Plum eye-shadow Saturday

I was in Seoul today, looking for craft supplies. I wasn't really in the mood, and the place I was in was just too huge and crowded. Looking for specific supplies in a massive 6 floor market is a bit overwhelming. I've done some internet searching and am headed back out today to an underground shopping mall and a big stationary store to try to buy some wool and some canvases. I could buy what I want online - but I like exploring the city while I'm at it. It's not so much fun to just click and buy online - unless I just can't find what I want.

So, although I didn't get any craft supplies yesterday, I did buy some new make-up. I think I've mentioned that I'm getting more into make-up, and my favourite store (Etude House!!) had a sale on so I got some light foundation and some plum coloured eye-shadow. It's by FAR the most intense colour I've ever tried, but I've read in heaps of places that the colour is supposed to really highlight green eyes. I had a play with it last night and quite enjoyed the results.

Because I'm a 'member', I got a gift pack :)

It's bold, but I like it.

bad lighting, but you can see the eye-shadow well

I went out to a group dinner on Friday night - we had some yummy Japanese food. Then I met up with Jay - who is so, so busy and pretty stressed out. He seems to be the kind of person who handles stress very calmly, but he very clearly doesn't have much time or mental energy to direct towards me right now. Which, interestingly, I'm ok with. The things he tells me about his work and all the stuff he has to do, it's clear he does put effort into finding time for me and staying in regular contact- probably more effort that I would be able to, were out roles reversed. So, although I'd like more time/interaction with him than I'm currently getting, I feel like the fact that I'm getting any actually says a lot.

Friday night's chicken domburi

And that's all from me for now - art, make-up, and boys :D I'm honestly having a great time!

Five on Thursday

1) Today I saw a squirrel fall out of a tree. The branch it was on broke and it fell down. The squirrel was shocked, but fine. Because it was unhurt, I thought it was hilarious.

2) One of my students told me my class was fun and the time went very fast. Awesome!

3) I got given a box of chocolates. Yum.

4) I made cookies.

5) I'm happy (touch wood).

One of those days Tuesday

I've had one of those days... you know one of the ones you're lucky to make it home without being run over or falling in a mud puddle? I dropped things, forgot things, spilled things, messed up a meeting place (not my fault), and just generally had a crappy day. Even my mum had a crappy day - getting bitten by a disgusting and huge alien millipede. My day was so bad, it was internationally infectious.

So, five things that make today ok:

1) Starbucks hot chocolate with whipped cream. Always get the cream.

2) delicious salmon for dinner.

3) money.

4) Being able to walk to work.

5) Cool co-workers.

Missed my Hiking Monday

They spelled the station name wrong on the meetup site, so I ended up in the wrong place and didn't have time to make it to the right meeting station, so I didn't get to go :( But, there are lots more hiking trips, so I still have three more I'm signed up for. All is not lost!

So, what did I do with my weekend? Well, Jay ended up being free on Friday and Saturday, so I went and hung out with him. We went to a lamb restaurant, which was quite a novelty -  not much lamb is eaten in Korea. And then on Sunday when I missed my hiking, I just had a tourist day in Seoul and took some photos.

This is my plant

I want some 24K Gold Snail Cream

Autumn is here, apparently

I'm not sure what's on B1

Some big fish in the little river

Seoul's 'reclaimed' river

I found a plant market

More river

New nail polish with sticker :D

I just finished a meeting at work about writing a reading book, which I think went well. And now I'm attempting to roast a chicken.

Oooh, and this morning I squatted 50kg! Only 4 times, but that is a new record for me. Very pleased with it :)

Fall Friday

Fall - the autumn kind, not the trip over my feet kind - is definitely here. The humidity suddenly dissipated and the temperatures dropped a good 5-10 degrees in the space of a few days. I've signed up for at least four hiking trips over the next month and a bit to make the most of the weather while I can. Before I know it, it'll be too cold for me to want to walk up a hill outside!

To welcome the cooler weather I went and bought a light down jacket from Uniqlo yesterday. All my jackets that are really warm are also very long, which is not ideal for hiking and stuff. So, I got myself one of these:

In this colour, too.

It's really light and packs away into this tiny little bag - ideal for those days when you want to take something warm, but know you'll also want to take it off but don't want to carry a massive jacket around in your arms. So, happy with that purchase :)

What else is going on? Well, not a whole lot. Jay is crazily busy, so no dates for me. I'm thinking of going to the Dongdaemun market tomorrow to pick up some crafting stuff so I can make my apartment feel a bit more cosy. It feels rather utilitarian right now. And I'm still waiting on that darn bookcase delivery.

