No Celebration is Complete Without Rémy Martin XO

Happy Lunar New Year! Here’s hoping you and your family have a healthy and prosperous Year of the Tiger.

The past few years have been tough, so I have taken this Lunar New Year quite seriously. I am ready to focus on the positive.

The tiger traditionally symbolizes bravery, wisdom, and strength, and I believe that is what this year will bring.

That’s why I have made a point to celebrate this Lunar New Year in a big way – and indulging in the limited edition Rémy Martin XO is one of the most fitting ways to do so.

Our Go-To Drink for a Luxurious Celebration

No celebration is complete without raising a glass of cognac to cheers.

But it can’t be just any old cognac. A celebration deserves the best, which is why Rémy Martin XO is a fixture for our celebrations.

Rémy Martin is the maker of one of the most well-known and luxurious cognacs globally – for very good reason.

Since 1742, Rémy Martin has been curating brandy made exclusively from grapes grown in the Cognac region of France. Hence the superior quality and flavor notes of Rémy Martin XO.

You can taste the difference, and there is no better taste than luxury for a celebration like Lunar New Year. 

Why I’m Thrilled with Rémy Martin Family Spirit Campaign 

As a longtime fan of Rémy Martin, I was thrilled to learn about the Rémy Martin XO Family Spirit campaign for the Lunar New Year.

The Family Spirit campaign highlights the bond between tradition and modernity across the generations of families and friends who gather at the table of Lunar New Year celebrations with the timelessness of Rémy Martin XO.

Each Lunar New Year, different generations of family and friends gather to celebrate the old traditions of our unique and powerful heritage while also embracing today. 

With two young daughters, Lunar New Year is very special. My girls have grown up in New York City, but I want them to know and respect the customs of our culture. During Lunar New Year, we have the incredible privilege of teaching the next generation about their heritage. 

I love that the Rémy Martin XO Family Spirit campaign honors my culture and traditions in such a meaningful way.

We can raise a glass while eating a traditional Lunar New Year meal and passing out red envelopes. 

The Rémy Martin XO is a Complete Sensory Experience

The lavish limited edition Rémy Martin XO is a complete sensory experience. 

From the second it arrived, I was in awe. 

The gift box alone is stunning, but then I opened it to reveal the most beautiful and intricate decanter.

The limited-edition glass decanter includes the ornate personal branding of Rémy Martin and several pictographs representative of Chinese culture.

What a unique and powerful way to honor my heritage. It is a treasure I will enjoy long after the last drop of cognac has been poured. 

Beyond the visual experience, the tasting experience is one-of-a-kind. One taste will help you see why Rémy Martin XO is beloved by connoisseurs. 

How to Elevate Lunar New Year with Rémy Martin XO

I always look forward to celebrating certain traditions during the Lunar New Year.

The limited-edition Rémy Martin XO makes it easy to celebrate these traditions – and elevate them.

The delicious flavor of Rémy Martin XO can be enjoyed on its own, but what makes this limited edition gift box even more special is that it includes a QR code that provides exclusive access to recipes for cocktails and food, specially designed for the Lunar New Year.

We enjoyed old fashions and crab rangoons using these exclusive recipes. 

While these were enjoyed during the Lunar New Year, I have no doubt we will pull out these recipes to elevate other celebrations throughout this Year of the Tiger. 

The Special Edition Rémy Martin Even Includes a Fun Activity

While drinking a glass of Rémy Martin XO is a special activity all its own, I love that this special gift set includes a Bầu cua cá cọp game board and dice. 

Bầu cua cá cọp is a traditional dice game that is popularly played during Lunar New Year. 

The special edition game set consists of a game board and three six-sided dice. Each side of the dice displays one of the six characters of the game (Deer, Gourd, Rooster, Fish, Crab, and Prawn). The game board also displays all six characters that correspond with the dice.

My husband and I loved throwing the dice and making our predictions as we sipped Rémy Martin XO.

Rémy Martin is Making It Easy to Look Stylish While You Indulge

In addition to releasing this lavish Rémy Martin XO for the Lunar New Year, they have also created a limited-edition Lunar New Year jacket with designer Sue Tsai.

