South West Coast Beaches in South Korea

A few weekends ago Farmboy, #ShadowTheJindo and I road tripped down to the South West coast of Korea in celebration of the first warm day the year. The beaches here in Korea are a little different from what you typically see in the rest of South East Asia (click here to see a little more of Wido Island which we visited this time last year, also here in Korea). Even though it was far from tropical, it was a great day out and our pup had a ball chasing my scarf.

This beach was located on the coast between Gochang and Yeongwang.

Have you visited any beautiful beaches here in Korea? Please drop me a comment below, I'm always on the look out for new places to explore.

Elisha Coy 3D Spin Cleaner {Review & Video}

I have been wanting to try out this face cleansing tool ever since I first spotted it on WishTrend. Then when I saw it was on special for only $48 instead of the usual $120, I ordered it right away and haven't looked back since. This little beauty has been an amazing addition to my skin care routine, giving me smoother, brighter and softer skin than ever before.

WishTrend currently has the face cleaner as part of an ElishaCoy Cleansing kit which includes the cleaner, 2 brush heads and the ElishaCoy Vita Capsule Cleanser all for $48 instead of the usual $120. 

The one brush is a large white, soft bristled brush designed for everyday use. It's very gentle on your skin and my skin (which is often very sensitive to new products) has had no bad reaction to either the brush or the Vita Capsule Cleanser. I was a little worried that my skin would be red and agitated after use, but that hasn't been the case at all. The whole experience of using this brush incredibly relaxing. After filming the video below, even my husband wanted to give it a try. The first thing he told me was how surprised he was at the how relaxing he felt using it. If you are still worried about your skin having a reaction, then try using it twice a week until your skin feels used to it. I use the brush every other day, in total about 4 times a week. It is gentle enough to use everyday, so see how you skin feels after the first use.

The bristles are incredibly soft and feel like silk on your skin. The smaller brush is designed to target blackheads and works in the same way as the larger brush head but as it is smaller is able to really get into the corners around you nose to deep clean your pores.

Both the brush head rotate 360 degrees allowing the bristles to thoroughly cleanse your pores and scrub deep down removing dirt and other impurities. The cleaner runs on 2 AA sized batteries which are inserted into the bottom and covered with a waterproof piece of plastic to make sure you don't electrocute yourself in the bathtub. The Cleansing kit from Wishtrend includes 2 batteries so you can get scrubbing right away.

I've used a lot of face scrubs before (my favourite being this one from SkinFood and this one from Klairs) but even these don't clean my skin like this little machine does. What's great about it is you can use it with your regular face cleanser for a much deeper clean. Just squeeze a dollop of your face wash onto the bristles, dip the brush head into water, place on your face and press the on button. Slowly move the brush over your face, being careful not to get any product in your eyes and then after a few minutes, rinse off with warm water. Your skin will feel softer, cleaner and ready for the rest of your skincare routine. The brush has two settings, fast and slow, so you can adjust accordingly to your skin. I started off the slowest setting, and now only use the fast setting.

The biggest thing I have noticed with my skin after using this cleaner is how much better the rest of my skin care products respond to my skin. Everything I put on after cleansing literally melts into my skin. I no longer have to stand around rubbing my face for ages to wait for creams to absorb and as a result, my foundation goes on better. What this means for your skin is your pores are squeaky clean and able to absorb so much more of the active ingredients in your creams, lotions and serums. I hadn't expected to feel such a difference in the rest of my skin care routine, but I have pleasantly surprised.

ElishaCoy Vita Capsule Cleanser

This foam cleanser works wonderfully with the 3D Spin Cleaner. It leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean without over drying and leaves me with brighter skin after every use. This cleanser is formulated for all skin types and a contains a blend of 10 different vitamin capsules. Although formulated as a thick and rich cream, once mixed with water it becomes a fluffy and light foam. 

The tube contains 80ml of product, and as you only need a little to get a rich foam, it's going to last you a good long time. I love the scent of the cleanser too, it's light and refreshing and leaves me feeling thoroughly pampered like I've just been to the spa. 

Here is a quick little video of me giving you a quick preview of this cleansing brush. As you can see, I'm all about the pink...

Have you ever used a face brush or cleansing tool like this one? Do you want to try one? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Spring Blossoms in Korea

It's officially the start of Spring here in Korea and I couldn't be happier. Not just because of the warmer weather, but more so because I get to photograph pretty blossoms like the ones below. From these photographs you'd think that the whole of Korea is covered in gorgeous blossoms, but that just isn't so. I had to really work hard to manoeuvre myself in all kinds of ways to make sure I didn't get the ugly buildings, street lights and apartment blocks in the background of these photographs. These are just the first few signs of Spring, I hope to bring many more blossoms here soon!

In the mean time, enjoy!

x

Dominique & the Snow

During the last snowfall we had here in Korea, my stylist friend and I decided to do one last styled shoot before she left Korea to return home to South Africa. It was a freezing cold afternoon in Jeungeup, a small town in the South West part of Korea, and we broke up the shoot into two parts; one filled with snow and the other a more tropical styled shoot. These are the photographs from the first half of our shoot.

I've done a number of other styled shoots, including blueberries & temples, beaches and flowers. Click here to see them.

To Dominique our model, thank you for being so patient and for being so dam easy to photograph. Thank you for braving the old in the outfits we chose for you, and for being such so amenable to the poses we put you in. From these photographs it's impossible to guess that you you've never modelled before, you really photograph beautifully.

To Aimee our makeup artist, thank you for bringing our ideas together with our brushes and your makeup. You really are so good at what you do and I hope we can work together again soon.

And finally to Storm, your creativity and enthusiasm is limitless my friend. Cape Town is lucky to have you back.

If you're a makeup artist, model, photographer, stylist or graphic designer here in Korea and would like to work together on a styled shoot, please do get in touch with me! You don't have to be professional in any sense of the word, it's all about having fun! You can also see more of my work by clicking here.

10 Tips for New Bloggers

I've been blogging for a good couple of years now and lately I've been feeling a bit 'bleugh' when it comes to my blog. Over the past few weeks, instead of give up on my blogging entirely, I've been working on getting my spark back.  While doing so I wanted to share some blogging tips I've found to be very helpful for me and my blog. I hope you find them helpful too!

