Crunchy bagels...

     While flying over, "the first thing I'll eat" scrolled through my mind as often as my neighbor shifted next to me. I thought of hummus, celery, dinosaur kale, pink lady apples, organic freshly ground almond butter...the first thing I had was a freshly foraged meal my mom concocted. My first day, that surprising evening, my mom prepared a completely vegan meal! Coincidence eh!
     That day she foraged and went mushroom hunting and with some herbs from her garden she made a mushy dish packed with both texture and flavor. She also made a multi-veggie and nutty barley fry (huzzuh Mom!) and she also made fresh kimchi. So my first meal was a foraged and local one...hell yea mom. Bad news...this vegan here has not a picture to tease you with. Maybe my brother snuck one....anyways here is something else I've eaten.
     I don't eat a lot of bread, I really barely ever do but with it's availability in the states...I nommed on a whole-wheat bagel (or two).
     Bagel half numero uno was organic smooth peanut butter (with cinnamon swirled in), organic local grape and raspberry jam, and oven roasted tamari sunflower seeds! (yumm!)

photo taken by VeganBeats

     Bagel half numero dos was homemade garlic and chive hummus, sliced avocado, and organic romaine lettuce. I dribbled on some sriracha and munched gleefully!

photo taken by VeganBeats

     crunchy, nummy, goodness!!

Christmas Eve and peppermint pudding pie

     My dad, mom, and brother were all about the secret V, they didn't tell anyone that I was wandering in this time zone so my godparents hadn't a clue that I was hiding in the basement while they prepped for church going.
     Every Christmas eve, since I can't recall (even in the slightest degree) my godparents have shared holiday celebrations with my immediate family and myself. Last year was the first one I didn't attend. The evening usually plays out in this order...they arrive, we all kick it, nom or whatever, open presents, people eat desert, then we play games until no one an keep an eye open. I don't care how dweeby I sound, but video games and goofing around is something I love, I fully embrace video game culture and ribbing one another over some 3D interactive game show. Why watch jeopardy when you can be doing it yourself right?
     My dad and I were chatting when the doorbell rang and all army style I crawled like a lynx to my basement...they all got gussied up and went to church and when they came back I strolled down the stairs. More hugs, lots of love and...ahh the embracing squeezes...I may be bruising these ribs of mine but it is hella worth it. It felt like I never left, we all eased into our routine but with a cheeky rosiness now, so much positivity!

O_o# (photo taken by VeganBeats)

pressies pressies pressies!!! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     While opening presents, Alex and I went to the kitchen to create a rich dessert together. I want all kitchen play to be in my hands (does that sound slightly demanding) and my brother was kind enough to let me play baker. He being a full-fledge mint-man and a self-reserved choco-holic, we created a super peppermint chocolate cream pie. It wasn't vegan but it was nearly from scratch...in terms of Attleboro.

ready, set, finish (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     While my brother made the chocolate pudding and crushed peppermint, I made the whip cream. It was fresh and as local as you can get in this tiny town but..I won't even bother defending myself on this. I added peppermint powder (freshly powderized!) and confectionary sugar to the cream and went a whipping. The smell of mint entered our nostrils and even though I'm not a mint girl...it smelt yummy!

photo taken by VeganBeats

     Luckily I picked up some fresh mint from a local store and with all these peppermint candies littering our home, Alex let me decorate and what came to be was a heavily loaded cream pie with chocolate dusted on it's snowy peaks. 

photo taken by VeganBeats)

whoa (photo taken by VeganBeats)

photo taken by VeganBeats

     We got rave responses and Alex seemed thoroughly content with the minty-ness. A vegan version is on the checklist!

US day 1: getting gas and baking cookies...

