STYLE | THE OLD TREND

I don't know if it's also true for you guys, but I remember in elementary school when kids would play, get hot, then tie their sweater around their waist. I thought that was just a thing that school kids do, but apparently not. It became a trend for a while now. When I first noticed this trend, I couldn't help but laugh cause it reminds me of elementary school. But if I'm being honest, I cave to trends easily and this one was no exception.

You could tie a sweater or a shirt around the waist for this kind of outfit, but I chose a shirt. I especially find checkered shirts to complement the outfit very well with a contrast of colours. It is also thinner and lighter than a sweater, which makes the outfit way more comfortable. With the shirt being checkered and blue, I wanted to wear a top that is pretty basic and simple in order to kind of let the shirt shine. For this outfit, I decided to wear a black H&M crew neck sweater with faux-leather elbow patches. I topped off the outfit with a beanie from Vans and Nike Roshe Run shoes, which pretty much goes with everything.

Although stylish, I wouldn't wear this outfit to class. Having to sit down for hours with a shirt around my waist kind of makes me uncomfortable. The class seats are small, and the shirt would be flowing out of the seat. Not only that, I would be too scared to move too much and rip the shirt. So I'd wear it to go shop or walk around with friends, something that does not involve too much sitting, which is why I paired it with the most comfy Noke Roshe Run shoes!

STYLE | GO-TO LOOK

Like many people, I love fashion and I like to try to look my best whenever I go out. But if you're like me, most days you just don't know what to wear even though your closet is filled with a pile of clothes. The dilemma of choosing what to wear everyday is very time-consuming, which is why I decided on a go-to look. Basically, it's a look that I know I can always go to if ever I can't decide on which outfit to wear or when I'm in a hurry.

Since I like street wear, my go-to look also consists of a hat (especially efficient if you don't feel like doing your hair, which makes getting ready a lot faster). I chose a plain white V-neck t-shirt with skinny jeans. I also topped it off with a nice, black bomber jacket from Zara that is quite simple but still makes a nice fashion statement. Most importantly, I decided to wear the Waterproof Timberland boots. It can be worn in fall, winter, spring, or summer (although the latter might not be as comfortable, it's still manageable). It also goes with pretty much everything and makes a great statement if you like to dress street! I think it's safe to say I'm pretty much obsessed with these boots thanks to my wonderful girlfriend who gave it to me for my birthday. I'm gonna have to write a whole article to review the Timberland boots!

So my rule of thumb to choose a go-to outfit is to put together mostly simple, basic pieces, with one item or two (maximum) that will complement and top it off nicely. Try not to overdo it, cause when you're in a hurry, no one really has the time to put on 18 different layers of clothing!

TRAVEL | SECRET SPOTS IN SAN FRANCISCO

This last summer, we visited San Francisco for the second time because we loved it so much. But you know the quote "The coldest winter I ever had was a summer in San Francisco"? Well it's not just a quote. For those of you planning to go there in the summer, consider that quote as your motto in life. Don't bother bringing bikinis and shorts because you're going to California. That "California" you have in mind is closer to LA. But thankfully we learned this (the hard way) during our first visit, and stocked up on a bunch of sweaters and jeans when we packed. As it was our second time around, we wanted to explore the city more in depth and visit lesser known tourist attractions. We did the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, and the whole shenanigan during our first time there. While they were very much worth seeing, this time, we visited places that not really a lot of people knew about, and it made our visit more unique and interesting.

One spot that not a lot of people know but is definitely a worthwhile visit is the Grey Whale Cove State Beach. It is probably the most beautiful beach we've ever seen in the Bay Area. Its seaside cliffs and greenish water is reminiscent of the Mediterranean coasts. Not only that, there was practically no one! Although it was located at about 20 minutes drive from the city, it was well worth the trip. Its scenic, natural beauty and its slight seclusion from the city makes it very relaxing and enjoyable to visit.

As we were staying at Sunset District during the first week, we visited a "secret spot" that not many tourists know about located in that area. The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, otherwise known as Moraga Steps. The beautiful, colourful mosaic tiles are very reminiscent of San Francisco's Spanish/Mediterranean architecture. 

But the fun part does not stop there. Walking up these 163 steps lead you to Grand View Park. The name pretty much explains itself. It is a park, located at the top of one of San Francisco's famous hills, offering breathtaking 360 degree view of the entire city. It was a very nice feature that we know we wouldn't find in any other North American cities, and it was very much worth the visit!

If you're like us, then you love walking in a neighbourhood with big, beautiful houses and mansions and just observe every single one of them. Now, almost every house in San Francisco is beautiful, but one of the most expensive and luxurious districts is Pacific Heights.  It is very well known, and many of its Victorian Houses have become somewhat a staple for the city. But a particular street in Pacific Heights, namely Lyon Street, was according to us one of the most beautiful residential streets we've ever seen. The mansions, the views, the landscaping, everything was on point! You can also see the Golden Gate Bridge, Exploratorium, the ocean and the mountains from there!

This list is only a few of the places that we visited during our stay in San Francisco. Parks, hills, and other beaches are in abundance in the city, and it's not hard to find a great view when you're in the city by the bay. So if you ever plan on visiting San Francisco, try to allocate a day or two to visit these amazing secret spots.

REVIEW | NIKE ROSHE RUN

It is safe to say that Nike Roshe Runs are one of the most trending clothing items of the past year. Pretty much anyone can wear them, and not only that, you can pretty much wear them with anything. Here's a brief review of these popular shoes.

