Conversin' around~ Weekend of laughter and brilliance

     Where have I been? This past weekend has been another very positive roundup (if you can't see it, feel the smile on my face) My dropbox is getting a bit sassy and stubborn so I can't throw any pictorial evidence or support of the weekends adventures. )O:
     Friday started with a full day of work, oven dancing, and then actual dancing ^^* ..

conversin' (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Black Ilumin and Jkea Pains were preforming over at Phantom in Sinsa and I was fortunate enough to be extended an invitation! Both Jake (Jkea) and Black Ilumin are very talented artists, check them out! I've had both these artists on my radar for a while and getting to see and swivel to their music literally screamed at me....why have I not kicked it to their shows earlier?! They also have worked together and are named "Wisecrue" check their collaborations out too! 

     Saturday was Cinco de Mayo, and Vatos was hosting a fundraiser event for Children's day and the orphanage! I swung by around one and the place was PACKED! I'm still so overwhelmingly happy that they are doing so well! I baked a cake for them and it was rich! When dropbox figures it's issues out...I'll throw on a eye teaser and recipe!! From what I saw, a lot of donations were provided from several generous people! Diapers, baby wipes, formula~ hell yea community! 

     Around 7, my crew and I were lucky enough to get a table and spoil our tummies, taste buds, and livers with loads of fresh and delicious noms, gauntlets of drinks, and a slice of my cake!! A line was in constant existence outside Vatos' door and as always, Kenny, John, and Jeena were amazing! Eye teasers will also come around later!!

     Post Vatos, a skating after party was hit up! More dancing, more drinking, more smiling, loving, and laughing...then it was Sunday! Once again, the crew united at a friend's house where we were spoiled rotten with vegan chili, salsa, quesadillas, guacamole, mango vodka, etc...Vatos was still on the minds eh?! It was a perfect Sunday, the sun beat down on all of us while we shared stories, played boggle, and relaxed on a rooftop! The sun set and we parted ways...but today...another wonderful day!

     I spent the morning in nothing but great smiling spirits...then I taught my cutie of a student for two hours, came home, wrapped up lesson plans...and now...resting time. My dropbox hasn't uploaded anything for the past two hours...but I promise pictures. 

     Oh and random unrelated picture, a few weeks ago Melissa and I got together for a lazy porch Sunday and we got to some hair playing, well, she played and my locks became beauty~

photo taken by Melissa! 

The facts:

Jkea Pains Facebook page

Jkea Pains Soundcloud 

Black Ilumin Facebook page

Black Ilumin Soundcloud (listen to Liquis Poison...ughhhhhh)

Wisecrue Facebook page

Vatos website

Vatos Facebook page

AND while you're checking out all this GREAT stuff, check out my boy's beats~ (I'll write more about him later) but this is talent right here~~ 

LMFAO Seoul 2012

     This was another amazing, great, and party-rockin' weekend! My uncle's here, so we started it out with a reunion, caught up, exchanged idea,s kicked it...so good!
     Then Saturday night, Jaxs and I went to LMFAO! Give me all the crap you want, I will lovingly take it because I LOVE LMFAO. They pump me up, make me feel damned GREAT, get me moving, make me more efficient, and kicked off my very own Seoul tour.
     When I first got here...I kicked it a lot...A LOT in 홍대, usually at Gorilla, right! And the music that got my hips rockin'round were the very lickin'n lyrics of Red Foo and Sky Blu! These guys are having fun, partying out, and are confident! Naturally...super sexy, fun-busting, dancing, shuffling spreaders!
     This was the FIRST time they were hitting Seoul and when the rumor hit the facebook wave about three months ago...tickets were purchased on the get go. On the way to the show, Jaxs and I scrounged around to find something to throw back, yes liquor~ no shots and Party Rock? phbbbt....get with it!
We hit up 7Monkeys cafe and double fisted wine...ahhh, we're such classy women!

We'll have the house wine AND a sparkling...(photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I took a bunch of video, a load of photos...all whilst smiling like a dopey-eyed Disney princess, and 'put my ass to work.' Jaxs was awesome and got standing tickets and due to good'ol Korean organizational- sloppiness, we were caged into a section closer to the stage. Then we met up with a friend who helped us out even MORE and brought us to the closest section. I'm so glad I hit up the bathroom several times before this, I was so excited...well you get it!
     My crummy iPhone photos do no justice, neither do the video clips but..when I mean great show...GREAT SHOW!!! (I'm still right up there with Belle currently)

     Considering how frequently LMFAO's songs are played in EVERY club, I surprised that this is their first time!

