June Throwbacks! + Quick Vietnamese Crab Soup Recipe

Honestly, June has been a tough month for me. I was having intense summer classes every single day so I couldn't really focus on anything else. I'm on a short vacation right now and I'll be going back to school tomorrow... However, I still managed to have fun with my friends because it's summer! So for this post, I will be posting pictures about some remarkable June events. I want to show you guys a glance of my life in Boston! ~ 

1/ Samurai Sushi - 827 Boylston Street (next to Apple Store) 

Lovely Korean-Japanese restaurant on Boylston! I highly recommend Pink Lady (pink ones with spicy mayo on top); my all-time Samurai favorite! Even though the prices seem a little bit higher than other sushi places, they do serve bigger portions. I'd also like to try the Shrimp Teriyaki some day cuz I heard it's pretty good too! ~ 

2/ Pho Pasteur - Chinatown 

Hmmm... I was craving for Hu Tieu Nam Vang (Phnom Penh Noodle Soup) so I went straight to Pho Pasteur hoping that they would have it. And yes, they do have it, but it's not what I was looking for at that moment. The authentic one usually includes shredded pork slices, fresh shrimps, pork liver, even beef balls sometimes. However, they served me a bowl of imitation crab meat, fish cake and some other stuff, which is totally... weird?

3/ Homemade Vietnamese street food - Stir fried corn with fried shrimps 

Super yummy! :) The crunchiness of fried shallots, fried dried shrimps along with the softness and sweetness of the corn make such a perfect combination! :)

4/ BBQ Day

Fun BBQ Day out at Larz Anderson Park, Brookline. We rented out 2 BBQ spaces in the park and brought our own food (meat, corn, sausages, shrimps, etc.). It was really fun and exciting! :) I also brought some seasoning spices to marinate the meat because I thought it would be more tasty. I was grilling the food so I didn't have time to take any pictures besides the one above. But if there's another chance, I will definitely take lots of pictures and share them with you guys! :)

5/ Vietnamese food night

All of these dishes are marinated with the same ingredients: garlic, shallot, salt, pepper, a bit of sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, vegetable oil (to keep to moist), etc. 

You guys will need to prepare caramel sauce before cooking these dishes. You guys can simply heat up a pan with some vegetable oil/canola oil in it, then add sugar until it turns brown. After that, turn the heat off to cool down the pan and add in some fish sauce. Then, turn the heat up again and add in the main ingredients. 

Caramelized Shrimp and Pork Belly

Caramelized Pork Spare Ribs

Caramelized duck tongues (Super yummy)

*However, you need to soak the duck tongues in white wine + ginger for 10-15 minutes prior to cooking. After that, you need to wash them extra clean under running cool water to remove the odor. 

6/ Vietnamese crab soup (with shark fin, abalone, fried fish swim bladder?, quail eggs and shredded chicken)

This recipe takes a long time to prepare but only takes about 15-30 minutes to cook. 

Quick recipe here: 

1/ Boil the water and put the pork bones in and shimmer for about 2 hours. After shimmering for 1 hour, put in a cube of sugar/1 tablespoon of rock sugar (to keep the stock clear). You can also substitute with a peeled onion as well. 

2/ Meanwhile, soak the shark fin in a bowl of luke warm water along with white wine and some slices of ginger (to remove the fishy smell). After an hour, wash it gentle under running cool water and steam it. You can put it in a small bowl and then put the bowl in a pot (pour about 1/4 -1/3 water in the pot; just enough to steam the shark fin). Steam for about 30 minutes over low-medium heat. 

3/ Cut the abalone in small pieces. In the picture above, I haven't cut the abalone yet. 

4/ Soak the fried swim bladder (I took about 3 pieces) in about 10 minutes along with white wine and salt/ginger (to remove the fishy smell). After that, wash them gentle under cool running water. Then, cut them into small pieces. 

5/ Put 10 quail eggs in a pot and bring to boil over high heat. Wait about 5-10 minutes then peel the eggs under cool running water. 

*Tip: If the eggs are easy to peel, they are completely cooked. If not, then the eggs are just somewhat cooked. 

6/ Stir fry the crab meat over medium heat with some seasoning until slightly brown

7/ Put one small piece of chicken in the shimmering pork bones pot until the chicken is fully cooked then take it out. Wait for it to cool and then start tearing it off to small pieces. 

8/ After shimmering the pork bones for about 2 hours, take the pork bones out. Start putting processed ingredients such as stir fried crab meat and boiled shredded chicken in. 

