My Little Red Bicycle

 

One of the things on my 101 in 1001 list was to buy a pretty bicycle. First of all, I have always wanted a cute bike to ride around on. Then when we moved to Korea there were adorable bikes all over the place. We don't have a car in Korea but there is public transportation galore here (trains, buses, taxis, etc). Plus it is really easy to get anywhere in town on a bicycle here too. School is close enough for me to ride my bike too. Getting a bike was something that I had always wanted to look into but just never got around to. However, fate stepped in and someone that I know who is leaving the country soon had a bike she was selling. I JUMPED on her offer. I know that I will only be in the country for another 6 months but that is still enough time to enjoy the bike and it was cheaper than buying a brand new bike. Then I will sell it to another wonderful teacher when I leave. It's a win-win. Isn't she cute? Her name is Penelope. ;) 

New Books

I will keep a list of the NEW books that I am reading for my 101 goals in 1001 days challenge with my thoughts on each book.

1. The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
        I really enjoyed this book. While this isn't my favorite Nicholas Sparks book (I have read them all) is definitely isn't my least favorite. It is a little predictable. It is 2 love stories in 1 and both of them are good love stories. I'm not sure which love story is my favorite. I would recommend it to anyone that likes Nicholas Sparks books.

Mint Chocolate Lip Scrub DIY

This year I purchased the Lush Mint Juleps Lip Scrub and fell in love. It is wonderful. I love the scent, the taste and what it does to my lips when I use it. The problem is the price tag especially in Korea where there is an even bigger mark up than in the States or the UK. But I loved it and it took a while for me to use up.

I had heard that it was possible to make your own lip scrub. I knew it was something I wanted to try to attempt at some point but I had the Mint Juleps so I put it off. Eventually I used up the lip scrub and while I did repurchase the Mint Juleps (seriously, it's heavenly) I saved the old jar for when I decided to try my hand at making my own.

I did a little bit of research on different recipes and while each recipe was different I wanted to use products that I already had at home. Lush uses castor sugar for their scrubs and while this is perfectly fine I didn't want to buy a whole thing of castor sugar just for my lip scrub. So I used regular white sugar that most everyone has at home anyway.



Ingredients:

1 tablespoon  white sugar
1/2 teaspoon cacao powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon jojoba oil
1-2 drops peppermint essential oil

That's it. Mix ingredients and store in a container of your choice. I used my old glass Mint Juleps container.

Exfoliate and enjoy!

101 in 1001

So I stumbled upon this really cool idea of making a list of 101 goals to complete in 1001 in days. I saw a list on a blog quite a while ago and thought it was a pretty cool idea but did nothing about it. A few weeks ago I was in the shower and randomly thought about that list again. After my shower I did some online research and found a TON more blogs with their own lists. Since I am a born list maker I decided to go for it and make my own list and I also encouraged my sister to make a list as well. It was kind of difficult coming up with 101 things at first but once a got more than half way through making my list I found myself wishing I had more than 101 spaces.

This idea was originally created by a website called Day Zero Project. 1001 days is about 2.75 years. The point is to come up with specific things you want to accomplish. They must be realistic but also challenging. Sometimes you have goals (like traveling) that take longer than a year to accomplish which is why 1001 days is much better than 365.

I love this idea so much. I am going to blog my progress and keep up with my list here. I will post on Instagram too. I know there is already a hashtag created so if you want to make your own list or check out other list and progress you can check out the hashtag #101in1001 on IG and twitter.

When I was researching this project I found a ton of other blogs to read too. Like this one. Another plus of doing this project.

