This year let’s live to our hearts deserve. Find solace in our own strengths. Conquer our demons. Let’s grow into the Queens that were meant to reign and not be controlled. I pray this prayer to every one of you who reads this.
May you kick butt in 2019.
It’s that time of year! Pucker up those lips cause Mistletoes will be hanging! I spent all last week tooting the new MoodMatch X NINA Mua collection liquid mattes. I am in LOVE with every one of these delicious colors that I HAD TO SHARE! Here are some reasons why I love this collection.
Creamy Lip Matte with full luscious color
No Residue
No Drying
Long Lasting Coverage
No Smear – Drink Egg Nog and still have that lipstick on to his kiss crush with no worry!
They also make great stocking stuffers and gifts for the new year! Be sure to check out my Instagram for this week’s theme of my top stocking stuffers!
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“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”― Mark Twain
Having lived my whole life in New York City, I’ve become a bit judgemental when going to another metropolis. Any big city must meet my standards of what I’ve experienced before. Please don’t think of it as pretentious, but with only NYC as a standard, I have expectations of any other city I visit. When I visited Hong Kong for the first time, I never really ‘experienced’ it. So I decided to go again and take the time to truly embrace this incredible city. I picked a couple of landmarks to visit and took my camera to find these treasures.
The result was an experience I could never have imagined in my life. Below are shots I took at famous places in Hong Kong but what makes them truly famous are their location and how to get there. Most are hidden in estates or up mountains, The journey to those locations are what make these photos priceless. You may look at these photos and see how visually pleasing they are, but to me, they are sweat, tears, and hours of trekking alone in a different country for just the right shot. Upon gazing at my destination, a sudden flush of Fuego erupted in me. A sense of accomplishment. A sense of gratefulness. A sense of purpose.
Hong Kong exceeded all my standards and expectations of a city. Below are 5 reasons why you need to explore Hong Kong.
#1 Art Is Everywhere
#2 Many Ways to Explore
#3 An Ambiance Unlike Any Other City
The Jervois
I specifically picked this hotel in Hong Kong because I wanted to take pictures in the floor to ceiling window rooms. To my surprise, the higher rooms with better views were unavailable. Nonetheless, the hotel is incredibly beautifully decorated with a gorgeous modern design that makes this small hotel room look as if it’s massive. The two room apartment comes with a full kitchen, living room, bedroom, and shower. The shower itself is embedded into the ceiling that makes it seem like the water is rainwater. In person, the apartment is quite small costing about $350 a night. However, it is a must at least for 2 nights while you stay in Hong Kong.
It truly felt enchanting to be in such a modern place with a neighborhood having a simplistic appeal. Most dive bars and restaurants barely fit 25 people, but the charm of this area was wonderfully delightful. Neon lights in tight spaces with so much commotion, art, and beauty do something to the mind. It truly unlocks it.
Check out this list that I used to see the top 30 most Instagram places to visit in Hong Kong, China.
#4 Modern Meets Traditional
#5 You May FInd Yourself Here
I left Hong Kong with a new perspective not only on what beauty is but what traveling to explore said world’s beauties can feel like when you find them.
MORE ON THE GRAM
Follow me on Instagram and check out my most favorite photos from my trip posted on the gram.
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain
Stop for a second and just take a moment to ask yourself this question, ” If you could go anywhere in the world, somewhere, anywhere, all expenses paid, no limit. Where would you go? What would you like to do?” Have you ever looked at a map and thought, ” What’s it like to live on the other side of the street? State? Country? World?”
There are two things that I crave when I travel the world: one is to see beauty, the second to taste. These experiences are ones that are enveloped in emotions, moments, friends, and families that create memories we die cherishing. I want to cherish all that this world has to offer. Visit the wonders of our beautiful planet and the miracles that come from the people that live there.
Let me introduce to you the most tourist spot in Guangzhou unknown to the world. This paradise is a sharp contrast to the busy streets of China with foliage, French architecture and colonial ambiance. It’s a must-see for the world travel.
White Swan Hotel – Shamian Island, Guangzhou
The beautiful and unique sandbank of Shamian Island in the Liwan District of Guangzhou, Guangdong province China was divided into two concessions given to the French and British in the 19th century. An important port for Guangzhou for foreign trade, Shamian Island became a strategic point of business and defense.
Now the stone mansions that once housed the first trading companies from Britain, the United States, France, Holland, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Japan have been maintained along the waterfront. White Swan Hotel is located at the edge of Shamian Island right along the infamous Pearl River.
