Korean Wedding Diary: Finding a Planner

Hey, Lovelies! Sorry for the super long hiatus! LF is now LH (the LovelyHusband), and we've moved back to the States! Even though we've had two weddings by now, I'm going to resume the posts where I left off. As both an outlet for my enthusiasm and to inform about differences between American and Korean weddings, I'm going to continue to dedicate a portion of the blog to wedding planning in Korea. Feel free to ask anything and everything! ^^

Ok, so your bf proposes:

And you're all like:

I ugly cried for a few minutes tbh.

And then after discussing an approximate date, the next step is usually to find a wedding planner. No, I love DIY brides and I totally DIY'd my second (much smaller) US wedding. However, Korean weddings are large and complicated. Most couples need a planner to facilitate meetings between parents and schedule everything. my parents weren't there, but LF is a very busy man and didn't have a lot of time to be calling all of these vendors and scheduling tours/meetings. That coupled with the fact that my Korean is barely passable made a planner necessary for us.

There are different ways to go about doing this. One of the first options is to attend a wedding fair at one of the big shopping centers like COEX or IFC. LH and I did this, and it was overwhelming but informative. Basically, you go through a bunch of vendors speed dating style to discuss tuxes, dresses, hanboks, venues, photos, etc. It wasn't extremely helpful to us except for to confirm that we were definitely on a budget. 

And to take photos in front of all the pretty flowers!

Overall, I really enjoyed looking at all the dresses and tuxes and portrait studio books, but we had to have a serious discussion about the kind of wedding we wanted. We knew a hotel wedding was too expensive, which left us with a couple other options. The most popular ways to get married these days are at Korean wedding halls, or to have a smaller "house" wedding at a pension or rental venue. We decided to look into wedding halls because the planners there are able to handle EVERYTHING. They go through the parents to schedule dress/tux fittings, food tastings, portraits, hair and makeup, and just everything. On the down side, you don't really get to choose or personalize anything except your own appearance. However, I knew I would be able to do all that for my US wedding and wasn't too fussed.

Anyway, an important distinction from North American weddings is that while here it's all about the bride and grooms, in Korea it's all about the parents. We visited a number of wedding halls before they found one they were happy with. Location is especially important! My mother-in-law was adamant that the venue be in a good part of town with no seedy businesses or structures nearby. Another issue was the relatively small number of guests. Most Korean weddings average over 200 guests, but because my guest list was so small we wouldn't reach the minimum guest requirement at many wedding halls. We ended up with I think 118 total guests on the day, which is a large wedding in the US!

My mother-in-law mostly ended up taking over the search after LH got too busy with work and started checking out places on her own. One day, she told me we had an appointment to tour a hall she was sure I'd like. Sure enough, it was in a great location and they had a small enough hall to accommodate our guests. 

Pretty, right? We had a lovely wedding!

So, my suggestion is to first discuss the size and type of wedding you want with your fiancee and parents. If you go the route of a smaller house wedding, I don't know much about that. Some couples also opt to do traditional Korean ceremonies which are usually outdoors. I think they're kind of cool personally, but LH gave that a hard "no" lol. My friend Jessica had a traditional wedding that was really cool, and you can often see wedding ceremonies taking place at various historical sites and folk villages. 

That's all for today! I miss writing, so be prepared for more posts to come soon! 

Kisses,

Angela

Korean Dating: Pensions and Weekend Getaways

Hi Lovelies! Shhh... whisper to me: have you ever been to a pension in the countryside with your lover??

I just got back from a romantic winter weekend getaway with the Lovely BF (LBF) and felt inspired to write about this charming facet of Korean dating.

Road trip time!! ^o^

Y'all know that Seoul is a huge city with lots to do, but sometimes it's nice to get out of town with your SO. Especially when the weather has been such crap!

This is what Seoul looks like lately. 

So maybe you need a break? You choose a destination with pretty scenery and fun activities, then you need a place to stay. Maybe you want something a bit nicer than the tacky love motels/minimalist minbaks or a bit cheaper than the expensive resort hotels. Why not try a pension?

Korean pensions are like romantic guesthouses for couples. Well, they're not necessarily exclusively for couples but clearly have that in mind. Some of them have themes and decor that range from cute to cheesy--sometimes tasteful, but rarely elegant. These days there are more elegant options, but they're pricier. There have been more spa pensions popping up, which are kind of like tiny spa hotels.

Fancy! Read on CNN for more info. ^^

They're usually cozy, however, and try to make a lovely space for couples to spend a day or two enjoying each other's company. There's usually a big bed, a hot tub, a nice TV, a balcony for watching sunsets, swimming pool, etc. Some offer free breakfast. There's also usually a grill and picnic area so you and your sweetie can make cook BBQ together (because nothing says romance like samgyeopsal and beer lol). I'm not totally sure, but I think prices for basic rooms usually average from 100,000 to 200,000 per night.

LBF just decided to take me on a spontaneous long weekend to Seonjaedo, a little island near Incheon.

For getaway destinations, check out CNN Travel's list of 33 beautiful islands to visit in Korea!

It was freezing cold, so our beach walking hours were limited, but the winter sea was lovely and walking on a snowy beach was pretty magical. Even better was relaxing in a hot tub with champagne ad watching the snow outside! We also cooked our own BBQ for the first time, which was super fun and delicious! ^^

LBF is an excellent cook ;)

Not sure what to pack? Keep in mind that when visiting the country, you can keep it casual compared to Seoul.

See Korean Winter Weekend Getaway by luhunnie for shopping info.

I suggest bringing the following essentials:

• weekend bag or cute backpack
• a warm ass coat, cuz Korean winters are cold af
• sunscreen--wear it every day, even in winter! 
• a good rich lip balm with SPF
• boots! I like some heavy duty ones for snow outside and comfy ones too. 
• warm clothes, like fleece lined leggings and sweaters.
• cute PJ's (or sexy lingerie, depending on your style)
• rollerball fragrance (you don't want to bring a big bottle and risk it breaking)
• champagne, because duh <3

I returned to Seoul feeling refreshed from our short trip, so I highly recommend booking a weekend in a pension as a cure for the city blues!

Lovely weekend trips are my cure for Korea's bitter winters. <3

What are your favorite weekend destinations outside of the city? More importantly, does your BF allow you to post his pics online? Maybe I'll talk him into it one of these days ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.

7 Things I've Learned Being a Fat Girl in Korea

Hi lovelies! I'd like to talk briefly today about a subject that's very close to my heart, especially as I'm in the middle of a career transition. Many people fall in love with Korea after being hit with the hallyu wave and inundating themselves with K-pop and/or K-dramas. I'm no exception! I was dazzled by how beautiful the men and women on the screen were, and I was very vocal in my praise (much love to my friends and family back home who put up with my fangirling for so long lol). 

For a number of reasons, I decided I must go live in Korea--that was the country for me. I devoured all the info I could on expat life in Korea, but I was disturbed by reading some miserable experiences of overweight expats here. If you read those stories, please don't be scared off! I didn't let them me put me off, but I came to Korea four years ago expecting the worst. I'll relate some of things I discovered in that time without judgment. 

First of all, when you're watching your K-pop MVs and feeling bad about your body, just remember...

Not everyone is as beautiful as the celebrities we see on TV. I think that Korean people are in general very attractive and that Korea probably contains more good looking people on average than many countries. I'm biased, however, and have a definite preference for Korean features. The fact that not everyone looks like the models and K-pop idols won't stop them from TRYING to look that way though. Again, I don't mean everyone--some Koreans are perfectly happy with their appearance without constantly comparing it to the ideal. But that's the thing: there is a very specific "ideal" of beauty and it's pervasive in Korean society. Everywhere! On the subway, on the TV, walking down the street you'll get reminders that...

Beauty ideals are extremely specific. It's not enough to have a nicely proportioned and symmetrical face. You must have the V-line (jawline shaped like a 'v') and a small face. I still don't completely understand the small face thing after all my time here, but I know some friends who get made fun of for having large heads. That's just something that I never noticed, having grown up in the States where it's not something we're taught to notice. Even if you have the face shape down, skin tone is important for Korean beauty standards--the lighter the better. Also, having a "high nose" and big eyes is desirable along with those enviable straight brows. 

If you get frustrated, the many plastic surgery ads around Seoul offer suggestions lol.

As for your figure, slender bodies are preferred on men and women, though a woman should have as large breasts as are reasonable on her slight frame (that's flexible though--there are plenty of slim women with A-cups who still fit the ideal). Also, one should work out to make themselves slim in a way that doesn't give them big calves. Heaven forbid we see muscles on an in-shape set of legs (ok, I got a bit judgy there after all--sorry).

As there is a different cultural standard for beauty...

There is a different standard for politeness regarding weight. I can't recall a specific instance of this happening to me, but it probably has sometime in the last four years: a well meaning Korean colleague or friend will take you aside and kindly inform you that you really need to lose weight for your health. They don't mean to be rude at all, only helpful, and will offer to assist you or make suggestions of nutritionists or Chinese medicine clinics. The funny thing is that most of the friends I hear this anecdote are not really overweight, but are only fat by Korean standards (larger than a size 6).

Oh, wait! The first time I got a physical here the doctor had a very serious talk with me about my weight and suggested how many kilos to lose. Also, though it would hardly be spoken out loud, companies might hesitate to hire someone based on their weight. All jobs require recent photos submitted with the resume even before an interview, so just...be prepared. I've yet to lose out on a teaching job because of my weight, but now that I'm doing other things I'm mentally preparing for the worst because...

Korea isn't made for overweight people. First of all, it's very difficult to find plussized women's clothes in stores. Maybe it's easier online, but many foreigners' limited Korean skills makes that difficult. Also, as we plussized folks know, trying on clothes to check the fit is very important. More than that, however, many places and features are designed without large people in mind. I've many a time feared breaking a tiny stool or wobbly looking chair at a cafe.

Me at Lotte World

Public transportation and theme parks can also be difficult for people over a certain weight. I haven't personally gone on a ride a couldn't fit into, but it's been tight a few times. Some folks a little bigger than me can't fit into some rides at all. And yet...

There actually are overweight people in Korea. You certainly wouldn't know it from the Korean media, however, where the only overweight actors are comedians or gag men. Korean television is very careful to promote the idealized Korean beauty standard as, if not the norm, then something to aspire to. Nevertheless, there are walking, talking, breathing overweight people in Korea. As an overweight or obese person, you won't be gawked at like a circus freak in a country full of supermodels. I promise! There might be some uncomfortable moments, but as long as you're prepared for that, you can let it roll off your back. 

The hardest thing to get used to as a fat person in Korea is the constant expectation that someone will make a comment or be rude about your weight when meeting someone new.

Just know that, even though the dread is always there, it rarely ever happens. My most awkward moments have come from when I was teaching: children have no filters, or from random old women making passing comments to my friends. Something along the lines of "Oh, your friend would be really pretty if she lost weight!" I just do my best not to feel insulted and agree that I would indeed be prettier (at least according to the Korean standard) if I lost weight. But even if you feel unattractive sometimes, don't worry...

You can still date Koreans. For those of you who want to come to Korea and find a nice Korean bf/gf (for whatever reason, no judgment), don't get discouraged. If you don't let your self esteem get ruined seeing all of the beautiful, thin Koreans around you, it's absolutely possible to find a boyfriend/girlfriend no matter your body type. I'm a size 16 and have a wonderful boyfriend who, though having grown up with those specific ideals and expectations of beauty, loves me regardless. We have an open dialogue about my weight loss struggles, but I still know he thinks I'm beautiful and he wasn't the only one. I've seen people bigger than me dating Koreans and being perfectly happy. 

I think I started taking better care of my appearance in general, and specifically to makeup, hair, and skincare, since I got to Korea because those were aspects of my appearance I could immediately control and improve upon. Weight loss takes time, a good makeover doesn't. For me, making sure I'm put together every day gives me the boost of confidence I need to feel attractive in a country where my body is so far from the ideal.

I think that if you feel comfortable and let yourself be lovely, it will attract the right people. And even if it takes time...

It's so worth it. Despite all of the challenges, I find myself more motivated than ever to lose weight! I'm certainly more motivated than I was living in the States. For me, it took getting out of the routine and comfort of my own country to truly begin my weight loss journey. Even if I wasn't trying to lose weight, however, my love for Seoul and my life in Korea would make any number of unpleasant observations or suggestions related to my weight worth it. Do I think life will be easier in Korea if I lose more weight? Of course. The shopping options alone will change my life! However, even if I never lose another kilo, I wouldn't give up my life in Korea. I'm not naive enough to expect the strict standards of beauty here to dramatically change any time soon, but I sincerely hope people are not scared away from coming to Korea because they don't fit that standard. 

I've found my happiness here and am happy to share it with the world! Wherever you settle, please feel lovely in your own skin and trust your good qualities to recommend you to people worthy of your love! Feel free to comment with any questions about being overweight in Korea or any stories of your own. Have you had any unpleasant weight related moments in your time here? Let us know~^^

Kisses,

Angela

Date Look - Namsan Tower (Summer)

Date Look - Namsan Tower by luhunnie 

For one of the most popular date locations in Seoul for both locals and tourists, how about dinner and sightseeing at Namsan Tower? It's one of Seoul's most easily recognizable landmarks and makes a romantic setting for your lovely date. There are several great restaurants with breathtaking views of Seoul, day or night. I first learned about it back in 2010 after watching Boys Over Flowers for the first time! Remember when Jun Pyo and Jan Di got locked in the cable car overnight? Now the whole world sees it as a romantic destination.

Freezing cold and awkwardness! Ah, romance! (j/k I love these two forever)

For date night, there's a cozy mid-priced Italian restaurant with couple seats facing out to the windows called THE PLACE. Your outfit can be pretty but somewhat casual, like the look on the left with a cute floral skirt and crisp white shirt. 

For info on the menu and prices check out their official site here.

I would definitely wear flats with this outfit along with some cute and simple accessories. Try The Face Shop Mango Seed Glow Date-Prep Butter to give your skin a fresh and flawless base for your makeup. 

If you really want to go all out, however, try the fancy French restaurant n.GRILL at the very top of the tower! It actually revolves slowly to give you a gorgeous 360 view of the city that will take your breath away (sunset is the best time to go!). 

Again, you can view menus and prices at their official site.

This restaurant is $$$$, so make sure you dress accordingly! I've put together a lovely look for a nice night out on the right. Isn't that lavender dress beautiful? For extra charm, style your hair in a romantic updo and keep the accessories small and pretty. The focus should be on your beautiful face, not your jewelry! As I said, this restaurant is really expensive, so I'd save it for a really special occasion like a graduation or engagement. Regardless, you'll want to look as lovely as possible! 

Before or after dinner, there's a nice (cheaper) cafe to relax in and a yummy ice cream store! You can see the views from the observatory. Also, why not do what couples traditionally do at Namsan and purchase love locks? ^^ This is such a sweet custom: you buy (or bring) a pair of matching padlocks and write loving messages to each other before attaching them to the many many MANY walls and towers of locks already there. You then throw away the keys together over the side of the mountain (you're not technically allowed to do this, but everyone does). Generations of lovers have been pledging their love with these locks at Namsan, and doing so with my BF last year was one of the most romantic moments of my life!

A perfect memory.

Forgive the sappy messages, but I highly recommend waiting to go with someone until you're sure about them! It would be awkward to return with another guy later if things don't work out. Those locks are there pretty much permanently! You hear the odd story of someone going and trying to saw or cut theirs off after a nasty breakup, but your locks will be really difficult to find again! BF and I went again for his birthday only one month later and our locks were already buried by dozens of other couples' locks and tokens of love. It doesn't matter though--I actually rather like the idea of our locks being their forever under mountains of tokens from other couples in love. That's a lot of love, y'all!

I got a bit sidetracked from the fashion, but I hope you enjoy your romantic date at Namsan! For the perfect makeup look to go with it, see my casual day date look and my romantic date night look for inspiration! Chanel Chance eau Tendre is a gorgeous fragrance for a romantic date as well. 

I'll be writing a post on visiting Namsan soon, and there will be another style post for visiting in the winter! If you wear the above outfits in cooler weather, you'll freeze your butt off! It can get pretty chilly up there kk.

Bye Lovelies! 

Shopping in Itaewon

I went shopping in Itaewon today and found some nice clothes! The stores offer more options than most Korean stores, so I was happy to find something pretty! ^^

First we hung out in Hongdae for a bit...

That blue door makes a fun backdrop kk. Then, we checked out the shopping in Itaewon and I bought a few cute dressy outfits...

We also ate Mexican food for lunch and Greek food for dinner, so I'd say the day was a success! ^^

Where do you like to shop in Seoul? ^^

Love,

Angela

K-pop Style: BTS - Dope

BTS - Dope by luhunnie 

Fair warning, guys, I am OBSESSED with the choreography for this song at the moment. I really love BTS's agressive sound and think they're really talented in spite of their young age. However, they still seem really young to me...know what I mean? Like, when I see all their career outfits in the MV, I'm thinking "Aw, cute! They're cosplaying as grown ups!" instead of feeling the male stripper vibe I think the studio was going for. Despite their adorable faves, BTS always turns out really fierce performances that give them the manly aura they need. I wrote an article on them back when they ddebuted I'll have to link...

As for the looks from the MV, they were mostly based on different occupations: pilot, police officer (Kookie was too cute), office worker, etc. the looks I chose are based on their group outfits in the live performances. Let's take a look, clockwise from the left:

• BTS fan bracelets to show your ARMY pride ^^ 
• This AMAZING navy Moschino blazer with gold trim is evocative of their military style jackets from the Music Core comeback.

• Dior Addict Lip Glow to give your lips that subtle rosy gloss that goes well with a menswear inspired look (some of the boys may or may not have been wearing it in the MV kkkk).
• A plain white tee, because after watching so many of their dance practice vids, that's just a look I associate BTS with. 
• Black leather pants (imitation is better) because they looked great with the jacket in the live  performance! 
• Heeled black lace-up boots make a nice change from plain combat boots.
• Cute red MCM backpack similar to the one Jung Kook has to add a bit of color. I have a beige one (Luhan's) and love it! 
• Handcuff bracelet, a nod to the adorable Officer Kookie kkkk
• This black and white dress was a nice alternative to their simple white shirt, black skinny tie and pants outfits from the MV and the M!Countdown performance. Office appropriate, no? ^^
• Some cute cat earrings just because I think Suga looks kind of like a cute cat.
• Dope snapback for a bit of flair.

What did y'all think of BTS's comeback? Do Korean boy bands inspire your fashion choices? Who's your bias in BTS? :)

Diet Week 1: Successes and Failures

Here I am to check in a week after starting my diet...

This is tough. Seriously tough. I know a lot of readers can relate to the struggle, but I'm always overwhelmed with how difficult dieting is at first. I've managed to lose about 1 kilo since I started (maybe 2lbs?) last week, but it fluctuated up and down the whole time. I'm not trying to dismiss my progress, but it really feels like a drop in the bucket compared to what I have to lose. Still...if I continue to lose 1kg a week, after about 40 weeks I should be golden! Let's focus on the big picture.

Maybe slower is actually better. I can tell you right now there's no way I'll be able to fully stick to Miranda's diet as I posted last week. It's just not realistic for my lifestyle at the moment, but it's definitely something to aspire to (juicing and all!). Of course, not being able to go out much adds an extra layer of challenges. I should be happy because I have more time to prepare food, but instead I'm spending all my extra time thinking about what I'm going to eat that day. I mean, replacing social interaction with food would be a lot more fun if I could eat whatever I wanted! Pizza and Netflix makes isolation so much more tolerable.

My spirit animal.
(Adventure Time copyright CN)

Now I'll talk about what worked for me and what didn't over the last week.

What worked:

• Drinking lots of water. I drank about 2 liters of water a day for the last week. It hasn't really made me less hungry, but I definitely feel better overall when I'm well hydrated. I think my skin is clearer too! 
• Eating more fruit and veggies. I just did my best to get 2 servings of fruit a day, even if it's all at once in a smoothie.
• Eating more salads. Ok, I only ate a few salads...but a few is better than none, right? ^^;;
• Eating less dairy. Except for some fat free milk in my cereal sometimes, or occasionally a small slice of cheese on a sandwich, I've been able to avoid dairy pretty well. I love cheese so much, but it's just so bad for me T-T
• Lemon and ACV in hot water every morning. It wakes me up and my body seems to like it. ^^
• Cutting out sugar. Leaving sugar alone was much easier than leaving carbs, cheese, pr soft drinks (which I guess is sugar too). I even baked a chocolate cake in my rice cooker, frosted it with cream cheese frosting, and gave the whole thing to my bf yesterday. It was hard, not gonna lie. 

What didn't work:

• Giving up cola. This is the big one! I managed to only drink Coke Zero which is calorie free, but I really want to shake the habit for good! That stuff is poison. I thought sparkling water was ok, but my nutritionist said all sparkling drinks expand your stomach and cause you to eat more. That just sucks! I'm trying to switch to iced Mate tea, which you might know from the Sistar commercial with the catchy song and hot guys. Cycle Body Bora, Pool Body Soyou, Party Body Dasom, and Club Body Hyolyn? Did they really get those figures by drinking this tea? I doubt it, but whatever. I want those S-lines!!!! Gimme teaaaaaaaaa!

• Preparing all my own meals. It's so hard, y'all! I don't even have the excuse of "Omg I'm sooooo busy!" cuz I'm really not these days. It's just hard to go from preparing just dinner 3-4 nights a week to preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day. I can't lie and say I did that, but I will try harder next week. I did manage to prepare some yummy healthy meals.
• Giving up carbs except for controlled portions of brown rice. Yeah, um, FAAAAAIL. It was so hard to give up my bread! I bought some healthy whole grain rye from the bakery and ate it up so quickly! Gotta ration that better next time!

So there's my little update. I'll check in again next week with measurements and comparisons between Korean diet advice and American diet advice. For now I'll just leave you with some fitsperation in the form of K-pop girl group Sistar!

Dasom, Bora, Hyolyn, Soyou. Someday, ladies, I will join your perfectly curvy-yet-slim ranks.

Is anyone else out there dieting? Please leave a comment and tell me what's working or not working for you. Let's share the struggle!

Kisses,

Angela

Date Look - Han River Picnic

Date Look - Han River Picnic by luhunnie

So this is my first post about Seoul fashion! I wanted to choose a specific scenario to give examples of looks that are both popular right now and that I would personally wear. These two outfits, for example, are very similar to those I've worn on picnic dates in Han River Park! ^^ Those are always such a good time! So far my favorite spots are Banpo near the fountain bridge, Yeoido, and Hapjeong/Seonyudo. What about you, Seoulites?  

Do you recognize it from the scene in Boys Over Flowers? ^^ Check out more info about the Banpo Bride Rainbow fountain here. They have info on lots of great tourist locations! Image copyright VisitKorea

Let's talk about some elements of the outfits! 

• Cute floral sundresses are great for summer dates! Throw a lightweight cardi over it to both hide your shoulders (this is Korea after all) and protect you from chilly temps at night. 

• Shoes: would you believe Birkenstock sandals are in again this summer? Kk I'm always surprised to see this 90's fashion staple everywhere, especially in trendy areas like Gangnam and Hongdae. Also, cute sneakers are always on point for summer. The Superstars had a huge comeback in the spring! 

• Pink accessories, because I love pink! Some lovely pink will always brighten a neutral outfit.

• A cute lunchbox for all your homemade goodies like this Totoro one! If you don't feel like cooking, ordering chicken to the park is fun too! The delivery guy will just call when he gets there so he can find you. However, cooking is usually a fun and easy way to impress your date. <3

As you can see, I just prepared some really simple food: fruits, veggies, beef kimbap, fried tuna pancakes, and homemade chocolate chip cookies! I can make more complicated stuff these days, but simple was ok. ^^

• A sweet, charming (but not cloying) fragrance for your summer romance. I'm partial to Daisy by Marc Jacobs! It doesn't have a lot of staying power, though, so mist yourself thoroughly before going out. Better yet, carry a rollerball in your bag. ;)

• Don't forget that sunscreen! 

Also take a look at Yeoido! Image copyright VisitKorea.

Our first picnic date was almost a year ago in August at Tteuksom! It was hot, so we cooled down after in a shady little indie cafe nearby. I wish you all joy on your lovely picnic dates! 

How time flies!

For a stay put makeup look, be sure to check out my lovely summer makeup look here. For info on the products in the picture, please check out my Polyvore profile linked below the photo! Have a lovely picnic~~~^_^

Miranda Kerr's Supermodel Diet for Poor Non-Supermodels

Well, I promised a good portion of this blog will be about diet, so here goes. I'm actually really nervous to talk about this, because life in Korea as an overweight person isn't always fun. I'm not trying to scare away people who are considering moving here by saying you have to have a body like SNSD to be accepted. That's just not true! You can have a perfect and fulfilling life here no matter your size. However, I have struggled with my weight all my adult life and find myself more motivated than ever to finally lose it.

I know you probably can't tell from my head shots what size I am, but these days I'm a pretty solid 16 dress size. I'm around 173cm (5'8) and...I can't bring myself to say my exact weight. Let's just say it's too high for me. I promise to post pics as soon as I pluck up the courage!

This is not my body. Actually, I had no idea who Miranda Kerr was until I came to Korea and saw her Wonderbra ads all over the subway! Then I read more about her as I was researching beauty uses for coconut oil. She's pretty much my ultimate girl crush these days (aside from my fav Kpop divas).

When I first came to Korea two years ago, I weighed the most I ever had in my life. I dropped a little over 30lbs (about 14 kilos) really quickly just from switching to mostly Korean food. However, my weight has been constantly yo-yo-ing for the last year and a half and I want it to stop! I want to get down to my goal weight and develop a healthier lifestyle.

In order to motivate myself, I'll try to track my progress on this blog with a weight loss post every Wednesday. They probably won't be long--just to check in and talk about what worked and didn't work that week.

As one of my health role models is Miranda Kerr, I've been researching her diet and healthy living tips lately. Lots of the foods she suggests are pretty impractical for Korea (ingredients are rare and expensive), but I'll try to follow her general guidelines over the next few weeks. Some suggestions she makes I'll try are:

• A glass of hot water with lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and honey in the morning to jump start your metabolism and boost your immune system (already doing this and I love it).
• Breakfast options 
• Fresh fruit salad. I make frozen fruit smoothies instead for economy and convenience--fresh fruit is expensive here, yo!
• Yogurt OR cooked breakfast with two eggs and rye toast. She suggests avocados with the toast, but they're (again) too expensive here.
• OR old-fashioned oatmeal or muesli
• Green tea (I put a touch of coconut oil in it per her suggestion!)
• Morning snack
• handful of almonds OR 2 crackers with tuna
• Lunch options
• Green salads with chicken or fish 
• Lentil dish
• Green tea or coffee
• Afternoon snack
• Almonds OR fruit
• Dinner options
• Fish, chicken, or (occasionally) red meat cooked with ginger and garlic
• Fresh vegetables cooked (broccoli, green beans, snow peas, bok choy, spinach) OR green salad
• roasted onion and garlic for serving
• I cook dinner for my boyfriend once or twice a week, so I'll definitely keep trying Korean recipes too. I'll just make sure to use brown rice and limit my portions (he eats twice as much as me anyway...damned Asian guy metabolism >_<)
• Eat a serving of dark chocolate and a serving of ice cream once a week to keep cravings down.
• Try to replace your usual cooking oils with coconut oil or olive oil.
• Drink lots of water--from 1.5 to 3 liters a day
• Take a multivitamin
• Eat for your blood type. I find this questionable, but it won't hurt to try! I'm type O, so I basically need more meat and veggies and less carbs and dairy. 

I'll try sticking to this for a week and report back with successes and failures! Next week I'll write about her suggested workout and what I can realistically do. This week I can't work out except for a bit of gentle yoga because I'm still recovering from bronchitis.

Have you tried any of these diet tips? What works for you? Have you experiences any anxiety about visiting Korea because of the intense standard of beauty here? Let me know in the comments and wish me luck!

Kisses,
Angela

P.S. I have to thank my lovely BF for being so supportive about my diet and still telling me I'm pretty every day. I know he could have chosen one of the countless thin girls in Seoul, but he chose me anyway! I love him so much! >ㅁ<

Ladies, don't let anyone tell you you have to lose weight to be happy or find a good man! Just let yourself be lovely and trust your own charm! That alone will attract people worth loving. <3

Sweatproof Summer Makeup!

It’s summertime in Seoul: the sweaty time, the 3 showers a day time, the “don’t judge me, I’m a sweaty foreigner!” time. Summers in Korea (and anywhere hot and humid) are a constant struggle between wanting to look chic and not wanting to look like your face is melting off  à la Ark of the Covenant *cue facemelting wails.* There are lots of cute looks out there, but this is my basic look for getting through the day with a full face of makeup still on.

Fresh and lovely for summer! This is a very wearable, natural look that's great for daily makeup.

9 steps sounds like a lot, but I promise it's totally foolproof! ^^

First, complete your morning skincare routine and make sure to use a good SPF of around 50! My latest is MediSpa Sunblock SPF 47/ PA++ Cell Fùsion C. It’s important to use SPF even when the sun isn’t shining! Now, let’s start the makeup: 

Ahhh! My face without any makeup, no filter. I've never posted a makeup free photo before >///<

Step 1: Apply a pore minimizing primer to make your makeup last and prevent sweating it off in 2.5 seconds after walking out the door. I’m using the Goodbye Pore Ever pore primer essence from Etude House. I’ve heard the Peach Sake pore serum from Skin Food also works well as a primer, so I plan on giving that a try too! I apply the pore essence only to my T-zone and across my cheeks. I’ve tried thicker makeup bases, but they just melt right off in the summers…not cute.

Step 2: Choose a cute lip and cheek tint in a nice summery color! I’m partial to pinks, so I chose the Aritaum Style Pop Pudding Tint in No.1 Polka Pink. It’s a cute, fresh pink and a nice dupe for Benefit Posietint (way cheaper)! I also love Benefit Lollitint and am searching for the perfect dupe. Just dot the tint on your cheekbones (3-5 dots) and rub it in immediately! Seriously, this stuff will set really fast, so hurry! I also put a bit on the apples of my cheeks to create a lovely flush. If it looks a bit strong, don’t worry! The next step will make it more subtle! ^^ Also, dot a bit of tint in the center of your lips the let the stain start setting.

Step 3: For base makeup, try a long lasting air cushion pact! I use the classic Iope Air Cushion XP in N21 Ice Vanilla. This is one of the bestselling Korean cosmetics of all time and with good reason! I’m telling y’all, this ish makes your skin dewy and flawless. It’s great for summer because if you’re a sweaty beast (like me), it reapplies flawlessly to both absorb the sweat and smooth out your makeup. Just make sure to wash the cushion puff regularly! To use, just start in the center of your face and apply with a quick patting motion all over to the hairline and jawline. This stuff is really sheer, but it comes in another finish—C (for cover)—if you need more coverage. Sometimes I use the S (shimmer) finish for nights out too! It’s also SPF 50/PA+++, so winner all around! ^^ 

Step 4: Here’s an extra tip: for longer wear, flip the cushion so it’s upside down and pat your face all over again with the dry part. This helps lock in the product and ensure it stays put in the sun! 

Step 5: Fill in those brows, ladies! For a Seoultastic look, try a straight brow. I unfortunately have thin, arched eyebrows like a comic book villainess , so I can't even fake a straight brow. I do, however, fill my brows in with a nice cool, unobtrusive taupe color to give them some definition. Use a long lasting gel formula for summer! My latest fav is Clio Kill Brow Tattoo-Lasting Gel Pencil in 2 Light Brown. Just apply in light, short strokes and brush through with the other end. 

Step 6: Eyeshadow! I know some people love creamy stick shadows for summer, but I'd much rather just use a good primer and a light powder shadow. First, apply your primer (A MUST in hot weather). I chose Urban Decay primer in Eden for this, but Etude makes a great much cheaper alternative too. Then, choose a nice neutral shadow with a bit of shimmer. I chose a lovely trio from Mamonde: Bloom Harmony Gradation Eyes in 02 Petal Brown. 

1. Brush the lightest shade from the inner corners over the inner third of your lid. Bring in below your eye and line all the way below your bottom lashes for a bright look.
2. Pat the medium bronzy shade on the middle third of your lid.
3. Concentrate the darker brown on the outer third of your lid, making a 'v.' Pull it slightly below the outside edge of your bottom lashes as liner. 

Step 7: Line, baby, line! You won't see many ladies in Seoul without a perfectly lined eye. For summer, make sure you choose a long lasting waterproof formula. I usually opt for black, but sometimes brown is nice for a charming warm weather look. Today I'm using my all time favorite Clio Waterproof Pen Liner in 01 Kill Black. Just line your eye according to your eye shape and give it a subtle wing at the end. If you prefer a more dramatic wing, go for it! I try to keep it pretty chill,

Step 8: Mascara! Curl your lashes with whatever curler you prefer (I use my trusty Shu Uemera). Use one coat of your favorite black mascara. Ok, I have a confession: I detest waterproof mascara! It just takes forever to get off, and now that I'm in my late twenties I don't like all that tugging and strong remover products around my eye area. I actually have a lot of mascaras I like of all prices, but my current favorite is a higher end one from Lancome: Grandiose smudgeproof mascara in Black. It's got a weird "swan neck" wand and fans my lashes out beautifully. 

Step 9: Now to finish the lips! For a cute and charming pink pout, dab a bit of extra pink tint onto the center of your lips again. Then, choose a sheer lip balm with decent SPF. I still like Maybelline Baby Lips SPF 20 lip balm, Here's 25-Pink Punch layered over the Aritaum tint for a gradient effect. I've also heard good things about some of the Innisfree balms, so stay tuned for a review!

And this is the final look! Be sure to add a cute hair accessory before hitting the streets, and go enjoy your lovely summer! Whether it's picnics on the Han river, or shopping sprees in Myeongdong (sweaty work), this look will last the whole day! 

Here's all of the products used! Please stay tuned for more info on my skincare routine and other makeup looks! 

Oh, and if you're wondering why I didn't use bronzer, it's because it's not really in fashion here in Korea. Korean women sometimes use a light brown (matte) powder or cream for contouring to achieve the prized "V-line" or make their faces look smaller. I will do another post on contouring, but for summer makeup, I find less is more. ^^

What are your summer makeup favorites? Any ideas for additional looks or products great for summer? Feel free to put any requests in the comments! Also, I'll upload the video tutorial on my Youtube channel as soon as I get a new camera. OTL

Bye Lovelies! xoxo