When people tell you that they're super comfortable, they're not lying. They are probably one of the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. The sole is very bendable and is thick enough to act as the perfect cushion, which makes walking way easier and more comfortable. And of course, it is incredibly light. So light as if you were walking without any shoes on. 

The top part of the shoes is made with mesh, letting your feet breathe a bit more than other shoes. Although this is a good feature, it also makes cleaning out the dirts and dust stuck in the meshes harder.

The shoe is designed to be worn with or without socks, and I'd say they did a pretty good job at it. I've worn them many times without socks, and it is safe to say that it was the first shoes that didn't give me any blisters when being worn without socks on.

Overall, the Nike Roshe Run is very much worth the price of 75$, and it is very understandable why they are so popular these days. Although they can be harder to maintain, they are versatile enough to be put on with any look, they are also very comfortable to wear. 

RECIPE | HEALTHY HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

I have to admit, I have a big weakness for creamy, rich, buttery sauces like the Hollandaise. But there's a reason as to why they are so rich and creamy, and that reason is butter. We all know that the fat content in butter is kind of intense. So I made it my mission to look for a healthier version of this French sauce for me to be able to enjoy it more frequently. You can pair it with other food such as fries, asparagus, or the most popular one, Eggs Benedict. But in this recipe, I will be making a no-butter Hollandaise sauce and pair it with a healthy baked potato. Here are the steps to make your own healthier sauce!

INGREDIENTS | Hollandaise Sauce

2 egg yolks
The juice of 1/4 of a lemon
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
4 tablespoons of milk
Salt to taste
Scallions (optional)

INGREDIENTS | Baked Potato

1 large potato
Canola oil
Salt to taste

Note: You may skip this step if you're not planning on pairing the Hollandaise sauce with baked potatoes. To make the baked potato, wash 1 large potato and pat it with a kitchen towel until dry. Make about 10 holes with a fork around the potato to let out the steam out when cooking. Apply a light coat of canola oil to prevent it from burning while baking. Sprinkle a little bit of salt. Pre-heat oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it is ready, place the potato on a baking sheet in the oven and bake for about 1 hour until the interior is soft and easy to poke with a fork.

To make the Hollandaise sauce, heat water in a medium-sized pan at medium heat. In a heat-proof bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, milk, and lemon juice. Once the water in the pan simmers, i.e smll bubbles appearing on the edges of the water and smoke starts to come out, place the heat-proof bowl containing the egg mix in the pan. Make sure the bowl is big enough so that it is able to stay on top of the pan without touching the simmering water underneath, as shown in the next photo!

Continue whisking the egg mix while cooking it on top of the simmering water, about 10 minutes. It is important to arrange the heat of the stove in order to prevent the water from boiling. If the water boils, the eggs might cook and your sauce might break. When the egg mix starts to have a creamier, sauce texture, remove the bowl from heat. Season the sauce with cayenne pepper and salt to taste. Note: If the Hollandaise sauce starts to become too thick, add a little bit of hot water to soften it up. Once the potatoes are ready, cut it in half and pour some of the Hollandaise sauce on top of each half. Note: If the Hollandaise sauce starts to become too thick, add a little bit of hot water to soften it up. Chop some scallion as garnish for the baked potatoes. Enjoy!

RECIPE | BAKED FRIES

One of my all-time favorite guilty pleasures to eat definitely has to be French fries. But there is a valid reason as to why it’s called a guilty pleasure. Its delicious yet oily nature makes it pleasurable to eat, but leaves us feeling a bit guilty for consuming so much fried oil. So I started looking for ways to take the guilt out of the equation and I came up with Garlic Parmesan Baked Fries. Of course you can season your baked fries only with salt. But since it is baked, I wanted to add more flavors in order to compensate for the absence of the richness that is provided by frying it. Here are a few quick steps to make a delicious and scrumptious Garlic Parmesan Baked Fries!

| INGREDIENTS

2 medium-sized potatoes

2 teaspoons of garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon of paprika

1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

1/3 teaspoon of salt

2 teaspoons of grated parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon of olive oil

After washing the potatoes, peel off the skins and cut them into fries-shaped thin pieces. As a trick, you can cut the potato in half on the longer axis and cut each half into long thin slices. Be careful not to cut them too thick, as it will be harder for them to get crunchy. You may not want to cut them too thin either or else they can burn easily in the oven.

Once they are cut, place the pieces in a medium-sized bowl and fill it with cold water. Let it rest for 10 minutes. This step is very important to get the starch out of the potatoes and help make them more crunchy. While letting it rest, pre-heat oven at 385 degrees Fahrenheit. When the potatoes have soaked in water for 10 minutes, drain out the liquid and dry the potatoes with kitchen towel. Add the olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt into the potatoes and mix well, making sure the seasonings are evenly distributed. Note: You can add less or more garlic powder, cayenne pepper,  and salt depending on your preferences. Make sure not to add too much of garlic powder or cayenne pepper since they may overpower the rest of the seasonings.

Prepare a baking sheet using aluminum foil and spread some olive oil on the foil in order to prevent the fries from sticking to it. Lay the potatoes flat on the baking sheet while making sure that they are not on top of another. This will make sure that the potatoes are uniformly cooked. Once the oven is ready, put the potatoes in and baked for 30 minutes. Depending on the power of your oven, the baking time may vary. But make sure that when you get them out, they have a nice, golden colour and that they are crunchy. Once they are done, sprinkle some parmesan cheese on the fries and voila! You have yourself a crispy-on-the-outside and soft-on-the-inside Garlic Parmesan Baked Fries! And you won't have to feel bad about eating fries anymore since they are a much healthier alternative to your regular traditional fried fries. Enjoy!