Valuable Advice

This piece of advice was first given to me, in high school, by a controlling and mentally abusive ex-boyfriend. He belittled me and tried to keep me away from my friends.

When I finally ended our relationship he  set out on a mass mail campaign in which he alternated between sending me "love" letters and hate mail. In one such note he railed against me friends and suggested they had encouraged our break-up (of course they did!) and advised me to "never let anyone control you".  I cut out that sentence and pasted it into my inspiration journal, just in case I ever needed a reminder.

As it turns out, I would. And the person I would need it for would give me identical advice after I rejected one of their many suggestions for my personal life. An employer gave me much "advice" and suggestions for my daily (personal) life.  The employer is offended when I don't take the suggestions and sometimes demands to know why. After telling them I wasn't going to follow their marriage advice that I should control my husband, they rewarded me with the gem, "Don't let anyone control you".

Now, that's a piece of advice I can follow- starting with you!

*Inspired by a Mama Kat prompt 01 02 12

Simple Woman's Daybook: Jan 12

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...sunshine!

I am thinking...I want some okra!

I am thankful... for my sweet husband

In the kitchen...beef and cheesy potatoes

I am wearing...workout clothes but I am about to change back into my work clothes

I am creating...a list of gift idea for the bestie's birthday present

I am going...to work

I am wondering...when I should go grocery shopping

I am reading...Chocolate Beach by Julie Carobini

 

I am looking forward to...eating chicken spaghetti

 

 

Exercise today? Yes. Day 7 of Skinny Ms. Summer Abs

 

Around the house...laundry is hanging and dry but I haven't gotten around to folding it yet

I am pondering...the best fried dessert....any ideas

 

One of my favorite things...real cheese....something Korea has a shortage of

A few plans for the rest of the week: get back on the writing train

Join the fun at :http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/ 

01 02 12

7-7-7

This year I decided to forgo resolutions and set 7 goals for myself in 3 different areas of my life. I always make culinary goals because they are fun for me to accomplish and I get the satisfaction from checking an item off my list.

This year I decided to also make faith and writing related goals because they are very important areas of my life.

What about you, did you make any goals or resolutions for the new year?

 

 

Faith

1. Read Bible daily.
2. Read Keep it Shut.
3. Keep a prayer journal.
4. Go to church regularly.
5. Practice being kind.
6. Weigh what I want to say against Scripture before I speak.
7. Share my faith with others

Writing

1. Write the final chapter of my book.
2. Do a weekly Mama Kat prompt.
3. Do a biweekly Daybook post.
4. Do 3+ blog posts a week.
5. Write 104 pages of Patience.
6. Write 24 new Westbound poems.
7. Keep up more with my inspiration journals.

Culinary

1. Make vegetable stock regularly.
2. Learn to make beef gravy.
3. Make a fried dessert.
4. Make a rice cooker cake.
5. Try brownie pancakes (with peanut butter sauce?).
6. Learn to make tortillas.
7. Learn how to make a Korean dish from scratch.

What did you accomplish in 2014? 01 02 12

Jeju: It's No Hawaii

But it is a good time.

Jeju Island is always referred to as "the Hawaii of Korea". If Hawaii is like Jeju, I will be sorely disappointed.

However, Jeju was a very nice place to visit, even if it was a bit tourist trap-y. (Much like Niagara Falls. After you've seen the Falls, everything else around is quite gimmicky).

My boss' family were lovely hosts.

We all took the ferry over together. The entire 4.5 hour ride over "a three hour tour" echoed in my head. But we made it safe and sound. I was especially proud of Mike for riding the ferry despite his fear of water.

We drove all over the island and saw the beach,  caves, waterfalls and climbed a small mountain. We visited the chocolate museum and the shooting range. We considered riding ATVS but it was awfully muddy as the snow was melting.

Chocolate Museum 

We visited a body museum at my boss' instance and it was a huge waste of money. Think several preserved body parts. The main attractions seemed to be preserved pubic hair and a fetus hall, which thankfully I was able to see the small sign before I entered. We passed on Hello Kitty Island, Teddy Bear Safari, Mini-world, Memory Theme Park and Greek Culture museum.

We also went into a really cool cave cafe.

