The creeping of fall 2016

Wow what a day!

The windows and front doors are open to let all this refreshing oxygen particles and what not wash away the house.  It's like an air wash!

I think it might also start cooling down for good now.  I hope this is it!  So ready for cooler weather. 

Why I read

Reading is like a way to search your soul - what it's made of, what's inside it, what's afraid of, what it needs, what it wants... soul searching has brought me to reading. 

I love reading different types of books - I don't have a genre or type that I prefer.  I read whatever calls for me there in the library.  I love getting most of my readings from the library because it's where I let magic happen.

I'm always delighted to be approached by the numerous books that were brought to me this way. 

One I really enjoyed by such method - was A WEAK AMERICAN IN RUSSIA & UKRAINE.  It was written the way I would have written with 20 years more expat experience and smart cynicism.  I totally envied this book.  I wish to write A WEAK HALF KOREAN-FILIPINO-AMERICAN IN SOUTH KOREA one day. 

I buy books sometimes, only when it's on sale.  I love the bargains online.  Even for marked up English books in bookstores here, I can still find cheaper books this way through their awesome coupon sales.  Getting stacks of books is like being delivered a new you - in advance.

My all time favorite "thank goodness I found you" book, is TOTAL FREEDOM by J. Krishnamurti.  This book has changed my life.  Many books have, but not as powerful as this one.  As soon as I got in 1/6th of the book, I ordered one online (no sale).  

I am all for any wisdom and wise words.  

Also another favorite of that genre is the essays of MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE. 

I also love reading things such "here, this is this way, because it's proven to be so" - or here are the ways it would be because it is linked to this and that. 

Some thing of that type, but with wise life anecdotes was A MORE BEAUTIFUL QUESTION by Warren Berger.  I love this book.  I would have to get a copy of my own when sales hit.  A keeper for sure.  It sums up my theory of question, question, question!

There were some interesting fun books that got me through reading it like I was hungry for sponge cake.  Some books just sucks you up like vacuum.

I also love the delicate beautiful books like THE PAPER GARDEN. 

Reading has brought me so many different lights... I can't sum it up in words.  I also have to thank the library here for surprising me with so many great books.


Thank goodness for reading.

Reasons for the pause

and so it goes on.

hope to be back to the beauties of the smallest details of Korea. 

I've been doing some things - going outside of the country - realizing this and that, pondering what nots and why I bother even writing my thoughts down (this blog).

but I guess it's nice writing those things down and looking at them down the road and realize how much you've changed.  I think change is indeed the constant in life.

my beliefs, thoughts and values have changed a lot.  a lot.

and some can say that I'm fickle - actually I am in some ways.  I just listen and do what hits me at the moment.  there's a lot of wrong in that - but most of the time, it fits me the best.  I don't like regretting things later. 

so bare with the changes - and that will be pretty much what's constant in this blog.

toila!

oh yeah...

this is why I am good without having children!

hah

They make lives so complete :)

View from 28th floor

It's amazing what a difference a house makes.  Or even a subway station away makes.

We moved only one station away and our lives are SO much better and happier already!  There are so many things to list to why things are much different and better now.



First of all, I don't feel "stuffy"!   at all!  I can look out our living room and see the blue sky and clouds.  No building blocking the view.   I don't feel "cooped up" now.

two:  
Our neighborhood feels humbler, more people friendly from the "high nosed" community we were living in.

Just because we were in a "famous name brand" apartment complex, our old neighborhood felt so snooty!  You can just feel it in the air.  FYI:  I am an empath that feels energies.  Look it up online if you are one!

The difference in our new place is that, since our apt building houses small to very large homes (differ in prices), nobody acts like they're better than the other.   I haven't gotten that feeling or felt the energy.  There's a mix of classes (not that it matters), but you can feel the "variety" and somehow, it feels much warmer here.

I hate to say that the environment makes a difference, but it does.  Sure, you can live somewhere not so great and feel great too.  But it makes it so much easier to feel a "happier warmer energy" where you are living.




3)
Already, we are loving our new home.  We haven't heard any neighbors talking next door (yes, we used to hear our neighbors talk, not that we were trying).

This building we are in was constructed in 2004, which most Koreans know, the older apts have better, thicker walls.  hah!  Our previous apt was built in 2011..and you could hear pretty much everything (babies crying, fighting couples, calling their dog,...etc etc..).