The bold and edgy look is inspired by the Year of the Tiger, with detailed, vibrant tiger imagery. 

This exclusive piece is available at NTWRK for a limited time, with proceeds going to the Asia Society, whose purpose is to foster insight, encourage engagement, and elevate the voices of the Asian community.

Indulge with Rémy Martin XO and splurge on this luxury fashion collaboration. 

10 Tips to Make Family Dinners a Success

Sitting together and enjoying a meal together is important for families.

Anne Fishel, the executive director of the Family Dinner Project, tells Harvard EdCast, “I'm a family therapist, and I sort of half joke that I could be out of business if more families had regular family dinners because so many of the things that I try to do in family therapy actually get accomplished by regular dinners. There have been more than 20 years of dozens of studies that document that family dinners are great for the body, the physical health, the brains and academic performance, and the spirit or the mental health […].”

But, even though we know family dinners are beneficial, it doesn’t mean that they are always easy to pull off.

Life is busy, kids are picky, and sometimes conversations are awkward.

Here are ten tips to make family dinners a success.

1. Choose Quality Over Quantity

First, let go of the pressure to have a perfect family dinner every night of the week. As kids get more involved in extracurriculars, that just isn’t possible. Plus, if you attempt to do it every night, it loses some special glow. So instead, pick out a couple of nights of the week where you are going to go all-in for family dinner instead of making it something to check off your to-do list every night.

2. Plan Ahead

If you want your family dinners to be successful, you gotta plan for them to be successful. That means sitting down and looking at the calendar and seeing which evenings you actually have the time to do a real family dinner. Then, make it a priority. Put it on the calendar.

3. Order Meal Services

If grocery shopping and cooking stress you out (or you just don’t have time), sign up for meal delivery services. There are so many different options. You can choose to make your own grocery list and have groceries delivered, or you can order a meal kit that comes with all the supplies needed to cook an entire meal.

4. Get Kids Involved

Make dinner a family affair. Allow the kids to help you choose which meals. Let the kids help you cook. Have them set the table before and do the dishes after.

5. Encourage Conversations

Sometimes conversation doesn’t come naturally. If you are in a season when kids are less talkative, have an idea of some things to talk about during dinner. One idea is to go around and ask everyone to share the rose (the good) and thorn (the bad) of their day.

6. Cook Quick and Eat Slow

Remember, the idea of a family dinner is quality over quantity. You aren’t going to have quality time together or quality conversations if you are rushing. Instead, choose to spend less time in the kitchen and more time around the table. Sometimes this means just ordering pizza.

7. Include Yourself in the Conversation

One of the best things for your kids to see is you being a real person and not just a mom. You can do this by including yourself in the dinner time conversation. Share about your day, express your joys, fears, and frustrations. Let the table be the place where kids see you be the real you.

8. Turn Off Distractions

Make the table a distraction-free zone. Instead of looking at a screen, look across the table into each other’s eyes.

9. Celebrate Special Events

Make it normal and expected to celebrate special events with a family dinner. Whether it is a birthday, job promotion, or a school award, celebrate it together with dinner around the table.

10. Enjoy One Another’s Company

Last but not least, family dinners shouldn’t feel forced. They should be times when you get to laugh, relax, and enjoy one another’s company. Make it something you all look forward to rather than something you have to do.

Do Your Kids Ask for Snacks All Day Long? Here’s What to Do.

Whenever the kids are home from school during the summer, it feels like a constant battle over snacks. They seem to want to eat all day long! They will literally ask for a snack thirty minutes after breakfast. First, they can’t possibly be hungry. Second, they will eat me out of house and home if I let them eat snacks every time they ask.

Since they have been home for longer than normal due to COVID-19, I realize something has got to change. My overall goal is to buy the right snacks (more healthy snacks and less junk) and teach them to be more self-sufficient. With those two ideas in mind, I did some research about the kid snacking dilemma. What I discovered is that, like all parenting methods, snack plans are all over the place! I’m sharing the main principals I found, but it’s up to you to choose which snack method works best for your family.

