The start of something new!

Hi everyone!

Sorry for the lack of activity...the reason for this was because my twin and I are have decided to combine our blogs into one: Opal & Opal! We felt that since we will be separating for graduate school (after living 20+ years together!), creating a blog together would help keep that sense of always being together.

Steph & I really want this to be our special twin project! We hope to inspire everyone to live life to the fullest. In this blog, we will be covering topics such as beauty, fashion, food, and healthy living~

Hope you all come check out this new blog and follow us please~

Best,

March favorites: Healthy snacks

Before getting started on this post, I'd like to wish everyone a 

HAPPY EASTER!

Like I mentioned in the previous post, college life can get pretty hectic. With all the exams, projects, and activities going on, it's not only hard to make time with friends (here's some fun suggestions!) but also very challenging to stay healthy. As a HUGE foodie (proud carb-lover and desserts-fanatic~~), it's definitely difficult to stay away from those late night carbs and sweets. So for this month's favorites are all the things I enjoy doing for fun that are both healthy and not too time consuming! (February's favorites: inspiration quotes on dreams.)

1. Matcha latte. Matcha is such a great source of antioxidants and is super healthy. Take a small spoonful of matcha powder, 1 cup of milk (or soymilk/almond milk in my case), and a teaspoon+ of honey and blend it till it's nice and frothy! Now you have a delicious morning drink! Check out my sister's recipe!
2. Peach milk tea. If you've never had peach tea before, you're definitely missing out. And if you've never had peach milk tea, you're missing out X2! It is such a delicious and refreshing drink. Although it's can be hard to make authentic milk teas at home, all you really need is a (few) bag of peach oolong tea and some milk and honey! The end result is quite refreshing!
3. Oatmeal, pumpkin pancakes. I know some people really dislike the texture of oatmeal. Me? I really like oatmeal personally, but for those who don't, trying blending up the oatmeal into flour and using it to make pancakes! Add in some pumpkin puree for added nutrients!
4. Frozen bananas. As the weather gets warmer and warmer (especially LA!!), a chilling and sweet snack is a must. Cut the bananas into smaller chunks and freeze them in a bag. They'll take wonderful! You can also do this with grapes!

Thanks for sticking with me! Hope you find something fun to make for this week!

What are some of your favorite snacks?

How did you spend Easter?
I went to church and blessed by the testimonies that were shared!

Balancing college life with studies!

The start of this week was quite hectic. I had a Biochemistry midterm on Tuesday, but I had also plans to hang out with friends during the weekend. It's hard to balance hanging out with friends and studying for exams, so how can you do that without pulling all-nighters?

During exam times, my favorite thing to with friends is to study together at a small cafe! Let your friends know that you have an upcoming exam, and most likely they'll agree to the suggestion. When we arrive at the cafe, we purchase a drink and a small snack, talk for 20-30 minutes, and set off to do work. In this way, you have hang out, talk, and study for that upcoming exam~ After a few hours--if you're up for it--go out to eat lunch/dinner together!

Studying at a cafe and then going out to eat afterwards can be quite pricey, but there are many other ways to have fun studying with friends:

• Study and have a short baking session!
• Study and make lunch/dinner for each other!
• Study and watch a short episode of a drama/anime every few hours!

Studying shouldn't be boring, and it shouldn't be all-consuming! It's so important to hang out with your friends and make long-lasting and meaningful relationships in college. These relationships will last a lifetime! Even if you're an introvert like me, be sure to push yourself to spend time with your friends. Studying by yourself may be good during crunch time, but studying with friends can also prevent you from getting distracted. If you see others studying, you're more apt to study as well.

Here's what I did this weekend!

Saturday: Studying at Paris Baguette in K-town with my sister and mutual friend!

 

My Look! They're matching~ This cup stole my twin :( hahaha~

Sunday: Studying at school and eating pasta afterwards!

   

Overall, my studying was actually quite productive! While We did get off track a little bit, I still did more studying than if I were by myself. Moreover, I'd rather get distracted with friends than get distracted just surfing the web. :)

What do you guys do to study and hang out with friends?

Springtime skincare changes!

Spring has finally arrived, and that means our skincare routine changes as well! As the weather warms up and sun rays intensify, the problems of winter--dry, itchy, or flaky skin--become less notable. Here are some tips to deal with the changing seasons!

1. Toss out old, expired products

Make sure you're not using old products that have already expired. Some key signs include consistency changes (separating into layers, clumps, etc.), color changes, and fragrance changes. Products, particularly moisturizers containing antioxidants and retinol, can degrade with time and lose their effectiveness. Lastly, sunscreens do have expiration dates. While most manufacturers have a 2-3 year expiration date, there is no real consensus as to how long the sunscreen remains effective. Most experts suggest changing sunscreens yearly.

2. Use sunscreen more regularly

While we all know to use sunscreen regularly, even during the winter, it is essential to continue using sunscreen, especially as the sun rays intensify during the spring. Many skincare professionals recommend applying a SPF 30 sunscreen 30 minutes before leaving home and reapplying every 2-3 hours. Also consider looking for a hand cream with SPF, as your hands are constantly exposed to the sun rays as well!

Moreover, there are two types of sunscreens: chemical and physical sunscreens. Each have their own pros and cons. You can check out my informative post on sunscreen here.

[TOSOWOONG Soft Touch Suncream] [Innisfree Eco Safety Daily Sunblock]

3. Lighten up your products

During the springtime, your skin becomes more oily, meaning that you no longer need heavy creams, moisturizers, or hydrating serums that can then clog pores. Instead, look for lighter products that provide the needed moisturizing properties. For those with oily skin, look for gentle toners that help clear pores and remove excess oils.

[Etude House Pure Water BaoBab Toner] [Etude House Aloe Moistfull Soothing Lotion]

Beautiful skill is all about taking care of your skin and knowing what product to use and when! Even though I don't like wasting products, be careful to evaluate how your changing, springtime skin may react to your old, winter-time products. And be sure to keep an eye out on expiration dates!

Do you have any product suggestions or skincare tips for the spring?