BIG LESSON:  live only in "older" apts.  I'm not sure what the cut out year is.  I heard that the recent govnt allowed a huge leeway on regulations on wall thickness, building law, etc... etc... so the newer apts aren't always great.




4)
I haven't had the need to cook!  We have restaurants in our lower floors!  So much variety and cheaper too!  I couldn't describe how awesome it is.  And they're not just "blah food" places either.  So thankful.



5)
We have grocery store in our building.  And they have great fruit selection and decent prices.


6)
Our building is connected to the subway.  No walking, busing home.


7)
Our neighborhood has great restaurants just behind our building is the "restaurant street".



Because of this new home, we are appreciating Seoul more and more.

Amazing how my perception changes just like that.

I tell ya, the only constant thing is CHANGE.




namaste

Exo xoxo

Oh my... Who knew a boyband could change my life.

Well, kind of.

Because of EXO, I feel "younger".  Like 16 year old giddy girly young feeling.

No, I don't have the "hots" for the EXO members.  I respect them so much for the hard work they put in their videos, perfs, albums..etc.  You can imagine how much these guys work.

I respect the boys so much.  Considering the youngest member is 11 years younger than I am..heh!  It's more like an adoration for the boys.  I haven't liked a boyband like this since I was actually a teenager!

Who knew a boyband could make a 32year old lady feel giddy and happy.  Which means more "happy hormones" floating in my body to make my immune system healthy and strong = in turn cells younger and happy healthy mind and body! (nerdy me!)


And I'm so thankful for that!  Who cares how you're supposed to feel and act.  Age is really nothing but a number.  

I stopped counting my age, nor do we (my husband and I) celebrate our bdays, bc it's really just a number.  Once I reached 28, counting my age felt unnecessary.  It even feels forced to celebrate it. 


So 30year olds, let the Kpop boybands make you feel giddy and young.  Because feeling like a 16 year old girl is good for you (in turn your health, vitality, soul).

We adults, stopped acting with our hearts.  We think of how to act according to what society makes us think we should act.

Forget all that.  For now, I feel like I'm 16!

And that's all good with me :)



And here's to my favorite EXO member:  Xiumin (Minseok)

giddy giddy happy happy

Another set of online plant purchase

 After settling down to our new apt, mission one:  get more plants to fill up the space.

They arrived and are beautiful!

it says "live plants, please take caution"

wow, excellent packaging!!

plant intact

Jack sniffs.  Those are freebies of plant food!

oh laid out to be repotted

Jack sniffs

These plants were about 2500won each.  It was super super cheap.  And only 2500won shipping free. I am very happy with the purchase.

Just look at the packaging!  And it arrived the next day I ordered them.  This is why I love online shopping in Korea.  You can get great things at great price and service.

My plant purchase this time were 7 in pots in total.  All very healthy.  It's been 2 weeks now and they are thriving! I will be ordering more from them soon.

I have about 50+ potted plants in our home now.  I have this tendency to fill a sun lighted  area with a plant.  I have to slow myself down.  It's like an addiction.

One of the reasons I hesitate to travel much is because of my plants...sigh.  My cats, oh they're fine by themselves (jk), but my plants need TLC everyday.  That's the only downside to having plants.  You have to look after them like babies (over exaggeration).

With the air quality in Seoul (and most cities), having plants at home helps, also great for sucking up the heat during summer and gets it warm and moist in winter.  You can't go wrong with having plants! :)

afternoon nap

resting peacefully this drowsy afternoon...

The story of my life

For a long time, I had a hard time figuring out where to put myself.  I am half Korean and Filipino  + American (KoreanFilipino-American??).

I was raised in the jungle (playing under huge papaya trees and delicate star fruit trees) in Philippines (amazing memories), studied Korean culture when I was in grade school in Korea, and grew up in the states as a rebel (trying to figure who I was).

 

Everyone makes their own experiences from the same thing.

I came back to Korea because partly I didn't really know who I was.

I didn't fit in America - I graduated with a 4 year degree and didn't feel like I was born to work a 9-5 job and do what everyone was doing.  I left the states to find myself.  

I had no relatives in Korea (long story)  - but I knew that I needed to be alone and figure things out on my own. 

I hated being asked why I came to Korea when everyone wants to be in America.

I would get asked about my real heritage - I was an American, but not quite Korean looking... Koreans were damn curious.

