Recipe | Light Fettuccine Alfredo (Dairy-Free)

My inner foodie spoke to me this afternoon when I was thinking of what I should eat for lunch. Last night, we ate spaghetti so we had a bunch of leftover pasta. I was looking for a recipe that uses almond milk, and lo and behold, I stumbled upon this fettuccine alfredo recipe from Silk. If you're ever in the mood for something creamy (and carb-y), here is a fettuccini alfredo recipe that uses no butter, no heavy cream, and no cheese. Mind-blowing right?

You will need (serves 4)

• 16 oz fettuccine or courgetti (I used spaghetti since that's what I had left.)
• 3 tbsp. olive oil or soy margarine 
• 3 tbsp. flour
• 4 tbsp. vegetable stock or dry white wine
• 2 cups unsweetened soy or almond milk (if it's sweetened, your pasta will have a funny taste)
• 1/4 cup of lemon juice
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. white pepper
• pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• fresh garnish (optional)

1. Prepare pasta according to package.

2. While pasta is boiling, heat olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add flour and stock and stir for 2 minutes.

3. Add in the remaining ingredients except garnish and stir for about 3 minutes until everything thickens up. 

4. Remove from heat and toss in pasta. 

Have you found any healthy alternatives to classic dishes?

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Emily xx

Summer Nail Polish Favorites

Summer time is sandal time! (But to be completely honest, I wear flip flops 365 days a year, so I guess summer is just a socially acceptable time to reveal my toes.) As you can see, I have a great adoration for open-toe shoes, but feet are not always the prettiest things, so a bit of bright nail polish goes a long way! Whether you like to have matching mani's and pedi's or if you're into mixing and matching, here are my four favorite nail polish shades for a bit of fun in the sun.

Topshop Celestial | For those who don't know, I have a bit of a blue obsession. I went through the typical stages of liking pink and yellow, but I can say for certain that I am now a full fledged blue girl. (My latest love has been Greece, and I completely lust over the beautiful blue and white buildings, which is why I have made it my inspiration for decorating my dorm!) Back to the actual nail polish, I was stunned by this gorgeous creamy blue shade that reminds me a bit of a slightly darker (and cheaper) version of Essie's Bikini So Teeny.

Loreal Boozy Brunch | I usually don't go for shades this bright, but I mean this shade of orange is just so eye-catching! It looks gorgeous on the toes (and even more gorgeous with a tan.)

Loreal Club Prive | Again with the blues, Club Prive is the amped up version of a light blue and is the perfect bright summer shade for beginners.

Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Sure Thing | Even though I never really had a thing for Pokemon, I sure did learn one thing. You gotta to catch 'em all. Revlon's Colorstay Gel Envy is my favorite nail polish line of all time. The polishes are so opaque and have the best no-chip ability out of all the polishes I've tried. I can go a good week with very minimal chipping! I picked up this classic white shade for a crisp, modern manicure.

What are your favorite summer nail polish shades?

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Emily xx

Restaurant Guide | New York

Food has a very special place in my heart, even to the point where the only thing I researched before going to New York was places I wanted to eat at. Typical Emily. I also happen to be one of those (very annoying) people who obsess over pretty interiors whenever I go out to eat. If you ever want to stalk my food adventures, make sure you're following me on Instagram (@_emilyleung) because I promise, there is no greater joy than sharing all this beautiful food with you. With that said, here is my list of my favorite eats in New York ranging from places in Queens to Manhattan.

Nick's Pizza, Bluestone Lane, Little Italy

Nick's Pizza (Forrest Hills) | When I arrived that first morning on a red eye flight, I felt soooo groggy to the point where food didn't even make it on to the agenda. However after a four hour nap, I woke up to the sound of my aunt's voice asking if I wanted to go out and get some dinner. When she suggested pizza, I immediately flew out of bed. Ok, exaggeration here but let's just say New York is known for its fabulous pizza, and this place was no exception. Though pricier than your normal NY street slice, this pepperoni pizza was by far the best I have ever had. Complete with a thin crust, real mozzarella cheese (yes, the squishy ball), and thick, deliciously seasoned pepperoni, my first slice of the big apple did not disappoint.

Bluestone Lane Collective Cafe | After reading Tanya Burr's recommendations of places to eat in New York, I knew I had to take a visit. You can't go to an Australian cafe and not order their banana bread, so that is exactly what I did. Bluestone Lane is the perfect way to start off any morning, especially if you love some avocado on toast.

Chelsea Market | Though I was too full to actually eat anything here after eating at Bluestone Lane, the hustle and bustle of people combined with the smell of food was quite enticing. From tacos to Thai, Chelsea Market is one place I will definitely save my stomach for the next time I visit.

Veneiro's | Nestled in the heart of Little Italy, this decades old bakery is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. Their lobster's claw and creams puffs are not to miss out on!

Dig Inn, Five Leaves, Delicatessen

Dig Inn | My cousin called it the flower child of chipotle, and I quite frankly agree. We actually stumbled upon this place by accident when we were roaming the streets around Union Square looking for a place to eat. Pleasantly surprised, Dig Inn was a nice healthy meal after days of eating quite unhealthy food. I chose a tender braised beef with brown rice for my main course and added on sides of cauliflower mac and cheese and a spinach, mango, and raisin salad.

Five Leaves | After a successful thrifting adventure at Beacon's Closet, we turned the corner to eat at Five Leaves, an American bistro with Aussie accents. The interior had such a nice charm to it, and I swear I could feel the conversation flowing inside. My burger oozed fragrant juices, and man, did I wish I ordered their fries.

Carmine's | If you are ever with a large group and you're craving some Italian, Carmine's is the place to go. They are famous for their family portions, and let me tell you, they serve some huge family portions made for what I would say serves at least five people. Their chicken parm was delicious, and I swear I have never seen a larger piece of chicken in my life.

