Airplane Travel Essentials: Part 1

TSA liquid rules, fussy children, chatty adults, dry as dust airplane air...make the best out of traveling by being prepared.

Here are my top airplane essentials:

1. Steam Eye Mask - LOVE THIS!
2. Headphones
3. Squeezable Travel Bottles
4. Sample Container
5. Too Cool For School Aqua Gel Mist
6. Evian Mineral Water Spray

Tips:

-I try not to wear any makeup on the plane because I want my skin to breathe and absorb the mist.
-I'll loosen my shoelaces or wear sandals because my feet get quite swollen.
-I always pack a sweater or blanket to keep warm from the AC chill.
-Not a fan of airplane food (even koreanair) so candy and non-messy/non-stinky snacks are a must.
-I'll do one carry-on only for domestic flights. This will help cut out baggage costs and time wasted waiting for luggage.

Seltzer Facial aka Sparkling Water Face Bath

When my skin needs a pick me up, I do a quick seltzer facial.  Korean spas have been using carbonated water to treat the skin for years.  I don't know if sparkling water actually makes your face cleaner, but your skin will definitely feel cleaner.  The bubbles will revitalize your skin and give it a nice glow.  It's also my go-to treatment to reduce bloating and swelling!  I recommend no more than 1-2 times a week so your skin doesn't get used to it.

Dunk your makeup-free face in a bowl of sparking water for about 10-15 seconds.  I usually repeat the process 3-4 times, but once will do the trick.  If you don't feel comfortable dunking or you don't have the time, you can also use sparkling water instead of tap while cleansing.  You can also use a seltzer soaked cotton pad and lightly dab onto skin after cleansing.  I feel that dunking is most effective for me, plus the bubbles are also good for your scalp~

*tip* - use plain (no color/non-flavored) mineral sparkling water.  refrigerate the water for an even more refreshing treatment.

Power Breakfast: Quail Eggs Baked in Avocado w/ Pancetta

Did you know quail eggs are considered a superfood?? They're tiny in size, but contain more potassium, iron, vitamin A/B1/B2, and percentage of protein than chicken eggs.  Not to mention, they fit perfectly inside the hollow of an avocado- another nutrient-dense superfood!  

Prep Time: 5 min

Cook Time: 15-20 min

Serves: 2

Ingredients 

1 avocado

2 quail eggs 

1 oz. pancetta

1 finely chopped cherry tomato

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Fry pancetta or bacon until crisp. Cut the avocado in half and pit. Crack a quail egg in the hollow of each shell.  Sprinkle some salt and pepper, if you want.  Add pancetta, garnish with a slice of cherry tomato, and bake at 425 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.

*You can use a regular chicken egg too, but you will need to scrape a bit of the avocado to make room.  This rich, healthy, low-carb breakfast is guaranteed to keep you energized and full throughout the morning. It's also really delicious.  

DIY: COMME DES GARÇONS Chuck Taylors

I've been eyeing the Commes des Garcon Play Peek-A-Boo Canvas sneakers, but they don't come in my size EVER.  Finding  shoes is such a pain when you're a grown woman with small feet.  I hand painted these chucks using my favorite, Angelus Paint.  This paint is perfect for shoes, leather, pretty much any surface that requires a little more flexibility.

*Tip* - thoroughly clean and prep the surface of any project before applying paint to ensure that the paint adheres properly and lasts for a long time.

Why I Decided to Give Up Makeup for Lent

There's a popular korean phrase that I love, 

"너 나 잘하세요". 

[Loosely translated: worry about yourself]

In recent years, I started dealing with hurt and disappointment from others by punishing myself. Instead of just feeling disappointed or hurt and being angry at the source of the pain, I will tell myself over and over,  "너나잘헤, 너나잘헤".  Because I know I can't control what anyone else thinks or does, I start to reign in on what I can control, me.  Essentially, I'm lowering my expectations of others, while simultaneously raising the bar for myself.  I get super critical and turn that self-awareness up all the way up.  I quickly sweep the broken bits away, and begin looking for all the ugly things I need to fix inside and outside.  I get obsessive about presenting the best me.  Internally, I'll downplay my own feelings and take the high road so I can be the 'better person'.  Externally, I will carefully coordinate every outfit, not leave the house until my makeup is perfectly applied, and put a big fake  smile on my face.

This season, I'm being led to break free the standards I've set for myself.  These next 40 days, I will go fully makeup free.  It's scary and liberating at the same time- I have a trip to LA planned and a birthday coming up so it's gonna be tough..But it's more than being comfortable with any bare physical features- I didn't wear that much makeup to begin with.  Rather, my hope is to focus less on my flaws and more on my creator, God.  And in doing so, discover the fearfully wonderfully made-version of me.  I'm excited to see how God will speak into my life and the things He will reveal to me during this time! Hope you'll also be encouraged to be set free from anything that's holding you back from being you~

<3.

because nothing is real until you post it on the internet..my first ever zero makeup, no filter, no camera 360, full-face selfie. Feel free to leave a comment below! I'm gonna run away now.

Coconut Oil: Beauty's Quitessential MultiTasker

Coconut oil has tons of health benefits, but it 's also a GREAT beauty multitasker..  Use it as cuticle oil, deep-conditioner for hair, makeup remover, lip balm, shaving cream, eyelash conditioner, mouth wash..YES mouthwash!
 