Set a Daily Snack Limit

Some parents choose to set a daily snack limit. What this means is the parent decides a set number of snacks the child can have during the day. In some cases, the parents actually set out the snacks for the day in a bowl so that the kid can see what is available. Then, throughout the day, the child can select snacks from the bowl. Once the snacks are gone, they are out of snacks for the rest of the day. Once kids get used to this routine, they will stop asking mom for snacks every hour. * Fingers crossed. *

Make Them Earn It

Other parents use a system where children have to earn snacks. For example, some parents require kids to complete their schoolwork before they get a snack. Others have turned snacking into math lessons where kids have to “buy” their snacks throughout the day, with unhealthy snacks costing more than healthy snacks.

Opt for a Snack Schedule

One of the more common methods is to maintain a snack schedule. Our kids do not get snacks throughout the school day. There are set times when they get snacks. That’s why some parents choose to continue to have set times for snacks, such as once before lunch and once before dinner. It may be helpful to reach out to their teacher and ask when they get snack time at school.

Let Them Eat What They Want When They Want

Finally, some parents simply let their kids eat what they want when they want – as long as its in the house. In this case, kids can go to the pantry or the fridge and choose healthy snacks all day long. To make this work, parents will have to do prep work, such as chopping veggies and washing fruit, so that it is ready and available for kids to munch on.

I want to know what you do for snacking at your house. Let me know in the comments!

My Favorite Sweet Spots in NYC

I have a sweet tooth. There are few things that bring me as much joy as giving into a sugary temptation. And, according to doctors, I don’t have to feel guilty about it or give up sweets. According to WebMD, “Many nutritionists agree that when it comes to sweet treats, it’s not really what you eat, but how much and how often. ‘Small indulgences, even once a day, are fine,’ says Cindy Moore.”

So, I have chosen to follow the good doctor’s advice and plan to indulge my sweet tooth whenever I feel like it. I’m just not going to gorge myself on chocolate. I have a feeling this is something we can all handle. Am I right, ladies?

Fortunately, I live in NYC, which is essentially a sweets metropolitan as glamourous as Charlie’s Chocolate Factory. Everywhere you turn, you can find a bakery, a candy store, or an ice cream shop. If you live in NYC or plan to visit, these are some of my favorite places to indulge my sweet tooth without worrying about going overboard.

Levain Bakery

If you are craving the world’s best cookie, then look no further than Levain Bakery. They made it their mission to create the world’s best chocolate chip cookie – and they succeeded! While their chocolate chip cookies are out of this world, we love all the cookies they offer. They currently have five locations throughout New York.

Spot Dessert Bar

If you are looking for unique dessert dishes, then check out one of the three Spot Dessert Bar locations in NYC. They offer tapas desserts, including the super popular Green Tea Lava, as well as seasonal creations. Everything from the taste to the presentation is on point.

Hershey’s Chocolate World

If you want an entire dessert experience, then head to Hershey’s Chocolate World because it has a little bit of everything. Guests can shop Hershey’s logo products, personalize candy bar wrappers and Hershey’s kisses, and visit the Hershey’s Kitchen Bakery. Your senses will be overwhelmed in the best way possible.

Taiyaki NYC

If you want ice cream, try something new and head to Taiyaki NYC, which offers delicious matcha green tea and black sesame ice cream, among others. Known for their fish-shaped ice cream cones, they make the taiyaki waffles fresh on-site.

Plus, Other NYC Desserts I Am Dying to Try

With incredible chefs and bakers, the NYC dessert scene is incredible! You could eat a new dessert in this city every day without repeating. It’s amazing. NYC is where some of the most famous desserts have gotten their start (I’m looking at you, cronut!). You can enjoy macaroons, cupcakes, and ice cream galore, as well as totally unique treats. For example, at Dominique Ansel Bakery, you can enjoy a cookie shot glass filled with milk. Shoot the milk and enjoy a milk-soaked cookie as a chaser. Yum!

What is your favorite place to indulge your sweet tooth in NYC? Let me know in the comments so I can check it out!

Exploring and Eating Your Way Around Singapore

Recently, my husband and I went on the trip of a lifetime. We visited several countries in Asia over a few weeks (kid-free!), and it was an experience I will never forget. Because I know traveling abroad can seem overwhelming to some of my readers, I want to share my experience with you. Over the next few blogs, I will be telling you all about my great adventure. I’m hoping my trip will inspire you to take your own!

