Home Design Update: Living Room + Kitchen Reveal
Home Design Update: Living Room + Kitchen Reveal

It took us awhile to get here and we’re still not technically “done” decorating (we want to hang more art, mostly!), but I can finally say that our living room and kitchen are fully set up! Today I’m sharing my process + home inspo to piece together a room without it looking like a bunch of pieces randomly thrown together. We moved 2.5 months ago after buying this house, but it took a full month for the movers to even arrive with our stuff, we had lots of expenses with more urgent homeowner things

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LifestyleMinna LeeHome
What to Know About Buying a Home: FAQ's, Money, Real Talk
What to Know About Buying a Home: FAQ's, Money, Real Talk

Buying a house for the first time can be such an overwhelming, confusing process — it’s hard to know where to even begin! I’m answering all your FAQ’s here, like how much of a deposit we put down, how to figure out your home-buying budget, what to know about the real estate process, unexpected costs, getting a mortgage pre-approval, the pros and cons of renting versus owning, and so much more.

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LifestyleMinna LeeHouse, Home, Money
The Perfect “Recipe” for Sleep
The Perfect “Recipe” for Sleep

Everyone’s least favorite “holiday,” Daylight Savings Day is coming up on March 13th of this year, when we *spring* forward an hour and lose an hour of our day. To help offset that time change sleep deprivation, it’s ideal to prioritize your sleep in the days leading up to Daylight Savings Time– so here’s my little recipe for success on how to get that good rest ahead of the time change, so your body is well-supported!

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Well-BeingMinna LeeSleep, Body
We bought a house!
We bought a house!

Hilariously enough, I can’t believe I’m writing this and that we actually did it. We closed on the house TODAY!

I think in the blur of the last 2 years of the housing market frenzy that came with the way the panini changed a lot of our priorities and day-to-day needs, it seemed like a “we bought a house!” announcement was popping up on my Instagram feed every other day— from IRL friends, to influencers, it felt ubiquitous, and also a bit difficult to watch when we were sharing 600 sq ft of space and WFH 24/7.

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LifestyleMinna LeeHome, House
Lemon Raspberry Donuts (GF, Vegan, Nut-Free)
Lemon Raspberry Donuts (GF, Vegan, Nut-Free)

I’m not gonna lie, one of the things I have missed the most during this pandemic (aside from the obvious stuff) are baked goods from my favorite local gluten-free and vegan bakery. I used to see a client in that neighborhood weekly, and it became a tradition of sorts to pick up a little treat after our sessions.

They have amazing GF and vegan donuts, but they also have this lemon loaf with a pink-colored lemon frosting that I could probably lick by the spoonful. When one of my favorite food brands asked me to bake a spring-y recipe for a partnership, I jumped at the chance to create a little twist on the lemon loaf I love so much.

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RecipesMinna LeeTreats, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free
4 Eco-Friendly Quarantine Trends to Continue in 2021
4 Eco-Friendly Quarantine Trends to Continue in 2021

Over the last 5 years, I’ve been actively making more sustainable lifestyle changes— everything from using reusable tote bags and produce bags, bringing reusable tumblers with me, reducing usage of single-use products, altering my buying habits and supporting sustainably-made products. Then Covid hit, and a lot of our lifestyles changed. I was no longer running around the city all day for work, we were having to order groceries for awhile for our safety, and having more things delivered to our home in general. My waste footprint shifted, with more packaging used through deliveries and groceries and single-use items for sanitization protection, so I started thinking about ways I could up my sustainability efforts at home with this new lifestyle. Here are the 5 eco-friendly quarantine trends that showed up in 2020 that I hope to continue (and have other people do the same!) this year:

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LifestyleMinna LeeSustainability
My Supplement Routine: What I Take + Why
My Supplement Routine: What I Take + Why

In the past when I’ve gotten asked about my supplement routine, I’ve hesitated sharing because my specific regime is specific to me— but the truth is, supplements can benefit everyone. It’s nearly impossible for most people to get all of their daily requirements of vitamins and minerals solely through food these days, so it’s important that we supplement our daily routines with those vitamins needed for our bodies to optimally function for our individual health needs. I’m sharing what supplements I currently take to support my health, and why!