9/ After that, put in 2-3 beaten eggs and stir well. 

10/ Start putting in the rest of the ingredients (except for quail eggs) and start seasoning your soup. I put in some chicken stock/chicken powder, salt, pepper and fish sauce.

11/ Then, in a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of tapioca starch/corn starch with 1/3 bowl of water then put it in the pot slowly. Keep stirring until the soup reaches the desired stickiness. You can put in the quail eggs now. 

12/ After that, you can either put in the sesame oil and chopped green onions in the pot or garnish them on top of the bowl before serving. 

Ta-dah! ~ You now have a delicious bowl of Vietnamese high quality soup! The reason why I called it 'high quality' is because I used a lot of expensive and nutritious ingredients for this recipe. You can also make this soup without using abalone and shark fin as well! It'd still taste super delicious! :) 

7/ Hotpot night 

I prepared the hotpot soup all by myself and it turned out to be sooooo good. I boiled the pork bones in about 2-3 liters of water (depends on how many people are eating) and shimmer in 2 hours over low heat. After that, I separate the soup into 2 portions, one is spicy and the other one is not (for vegetables and non-spicy eaters). Then, I season the two portions with the same seasonings; the only difference is that I put chili powder and chili peppers in the spicy portion for extra spiciness. 

For the side dishes, we bough beef balls, tong ho, mushroom, sliced beef, marinated chicken, tofu, fish cake, fish tofu, fried bean curds, etc. 

8/ Sunny summer in Boston

Yes, it's really really hot in Boston at the moment and it's gonna be the same until the end of September. Lots of people gathered at the fountain near Prudential and Church of Scientology to play with the water ~ 

9/ Father's Day: Dimsum and Haymarket 

I called my dad on Father's Day but he didn't pick up. So I sent him a message and he replied me the day after saying "Thank you my sweetheart!" ~ Gosh! How I miss my family! :( 

It's summer! It's Sunnies time ~ 

Haymarket was really crowded at the time we were there. I also saw a lot of tourists going around. The food in Haymarket is not excellent but it's not bad either; it's acceptable. I was craving for some American food at that time so I ordered a hot dog and a lobster soup from... some restaurants I don't remember...

Blue is perfect for the summer because it's a cool color; it relieves your stresses! 

Dimsum in Bubor Chacha. It's not the best and not the worst; it's somewhere in the middle. I was hoping that we could get a seat in Gourmet Dumpling House but it was so packed that we had to go to Bubor Chacha.

Walking around Boston Common ~ so sunny in Boston! Remember to put on some sunscreen before going out to protect your skin!

More entries coming soon! 

Have a nice summer, everyone! 

Cher Vo

June 30, 2013

Chanel CC Cream :)

What is CC Cream?

CC Cream, also known as correction complete/color control cream, is the all-on-one complexion perfecter that acts as both a skin-care and makeup product. 

The difference between CC Cream and BB Cream is that the texture of CC Cream is lighter so it's smoother when applying and it would give you a less oily/greasy finish. 

Chanel CC Cream

This time, I would have to say that I'm fully satisfied with this Chanel CC Cream! It's the best CC Cream that I have ever used! It's even better than the Dior BB Cream that I thought was the best! It beautifies your skin at the same time as nourishing it. It blends out really quickly and gives you a great covering. I wouldn't say it's a light-weight product but it is currently the lightest CC Cream/foundation that you can find on the market. 

Moreover, CC Cream is just imported to the U.S. a few days/a week ago because I got it on the first day it got to the U.S. And the only available tone was 20 Beige, which is the lightest one. Fortunately, it's perfect for my skin tone! And I'm totally in love with this product after 1-2 weeks of using it. I now use it every single after putting on the Elizabeth Arden facial anti-aging serum as a base. It really compliments your skin tone a lot. It does brighten your skin but not like ghost-white! It's more fair and warm. 

The reason why I prefer CC Cream is that it provides more coverage while nourishing my skin. And this CC Cream from Chanel also offers SPF 30 and PA+++ which also acts as a sunscreen! This will protect you from the damaging UVA and UVB rays, especially in the summer when it tend to be more sunny outside. When I use this CC Cream, I don't need to put on any concealer, highlighter or skin corrector because it also treats and covers uneven skin tone effectively! 

