24 Hours in Seattle - A Mini Travel Guide

Seattle is probably one of my favorite cities... to eat in. While I mostly focus on the food (seriously, it's so good, I don't even remember to take photos of it - I just dig in), I do like to explore and try a new thing or two each trip. I've been on underground tours, and seen the Space Needle; explored Pike Place Market and visited the original Starbucks (and the much newer Reserve Roastery). Here's some of my must visits when you're only in the city for a day.

The Best Spots for Cherry Blossom Photos in Vancouver

BERSHKA TOP | BP. SKIRT | ZARA SANDALS | CULT GAIA PURSE


You know spring is finally here when the cherry blossoms start to bloom in Vancouver. They're our first signs that the rain is nearly at an end, and we have sunny days for the next couple of months.

Despite the cold spells (read snow) and rain storms (read wilted and rotting flowers), I've managed to find some of the best spots for all your cherry blossom photo dreams.

5 Things to Do in Seoul If You've Done It All

When you visit a country for the fourth time, especially if you've lived there for a period of time, it's hard not to fall into old habits – staying in with friends and ordering takeout, going to you usual haunts, or just running all your errands (and by errands, I mean shopping to restock on makeup and skincare). 

I found this conundrum on my third trip to Seoul last January, and struggled even more on my fourth trip in October for Seoul Fashion Week! While most of my days were filled with shows, there were some that I needed to fill – and while spending the day at the hostel helping the owner improve his English is fun, it's not ideal (not going to lie, most of my early evenings in were spent drinking tea and discussing cultural differences with him, it's great to learn something new!). So I've put together a few tips for anyone who's making a first, second, or third trip to one of my favorite cities. 

Seoul Fashion Week S/S 2017 - Backstage Moments with Gayeon Lee

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show does not show how hectic backstage is at a fashion show is. I mean it does, but it's a whole 'nother beast in person.

I was lucky enough to be one of the backstage photographers for Gayeon Lee's show at Seoul Fashion Week this year. She is the absolute sweetest, and I've loved her designs since first trying to get tickets two years ago (but her show was on a weekday as the best always seem to be). Of course I couldn't attend, as back then I taught and was only able to go to the Saturday shows, but I still fell in love seeing the photos online.

Seoul Fashion Week S/S 2017 - Ti:baeg

Can a dress be anymore perfect? 

Ti:baeg impressed at Seoul Fashion Week with it's feminine style, inspired streetwear, and traditional inspirations. I might need to make a trip to Doota for their upcoming spring collection - because this dress is the definition of perfection.

Common Ground

Photos by Katherine Son

Does anyone else think they move at the most inopportune times? It seems that now that I've resettled again, I've been asked to numerous events in my previous abodes. I guess I'll just reminisce instead... and maybe mope a little.

The Pleated Midi

Question: are you a mini or maxi girl? Or a midi girl?

 With winter coming, I've been slowly adding layers and length to my outfits. Cue the pleated midi skirt. Nothing I would have worn even a few months ago, but this gorgeous pink satin caught my eye on Asos. Sadly, I decided that since it "wasn't my style" and I was going to wait for a decent discount before buying it... and it sold out a few days later. 

5 Things to do in London.... and one thing not to do

A long time coming, I finally have a mini travel guide to London! Or at least my favourite things to do in London. Also, look at how pretty this post is. It maybe have taken a full week (over the course of a few months, because seriously, it took two days just to figure out how to make a text box) to figure out the coding, but it was well worth it, don't you think? Either way, let me know what your favourite things to do in London are? Or any misses? WestJet seems to be having seat sales there every fall, so you can bet I'll be going again (maybe I'll even make it to London Fashion Week this time). KLM is also having a flight sale to Amsterdam right now... I'm so tempted.

Primary

All photos by Stephanie Ling

Three weeks of travelling the world and another two of travelling around my own city to visit friends and family, and I'm finally back to blogging. Happy Thanksgiving by the way! My family decided to visit my grandparents and aunts in Winnipeg... where you can order an entire roast pig for dinner. Needless to say we did. And we'll be eating leftovers for the next couple of months. Such is Thanksgiving, right? I don't know what's more interesting – roast pork or a week spent in London and Paris?

Bare It All

Photos by Katherine Son

Hands up if you like dungarees (me! me! me!). Hands up if you don't like to look like you're teaching kindergarten in them (me! me! me!). I actually bought this dress for the possibility of attending London Fashion Week, as Brexit happened and suddenly the UK became a little bit cheaper. That, and a one way ticket from London to Calgary is currently less than $300 (yay West Jet!). 

Trend on Trend on Trend

Photos by Kyleigh Trott

As a general rule, I try not to follow trends too much. This summer though... that's not happening. I've been loving everything that's come out - off the shoulder tops, culottes, lace up, tassel sandals, and now crop flares, which I didn't actually think would look as good on me as they do. Here, I combined four major summer trends - cropped flare denim, an off the shoulder top, tassel sandals and my new favourite hairstyle, the half up bun. I actually kind of want to buy a neckerchief (probably the one trend I haven't wanted to jump on), because let's face it, it would look awesome with this outfit.