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Well-BeingMinna LeeBody, Hormonal Health
My Complete Puppy Guide: Training Resources, Shopping List, and Everything You Need to Know Before Bringing Your Puppy Home
My Complete Puppy Guide: Training Resources, Shopping List, and Everything You Need to Know Before Bringing Your Puppy Home

Where to begin?! It is actually insane how much I’ve learned in the 3.5 months we have had Benny. I will start with saying that I would say the overwhelming majority of people do not understand the amount of work / time that goes in to properly raising a puppy and how much your lifestyle changes. This guide will save you that time / research, and will make you feel as prepared as possible for when your baby comes home. It will be an overwhelming time, regardless, but this will make your life easier.

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LifestyleMinna LeeBenny, Puppy Life
The Best Grainless, Nut-Free Brownies
The Best Grainless, Nut-Free Brownies

Do you guys remember that nostalgic and very specific taste of brownies made from a boxed mix? I honestly miss that classic flavor and chewy texture, and I typically am not a fan of fancy bakery brownies because they feel like they’re trying to be something that they are not meant to be. Then add in my inability to eat gluten, dairy, or almonds, and it really only left me with mixes that were pure sugar and cornstarch or tahini brownies that were good but the taste of tahini was far overpowering for what I wanted a classic brownie to be.

Enter. These. Brownies.

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RecipesMinna LeeTreats, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free
Anti-Racism: Activism Resources, Education, and Stories.
Anti-Racism: Activism Resources, Education, and Stories.

In this blog post, I’ve put together the most helpful information I’ve found on how you can support organizations working to fight against racism, police brutality, and policy reform, along with educational resources for understanding white privilege, resources for unlearning + learning, and more sources of perspective to fill our brains with: books, movies, articles, and more.

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Well-BeingMinna LeeMind
Sun Safety Guide + Clean Sunscreen 101
Sun Safety Guide + Clean Sunscreen 101

Aside from the one time I used a tanning bed in high school (temporary insanity, otherwise known as peer pressure as a 15 year old girl), I’ve always been pretty aware of the importance of sun safety. My dad, a sun-worshipper, had a few cancerous moles removed, so I knew that sun safety was important.

But the problem was, I had (and still have) pretty temperamental skin with my hormonal acne. So it'd be pretty frustrating for me to wear sunscreen that made me break out or to reluctantly wear sunscreen without the cleanest ingredients in it. BUT before we dive into details about that, I wanted to share my tips on how to practice proper sun safety, and what to look for in a clean sunscreen:

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Well-BeingMinna LeeBeauty, Body, Wellness
Understanding Stress Management: How to Better Manage Your Stress
Understanding Stress Management: How to Better Manage Your Stress

No matter who you are or what you do, if you are a human with a functional brain and bodily system, you experience stress. From CEO’s to scientists to stay-at-home moms to bus drivers, stress affects us all. Because of this universally shared experience, we are bombarded with advice articles on “best ways to eliminate stress,” “how to de-stress,” and there are so many products sold that promise to help make you melt or “bust” the stress out of your life.

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Well-BeingMinna LeeMind, Mental Health, Self-Improvement
Zucchini + Potato Veggie Fritters (Gluten, Dairy, and Nut-Free)
Zucchini + Potato Veggie Fritters (Gluten, Dairy, and Nut-Free)

It’s funny when I look back at some older recipes on this blog because I read my words about what was going on at the time that blog post was published, and then I am immediately flooded with memories from that era. Well, the time I am currently living in is the height of quarantining and social distancing for the sake of Covid-19. In the past 30-ish days or so, we have cooked every single meal (except 1) at home— which is truly a world record of sorts for any New Yorker. Right now is a time in which I’ve been playing Macgyver with the contents of our fridge + pantry most days, strategically using produce by the order in which they expire so that we don’t waste anything.

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RecipesMinna LeeSnacks, Veggies, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free
Quarantine Fashion: Comfy Loungewear under $100
Quarantine Fashion: Comfy Loungewear under $100

Now that we are all living in comfies and rightfully given up on real pants, I feel as though many of us still want to look like we put in a *bit* of *effort*🤣and not look too sloppy. Because while yes, I fully support wearing comfies 24/7 aka “house clothes” as we Koreans call it, there is indeed a difference between wearing your old high school sport team teeshirt/sweatpants that have a worn out elastic waistband and a cute and comfy loungewear outfit— at least mentally, I still feel put together when I’m wearing cute comfies! I’ve rounded up an assortment of cute sweatshirts + sweatpants (all under $100 + many on extra sale!) that you’ll be excited to wear around the house.

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LifestyleMinna Lee