This post contains affiliate link(s).See disclosure here. An affiliate link means I may earn advertising/referral fees if you make a purchae through my link, without any extra cost to you. It helps keeps this little blog of mine afloat. Thanks for the support!)
During the first leg of my trip to China, I hit Guangzhou staying at the White Swan Hotel on Shimian Island. Previously controlled by the French, the Island is true to the French architectural nature that resembles streets of Paris. Resonating with the French feel, I decided to pamper myself with the new Aveeno Positively Radiant collection to make my stay luxurious.
Included in the collection is:
Positively Radiant Exfoliating Body Wash
Positively Radiant Body Lotion
Positively Radiant Targeted Tone Corrector
…all delightfully amazing on the skin.
Each product provides a nourishing set of benefits to the skin that can instantly transform dry dull skin to be radiant and hydrating. The lotion offers 24-hours of moisturization for softer and smoother skin. The body wash leaves the skin healthy, smoother and smoother thanks to the scrub beads in the wash. The targeted dark spot corrector improves the look of dark spots and discoloration for uneven skin in as little as one week!
Picture Worth a Thousand Words
Now I am still using the dark spot corrector for my troublesome stretch marks and will report back on them. However, I can say that the body wash and lotion are incredible! My partner suffers from severe dry skin and yet because of psoriasis normal lotions don’t work. Super sensitive lotions are required to calm the skin and nourish the cells. Thankfully Aveeno’s products are chock full of Soy and active natural ingredients, the body wash and lotion is safe for the hypoallergenic dry skin!
It’s safe to say that my skin is grateful to have Aveeno on this trip! Most hotels body wash and lotion are actually hydration stripping. So being able to bring this with me while traveling Asia was AMAZING!
TL;DR
Go give it a try, you may discover Aveeno’s new radiant collection to be just the thing you need for your home or travel! I know it helped on my trip to absolutely give me the ‘spa resort’ feeling I needed away from home!
How Important is Daily Lotion?
So Aveeno’s daily moisturizer is clinically proven to even tone and texture in just 4 weeks to reveal naturally radiant skin. With Total Soy Complex and natural light diffusers, it helps improve the look of brown spots, leaving your skin looking luminous. It’s oil-free, hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic, but why does that matter? Why is lotion so important for the body?
The most important times to use moisturizer are after a bath, shave or exfoliation. For some, this might be twice a day. Moisturizing after a shower is very important because hot water strips all the moisture and oils out of your skin, leaving it parched and dry. While hot water may be relaxing, it also wreaks havoc on your skin. Never skip the moisturizer.
-The University of Tennessee Medical Center
If you have never used lotion before, you may not know that it can help combat acne. The skin on your face, ears, neck and chest are very sensitive to environmental changes and are the most frequent areas of the body known to develop skin cancer. These areas of skin also shed cells more rapidly than other parts of the body and therefore need moisture to repair itself, which allows for younger skin cells to rise to the surface. Moisturizing every day can reduce the chance of developing extreme dryness or oiliness. Both extremes are harmful to the skin and cause common skin conditions like acne.
If you do suffer from acne and these tips do not help, do see a dermatologist as it can be a more serious form of skin abnormality that needs medical treatment.
Aveeno + White Swan Hotel
My trip is this hotel was indeed complete thanks to Aveeno for giving me this collection to use on my journey. A special thank you to the team from Asia!
Sure, my trip may have been just as nice without Aveeno but it did give me the exceptional luxurious spa treatment I so desperately needed in the hot and humid city of Guangzhou.
Though this post is about Aveeno, be sure to check out my upcoming posts about my trip to Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Tokyo! I explore the most Instagramable places for you to check out!
Let me know your comments on Aveeno below in the comments!
Travel To Asia
Guangzhou Chapter
If you want to learn more about Narz, head over to the about me tab. Follow on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to keep updated on recent travel vlogs.
I am partnering with CAPCOM to give away two tickets to their Capcom Live show, coming to NYC for the first time on 9/29 at Gramercy Theatre! It’s the official Capcom concert, featuring a live rock band and orchestra performing the soundtracks from all the biggest Capcom games including Street Fighter, Mega Man, Resident Evil, Okami, Ace Attorney, Monster Hunter, and many more with a giant screen and light show. To enter the giveaway, click the link below! Giveaway ends Friday, Sept 21st. Tickets available at http://www.capcomlive.com
Black Silt, not being the most attractive of words, has its fair share of benefits in skin care. It’s fine black clay like features are grounded particles chock full of rich humic acids and other bioactive compounds. Having existed for thousands of years, Egyptians used to harvest silt from the Nile River banks for crops because of its rich nutrients. Glaciers and winds would transport rock fragments into rivers that had been grinding over time to create finer particles into powdery, smaller than individual grains of sand yet larger than clay particles. Being at just about less than .002 inch across, the Silt settles in still water providing a fertile growing medium containing mineral intrinsic to its structure that enhances water retention and air circulation.