It's a love and hate relationship, like your family/relatives.  You love them, but sometimes, you just don't want to...  It's like that.  Korea is that to me.

But I've come to accept Korea for the great things.

I have an easy life here because I am Korean blooded (they keep my Korean name in my ARC btw as a reminder?).   My visa is 3 years and I can do what I want (kind of). 

I am also very fortunate that I don't have to work at a 9-5 job because I don't have to have a car/house(=tied down).   I feel almost sick to my stomach thinking how that concept is the success platform of a college grad.  

I can do what I want here (thanks also to my husband who supports my many dreams).  Korea is a good place to start a business if you know what you're doing.  Many Korean-Americans are changing the food scene for one.  It's exciting to see the changes. 

I've traveled well and seen a few countries being in Korea.  I probably wouldn't have traveled much being in USA (media/money/life style?).



It's funny how it's just a perception.  It took a while for me to get it.

I hope everyone makes the best out of everything given to them.  Or just do what they want and be happy.


You know just be happy.

photo credit: Watching telly, drinking wine... photo credit: one daisy, two daisy via photopin (license)via photopin (license) photo credit: 212/365 Wash Away the Past via photopin (license)

hello Spring!

The only permanent thing about life is change.  Someone said that, it wasn't me.

“Change is the only constant in life.” ― Heraclitus.

We will be staying in Korea for a long time.

I had my "down" time here while trying to figure things out.  To keep living in Seoul or go back to the rural American life (not suburbia). 

We just signed a 2 year lease in a new place (one subway station away).  We're excited for the change.

My posts will be more positive and fun - I'll try not to be so cynical ^^

It will be a busy week of moving..so for now, until next time!

Enjoy the warm weather here!

I blog about my thoughts

it's strange.  a recent spike of comments have been about "my thoughts are wrong" etc.. the fact is that, it probably is to you.  why even bother posting and wasting your time.  haters are gonna hate.

there is always another side to everything.  that's life. 

im not writing an article on msnbc or a worldwide journal, so it's not meant to be universal, or even right.

save yourself your time and trouble from being angry or insulted by my thoughts.  it's really not worth it to you.

do you come here to read about my citations and facts and correct observations?  i hope not, because if you are, then you're in the wrong place.  my blog is solely about what i think.  i don't stress about the details of my writing.

blogging is about my idea and about what i think and what i like.

move on and don't read if you don't agree.  it's that simple.

good old USA

just came back from a much needed visit home, U S of A.

we enjoyed lots of drive thrus to Krispy Kreme for one,

"2 original glazed and 2 med coffee" for around $3 - can't beat that.

I love America.

You can't get prices like that here in Korea - which saddens me so much.

I enjoyed my share of hoagies, WAWA stops, soups, and rubens... ahh, it's American baby.


and I'm back here in Seoul with dusty polluted hair.

sure, pessimistic?  nope, just being realistic.

it's hard coming back to something like this.

over priced coffee for one

and you can't walk out of the door without putting yourself together

nor a (air)mask on,

I miss the good old America.


I got used to getting out of bed to a diner

unlimited coffee and such

I guess it takes some time for me to realize what I had

it's all a perception really.


I used to adore Korean city life style,

but I am getting too irritated of the "fluff".

I want to walk out of the house with pjs on and not care,

that's America baby.


I'm coming back soon to be that lazy sleepy head diner person

and I can't wait.

some things are good for others and some not

it's all how you take it, your take on what's good for you.


Korea I loved you, but I really really adore American life style now.

I guess I've changed.

I miss the uncaring part of it.

And all the cheap coffee and donuts and such.

soon, we will reunite and I will blend in like the good Americans.

Hi How are you?  GREAT!  THANK YOU! AND YOU?!





-by me

health log for 2014

my body amazes me on how it works and fails me at times.



2014 health/food log:

butter, root veg soup, baked sweet potatoe

• I crave and eat butter, fat, lard, innards - much needed for hormone production..etc. 
• I watch out for "cold food" because it shocks my stomach and slows down digestion (I am a "cold body" type). 
• I am compatible with "warm foods" (chicken, ginseng, root vegs, warm soup/tea...)
• I have a highly sensitive stomach (anxiety/stress triggers indigestion).
• I watch out for additives(food).
• I drink water when I'm thirsty (not chugging it just bc).  It dilutes my stomach acid.