Start date: January 12th, 2014
Finish date: October 10th, 2016

1. Get out of credit card debit.
2. New Years Eve in Times Square.
3. Clear out emails and keep them organized (this is seriously a problem).
4. Organize computer and hard drive.
5. Upload YouTube video once a week.
6. Go skiiing.
7. Start geocaching.
8. Organize and simplify my closet.
9. USA road trip.
10. Get a kitten and/or puppy.
11. Make handmade soap.
12. Reopen my Etsy store when we go back to the States.
13. Read 50 new books. (1/50)
14. Go to trivia nights with friends.
15. Go skinny dipping.
16. Go to Europe.
17. Visit Jeju Island.
18. Try 10 new foods.
19. Go to another Disney Park.
20. Leave a $20 tip on a meal that cost less than $20.
21. Invest in a nice black shoulder bag.
22. Go a month without eating out.
23. "Adopt" 2 children for Christmas (each Christmas). (0/4)
24. Run a 5k (color run).
25. Complete 50 Pinterest projects. (0/50)
26. Clean face every morning (30 misses). (0/30)
27. Clean face every night (30 misses). (0/30)
28. Develop more/better sewing techniques.
29. Visit our friends in NJ.
30. Cook dinner once a week (Zack does the majority of the cooking). (1/143)
31. Re-read the Harry Potter series.
32. Have a technology free weekend.
33. Buy a lottery ticket.
34. Watch "50 Classic Matchbook Girl Movies." (0/50)
35. Invest in 10 beautiful coffee table books.
36. Face mask once a week. (3/143)
37. Hair mask once a week. (5/143)
38. Self pedicure once a week. (2/143)
39. Self manicure once a week. (4/143)
40. Date night once a month. (0/34)
41. Have 2 "no buy" months (0/2)
42. Do the 52 weeks savings challenge. (11/52)
43. Crochet another blanket.
44. Exercise 2 hours a week.
45. Figure out how my family came to the USA.
46. Buy my mom a gift on MY birthday.
47. Buy an iPad.
48. Donate blood.
49. Complete 10 random acts of kindness.
50. Pay for a strangers meal or Starbucks.
51. Complete a Wreck This Journal.
52. Get a tattoo.
53. Finish my white sheet rug.
54. Try Project Life.
55. Have professional pictures taken each year. (0/3)
56. (personal)
57. Increase social media following by x 10.
58. Get a facial.
59. Learn to use my DSLR better.
60. Go to a drive in movie.
61. Go to the beach.
62. Go to an NFL game.
63. Go to an MLB game.
64. Go white water rafting.
65. Go to a KPOP concert.
66. Go camping.
67. Make cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning.
68. Make a household organizer binder.
69. Send Christmas cards each year.
70. Learn to use Photoshop.
71. Start blogging again.
72. Coupon when we go back to the States.
73. Drink water everyday.
74. Save $6000.
75. Make a decision for January 2015.
76. Keep a health journal.
77. Do a Couch to 5k Challenge. (Completed 3-1-14)
78. 30 day Squat Challenge.
79. 30 day Little Black Dress Challenge.
80. Actually keep up with Tone It Up.
81. Go rock climbing.
82. Organize the photos on my Mac.
83. Floss at least twice a week.
84. Make a piece of jewelry.
85. Save $10 for each task completed for a fun reward.
86. Make a goal to see all 50 states with Zack (in our lifetime).
87. Learn more Korean. Complete at least Level 4 in Talk to Me in Korean.
88. Buy a pretty bicycle. ✓ (1/17/2014)
89. Try 6 new restaurants. (0/6)
90. Make a book out of all of our wedding cards.
91. Make a shutterfly book out of Instagram photos.
92. See It's a Wonderful Life at Belcourt Theater.
93. Pay off half of my student loans.
94. Go to a musical.
95. Buy a nice hair dryer.
96. Go hunting with my brother.
97. Hike Soraksan.
98. See the East Sea of Korea.
99. Go to Busan.
100. Set a budget and stick to it.
101. Set up an IRA.

Need some new holiday music?

I love Christmas music! I could listen to it all year round. The only reason I don't is because my husband has banned holiday music before a certain time of the year. But I usually pull it out way before normal people do. However, my Christmas music selection has really need some new songs and more vareity. So I have been on the search for some new Christmas music.

While searching iTunes one day I happened upon a new holiday album called "Holidays Rule". It has a really awesome sound and a great mix of songs.

One of my favorite songs on the album is I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day by The Civil Wars. Even though it was recently announced that this duo has split I'm so glad they recorded this song first.

Other artists on the album include Paul McCartney, Rufus Wainwright and The Shins among many others. If you need new Christmas music you have to check it out!

A simple couponing example

So here is a picture of a fun night of couponing. I had had a stressful day and wanted to have a night to myself and have a little retail therapy. This only cost me $2 bucks (less than).

I bought 20 bottles of soap and 2 bottles of $5 nail polish. 

I did this at two different stores.

The soap is normally $1.99. It was on sale for $1.00.

On each bottle there was a "peelie" coupon for $0.50 off a bottle. (Since at Publix coupons $0.50 and under double this made each bottle free). 

There was also a Publix coupon for $1.00 off 2 bottles of soap. I used 5 Publix coupons and 10 "peelie" coupons for a grand total of -$5.00!

So I used my profit to purchase a bottle of nail polish. My total before tax was $0.00 - FREE! 

In my state I have to pay tax on what I purchased so I had to pay $0.94 for 10 bottles of soap and a $5.00 bottle of nail polish (I did the deal twice). 

Not bad for a days work. :)

Korea Bound

From March 28th, 2012

Well, we are going to Korea. We are going to teach English as a language in Cheonan City, South Korea. This has been a crazy ride thus far and we are just in the decision making stage. Zack and I have been talking about doing this for a little while now. When he first mentioned going I thought he was joking. I was like, "Ha, yeah right. We can't go to Korea right now." Then later I was opening up to the possibility of it but "maybe in a year." Then I decided that there is always going to be something standing in the way of any decision so "let's go for it." We can't not do something just out of fear. We put our resume together and testimonies and sent the email. Within and hour of sending the email we were emailed back saying that the positions had previously been filled but they just had a couple back out and had two spots available and we could have them! Unbelievable! That was yesterday. I'm still in shock over what is happening. We are very excited but at the same time it is very scary. We will be leaving sometime near the end of July for a whole year away from our families and everything we have ever known. We plan on spending quite a bit of time with each of our families before we go so that will help some. And technology is so great these days that we will be able to see everyone through Skype and other resources.

April 25th, 2012

We have completed several of the many steps in the process of getting our Visas. (A long process I will write about later). I needed a new passport because I never changed my name on my old one after we got married. So I have sent everything in for that and am waiting for it to return. We have also mailed everything off for our FBI background checks. We have told everyone we need to tell about us moving and have even announced on FaceBook. Everything seems to be falling into place. I can't believe May is around the corner. Still so much to do.

Zack is graduating with his Master's in Theology from TNU in 10 days! Yay! We are so excited. And I am so proud of him. After a year of him working on a Master's thesis I am ready to have my husband back. :) I know that he is ready to have this behind him as well. Things will begin to move even faster after graduation is over. Keep us in your prayers as we prepare for this huge adventure.