Korean Roots

Amongst Koreans, sometimes it's embarrassing to admit my roots. Besides being born in Seoul, knowing how to count to 10, saying "hello" and "thank you", and really liking popular Korean food, I'm pretty uncultured in Korean culture. In fact, I'm useless at Korean restaurants. I look curiously at people's tables and wonder, "what is that?" I look at the menus and get uncomfortable and pray my friends don't ask me for suggestions and that the waitress can speak English. My comfort zone revolves around the words "kalbi, bulgogi, jab chae, bib bim bob, and kimchee chigae." (And I had to Google most of those words to find the correct spelling...yes, that's how un-Korean I am). Those are the main Korean dishes that I recognize because my mom made them for me growing up. My mother, bless her heart, wouldn't let me cook growing up. "You make too much mess," she would say. "Go watch TV, I do, I do." Meaning, she would cook. I remember my mom squatting on the kitchen floor mixing cabbage and spices to make her own kimchee. She never followed recipes, and therefore was never able to pass any down.

Andy has been craving Korean food...so I scoured the internet for buglogi recipes and settled on this one, from Alice's blog the Savory Sweet Life.  The recipe was SOOOOO easy and turned out tasting pretty darn close to my mom's bulgogi! This is my favorite recipe site, and the same place I got the recipe for Jap Chae that I made awhile back. 

Here is Alice's recipe: (she even has a gluten-free variation!) I followed this recipe exactly as stated except for one thing--I marinated the meat overnight instead of just an hour. But either way it turns out delicious!

• 1-1.5 lbs. of thinly sliced rib-eye steak purchased from a Korean market. Or you can slice your own rib-eye or sirloin steak across the grain in paper thin slices. Partially freezing the beef helps with cutting clean slices.
• 1/3 cup of soy sauce or for a Gluten-Free variation, use San-J Organic Tamari Wheat Free Soy Sauce found in the health food section of your local grocery store.
• 3 Tbl white sugar
• 1 Tbl sesame oil
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/4 of a medium yellow onion, halved and sliced into medium moon shaped slivers
• 2 green onions including the white parts, finely sliced into small pieces
• 2 Tbl toasted sesame seeds
• 1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes
• 2 pinches of black pepper
• *optional 1/4 tsp. of ginger, finely minced

Directions:

Whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl except beef and onions. When most of the sugar has dissolved, add beef and onion slices to the bowl and massage the marinade with your hands into each slice of beef. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. To pan fry, place a few slices of beef in single layers and completely flat on a hot oiled frying pan and fry each side until cooked. Some people prefer to cook the bulgogi until some of the edges have turned dark brown and crispy. Serve with a bowl of hot rice.

Love In Action

Andy has been super romantic since our anniversary.  Almost every day this week he has done something super duper sweet...here are a couple of my favorites.

I came out of the shower to find the floor lined with candles to our bedroom. 

He cooked me an amazing meal with steamed clams, pork rolled with turkey, basil and provolone, and pasta. I totally lucked out...Andy is a fabulous cook.

He also came home this week with flowers and chocolate and has been so attentive...

How did I get so lucky?

Snow Day + The Winner!

I woke up this morning to this.  

I know for you midwesterners it doesn't seem like much, but for a warm weathered island girl, this is insane for February. I hope you're warm where ever you are!

And guess what?  Heather, you're the winner of the CSN Giveaway!

A Weighty Issue

On average, women have 13 negative thoughts a day about their body.  

I saw this topic being discussed on the Today Show this morning and it really bummed me out.  I was definitely one of those women.  I still have issues about my weight, but I can't tell you how much a husband telling me every day how beautiful I am helps with these image concerns.

The worst part is they say that it starts in girls as young as three years old!  I can remember my weight issues starting around age 8; I remember dieting in 4th grade.  I went on to study nutrition in college because of my own obsession with weight.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

 **Enter the Giveaway here!

Post One Year Anniversary

I had every intention to document our anniversary weekend, unfortunately I just seemed to forget to pull my camera out (which is so not like me)!   We didn't do anything extravagant...we simply drove east a few hours up into the mountains, ate a ton of food that wasn't good for us, watched close to 12 hours of Dexter and a couple of movies, reminisced over the last year, and slept in and napped.  It was actually just what we wanted and needed. 