1. Don't feel trapped in a box. If you're struggling to come up with content for your blog, change what you write about. Start fresh with a new series, a different topic, post a recipe, do a beauty review. It's your blog you can do what you like with it.

2. You don't have to blog everyday. Don't get stressed about coming up with new content everyday and rather let your content happen naturally. 

3. Start a new hobby. This will activate different parts of your brain and may even inspire your blogging.

4. Make your life easier (and save yourself hours of time!) by looking into platforms like BufferApp and Hootsuite which let you schedule posts to Facebook & Twitter ahead of time. 

5. Make 'friends' with other bloggers you admire. Mention them in tweets (even just saying something like "I love your blog! Thank you for inspiring me!"), like their photos on Instagram and mention them on Facebook. A little love goes a long way.

6. Always reply to comments on your blog. If someone has taken the time to reach out toy you and leave a comment, the least you can do to say thank you is to reply. It's the nice thing to do.

7. Spend a little time going through past blog posts/Facebook posts and see what has been most popular with you readers. Let this guide you as to what you should post more of.

8. Simple is usually better. Keep things clean with regards to your choice of images and photographs for your blog, as well as with your blog design. Lots of white space is much more appealing on the eyes than clutter.

9. Invest in stock photographs if you don't have a fancy camera or the time to take your own photographs. Or sign up for gorgeous free stock photographs for your blog at DeathToTheStockPhoto.

10. Have fun. Blogging should be something you enjoy doing, not a task to tick off a list at the end of the day. If it's becoming more of a chore than something that makes you happy, take a break for a while. You owe it to yourself to blog for the heart and if your heart isn't in it, it might be time for a change (I've found No. 1 & 3 have helped me the most when it comes to needing a change!).

There you go. 10 tips to help new (and old!) bloggers to feel inspired. Is there anything else I've left off that you think I should add? I'd love to ear from you in the comments section below.

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam {Review}

I am always on the look out for new skincare products and when a friend gave this one to me I was super excited to share it with you. I go through phases with cleansing products, sometimes preferring to use an oil cleanser, then changing it up to a foam while alternating with scrubs. Winter time is when I find oil cleansers to be the best for my skin (my favourite has been the Klairs Black Sugar Cleansing Oil) and summer time is when I like to switch to foams. 

This Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam from Innisfree has been great for my skin. It's lightweight while still containing exfoliating beads to really clean and remove  impurities from the skin. It's still very gentle and doesn't leave my skin feeling raw or looking red. It does leave my skin feeling a little tight after cleansing, but this goes away immediately after applying my toner.

The foam itself is velvety soft and really easy to apply as it comes in a squeeze top bottle. You only need a small amount and so this product really will last you a good while before you need to stock up again.

Innisfree Jeju volcanic pore cleansing foam is formulated with Jeju volcanic clusters to adsorb sebum and purify pores and is formulated to leave your skin looking matte. As the Jeju Volcanic Pore range of skincare products is formulated for oily skin,  I wouldn't recommend this product for anyone with very dry skin. If you have oily skin or enlarged pores, then you are going to love how deeply this foam cleanses your skin and really works deep down to clear pores of dirt and impurities.

Have you ever tried this cleansing foam? What did you think of it? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream, Rich Moist Soothing Serum & Supple Preparation Toner {Review}

We are nearing the end of winter here in South Korea, and these Klairs products have been amazing in helping me deal with the winter dryness. I use the rich moist cream for day, and use my favourite Innisfree Eco Science Deep Cream (review to come) for night time. This toner, cream & serum work perfectly with the Black Sugar Scrub & Cleansing Oil I reviewed a little while ago (click here).  Another of my favourite products from Klairs is their Illuminating Supple BB Cream (click here to see the review).

And the best part about Klairs: 

Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream 50ml ($23.99 on WishTrend)

An ultra light cream for normal to dry skin. This cream leaves skin feeling soft, supple and looking radiant while providing a great canvas for makeup. This cream is particularly perfect for sensitive skin, helping to calm redness while restoring your skins natural balance. I've been using it for the last 3 months and have found my skin has become a lot calmer, with little to no redness after washing and exfoliating my skin. It also absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving any sticky residue.

It has faint traces of lavender perfume which always makes me feel  calm and relaxed. I have really liked using this cream and it has become a firm favorite, especially for day time wear. I have been needing something heavier for night time use, but for day time this cream is perfect!

You can read more reviews of this cream over on the WishTrend website, where over 100 women have left their thoughts on this great cream. 

For the Ingredients list click here.

Klairs Supple Preparation Toner 150ml ($21.99 on WishTrend)

This toner balances the skin’s pH levels, helping to improve the effectiveness
of your entire skincare regime by gently cleansing your pores to allow for full absorption your other skincare products. This toner is gentle yet effective and never once leaves my skin feeling dry or tingly.

Toning is a very important step in your skincare regime no matter what skin type you have. Toner helps to remove excess dirt and sebum from the skin after cleansing. Once your skin as been cleansed (using both your cleanser/wash and toner) it is prepped and ready for your serums and creams. Toners also aid the skin in being less prone to skin irritations from the environment and pollution by closing your pores. This limits the amount of pore clogging particles that can enter the pores of your skin and lead to potential skin troubles like blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.

Some of the key ingredients the Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner are:

• Phyto-Oligo ingredients which helps moisture flow evenly throughout the skin to help with dryness.
• Amino Acids which are anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce inflammation in the skin and provide deep hydration.

These anti-inflammatory properties also help to reduce redness in the skin, calm irritation as well as reduce redness in acne pimples (WishTrend).

Read reviews from over 60 women on the WishTrend website.

For the ingredients list click here. 

Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum 50ml ($22.99 on WishTrend)

This serum definitely lives up to it's name as I found it to be incredibly soothing and moisturising. It literally melts into your skin and leaves no sticky residue. I've ben using it under my cream both day and night and have found my skin looks healthier, but it feels softer too.

