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SEOUL ADVENTURE

Published by Jessica Moy

The dream of travelling to Seoul, South Korea has come true. Is this real life? Last weekend my best friend Emily and I met in Seoul to discover the city that features an abundance of palaces, food, shopping and is also a place that has a population of 10,000,000. Yup. 10 MILLION!

One of our first stops was to Changgyeonggung Palace, located smack dab in the heart of Seoul. The palace was built by the 4th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty for his retiring father AND served as residence for queens and concubines. There is also an enormous garden in the back but we didn’t have time to see it. 😦 Next time.

Watch my Seoul Adventure vlog below! Among sightseeing, we also went to a psychic, hung out at a dog cafe, raved in Gangnam and ate way too much street food.

After an eventful weekend, we took the KTX train back to Busan. It felt good to be home since Busan is less congested, and I missed the beach (below = Haeundae). You just can’t get this sight in Seoul.

I also took Emily to work with me on Monday morning where she captured the photo of me below in my school hallway.

In my intro class, I had student’s write their English name on a tag. Some didn’t have an English name so they named themselves after movie characters such as Cinderella, Elsa, Olaf, Donkey (my fav), Fiona, Ariel, etc. Let your freak flags fly my darlings.

I still can’t believe I’ve been here for almost a month. TIME IS GOING BY TOO FAST!

GOLD COLLAGEN LIP & EYE MASKS

Published by Jessica Moy

I’ve been in Busan, South Korea for almost a month. HOW CRAZY IS THAT?!

Among the bustle that continues to be my life, I took today off to pamper myself with Spa Splurge Collection’s Gold Collagen Under Eye Mask & Lip Mask.

These lip and eye masks work to diminish fine lines and moisturize the areas where they are placed. Both are made with ingredients such as rose oil, vitamin E and gold powder (OoOoO). If I were to compare how they feel I’d say, like a slippery fish out of water.. that’s the best description I can give, you’d understand if you felt them.

Both masks have a light, fresh scent and easy to apply under eyes and on lips. They felt snug when applied but I ended up lying down since they slowly slipped away as I moved. The masks felt GLORIOUS on my skin, the collagen immediately worked to make my under eyes and lips feel smoother. After 20 minutes I took both masks off. I could feel my lips and under eyes become tighter and the areas looked shiner.

Overall, I’d say the masks are a nice treat. I would recommend these gold collagen masks to anyone who wants to try a cool, innovative beauty item or perhaps those who travel and want to rejuvenate on an airplane or hotel room.

A box of four eye masks and lip masks ring in at $18 each, and you can purchase online at Spa Splurge Collection where a portion of proceeds will supply hygiene related products to children in need all over the world!

I wasn’t going to add a photo of me using the masks but what kind of beauty writer would I be if I didn’t?

Side note: If you’re feeling adventurous, Spa Splurge also makes Gold Collagen Breasts Masks. I’m not the only one who would want to try, right..

MY FIRST APARTMENT

Published by Jessica Moy

IS THIS HOW YOU ADULT?!

I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since I moved into my first apartment. I’ve been feeling ecstatic and overwhelmed but incredibly happy to live in a place that is comfortable, spacious, and has way too many beauty products in the bathroom. I don’t have a shower mat nor proper plates to eat from, but I do have two cleansers, three face masks, and five moisturizers cluttering the bathroom cabinet. #priorities

Speaking of beauty products, South Korea is the EPICENTRE of beauty. Every third store on any main street is either The Face Shop, Etude, Skinfood, The Body Shop, etc. It’s beauty heaven. The day after I moved in I went into The Face Shop and bought Chia Seed Hydrating Emulsion. The store employee (bless her soul) did not speak a word of English but knew by looking at my face that I had extremely dry skin. She threw what I needed in a bag, took a hand full of free samples, chucked those in and smiled as I left. Love her.

