When we we out for the gym tonight I was surprised to see Christmas decorations adorned in  trees in our neighborhood.  In our old neighborhood we can’t really feel it is Christmas because there’s no decorations like this, we will just be reminded that Christmas is coming when we happened to walk in the shopping street where few stores has Christmas ornaments other than that, it was just  a normal day or celebration.

Well, we can’t really feel Christmas in Korea because every Christmas we are out of the country but not this year I guess. This year was our last Christmas in Korea as we are leaving in a few months time. 🙁

Life became so busy for me these past few days, I have client to attend, writers to wait and bloggers to follow-up and when I am finally free from stress I felt so tired and exhausted.  I had a terrible headache that cause me to vomit what’s in my stomach, looking at my laptop causes eye strain and add more pain to my head.

When I can’t take it anymore I went to eye clinic near us, I took the single chance that the optometrist  maybe can speak English but I am not lucky he can’t speak and understand English, same as me I can’t speak Hangul nor understand. Oh well thanks to Google Translate installed on my phone and everything went well, honestly before I came in I have already translated “eye test, eye check-up” in my phone so when I have asked if he can speak English I just handed my phone and he guided me to the machine to check how bad my eye problem is.

I was told that I have many visions which mean my eye problem was not that severe but I really wanted to have an eye glasses when I am using my laptop so I have told him about it, we tried different lenses while reading the ABC’s. Every time he changed the lenses on the eye glass that he asked me to wear, he will ask me “Bright?” well I think he speaks little English ah.

Anyway to cut the story short, we choose the frame that will look good to my face. The optometrist was very helpful when I asked him if it looks good or not, I choose an eye glass with square frame, light and scratch free. I pay 100,00o won for the lenses and frame, discount is included.

Transforming your body into the best shape possible doesn’t have to be boring. Sure, you can spend countless hours lifting weights, walking on the treadmill, or counting every calorie that you put in your mouth and get really good results. But if you are looking for a way to give you plenty of motivation to roll out of bed bright and early to knock out the day’s workout, then look no further than these fun classes, workouts, or exercises. You will surely want to lace up your gym shoes if you know that you’ll have fun at the same time.

Zumba

What could be more fun than shaking your money maker for an hour with some fun, interesting people? That is what Zumba offers that many other workouts are lacking. This dance work out uses the most popular music of the day combined with simple choreography to melt fat and burn calories all while feeling like you are at a big dance party. Many people are intimidated by the thought of dancing in front of other people, but once you try Zumba and realize that everyone else is dancing just like you, you will forget to be embarrassed and have a great time.

CrossFit

CrossFit has seen a huge increase in popularity over the last few years. Aside from the fact that many people are seeing great results and realizing that they have more strength than they even knew, there is a community aspect of Santa Barbara cross fit that many participants enjoy. This weight-lifting, cardio-blasting combination fitness program is performed in a gym that is called “the box.” For many who do CrossFit, their box can become a second home. Everyone encourages each other to reach their fullest potential and move above and beyond the limits that they put on themselves.

Hula Hooping

Once a common playground toy, the hula hoop is making a comeback at gyms everywhere. With classes specific to hula hooping, many people are jumping on board the trend and having a lot of fun doing it. The hula hoops used for working out are often weighted, making them a great tool to help improve balance and strengthen the abdominal muscles, back, and legs at the same time. Don’t be fooled, though. Hula hooping isn’t all fun and games. Performing this workout can burn upwards of 400 calories in only one hour.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Perhaps you have seen photos of celebrities standing on what look like surfboards, paddling around in exotic locations. Stand up paddle boarding has moved from the resorts of the Caribbean to the main land and plenty of people are jumping at the chance to try it out. Because of the paddling motion that you have to perform in order to move your board around, you will feel the burn in your arms, shoulders, and obliques. Plus, you’ll get to practice a lot of balance trying to stay out of the water.

Hiking

Strapping on your hiking boots and climbing up the mountain not only gets you out of the gym, but it gives you the chance to appreciate nature at the same time. Try adding a hiking pack full of snacks and water and you will get a strength training workout as well without having to lift a single dumbbell.

The number of lotions and body creams in the market is enormous and it is hard to know which one is good or not. I have been using Nivea lotions for years already since I moved in Korea but recently I have been reading good reviews about Neutrogena and Cetaphil Products, I would like to try any of of the two but I have found out that they are a bit expensive for my budget.