Why do you need to use a serum? Serums, are considered to be the most important step in any skincare routine as they contain smaller molecules with higher concentrations of beneficial ingredients compared to regular moisturisers. Serums are intensively infused with higher concentrations of active ingredients that can penetrate deeper into the skin, delivering more targeted results. Serums fit perfectly into every skin care routine to provide you with the optimal results your skin needs, no matter your skin type. 
Serums are also a great alternative for makeup primers. Use a serum to prime your skin before applying your skin makeup to get the most smooth and soft looking makeup application with all the benefits of serum; re hydrate fine lines, smooth over the appearance of pores and create a soft skin surface that is ready for makeup application (WishTrend).

For the ingredients list click here. 

You can read the reviews of over 60 other women on WishTrend.

Do any of these products sound like something you'd like to try? Let me know in the comments below!

Disclosure: I received the above products for review purposes but the opinions expressed here are 100% my own. This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission should you make a purchase using one of the links. 

#ShadowTheJindo likes to chew

7 months ago, a small bundle of black and brown fluff came into our lives and turned our world upside down. Owning a dog here in Korea was never part of the plan, but then again, when exactly does life go according to plan?

Shadow is a black and tan Korean Jindo, a breed of dog native to Korea, and very much unknown to the rest of the world (click here to read more about Jindos and how we rescued Shadow from the side of the road).

But, he is a puppy, and so no matter his breed, he likes (or rather loves) to do what all puppies love to do...CHEW.ALL. THE. THINGS.

Up until now, he hasn't done too much damage, mostly because he stays in his room while we are out at work and he hasn't been big enough to reach things on my desk. Well, I guess it's safe to say nothing on my desk is safe anymore.

Have you ever come home to any 'surprises' while owning a dog? I'd love to hear from you! 

Life After The Dress {Episode 18} Amy Brown

In this series I interview married women of all ages and from all walks of life and ask them real questions about their lives now, after all the glitter and sparkle of their wedding day is over.  Today I've got Amy, a fellow South African blogger over at Tea With Mrs B sharing with us her her life after the dress.

Grab yourself a cup of tea and be ready to be inspired!

x

Q1: Please introduce yourself (age, of both yourself and your husband, where do you live, what do you do & how long have you been married for?)

Hello! I am 24 year old Amy Brown, married to 26 year old Duane Brown for a year on the 21st of March. We live in Cape Town, South Africa and I am a freelance copywriter and social media manager.

Q2: Which Disney character do you feel sums you up to a ‘T’?

Ooh this is hard! Ha ha I would say either Merida from Brave or Mulan. Mainly because they’re both fiercely independent but also because they both love adventure. I also have ridiculously curly hair like Merida, but it’s not red.

Q3: How did you and your hubby meet?

We met at the after party thing for an old friend’s 21st. He was friends with someone I knew and just like good ‘ol Murphy, he actually used to live next door to one of my oldest friends, although we had never met prior to the after party.

Q4: Was your wedding everything you hoped it would be? Would you go back and change anything? Do you have any advice for brides-to-be?

My wedding was 100% exactly how Duane & I both wanted it! We really wanted a day where both of us would completely enjoy ourselves and our guests would just have a blast and that’s what we got! The only thing I would change, and it isn’t even a major thing for me, would be to not invite one or two people out of obligation. Advice? It’s your day, you and your hubby to be are the ones that look back and remember it and it needs to be a memory you love going back to! No one should take that away from you so do what makes you happy!

Q5: Has ‘life after the dress’ been as you imagined it would be?

It has, actually. Because Duane and I didn’t live together before the wedding, a lot of people told me that it would hard adjusting to living with each other and that the first year is the hardest. And whilst I agree that marriage does take hard work, it’s definitely something I would do 1000 times over again! Duane makes life so much fun and I really feel like I’m doing life with my best friend. 

Q6: What do you think makes marriage work?

Communication and LOADS of patience! Patience gives the other person the grace to make mistakes and space to do better. It allows the person to try again. And communication is key! People can’t read minds so it’s unfair to expect someone to know what you’re wanting/feeling/expecting if you haven’t spoken up. 

Q7: What have you learnt about yourself since being married?

Oh gees, so much! I’ve realized that I’m more imperfect than I knew and that I suck at communication. I’m big into talking about feelings and stuff (I should’ve been a psychologist) and I honestly thought I had communication down, but when you get past the whole romantic notions of love and realize that, unlike 10 Things I Hate About You or Nottinghill, you realize that men don’t always automatically know what you want and expect. You need to communicate.  

Q8: If you could describe your marriage in 3 words, what would they be?

Fun, loving, forgiving.

Q9: Do you have any pearls of wisdom you would like to share with my readers about being married? Perhaps something some wise person once told you, or something you’ve learnt the hard way?

Marriage is definitely not easy, but it is incredibly worth it and rewarding! It should be loved, nurtured and protected at all costs. Patience is not just a virtue, it can often be a saving grace. Give your Significant Other the space to be human and never be afraid to be the one who loves the most!

You can find Amy at the following places:

• Blog: Tea With Mrs B
• Instagram: @amybrown777
• Facebook: Tea With Mrs Bee
• Twitter: AmyFrancis777
• Pinterest: amybrown777

I hope you have been enjoying this series as much as I have enjoyed putting it together.

If you would like to be featured here on the blog, you can drop me an email using the contact form above or leave me a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Dog Park in Jeonju, South Korea

Having a dog here in Korea means that we have had to sniff out all the local dog friendly places to spend afternoons and weekends at. We were surprised to find an awesome Dog Cafe in Gunsan (click here to read more) that allows you to bring your dog to play with the other pups, and so were even happier to find out about this dog park in Jeonju. 

This park is located in the Southern part of Jeonju, above and away from the busy road in the apartment laden Hyojadong 4-ga area. There aren't many places where dogs can run around freely, and off leash, and so this park has been a wonderful find for us and our black Jindo pup, Shadow (you can read more about him by clicking here).

***UPDATE as of a few weeks ago the police have been monitoring this park and banners have been up to warning people that any dogs off leash will be fined W50 000. Someone complained about all the dogs 'running wild' and ruined this wonderful place for everyone. People still take their dogs here but everyone is on edge worrying about the police. It's terribly sad and I hope we are able to do something about it soon.

The park is busiest on the weekends, with Sundays being it's most popular day. There is a small convenience store on the road below the park where you can load up with coffee and snacks and then just enjoy the afternoon while your pooch has a ball playing with his new friends. 

