May Favorites

What I have been wearing, eating, doing, using, seeing, listening to, and loving! Light/glowy makeup, Tru Fru, elevated basics, my lovely friends, to name a few

May flew by so quickly! It felt like I had just finished writing my April Favorites. May was a month of spending quality time with friends and also focusing time on myself. It was also a month of shedding unnecessary weight of me, both physically (wearing lighter clothing/makeup) and mentally.

1. Wearing

• With the weather getting hotter, I find myself reaching for more basics in my closet. In particular white tees/tanks. I used to a hater of white tees/tanks because I thought they were "basic". I mean they are basic but in the summer, I just can't be bothered to wearing anything else sometimes. Plus, they're super versatile and pair nicely with my many printed skirts. These are the three white tees/tanks that I have been wearing a lot:

  • Donni rib tank - love that it’s a thick material and very form fitting/flattering

  • Dion Lee corset tank top - got this one from their sample sale! I like this one because it's a bit more elevated with the corset and metal detailing

  • Lisa says gah clam tee - obsessed with this clam design, perfect for the summertime and love the fit of this baby-tee

• After not getting the Sandy Liang Salomons (I'm still very sad and salty about it), I decided to get these Asics Gel Kayano 14 since I needed a new pair of sneakers anyways. These are my first pair of Asics and they are so so comfortable. I've been wearing them to work out in and also for fashion purposes (styled with a long skirt of course). I even wore them to a DJ show one night haha. Definitely a smart purchase; I am already thinking of all the other colors/designs I want them in.

2. Eats

• I've been wanting to visit Tonchin Brooklyn and I finally did this month. Tonchin serves Japanese classics with a modern twist. The menu is very raw/seafood forward with oysters, beef carpaccio, and tuna tartare as just some of their appetizers. We also got the dipping ramen which was really good; the noodles were the perfect chewy texture. We ended the meal with their gigantic mango shaved ice that was super refreshing and not too sweet! (the ultimate asian compliment) I definitely want to go back and try their other items.

• Introducing my new fav alcoholic drink (that I am drinking right now as I write this): Makku, a modern korean rice beer. I discovered this brand when attending an AAPIHM Food Festival hosted by Lunar (another asian alcohol brand that I love!). Makku tastes light and smooth, with a hint of creaminess . The mango flavor is my favorite, maybe because it reminds me of Calpico haha.

• Influenced by TikTok again, I've been addicted to Tru Fru, in particular the dark chocolate covered raspberries. The chocolate is not too sweet and pairs perfectly with the tart raspberry. I've also tried the milk chocolate strawberry but the chocolate was too sweet for my taste.

3. Beauty/Skincare

• Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Lip Gloss: I really do not need more lip products but this one was too good to pass up. It has great color/pigment and makes my lips look so juicy, while still being lightweight.

• Saie Glowy Super Skin Lightweight Hydrobounce Serum Foundation: I've been wanting a lighter foundation for the summer and this one is perfect. It really does make your skin look super glowy and dewy, but still provides a decent amount of coverage. I was afraid since it was a lighter formula, it would not cover up my acne spots but it does!

• Cocokind Rosewater Facial Toner: Such a light and refreshing toner for the hot summer months.

4. Hobbies

• Going strong with my reading goal. This month I read Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou. I actually finished it in one sitting while I was stuck in bed with cramps. This book was insanely funny and ridiculous. It touches upon a lot of tropes regarding asian american identity, the white bf/asian gf dynamic, model minority myth, being "woke", etc. It was at times a bit cringy but I think it was purposefully written that way, to get the point across of how ridiculous things get in this specific reality. If you are looking for a quick and entertaining read, I'd recommend this one.

• Am I becoming a fitness girlie? Hard maybe. I started going to the gym in my building regularly this month and sad to report, working out does make you feel good lol. Not necessarily sad but as a lazy girl, I go through periods where I just can't get myself to work out. But what all the fitness influencers say is true; you really do get a hit of dopamine from it. I also bought myself new workout clothes and sneakers, so I guess that also adds to the happiness I feel when I work out now haha. Will report back next month if I keep it up.

• Closing out this section with some film photos of my friends. From friend reunions, to park picnics, to birthday celebrations, this month was super social and I loved it!

5. NYC Spots

• A new cocktail bar opened in my neighborhood and my friend and I are their biggest fans. 929 Bar is a record cocktail bar that plays canto/mando pop music. When you walk in, you are immediately transported into a hong-kong retro movie. All of their drinks are inspired by Chinese ingredients and very unique.

• I usually don’t venture out to the UWS but did so one Sunday to visit the Grand Bazaar, a huge flea market with everything from local foods, vintage clothing, vintage homeware, and anything else you can think of. It was fun spending the day visiting all the stalls and finding some gems. I walked away happy with a vintage dress, an art print for my apartment, and a locally-made perfume.

6. Music

• I've been listening to pretty much the same music as last month to be honest. Only one new artist to add for this month: Sarah Kinsley. Her music makes me feel like wearing a long flowy dress and twirling around in my apartment. Her voice and style of music also reminds me a bit of Fleetwood Mac which is always a good thing. Her new single, Lovegod, in particular has been on repeat.