It's strange to me that some people say the first year of marriage is one of the hardest.  This past year truly has been the best year of my life.  There have definitely been ups and downs, but now that I'm married I feel like life has finally truly begun.

**There is still time to enter the Giveaway!

365 Days

Our one year anniversary is this weekend and to celebrate we're heading out to eastern Washington and staying at a family friend's place on an orchard.  Life has been so busy lately for us both and we can't wait for a full weekend of doing nothing but staying in bed and snuggling by the fireplace....no email, no phone calls, no distractions.

We are in super duper budget/save mode so I mustered up the few ounces of creative ability in my body and came up with a very basic DIY anniversary card.  

I took pictures of 6 things we love doing together in our ordinary daily lives and edited them so they blended with some old stationary cards I found in a drawer, and then glued them on to the card.  This is how it turned out.

Happy Anniversary Andy!  I couldn't have asked for a more amazing 1st year!

Have you entered my giveaway?

Giveaway!

I was browsing through the CSN stores website last night because I'm looking for a new teapot.  When I married my husband, I inherited his beloved teapot he purchased from Goodwill a million years ago.  It looks like this. 

It's gross and those stains don't come off.  You ladies can probably understand why I want to be rid of this ugly thing.  You can find everything you're looking for at CSN, from swing sets, to pillows to yes, teapots! 
And I'm giving one lucky winner at $40 credit to on anything at any CSN online store!

To enter, become a follower (if you're not already) and leave a comment stating what you'd like to use your credit towards.

For a second entry retweet or repost on your blog and leave the link on your second comment!

Good Luck--Winner will be randomly chosen next Thursday!

Secrets

I've never had a problem talking to people about personal or private matters.  I have friends who tell me that they've purposefully put up walls and have a hard time sharing.  It's interesting to me, because at a certain point in life we all have baggage, we've all made countless mistakes, and we all struggle with something. 

I went out to dinner with one of my neighbors this week and told her about the health scare I had last week.  She was shocked I would share something so personal about myself (we are only acquaintances).  But later in the conversation she shared something very painful and personal with me that she has never told any of her close friends.  Her vulnerability and openness really endeared me to her, and I feel it is the first step of us moving from acquaintances to friends.  There is something beautiful that happens in relationships when we're vulnerable...when we share our burdens, and instead of judgment come compassion and concern. 

Are you holding in a deep dark secret?  I encourage you to seek someone out and share.  We shouldn't have to go through our troubles alone. 

Keeping Our Head Above Water

Andy and I have been sharing a car since we got back from our travels.  It didn't make sense financially for us to have two vehicles, and because Andy was only working part time waiting tables, we've been able to manage our schedules around one car.

While we have been slowly building a church community in our living room, Andy has been seeking employment elsewhere so we can start saving for a home.  It is shocking to me that after 6 months of searching, close to 100 applications out, and a Masters degree, he has only heard back from 2 companies!  Fortunately, that second company hired him last week--HALLELUJAH!  He'll be working with autistic children as a behavioral interventionist. (And he's going to be soooo amazing at his job). 


Now we must get a second vehicle.  This seems like such a minor thing, but thinking about using our savings, having to adjust student loan payments (curses to student loans!), figuring out how to budget even more--well, it's enough to make me want to hide under the covers for awhile.  And then I always ask myself, how in the world do people afford children!? 


Worry is an issue that has paralyzed me in the past; prayer and truly handing over my anxiety's to God has been the only way I've been able to not drown in a sea of "what if's" regarding the future.  Are you a worrier?  How do you let go of your worries?

Anti Valentine's Day

Well, it's not that dramatic. Andy had to work all weekend and starts his new (second) job today.  Plus Mondays are typically the busiest day of my week, not to mention we have our "church" that meets in our living room Monday nights...(and two of the people who attend just recently got broken up with).  So, today will just be like any other day.  Fortunately, my one year anniversary is next weekend...THAT'S when we'll really celebrate! 