There are also public bathrooms where you can fill up water bottles for your dog.

Sometimes the smaller dog owners can get a little 'iffy' of bigger dogs, but there has always been at least one bigger dog for our pup to play with. Last weekend he developed a particular fondess for this golden lab (pictured below). 

Address

300-1 Hyoja 4-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do

Do you know of any other dog parks or dog friendly places here in Korea? Please drop me a comment below, I'm always looking for new places to take my pup!

Banting Zucchini Lasagna #BantingInKorea

A recipe for lasagna that uses ZERO pasta? And still tastes out of this world?! I kid you not, this is one yummy meal. Packed with loads of protein (thanks to the delicious mountains of melted cheese and mince) this is a great meal for the cold winter months.

*Banting is a form of Low Carb High Fat diet (similar in essence to Paleo except that allows dairy). It's much more than a diet though, and followers should be prepared for the lifestyle changes that will follow. You're body will love you for it, I know mine does! To find out more about it click here to read my interview with The Banting Blondes 

I used a store bought pasta sauce for convenience sake (as canned tomatoes are not that easy to come by here in South Korea). You can substitute a lot of things in this recipe (like I did with using dried basil instead of fresh, coconut oil instead of olive oil, cream cheese instead of ricotta as called for by the original recipe by Skinny Taste). Just bear in mind that these things will change the taste of your lasagna slightly. Also, I've just found out you can buy cheese from Gmarket instead of having to trek all the way to your nearest Costco (and it's only a tiny bit more expensive than Costco too!). Click here for the link to the 1kg block. 

Ingredients:  

• 500g lean mince (pork is the cheapest mince here in Korea but you can substitute for beef or even chicken)
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 onion
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 can crushed tomatoes (to make my life easier I used a store bought pasta sauce...one of the 'meat variety')
• 2 Tbsp chopped basil (fresh is best but I can only get hold of the dried kind)
• 3 medium zucchini, sliced thinly
• 1/2 tub cream cheese
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup cheddar/mozzarella  cheese 
• 1 large egg

Directions:

1. In a medium sauce pan, brown meat and season with salt. When cooked, drain in colander to remove any fat. Add coconut oil to a pan and saute garlic and onions for about 2 minutes. Return the meat to the pan, add tomatoes/pasta sauce, basil, salt and pepper. Simmer on low for at least 30-40minutes, covered. Do not add extra water, the sauce should be thick.

2. Meanwhile, slice the zucchini into thin slices, sprinkle with salt and set aside for 10 minutes. Zucchini has a lot of water when cooked, salting it takes out a lot of that moisture. After 10 minutes, blot excess moisture with a paper towel. This step took me the most amount of time as I have very little space to spread out in my kitchen.

3. On a gas grill or grill pan, grill zucchini on each side, until cooked, about 1-2 minutes per side. Place on paper towels to soak any excess moisture.

Preheat oven to 350°.

4. In a medium bowl mix cream cheese, parmesan cheese and egg. Stir well. 

5. In a glass casserole dish spread some sauce on the bottom and layer the zucchini to cover. Then place some of the ricotta/cream cheese mixture, then top with the mozzarella/cheddar cheese and repeat the process until all your ingredients are used up. Top with sauce and cheddar/mozzarella and cover with foil.

6. Bake for 45 minutes covered at 180°C, then uncovered 15 minutes. Let stand about 5 - 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

*Adapted from the original recipe by Skinny Taste

Weekly Wishes {12}

Hello and welcome to my Weekly Wishes series where I talk about my goals and wishes for the week ahead. Popping them here on the blog  helps me to stay on track with the things I want to do or get done. These posts are part of a link up by The Nectar Collective where Melissa has a wonderful community of women who link up their weekly wishes and are there to support and encourage one another. It's also a great way to make new friends and find new blogs to follow, why don't you join me?

Image by TJ Stationery & Gifts

It's March, and even though the above image shows maple leaves (it is the start of Autumn for my friends who made this lovely graphic over at TJ Stationery & Gifts) Spring will be on it's way for us here in South Korea. It's been a very cold winter, with lots and lots of snow and I for one am really looking forward to the cherry blossoms and short sleeves that follow Winter. It's always a good time to set new goals for the week, and I'd love to hear yours too!

This Weeks Wishes

1. Wake up at 6am every morning this week and take my Korean pup out for a long walk. We have been doing a lot of training with him, but something he is really rather terrible at is leash walking. I'm hoping that one solid week of walking the same route will put him in a good routine and that he will learn to walk nicely with me, instead of dragging me down the street. 

2. Drink more water. This is a goal Is et every week, and one I think can only be good for my body!

3. Cut out the late evening snacking! I have gotten into a very nasty habit of craving something sweet right after dinner. When there's nothing in the house then I can usually satisfy my craving with some tea, but there have been a few things hiding in the far corners of the grocery cupboard and I have sniffed them out and devoured them. MUST SAY NO TO CHOCOLATE!

4. Find more direction with my Youtube channel. I am in the process of buying a new video camera to take my videos to the next level, but I have been lacking the inspiration for new content lately. So far I've done a few makeup reviews and DIY's, is there anything you'd particularly like to see? I need to sit down and brainstorm some new fun video topics!

That's all I have for this week. Do you have anything you really need to get done this week? Drop me a comment below, I'd love to hear from you.

Have a wonderful week everyone <3

Owning a Dog in Korea {Part 2} Health Check Ups & Vaccinations

This is a follow on post from Part 1 in this series Owning A Dog in Korea.

In Part 1 I talked about all the things you need to have to make sure you and your pup are happy. Nothing in the guide is compulsory by any means, but rather is is written from my experience. Keeping a dog in an apartment here in South Korea is hard, and so that blog post is filled with ideas of items you may want to buy, as well as links to places you can get hold of them. Things like where to buy collars, harnesses, crates & toys for larger dogs. I hope you find it helpful!

We have had our rescue pup, Shadow, for just over 6 months (click here to read more about how he came into our lives) and had no idea what needed to be done in terms of health check ups. This post will hopefully provide you with enough information about what your pup needs to be healthy and happy.