photo taken by VeganBeats

     I'm sorry in advance for cutting the video, this Veganbeater had some shufflin' to do...deal with it~

photo taken by VeganBeats

    I expected a fun performance but more so due to the music, but these guys, the WHOLE crew was AWESOME! Such wonderful, fun, positive, performers....ugh~ I want to be on the Party Rock Crew~~~

     We all know one of the most popular songs flowing through Seoul's nights...read, get them shufflin' pants on~

     They played 'Champagne Showers' and literally showered the crowd in champagne...of course all the audience ducked down and protected their perfect hair and glow-sticks...I stood shaking around, mouth open~ I don't care how sticky and rank I'm going to be, plus...more champagne for me^^*

Shufflin' snow~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     Okay, so this is my only guilt I have about my love for LMFAO...I didn't know who they were for a whole year after partying to them! I found out who they were after seeing their music video...and falling in love with that. I remember kicking it with friends and on a widescreen were crews of men shaking their junk and being confident sexy guys...then, right then..I fell in love. Sure, seeing the gyrating pelvises of an all male crew was great (O;- but it was the confidence that these men had...zebra speedos, ridiculous bright attire, goofing around...instant love~ Know the video?

     Damn~ Red Foo (swoon~) They played this and true to their video, and confidence...they were in their skivvies and strong, confident, party rockin' shufflers~

     I don't what it is with my "taste", my mom gives me a LOT of crap for it, but I have serious celebrity crushes on some interesting looking dudes. Red Foo (ughhh), Justin Hawkins (ai ai ai ai), Robert Francis, Giuseppe Andrews...tangent abort...more poor pics of the sexy Party Crew, but mostly Red Foo~

I'm Sexy and I Know IT~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

chyea~ photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by Jaxs

wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle yeah~ photo taken by Jaxs

I work out~ photo taken by Jaxs

I'm Sexy and I KNOW IT~ photo taken by Jaxs

     Best show of the year, check..and I still, STILL Party Rockin, yes...
LMFAO cruised me snugly into Seoul, boosts my confidence and mood whenever I'm feeling a little low, makes my workouts more fun, my runs faster, my efficiency improves...my game face is ON when they are providing with a soundtrack...essentially, LMFAO is the garlic to my life~ (If my life was hummus...mmm)

photo taken by VeganBeats

Hongdae, kill me, love me~ you are my chocolate bar

     Beyond the realms of soju, crap beer, and all around inebriated debauchery, Hongdae is a place of positive (though pained) moments in my Seoul-ife. When I first got here, every weekend involved at least four hours in the Hongdae streets/ clubs/ park, etc kicking it with friends, guzzling coffees, rockin' hips, observing too many sweaty, pretty people. Hongdae is covered in clubs, littered in themed cafes, spotted with hofs and restaurants, and drenched in creative and artistic expression. Once you arrive in Hongdae, your liver prepares itself, while your brain exercises a bit more energy (must articulate a bit right), and you automatically accept that you will not be getting home anytime before 4am.
     I'm in a reminiscent place of being, as much as my head and sleep schedule tends to be hurting and hankering from Hongdae's grand influence~ it's got a bruised place in my cavity. It's has held a lot of positive events and experiences and has made some relationships either begin or grow a frazzled more-secure.
     This past weekend I revisited my dancing grounds, my old stomping place. It wasn't planned, but like candy and a child...denying the opportunity is near impossible. Hongdae started off early, Pol, David, Chris, and I chilled in a darkly lit bar and watched an amazing concert DVD, we all could have stayed watching it all night...but we had to rally out. (Check out Fishmans, A Piece of Future).
     Next was a self-service bar where more friends joined, wines and beers swallowed, and somehow in that swill, a club was decided upon...and where else would we go but Gorillas, right?! Now, I realize and recognize when it comes to a classy club, this one doesn't make it to the top (throw in any number) but it's where my club Seoul began.
     Gorilla has three different club/bar venues, the original Papa Gorilla >.<#, Mama Gorilla, and Big Baby Gorilla, we all went to Big Baby and the location is a bit jarring. It's in a garage! The crowds pretty young, music is the same (at all three), dancing is a plenty, drinks are cheap (though they were weak this time around), I felt out of place...I felt old...but all I needed was to dance. Buckets, shaking, laughing, and hours later...I found myself on the subway home this morning at 6:30...Hongdae, you always do this!

Ooh~ but this time I around, I left with three new changes...

green eyes~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

blue eyes~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

purple eyes (photo taken by VeganBeats)

make up playing (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Hungover Sunday was make up playing and some baking...check it out!

coconut vanilla muffins (photo taken by VeganBeats)

matcha coconut almond muffins (photo taken by veganBeats)

     These are both coconut vanilla and cinnamon muffins, the one on top is almond and the other is matcha almond~

    

Discovering 서울. a night of sponteneity...