I’m nestled in one of the oldest, most charming areas in Busan, South Korea. There are mountains EVERYWHERE (South Korea is made up of 70% mountain), a hiking trail just outside my doorstep, the ocean is 20 minutes away, subway/bus fares are cheap, and there are a plethora of coffee and food options. Like, so much coffee. I had no idea South Korea was a coffee giant. Not complaining.

I can’t write a blog post and not mention the school where I am teaching English. I’ve been a little nervous standing in front of the classroom (all eyes on me, no pressure) but leading lessons and getting to talk one-on-one with the students has been THE BEST! My students (who are all lovely young ladies) are bright, charismatic and say “hello teacher!” any chance they get in the hallway.

I already feel at home.

Watch me attempt to be an adult in my vlog below. There’s definitely struggle that comes along with moving into your first apartment, especially when everything you do and everyone you speak to = NON ENGLISH (shopping, public transit, etc). I’ve gained all the adaption, survival, and communication points. ALL OF THEM!

EPIK ORIENTATION

Published by Jessica Moy

I’M ALIVE!

This post is dedicated to my mom who has been wondering why I haven’t written a blog post in a week. As she is one of my three dedicated readers, I thought I would get on top of it and post a life update. Here we go..

I left Toronto, Canada on February 17, arrived in Seoul, South Korea on February 18, and transferred to Busan, South Korea that evening. The plane ride was quite comfortable, but I did get a little stir crazy around the 12 hour mark.. it was a 15 hour flight total. To pass the time away I read Amy Poehler’s “Yes Please” (I recommend) and watched Aladdin, Goosebumps and a couple episodes of Friends. I attempted to sleep, but who can actually sleep on an airplane? You’re a bionic human of some sort if you can.

I stayed at the Busan University of Foreign Studies for a week to attend EPIK orientation. More on that subject in my vlog below. 😉

This is the wonderful view I got to see every single day.

We had a field trip to Haeundae Beach which was wonderful. It is February and we were all in t-shirts, frolicking on the beach. The 1.5 km long beach is apparently jam packed when the weather gets warmer. I live a little more south from Haeundae, and there is a smaller less congested beach that is a 20 minute subway ride away. I haven’t been yet, but will make my way there soon!

For lunch that day I had bibimbap, a Korean dish that consists of rice and veggies with a couple side dishes. I didn’t know what some food items were on my plate but, one thing I have learned while travelling Asia is never question what you eat. More often than not, you don’t want to know.

The boardwalk at Haeundae was gorgeous! I can see myself enjoying walks around Haeundae rather than the beach itself.

Oh yes, you know what time it is.. MY FIRST VLOG IN SOUTH KOREA! Enjoy!

A side note for my MOM, I’m eating and sleeping well.. please send maple syrup, All Dressed chips, the part that attaches to the bottom of a camera when placing it on a tripod (I forgot mine..), and more international adapters. K THANKS!

PEACE OUT CANADA

Published by Jessica Moy

I move to Busan, South Korea this week. How crazy is my life right now..

I could go on and on about about the importance of chasing after your dreams and finding yourself from outside your comfort zone but, that’s boring and frankly, you already know that mumbo jumbo.

As a result, I edited a video of all my favourite vlogging moments since I started in April 2015 to remind myself of the amazing friends and family I have back in Canada and the importance of diving head first into new opportunities.. this could be the best damn thing I ever do for myself.

SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD!

PARIS, FRANCE

Published by Jessica Moy

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY FRIENDS! What better way to celebrate than with reminiscing about the time earlier this year I went to the city of loooooooove.

Of course Lucerne, Switzerland was breathtaking but Paris.. oh my god. Paris redefines beauty. To give you a little bit of a backstory of why I went to Paris, a couple years ago I bought a journal at Target and it features a pretty girl dressed in white, standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. When I saw it I told myself one day that girl will be me! I was going through a rough patch at this time in my life so it gave me a little bit of hope that I’m not always going to be stuck in a small suburban bubble forever.