The first thing you need to do with your new pup/dog is to take him to the vet to have a thorough health check. This basic check up will determine whether your dog has any diseases. Depending on whether your pup had a previous owner, you may or may not need to have vaccinations. We rescued Shadow from the side of the road when he was tiny, and so he needed to have every test done as well as all his vaccinations.  You also need to ask your vet to check for Heartworm which is a very nasty disease very prevalent here in Korea.

If you have rescued a puppy you need to be very mindful of Parvo virus which is incredibly contagious and deadly to young dogs. Parvo is spread through the feces and vomit of infected dogs and puppies. This virus can live in feces for about two weeks and can survive in the environment (areas on floors and cages) for many months. This survival rate allows it to be passed along by hands, clothing or shoes of anyone who comes in contact with it. We were warned by many dog owners not to let our puppy go outside until he had had all his shots, but this just wasn't practical for us. When we go home to South Africa, Shadow will be an outside dog and so we needed to toilet train him outdoors. I know many people here in Korea who use pee pads, and it works for them but is a personal and situational preference (if you live on the 20th floor of a sky rise building, it might not be practical to take out a young puppy every 3 hours). Getting up at all hours in the freezing cold to go outside was hard, but it was something we decided and have just put up with. 

What to Do if your dog Tests Positive for Heartworm

I don't have any experience with treating heart worm and so I asked the local dog owning community here in Korea for some advice. I just want to say thank you to each of these ladies for taking the time to respond to me and offer help and advice to dog owners who may have to go through heartworm treatment.

"Finding out your new foster or adopted pup has heartworm is awful. This happened to me in January 2013. All dogs in Korea need to be given monthly heartworm preventatives as heartworm is rampant in Korea.
At first the vet will just do a quick blood test to determine if your dog is heartworm positive or negative. If it is positive, the most important thing is that you ACT QUICKLY!
You do not have time to save up for a month or so! Find a vet that will do a payment plan if money is an issue. Heartworm is more difficult to treat the longer it progresses. There are 4 stages of heartworm - you will find out which stage your dog is by having scans done. If it's stage 1 or 2 - it's treatable. Stage 3 and 4 treatment options are not as successful and will depend on your dogs health.
I have experience with treating stage 2 heart worm. My dog was given two rounds of injections 24 hours apart. After the first injection, she cried for a solid 8 hours. It was agonising to watch. The second one was a little better but still awful.
The dog must be kept calm during the few weeks following treatment - their heart rate needs to stay steady.
About 4 months later we retested my dog and she tested negative! We were really lucky! I have heard it can take up to 9 months for a negative test result. Or worse, the treatment may need to be repeated" Julie

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"Our dog, Sue, had to have 2 rounds of Immiticide before she tested negative for HW. For Close to 4 weeks each time, she had to be quite still and not have too many walks.  She was a bit lethargic and tired after the injections. Each round of treatment was 400,000won.  I did not check around as I wanted her to have the treatment right away.  My vet also kept her over night on an IV to give her fluids and monitor her.

She was rescued from a shelter, nearly dead, from malnutrition and she had just given birth. The initial injection causes them to be in quite a bit of pain and sometimes they writhe around on the floor and you feel completely helpless as you watch.  they don't understand what is causing the pain and you can't help them at all. It is usually 1 injection and then you wait for the medicine, which is essentially poison to kill the worms near the heart and hope it does not kill the dog in the process.  We had to get Sue to a good weight and moderate healthy before she could even have the injection. One round just did not kill all the worms and we had to go back and do it again" Erin

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"From my experience, once my dog tested positive, we did blood test to find out if he had any worm eggs in his blood. My vet also did an ultrasound of the heart and he was able to see the condition of his heart and adult worms in his heart.
Next, he staged his heartworm given his symptoms. This is an indication of how advanced the heartworm is. It goes from Stage 1 through 4 (1 being the mildest and 4 being the most serious).
It is important that dogs are at a normal weight and try to maintain their weight during the treatment. My dog was underweight. So, we had to wait some time for him to gain weight before starting actual heartworm shots. Being arsenic based, these shots take a lot from a dog’s body.
While we were waiting for him to gain weight, he was on antibiotics (2 rounds). My vet also put him on puppy food for a month as puppy food is higher in protein and calories to help with his weight gain. He had poor appetite, which is one of the symptoms of heartworm disease. I bought him My Beau nutritional supplement, salmon oil for dogs and some wet food to mix in his dry food alternatively to encourage him to eat more. I also offered him a hard-boiled egg once or twice a day.
I tried to offer 3 or 4 mini meals when I was around over the weekends to help with his weight gain. I weighed him every other day so that I could see my progress.
We gave him pills with Greenies pill pockets as he didn’t want to swallow them otherwise. I have heard people mix them with a bit of jam/peanut butter/bread as well.
Some of the other symptoms of heartworm disease include: cough, shortness of breath, labored breathing, lethargy, swollen/distended abdomen, and edema of the legs.
Once heartworm shots are initiated, the most important thing is to restrict exercise. Dogs should only be brought out for the toilet and always on a leash. We have to restrict things which increase heart rate such as running, jumping, playing ball, climbing steps/stairs/hills, barking a lot and mating.

Also, it is important that the day dogs get an injection not to rub/massage the area even if they may be in pain. It is very important to do everything possible to keep them calm" Dee Dee

As heartworm is such a problem here in Korea, Vets advise giving dogs heartworm preventatives. These are given once a month and come in tablet form. You can take your dog in once or month to your vet or buy a couple of months supply to give your dog at home. The tablets aren't that expensive and most definitely worth doing. 

Vaccinations

Here in South Korea vets give dogs the following vaccinations:

•  DHLLP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Papainfluenza & Leptospirosis (x5 shots)
•  Corona Virus (x2 shots) 
• Kennel Cough (x2 shots)
• It's also a good idea to get the rabies vaccination done too.

Some people feel very strongly about not over vaccinating their dogs, and lots of websites suggest having a Titer Test (anti body test) after about the 3rd or 4th round of DHLLP. I trusted my vet, and as Shadow is a larger breed than most dogs here in Korea I took my Vet's advice to have all 5 rounds of DHLLP.

