What's in my June BirchBox?

Happy Holidays!!! (Joke) It just feels like Christmas around here. I just got my June +Birchbox full of awesome goodies that I already started playing with.

I'll start with my favorite two items (top right image) and make my way down.
1. A neon color nail polish from Color Club's Wanderlust collection in collaboration with BirchBox. I saw a girl wearing a similar color on her toes a couple days ago and loved it. Now I get to have my own nails shine with this neon laquer.

2. Exfoliate foaming cleanser from Suki. Just a tiny bit of this product is enough. I took a small amount to try it on my hand but had to exfoliate my full left arm. Can't wait to try it in the shower. By the way, it smells like lemon which for me is delish!

3. Itty bitty files from +Tweezerman. Perfect to carry around in the purse, and to leave at the work desk for a nail emergency.

4. Postcards inspired by +Birchbox locations. That includes a Cheers! card all the way from London. ;)

5. Glossy Kiss lipstick from Mirenesse. This lipstick can give you a matte or glossy finish plus it can also be used as a blush.

6. Couture La La sample from Juicy Couture. I tried this product at Sephora a few months ago and it's not my taste but it does smell soft and familiar. I probably have some friends that own it! :)

Follow me on instagram.com/cheerscristalia to receive my daily updates on other products and fun stuff. Do you currently own any of these products or brand. Tell me all about it in a comment below!

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Best of Oahu, HI

Aloha! This time not from Hawai'i but from my apartment's living room in New York. Depressing? VERY...I miss Hawaii. What is it about vacation, or maybe coming back to work, that makes us feel sooo miserable? I honestly don't know but, third day in the office and I'm feeling sick.

Alright, enough with the complaining. I've been telling myself all day to stop whining and I am doing just that. Let's cheer up with some highlights of my lovely travel to a Hawaiian island.

Oahu is a fantastic place. The rest of the Hawaiian islands are still on my list of places to visit but for now I am checking off Oahu from the list, and recommending my favorite things from that amazing little island.

The Guide: Discover, Honolulu, Waikiki, & Oahu from +Lonely Planet 

This is the first travel guide I've bought and it was perfect.
It's organized by sections (Honolulu, Waikiki, North Shore, Windward Corast, etc.)
which made it really easy to plan every day.

Best Beach: Waimanalo Beach Park.

Beautiful clear water and perfect sand. We visited Waimanalo on a rainy day and it still turned out to be my favorite.

Best Hike: Koko Head.

Aloha from the top of Koko Head! You will get the best workout from hiking to the top of 
this inactive volcano crater. At one point I thought about crawling my way to the top - that's how good it was.

Best Food: Shrimp Scampi from Giovanni's Shrimp Truck.

I don't have words to describe how good this Shrimp Scampi tasted. Giovanni's truck is located on the North Shore of Oahu. Surrounded by many more food trucks all selling delicious seafood but Giovanni's Shrimp was the best shrimp I've ever had...ever.  The shrimp is cooked and served with the shell - I believe that's one of the tricks of such deliciousness but a real hassle when hungry.

Best Dessert: Haupia (coconut) Malasada from Leonard's Bakery

Ooh, yum! This portuguese-style doughnut was the perfect dessert.  Obsessed with coconut I had to order the haupia filling but I've heard the chocolate one is delicious too. 

Best Entertainment: Hula Show in Kuhio Beach. 

Great free Hula show in Waikiki. One of my favorite Hawaiian things is the Hula dance because it's composed of  harmonious wave-like movements. Very peaceful. 

Have you been to a Hawaiian Island? Share your favorite travel foods, beaches, and hikes in a comment below. Mahalao (thank you) & cheers to more vacations!

The hubby & I at Lanikai Beach (North Shore) . My favorite, perfect fit bikini from +Ann Taylor find it here.

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tea talk!

Forget about coffee, nowadays tea shops are popping up all over the city. From the +Starbucks like, +Argo Tea Cafes to +DAVIDs Tea Shops.

These are the go-to spots for tea lovers and those of us who want to experiment with new drinks.

David's Tea got my attention because of it's branding. Graphics are modern using use minty green and white colors and a bold sans serif font. The shop carries around 150 types of teas from around the world including the largest collection of organic teas in North America.

Argo Tea shops are similar to Starbucks stores - very lounge like with comfortable chairs that invites us to read a book while sipping on delicious tea. They also have tables that make it a great get together spot for a quick meeting.

I won't tell you I have a favorite tea shop because I don't but I definitely do love tea and hope to one day replace my morning cup o' joe with a healthy cup of tea. For now, I will continue to enjoy both drinks.

Tell me about your daily drink love in a comment below. Are you a tea lover? If so, where do you go to buy your teas and how do you like it? Hot, cold, with milk? Tea cheers from me to you!

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