Delicatessen | I saved the best for last. This last stop was my favorite restaurant during my stay in New York. Placed in the middle of classy Soho, Delicatessen is any mac and cheese lover's dream. Their four cheese mac and cheese (first picture in this blog post) was the best I have ever had. I also sampled some of their apple pie brioche french toast, and man, that was the perfect way to end off my meal. A dessert disguised as breakfast, this lovely panko adorned french toast was so light and yummy. The wooden tables and cute serving dishes also made this the perfect classy brunch spot for a get together with your friends.

What are your favorite restaurants in New York?

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-Emily

Travel Guide | New York

I just got back from a crazy (fun) week and a half of walking, shopping, and ultimately, lots of eating. The last time I visited New York was in elementary school, so for a high school graduation trip, my cousin and I decided to take a visit to one our favorite places. It felt great to go on vacation without my parents for the first time! The whole "adulthood" thing has started to sink in, and this extra bit of freedom was quite refreshing. Most of the pictures below are from my Instagram (_emilyleung), so if you want to catch up with the rest of my trip (or the rest of my life in general), make sure you're following me there!

American Museum of Natural History, MoMA, our favorite subway stop

American Museum of Natural History | I remember going to this museum as a child and being amazed by all the animals inside. Even if you're not a history person, this museum is fascinating for anything from its exhibit on space to its vast collection of minerals and gems.

MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) | From an intriguing live piece of artwork called "Bag Piece" by Yoko Ono to the one and only "Starry Night" (let me say, I felt starstruck), I thoroughly enjoyed MoMA. All of the contemporary pieces were so beautiful to look at, and I would highly recommend taking a visit here.

Broadway Shows | If there's one thing you must do when you visit New York, it's seeing a Broadway show. I remember watching "Hairspray" for the first time when I was little, and from then on, I have been hooked onto musicals. This time around I saw "Les Miserables" and "Mamma Mia". Les Miz was such a treat to see after being a huge fan of the songs, and I certainly teared up a few times! "Mamma Mia" was my favorite though as it was so much fun to watch. I laughed countless times, and the last three songs made feel like I was at an ABBA dance party! The crowd was singing and dancing, and I couldn't have asked for a better last night. I would highly recommend waiting in line at around 9:15 a.m. for rush tickets the day of the performance. My "Les Miserables" ticket was $39, and my "Mamma Mia" ticket was $32! Rush tickets are usually partial view but to sit in the fourth row (despite having partial view) for "Mamma Mia" was something I definitely could not complain about.

Subways | Now that I'm back, I can't tell you how much I miss the subway! I loved listening to my music and watching the people come and go. There's no interaction when I'm by myself in a car, so it was nice to be around people on my daily ride into the city.

Coney Island, Beacon's Closet bag, 5th Avenue

Coney Island | This is definitely a tourist spot, but nevertheless, it was quite fun to spend a day by the beach. My cousin and I bought a pass to go on a few rides, and though we felt a bit queasy afterwards, it was a nice way to cool off from the heat and humidity. Our favorite ride was the swinging ferris wheel! If you have a sweet tooth, make sure to try out their lemonade as it was quite delicious.

Beacon's Closet (first picture above) | I have to admit I was a thrifting virgin before this, but Beacon's Closet opened up my eyes to the world of thrifting. This store had such a beautiful interior and contained a very curated selection of designer clothing at a phenomenal price. I bought a beautiful romper for $18, and I am in love with it!

5th Avenue | If you want to hit up all the major retail stores, make sure to take a visit to 5th Avenue. Although more than half of the stores are quite off budget for me, I loved walking among the diverse crowd of people from sweaty tourists to busy New Yorkers.

Next week, I will be sharing about all my favorite restaurants in New York, so don't miss out on that post!

Have you ever been to New York?

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-Emily

Favorite Posts | May 2015

I've always loved reading about other blogger's favorite posts every month, specifically those from Sheri (Behind the Frames) and Paige (The Joys of Being Paige). So, I thought it was about time I'd share my favorite posts from May, and hopefully give you some great reads to start off your month. The majority of my favorite posts this month have been food related, but with the start of a long summer break, I am excited to try some of these recipes out!

Two Ingredient 5 Minutes Crepe Recipe | Breakfast? Dessert? Crepes are good anytime once I master them with Giada's simple recipe.
Mismatched Foundation? Try this Tip! | Finding the correct foundation shade (especially at a drugstore) is one of my biggest challenges, and this brilliant tip from Ling will have your minds blown. She's one crazy amazing beauty chemist in the making.
Chai Ice Cubes | I am a huge sucker for chai lattes. I saw a similar technique on Buzz Feed using coffee, but it never dawned on me to try it with chai tea!
30 Life Lessons All University Students Will Learn | I will be starting college (or university which I personally think sounds a million times cooler) in the Fall, so I really enjoyed reading this to get a heads up on life as a college student.
50 (more) Blog Post Ideas | For those of you needing some new blog post ideas, here is a whopping 50 (more) blog post ideas from Mandy.
Green Tea and White Chocolate Tiramisu | Tiramisu is another one of my food soulmates, and when I saw this green tea and white chocolate tiramisu recipe, I knew we were meant to be.
DIY: Grow Your Own Initials | As I'm in dorm planning mode, I love looking at crafty items I can make. Though this is not super practical for a dorm, I hope to make this for my future apartment one day.
Two Fruit Smoothie Ideas | The Banana, Mint, and Lemon smoothie was really what caught my eye. How refreshing does that sound? Giada has outdone herself again.

I am off to New York tonight, so I'm bursting with excitement right now. I can't wait to share some great posts with you soon, and I hope you are all having a great start to June!

What were some of your favorite posts in May?

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-Emily