This is how the packaging looks like! :)

Chanel CC Cream combines 5 actions in 1 single step:

1. Soothes sensitive skin
2. Moisturizes and gives skin hydration
3. Protects skin from the damaging UVA-UVB rays
4. Prevents external aggressions
5. Evens out imperfections

This is the swatch of Chanel CC Cream and how it looks like after applying. It blends, evens out my skin tone effectively and gives my face that natural look. For some reasons, it just doesn't show up on pictures, at all. But it really works for me!

And the one thing that surprised me after all is that my skin looks even better after removing makeup. It gives my skin a glowy effect and a flawlessly radiant complexion every single time. It's really hard to see in the pictures because of the light (And my skin is not that yellow!)

The things that I love about Chanel CC Cream:

• Perfume scent upon application but will soon fade away (still smell really good after all)
• Long-wearing - makes it a good choice for summer!
• Nourish your skin while giving you that perfect natural look! 
• Packaging is travel-friendly, thin squeezable tube. 
• Gives your skin a lot of hydration
• Evens out our skin tone effectively (say goodbye to concealer/long-wearing foundation)

Down sides:

• Even though it's the lightest CC Cream you can find on the market, it's still somehow a little bit heavy-weight
• It tends to get a bit greasy at the end of the day but it's still better than other BB Cream products that I have used so far
• You cannot really use it for the nighttime because it has SPF in it... and it's just unsuitable. 
• If you don't have pale skin, you would find this product to be a little bit light. However, I was talking to the Chanel saleswoman the other day and she said Chanel would be selling 2 darker tones very soon, so be patient!

Etude House CC Cream

This is Etude House CC Cream. As you can see, the texture is very glitter-like and TOO white. I don't know why it doesn't show up on pictures but it looks uneven/too light on my hand. 

I have tried Etude House CC Cream before and unfortunately it was a bad experience. The texture was glitter-like and pretty sticky when applying on the face. Moreover, there is only one color which is TOO light for me as an Asian (even though Etude House is a Korean based company). If you have super duper bright/pale skin, Etude House CC Cream is a good choice for you. 

So hopefully you've had a good idea of what CC Cream is and how Chanel CC Cream has worked for me! :)

06/17/13

- Cher

My Nighttime Skincare Routine!

Soooo... Today I'm writing this to show you guys my daily skincare routine! :) My skin is very sensitive so I always stick with the same products that I have been using for years. However, I have changed my skincare routine ever since I moved to the U.S. because the ingredients in the products here are different from what I have always used in the past. I actually really like my skincare routine right now because it helps my skin a lot! :) Last winter, I went back home to visit and the weather there caused my face to breakout so I was freaking out at that time. And when I got back to the States, my skin was still in a really bad condition... But after doing some researches, I finally found some products that actually suit my skin so I decided to try them out. Fortunately, they worked! :) Okay I'll get straight to the point now! Below is the steps of my nighttime skincare routine: 

1/ After washing my face with VICHY Purete Thermale Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser, I apply this thermal spring water by spraying it all over my face then start massaging in circular motions (Sometimes I use my Lancome toner instead of thermal spring water)

2/ After that, I use a cotton pad and apply this Aloe Moistfull by Etude House to reduce any redness around my face; it also soothes your pimples effectively.

3/ Then, I use Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Face and Eye Serums. The bigger box (left) is the Daily Youth Restoring Face and the smaller one is the Eyes Serums. :)

There are many small capsules inside; I usually use 1 capsule a day (half for daytime and the other half for nighttime). I always massage my face and around the eyes in circular motions after applying this on. 
This serum is super awesome, it is made for all skin types. It's lightweight, silky and non-greasy! It absorbs really really quick and makes your skin feel soft immediately after applying. The difference is visible after only 3 weeks! :) My skin appears to be more youthful, smoother, and firmer. It also improves your skin tone, reduces roughness/dryness, and reduces wrinkles. I'm so in love with this product! :) Oh and it doesn't really have any smell (it actually smells a bit like oil at first but the scent will disappear after a few seconds). If you use this in the morning before putting on your makeup, it will give you that radiant, glowy, and healthy skin look!

4/ Next, I apply this Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector on my face to help eliminating any imperfections on my face. This product actually works for me; I used to have a lot of pimples which left a lot of scars afterwards. However, after one month of constant use, all the dark spots on my face started to fade and finally disappear! :) 

5/ Finally, I apply about 2-3 bean-sized dots of VICHY Aqualia Thermal Moisturizer all over my face and massage gently

In the winter, I use this Calrins Creme Riche Desalterante for Very Dry Skin because my skin tends to get really really dry in the winter. To be honest, this cream is not that comfortable when applying because it's not light-weighted. However, it really helps hydrating your dry skin so I have to bare with it! :)

I'll be posting about my daytime skincare routine really soon! :) And also, a 'CC Creams Review' and a 'Summer Most Wanted Products' are gonna be posted soon so keep your eyes on my blog! :)

June 3, 2013

May Favorites!

