2011 Year of the Rabbit

It's a new year and according to the Chinese zodiac, it's the year of the rabbit. The rabbit is one of the most delicate animals among all 12 animals. Rabbits are usually kind and sweet and of course, popular people. Nobody ignores them, for they are good company and know how to make the best of themselves... 

I don't really believe in the horoscope or fates but I do enjoy reading them and see what it had to say about my future. And when I read mine, there were some good things and bad. And some are quite funny. 

Every year I have never actually made a new year's resolution, I did back in school just for the grades, since I know I wouldn't achieve them. But I guess this year I have to have one, especially health-wise. 

My new year's resolution is simple yet the most difficult thing to do I guess. I plan to go on a diet. I need to exercise since I realize my stamina is so weak and working at home for the past year did me no good. So, second resolution is going to get a job. A real job, not just freelancing. A job involving waking up early in the morning and leaving the house. HAHAHA

It's a new year and new start so I hope I can achieve these and at the end of the year I could say I am healthier and with a job :D

What's your new year's resolution?

Kid's Cafe

My aunt told us about a Kid's Cafe near our house, so my sister and I decided to take Chloe there since we had nothing to do at home and she wanted to go somewhere. 

The entrance fee is around $5 for the kids, they get 1 free drink and 2 hours of playtime. They have "babysitter" so the parents can relax and have a coffee while their children play. 

The cafe we went to wasn't so big, and the atmosphere was cozy. You can actually drink beverages or have a meal, but since we went there after lunch hour, we just had coffee..... which turned out to be the worst coffee I ever had. 

I don't know about the other menu but I think the only reason I will ever go back there is for Chloe, so she can play with other kids and play with various toys. But other than that... not a great place. I think maybe it varies with the branch but the one close to our home isn't recommendable. 

BTW... there is a train ride every hour.... though Chloe didn't want to ride it. Believe it or not... in that small space they had that one.

Job Hunting

It's been 6 months now since I actively put my self out in the job market. I have not been working for almost 2 years now. My last work was just establishing company and they had to let me go since they had a problem with their investors. And my sister had a baby so I kind-of helped her out taking care of the baby, and then my mom got sick plus her passing away, well I couldn't get back to work right away. Feb~March is graduation time for college students so there are more jobs available than any time of the year. Unfortunately, I don't hold a college diploma, in my 30's, limited experience, it's really hard to get a job.

I do get a lot of offers from insurance companies, which I don't really care for since am not good at selling products especially insurance. Then, English teaching jobs from time to time. But for English schools, I learned from my previous experiences, one must have a college diploma since they are reported to the Dept. of Education. They ask you to come-in for interviews but then they tell you it's not going to work since I don't have a diploma. GRRR! Read the CV!

Despite the need for fluent English speakers are high in Korea, there's also high competition too. A lot of Koreans study abroad for English and they have better educational background then me. I once went to an interview of one of Korea's biggest company and the HR agent told me that I was most preferred by the company due to my English skills. I even took test which I found quite easy but I never got the call back. I think it had something to do with my educational background since the rest of the interviewers were college graduate, and my weight problem.

I hate when a job ad says "Presentable looks"... define presentable? Well, for those companies, presentable means slim, tall, and beautiful. Can't you be presentable if you are big or short. You could be presentable by wearing decent clothes and make-up, right? Maybe not for them.

Well, it's really hard to get a job. Harder next year since am turning 32 as soon as New Year comes in Korean age. So it would be harder for me to get interviews but once am interviewed they will be asking the question they ask to all single 30's ladies> Do you plan to get married soon? Are you planning to continue working after marriage?. And even if you say No and Yes to those questions, they actually don't believe that. I do hope that within this year, I could get a decent paying job (am not even asking for exaggerated salary) and decent working hours (I used to work from 9 am ~whenever the boss tells you to go).

Diet War

I have officially started my diet war. I have gained much weight for the last 1 year that I really need to lose the extra weight I've put on. Seriously, in just 1 year time, I have gone 2 sizes up. (Won't be telling what size I am wearing :P)

I have never been slim. I was chubby all my life. Even as a kid, I had been chubby, while my sister and brother were thin. If you actually look at my family members, old pictures of my parents when they were younger, they were all thin. My mom gained weight after she suffered from "slipped disc"... don't know the medical term, and  she had to get steroid shots... So, don't know where I got the   "FAT genes". I don't even eat much. Like those fat people you see on T.V., where they eat and eat to relieve stress. Well, I don't do that, I rarely have snacks. But due to my irregular eating habits and too much stress... while taking care of my mom, well I gained the EXTRA EXTRA weight.