With this, I decided to look online because most items are cheaper in Gmarket then buying them in local stores. Neutrogena body moisturizer was on sale from one seller so I ordered immediately using the coupons I found under member’s benefits. It was a good deal, I can only buy one Neutrogena moisturizer in the local supermarket at this price but online it was for 2 items.

Retail Price in Supermarkets: ₩14, 000 – 17,000 /450ml
Online Retail Price: ₩20, 200 – 450mlx2

Online Sale Price: ₩19, 900 – 450mlx2
Gmarket Coupon: ₩1, 990
Total Price after discount: ₩17, 910 450mlx2

Gmarket Savings – ₩2, 290
My Savings (from buying online): ₩14, 000 – 17,000

These past few days the temperature is getting colder and when I look outside our balcony window the color of the trees changed rapidly from the last time I have seen them.

The leaves of the cherry blossoms turns read during autumn season, I have asked my husband if we could do autumn hiking so I could get pictures of the beautiful trees.

Training a dog can be a difficult and arduous process. Dogs are wonderful pets that are affectionate and fun-loving, but they also like to test boundaries to see what behaviors are acceptable and what behaviors are unacceptable. In order to properly train a dog to understand what behaviors are unwanted, immediate correction is necessary. This is difficult to accomplish, as sometimes a behavior occurs unexpectedly or out of reach. Using an e collar can help alleviate this problem, and e-collar training for dogs has been proven to be a very effective training method for correcting negative behaviors while reinforcing positive ones.

How Electronic Collars Work

The collars work by utilizing three basic components: a remote transmitter, collar probes and a collar receiver. The transmitter sends a signal to the collar’s receiver, which in turn directs an electrical impulse through the collar’s probes to the dog’s skin. The dog senses this electrical stimulus, and immediately ceases engaging in the unwanted behavior. The collars are adjustable, so the amount of impulse the dog receives can be dictated by the trainer. Most trainers use the lowest setting, as they have found that even a minimal impulse will result in the desired effect.

Why Training Collars Make Training Easier

Because training collars allow for immediate correction to be made, they are among the most efficient training tools available. They must be used properly, and if an individual has never before used one, it may be best to conduct thorough research or to consult a professional before trying to use one of these collars. If a dog has already mastered some very basic commands, it is probably ready to be introduced to the electronic collar. The collar should be worn by the dog several times before any training begins, and when it does, sessions should remain very brief, no longer than 15 minutes. Dogs seem to respond better to this repetitive style of training. Once training has begun, the collar can be used to reinforce positive behaviors, and also to correct negative and undesirable behaviors.

Are These Collars Humane?

One of the most common concerns about the electronic collar is the debate as to whether it is humane to use on dogs. The simple fact is that the collar is not harmful or painful to the dogs who wear them. The stimulus that is delivered through the collar is very similar to the shock felt from static electricity: Uncomfortable, but not painful or harmful. In fact, most dogs enjoy wearing their collars, because they associate the collar with training, and successful training results in rewards and positive reinforcement. In short, there should be no concern with regard to the use of these collars.

Electronic collars are incredibly useful and effective. When used appropriately, they can result in quick and easy training sessions that help dogs understand how to behave correctly. With the ability to instantly correct unwanted behavior without causing the dog any pain, it is no surprise that this is a popular training tool among professional dog trainers. This simple and effective training method is a smart choice for any dog owner who desires to have a well-behaved and obedient dog.

Jack Bonafacio is an expert dog trainer and has close to a decade of dog training experience, having worked with many different breeds.

Since fall season came the weather in Korea is getting colder, to others it could be a lot of fun but for someone who came from tropical country it requires a lot of warm to have fun. The other day when my husband arrived from school he immediately informed me that the guy we saw selling street foods when we first arrived in our new place was already there selling freshly cooked hotteok.

I immediately went down to buy some it was been a long time since we had them. Hotteok is a Korean pancake with sugary flavor in the inside, well it seems the guy only sells Hotteok and Oding during colder season because we didn’t find him anymore during the summer.

Every one of us wish to have that ideal Christmas dinner, with complete family members, sumptuous foods, amazing gifts and festive mood. However, the amount of money that you have to spent to create an amazing dinner for the whole family can really drive you insane. Before you get stressed just thinking about it, this article will help you make Christmas festivities fun yet within budget.

