Eat Here : Woodblock : Redmond, WA

Woodblock is a vibrant new restaurant that opened recently in downtown Redmond. Owned and operated by Tony and Carolyn Scott, Woodblock specializes in craft cocktails and hearty, rustic dishes. I had such a positive experience when I came here for the first time. My boyfriend and I came here during their happy hour and ordered the Cajun Mussels, Fried Calamari, and the Braised Lamb-Pea Risotto. My favorite dish was the Cajun Mussels, even though it was a bit too salty for my taste, the flavors were super powerful and had a nice kick to it. The calamari was nested on a bed of hummus which was a nice combination! For someone who doesn't normally eat lamb, I enjoyed the risotto a lot. The rice was perfectly cooked, and the balsamic gastric gave it a nice balance. I will definitely return to try more dishes!

Woodblock - 16175 Cleveland St #109, Redmond, WA 98052
Rating: 5/5
Price: $$

Eat Here : Molly Moon's Ice Cream : Redmond, WA

Molly Moon's recently opened a new location in Redmond! With several other locations in Seattle, it's nice to finally be able to get some home made ice cream on the East Side. I've only tried Molly Moon's a few times with some hits and misses. Although they have unique flavors, I prefer to stick with their classics like as their strawberry or coffee. I found that some of their others flavors were a bit overpowering. Their salted caramel has mixed reviews. For some it is perfect, but for others, including me, it was wayyy too salty. Not sure if it's worth the $4-5 for a single scoop because I could just get a container of ice cream from a grocery store that's just as good, but it's the experience that makes it fun. When you go into their stores, it is such a cool and fun environment. You can't help but to take out your phone, and start taking photos of every inch of the space because it's just so darn cute! I'm not normally a fan of ice cream so I tend to judge harsher than others, but if you're an ice cream fan, definitely give this place a try!

Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream - 16272 Cleveland St, Redmond, WA 98052
Rating: 3/5
Price: $

DIY Origami Stars

Here is my tutorial on how to make cute little origami stars! I tried my best to make the steps as simple as possible! It takes some practice to make the stars look perfect, so don't be discouraged if you don't get it the first time! You can change the size of the stars by having thinner or thicker paper strips. Good luck and enjoy!

—  Love, Minna

Eat Here : Tigerlily : Berkeley, CA

I was excited to try Tigerlily after seeing all the positive reviews online. Located in Berkeley's "Gourmet Ghetto", this restaurant brings you indian food with a modern twist. I ordered naan bread, a fish dish, and their Tikka Masala Fried Chicken, which was the star of the night! The flavors of each dish were unique and extremely flavorful. The fried chicken was super crispy and the marsala sauce added another level of flavor. My experience here was very positive, and I hope to get the chance to come here again soon!

Tigerlily - 1513 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Rating: 5/5
Price: $$$

Happy Day!


It's been a lovely week catching up with friends and spending time with family. My birthday is coming up in a few days, so it was nice to celebrate early! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I'll be having a busy week! I'm already waiting for the next weekend to come...

—  Love, Minna

#FOTD

Here's what I use on my face on a daily basis...

THE PRODUCTS:

Benefit Dandelion Brightening Blush: One of my favorite blushes of all time! The color is a pale pink and when you apply it to the apple of your cheeks, it gives a nice brightening effect. Since the blush is pretty light, I always like to add in some extra blush that has more saturated color.

Nars Albatross Highlighter: Lately i've been really into highlighting. It makes such a big difference! Wish I had known sooner... I love this highlighter because it has a golden tint to it, so it really does make you look like you're glowing!

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer: I've been using this concealer for many years. Since they don't have my exact skin shade, I mix together Chantilly and Custard to create the perfect color. This stuff covers my dark circles, acne scars, and pretty much anything! I love it.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation: Another product from Nars that I absolutely love, this foundation has been a staple in my makeup collection. It has buildable coverage and their color Ceylan matches perfectly with my light yellow-toned skin.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Primer: This primer helps to even out the skin's texture and mattify! I like to use this on the areas that I get most oily, like my forehead and nose. It's a bit pricey [$45], but this has been one of the best primer's I have used so far.

I'm always on the look out for new makeup products, especially foundation! What is your holy grail foundation? I'd love to know! I'm also on the hunt for a nice pink blush. I have too many to count, but still haven't found the perfect one.

—  Love, Minna