Jeju island is famous for its citrus and wild boar meat. We went to a popular restaurant and tried the wild boar. It was delicious! 

Statues of this man are everywhere on the island!

01 02 12

The Simple Woman's Daybook: Jan 6th

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...wind

I am thinking...my abs hurt

I am thankful...for a safe and fun trip to Jeju

In the kitchen...leftover pork stir-fry and tuna noodle casserole

I am wearing...workout clothes but I am about to change back into my work clothes...for a few more hours

I am creating...a healthy lifestyle

I am going...back to work

I am wondering...when I should mail my best friend's birthday gift

I am reading...Chocolate Beach by Julie Carobini

 

I am looking forward to...bowling on Wednesday with my adult students

 

 

Exercise today? Yes. Day 2 of Skinny Ms. Summer Abs

 

 

Today's Bible reading...Samuel 18-20

 

 

Around the house...laundry is hanging to dry but it is to cold

I am pondering...what job I want to have when I return home

A favorite quote for today..."You can't do everything but, by damn, you can do something"- Dr. Dunn (my former college professor)

One of my favorite things...hot chocolate with milk

A few plans for the rest of the week: to go to the post office and to meet a new friend for dinner

Join the fun at :http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/ 

 

01 02 12

A Year In Review: 2014

I've been blogging on this site since May and I thought I'd take a look back at what's happened here this year.

My Favorite Posts

1. This is a newer post but I loved reaching back to my roots in Where I'm From.

2. Seventeen is about the summer I met my closest friends.

3. I love this funny story from my students in Nothing, If Not Honest

4. I really love this example of how God has provided for us in Korea. I titled it My Fish and Loaves Story because it seemed that God was making everything multiple.

Most Popular Posts

1.  Jane of All Trades is where I blogged about my dream jobs.

2. In my post, Just a Regular Day, I shared what a typical teaching day looked like at my former academy.

3. Throwback Thursday: 2006 was where I shared about my childhood best friend and our beach trips.

4. Lessons in Gratitude is about things I learned to appreciate much more after living in Korea. Hint: They're all things I took for granted in America.

What type of post is your favorite? Recipes? Travel stories? Reflections? Funny stories?

*This post inspired by a Mama Kat prompt. 01 02 12

Like to Shop? Don't Like to Spend Money? Click Here.

This summer I placed an order on Thredup. It's a second hand clothing site. You can sell and buy from them. A giant plus for me is they have 30 days free return shipping, so if something isn't up to par or doesn't fit you can just pop it back in the mail and get a refund.

I spent $90 on 9 items. I love 6 of the items, like one and don't like or can't wear two of the items. If I was in the States I would have just returned the two items I didn't like for a refund. Now, I'm just going to try and sell them on a local flea market page.

Another thing I really liked it that everything came freshly washed and packaged well. I could literally wear everything straight out of the box. You could smell the scent of fresh washed clothes.

Now, for the goodies:

I ordered this lovely red jacket from Stile Benetton. It came new with tags.

This Forever 21 dress was around $3 and was also new with tags.

I really liked this Stile Benetton blouse, also new with tags at $10.

I thought this Daisy Fuentes top had black beading around the collar, but it turns out to be reflective pieces. I think I actually like it better.

 

 

 

I snagged this Calvin Klein top for less than $10. I wore it my office party today with a black cardigan and loved it.

I really really like this dress and it was one of my favorites when I ordered. However, it is WAY too short on the sides. The back and front are fine but for some reason the sides are cut really high. I tried it on with my jeans but it's too long for a top. I think it's okay paired with leggings though.

 

 

This next dress is NO-GO! It turned out to be statue of liberty green and hangs terribly. If I keep it it'll be for a Halloween costume.

 

 

I wore this dress already. My husband was Santa Claus for my school party and I wore this to look a little "elfish" . I'm half and half on whether or not to keep it.

I LOVED this dress. It wasn't new with tags but it looks new. Best part? It was originally $60 and I got it for less than $10.

 

 

Which item is your favorite?

 

Thredup has a great referral program. If you sign up through one of my links, then we both get $10 off when you place your first order. CLICK HERE. They've also been good about sending me coupon codes throughout the year, both through the mail and in my inbox.



01 02 12