[ Oil pulling, also known as "kavala" or "gundusha," is an ancient Ayurvedic dental technique that involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes. This action supposedly draws out toxins in your body, primarily to improve oral health but also to improve your overall health]

I do this every morning and night, right before I brush my teeth.  The taste and smell were actually really subtle, but the texture was gross as first.  I started with a teaspoon and 5 minutes, and barely made it through.  Now, it's just as routine as brushing my teeth! Can't say much about the health benefits, but I have definitely noticed that my mouth feels extra clean and my teeth have been whiter since I started.  I also get canker sores often and it's been awhile since I've had one. Trader Joe's carry's it for less than $5 and with all the ways it can be used, it pays for itself (not sponsored).




*tip* - try oil-pulling for hangovers!!

TGI Driday: Dried Sweet Potato Strips

Healthy delicious snacks for the win~

These dried sweet potato strips are so yummy!  They're fairly easy to make, but you will need a dehydrator for best results.  You can also use the lowest temperature in your oven, but unlike the dehydrator which you set and forget- you probably shouldn't keep your oven unattended for long.   I love the golden insides of Korean sweet potatoes, available at Korean marts. The korean sweet potatoes sold in the states aren't as yellow and sweet, SAD! :(

How To:
-Wash and boil about 4 medium sized sweet potatoes.
-Let cool, peel, and cut into strips
-Place in dehydrator set at highest temperature (mine is 155 degrees) and dry for 10 hours. You can dry longer if you like them hard, or less if you like them softer.  They do harden over time so you may want to slightly undercook  from your preferred consistency if you're making a big batch.

*tip* these treats are also pet friendly!

boiled, cut, and ready to dry

set it and forget it

10 hours later [2 sweet potatoes worth]

DIY: Valentine's Day Goodie Bag

I really enjoy making homemade treats so the Photo Sleeve Fuser is my new best friend!  This nifty tool allows you to create custom pockets, sleeves, and seal plastic for anything from goodie bags to scrapbooks to photo albums.  You can even use them to make the ever popular shaker cards~  

My fuse tool came in handy while making treat bags for my Sunday school students in anticipation of Valentine's Sunday.  The kids couldn't care less how it's sealed, but it definitely gives a clean professional look- which makes me really happy! Definitely a worthy investment for crafters.

Orange/Peach Makeup

Subtle shades of orange give off a feminine and youthful look, without looking overdone - the trifecta of k-beauty.  Peachy tones are popular in the warmer months, but I really like orange for winter.  

You're probably thinking you can't pull it off- trust me you can!  It'll work as long as you find the right shade of orange that works for you.

*tip* start with peachy cheeks or lips if you want to ease your way into the wonderful world of orange.

Skin: Iope Air Cushion N21

Brows: Clio Tinted Kill Brow No.2 Soft Brown 

Eyes: Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Shadow No.3 Hold Me Tight, Nature Republic Brush Eyeliner in No.2 Brown

Cheeks: Makeup Forever Artist Shadow inS-748 + Benefit Cheek Powder in Georgia Peach

Lips: The Face Shop Lovely Me:Ex Milky Tint in No.3 Baby Apricot

Winter Orange Makeup Complete!

Comment below if you want to see tutorials~

Foodie Friday: Earl Grey Coffee

When you can't decide between tea and coffee,  there's Earl Grey Coffee!

I won't take the creative credit for this one, I fell in love after trying it at a local cafe.  

The 1:1 ratio works well for me, but you can experiment to taste.  I do 4 cups at a time (2 cups coffee+2 cups tea) and refrigerate.  I'll grab a cup in the morning and either microwave or add ice depending on the mood, but I do like my coffee iced even in the winter.  It's a really addicting flavor, try it for yourself!  I used Dieseldorff Kaffee from Guatemala and Bigelow Earl Grey Tea.

*tip* - use frozen coffee cubes when making iced coffee to keep the flavor strong. 
         - make your coffee extra dark if you want a deeper coffee taste.

DIY Wednesday: Rabbit Fur Vans

I'm a huge lover of shoes and fur so for my latest creation I combined both. Poms are all the rage, and I love them- but wanted something different. I saved these rabbit fur poms from an old sweater from Korea, OF COURSE! The hardest part was finding the perfect shoe... These weren't what I originally wanted, but I settled on heather grey suede vans. 

I use a glue gun to adhere tiny strips of elastic to each pom to make a loop. 
If you don't have elastic you can cut a small hair tie in half and used one half for each pom. 
Slip your shoelaces into the loops and you're done! 
You can glue them right onto the shoelace as well but I wanted mine to be detachable.
Super easy and fun way to personalize a trendy look.

Makeup [Beauty] Monday: Hair Part 3

Sometimes you just need change. 

Have you ever gotten the urge to do something crazy to your hair? Chop it off? dye it pink?  I want to change my hair ten times a week so I'm always looking for semi-permenant ways to switch things up.  The easiest no cut/color way to change up your hair is to change your part! See the 3 parts I tried below and the different vibes they give- even my makeup looks slightly different and all I changed was my hair.  All you need is a comb and a blowdryer to set once you decide which way you wanna go.  A new part can feel a little awkward at first, but it might just be the change you need in your life. Try it out~

*Tip* - middle parts make you look more youthful but also make your face look more full.