     My brother owns a camaro, a stupidly sexy and aesthetically teasing vehicle that...I want. I am not a fan of Transformers but that car was featured and it's damned sexy so a while back when my brother sent me pics of his "new car" my heart grew hot with excitement for him and this new part of his life, and with envy. Anyways...the day began with a trip to fuel up this car of his and it turned into a chain of visits and more surprising!
     First we drove to our old high-school and met up with old teachers, familiar faces, and old classmates. This was so much fun because...as much as high-school may be behind me, there's this slight hankering to trek the hallways and rock that uniform.
     After this we drove off to the oldest friends we've got. This family is our second family, there are three children (adults) that we grew up with and of course their parents that hold a big part of our hearts. I haven't seen Nichole since I left for Korea and seeing her was beyond wonderful! She's getting married in a year and though brief, we caught up and everything felt like not an hour has passed. I can't WAIT to be a part of her wedding!

89 cent slushies...bring on the corny syrup (photo taken by VeganBeats)

photo taken by VeganBeats

     I'm still snap happy and have been clicking pics left and right...sorting through all of them is a bit overwhelming but..how much love do I got eh?!

smilin bro (photo taken by VeganBeats)

text (photo taken by VeganBeats)

drive (photo taken by VeganBeats)

photo taken by VeganBeats

warning (photo taken by VeganBeats)

highway skies (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Next we went to my old workplace, Newbury Comics. Seriously the best place I've ever "worked" for. Granted I never brought home money (I kept using my paycheck to rack up cd's and albums) but I had a blast. All day all of us would kick it, listen to music, goof around, just have a rockin' good time. Man...Newbury~
     Turns out everyone I worked with got relocated to a different store, so we drove the forty minutes there to see all of the original staff! I saw the guys that hired me, the people I used to squiggle with...
Such a busy and fun first day....and it keeps getting better!
     We closed the evening with the rest of that family friends crew we got. I surprised them by tucking away into my jacket and just chilled. Again, the love and the beats not missing have been sugar coating this trip.

     In the theme of sugar I got home late and decided to take full advantage of my parent's oven...within hours I had "conceived" hundred(s) of sweet delicious things.

coconut chocolate chip almond walnut cookies (photo taken by VeganBeats)

orange cinnamon gazed shortbread sugar cookies (photo taken by VeganBeats)

walnut apricot choco-coconutty bar (photo taken by VeganBeats)

no recipe...VeganBeating kitchen play (photo taken by VeganBeats)

vegan tollhouse (photo taken by VeganBeats)

What have I been doing without an oven? Seoul~ help me out, gimme a big oven not this silly toaster oven jazz...you aren't fooling anyone.

There will be a post dedicated to Binger...that glorious pig of mine that brings me so much joy and child-like giddiness!!

I am a guinea pig...a heart with limbs.

My US surprise~

     I've been kicking it stateside over this vacation, weeks ago when thinking about Thailand and other exotic spots it hit me that I really miss my family. Not so much the states but the people, those that I genuinely and whole-heartedly love and wander these parts. I had a whole plan set up in order to truly "present" myself to my family.
     I booked a flight from Seoul to Narita, then onto Detroit and finally Logan airport. When getting to Logan I sprinted (and got more than confused) in South Station and buzzed via train to my town...still 3 miles to go. I walked about two miles until I hitch-hiked the last mile. Being in Seoul, Im used to the luxuries of a taxi being available at all times...this detail I forgot and my bag weighed a lot more than me and...we'll just say my arms are slightly achey still. I army-crawled to the front of my house and rang the doorbell with aggressive vigor...there were some panicky noises coming from my house and when my mom whipped the door open I stood there, grinning like a cheshire while both my parents screamed and wrapped me into their loving embraces! Within minutes my brother came home and I hid upstairs. He was talking to my parents about nothing in particular and I finished his sentence. It took him a bit to realize that I was giving him a hug...

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

dried persimmons (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I've already snapped a lot of pictures so...a photo bomb may very well be happening!

Currently I'm kicking it in Vermont~ ugh...how happy can this veganlady be??!!

Just Before I Fly Out~

'Oh Christmas tree..." photo taken by VeganBeats)

     In a matter of hours I'll be leaving this city (but only for a short time), and as excited as I am (SO much so) I'm aware that I will slightly miss the milky-rice wine dancing "houses" full of friends laughing and trying to keep cozy. Over the past week the layers have upped a notch, the bundling has increased, and the yippy soundtracked-scurries into anything roomed and with a door has become a manipulated frogger game.
     Christmas is so close, the holiday season is thickly hanging in the air...I'm milking it! I'll be back rather soon, and then I will cozy up with a friend next to a space-heater.