We are starting with our visit to Singapore where we did the touristy things but where we mostly ate, ate, ate.

Must See Places to Visit

Singapore is an amazing place with a mesh of cultures and is a beautifully planned city with tropical temperatures year-round. While there is plenty to see and do in Singapore, I want to highlight two of the places we visited in Singapore on our trip that I believe are must-sees for other travelers.

Flower Dome and Cloud Forest

A major tourist attraction and a part of the city’s initiative to turn Singapore into “City in a Garden,” Gardens by the Bay is home to the amazing Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest. The Flower Dome is the world’s largest glass greenhouse offering visitors the opportunity to view several different gardens, including an olive grove and a beautiful floral display that changes periodically. It also has a bistro where guests can sit and enjoy the beauty surrounding them. The Cloud Forest is a higher elevation offering mountain views and gardens that will traditionally be found in tropical temperatures. It also features the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Guests get to walk through the mist-filled Cloud Walk on their journey.

The New Jewel Changi Airport Expansion

We also visited the newly opened expansion at the Changi Airport called the Jewel. It is a major lifestyle hub with outstanding shopping and dining options. On top of the shopping and dining fun, the Jewel also follows Singapore garden concepts by including a lush forest valley and a waterfall. Get your camera ready when you visit because experts are predicting this will be one of the most Instagrammed spots in the world.

Eat and Eat Some More at Singapore Hawker Centres

One of the main reasons to visit Singapore is to eat. Singapore is foodie heaven. As a tourist, you absolutely must visit the Singapore Hawker Centres, such as the popular Maxwell Food Hawker Centre Market, which are basically like food courts offering guests tons of food options at decent prices. My husband and I pretty much spent our entire time in Singapore eating and talking about food. It was wonderful!

When you visit, be sure to try:

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken - Be prepared to wait to eat here as it is Michelin star-rated. Worth the wait!

Rojak, Popiah & Cockle – A popular stall offering popiah (fresh spring rolls) and rojak (a crazy delicious tropical fruit and vegetable salad)

Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig's Organ Soup – If you choose to try one of the most popular dishes in Singapore (pig organ soup), you must get it from here!

Nan Hwa Chang Fish Head Steamboat – One of the oldest fish head steamboat shops in Singapore is another must-visit on your eat-your-way-around-Singapore adventure.

Kams Roast Goose – When we visited the Jewel at the Changi Airport, we tried the roast goose, and it was amazing! It is a Michelin Star restaurant for a reason!

Ah Chew Dessert – No trip to Singapore is complete without a visit to Ah Chew Dessert. Yum!

The Must-Have Dish While Visiting Singapore

While we ate and ate and ate, I have to say the best Singapore dish we had was the classic chili crab at Long Beach Seafood. This seafood dish is stir-fried crab coated in a delicious and savory chili sauce. I’m still thinking about it.

Have I made you hungry? Sorry! Now, I’m off to start finding NYC spots where I can find similar tasting dishes. Wish me luck!

Stay Tuned for Even More Details About My Visit to Singapore!

These Small Changes Changed Everything About the Way I Eat

At the start of a new year, there is always so much pressure to lose more weight and get healthier. For most women, this turns into a cycle of dieting where we lose weight, gain weight, and feel less than. I’m over it.

Being healthy matters. But eating well and living a life you enjoy matters just as much. If we are not careful, we can develop a negative attitude towards food, which will make life harder and less enjoyable. This is why it is so important to have a positive attitude toward food.

Today, I’m sharing some of the small changes I made regarding the way I view food and dieting. These small changes have made such a big difference in my life. I bet you’ll notice a positive change when you change your attitude about food, too.

Dieting for the Sake of Dieting – No Thank You!

If you are dieting to get healthy, good for you! If you are dieting simply because everyone around you is dieting, just stop. While it is important to eat healthy, there is no reason to go overboard with juice cleanses and diets.

Let Go of Food Guilt

Please, once and for all, can we get over food guilt? There is already so much pressure on women to look the right way that we don’t need to feel pressure to eat the right way all the time. If you eat something not on the health menu, don’t beat yourself up. Tomorrow is a new day.

Stop Saying Never – Eat Some Treats!

