.

3. Touring the Montreal Botanical Gardens. Although we didn't have that much time to spend here, it was still amazing. The best time to go is probably spring (we were there in October and didn't see too many blooming flowers), we were still able to see a lot of the Asian gardens which were beautiful.

4. Olympic Park (Parc Olympique). Did you know Montreal hosted the summer Olympics in 1976? What's interesting is the Montreal Tower of the stadium was not finished being constructed in time for the games. It was actually completed after. Pretty interesting.

5. The Underground City. Did you know there is a 26-mile underground city in Montréal? I was blown away by this fact. It's built so that in Winter when it's below zero and freezing, life can go on for the citizens. You can access the underground city from various subway points throughout the city.

Places to Eat
1. Montreal Poutine
Poutine is a specialty in Montréal, so we knew we had to try it. It's essentially French fries with cheese curds and gravy (that's the original recipe-- you can also order it with different meats). We stuck with the original one and it was SO GOOD! We had at Montreal Poutine, which is one of the highest rated places for poutine.

2. Le Robin Square
This little gem had THE BEST truffle mac and cheese with brisket. Their entire menu looked amazing, so I highly recommend it.

3. Universel
I was craving French onion soup, and this place did not disappoint. It's a café that offers a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, and soups, and is in the heart of downtown.

4. La Finca Cafe
I am obsessed with good coffee, so I knew I had to try this place after the hotel concierge recommended it. I had their cold brew which came with coffee ice cubes. They also serve simply yet delicious sandwiches and pastries.

5. L'Entrecote Saint Jean
Steak frites is another French specialty that you have to try when you're in Montreal. We darted into the restaurant because it was snowing outside and we were hungry. It was such a good find! They have a very limited menu of Steak Frites and a few other items, and that's it, since that's what they specialize in.

6. Delices Erable & Cie
This place is not a restaurant, but more of a café/gift shop to pick up specialty items from Montreal, such as maple syrup, honey, chocolates, candies, etc. I tried the maple latte there and it was AMAZING! The maple syrup from Canada is very pure and isn't overly sweet like the syrup you find in the states that have ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup added. I also did some damage at this store and brought home honey and maple syrup for fiends and family. If you're looking for a good souvenir shop, this is it!

7. Maison Christian Faure Patisserie
This patisserie was recommended by our tour guide, so of course we went there. This place has amazing handmade pastries, macaroons, cakes, etc. I was in dessert heaven! This place is a bit pricy, but I highly recommend it. It's also another place where you can pick up some gifts (I bought some specialty tea from here).

Where to Stay
We stayed at the Courtyard Marriot Montreal Downtown and it was the perfect location! Plus, the room they gave me had the most amazing view and lots of windows. The hotel itself is walking distance to the old city and is close to many shops and restaurants. Montreal is also a very safe city so we felt fine walking around at night.

Hearty Chicken Vegetable Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 14:49:00 +0000

Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend.

It's been so cold and rainy in Los Angeles that I find myself eating a lot of soup lately. I've made this healthy chicken veggie soup several times and it's been excellent, so I thought I would share the recipe.

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients
-1.5 Tbsp olive oil or canola oil
-1 large onion (chopped)
-1 large celery stalk (chopped)
-5 large carrots (chopped)
-1 packaged chopped mushrooms (rinsed)
-10 cloves of garlic (minced)
-1 thumb-size amount of fresh ginger (finely chopped)
-64 oz. of low sodium chicken stock
-4 bay leaves
-1 tsp turmeric
-1.5 tsp crushed red pepper
-15 oz. can of low sodium chickpeas (drained)
-handful of baby kale
-1.5 tsp coarse sea salt
-4 cups of cubed chicken breast

Directions
1. In a large stovetop pot, add oil and sauté the onions, carrots, and celery for about 5 minutes on medium heat.

2. Add mushrooms, garlic, and ginger, and cook until fragrant (about 5 minutes).

3. Add chicken stock, bay leaves, turmeric, crushed red pepper, salt, and chickpeas. Bring to a boil.

4. Once soup boils, turn down, and add chicken and baby kale.
5. Simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Enjoy!