For no reason in particular, I'm adding some new photos I've played with...ah this camera, where have I been without it?

city street, 강남 (photo taken by veganBeats)

the slowest stampede (photo taken by VeganBeats)

photo taken by VeganBeats

Talk to all of y'all soon!~

loads of love^^*!~

Local Hard cider in Noksapyeong!

     I'm still trying to catch up~

     The other week Chris was kind enough to bring some of us to a tiny bar where they were selling homemade alcoholic cider! When hearing this, my sternum literally jumped to my chin, VERMONT! Does anyone know of Woodchuck cider?
     Woodchuck cider is brewed in Middlebury, Vermont and offers a wide range of flavors, from the original apple to pear, raspberry, granny smith, etc. It's a hard cider (in case you missed that) and it's more than yummy. I remember grabbing this stuff when to knock back on hot summer days. Ahhh Vermont...
     Anyways, hearing that hard cider was going to be around got me pumped and with David, Pol, and Chris~ we went for a little brewed tasting^^!~

all lit up and stuff (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     There were two different kinds brewed, a sweet cider and a dry. They both were delicious, bubbly, apple-y and got me running through the orchids of Vermont. I found myself doing that slow eye-closing deep breathe post-sip~ you know, commercial like! There are rumors that this cider will be available at Maloney's!

     Chris also got some local brew made from a buddy of his...ahhh Vermont, are you coming to Seoul?

American I.P.A ughhhh (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I have more pictures for sure, but they'll grace my pages maybe sometime later.

Oh, Christmas, you sneaky pickle, you're coming close aren't ya?

French Horn Rebellion~

The people dancing on stage!!! That's my buddy Todde and myself!!!

Sorae Villiage Christmas Market

     Last weekend I met up with some wonderful friends (I'm loving this trend) and we trucked it over to the Christmas market that was happening in Sorae villiage. Sorae villiage is the French district in Seoul and is honestly a strip loaded with cafes, bakeries, French cuisine, and is thoroughly dusted with the French language. It's super cute, I recommend just checking the area out!
     The market was quaint, there were lots of tables and foodie items all over the place. Sadly there wasn't much on the Vegan front (Aliensdayout, let's collaborate)! They had everything from wine (^^*), breads, cakes, bindaeddeok (빈대떡), crepes, hot chocolate...ahhh I'll just lay the porn on you~

starry wine (photo taken by VeganBeats)

more vino!!! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

빈대떡 (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The hot chocolate was made with dark chocolate chips and...butter. ugh~ 

hot chocolate (photo taken by VeganBeats)

all sorts of tinned items (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     There was a table LOADED with beautifully dressed pastries and warm crusty breads but...vegan lacks and wallet demanding...my eyes can gorge though right? (I mean, what's porn for!)

look at all that bakey jazz! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

photo taken by VeganBeats

Christmas logs! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

cheesy breads (photo taken by VeganBeats)

decadent (photo taken by VeganBeats)

lemon tarts (photo taken by VeganBeats)

"so good" and the model's gorgeous too! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

Christmas decoration! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

olive oil (photo taken by VeganBeats)

not vegan )O: (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     It was mighty cold so we wandered into a small cafe where we sipped on hot coffees and Mipa gifted us with some BEAUTIFUL treats from her bakeshop. Check it out~ buy buy buy!!!

ginger coconut muffins and Boozy Christmas Fruitcake (photo taken by VeganBeats)

hand-dripped coffee..ughhhh (photo taken by VeganBeats)

cute! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

It's around the bend...and these treats wrap it kindly~

photo taken by VeganBeats

Christmas is LESS THAN a week AWAY!!!

Make sure to get some DELICIOUS vegan treats from aliensbakeshop.com If you get some now, you may have time to order another batch of noms (because you may just eat it all prior to gift wrapping!!