The below photo is me recreating the image from the journal. It reminds me that inspiration can come from anywhere, who knew a $9.99 notebook from Target would spark big plans.

After floating on cloud nine from touring around the Eiffel Tower, I made my way to the Louvre. There was no time to walk inside, so I simply admired the architecture.

You can’t go to Paris without having a couple croissants, eclairs, and dodging the traffic in the city. People drive wherever they please, especially near the Arc Du Triomphe, which is placed in a middle of a roundabout and the French drive around it like it’s the Indie 500.

For those who don’t know, the arch honours those who fought for France and engraved on the inside and at the top of the arch are all of the names of the generals and wars fought. The details are absolutely beautiful.

I’d like to think the below castle will be my home one day. Parisian city streets are romantic, rustic, and just oh so perfect. I fell in love with Paris and it took great care of me.

I’m so sad. This is the last vlog and blog post about my Eurotrip. I hope you enjoyed my adventures and it inspires you to get up and do some traveling on your own!

Below are the only souvenirs I bought on my trip. It’s not a lot since most of my money went toward food.

I got myself a pen from Prague, gold pretzel heart ring from Vienna, Swarovski ring from Lucerne, leather bookmark from Florence, and a glass jewelry holder from Krakow.

#TreatYourself

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND

Published by Jessica Moy

After our wonderful week in Italy, Switzerland was the next destination on our itinerary. The Swiss mountains weren’t the only thing that were high.. ok calm down this isn’t Amsterdam, I was referring to the food prices. They were ridiculous! For instance, I spent $35CDN on a serving of mac & cheese at a local bar. I don’t care if it was the best mac & cheese I’ve ever had with caramelized onions, apple slices and potato. That -ish broke the bank.

Lucerne, Switzerland is absolutely beautiful. If you end up in visiting this scenic city I recommend going up 7,000 feet to the top of Mt. Pilatus. I went with 35 or so Australians who have never seen snow before and as a Canadian, it was a special moment to see them all run outside in excitement. The girls immediately started making snow angels and all the guys wanted to do was pee on the snow and take a picture of it. So.

It took a gondola lift and cable car to get to the top of Mt Pilatus where you can see a panorama of 73 breathtaking alpine peaks. If you’re lucky you’ll see a pretty birdie perched ever so still, long enough for you to take a picture of it.

The city of Lucerne is stunning. If you go, you must cross Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden bridge in Switzerland dating back to the middle of the 14th century. In 1993 two thirds of the bridge was destroyed by a fire (apparently due to a cigarette) but within a year the bridge was restored.

Lucerne, Switzerland is seriously picture perfect and I can’t wait to go back one day with more cash in my wallet to afford all of their yummy food (lol).

5 DATING TIPS TO CONSIDER OR WHATEVER

Published by Jessica Moy

Valentine’s Day is approaching and whether you’re a bitter Betty or look forward to receiving edible underwear from your last minute desperate-times-calls-for-desperate-measures Tinder date, the commercial day of love is going to happen, whether you like it or not.

It’s been awhile since I’ve written an advice post and thought I’d give my five cents when it comes to love and relationships. First thing you should know, never come to me for dating advice. You’re probably wondering, why the heck am I reading this post then? I don’t know, you chose to be here (I’m thankful for it, love you, please don’t leave me). When it comes to sage advice, I provide insight when it comes to how to sweet talk your way to floor seats at a concert, how to use chopsticks without offending your ancestors, and (my specialty) how to look like you have your life together when you really do not.. but when it comes to “Jessica what should I do if the guy I met on Tinder who I’ve been ‘seeing’ for two months isn’t returning my texts, and on Instagram it looks like he’s into some blonde bimbo named Christie.” My response will likely be me rolling my eyes and telling you, “I don’t know.. watch Netflix, eat an entire bag of two bite brownies and get over it.” Or if I’m feeling rebellious, “I’m sorry about your situation, wanna go egg his car?”