Variations
I like my soup spicy, so I add 4 tsp of crushed red pepper instead of 1.5, but I would recommend starting with 1.5 and then adjusting as needed. I also often add some frozen chopped veggies as well (I like the frozen peas, carrots and corn combo I find at Trader Joe's).

Bon appetit!

Friday Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:21:00 +0000

Good morning and Happy Friday! Here are my favorites for the week:

1. My new blog design! I started my blog in late 2006 (so crazy!) and then updated to the pink design shown below in 2009. But over the years, I started wanting a lighter, cleaner design, and I finally settled on this one. What do you guys think? For those interested, I used this site to choose my new blog design and it was relatively easy and straightforward to do.

RIP old design! You will be missed.

2. These fabulous sunglasses that Megan Markle wore to her baby shower last week. And they're under $100! I promptly ordered because I loved the shape and how affordable they were.

3. Spring is in the air! It's been unusually cold and rainy in Los Angeles, but the forecast promises sun next week, so I feel like Spring is slowly starting. I also love all things Pottery Barn, so I was excited to receive their Spring catalog this week.

4. I finally found a new iPhone case for my XS Max. Isn't this one so fitting? As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the perfect one for me. ;)

Have a great weekend! I will be spending it Spring cleaning my house and purging my closet (I will list items on my Poshmark closet, which you can find here if you're interested). For those who haven't tried Poshmark or don't use it, I highly recommend-- it's such an easy way to sell new or gently used items. :)

Favorite Reads

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:25:00 +0000

Today I am linking up with Shay to share my favorite reads.

1. My all-time favorite book (or series, I should say) is Harry Potter. I've read these books numerous times. For Christmas this year, my brother gifted me with the best gift EVER-- the illustrated set that has the first four books. I spent my Christmas vacation re-reading the books.

2. The Neapolitan novels by Elena Ferrante. These books are excellent and I believe HBO came out with a mini-series on the books soon after (though I have not yet seen it). The novels take place in Italy and follow the story of two childhood friends as they navigate life together.

3. When I was younger, I loved the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. They are so entertaining to read. Those books probably started by obsession about Greece (on my list of places to visit).

4. This next one is a little bit unconventional, but I LOVE the books that Sara Anderson has. They are hilarious and feature real-life scenarios in a laughable context.

5. The Ya-Ya Sisterhood series. This is another one of my favorites that I love re-reading.

And for magazines, here are my favorites:

1. InStyle. I love love LOVE this magazine...it has beautiful pictures and also looks nice on my coffee table.

2. Better Homes & Gardens. This is an annual birthday present from my uncle and I love trying the recipes in there.

3. Vogue. This one is a must have. Enough said. :)

Have a great day!

Friday Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 14:09:00 +0000

Hello all! This is my first blog post of 2019 and I'm kicking it off with my favorites for the week.

1. My adorable nephew makes the top of the list for 2019. How adorable is he? He's the first grandbaby in the family so everyone is super excited to spoil him, including me! Nothing like a chunky, squishy baby to make every day better. :) This picture was taken in the hospital when he was just three days old.

2. This overnight lip mask. I am the queen of perpetually dry lips (I think it's genetic) and this little jar is AMAZING! I put it on religiously every night and wake up with the smoothest, softest lips. I don't even need chap stick throughout the day anymore. This will be a staple in my medicine cabinet for years to come.

3. Soup soup soup! It has been unusually cold and rainy in southern California these past few weeks so I've been on a soup kick. My current favorite to make: spicy chicken soup with fresh ginger and baby kale. So good and so healthy.

4. My favorite winter scent to wear...it smells like yummy vanilla mixed with bourbon. For those of you who love Flowerbomb, this scent is very similar but a little bit richer because of the bourbon notes...it smells a little bit more sophisticated.

5. It might be cold and rainy out, but I will always drink cold brew regardless. This new one I tried from Trader Joe's was pretty good! I like mine half cold brew and half 2% milk. Yum!