For the rest of you gorgeous couples I hope you have a fantastic day!

The News

There is nothing like a health scare that makes you feel like an adult.  All of a sudden I started thinking about life insurance, a will, and my future in a very different way.  Fortunately I got the second best possible news from the Dr. yesterday.  After my biopsy, I wasn't in the clear, but the abnormality of my cells are mild.  Which means more frequent check ups than normal to make sure nothing gets worse. 

Thank you Jesus.

A Pampered Weekend

Last Friday I was back at the Dr.'s office being reexamined and getting biopsied.  Andy came along and he felt so bad for me he actually suggested we go to the Humane Society afterward to go look at puppies.  He is already the most compassionate and loving man I could have ever asked for, but he is being EXTRA, EXTRA sweet through all this.  Saturday I got a much needed massage and also got my hair done.  It was a lovely day of pampering.  I should hear back from the Dr. sometime today about my results. 

In the mean time, I'm trying to keep my thoughts elsewhere and hope and pray for the best.  Thank you for all your prayers and comments...I'll keep you posted on the news.


**oh yeah...yesterday marked 6 years of sobriety for my husband!  Andy I'm SO proud of you!

All The Single Ladies

I had lunch today with a friend who is thinking about leaving Tacoma and starting fresh somewhere else.  She is single, beautiful, she has her stuff together...yet can't find someone to share her life with.  Last week, I found out another friend of mine was broken up with unexpectedly and she finds herself once again, single, heartbroken and lonely. 

I have a handful of friends across the US who find themselves in similar circumstances, and honestly my heart just breaks over it.  Being a 30-something single gal these days is hard. I remember feeling so lost and alone when I broke up with my last ex-boyfriend--I was living in a new city where I barely new anyone, in a job I hated, and couldn't help but think I was 31 and time was running out.  (Logically I know that's ridiculous...but it's the truth about how I felt).

Just to set the record straight, I was never one of those girls who went from relationship to relationship.  I had had 2 "real" boyfriends up until I was 31 and had dated only a handful of guys in between. I was quite content being single up until the age of about 27.   I felt "ready" at that age and when I dated, I dated with purpose.  Until I met Andy it was a long, lonely, frustrating 4 years.

As Valentine's Day approaches, I can't help but think about all my beautiful, single girlfriends who smile their way through February, but can't wait until it's February 15th.

I've been there...

Greek Pasta Salad Recipe

Every Monday night we have a gathering in our living room of people exploring their faith.  It is so awesome to build community and relationships over a meal and discussion.  Normally every week people bring random things to munch on...but I decided to put a theme to it--Greek!  I made a super easy to make Greek Pasta Salad--the great thing about this salad is you can add or take away any of the ingredients you'renot fond of.  It also makes a great dish to bring to parties because it's so colorful!

Here's what you need: (serves 8)

• 1 package fusilli or penne pasta
• 1 can sliced black olives, drained
• 1 can artichoke hearts, drained & quartered (I prefer packed in water)
• 1 cucumber, peeled,halved & sliced
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 1/2  yellow pepper, chopped
• 1/2 red or orange pepper, chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 package feta cheese, crumbled

             Dressing

• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 4 tablespoons water
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 4 teaspoons oregano
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and  pepper

1. Boil pasta according to directions, drain.
2. In a small bowl prepare dressing and set aside.
3. In a large bowl mix pasta with prepared vegetables, toss and then add crumbled feta cheese.
4. Add the dressing and stir.
5. Best if allowed to refidgerate for an hour before serving.

Opa!

The Irony

It just doesn't seem fair to be dealing with acne and gray hair at the same time.  What kind of cruel joke is mother nature playing on me?

I'm treating myself to a massage and a hair cut and color (take that gray hair!) this weekend.  (Half price of course because I bought them from LivingSocial). 

Is anyone else still dealing with zits in their 30's?