As you can see, my dating advice either has you gaining 5lbs or running from the cops.

So, why am I going to provide you five tips on dating? Because it’s nearing Valentine’s Day and thought I’d give insight on my own dating experience that you can learn from. You’re welcome, I guess?

5 DATING TIPS TO CONSIDER OR WHATEVER:

1. Never have expectations, ever

Don’t be the person who hears wedding bells the first time you meet someone that doesn’t hate you. When we’re beginning to get to know a person and his perfect hair has you swooning, we want to imagine where this is going. Before you get ahead of yourself, I’ve learned if you don’t have expectations, you’re never disappointed. Don’t expect them to text back, open doors, tell you you’re beautiful or laugh at your jokes that aren’t funny. If they liiiikkkkee you, they’ll do it automatically without you expecting or having to remind them. I learned this when a few of my dates either never showed up (LOL!) or canceled super last minute. If mama raised him right, he’ll sweep you off your feet in the best way possible, no expectations necessary.

2. Don’t let the first date turn into a frat party

Sometimes the date isn’t going well so we turn to our friend Jack Daniel for liquid courage. Hey now. You’re better than that. Have one drink. ONE. Unless this is strictly a booty thang then, you do you. Meeting for a drink is the most common way guys ask me out but if he can’t commit to a REAL date, like a meal or an activity such as bowling or ice skating.. don’t expect him to commit to you. Right? That’s how I see it. I usually agree to meet for drinks (there’s nothing wrong with it, I just don’t view it as a date) but I’ve learned over the past couple years that once you pass the point of no longer sober, it’s downhill from there. If you do slip up (this is a judgement free zone), get home safe and always give his number to a friend before you go, in case he kidnaps you.

3. Giving props is not the best way to end a date

At least this is what I’ve been told. For my own amusement, I give props after every first date just to see how he reacts. I also always ask what their second favourite vegetable is.. because it’s an hilarious question and I don’t ever expect (see point #1) for him to take me on a second date so, what do I have to lose? My dignity? HAHA, right..

4. There’s plenty of fish in the sea

What if you had to be with tuna for the rest of your life? Tuna tells you to change how you look, asks for money and flirts with girls right in front of you but, you settle because it’s safe and comfortable. What if a handsome salmon comes along and constantly compliments your smile and ambition. Or a charming beluga whale who buys you seaweed because he whimsically thought of you and knows you like them. Or a famous starfish who owns a yacht and wants to hold your hand to show the underwater world how proud he is to be with an amazing person like you. YOU DESERVE BETTER THAN TUNA!

5. Love is love is love is love

I told a guy I loved him once, he responded with, “I don’t feel the same, and I don’t think I ever will.” While he never reciprocated the feeling, I learned throughout my life that there is more than one type of love.

Love is complicated. It’s emotions, attachment, getting to know every single detail about a person, the placement of every freckle, embarrassing stories, what they like/dislike at McDonalds and then.. things change and you never talk to them again. As if they weren’t a big part of your life for a long time (woah, we just got real). Love is a topic I am nowhere near an expert in but I do know there are people in your life who DO care, are proud and want nothing less than for you to be happy.

This is advice I’m going to preach to you, and my future daughter one day: The most important person to love, is yourself. Cue cheesy music and let the cliches rain. Shush for a second. Self-love is important. Love how strong you are. Love your quirks. Love your ambition and the fact that you’ve failed many times but never, ever gave up. Love your thunder thighs. Love the fact that you work hard and knew the moment you needed a break (because you care about your well-being) you watched the full second season of The Mindy Project to relax. Dating is not the only form of love, and once you realize that you’ll understand that there’s more to life than crying over boys who never reciprocated the endorphins you once felt. This Valentine’s Day, do something good for you. Treat yourself to a bubble bath and a healthy homemade dinner. You’re a good time! Enjoy your own company! Plus you can count on yourself to always show up and know exactly what you want. 😉

Jessica

VENICE, ROME, FLORENCE ITALY

Published by Jessica Moy

CIAO! Happy Friday ya’ll. I’m coming at you with some of the highlights of my trip to Italy, one of my favourite countries I visited in Europe.