So, you may be wondering, why would I spread black soil-like substance used for farming over my face instead of charcoal, mud, or clay? According to Reader’s Digest, the top 10 skincare products to use for the fall include Black Silt because its unique molecular composition of magnesium, calcium, potassium, strontium, boron, and iron pulls out toxins and impurities while nourishing the skin with rich nutrients and minerals.
Nordic black silt, found in this product, helps promote cell oxygenation, firmness, and uniformity to the skin with regular use thanks to its unique mineral composition that provides nourishment and hydration. What makes this product a bit better than the rest is its unique addition of Squalene. Now if you don’t know anything about it, read this article I wrote on the benefits of Squalene.Personally, I have never heard of it before until I visit a skincare shop about 6 months ago with a girlfriend. Created from renewable sugarcane, it’s biology’s best-kept secret to moisturizing your skin. Hydrating and locking essentials oils leaving your skin soft, supple, and smooth it has been reported to help reduce redness and irritation. It has also been clinically proven to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while providing radiant glowy skin!
Now even though we may not have known about this ingredient for a while, our skin has. The human body produces its own version of Squalene, however, the amount created and retained decreases as we age. Squalene is our skins own natural moisturizer, but it can also be found in many different plants and shark liver. In Volition Beauty’ Detoxifying Silt Gelée Mask, the Squalene ingredient is a plant-derived component making it completely vegan, gluten-free, hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, and noncomedogenic stamped ‘Clean’ by Sephora!
The next reason why this mask is a must-have for fall is the addition of Jojoba (ho-ho-ba) Oil. Produce from the seed of the Jojoba plant, really is more a wax but referred to as an oil, the molecular structure of Jojoba oil is very similar to natural oils found in our skin. This means that not only will it moisturize our skin, but our skin will absorb it much faster than any other oils. Jojoba is chock full of nutrients and antioxidants that help tame inflammation, control acne breakouts, soother sunburn and reduces fine lines. One last kicker to Jojoba Oil, is its anti-microbial components for skincare helping prevent the growth of bacteria on the skin. This makes it a must-have property for anyone who suffers from acne prone skin as it provides wound-healing benefits for sensitive skin.
Lastly, the mask also includes Quinoa Protein and Shea Butter which hold powerful properties for eating and skincare. The ancient grain is considered the OG superfood, mostly found in your salad bowl now, can have even more benefits to your hair and skin!
So, what’s the power of Quinoa? It’s quite simple. Quinoa proteins add strength and protection because of it’s strengthening and moisturizing due to the amino acids content. Amino acids are practically the building blocks of cells so it’s no wonder its a powerful ingredient in our skincare! Hello, Skincare supplement! The grains in Quinoa have the highest concentration of protein more than any other grain on our planet. It’s essential amino acids are some that our bodies cannot make on its own. In our day to day lives, we are subject to wind and sunlight that damages the outer layer of our skin—the amino acids found in quinoa match the natural keratin in our skin and fill the gaps to repair of skincare damage. Did I mention Quinoa is also an antioxidant?
So how much will this wonder of a product cost with its incredibly complex package of hydration, amino acids, and deep-sea minerals? For a size of 60ml / 2 oz, you will find yourself at $60 for this uniquely formulated mask with sponge included. Considering this product was created by the world-renowned Takako Mohri McGowan, Volition Beauty’s Detoxifying Silt Gelée Mask Innovator and President of TAKA USA it is safe to say Takako knowns what she’s doing! Responsible for the stabilization of Aloe Vera for ingestible and cosmetic use (Thanks for the Bubble Tea!), Takako has handled the formulation and production of hundreds of personal care products that are on the cutting edge of innovation in Asia.
If you are still skeptical about the benefits of Detoxifying Silt Gelée Mask, learn more about the science behind the new wave of Black Silt in your skincare!
And if you liked this post, please pin, flip, tweet or share on Facebook – I’d really appreciate it!
Please join me at my panel at #PAXWest 2018 – “Latinx in Games: We Are Here and You Belong Here Too” occuring Saturdaying September 1st at 3:30-4:30pm in the Cat Theater. Incredibly honored and extremely excited to be fostering a community for Latinx from every part of the world.