Oh! Some excellent news! The article I wrote last year is finally getting published in November! They'll send me a copy of the magazine and... wait for it... are going to pay me for it! Nowhere at all during the process was money mentioned, so I don't know how that came about, but they said they'll pay me or I can have a free subscription to the magazine. How much they pay depends on how many pages it takes up in the magazine, so I have to wait a bit to find out. I'll see how much it is, and how much I'll lose in the currency exchange, and will probably take the subscription, since I've been meaning to get one for about a year anyway. So, that's pretty exciting.

Sore butt Tuesday

Yesterday Bekah and I, with baby Ollie along for the ride, set out for Metapolis shopping mall to visit 'Healing Da'. It's a massage place that had been recommended by Bekah's friend. I watched Ollie for an hour while Bekah had hers, then we switched.

Sexy massage outfit. Must have been size XXXXXXXXL.

Oh. My. God. So much pain. Like, struggle not to cry out kind of pain - especially in my hips, which the guys was jamming hip elbow into. I have bruising this morning and it hurts to touch. I'm not sure if it's because I was particularly tense and the pain would reduce with subsequent visits, or if it is always that bad. Needless to say, it was not the relaxing hour either of us had planned on!

Today, back at work for real this week. I had my first class and they were great. It always feels so good to get back into teaching. I also got a rough draft of a sample chapter for our reading book complete - though it was very rough.

Also, some great news! My article is FINALLY being published in November! What's more (I didn't know this) they are paying me for it! I don't know how much yet, as it depends how many pages of the magazine it takes up, but I should know later in the month. They said I can also have a subscription in lieu of payment, which I might do. I'll wait and see how much they pay first :) If it equals a subscription though, we're talking over $100. *happy dance*. Add to that, we've been told at work that if we get published we get a pay raise or a bonus, so mark me down for that too. All good things :)

The weather is suddenly cooling off - it's cool in the shade a chilly mornings and evenings. I've signed up to go hiking this weekend, out for a group Japanese dinner the next weekend, and some more hiking the weekend after that. Jay is so busy that I need to just get on with stuff and fit him in when he's free, otherwise I'll miss out on everything. I definitely want to make the most of the amazing autumn weather before horrid winter sets in. Fingers crossed for a solid three months of sunny glory.

Five things I'm grateful for today:

1) Unexpected good news

2) Budding friendships

3) Sunshine

4) My job

5) cucumber salad

SHOES Sunday

So, buying shoes my size in Korea is no longer the impossibility I thought it was. With a trip to 'Payless Shoesource' in Myeongdong - I am in love. They had an end of summer sale and I walked out with three pairs of shoes for $45.

(sorry for the photo quality - my lens needs cleaning)

Mostly for work - super comfy

Mostly for fun, they were $10

These were only $5! They are so comfy!

They have this 'comfort' brand they sell there - and man are they soft and cushy! I will definitely be going back in winter. My life in Korea is now complete. I can buy shoes.

What else is new? Well, how have I lived my whole life without curling my eyelashes? I'm going through a phase of being a little more into makeup, and I've just started curling my lashes. I also go this great 'mini-brush' mascara that kind of makes my lashes look insane:

I've been experimenting with eyeshadow colours and have found a real love for coral shades. Also, I can use liquid eyeliner now and not feel like a dick. I have a paintbrush type one in dark brown and after a few youtube vids on how to apply it, I'm really enjoying it.

And, here's some photos of my new apartment before I moved in. The after shots will be along in the next few weeks. I want to get my photos on the wall and the bookcase in before I take the 'afters'.

View from the front door. Main room - to the right is the bathroom.

around the corner to the right. Closet and bathroom.

So clean!

Yeah, I put the TV in the wardrobe :)

My sweet little kitchen.

Slightly too small fridge and totally over sized washer.

Yeah, so that's all good. I had a great day yesterday. I had a really good session at the gym - I'm now squatting 42kg and deadlifting 60kg. Benchpress is lagging behind, but it's supposed to, at 32kg. After the gym, I had a lazy morning and then wambled into Seoul for lunch with Jay (which was awesome), and show shopping. All in all, totally great day :)

Also, the temperatures are cooling. Both morning and evening yesterday it was almost cool enough to wear a light cardigan. Not quite though - my new sandles still have a couple of months of wear left :)