Saving Up for Christmas

There are lots of ways you can make extra money to finance your Christmas festivities. The first and easiest way to do Is to scour your house for any CDs, DVDs or any clothes that are already of no use to you then sell it online or in a car garage sale. A few weeks before Christmas season, you can try eating packed lunches or snacks in office or in school instead of buying them outside. You can also try jotting down all your expenses daily. By doing this, you can be able to monitor where you are spending your money. You can then easily get rid of any unnecessary expenses.

[Photo courtesy of picjumbo.com/pexels.com]

Planning A Frugal Christmas Menu

You do not have to spend too much money on your Christmas dinner. Here are some simple tips:

• Know the right portions. We all know that everybody loves turkey on Christmas. However, the turkey dish will become leftovers the next day. Just buy the right amount of food for everyone so that you can avoid wasting food and money.

• Cook the leftovers.

You can try to think of ways on how to recycle your leftovers. This will allow you to money on your meals for the next few days.

• Shop months before.

Make a list early on and try to stock these items on your pantry one by one.

• Use coupons. Coupons will come handy during the holiday season.

 Enjoy your Christmas eve!

Raising pets is not really an easy thing to do. Aside from the fact that you have to bathe them, feed them and make sure they are safe and sound, you will also have to shell out money for such needs. With the unstable economy that we have today, it can be quite hard to earn and save money for your needs. How in the earth can you raise funds for your pet’s needs?

You do not have to worry. Here are simple money making and money saving tips that can help you raise money to cover the needs of your pets:

Have some of your stuffs rented

An unconventional yet easy way to make extra money for your pet’s needs is by having some of your stuffs rented out. If you have a spare room, you can take in a lodger. If you have excess space on your garage, you can offer it to other people.

Sell your skills

In the event that you have any marketable talent such as writing, web design, editing and more, you can use it to earn money. Apply online and you will be amazed at the various options made available for you.

Sell your old stuffs online

Take a look at your home. Is there anything you are no longer using? It may be a CD, DVD, instrument, clothes or many more. Do your house and your pet a favor by getting rid of all these clutter and turning them into cash! You can sell these online! Any money you will earn from doing this can go to your pet’s funds.

Walk other pets.

Since you are doing this for your dog, why not earn money by capitalizing on the passion and care you have for animals?

These are simple yet very effective ways to earn money to cover your pet care needs.

Shopping online in Korea is very convenient not just because it is cheaper than shopping local stores but because the items are delivered quickly as long as you ordered them on weekdays, most delivery company are only open on Monday to Friday.  The other day I have ordered pair of shoes and small bottles of shampoo to use as present for my relatives, the sellers provided a tracking details and when I found out that it was sent to unfamiliar delivery company I know something is gonna happen because it was a new one, what I mean it was not the same company who deliver items to us every time we ordered.

It was about 9 o’clock in the morning and I am still sleeping when my phone rang, as I already removed the password protection of my phone it took me time before I can answer it, I am used of sliding the screen whenever I received a phone call but this time it won’t work and it was only after 2 rings that I figured out how to get the phone call. It was the tekbe ajeossi (delivery man) calling, as I can’t understand what he is talking I just told him “Hangul mulayo” (I don’t know Hangul) but he keeps talking so I went out the apartment thinking he is around, in the background I can hear people talking.  Someone talk to me in English maybe the ajeossi find someone who can speak English and I was asked where am I, thinking they can’t find our apartment I told him our town and where to find the apartment like saying landmarks and stores.

After few minutes I received another phone call it was the delivery tekbe ajossi thinking he was lost I went out to check outside again but I can’t see any delivery truck, worried where my order will be delivered I went down and went to the gym owner where we are working out as I saw him outside from where am I peeping upstairs.

I asked help to talk at tekbe ajossi so I dialed the number and hand the phone to him, it turns out the tekbe ajossi is just calling me that he is already near in our town and asking where am I or where he is going to deliver the items I have ordered.  I have figured it out after the gym owner told me that the delivery will be here after 20 minutes and I heard him saying the chicken place where we at.

It is funny huh? I am thinking the other way that he was lost but the truth he was just informing that my items will be delivered soon and if I am at home when he will came to our apartment. Haha!