Vets usually administer 2 shots together, 2 - 4 weeks apart. In my case Shadow had the following:

• Round 1: DHLLP & Corona
• Round 2: DHLLP & Corona
• Round 3: DHLLP & Kennel Cough
• Round 4: DHLLP & Kennel Cough
• Round 5: DHLLP & Rabies

Each visit to the vet cost W22 000 (I do live in a small town so I think the prices are slightly less than in bigger cities). The rabies shot was a little more and was more painful for him than the others.

After the initial vaccinations, you are advised to take your dog in for yearly booster shots.

All of the above is very important to bear in mind before you get a dog. There are so many abandoned pups on the streets here in Korea, but before you just pick them up make sure you know what you're getting into financially.

A few numbers to chew on:

Heart worm treatment: +-W400 000 a shot (often times you may need 2 or even 3 rounds) basic Basic Vaccinations: +-W150 000

Neutering: -+W200 000 (male) can be as much as W400 000 for a female

Spaying: +-W400 000

And thats before the food and toys and bedding and treats. And of course the final cost of transporting your pet home.

Even with all of the above, we can't imagine our lives without Shadow. He has brought so much joy to our lives and we don't regret picking him up off the streets one bit.

Do you have anything you want to add, or is there something I've left off here? Please drop me a comment below or email me and I will update this post. Thank you!

New Items in Stock in my Stationery Store

I want to share with you the new items that have just been added to my stationery store. Shipping starts from just $1 (depending on the weight of the item/s) and I ship world wide, except to South Africa**

Click the 'start shopping' button below to be directed to my store!

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Animal Gift Bags $2.50

Slim Notebooks $2

I am very sorry that I am unable to ship items to South Africa due to postal delays, postal strikes and high costs. Please bear with me until alternative shipping methods are available for South Africa.

Where to stay when skiing in Muju

Muju resort is the closest ski resort for us here in Jeollubok Province and so Farmboy and I have spent most of this and last ski season there. The last time we went, we camped (it was horribly cold but an adventure to say the least...click here to read more about camping in Muju). 

This time around we wanted to go with a group of friends and find a warm place to stay. There is accommodation at the resort itself, but you need to book before hand and it is quite expensive (we paid W150 000 a night for a tiny box of a room at one of the resorts) and so were looking for something a bit more budget friendly.

Muju town (where the bus terminal is) is a W25 000 taxi from the resort itself (you need to bear that in mind when making your way to the ski slopes). The resort area (ie where the actual slopes are) has a number of hotels around it which need to be booked in advance. Click here to read more about these hotels and to find information for booking. A short drive down the hill towards Muju Town and you'll find lots of ski rentals shops and Minbaks (a basic form of Korean guesthouse). If you drive to the bottom of the hill away from the slopes you'll come to a big intersection (there is a big CU convenience store on the corner). If you turn right and drive (or taxi) along that road you'll find a whole selection of much cheaper accommodation. There are also lots of restaurants (mostly Korean type food) and then eventually you'll come to Deogyusan National Park and the camping grounds. 

The day before our trip to Muju, we found this great webiste (click here) which lists a good selection of Pensions to stay at in Muju. The first one we called  (Dasup Pension) had space for the 6 of us and the owner spoke quite good english. It was as easy as that. It was clean and even had self catering facilities so you could take your own food and make your own meals.

The room we stayed in was Ondol style (so we slept on the floor) but there was enough bedding and blankets to ensure we at least were semi comfortable. It cost W130 000 for the night and so ended up costing us each W22 000. There are other style rooms for less people that include an actual bed. The owner was very friendly, had all the ski rental equipment needed and also offered lift passes. We rented our equipment from him (it was much cheaper than hiring at the resort) and he also offered to drop us off at the resort and fetch us again at the end of our ski session. The costs for rental were:

Skis & Poles W5 000

Jacket & Ski Pants W10 000

Here are some (terrible) snaps of the prices for this pension. You can call the owner, Mr Cheong Euk Shim on 063-322-3379 and find his website here: www.dasup.kr.

If you have any other recommendations for places to stay (or places you think people really should avoid!) please do let me know in the comments below.

How to share Instagram photos to your Blog Facebook Page

Have you ever wondered where all those annoying hashtags on people's photographs on Facebook come from? The majority of the time those images have come from Instagram where those hashtags help you to get more followers and build a bigger audience. It can be a little annoying when people post the same thing on all their personal social media platforms but, what if you want to be able to do this for your blog or business Facebook page? It's super easy and I'm going to show you how.

Once you set this up on Instagram don't worry about flooding your Facebook feeds, you will still be given the option to share it onto Facebook/Twitter etc each time you upload a photo. 

Step 1 Click on the options wheel (on Android it will be 3 vertical dots, on a Windows phone it will be 3 horizontal dots in the top right hand corner) on your Instagram Page Feed

Step 2: Scroll down your options page (or preferences page for a Windows phone) until you find Linked Accounts/Share Settings.

Step 3: Tap Facebook and then link your accounts by providing your Facebook login info

Step 4: Choose either your personal Facebook Timeline or one of your Blog/Business pages to link to

Step 5 Get Sharing! Now when you share your image, if you click 'Facebook' your image will be sent straight to your Blog Facebook Page.

And you're all done, easy peasy.

Happy posting!

Life After The Dress {Episode 17} Elicia Shepard

It's been quite a while since my last Life After the Dress story (click here to read about the other ladies I've had here on the blog). In this series I interview married women of all ages and from all walks of life and ask them real questions about their lives now, after all the glitter and sparkle of their wedding day is over.  Today I've got Elicia, a fellow English Teacher & blogger here in South Korea.

So grab yourself a cup of tea and be ready to be inspired!

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Q1: Please introduce yourself (age, of both yourself and your husband, where you live, what do you do & how long you been married for?)

Hi! I am Elicia and my husband is Tom. Together we are the Shepards. I am 25. Tom is the ripe old age of 28!! We were married 2 and a 1/2 years ago in the Dominican Republic on a destination wedding and now we are currently both teaching English in Korea! We’ve been here for about 2 years and in just about 2 months we will pack up our stuff and say goodbye to Korea!!! After some traveling and some time at home in the USA we will be headed to Morocco to teach at an international school there. I married this guy who has given me quite the life full of adventure and Jesus.

Q2: Which Disney character do you feel sums you up to a ‘T’?

