cooling down at the beach

 

The past few days in So Cal have been super hot!  But I have no reason to complain since the South Bay always has a nice breeze.  We live about 15 minutes from the beach and though some people would kill to be closer to the ocean, John and I rarely go.  Maybe twice a year, if that, and it's only to eat then we're outta there!

Some of my friends were out to see my new place and wanted to go to Redondo Beach.  We ate some delish fried food, walked around, took a few pictures, then we were outta there!  It's so pretty out, I really should go more often.  Too bad summer break is over now.  I guess I'll have to plan a date night with my Johnny!

korea - day 2

Day 2 started pretty much like day 1 - woke up early and just sat around for a while. Then it was time for us to wander Korea together! 

Jenny was nervous about riding the subway with me because she didn't trust my skillz. HA!  The subway system in Korea is uh-mazing and so easy to navigate.  So we made sure we were on the right platform and passed time waiting for the subway by messing with our hair.

Our first stop - Itaewon! My friend Minki and I have been friends since the 8th grade.  He has always been back and forth from Korea to America, but a few years ago he moved to Korea permanently. I moved back to America as he was moving to Korea so this was my first time at his house. I was oohing and ahhing over everything!  His house is, seriously, amazing!  The first floor used to be his restaurant but now is being rented out. He lives on the top floor and it is a total man cave!

We got wild and crazy, then faced time with our fellow dbcof friends in America. Totally kidding about the wild and crazy part.

A quick snack, then off to Passion 5 to meet his gf!
 

No pictures are allowed in this crazy bakery, but I was able to take one!  This obviously doesn't do this place justice but you can see more here and here.

Cute, no?! They even having matching "couple tees"!

After chatting and eating, they dropped us off at Dongdaemoon where Jenny and I wandered the 5 floors of clothes, shoes and accessories. Insanely crazy, insanely busy, and very Korean. This is what I love about Korea! Think American malls during the holiday season, times 50. But what's even more amazing is that these malls are 24 hours and always crowded! It's like Koreans never sleep!!!!

Another thing I love about Korea - while you are walking on a busy street with tons of people and cars, you look forward and see bits of ancient Korea and look to your left and you see the beautiful Han River. That building in the middle of the street is probably a gazillion years old!  How amazing is that!

Day 2 weather:  Sprinkling in the morning.  Cleared up by the afternoon.  Hot and sticky... as usual.  The humidity and my skin are battling and my skin is losing big time.

Day 2 high:  Meeting my dear friend's girlfriend.  She's the sweetest person ever.

Day 2 low: Not being able to find the subway entrance in Dondaemoon and having 3 different people not help us at all!  Thankfully the 4th person I asked was nice enough to point us in the right direction. Geez. Koreans.

Back soon with Day 3!

work? what's that?

 Every morning, before John leaves for work, he asks, "Who are you having lunch with today?" I'm obsessed with lunching because I actually have the time for it!

It just so happened that some of my high school friends (AKA dbcof) were free for lunch! So, while our spouses were hard at work, we got together for lunch!  Many moons ago, Ellen and I would spend all day with these boys doing absolutely nothing. Now that we are "adults" we can't do that, so getting together for a quick lunch is so nice!

Today, I do not have a lunch date! GASP! I am actually going to stay home and clean (and save $)! What?! But tomorrow my lunch dating resumes. Then, it's time to pack and get ready for my short trip to Korea!

quality dbcof time

When my friends and I were in high school we named our group "dbcof". I know, ultimate dorky! It stands for Diamond Bar Circle of Friends. Diamond Bar, a small, obscure city with cows and a whole lotta Asians! But mostly famous for being the city where Snoop Dog raises his kids. Woo. Woo.

I've been friends with these nerds for years and years and I love them to death. The girls stood next to me on my wedding day as bridesmaids, and I wished the boys could have been my bro-maids. Over the years, with marriages (and one baby), the group has grown in size but nothing else has changed. Totally like family.

Last Saturday, we got together for some lunchin' and loungin'. Lunchin', as in, eating some deliciously boiled chicken from Savoy and loungin', as in, some people falling asleep on the living room floor! The best way to spend a lazy, rainy Saturday!

And I finally got to try Half and Half! My goodness! It was the biggest cup of boba I have ever had!

Even baby Senna wanted some!

I thought it was way yummy but would I wait in line for an hour to get it? Probably not. And since it has straight up cream in it, it's something that I probably shouldn't have that often. WWBD, right?!