My 'Last Hurrah' in Seoul

Thursday a couple friends and I had an all-day girls trip into Seoul... kind of like my 'last hurrah' before I head move, I guess.  We went to Insadong, which is like an 'artsy district' of Seoul.. with handmade goodies, music, and fun things like that. 

We strolled around, through the crowds of people... I bought a new scarf, and a little handmade coin purse.  But mostly we just browsed and enjoyed looking through all the unique goodies that Insadong had to offer.

On our way out of Insadong, we stopped to listen to some street performers.. the kiddos LOVED that.

I think Clara even liked it too.  ;)

(Do you see those 2 front teeth??  I adore them!)

I'm sure they would've danced around all afternoon if we had let them!

After we grabbed some lunch, we headed to Changdeokgung Palace.  One of the things I love about Korea is their beautiful, old traditional structures.. and so much history.

I'm so glad I was able to spend one last day in Seoul with some great friends.  The fact that we fly out of here in about 72 hours hasn't quite hit me yet.  I've been go-go-go for the past week (so I don't go insane in this small hotel room).. but now I'm a little burnt out.  This weekend I'm going to be doing some serious resting!  :)

A Happy Little Outing

This morning I had a nice little outing with some wonderful friends I've met here in Korea... our first stop was Happy Quilt... fabric heaven here in Korea.  Rolls and rolls of beautiful fabric, on the cheap (compared to stateside).  I had to get one last fix in, and 'stock up'.  I don't quite know what I'm going to do with the fabric, but it's pretty... so most of it is probably going to be used for Clara.  ;)

I just love all the bright, pretty colors.  It makes me happy.. and ready for summer!

See that yellow chevron?  I'm thinking I need some of that to make some pillow covers out of.  It would be so cute on our new couch (well, once we get one) in our new house (.. again, once we have one;)..

And this is what I came home with.  A nice, colorful selection I think.. :)  I can't wait to post the projects I plan on using them for.

So after that we headed to Heavenly Bread...

...and I enjoyed a bread bowl of potato soup and a coffee.

My husband was kind enough to let me go out and have some time for myself, with friends (and I get to do it again this weekend!)... and it was just the boost I needed to get my butt into gear for this move.  The movers come in 3 days and I have SO much to do.

3 Weeks.

My schedule these days is just a little crazy.  Just a little.

And on the days that are 'empty'.. well, those are the days we get to paint Clara's nursery back to plain ol' white (sniff, sniff), sort and pack our suitcases/unaccompanied baggage shipment/household shipment, run last minute errands, ship out last minute Korea gifts to family, etc.

(by the way, I accidentally wrote on my dry erase board with sharpie.. which is why there's a big black blob next to the month:)

Between that and chasing around a 9 month old who is a speed-crawler and trying to stand by herself.. and likes to try to eat everything she sees.. well, I'm tired. 

I'm ready for this day..

3 weeks until 'Peace out, Korea!'

(are you kind of tired of hearing me talk about moving yet?  because I'm kind of tired of hearing myself)

EBT for the last time..

My lack of posts is partially due to my lack of 'drive' lately.  I am so ready to be moved and settled.  The last few weeks before a PCS always seem to take a toll on my patience.  I don't have ambition to do much -- especially not having a car right now, and it being cold outside.  I so just want to be in the kitchen cooking up something yummy and post it here to share with everyone, but I'm trying to make do with what we already have in our cabinets (no more grocery shopping here.. 11 days until they come pack us up).. also, we have been eating out a lot.  We have to hit all of our 'hot spots' (and sneak in a few new places) before we leave.

But trust me, as soon as I'm settled in the good ol' States.. there will be posts of recipes and pretty pictures of food.. lots.  I have so many things 'bookmarked' that I'm excited to try.

Anyhoo.

A couple weeks ago -- I think.. I can't remember when.. all of my days are running together -- my friend Amber and I headed to Seoul so I could visit the Express Bus Terminal one last time.  :)  I got a few crafty items, then I also bought a little step-stool for my sweet Clara.  Something she can use when she's a bit older.. she can use it to help mommy bake in the kitchen.. or to reach the sink to brush her teeth.. or you know, whatever.

There were so many pretty ones to choose from, but I ended up going with these cute little sheep.  Hand-carved into the wood.. and painted all pretty.  I love it.  You love it, right?  ;)

She likes it.

I ended the trip with a tasty little choco chip muffin for the bus ride back.  (and it sure was a 'lovely day')

if there's one thing i'm good at..

..it's shopping.

Ok, I'm good at more than that.. but I'm really good at shopping.  Just ask my husband.  :)  The other day my husband had a random day off of work (which pretty much never happens), so I talked him into going to Seoul to do a little shopping.  We had a lot of fun.. and Clara was a good little girl, as always.  She loves being on the go.  My little traveler.  ;)

After some shopping, we had lunch at Johnny Rockets (apparently they have them here in Korea.. who knew?).  I think that made it worth the trip for my hubby.

We bought Clara a sweet handmade bear at one of the little shops.. something she can cherish and 'remember' Korea by... ;)

And lately I've had a slight obsession with globes.  I don't know what it is.  So when I saw this cute little one while shopping in Seoul, I had to have it.

Can you see little ol' South Korea on there?

And these skeleton keys.. I don't quite know what I'm going to do with them yet.. I just like them.  ;)

I bought a few other things.. things I can use as decor when we move into our new house in a couple months.  The next 45 days can't go by fast enough!

In.Joy the Little Things..