At Long Last... The Beach

Photos by Kyleigh Trott

How lovely is it to live an hour and a half away from a beach? I've been craving some relaxation time, and it's been showing in my shopping – off shoulder tops, sundresses and coverups galore. When I saw this top on the Zara website I had to have it. It didn't matter that it was an extra $20 here in Korea compared to Canada (usually the exchange rate and duties tacked on to Zara pieces are pretty reasonable, but this top... hot damn!). Either way, I had to have it (along with a few other super trendy pieces you'll be seeing soon) since I knew I'd be going to the beach for Memorial Day.

Not "Real" Summer

Work has picked up. It's now halfway through the semester in Korea, and everyone has been super busy. There's a lot more work under my new coteacher and with my new schedule (I don't know why as I teach the same number of classes but at different times, and my coteacher doesn't make me do that much extra, but it feels like I have no time at all!).

Scandalous

Photos by Kat Son

 Want to know how to get a boy slapped  by his girlfriend in Korea? Or have little, old ajusshi's talk amongst themselves in hushed voices? Show some shoulder. PS. Both of these stories are true, thanks to this top. It's the last weeks for cherry blossom viewing though, so obviously looking cute for photos with pretty flowers is worth the gossip that comes with shoulders.

Winged for Seoul Fashion Week

Photos by Kat Son and Byeonggi Jo 

It's now a life goal to work and live in a city with some sort of fashion week. Once again, I attended Seoul Fashion Week (well, more like Seoul Fashion Day given that I could only attend on Saturday). I saw the R. Shemiste show (super grungy, but still appealing to my need for feminine clothing) in the morning, then spent the rest of the day being mobbed by photographers. Last year I wore some very basic outfits and while I was photographed, it didn't happen too often. This year I opted for a beautiful backless shirt that I'll never be able to wear in Korea again. The statement piece got a lot of attention – a group of girls just wanted a picture of me (from the front), and when I turned around (because let's be honest the front of this outfit is boring, and trying to pin it into a crop top was a failed attempt) there were a lot of squeals of surprise and praise. To show this much upper body skin is still uncommon for Korea (even in Seoul!), so anything with thin shoulder straps (let alone my beloved off the shoulder pieces) is a no go. Not that that will stop me, but it is something I consider when go out on the weekends, whether it's to metropolitan and slightly more liberal Seoul, or my more conservative countryside town. I've literally had ajummas come up to me on the street to adjust a wayward shoulder strap so that it once again covers my bra strap. So kind, but so annoying. But back to fashion week... 

R. Shemiste Runway Review - Seoul Fashion Week F/W2016

This fall runway season was all about the 90's, and R. Shemiste made sure to include that theme in their signature grungy aesthetic. 

Known for it's oversized sweatshirts and sukajans, R. Shemiste included wide-legged denim, bohemian silhouettes and some amazing colours in their fall collection to bring a cohesive collection onto the runway. The show was inspired by 19th century anarchist, Emma Goldman, a perfect muse for the show's distressed and layered looks. While I'm not a big fan of grunge (I'll leave the plaid at home, thanks), I loved the amount of layering going on at R. Shemiste. My favourite look? A distressed slip camisole over a ruched sleeve blouse. A trendy wrap skirt gave the illusion of a jacket or shirt layered and wrapped around the waist to add to the illusion of multiple layers. The idea of layering a loose camisole over a shirt has been very popular in Korea this winter – I've seen oversized, v-neck camis everywhere – and while most have been in suede (last seasons textile of choice), I have a feeling R. Shemiste's take on the trend will be making it's way to storefronts soon.

Why won't I be in Korea by the time this jacket comes out?!

Harajuku Girl

This is a deceptive title, since I wouldn't really call it Harajuku style. But I bought these gorgeous pants in Harajuku... so....

They're my new favourites, and pretty much all I wore in Japan and Taipei. They're super comfortable, and look like a skirt (you know how I love flowing silhouettes). And they layer perfectly with the new Asos vest and All Saints Sweater I bought. This outfit is the epitome of my store obsessions - All Saints (there's a store in the bus terminal in Seoul, which means I'm in a danger zone as soon as I step off my bus), Asos, Zara, and now, Goocy. 

Black, White and Grey

Photos by Michael Masulli

You know you have an addiction when you're almost entirely in Asos. It’s one of my favourite stores to shop (online) at normally, and it’s really the only place I’ve been shopping at in Korea (besides checking out Zara when I go to Seoul). 

Naked Bonding... Aka. The Jjimjilbang

When in Korea, do as the Koreans do. Ie. Get naked with some of them.

Gongju is full of foreigners (many of my Korean coworkers are always surprised by how many there are here when they visit) and some of the girls decided to visit our local jimjilbang. Many of us had never been, including myself (I have gone to Japanese onsen before though, and it's very similar), and we decided to do the whole shebang – Saunas, baths, scrubs, and of course the traditional baked egg and shikhye. Don't worry, Conan exaggerates about the scrub (or the ajummas went easy on me).

The Korean Cafe

Photos by Michael Masulli

I'm writing this from my third cafe of the day. Cafes are plentiful in Korea, no matter how small your town is. There are literally streets of them, one after another (just like the beauty stores here!). It probably doesn't help that Gongju is a university city, so someone is always looking for coffee and a place to study or hang out with friends. It's one of my favourite things about living in Korea, second only to cheese hotteok.