      The evenings of and weekends of doing the same routine things have become too expected and readily assumed...so earlier this week while kicking it with the crew we threw out the idea to write a bunch of random places throughout Korea and pick one of thesenames out of a hat and devote a night to exploring that area. Last night was trial one of "Out of Hat Picking!"

     Met up with Brian, Jaxs, Stephanie, Patricia, James and some other people in 수유 and hit up a tiny corner noodle shop for some food and makali (sigh)....
I got the 비빔극수, which is spicey noodles, some veggies and a spicey sauce made of gochujang...

cucumber and 김!!! love love love
photo taken by VeganBeats

 The woman owning the place was so kind and made a lot of the stuff there, except the pickled turnip. She motioned to me making the 김치 herself, super good stuff too. There was no fish or shrimp in it either, the owner's friend spoke English and helped translated some of my concerns...

the noodle shop sign!!
photo taken by VeganBeats

 I will definately go here again, the place was small and cozy and intimate! They let us bring in makali and other stuff and were so generous with providing lots of yummy 김치!!

After nomming we ran over to Raccoon bar, and it was really cute. The bar was small and intimate and it was cozy in there...
It was so cold outside...cozy bar with sweet music and this adorable sign...

"For humans only"
photo taken by VeganBeats

 After playing in 수유 for a bit we did the hat picking!!

JAMSIL! (참실) so onto the subway and travelling for adventure....

photo taken by VeganBeats

 Jaxs looks so bored all the way on the other side of the car...)O:

)O:
photo taken by VeganBeats

 IT was freezing outside...but we met up with some more wonderful Seouls...and went to Lotte World into a local brewery...We got a TUBE of microbrewed beer (not for me) and sat in a carriage...

준, Patricia, Stephanie, Brian, James, Jaxs,and Ricky
photo taken by VeganBeats

After the tube we went to Gold Bar (준 was friends with the owner) and well...found a new spot that's got a great energy to it, a pool table (I GOT TO PLAY BILLIARDS!!!!), darts, etc etc etc...

We sat in the VIP lounge and I got to dance and (O:

LAter when the night was very much finished, we all went to norebang.....

Jamsil...I approve of your offers....thank you 서울.
I needed a new night....this week has been....T_T

Don't forget the Great Weekend....all smiles*!~ still....

T_T  It's been so long since I've last posted...so many issues this week...but none to let me lose sight of an AWESOME weekend...(I'm loving that the greatness of weekends is not getting old, and instead is a silver lined singing glowing glimmering consistency....knock on wood**)

Let's start with Friday...Midnight shopping happened in 동대문 with Jaxs, Patricia, Brian, and Meeyun. Haven't kicked it with Brian in a while, OR with Patricia so it was super nice to kick it with them and catch up.

The markets were filled with people and I set a goal for myself ot NOT spend any more money...so lots of window wander shopping for a couple hours...Brian had to get up early so left and the ladies and I went to 홍대 around 4am! We met up with Stephanie there, another wonderful fabulous Seoul*!~

We wandered the streets for a while and checked out a couple new clubs (new phbbbt), I forgot what the ones we went to were called.

Went to a HOF and got some persimmon soju...yumm*!~

photo taken by VeganBeats

It was super sweet, but so yummy ㅎㅎㅎ ended up getting another sojut o mix with this pitcher...only 8,000W!!!
At HOF's you have to order food, and they're rarely vegan but do come up with vegetarian possibilities, so Meeyun and Jaxs got this bad ass boat of fruit, ice cream and blueberry sauce....


aparently the icecream was "super good vanilla" ...why are you not soy green tea ice cream?!!!
photo taken by VeganBeats



The fruit was beautiful, and smelt wonderful....but it was a bit pricey...about 18,000W!!! I thoroughly enjoyed my persimmon soju though*!~

cheers to Soju*!~
photo taken by VeganBeats

So I ended up discovering some more places in 홍대 super early Saturday morning...and spent the day napping at Jaxs*!~

Around noon we met up with fellow Vegan George and galavanted around Gangnam to find some eats...we stumbled into about four places that just didn't understand Veganism...or veggies only please and found Sinpo Woori Mandoo! They had english on their menu and suprisingly a lot of Vegan and Veggie options*!~

Sinpo Woori Mandoo menu
photo by VeganBeats

George got the bibim-myun, which is bascially bibimbap with noodles as opposed to the rice fix...The noodles were thick buckwheat udon noodles, and the ingredients looked really fresh. I loved the mountain of veggies*!~

pre-mix, look at those veggies*!~ nom nom nom
photo taken by VeganBeats

 ...I love all the gochujang on this, and it looks so colorful and vibrant...I'm not a noodle girl, but I tried some of the veggies and they were crisp, fresh, and had a great snap to them!!! chyea*!~

post mix...(O:
photo taken by VeganBeats

I can't find a link to this place, but turns out through researching it is a chain place...I would def check this place out again, and maybe this time I'll be hungry.

