Hump day cuteness: Boong-uh-bbang (SBS show)

Meet 6 year old(Korean age) Jang Joon-seo!

Joon-seo and his actor dad

He appears on this show called Boong Uh Bbang where celebrities and their kids will play games and hang out(talk show) - it's pretty addicting and super cute!

The grandpa (actor) appears with his 2 grand sons.  He adores his grand kids and they adore him back - they call him "hal-bu" :)

It's also one of the top shows on Sunday night (SBS, 6pm). 

Here's Joon-seo and his "talent" - dancing! 

can your resist his cuteness?!!!

My ovaries are tingling!!!

Sol-Nal (Korean New Year) gift from hubby's work..

In Sol-nal, most people will get a "gift" from their company and relatives.  Employers must(etiquette more like) give gifts to employees as a thank you gesture, and relatives(per household) exchange gifts with each other.

This is much more different from Christmas in Korea where gift exchanges are rare except for children and between young couples.  It's a surprise 25th is still a holiday despite the scarcity of Christmas spirit - yes, you just got get one day off.

You can guess what gifts are the most popular - necessities, like food, shampoo, oil, tuna cans..etc.    Korean traditional goods are also highly prized like Korean beef called, Hanwoo to specially dried fish called Jo-gi.

This year, my husband received this gift from his company - a delivery of iced package of different cuts of Hanwoo.  As you might know, I love a freebies!  Hanwoo is also "not cheap" - where US and Australian beef is readily available and more affordable. 

iced packed bag of Hanwoo

I'll definitely be making bulgogi and galbi with these meat for sol-nal! :)

for Bulgogi

Renewing apartment contract in Seoul & concerns

There's a lot of things to consider in 2013 for us - one of them is,


decide whether to 

Renew our apartment contract(2 year contract) or Move...

where most Seoulers live - apartments

we're waiting on our landlord to inform us whether they want to raise the rent (two months before contract ends) and we also have to let them know whether we want to move (one month before our contract ends).  If they want to raise the price - we're not likely going to renew.   And if I find a "good value" apartment (to be able to save more), we will move.

It's like a little silent game we're both playing...  But I can say that, living in Seoul is getting expensive - in many ways.  Rent(wolse/jeonse) is rising when apartment prices are falling in Seoul.  It's expensive to buy a "house"(apartments) - so people often rent for 2 years.  It's a vicious cycle of moving/saving/hoping to get your own home one day.  It's the reality in Seoul (Korea).

Grocery prices are also rising.  I haven't seen such a steep increase in price like this since 1000won kimbap became 1500won couple years ago.  Things aren't getting cheaper. 

Electricity is also rising about 4% this year.  It's tough, even for us, and we call ourselves very fortunate...



That's my two cents about "reality" here in Seoul.  

There's the glamourous life of the neon lights, fancy cafes and coffee shops... but there's also the hard reality that Seoul is getting to be a tougher place to live... more Seoulers moved out of the city last year - while the neighboring Kyunggi saw an increase in residents - you can guess where they moved to...not a bad idea really.

It's also a concern of mine when "luxury items" (bags, cars..etc) are supposedly the "it" items sought after many young Korean professionals here.  It's a concern.  I hope more people will see that "trying to fit in" with everyone is going to catch up eventually.   Korea grew up fast, I think it's time to slow down a bit and smell the kimchi.

I hope Koreans will realize that having a certain bag or car doesn't define them.. at least I won't be judging them and hope they won't judge me by my DIY haircut and "free" canvas bag. 




photo credit: perZpective via photopin cc 
photo credit: Wen Cheng Liu via photopin cc
photo credit: Stuck in Customs via photopin cc

Emart's salmon sushi

My husband often picks up this salmon sushi platter from Emart.
신랑이 가끔 이마트에 스시를 사 먹는다.

eating at the food court on upper floor (Emart - Gongdeok)

It's around 9000won(can't remember the exact price)...tastes.. okay..
9000원 정도 되는데.. 맛은 뭐... 그냥 그렇다..그다지 맛있지도 맛없는건 아니지만..

What more can you expect from a grocery sushi?!  :P
 
마트 스시니까 그렇겠지!

Paris Baguette - Cheesecake & Black Forest Cake

I'm quite lazy nowadays.  I haven't baked a cake in a while and often - very often - opt out to buy cake pieces to satisfy my cravings.

Down the street - Paris Baguette is conveniently located.  We can pick up cakes in individual pieces.  Thank goodness I don't give in the urge to buy a whole cake...^^

Their cheese cake is a good staple.

Their black forest cake is also pretty good!  It's not bad for a "chain" bakery~ ^^ 

 Paris Baguette I approve of your cakes!