ANA from Frozen!!! I love the sisterly bond her and Elsa have (I have 3 sisters!) & because my students are constantly calling me “ANA TEACHER!” when I wear my hair in a braid.

Q3: How did you and your hubby meet?

We met through a mutual friend. My friend was dating his childhood bestie and we met going to church actually. The boys picked me up for church and this ridiculously polite tall handsome guy got out of the backseat to let me have the front seat. I remember thinking “wow what a guy!” and trying not to stare as we drove to church. At church we sat next to each other and whispered back and forth during the service (oops!) but we were sharing our favorite bible verses. After church we made a massive breakfast and that sort of became our tradition each Sunday. We hung out pretty much constantly from that point on. He was hilarious and there was just something about us that made it extremely special It’s no coincidence I remember almost every detail from that first day. HAHA!

Q4: Was your wedding everything you hoped it would be? Would you go back and change anything? Do you have any advice for brides-to-be?

YES!!!! We began to plan our wedding after being engaged and it became very very very expensive very quickly. How were we going to narrow down the list? We initially wanted an old barn style wedding with an outdoor reception in the states. We both love the outdoors and I love vintage deco so we began to plan for that. I became stressed trying to call all the vendors and when we started adding up the costs it just didn’t “feel” right. Tom asked me one day- “Elicia, what do you really want? WHAT is your dream?” I responded quickly with “to be on a beach in a tropical place.” It was as simple as that. Next thing I knew we were looking at tropical destinations and settled upon the Dominican. We had about 25 close family and friends attend and our pastor from church flew out to marry us. It was so intimate and so special for us. The beach/resort was fantastic and I loved that we just took the plunge and did it! That was just the beginning of our life of adventure together. I wished our grandparents could have been there, but it was what we had dreamed of and the low key environment was totally just- us! My advice for brides to be…. Listen to your gut! When hiring vendors or choosing a location whether local or abroad make sure you listen to that little voice inside you- are you “clicking” with them?  Do you trust them? Will they work with you to provide you with what you want/need!?

Q5: Has ‘life after the dress’ been as you imagined it would be?

Yes. And no! I’ll start with no. The beginning was sort of an adjustment period. We didn’t live together before we were married and so it took quite some time to figure out how to converge our two lives into one. We had to learn how to share our space, chores, and life with each other. Which wasn’t always the easiest in the beginning. You learn what each of your strengths are as you go and I think marriage only gets better and better. As time passes I know Tom better than I did the day before! We are always working together as Tom says “in lock step” so that we are walking through this thing we call life together- hand in hand. Each decision is no longer MY decision but OUR decision. So in a sense, yes, life after the dress has been what I imagined. I always envisioned us as a team working together- moving forward together!

Q6: What do you think makes marriage work?

For us- I can think of three things God, compromise, and LOVE or RESPECT. Depending on which one of us you ask ;)

Also, I think just having fun together. We make time to hang out together and just enjoy each other’s company. I want to be with him because I love hanging out with him and vice versa (I hope!) HAHA!

Q7: What have you learnt about yourself since being married?

I’ve learned a lot. Marriage has been challenging at times and rewarding at others. I’ve realized that I’m not really that good at saying I am sorry first. I’ve also learned that I am the more laid back one when it comes to the house. Tom really likes things a specific way and done in a timely manner (love you hunny!) and so even though I think in real life he is much more laid back than me- when it comes to the household those roles are reversed!

On a more serious note, I’ve learned that love/marriage is a choice that I must make each day. I must wake up and choose love. To walk in the light and respect my husband. Some days are harder than others, but I’ve made it my mission to not allow any other choice but to respect and love him.

Q8: If you could describe your marriage in 3 words, what would they be?

Exciting. Evolving. Adventurous.

Q9: Do you have any pearls of wisdom you would like to share with my readers about being married? Perhaps something some wise person once told you, or something you’ve learnt the hard way?

My grandmother always told me “love all” and I think that (perhaps most importantly) applies to marriage. Also I would add : Be kind to each other & don’t let the little things that bother you turn into big things that bother you and get in the way of why you married each other.  

You can find Elicia at the following places:

• Blog: Life's A Journey
• Instagram: @lifesajournee_liveit
• Facebook: Life's A Journee

I hope you have been enjoying this series as much as I have enjoyed putting it together.

If you would like to be featured here on the blog, you can drop me an email using the contact form above or leave me a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Easy Natural Evening Makeup Look {Video}

A super easy to do, natural look to wear for evening (or day if you felt like wearing a slightly darker eye during the day). See below for product info.

Enjoy!

PRODUCTS SHOWN IN THIS VIDEO 
-L'Oreal True Match Foundation in R3 C3 Beige Rose
-The FaceShop Dual Veil Concealer in V210
-Maybelline The Colossal Volum Express in Blackest Black
-Innisfree Mineral Single Shadow in #1,#38, #38, #41
-Mac Matte Powder Blush in Harmony
-Revlon Just Bitten Kissable in 015 Cherish Devotion

-Eco Tools Brushes (Mineral Powder Brush & Crease Brush bought on iHerb: http://bit.ly/1Fcex1A
-Innisfree Diagonal Cheek Brush
-Sigma F80 Stippling Brush: http://bit.ly/1Fcex1A 
(the following online store ships Sigma Makeup brushes to South Africa: http://bit.ly/1AZxG09)
-Blistex Daily Conditioning Treatment

I hope you enjoyed this makeup video, let me know in the comments section below what you'd like to see in my next video!

x

Giveaway Winner!

To find out who the winner of my recent Korean nail polish giveaway is make sure you visit my Facebook page by clicking here!

Thank you to everyone who entered I hope you enjoyed my last video. There will be lots more to come! In the mean time, here is some nail inspiration:

Ubud, Bali Travel Guide

Farmboy and I headed to Bali for 12 days in July last year. We had a wonderful time, and it was one of our favourite holidays we have been on so far. I seem to say this after every holiday, probably because we are finally starting to actually learn from out mistakes, making each trip that much better. You may be thinking of heading there soon (or sometime in the future) so to help you plan your trip, I have put together a rough budget, as well as some tips from our stay. Please keep in mind that my husband and I may travel very differently to you, and have different likes and preferences for things. I prefer the more luxurious path, while Farmboy would stay in a hammock for the entire trip if it was up to him. So we plan accordingly, and of course, try to stick to the budget.