I met up with my fam later at a Chinese place and needless to say I got pretty sick after...and the pics of the food are not what I want ot brag about at all....nothing like the Chinese glory I was spoiled with when I went last year...sigh::: China......

Anyways, after dinner with the family I kicked it back home to Junggye and then went back to 홍대, and to Gorilla!! I know I go often, but I do love it there...the beautiful Seouls*!~

A night of 진 mix drinks and kicking it with my ladies, Patricia, Jaxs, and Stephanie....lots of dancing, laughing, drinking (ai ai ai) and kicking it with good people.

Sunday I spent most of the day with a friend, walking around laughing and smiling....I'm loving my weekend...and so glad that it's Thursday...

The stress of my work is making the weekends so essential for my mental and emotional balance....

Thursday night...plans with the Jaxs, and then maybe...my go to again*!~

Finding new places, kicking it with good Seouls....another speedy weekend*!~

Another great and super speedy weekend....
I spent all of Saturday with my mom and it was GREAT ㅎㅎ We went to Gangnam first and met with some people and got treated to an AWESOME restuarant called Seven Springs. It's super green and all about organic and local, which was so great. The salad bar was spectacular....my vegan self was literally wiggling in excitment! There were sprouts, tons of lettuce greens (!!!!!!!!!!!!), beets (!!!), broccoli, cauliflour, asparagus, tons of olives, sweet pumpkin, lotus root, banchans, mmuk, etc etc etc...I love me some fresh organic veggies...

nom nom salad....
photo taken by VeganBeats

 I put a bunch of 거추장 on my salad....so basically I made bibimbop without rice...chyea!
They also had a coffee bar (had like 8 espressos), a beautiful dessert bar, nothing vegan but I can appreciate. Green tea chocolate chip cookies, green tea almond cake, red bean cookies, carrot cake, etc...they also had a pasta bar, seafood fiogoli, soybean alfredo, and a homemade sausage pasta...lots of things...
Turns out there's  a bunch of Seven Springs throughout Seoul...one in HONGDAE!!!

hmmm

After nomming with the mom we went to Dongdaemon and shopped around, caught up and were just girls together, it was really nice. I haven't been able to spend as much time with my mom as I would like...work so much )O: But I really appreciated this time with her. Seeing her home, where she grew up and seeing her glow with rememberance for some of these places is...beautiful!
We then went to Myeoungdong, a place where she used to go all the time as a young woman. She said she used to escape stress and pressures by wandering through this market, guess when my dad and her got married they shared a lot of dates here....(O:
     After a whole day of playing, walking, shopping and girling out, we parted ways and I met up with Stephanie...Hongdae again! Threw on a new outfit and met up with the ladies for a night out...once again, I cannot stress the love of my ladies!
     Stephanie, Jaxs, Myeon, Christine and I wandered into a HOF and got some makali...a couple bottles of it and kicked it ladies style. Our friends Ju-hee and Seoungeun met up with us later and then we scampered over to Gorilla. Another night of dancing, kicking it, and having fun....

again....the lack of sleep continues*!~

ㅎㅎㅎ when Stephanie and I woke up we played around Wangsimni a bit and found a teeny restaurant and I got some vegan soondubu  and she got some kimchi jiggae....

nothing like hot spicey soup to cure any and everything

kimchi jigae up top, banchan, then my soondubu
photo taken by VeganBeats

nommmmm
photo taken by VeganBeats

After filling our bellies with yummy spiceyness I got a personal tour of the Emart in Wangsimni....whoa ^^ overwhelming. Walmart has nothing on this place...it's MASSIVE first off and has just about anything you need, from brooms, to oranges, to lizards...and GIANT beatles.

Anyways, great weekend, great eats....and always, wonderful Seouls in my life....

Mom day, weekend...where did you go?