• I am not scared of "sugar", but don't crave it as much (occasional chocolate cake, yes)

• I watch out for "processed food"(choco pie stuff).  I snack on baked sweet potatoes.

sweet sweet potatoe

 

butter stocking up

• I love a good gyro.  lamb, beef, pork. give it to me, yes please.

•  I do short intense workouts at home.  I swing around a 12~16kg kettle bell around for 10~20mins until it gets tiring.  
• My reason in working out and gaining muscle is so that I can eat mcd's breakfast (seriously, they are pretty good in Korea).

 and occasional coffee and ice cream

 

 it's pretty much called balance...

 

to a healthy & tasty life!

Koreans beauty secret - pooping well!

I finally found a yogurt drink that works, and works works works really well!   

beats all the other yogurt drinks out there.  price:1400won

about 14g of sugar, 3g protein

I took a drink of this bottle this morning and before lunch, I'm cleaning it out.  After the deed, I physically feel lighter, and my dinging light headache is gone too!

I had my share of "yogurt drinks" out in the market that states of "release" - but none of them worked until this one!  You can actually feel your stomach churning and working to pile the "garbage" out to "a great release" :)
 

The body never lies.  When trash sits in your body too long, it does affect you negatively.  For me, I feel "heavy" and sluggish when I wake up, and I also get a light headache.   This is something I'm finally understanding about my body.  It's talking to me and I'm finally reading it.

Koreans aren't shy about this topic.  A Korean actress said that her biggest beauty secret was "Kwe-byun": it means "awesome-pooping", or to put it mildly, "great release".   Koreans are on the right track here.   Less toxin in body means greater overall body image (skin, glow, hair,..) and better mood too.

My hubby and I aren't shy about it either.  Our conversations would be, "Did you poop today?"  - "How did you poop today?"  We know how important it is to throw the "bad stuff" out of our body.  One of our health dos: poop well, really well.

There's a lot of topics on what to put into our body, but not as much as how to "release" bad stuff out of the body.  All that you put in has to come out somewhere, right?!  I read that you can carry up to a few pounds(kgs) of poop with you... yuck!

I sometimes think about what I'm putting in my mouth in dinner - and think I better churn this out ASAP!  Let's start thinking about that.  Where does all that stuff you eat go?  And why are you feeling so "not so good" lately.  No?


We have to be extra super healthy to battle the pollution here.  For one, the air pollution here is getting ridiculously disgusting.  Even my brother from the states who visited a few weeks ago actually felt the difference in the air one day when it was up to 120+ (The norm is about 20).   He actually stopped working out (outside) and came inside the house to avoid getting any sicker.  Yuck!  And we started wearing our masks outside when the air got upto 100+.

It's vitally important to stay healthy in this age.  We're combating a lot of pollution (air, additives in food and products, radiation and wifi..etc etc..).  

So yes, poop!  Poop well so your body can get rid of the toxins that sits in your body that is just making you sick, sicker by the day..

*TMI, I go about twice a day.  And that's my normal.  When I don't go twice, I know I have to look into my diet and correct it.  A simple steamed brocolli/beet/vinegar/lemon salad does good for the body (any fresh salad!).  I also started drinking ACV(apple cider vinegar) from my brother's tip to keep my digestion in good shape (about a tablespoon a day in total, or add to food).


There's a lot to learn and do to stay in top health.  At the end, without good health, you can't do anything!  Nothing.


photo credit: Jiuck via photopin cc photo credit: chotda via photopin cc photo credit: kurichan+ via photopin cc

Gratitude Friday

Thankful friday..

young Jack

* Beautiful warm sun shiny mornings that lights up the whole house

* My plants (especially Mr. Tree) getting their much needed sun today

* Caressing and touching my husbands warm strong hands...I admire how strong and beautiful they are.

* Big warm tender hugs from my hubby

* Waking up to all the freedom to do what I want

* Being warm and healthy after not feeling so good few days ago

* Having laughs and giggles from Jack and Mason.  Their antics are too funny and cute.

* Our warm cozy apartment

* Being able to taste fresh food better.  Boiled potatoes never tasted so good.  Boiled carrots too!  Dipped in a bit of sea salt - everything tasted heavenly.  Over seasoning is a crime when the ingredients are this tasty to begin with.  I am thankful for being able to appreciate and taste food for what it is.