Where to Find Bubble Tea in Grand Rapids

It's bit harder to find some bubble tea in Grand Rapids, compared to cities like Chicago and Detroit. Thankfully, there are still some delicious options to cure my craving of the ever so wonderful chewy tapioca and purple taro needs. If you've never had bubble tea before, it originated in Taiwan, and has since evolved to include endless flavors and toppings. The actual "bubbles" are tapioca pearls and are flavorless, and the actual drink can be a tea, coffee, or thick smoothie. My favorite is the classic milk tea with black bubbles! 

Last Minute Gift Ideas!

Some years I am better at planning out what to buy or make ahead of time for the holiday season. I definitely prefer to shop for some friends and family over others, just because some are incredibly hard to shop for (hi dad). To add to many of the other gift guides out there, it's no secret that I am on a budget as a college student. It is very possible to be giving this season without spending too much money! Below is a list of some foolproof ideas for friends or family - with something everyone will love and appreciate. 

Morning + Night Skincare Routine

Earrings - See Song Designs, Sweater - Lou and Grey

My skincare routine is always changing, but for the past couple of months I've really been loving everything I've been using. When I was at the dermatologist recently they said to keep doing whatever I've been doing when I was getting a silk peel. I'm pretty picky when it comes to skincare, since it'll literally be absorbing into my skin, but I also don't want to shell out a ton of money either. Here, you'll see a combination of products from the drugstore + online that I like to use. As a reference, my skin is not sensitive, and I have combination type skin. All products are linked at the end of the post!

Mimosas + Music Festivals

Another week, another Chicago weekend round up post. This is the third time in two months where I've made the easy 3 hour drive to one of my favorite cities - my parents want to come this time next weekend! My friend Rylie and I had been discussing Lollpalooza a month ago, and decided to just buy a one day ticket on stubhub and explore the city the rest of the days. We did SO much walking, ate way too much, and I'd easily say it was one of my favorite times in the city. Here are some of my highlights!

Pronto Pups with the Pup

I took a quick trip to Grand Haven last week, and was able to stop at the infamous Pronto Pups! I had not been in too many years, but thankfully there wasn't a line since it was a weekday. There are so many cute little beach towns near Grand Rapids that I always forget about. I used to not visit Grand Haven as much, since my family and I love Saugatuck and South Haven - but Grand Haven was cuter than I remembered! Also, the bakery Baker's Wife might sell the best soft pretzels I've ever had in my entire life. I wish I was less dramatic but it's true - Baker's Wife actually changed my life.

Blueberry Picking

It's my family's favorite time of year - blueberry season! After my parents and I went blueberry picking for the first time a couple of years ago, they love going every year (or even multiple times). We've tried a couple of different blueberry farms on the west side of the state, but we always go back to our favorite, Reender's Farm. We picked around six buckets of blueberries that cost $60 - about 33 pounds of berries! 

☆ Weekend in Chicago ☆

Even after living in NYC for 6 months, I still have to say that I love Chicago so much. I have some friends and family there, and it's always nice to make the drive and visit them (and it was nice to get out of the house, sorry mom). Last weekend, some friends from out of town were visiting, and it was my cousin Lisa's 30th birthday! Lisa, whom you may know as the owner of See Song Designs (and who is pretty much my sister), who has the best husband ever, set up such a great weekend filled with many activities. But before the birthday celebrations began, I spent some time with college friends that have graduated already. I was definitely exhausted after those three days, but it was all worth it.

Quick and Easy Baked Oatmeal (Vegan + Gluten Free)

I was craving baked oatmeal the other morning, just to change it up from my usual microwave with water oats. Thankfully, it only took a couple minutes to prepare, and I got ready for the day while it baked in the oven for 30 minutes. This recipe is very easy to customize, and it's the perfect texture being a little gooey on the inside and not the thick texture most people don't like about oatmeal. I topped mine with the coconut yogurt, peanut butter, and strawberries, but the options are endless of course! Other recipes I've tried use flax eggs or eggs to bind together, but I found this after baking to be soild enough for me with just the mashed banana. I'll definitely be making this in the future (it's also a great meal prep idea), as it was warm, comforting, and very filling.

What I Ate In Vietnam

After 21 days, 12 flights, 4 cities, and way too many iced coffees to count, I finally made it home. We traveled to four cities: Saigon, Bien Hoa (a 30 min drive from Saigon), Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc which is on an island. It was nice to see so many relatives and learning about where my parents grew up. This was my first time visiting Vietnam, and my favorite part of the trip was definitely trying new Vietnamese food I've never tried before after not eating any for months. Here is a video with what I ate over three weeks (or what I actually remembered to record). Hope you enjoy!