     This weekend FLEW by, before it started, it was over...
   So I'm realizing that MOFO is vegan month of food...and I'm kind of negelecting that, and have been for a bit...eeep*!~ ㅎㅎ
     This week I made some mmuk salad...there's an actual dish, (the one wls and I had) that I tried to make...lettuce, cabbage, onion, hot pepper and cucumber...yumm!! For some extra zap, I added some kimchi juice to it*!~

mmuk!!!
photo by VeganBeats

    This Saturday was Mom day!!
My mom is visiting Korea for a couple weeks and on top of my schedule and hers we were finally able to spend a day together...we met in the am at Anguk station and wandered a lot...taking pictures and sipping coffee, not to mention the day was GORGEOUS*!~

more pretty restaraunt area
photo taken by VeganBeats



more
photo taken by VeganBeats

Mom insisted we get a photo of me...lady in black*!~

dressed as dark as possible...I wish I wore some color in front of this area, it's so cute
photo taken by VeganBeats

   We stumbled into a cute bakery..nothing was vegan but everything looked so yummy! The smell was amazing, fresh baked sweet tarts and pies mixed with the salty yeasty breads, I don't like carbs but...if I did and wasn't living this lifestyle, I would have splurged!

close-up of the breads...I wish I could post the smell!
photo taken by VeganBeats

      And the cakes!! These were gorgeous, they all looked so delicate and...just cute!

photo taken by VeganBeats

    We wandered around and found the library...this is what's in front of the library!! Gorgeous! I would read here all day, and sleep under the trees, hear the water...my body hurts from how cute and tranquil this all looks!

photo taken by VeganBeats

also in front of the library
photo taken by VeganBeats

more in front of the library
photo taken by VeganBeats

 After a while we wandered through the more tourist-y part, as always tons of people wandering around, pushing, shoving, shopping...

I think that's a GIANT sugary ddoek!
photo taken by VeganBeats

    We eventually decided to walk to Dongdaemon market...we walked by the water and there was a lantern festival going on, I didn't take any pics of the lanterns...but this is my mom and I!

    Met up with my emo and Stephanie at Dongdaemon and bought some more stuff!!!ㅎㅎ I got a new jacket...punky cute and...Ahh I love it and a tank and new boots!!!
The crew and I had plans to go to Hongdae aand my plan was to go home change then meet up and wander to Hongdae, but it was getting late so...bought a new outfit at Dongdaemon (lame..yes, practical, yes.) I got two new jeans and a tank top...Stephanie and I parted ways with my mom and myemo, they had a sister date! And Stephanie and I went back to her place and got ready. I hadn't been home since 9 am!!!
     Anyways, another weekend in Hongdae! I really do love kicking it there...lots of things to do, lots of people, lots of bars, lots of clubs...I've never been a clubber or a bar person, but with a good crew, good Seouls, always fun and always a blast!
Stephanie and I bumped into Caroline and Liam, then went to Bau house...but it was closed )O:
     Bau house is a cafe with TONS of puppies and dogs just chillen. The owner has a bunch of dogs and they just wander int his cafe, you can buy treats and play with them...ahhh next time!
     We then wandered around just chillen and grabbed a coffee and talked.
I can't say it enough how much I LOVE girlfriends, the grounding and Seoul sisterhood...Stephanie, my heart sends more love than you imagine!
     Met up with Jaxs and Diane and met the rest of the crew at HO bar 2, different bar for a change....ehhh
     Then went to a club and listened to a cover band!! LOVED it, the band did some train and I listened to some Foo Fighters!!! I had a bit to drink and...well it doesn't matter, I LOVE the Foo Fighters...and since Ho bar I was pumped, and ready to dance!!
Stephanie and I went to papa Gorilla and as always, a wonderful evening! I love the crew there, it was great to kick it with them and it's such a fun environment. I mean I could definately do without the creepers but I love my friends there. (O:
     ~~The Gorilla crew works so much, I wish they didn't have to work weekends )O:
Anyways...in the morning I wandered to Veggie Holic (found out about it because of Alien's Day Out!!!
And this is the bounty I came home with

photo taken by VeganBeats

sweet potatoe bread
photo taken by VeganBeats

sweet roll
photo taken by VeganBeats

sweet pea filled cake (?)
photo taken by VeganBeats

An INSANE pastry..it was like a red bean filled and sweet pea filled jelly sandwich!
photo taken by VeganBeats

rasberry pastry!
photo taken by VeganBeats

another sweet pea pastry
photo taken by VeganBeats

Two different breads! The one on the left is black rasberry bread and on the right is sweet pumpkin!
photo taken by VeganBeats

     Not a bread girl, or dessert girl, but vegan baked goods, c'mon, and I was in Hongdae already, just got paid...ei ei ei

Anyways, just got home, took a hot shower....another week begins...

weekend, where did you go?