First stop was Venice, Italy. We went to Venice the morning after New Years Eve in Ljubljana, Slovenia so hardly anyone was awake to appreciate the sinking city any time before noon. However, the endless amounts of gelato, pizza and pasta was a hangover blessing.

After we filled our bellies with delicious Italian delicacies we participated in a gondola tour, a super touristy attraction but WHEN IN VENICE! I asked our gondola driver (rower?) to serenade us but he shut that down real quick. He also shouted at us to not move or else we’ll tip over. Not at all like how I pictured a lovely gondola ride in Venice but it was pretty while it lasted.

After Venice, it was off to Roma. We went on a beautiful lookout of the Roman Forum, which is situated between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum. Three thousand years ago it was the social and political epicentre. It is a place where Julius Caesar was cremated and if you look down at the narrow roads you’ll see indented marks where chariots once glided through the city.

This was the Times Square of Rome filled with markets and people bustling around from building to building. However, during the Middle Ages, the Roman Forum fell into a state of ruin and was abandoned. It’s spectacular how much was preserved.

The next morning we woke up super early (6AM early) to see the sun rise above the Colosseum. You need to put this on your check-list of things to do while in Rome. The sun’s rays beamed from the open windows and glistened the surrounding area. The Colosseum is EPIC! It’s so much bigger than what I ever thought in my mind. It was such a cool experience to be able to see a place you only learned about in history class.

Please note that if you ever want to go inside PURCHASE TICKETS BEFOREHAND! You will avoid the massive line up to get in.

The only souvenir I got from Italy was the 5 lbs added to my waist line. Gelato in Italy can be purchased anywhere and everywhere. I combined hazelnut and mint. Double scoop or don’t even bother.

It was a Sunday when we were exploring the city so we made our way to Vatican City to wave hello to Pope Francis. Around noon every Sunday he will appear from a window and say a prayer. #BLESSED (but actually tho..)

These bar soaps from Florence aren’t anything of importance. I simply liked the colours and they smelt amazing too. Hey, have you read my article on FASHION regarding finding the best bar soaps for your skin type? Click HERE to read! That self-promo..

Florence was my FAVOURITE city in Europe. IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL AND INSTAGRAM WORTHY IT MAKES ME WANT TO CRY! My favourite building in Florence was the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, as it was covered with a mix of pink, white, and green marble. So beautiful! You can even climb to the top of the dome for a few Euros.

You can’t go to Italy and NOT see the Leaning Tower of Pisa and giving high-fives to everyone posing for a picture of them holding the tower up. My record was giving six high-fives. So. There’s that.

If you’ve been to Italy, what was your favourite landmark to visit? And most importantly, what was the best gelato flavour you had?

LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

Published by Jessica Moy

Waking up on my last night in Budapest I felt like a new person. As I mentioned in my previous post I had a terrible cough but good sleep and a hot shower revived me! After we left beautiful Budapest we made our way to Slovenia’s capital city, Ljubljana [LUBE-LEE-AH-NA]. We only had 14 hours (including sleep) to spend in Ljubljana and what better date to spend one night than NEW YEARS EVE!

After dinner we walked to Castle Hill and hopped on a cable car which took us up to the Ljubljana Castle, which served as both a royal residence and a military barracks over the centuries.

The entire evening on New Years Eve was spectacular filled with live bands, an energetic crowd, and twinkling lights galore. At the town square we watched fireworks shoot beautifully from the castle and everywhere you walked thereafter, pyro shows lit up the sky, even as late as 4AM.

New Years Eve was one of my favourite nights while in Europe. It was invigorating to be in a city that was unfamiliar, make new friends, and celebrate the beginning of a new year. Cheers to 2016, may it be the best on yet!