I am counting down the days until we depart Korea to settle back into the states.  I believe we're down to 60-something days now.  And while I'm anxious to get back to American soil and see our parents, I think I will be a little bit sad when the time comes to actually leave.  It seems that all I can think of is things I 'need' to get or 'need' to do before we leave (and quite honestly it's stressing me out).  And while 2 years seems like quite a while to be living in South Korea.. it's not nearly enough time to do and see everything this country has to offer (especially when you have a baby).  But a sweet friend reminded me that I just need to remember all the things I have done while here.. all the things I was able to enjoy.  I really needed someone to tell me that.. and I'm glad she did!

I'm so blessed to have been able to enjoy and experience many things here in Korea.  There's a lot I will miss.. even the little things.. like Lotteria.  I'm really not big on fast food.  At all.  Well.. except the occasional Mocha Joe from Burger King.  ;)  But Korea has a wonderful fast food restaurant called Lotteria.  The one thing I  most enjoy are their sweet potato cheese balls.  I will miss them so much.  They are really the only reason I even go there.  It's a long work week for Coleman this week.. so Clara and I may just have to take a little trip so I can enjoy these little balls of joy again.  My husband thinks they're gross.. but I just have some strange obsession with them.

 

 

Dongdaemun.. A Crafty Person's 'Heaven'

This weekend my wonderful husband so kindly agreed to make the trek to Dongdaemun with me.  He's not really into riding the subway on the weekends.. it can get SO crowded (actually, he's really not a fan of the subway at all).  It was wonderful.. I picked up so my goodies.. I can't wait to go back.. again (I plan on making this trip many, many times before we leave Korea in the spring).

We got to the Nambu bus station in Seoul and realized we forgot the baby carrier (uhhhh, NOT a good thing to forget!).  After that trip, I don't think I'll ever forget it again.  But I refrained from having a 'freak out session' and we made it work.  Clara was still happy as can be.. hammin' it up for the Korean ladies.

This place is yarn heaven.  They have anything you could ever want in yarn.  There are dozens upon dozens of little 'booths' of yarn like the one pictured below.  A sweet lady that I bought yarn from even gave me a free pair of knitting needles (I don't knit, I only crochet.. but my goal for the 'New Year' is to teach myself how to knit as well).  :)

I bought some beautiful buttons.. not sure what I'm going to do with them yet.  I think I'll save them for a rainy day, when I get the urge to create something beautiful.  :)  I also picked up a couple necklaces.  I adore them.. and I'll bet you will never guess how much they cost!  ;)

We stopped for a 'break' to take care of the munchkin.. and then made our way back to the bus station to head back to Songtan.. 

Pretty Little Things..

The other day, I went with some lovely friends to a place called 'Baker's Alley' and 'Dongdaemun'.  These places are little slices of heaven.. and places that I will definitely be missing once we head back to the states (good excuse to frequent them in the next 4 months, eh?:)  Baker's Alley has all kinds of fabulous baking and packaging goodies.  I could have spent hours upon hours looking at all the pretty things.  Head on over to my friend, Karen's, blog.. she has some lovely pictures up of it.

I bought a few things.. but now that I know what's there.. my 'big' list is made, and I'm ready for another trip!

Seriously.. how cute are these cupcake liners?  They had so many pretty ones.  I need to stock up!

And pretty little twisty ties to help package up some holiday goodies...

Seriously.  I could easily get myself in trouble at 'Baker's Alley'... ;)

And no blog is complete without a picture of my sweet Clara.. right?  She got a package from Nana & Papa the other day.  It had her favorite video in it.. VeggieTales!  She loves it when I sing VeggieTales songs to her.  ;)

Sweet Potato Casserole & Getting Ready For Christmas!

Hi.  It's been a while.

Things have been BUSY here the past couple of weeks.  And then my husband has a 4 day weekend this weekend for Thanksgiving, so we've been getting some good 'family time' in.. and getting our house all prepped for the Christmas season.  My FAVORITE!  :)  It's Clara's 1st Christmas.. so it's pretty special.. and I'm extra excited.

We went to a friends house for Thanksgiving dinner.. they made turkey, ham, and some sides.. I brought sweet potato casserole, scalloped pineapple, and pumpkin lust cake.  So much good food.. I love food.. seriously.. so much.  ;)

The day after Thanksgiving, my husband rearranged the living room so we could put up the Christmas tree and Christmas decor, danced around our living room in PJs to Christmas music, drank lots of coffee, ventured out to the store to pick up a few things, then came back home to relax and drink some vootbeer (aka, vanilla vodka & root beer).

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving!

You know, nothing is complete without some smell-good seasonal candles.  I also picked up a big jar of 'Red Apple Wreath' and 'Mistletoe' -- mistletoe smells like a true Christmas tree.  I love it!

We used our special glasses.. they were my Grandma's.  :)

Dancing around the house with daddy.  :)

And now.. one of my favorite holiday dishes.. mmm.. what's everyone elses' favorite Thanksgiving (or Christmas) dish?

Sweet Potato Casserole

Casserole

•  3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Topping

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• mini marshmallows

 Combine sweet potatoes, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, melted butter, and spices in a large bowl.  Pour into a buttered 1.5 to 2 quart casserole dish.  Mix remaining (brown sugar, flour, melted butter, and chopped pecans) topping ingredients in another bowl.  Sprinkle over top of casserole.  Top with marshmallows.

Bake at 350 F for 30 to 30 minutes, until hot and browned.  If marshmallows start to get too brown too quickly, cover with foil.  Serves 6 to 8.