Have a great weekend!

Friday Favorites: Perfume Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 13:37:00 +0000

For this week's Friday Favorites, I thought I would mix things up a bit and share my favorite scents! I did a similar post on my favorite scents almost two years ago, and it's interesting to see how tastes in scents change over time. Only one perfume that I mentioned in my past post is still in my collection (which means it's a good one, right?).

Here are the scents that are currently on my dresser.

1. First up is the one perfume that I'm still a fan of from a few years ago: Alien by Mugler. This is the one perfume I wear where I always get asked what I'm wearing. I find it's more of a summer scent and smells best when paired with the body lotion, which has some shimmer in it. I don't know how to describe this scent other than that it's unique and I never get sick of it.

2. The newest scent in my collection is by Diptyque and is called Philosykos. For those unfamiliar with the brand, it's a French luxury perfumer that was founded in 1961. They are also known for their candles. While this brand is more on the pricey side, I find their scents are unique and their bottles look like beautiful works of art (the backside of each bottle has a painting). Philosykos is a wonderful scent for summer and smells fresh and fruity. I always pair my perfumes with their matching body lotions, so I was disappointed to learn this scent did not have a body lotion. I ended up finding one (by accident, mind you) when I was staying at a Kimpton hotel in San Francisco. Their kadota fig body lotion by Atelier Bloem smells EXACTLY like the scent, so I ended up purchasing it online (unfortunately, it's also rather pricey).

3. The next perfume I love is also by Diptyque and is called Eau Duelle. I received this as a gift for Christmas and it's definitely a winter scent. The best way to describe this is that it's sweet with a spicy kick (it has notes of bourbon in it). I pair this with my Flower Bomb body lotion and find that it works well because it's quite a similar scent.

4. If you want a true summer scent, this next one is for you: Tom Ford's Soleil Blanc. This smells like summer vacation in a bottle. It has hints of coconut but doesn't make you feel like you're doused in Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen. It's a sophisticated scent that's perfect for summer. The body oil that comes with it is super runny, though, so you have to be careful when applying it from the bottle. This again is on the pricier side, but if you're just using it in the summer, it should last year more than one summer.

5. And finally, I jumped on the Jo Malone bandwagon! Although I feel they are more known for their candles, I have found their colognes are just as good (they are a unisex brand). I had heard about this British brand years ago but had never tried it until I got a sample from Nordstrom. I've tried several of their scents since then, and the Basil and Neroli is by far my favorite. It reminds me of a Spring day: fresh and clean. I also bought the matching body cream which is thick yet absorbent.

That rounds up my favorite current scents. Please comment below and share if you have any favorite scents. I'd love to hear what you wear. :) Thanks for stopping by!

Brew Review: Nespresso Hawaii Kona Special Reserve & Nespresso On Ice

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 13:48:00 +0000

Good morning coffee lovers! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Today I will be reviewing three limited edition coffees from Nespresso.

I have had my Nespresso coffee maker for about two years now and I am still happy with it. I especially like that Nespresso releases limited edition coffees throughout the year. This summer, just like last year, they released two limited edition flavors meant to be consumed iced, as well as their Hawaii Kona special reserve. While the iced coffee capsules are available to order online, the Hawaii Kona special reserve is only available at a Nespresso boutique, which I found a little disappointing. There aren't too many boutiques in the L.A. area and driving in L.A. traffic is never fun. Nonetheless, I trekked over to the closest boutique this past weekend and picked up both the iced coffee capsules and the Hawaii Kona special reserve.

First up is the Hawaii Kona special reserve. Now let me preface this by saying, I have no issue paying a little more for good coffee. But I couldn't believe the price on this. When the cashier rang me up, I thought he had made a mistake and overcharged me. Capsules come in sleeves of 10 and are normally around $8-$10 per sleeve. The Kona special reserve was double! It is $2 per capsule so the sleeve came to $20. Yikes. In terms of taste, it's very rich (it reminded me a bit of Turkish coffee), but I wasn't blown away by it. For the price, I was expecting rainbows and unicorns to appear. Verdict: Pass.