May in Boston was an unpredictable weather changing month. It was warm and sunny in the morning but quickly changed to cold and windy afterwards. My skin was so dry and rough as the weather was unstable... However, the weather is pretty hot outside right now, which is actually worse, but anyway, I'll go ahead and get started with my May Favorites!! I'll provide real photos of these really soon!

1/ Sephora Instant Nail Polish Remover

The first product that I really like is this Instant Nail Polish Remover from Sephora. This will take you less than 1 minute to remove all of your nail polish! No cotton pads, no pouring, all you have to do is stick one finger at a time and wiggle around a bit and you're done! Perfectly perfect! However, for glitter nails and gel nails, it might take a bit longer but it doesn't really matter! I tried it out that Sephora and I was amazed! Totally in love with this one! Plus, you only have to pay $9.50 to own this baby, it worths it! :)

This is how it looks inside... There's like a small hole in the center. You just have to stick one finger at a time and wiggle around a bit! 

2/ Dior Vernis Nail Polish in Red Royalty

I actually got this one along with the Sephora Instant Nail Polish Remover. I love the color so much. C'mon! It's summer, who doesn't love bright colors? Especially red! And this red color is just perfect; it's not too dark and not too bright, I can't wait to wear this color outside!! The texture is pretty smooth, dense and gel-like. 

Gorgeous design and lovely color :) Still didn't have a chance to try it on :(

3/ Philosophy: Hope in a Jar

This is my new favorite daytime moisturizer. It's light-weighted, hydrated and blends out really fast. This one works so well for my dry skin. There's nothing much I can say about this product besides the fact that I totally love it! :) However, you guys should really try it out before buying it because it also depends on your skin types as well. Some products might cause redness, itchiness and irritation to your skin so please be aware! 

This moisturizer absorbs to my skin quickly. It's very light-weighted and non-greasy. 

4/ Chanel UV Essentiel Soin Protection

Chanel offers the new sunscreen in 3 different SPFs: 20, 30 and 50. I got the 30 one. My mom always tells me not to buy sunscreen with a high SPF because it's not good for your skin so I went with 30 instead of 50. One thing that I love about this oil-free matte sunscreen is it blends and dries really quick! Some other sunscreens give me the the feeling of greasiness which I extremely hate. It's summer! You don't wanna feel greasy, do you? Plus, this one has a nice smell, flora-like, just like other Chanel products, but it will disappear after a few minutes. It also works as a BB cream because it gives a nice skin texture after applying. I have been using it since the beginning of May and it has never caused breakouts. 

The formula dries really quick; It also lightens your skin tone a bit but leave a minimal white cast (doesn't give you the "ghost" cast in photos)

5/ Yves Saint Laurent: Rouge Volupté Shine in 12 Coral Incandescent - Bright Canjun Coral

I love YSL lipsticks, so creamy, moisturizing, and long-wearing. The texture of the lipstick is rich and smooth. And the smell is absolutely awesome, it smells so good that sometimes it becomes addictive. I actually prefer YSL lipsticks over Chanel lipsticks. Chanel lipsticks are creamy but when they are not smooth. If you have dry lips, like I do, you will hate Chanel lipsticks because they are not that moisturizing. And I totally love this color (sorry I'm red biased!). FYI, this color is not actually coral, this is more of a peachy red color. You will love your lips after applying it on, it will look natural and shiny without looking greasy or feeling sticky, it even tastes good sometimes! My all-time favorite lipstick! :) 

I love the design, elegant and 'expensive looking' :)

Swatch

6/ Neutrogena Ultra-Soft Eye Makeup Remover Pads

This eyes makeup remover pads is cute and effective; it contains 30 large soft pads inside. It's soft, soothing, gentle, non-greasy, and oil-free. It's perfect for the eyes area. It's not irritated and itchy, at all. Sometimes, I even use it to remove the makeup around my face because it's super gentle yet effective! I actually prefer this one over the Neutrogena Oil-free Cleansing Wipes (Pink Grapefruit). The Pink Grapefruit is too strong for my sensitive skin that it caused irritation sometimes. This one is absolutely one of my favorite makeup remover!