My sister gained weight after giving birth to Chloe and then mom got sick so she didn't have the chance to lose the extra pounds. So the two of us decided to lose weight together. One of the main reason is that we have nothing to WEAR! The clothes we wore last year doesn't fit us anymore and of course for our health as well. 

SO our PLAN:

• Treadmill - My dad bought a treadmill before for our mom. Her diabetic level increase and doctor recommended exercise. He bought it for me as well. :P I used to do 40 mins. everyday before but since I stopped for quite a while, it's really hard to do 20 mins. But taking it slowly.

• Slendertone - I don't know if anyone knows this, the TV AD says it's from US but my brother bought this and he didn't bring this to Philippines so lucky us. It helps to tone up your abs.. it's actually effective if you use it everyday. 
• Low Carb Dinner - My sister and I have been eating vegetable salad with low fat dressing and chicken breast for dinner. And it's actually effective because I can see the change in my sister's face (we usually loose fats around face first)... but not for me... takes more time than my sister to see the effect.

Well, I hope this will work for me. I know it will if I just keep with the plan. And I really do want to go back to my old figure... I wasn't slim or sexy but I had easier time buying clothes and clothes actually looked good on me.

Moving 2

Finally new house!!! The place is smaller than before but it's okay. It just means less cleaning and more relax time! :D

I am quite busy these days with swamped work since I wasn't able to work during the move and a few days afterwards since I was busy organizing things. Still... 80% unorganized :D.

Good things about my new place:

• Closer to bus stop - it's just 5 minutes walk away.
• The house is cooler - I don't think we would need to turn on a/c during the HOT summer time... the house has bigger windows, no building in front of the house... so very windy.
• NO LEAKS - there was a leak in the ceiling in our previous house... and am certain there won't be any leak in our new home... so far....

Disappointments

• Some problems with pipes... faucets... this is an old house so we need to have this fixed.
• Small bathroom - there's not enough space in the bathroom but I guess we'll have to live with it.

Hope there won't be more disappointments as time goes by.. don't wanna move again.. it's such a hassle!

Moving

Housing in Korea is quite expensive. Am sure it is anywhere in the world but unless you have worked as stable job for years... and didn't spend much of your salary, am sure someday you can buy a house...

Our house lease contract has ended and we started looking for a house last month. Lucky for us, we have found a decent house with a decent lease with the help of a real estator whom my mom has known for years before.

It's the first time to look for a house on our own... always did with my mom, and my dad has always been a no help. So there are a few things I learned to check when moving to a new house... I hope this is enough... or else we are doomed to live in our new house for 2 years or more.

1. 
   
   Check the water system - make sure the water flow is decent. Some houses have old pipe system and the flow is really weak.
2. 
   
   Check if you have a nice landlord - it's important... we have been to 3 houses alreays in the past 3 years and the first landlord was really nice. But the last two.. hmmmph... irritating.
3. 
   
   See other houses and compare - just because the realtor says it's a good deal doesn't mean it is. You have to check other houses to see it for yourself.
4. 
   
   Check the condition of the house carefully - there are two kinds of house lease in Korea. One is monthly rental and yearly contract with more downpayment. For yearly contract, the landlord rarely fixes house hazzards once you move in.
5. 
   
   Reserve movers ahead in time, don't forget to call the internet service, TV, phone company etc.
6. 
   
   Started throwing away things you are sure you won't use.

Well, this is what I learned... nothing much though.. but at least it helped me in choosing the right house with my sister. Things we need to do... clean the house... the landlord told us the previous tenants didn't clean much for the 7 years they lived there. huhu

We are moving on the 19th and good thing the movers will do everything for you from packing, moving and to unpacking. We just have to pack important stuff so they won't get lost.

It's going to be very hot but after moving, at least I can go back to my normal routines and try to study nail art!

My First Ever...

I have never ever blogged in my life...
just decided recently to do something with my time and write a blog :D

My Cup of Tea.....
I want to blog about things I enjoy doing, and things I like... or somewhat addicted
to such as make-up, US TV series, my niece Chloe...

For the readers, so that they will know who I am and where I came from...
well... I am a going 30, single Korean female, living in Seoul, Korea
but grew up in Manila, Philippines.... youngest of 3 ^^

Hope people reading this blog will enjoy reading as I will enjoy writing it.