Next up is the first of the two iced coffees:

Ispirazione Shakerato: This was my favorite of the three flavors I purchased. You make it over ice, shake it, and serve it. I added a little bit of raw brown sugar and cream to mine, and it was prefect. It didn't taste watered down and had a strong coffee flavor, which I love. Verdict: Purchase!

The second iced coffee was also good, but wasn't as strong (it's a lot more subtle). It's the Ispirazione Salentina and Nespresso recommends having it with almond milk. I'm allergic to almonds so that was a no-go for me. I had it with coconut milk instead and added a little bit of raw brown sugar. For those who don't like a strong coffee flavor, this one is for you. I, however, wasn't blown away by it. Verdict: Pass.

That concludes my review for the week. Next week, I will be reviewing Trader Joe's 100% Arabica Coffee Cold Brew Coffee Bags, so come back for that. :)

Have a great day!

Friday Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 13:20:00 +0000

Happy Friday! Here are my favorites for the week:

1. I've heard a lot of Jo Malone but had never purchased any of their items (they are know for their unisex colognes and candles in particular). I received a sample of one of their fragrances in the mail and loved it so much that I purchased this cologne (it smells super fresh) and the matching body cream.

2. I have dark under-eye circles no matter how much sleep I get or how much water I drink (thank you genetics), so I try my best to cover them up with a really good concealer. My go-to is usually this one, but I recently discovered this one that not only conceals, but also brightens. I find that a lot of times with certain concealers, they do conceal, but then leaves a dark shadow also. With this one, you can tell a difference because it also brightens. Win win! :) I also like to wear it on days when I have no foundation on to brighten up the under-eye area.

3. As you already know, Home Goods is one of my favorite stores. I picked up this enormous candle by DW Home last week that should last me through the rest of the summer. It smells like a day at the beach (the scent is blue marine).

4. My new Erin Condren planner arrived! I didn't order one at the beginning of the year so come June, I decided to order one for July 2018 to December 2019. This time I went for the rose gold binding. Isn't it pretty? You can customize the cover to add your name (I blocked out my last name in the picture for privacy reasons) or anything else you want (e.g. a quote, a date, etc.). For those who love all things organized like I do, her planners are a must! She also offers a lot of accessories that can help you with planning different things.

Have a great weekend!

Friday Favorites - Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 12:18:00 +0000

Today's Friday favorites features my picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, which is open for early access to cardholders from July 12th to the 19th. After that, it will open to the general public on July 20th until August 5th. Here are my favorite items from the sale that I picked up:

1. This adorable Free People top.

2. This GloPro set. I have heard such good things about it and am excited to try it. I'll do a review of what I think once I've used it for a while.

3. My favorite shampoo and conditioner is also on sale. This is second year it's been on sale so I always stock up on it.

4. This cute top that can be worn to work or casually. I love the length and pattern.

5. And because I love lounging around in sweats and a comfy top around the house, I ordered these bottoms and this top.

Have a great weekend!

Friday Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Jasmin) — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 13:29:00 +0000

Man, it has been a minute! I find that when life gets busy, the blog is the first thing that suffers. Sad right? I'm back with my favorites for the week.

1. You know all the hype around the cronut when it first debuted? It's warranted. I was a skeptic until I tried one recently, and it was a raspberry flavored, which I normally hate. But this was delicious! More cronuts please! Those in the Los Angeles area can visit Dominique Ansel's bakery here which sells cronuts (among other delicious treats).

2. I was flying Delta a few months ago and the snacks they give out are from Nature Box. My snack came with a coupon for a promotion, so I used it to try some Nature Box products. Of the ones that came, my favorites were the Chocolate Nom Noms and the Sourdough Cheddar Pretzels.

3. JW Marriot Dessert Springs. I miss this resort, the views, and their buffet brunch by the pool. It's the perfect place to visit if you just want to chill and vege by the pool.

4. This adorable dress I bought for an upcoming wedding. Cute no?

Have a great weekend!