You Tube is my Kryptonite

I cannot get away from it.

I watch it all the time, because it's so convenient for me. I'm constantly checking for new videos from my subscriptions, and if there are no new ones, then I go searching for random makeup collection and haul videos.

I even seriously thought about trying my hand at filming, but decided not to after 5 failed attempts. I also figure that I have a short attention span when it comes to following through with things, so I'd probably have few videos and the time between them would be enormous, or I'd just give up after awhile because it takes so much time.

I need to stop. It's killing my free time. It's also making me spend more money, because I see more things that I want. *_*

New Goal: Updated

So a couple of posts ago, I mentioned how I had a goal for the majority of May. The idea was that I would not eat out unless it was another birthday or special event or spend money on frivolous items from the 1st until my birthday, the 25th. What I didn't know at the time was that everyone's birthday was in May, so I ended up going out every weekend to celebrate with a birthday dinner. However, other than that, I was pretty good, and did save a noticeable amount of money.

I kind of lost it at the very end, and literally two days before my birthday I broke and ended up spending money, on makeup, I think. *sigh*

My new goal for the rest of July is to exercise more and spend less. Starting Monday, July 12 (because that's when I get paid), I will do the following:
1. Do cardio at least 3 times a week, for at least 30 minutes each time.
2. Stretch every day.
3. Drink more water, and no soda or coffee.
4. Start cooking at home more.
5. Do not spend money (except on MAC's In the Groove collection when it comes out, which I don't think it has here yet).

I'm going to keep it to 5 for now, and I haven't eliminated going out, but have increased eating at home more. I'm really hoping this will make eating generally healthier while saving some money.

Another year older...

How does the time pass so quickly? I feel like it was just a couple months ago that I was celebrating my last birthday. I remember last year's day quite well. I was just coming down with a cold, exacerbated by going out the weekend before and taking a flaming birthday shot at a bar. So come Monday, my actual birthday, I was very sick. This was also the first day of the new term, with new classes and students.

However, as luck would have it, that was also the week that my hagwon got really nervous about the H1N1 swine flu since one or two of the new teachers had brought it with them from their home country, and so they canceled classes for about 10 days. So I got to rest, relax, and self quarantine myself (as we were not supposed to leave our places unless absolutely necessary, with the threat of being fired if caught partying it up).

But this year, I think my birthday will be much more uneventful, though there still might be a possible cold that I am hoping is not really a cold but that I am thirsty and need to drink more water.

Steal of the Day

Ok, not really a steal, but more of an amazing deal.

I was in Home Plus Express picking up food - since I've imposed the eating out ban on myself for this month - and was planning to get peanut butter. Every day  last week at work I saw one of my coworkers eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich during breaks, and since then I've been craving them. Unfortunately, peanut butter is expensive here - easily 5,000-6,000 won, or more depending on the brand and if it's organic. Jelly is also kind of expensive, though I don't buy that quite as often.

Anyway, I was looking at the peanut butter, and I saw this:

You know, the peanut butter and jelly combo in a jar. For 2,210 won! But the really strange thing was that this amazing price was only for the grape one. They also had it with strawberry jam, but that was 6,900 won (as was the regular peanut butter). Which made me wonder, why was it so cheap?

The expiration date was still far away, there was nothing aesthetically or physically wrong with the jar...a misprint? But no, it was definitely only 2,210 won.

There were only three grape ones left, so I went ahead and got all of them. One of them went to my boyfriend since he also likes peanut butter and jelly.^^

New Goal

With May quickly approaching, I've decided to set a new goal for myself. I am going to try and save my money. This means no buying frivolous items. This also means not eating out. I've been keeping a cash book with me and every time I buy something, even if it's a drink at the convenience store, I've been writing it down. So now, looking back at April, it's obvious that I tend to buy food and clothes/makeup.

So here are the official (for me) points to my goal.

Starting May 1st until my birthday (May 25th):
1. No buying makeup or clothes unless an item is destroyed or lost and there are no alternatives already in my possession.
2. No eating out, unless it is for a birthday or special occasion (both my boyfriend and my birthday are in May ^^)

Those two cover the bulk of my expenses, after rent and utilities. I'm hoping that if I eat out less and stop buying lattes and snacks, that I'll also lose some weight. Also, if I don't buy new things, I'll use up some of the products that I already own. And I'll save money, which is important since I am taking a Korean class, going to a dermatologist, and need to save for grad school.

Since it's still April, I'm trying to think if there's anything else I want to get before my May savings month. Does that defeat the purpose of my goal?

Warm, Cold, Warm, Cold....

Korea, make up your mind! At the beginning of April it was starting to feel like spring, but in the last couple of days it's been raining and cold. I had to put on my heater again. And today it's kind of warming up again.

My body and wardrobe don't like this inconsistency. I want spring to come and stay. Warm weather is nice.

Brownies in Korea

I would consider Korea a developed country. They're a leader when it comes to technology and have some of the best internet connections/accessibility around. But then there are some things that Korea just FAILS at. Brownies were always one of them.

Korean brownies are rare and rarely tasty. Ones you do find are usually more cake then actual brownie, and have little sugar in the batter and too much powdered sugar dusted on top.

Everytime I see a brownie in a pastry shop (and let me tell you, Korea has tons of pastry shops), I always try it. I'm always disappointed.

Disappointed, until now. Paris Baguette has started selling their own version of the brownie, and it is probably the closest I have seen and tasted to a regular, American-style "make it from a box mix and sell it at a bake-sale" brownie.

Yes, I even took a picture of it, I am so excited.

It has way too many walnuts, but I can live with that. Because other than that, it's pretty damn good.

How much does this delicious baby cost? 2,000 won for a square the size of my palm, which actually isn't too bad, since I've paid more for less (in size and quality).

Why not make my own brownies? Aside from the fact that I steer away from cooking in general, I also lack a proper oven. A regular sized toaster oven, a microwave, and a double burner complete my kitchen. I also lack proper containers to bake brownies in.

I never even liked brownies back home. But since I couldn't find a real one for two years, I now get the Paris Baguette ones whenever I can. When I go home, I'll probably never eat brownies again. At least, not on a regular basis. It's kind of like Taco Bell. You crave it because you can't have it. But when I went home, I didn't even want it. But no Taco Bells in Korea....that's another story.