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

Published by Jessica Moy

“My house in Budapest, my hidden treasure chest, golden grand piano, my beautiful Castillo you oooooh, you, oooooh, I’d leave it all.” Love me some George Ezra.

The drive from Krakow, Poland to Budapest, Hungary was a long one, around six hours with a stop in Slovakia for lunch. Eastern Europe is known for their slow service so if you sit down at any restaurant, expect to wait at least an hour for your food. I learned this the hard way.

When we finally arrived in Budapest it was evening time and the city was aglow. Our first sight was of Budapest Parliament, twinkling in all its glory.

The next morning I slept in, took my time to walk around the city, and SOMEHOW ended up finding a Cat Cafe. I obviously had to go in and pet all of the cute kitties. The one featured below is likely plotting my death since I stuck my camera in its face and took 100 selfies.

I then walked to Heroes’ Square where I had a fantastic view of an enormous ice rink and all the pretty architecture. The park behind Heroes’ Square was also beautiful and featured a mini zoo, plenty of gardens, markets and hot springs. I can only imagine would be wonderful it would be to walk through park during the summer and fall months.

I started to get a bad cough in Budapest so I didn’t explore much further than Heroes’ Square since the weather dropped down to freezing and all I wanted to do was cuddle up in a blanket and sleep off my illness. Although, despite my cough, I did go on a beer bike because beer cures coughs, right? No.. no it does not but, WHEN IN BUDAPEST!!

You can see that little excursion in my vlog below. Cheers!

KARLIE KLOSS INTERVIEWS BAD ASS WOMEN IN TECH

Published by Jessica Moy

Karlie Kloss, the six foot American supermodel who I am BFF’s with in my head (I’m also BFF’s with Selena Gomez and Wendy Williams) has created an inspiring YouTube video series I think you should see.

Karlie started her own YouTube channel “Klossy” last year, which has become an obsession of mine. I love watching her vlogs about her exciting life as a model and most recently, her interviews with five women who are “inspiring CEO’s, students and bad ass entrepreneurs in tech.”

She teamed up with ELLE UK to interview her first women in tech, Anne Wojcicki of 23andMe. Check it out below!

KRAKOW, POLAND

Published by Jessica Moy

Vienna, Austria was a magical place to spend Christmas evening and as much as I wanted to stay (re: live), I made my way to a place I never thought I’d ever travel to let alone fall in love with: Krakow, Poland.

The. Food. Was. Unbelievable. If I wasn’t eating perogies of all kinds, especially ones stuffed with blueberries and strawberries and topped with icing sugar, it was my fav. I also enjoyed dark chocolate drizzled on homemade waffles, pork & potatoes and grilled cheese & cranberry sauce (see pic below). Everything was seriously drool worthy.

I made my way to Wawel Castle, Poland’s version of London’s Buckingham Palace and West minster Abbey rolled into one. It is absolutely stunning.

The castle was built in the 14th century as a residence of Polish kings but in the 20th century it was taken into the hands of Nazi Governor General, Hans Frank, during the German occupation of WWII.

According to legend, before Wawel Castle was built it was a hill that housed a cave with a fire-breathing dragon. The dragon was known for terrorizing the city until Polish prince, Krakus, poisoned the dragon giving him a sheep filled with sulfur to eat. Prince Krakus was praised and as folklore goes, that’s how Krakow got its name. There’s a statue of the dragon outside Wawel Castle and miniature replicas in every souvenir shop within a ten mile radius.

While in Poland I had the opportunity to tour Auschwitz concentration camp. There are no words for how I felt after I walked through the place where 1,100,000 people were murdered. As hard as it was to walk through the camp, I do recommend visiting. You have to. It’s a place where you see for yourself how capable and powerful a single human can be when it comes to destruction and mutilation of others. It puts your own life into perspective and a reminder that we must educate ourselves and others on mistakes that have happened in the past or else we are doomed to repeat them. That is a statement I truly stand by.