The Latinx community is filled with a strong, vibrant, and colorful culture that is reflected by the diversity of our roles spread all over the gaming industry. We’re fostering a community where Latinx can meet, exchange ideas, and grow.
You don’t have to be fully fluent in Spanish or raised completely Hispanic to be included here. We want to share our cultures, our struggles, and our triumphs with the entire Latinx community and our allies, in the hope that we inspire our next generation of developers.
Honored to be joined by:
(Be sure to follow them on social!)
Juan Vaca [Narrative Designer, Endless Entertainment]
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently added a new “Gaming Disorder” diagnosis, described as a pathological addiction to video games. Breaking things down and offering an alternative perspective, is Psychology and Data Analytics expert in eSports and video games, as well as the founder of GirlGamerVogue.com, Narz.
In this exclusive podcast interview led by GGT Founder Adesina “Desi” Sanchez, Narz explains the psychology behind video game design, how it intersects with Positive Psychology, and offers advice to those who are dealing with an overuse of video games, as well as a less pathological view of why young people are so drawn to them.
And bookmark their site, http://www.GamesGeeksTech.com for more inspiring and fun stories on gaming, tech and general geekery, and for their weekly podcast segment, the GGT Talk on The Grindhouse Radio which reaches 3.5-4 million listeners weekly :).
Stay in touch with them by following us @GamesGeeksTech on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Twitch!
Tell me your thoughts on video game addiction in the comments below!
[Don’t miss out on my Instagram Stories! Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see the most updated stories. This blog/vlog can be read or watched! Enjoy! ]
Snow Mushroom, or Tremella fuciformis , is a white nearly translucent tree-ear fungus found throughout Asia and warmer climates worldwide. The fungus common name of as a wood ear for the way it looks on logs as it grows is how it’s commonly referred to as. Chinese and Japanese herbalist have used this snowy fungus for thousands of years primarily to increase fluid in the body, rid palpitations, and dry coughs. When ingested, snow mushrooms can help lower cholesterol, protect the liver, fight inflammation, prevent atherosclerosis, increase white blood cells, and may even slow the aging process. Rumor also has it, if eaten regularly, facial freckles can begin to disappear.
So if you are like me, you have heard of Snow Mushrooms in your soup covering all the amazing benefits of your body, but what if I told you their properties were just as good for outside your body like your skin?
In 2015, Allure magazine published an article about the magical yet ancient benefits of the snow mushroom mentioning as far back as the imperial Tang dynasty, one of China’s fame four great beauties concubine Yang Guifei (713-756) accredited snow mushroom with maintaining her youthful appearance. Today, modern science has explained the radical results of the fungus drawing moisture to the skin like Hyaluronic acid but completely naturally!
So what if mushrooms were you skin’s next superfood? That’s what Volition Beauty’s Snow Mushroom Serum Innovator Keidy asked when she dared to solve her problematic acne-prone skin. Ya see here, the nutrient-rich ingredients in this cocktail flood our skin and pores with nature’s sponge holding 500 times their weight in water. Since the fungus’ molecules are smaller than our pores, they are absorbed much faster delivering exceptional moisturization that is maintained for a longer time.
It gets better!The snow mushroom properties also doubles to support the skin’s natural collagen production with no free radical damage! Get out! In addition, the concoction is created using marine water that detoxifies the skin, reduces redness and shine! With watermelon and apple extracts, your skin is given an excellent source of vitamin C and A for a more radiant look. Lentil extract is also added for a dose of vitamin B5 to smooth skin and lock in moisture to reveal clearer and firmer-looking skin!
Did I mention this product is vegan, gluten-free, hypoallergenic, cruely-free and noncomedogenic? WHAT?!
Sephora has even marked this product certified Clean at Sephora™ meaning it is formulated without: Sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban. All skincare, hair, and makeup brands with the Clean Seal have less than one percent of synthetic fragrances.
So if you suffer from dry skin, fine lines/wrinkles, and pores this might just be the mushroom you’re looking for! The serum is suitable for all types of skin complexion!
I know what you may be wondering. “OK, but how much is it?” Well, considering the application is a pea-size amount to cover the entire face, neck, and décolletage twice daily, the price of $62 for a 1oz bottle is actually not bad at all! But seriously, don’t take my word for it and learn about the science behind why snow mushrooms is the next best ingredient on the skincare market.
Tell me your thoughts on snow mushroom, Volition Beauty, or natural skincare in the comments below!