We didn't find Bali as cheap as some of the other countries we have visited (Vietnam, for example) but that is mainly due to the fact that Bali's whole economy is based on tourism. Bali is the largest tourist destination in the world, and is renowned for its highly developed arts, including traditional and modern dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking, and music. They have been a tourist destination for a very long time, this has it's pros and cons as I will explain later. Bearing this in mind our trip budget was different to Vietnam and Malaysia. Another thing is that my mom was supposed to be joining us on this trip, and so come of our accommodation choices were very different to what we usually book. She had to cancel her trip at the last minute and as most of the accommodation was non refundable, we just decided to enjoy the slightly pricier places we had originally booked. 

We were in Bali for 12 days exploring mainly the Centre of Bali & the East Coast:

6 nights in Ubud (first 4 nights & last 2 nights)

5 nights on the Gili Islands

This post is focused on Ubud, and the second guide I will post soon will be of The Gili Islands.

UBUD - Central Bali

Ubud is the cultural capital of Bali, where you will find anything from yoga studios, to french cuisine, artisan jewellery to unique hand crafted furniture. Here is a list of the things we did during out first 4 and last 2 days in Bali.

Accommodation in Ubud

Upon arrival into Ubud, we were collected at midnight by the owner of our villa (Dewa, the most incredibly humble, open minded and knowledgeable man we have ever met) who is also a driver and tour guide. We didn't know anything about drivers or the fact that we might need one until we met him, and he didn't pressure us to book him for any tours at all. We spent the first 4 days in the home he has built for guests (click here to see more about booking this incredible place). Although the villa is on the same property as his family home, there is complete privacy and we only noticed the presence of people when we would find little offerings places around the bottom of the house. 

*Peaceful Villa just outside Ubud $89 a night (suitable for 4 people). Click here to book. 

If you would like to get in contact with Dewa for a tour or to book his villa directly, click here and scroll down to the button that says 'contact host'. Dewa also helped us book fast boats to get to the Gili Islands and was just so helpful. I can't recommend him enough! 

For our last 2 nights we decided to stay somewhere really special and spent two nights at Villa Awang Awang is the smallest of their villas, Villa Pererepan. It was incredible and one of the highlights of our stay. It was our most expensive accommodation, $150 a night but worth every cent. We had a private pool, breakfast was included and served to us on a private balcony over looking the forest canopy below. The bathroom was half outdoor and was the perfect place to relax after a busy day of sightseeing. Click here to find out more about Villa Awang Awang.

Offerings

The majority of the people in Bali follow Balinese Hinduism, which is a combination of existing local beliefs and Hindu influences from mainland Southeast Asia and South Asia. Balinese Hinduism has roots in Indian Hinduism and Buddhism, and adopted the animistic traditions of the indigenous people. This influence strengthened the belief that the gods and goddesses are present in all things. Every element of nature, therefore, possesses its own power, which reflects the power of the gods. A rock, tree, dagger, or woven cloth is a potential home for spirits whose energy can be directed for good or evil. Balinese Hinduism is deeply interwoven with art and ritual. As you drive along the narrow roads, you will see many parts of temples and trees covered in cloth. This is a marker to show that spirits reside within. 

Every morning, usually before most tourists have even been rustled from sleep, the people of Bali are out sweeping the streets of the previous days offerings. Once swept the streets are once again ready for the daily gifts or offerings laid out to appease the various Gods & Daemons Of Balinese Hinduism. 

Things to do in Ubud

Ubud has a very laid back atmosphere, even though there are a lot of tourists. It has become especially popular since the Eat, Pray Love was filmed there. Many people from allover the world come to practice yoga, and recharge their bodies, minds and souls. There are all kinds of restaurants and things to do in and around Ubud. We visited the Monkey Forest, did a cooking course, toured the surrounding craft villages, did a coffee plantation tour, visited temples, did a market tour and spent time wondering around the town. 

Ubud Monkey Forest

We spent an afternoon wondering around the Monkey Forest,which was a really fun experience. It was quite scary at times as the monkeys can get quite aggressive around their young. 

Ubud Cooking Course

Just like Vietnam, we did a cooking course and just loved it. Doing a cooking course really helps to get a real feel for the food of the country, and we learnt a lot about Balinese culture from our wonderful host. Click here for details on the cooking course we did. 

Ubud Industry Tour

All around Ubud there are pockets of villages that specialise in diffferent crafts. We visited a silver & gold factory, a Batik warehouse, bone crafters, and wood craftsmen. 

Market Tour

We were taken on a market tour during our cooking course with Paon Cooking School. We love doing market tours as often we have no idea what half of the herbs, spices and vegetables are and our guide explained how to eat the local fruit. This was one of the highlights of Ubud for us.

Temple Visits

We visited 4 temples and their surrounding areas around Ubud; Elephant Cave ( Goa Gajah), Pura Tirta Empul (holy waters) and Tegallalang Rice Terraces & Gunung Kawi.

Ubud Coffee Plantations Tour

Our villa host and tour guide, Dewa, took us on a tour of one of the local coffee plantations. We even got to try the infamous Luwak Coffee or Kopi Luwak. Kopi Luwak refers to the seeds of coffee berries once they have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. Sounds pretty terrible, and to be honest we weren't blown away by the taste. It tasted like regular coffee to us, but is known to be one of the most expensive coffees in the world. The tour also included a tasting of various teas and other coffees available to buy. 

Volcano Tour & Lunch in Rice Paddy Village

We also did a very short drive to see the view of Kintamani Volcano which is still very much active. We didn't do the tour around the base of the volcano, but the views were gorgeous from one of the rest stop. We then had lunch at one of the rice paddy villages which had gorgeous views too.

We really enjoyed our first few days in Udub, but by the 4th day we were ready to head away from the crowds and on to the beach. I will be posting a guide to the Gili Islands soon!

In the mean time, here is a video Farmboy put together of our trip, enjoy!

If you would like to get in contact with Dewa for a tour or to book his villa directly, click here and scroll down to the button that says 'contact host'. Dewa also helped us book fast boats to get to the Gili Islands and was just so helpful. I can't recommend him enough!