Along with the above attitude, stop telling yourself you can “never” eat certain things. This will only make you want them more. It is perfectly fine to indulge in the occasional treats. Many nutritionists recommend following the 80/20 rule – try to eat healthy 80% of the time with a 20% cushion.

Eat When You are Hungry – Not for the Sake of Staying Busy

Many women fall into the habit of eating just to stay busy. Women get bored, and it feels better to be doing something – even something as simple as snacking. Instead, aim to eat when you are hungry. Before you pull a snack out of the pantry, ask yourself if you are actually hungry.

Enjoy Eating and Engage Your Senses

The more you enjoy eating, the better your relationship with food will become. For instance, take time to taste your food rather than rushing through a meal. Engage your senses. Notice the aromas and taste the different flavors. Marvel at the beautiful display on the plate before you at the restaurant – isn’t that half the pics on Insta? We love looking at beautiful food. Now, take the time to enjoy eating it!

Be a Positive Food Role Model

As a mom, it is important that I am a positive food role model for my daughters. Bad food habits can cause big problems like obesity and eating disorders. That’s why I believe it is important to teach them to eat well and enjoy every bite.

Back to School with Zarbee's Natural Elderberry Immune Support Gummies!

This post is sponsored by Zarbee's Naturals. The content and opinions expressed here are that of Inrachelshoes.

It is almost time for my girls to head back to school and I need to make sure they're healthy to start the school year. I also need to take care of myself so I can keep up with them! It's important to maintain a healthy immune system and that's why me and my family take Zarbee's Naturals Elderberry Immune Support Gummies – for both adults and children.

For us, it's important when taking immune-supporting products that they are made of wholesome ingredients. What's special about Zarbee's Naturals is their products are packed with antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. Specifically, the Elderberry Immune Support Gummies are packed with real elderberry and zinc along with the essential vitamins. Instead of using gelatin, Zarbee's Naturals uses a plant-based alternative called Pectin that gives a soft and chewy fun texture to the gummies. Their products are free of any gluten, artificial flavors, sweeteners, alcohol, and dyes whenever possible so you can feel good about bringing them into your home!

A great way to start our day before we head to school (work for me) is to make sure my girls each have 2 gummies and I have 3 gummies. That way I know I’m getting a little extra support for the rest of the day. Both me and my daughters have a little bit of fun taking our gummies so they don't think of it as a chore. When they see mommy eating the same thing as them and know mommy is being healthy, they want to also!

Start your day with Zarbee's Naturals Elderberry Immune Support Gummies and make it part of your routine so you and your family will always get that much needed extra support in staying healthy and getting through the day! You can check this out to learn even more about what makes Zarbee's Naturals products so special and where you can easily get them!

Lets make some delicious avocado popsicles!

The summer is coming and you always want think up something creative and fun for your kids to cool off and enjoy.  You also want to give them something that is healthy and tasty too.  I'm parterning with Avocados from Mexico in thinking up a fun treat to make with their fresh avocados that would be great for my daughters.  What better way then make some delicious avocado popsicles!

3 fresh avocados

2 cups of coconut milk

3 teaspoons of honey

1 fresh lime

We took turns scooping out the avocados and mashing it and mixing it in a bowl.  After that, we poured the coconut milk and and honey and squeezed lime and thew it all in a blender and let it work its magic.  Afterwards we poured the blended juice into a popsicle trays and put it in the freezer for about 4 hours.

After the 4 hours, they're good to eat!  The perfect treat for the hot summer!  Check out guacit.com for more fun facts about avocados and different recipes you can use to make with them!

Truly exquisite Omakase @ Ginza Onodera

Had the pleasure of eating at Ginza Onodera and experiencing one of NYC's most exclusive and private dinners ever.  The Omakase was like tasting different parts of Japan and experiencing the serenity of the islands.  An amazing dinner and truly one of a kind.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Gelso and Grand... a great Italian Restaurant in Little Italy

Had the pleasure of eating at Gelso and Grand.  A wonderful location with indoor and outdoor seating in a great location with amazing Italian food.  Favorites include the Tomahawk steak for two and the mozzarella and tomato appetizers.  Will be checking in again very soon.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize