3 little things

One week, three tiny joys.

1. Free shoes!!

When Blowfish offered to send me a free pair of their new Spring season shoes to showcase on my blog I said "HELL YEAH!"

They arrived last week and they are beautiful.

Keep your eyes peeled for my first ever style post next week. 

 (not a direction I ever thought of taking on this blog but what girl can turn down a  free pair of shoes? 

"Not I", said the cat.)

2. Breakfast of champions

Lately this chilly season has me reaching for the kind of tasty comfort foods that are usually bad but oh... so good!

I've been treating myself these cold winter mornings to a breakfast of creamy chocolate milk and tuna and mayonnaise samgak kimbap, or triangle kimbap, which is basically rice wrapped in dried seaweed with a tuna and mayonnaise centre.

I know everything about this breakfast sounds wrong, but trust me, it's delicious!

3. Baby Wig Wams for my baby matryoshkas

I found the template for these adorable paper craft teepees on the same site I found the printable feathers for my cupid's arrow diy post.

Just so happens they are the perfect size to house my ceramic matryoshka beads.

Tiny joys, friends, tiny joys.

~.^ 

3 little things

One week. 3 tiny joys.

1. Raccoon in a headdress t-shirt

Bought from this delightful Etsy store.

I wanted to buy all the t-shirts they had but I could only choose one. So I chose this one.

Because it's a raccoon. In a headdress.

^^

 2. Delicious winter morning skies

Don't you just want to scoop all these colors and lick them off of an ice cream cone?

I think they'd taste like blueberry vanilla.

 3. Playing with beads

These beautiful jewelry making beads were a Christmas gift from my Mom.

I've never dabbled in making my own jewelry before but I think It'd be a fun project to take on this year.

I love all the colors and patterns on these, I'm thinking maybe of threading them into a beaded friendship bracelet.

Happy Friday folks.

x

3 little things

One week.Three tiny joys.

1. Winter skin-savers

This Siberian winter we are experiencing in Korea right now is causing havoc with my skin. 

Constantly hopping in and out between freezing cold outside and central heated inside has left my skin dry, cracked and sore.

 I've been relying heavily on my iHerb all natural skin goodies to inject some much needed moisture back into my dear poor skin. Not only do their products smell heavenly, they really do the job well.

2. Late Christmas parcels

Dallas and I ordered our gifts for each other online this year and both of us left it a bit too late in the game to have them delivered on time for Christmas day. 

It really took the sting out of my first day back at work after winter vacation to find a lovely Free People package waiting for me harboring inside the purse and wallet I've been coveting for the longest time ^^

3. New books

This one was a little Christmas treat for myself. 'The Blue Tattoo' by Margot Mifflin tells the true story of Olive Oatman who in 1852 was only 13 when she was captured by Indians and  indoctrined over ten years into their way of life, eventually living as a white Indian with a skin tattoo on her face.

As soon as I read the synopsis of this story I went straight online to order myself a copy.

I can't wait to get stuck into this one!

3 little things//matryoshka love

Nesting doll, Russian doll, Babushka, Matryoshka...

These beautifully rotund and rosy-cheeked peasant women hide under many pseudonyms but no matter what you like to call them their quirkiness and cute cannot be denied.

Their colorful hand-painted flower designs, so detailed right down to the tiny baby doll-prize in the centre, are one of my favorite aspects of these wooden creations.

When I visited home last Christmas I brought my little cousin up to my bedroom and had the pleasure of peeking through a 5 year old's mind when reacting to my Matryoshka: "a doll, inside a doll, inside a doll!"

The history behind these dolls is also so interesting: "Matryoshka" comes from the latin "Mater" meaning "Mother", so these plump and colorful Earth Mothers are actually symbolic of family and fertility.

I've built up quite the collection of all things Russian Doll-related and lucky for me Korean stationers love to use these purdy doll designs on their paper goods!

1. Matryoshka Card & envelope

I bought several of these card sets when I discovered them in the Lotte stationary store~ what's even cuter is that the card opens out to reveal more Matryoshka's "nesting" inside it ^^

 2. Matryoshka post-it memos

Another stationary store find. 

5 cute little post-it stickers with different colorful little mamas on each one!

3. Matryoshka ceramic jewelry beads

I found these three little darlings in a Christmas package my Mom sent which was full of wooden, glass and ceramic beads for jewelry making.

What do you think for these~ necklace or bracelet?

3 little things// the kiddos

One week, three tiny joys.

I've decided to dedicate today's 3 "little things" to around 30 little things. 

These little things pretty much dominate my day from 9 am to 6 pm 5 days a week.

They are a hurricane of energy and spirit, endless teacher hugs and sass.

They love to rub noses with me Eskimo-kiss style, call me "Rapunzel", write me letters and draw me pictures of themselves talking to me on their cell phone.

They arrive to school in the mornings bundled up in bunny ear body warmers, bobble wool hats and love-heart mufflers.

Heart swoons.

They love nothing more than to color and paint and help me decorate our Christmas classroom with a tree made entirely of tiny 6 year old hands traced on green paper.

They can be a tough crowd some days, I won't lie. 

But they put a smile on my face every single day.

Thank you to every one of my tiny little joys for pulling the nurturing mother and the playful clown out of this natural introvert.

They've helped me grow in so many ways and they'll probably never even know it.

3 little things// sweet memories

Last night as I was clearing out our cluttered shelves I happened upon my old iPod and stopped a while to scroll through my old picture album as it was pretty much my only camera during the 6 months when I left Korea, travelled and came back (everything was sold off to fund the trip).

As I scrolled down through over 400 photos I picked off three that evoke some pretty sweet memories for me...

1. Bali Dream Catcher

I took this photo of the shadow of a dream catcher against a folding blind one night at a rickety old Balinese beach hut I stayed at during my first week travelling there. 

It was around midnight and all the other guests were asleep. I needed cash but the nearest ATM was a 30 minute walk away so the toothless, white-vested Balinese gentleman who worked for the hostel and also slept under it took me there and back on the back of his scooter. 

When he returned me back to the hut alive and in one piece I bought him a beer, listened to his life story and was taken by the sound of the waves outside and the shadow of the dream catcher jangling against the shuttered blinds by the night sea breeze...

2. Puddle reflections

Back in Korea now and caught in the late August rain showers. 

Splashing my way to school, trouser hems soaked up to the shins and wishing for a blue rubber dinghy and  bright yellow hat, raincoat and boots instead.

Then I looked down and started to notice the crystal blue, almost mirror-perfect reflections in the puddles and forgot my woes as I lost a few minutes snapping my polka-dot umbrella in the rain water instead.

3. Morose date night with Dallas

I can't but smile when I see this picture taken not long after we arrived back in Korea. 

We'd just spent three months apart back in our respective home countries and done nothing but talk and dream and scheme, write letters and talk on Skype about how wonderful it would be when we got back to Korea and were back together again.

Sometimes life has different plans and obstacles to throw in your chosen paths and the reality when we got here was we were working 40 minutes away from each other at extremely long houred and stressful jobs.

I think this picture of our date night perfectly depicts our sagging spirits during that first, difficult month back.

But, dear readers, as they say  yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery~ little that we thought so at the time we did bounce back and pull the experience around so we are living a much happier life here right now. 

Wallowing never helped anything and this picture is a perfect reminder of that!

3 little things

These dark mornings are making it harder and harder to escape my warm bed and hit the cold bathroom.

Dark evenings after work make it even harder to pull on my yoga gear when I get home and set out into the cold again to go to class.

There's a cold SNAP in the air fitting to bite my glove-less fingers off if I don't buy a pair of mitts soon and the fog of my breathe in the chill air is telling me Old Man Winter is out to play.

 Thank goodness for some festive and seasonal goodness this week to add a little cheer to the Winter chill.

                                                            1. Birthday Fiesta

Margaritas on a week night? Don't mind if I do.

As a birthday treat I took Dallas out to the expensive Mexican restaurant we always drool at on our way past to the movie theater but have always been driven clear of because of the prices.

We feasted on steak tacos and enchiladas, discussed new plans and schemes ahead and toasted our future.

2. Fancy Cocoa 

As a birthday gift one of Dallas's sweet students gave him these two lovely tins of Cocoa.

He's not the biggest fan of chocolate drinks but someone we all know loves nothing more than sugaring herself  up and warming her hands around a mug of floaty marshmallow hot chocolate ^^

3. Early Christmas presents 

These sweet Christmas parcels arrived this week for Dallas and myself from my parents.

I hadn't given Christmas present shopping a lick of thought until these arrived, and now I'm itching to write cards and wrap small gifts in brown paper and twine.
Christmas schemings are giving me a warm feeling through this icy weather. This one will be Dallas and I's first living together and thoughts of a mini Christmas tree and roasting potatoes and a Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack in our tiny little apartment are giving me a fuzzy feeling all over ^^

I hope there were 3 little joys to warm up your week.
Happiest of Friday's friends x 

3 little things

This week was peppered with promises of yet another seasonal change. Where are you running to Autumn?

Your visit was short and so so sweet but now I smell Winter snapping at your heels.

Lately we've had quiet rainfall and clean white mists fogging our town and the warm whisper of a festive holiday is slowly coming into focus on the horizon.

Here are 3 cozy comforts I have enjoyed this week:

1. Overnight Oats

This breakfast I cannot get enough of. 

Even though it's clearly time to be heating my oats to warm myself on these chilly November mornings I am still stuck on this quick fix of oats soaked overnight in a jar in whatever you prefer~ you can add yoghurt, soy milk, chai milk tea~ they all work just fine!

Above are some of my favorite toppings I like to add before pouring over my milk and giving it a good shake.

2. Succulents so succulent

                                     

My Mother has been patiently watching my thumbs for the past 29 years.

Year after year she has been disappointed at their lack of greenness.

She is an avid gardner and I think she always hoped I would develop a love of gardening too.

Not until I successfully began my mini herb garden on our window ledge this year have I ever had the slightest inclination toward making things grow.

Now I'm hooked.

I scooped up these pretty little succulents and cute carrot top cactus at our local Homeplus recently and when my Mum asked what I want sent over for Christmas this year I asked for a packet of seeds for any kind of plant that will grow during the winter.

I can feel her smile all the way from Ireland.

3. Studio Ghibli

You know it's real love when your boyfriend indulges you in your fondness for watching Japanese Anime movies on a Sunday morning. It's an even truer love when he ends up loving them just as much as you do.

Last Sunday we bundled under the covers and watched Princess Mononoke but my absolute favorite of the Studio Ghibli back catalog is My Neighbor Totoro.

This movie is so beautiful, charming, magical and poetic, it leaves my heart so full every single time.

Happy November ^^

3 little things

This week was a party in my mailbox kinda week. I recieved three fabulous deliveries that will spruce up my winter wardrobe just fine!

1. Care package from my Mom

 

My Mom emailed asking what bits and pieces I would like sent from back home so I requested my Lomo Diana camera and this gorgeous suede tassled handbag I haggled for on the Kao San Road in Thailand.

Can't wait to try and get a succesful roll out of my Diana~ she's either a scowling curmudgeon or a complete sweetheart when it comes to producing usable snaps.

2. Minnetonka mocassins

I found these on GMarket~ a steal at 40,000 won (around 35 dollars). These will be perfect teamed with extra thick socks for keeping chilly toes toasty this winter. They are super warm and comfortable on and I love the beaded detail on them!

3. Navajo print sweater

Another GMarket find~ I have a little 'GMarket' budget I allow myself every month for buying clothes. It's seriously the best for rooting out lovely, unique patterned and styled clothing that you can't find in the average High Street stores here in Korea where I find the clothing to be cheaply made, generic and overpriced.

This sweater cost less than 20 dollars.

Win!.

3 Little Things

Good Tuesday Morning to you all!

I kind of fell under the weather and off the map over the last week and a half but now I'm bouncing back and no longer under the weather- I'm all over the weather!

I would describe myself as a Spring/Summer kind of gal normally but I "fall" more and more in love with Fall as the years tick by.

I love that crisp, clean smell the air gets as the temperature starts to dip, crunching through leaves the trees gave up overnight on my morning walk to school.... and planning and conspiring with Dallas about Halloween costumes.

This week's 3 Little Things are dedicated to all the Fall things that have helped this little lass return back to her former self this week....

1. Leaf Art

Big thanks to this blog post for giving me this incredible idea for using all those beautiful crunchy scattered leaves outside to decorate your inside.

Remember my last 3 Little Things I was wishing I could keep the leaves I'd gathered for my Kindie art class and use them at home? This idea was my perfect opportunity to return to our park and scavenge for the perfect sized and shaped leaves for the project.

I enjoy leaf hunting far more than I should and I must have looked a sight. I could see the thought bubbles appearing from every staring Koreans head..."Why is that alien stuffing dirty ground leaves into that Hello Kitty shopping bag??"

I had such fun painting these saturday evening and I think the end result turned out just swell.

If you guys want to try this at home here is a tip for you~ microwave your leaves for 30 seconds before painting them. This will preserve them and prevent them from going moldy ^^

2. Leaves as big as your face

I swear I never saw Autumn leaves this big growing up in England.

That can't be true. I think I just never noticed before. 

The older I get the more open my eyes have become nature's transformations throughout the seasons. 

And how truly beautiful they are.

3. Giant pumpkins

I found these monsters hanging out on the pavement around the corner from our apartment.

How bad did I want to pinch one and harvest a month's supply of pumpkin bread/muffins/ spiced lattes?

Really bad.

But I sufficed with a quick snap and a backwards glance as I continued my strolling.

What are your favorite things about Fall?

Do tell!

3 Little Things

The current  mish-mash of "can't make my mind up if I wanna give up Spring warmth or give into Fall chilliness" weather has this gal sick a dog.

 I usually get run down during the changing of the seasons but this one I just can't seem to shake ... and I'm just itching to snap back into my old form.

Until then it's tissues in my handbag, hot oats in the morning, plenty of vitamin C powders and three little things...

1. Put a pin on it

I hung this wall map in our apartment last week and stuck a bunch of pins in the countries Dallas and I have collectively travelled to over the years.

I want to buy a better map eventually for this practise but I do find it inspiring to look up at our wall and be reminded of all the adventures, memories and possibilities past, present and future..

2. Autumn's Candy

I took myself over to the park across the street from us last night, bag in hand, with the intention of gathering a few fallen leaves for a leaf rubbing art class I will do with my 4 year olds today. 

I got rather carried away with myself and bustled home later with a bag bursting with loot- treasures surrendered from the Fall trees- rough and crisp, burnt auburn, vivid yellow and saucy purple. Some brazenly splayed open like Japanese fans, others curled and brown like Indian feathers. 

I even swiped a few pine cones and fallen gingko fruits.

I feel like hoarding these little Autumn candies and prettying up the apartment with them somehow...but I guess the kids will get their leaf rubbing lesson today after all

 *sigh* ^^

3. Midnight snacking

One of the perks of feeling down and out is the perfect excuse it gives you to treat yourself good.

I included a few guilty pleasures in my iHerb order and the combination of dark sea salt squares and hot vanilla tea has been the absolute perfect comfort food the past few evenings.

Fingers crossed for better health for the impending weekend! 

I don't have much planned so I can just be still and get better... lots of resting, reading, crafting and baking.

Not too shabby...maybe this sickness isn't so bad after all!

Stay tuned later for a cute little DIY I made in the way too late hours of last night when i should have been sleeping my way back to health ^^

3 little things

 It's been back to earth with a heavy bump over here in the 'Land of the Morning Calm'. 

The Chuseok holiday is finished and the mundanities of life have folded back in around us...work, bills, grocery shopping....with a few moments of bliss thrown in here and there.

I have to remind myself daily to keep my eye open and recognize these moments or things, little though they may be, that distract me from the stress and the humdrum and prompt me to stop and appreciate the simple goodness that can make a gal forget herself and just be happy.

Here are those 3 little things:

1. Frozen grapes

You can forget me eating the regular room-temperature version of these Korean grapes. The ones where you have to peel off the leathery skin and spit bullet hard seeds through your teeth like a cowboy. And they're always presented to you buy a Korean co-worker or friend like they are such a treat. No thank you!
However put those bad boys in the freezer overnight and then your talking.
 Dallas introduced me to these juicy, frosty, lush on the inside and  tastier-than-ice cream snacks recently and I am hooked.

I could eat these by the punnet, they really are that good!

2. The Korean Times Crossword puzzle

Now this and my number one little thing go together like peas and carrots.

I love to find a corner and curl up with a bowl of finger food and the crossword....and usually end up tearing my hair out a little!

Lucky our friends do the same one so we can meet up and compare puzzles across bar tables like nerds ^^

3. Sock weather

Did someone say nerd?

Not only does the Fall chilliness signify moccasin and cardigan time for me.... one of the best things about Korea is their apparent sock obsession. You can buy any design/color/ pattern for less than 2 bucks and they have a pretty impressive array come sock weather time....once you've waded through the Hello Kitty and Pororos ^^
 I got more than a little excited when I picked up these lovely reindeer & geometric patterned pairs at the subways station market the other day.

Now I can have socks-y feet all of this Fall!

Did you like my sock pun?

Did I just ruin it by asking?


What 3 little things are keeping you chipper this week?

3 Little Things

Sometime life just aint a sweet bowl of cherries.

Sometimes it's a big ol' bag of sour lemons instead.

You all of course know what they say...

Make lemonade.

Why stop at that? Make it pink lemonade.

On those days when the lemons are at their most bitter,
 just take a look around you and find three little things that make you sweet.

This week mine are:

1. Matryoshka Mama

This sweet Mama and her myriad of daughters was procured on a recent photo walk organized by my friend Angelo to the Seoul Flea Market. My Diana Lomo failed me completely and I walked away with not a single decent photograph but I did have this lovely lady to take the sting off.

2. Navajo jewellery

Turquoise, triangles, colorful beads and geometrics! Native American design is colorful, contemporary and timeless and always make me feel a bit more festive when I'm wearing it ^^

3. Wolves- Phosphorescent

This song is my morning soundtrack on the walk between the bus stop and my school. Just me and my earphones, the Seoul mountains, and the wolves.

What 3 things are making your days sweet?