Buhay sa Korea

It wasn’t long ago when I bought my second digital camera. It took me several weeks searching and reading the internet for information on which camera to buy considering my needs and my budget. It’s really not easy to buy an “important” item if you’re not a millionaire!

Anyway, I chose my Canon Powershot for a number of reasons. First, I wanted something that is a “hybrid” - point and shoot with full manual controls. I wanted to learn photography someday and I thought that getting that camera would be best for me. The 8MP resolution and 6x zoom is great too. Plus the one I have is powered by two AA batteries and that’s very convenient. Most of all, I like the video capability of this camera, which is better than my sister’s Sony digital camera.

It’s truly not easy to buy a gadget. I loved my 4MP ultra-compact that I used for more than three years. It wasn’t easy finding something to replace it. Someday though, I’d like to get my hands on a DSLR camera.

If you’re having a hard time finding that perfect digital camera, try this Digital Cameras Buying Guide. I just remembered about the camera since it’s a Thursday, time for our weekly themed photo blog!

My mother will celebrate her 76th birthday on August 4. She was 42 when she gave birth to me. That’s two weeks from now and I haven’t decided on what to give her. I thought that I’ll send her a digital frame before but when I told her about it, she thought she might not be able to know how to use it. So now I’m thinking of getting her something more traditional, like gift baskets.

I made the “mistake” of visiting the website of GiftTree.com, which specializes in gifts! They have a list of beautiful gift baskets on their website that I’m now thinking of other occasions so I can buy more gifts from them. LOL!

I’m thinking of getting my mother one of those spa gift baskets since I think she deserves some pampering. I’m sure she’ll love the healing spa slippers (pictured). GiftTree is now one of my favorite sites.

I live in a country where you are almost always judged by how you look. I didn’t wear makeup whenever I go out before I came here. The women here are known for their “3 inches of make-up” but I know that I don’t have to put on that much or else I’ll look like a corpse. You won’t catch my mother-in-law nor my sisters-in-law out in the neighborhood convenience store without makeup. The first thing they do in the morning is wash their face and put on makeup, before they even prepare breakfast. My MIL would always complain to my husband before whenever I try to go out without putting on layers of sticky cosmetics on my face. LOL

Since I’m going back to school, I’m thinking of updating the cosmetics I use. My must-haves are Chanel lipstick and Lancome mascara. I’m starting to use local brands now as they are more economical since makeup expires and I always feel like wasting money when I have to throw them out before I even use them all up.

I am learning so much from this makeup guide that I’m pretty sure now of the things I need to buy.

I’ve tried “The Face Shop” and “Skin Food” products. Aside from them, I used “Hera” (endorsed by Kim Tae Hee and Jang Dong Gun), “Laneige” (used to be endorsed by Jeon Ji Hyun and now Song Hye Gyo) and IOPE (Lee Na Young of “Teach Me English”).

Last Saturday afternoon, my friends and I dropped by a new store in Myeongdong called “It’s Skin.” Their endorser is Erik Mun. What is it about some of these cosmetic shops that they use men as endorsers? “The Face Shop” has Kwon Sang Woo. Jang Dong Gun was once the face for “Missha”.

Erik Mun, a member of the boy group Shinhwa, has a drama currently running. It’s a historical drama titled “Chil-woo”. I saw the first two episodes last week but I forgot to watch this week.

We didn’t plan to shop at “It’s Skin.” We just happen to pass-by and we were attracted by the ongoing sale - 30% less on all purchases - on the store’s digital signage! We were given a trial pack of their cleansing cotton as we entered the store. The salesladies are expectedly nice, accomodating and helpful. The packaging of their products reminded me of Neutrogena and Strivectin. No pictures and lots of words.

I just bought two items that I need - eyebrow liner and dual eyeshadow. A girl can’t have too many eyeshadows in her collection, right? They should have totaled more than 9,000 won (USD 9) but because of the sale, I only paid 6,000 (USD 6) won something I got sample packs of their “Wrinkleless Eye Cream” and Jasmine Body Wash and Body Lotion. I tried the cleansing cloth that night and I truly truly liked it. I will go back for a bigger pack.

I finally got my books! I ordered 5 books through National Bookstore online sometime in March and they arrived at our home in Angeles City after 5 days. The books totaled 1,045 pesos plus 75 pesos shipping and handling. They are all authored by F. Sionil Jose. I discovered the author in 1999. You see, I majored in Accountancy and I attended a school that has mostly working students. Reading was not a requirement and books, unless they are textbooks, were considered luxury.

Anyway, I had a hard time looking for books by Filipino authors in bookstores in the Philippines. Ordering them online is easier. My sister sent the package on May 30 in Angeles City. It weighs 5 kilograms and she payed 1,115 pesos (about $25). In the box are my 5 books, board books for my son, a pair of jeans, a blouse, a dozen underwear, a blanket and two pairs of toddler pants. It took almost two weeks to arrive. The good thing is the box is complete.

Last November, I asked her to send me my winter jacket that I left in Ohio that was sent to the Philippines. Along with it are some other stuff that totaled 2 kilograms and cost 630 pesos in postage. Not bad.

If you miss something in the Philippines, it isn’t that expensive to have your things sent here through the post.

Skin Food is another popular cosmetics (화장품 - hwajangpum) shop in Korea. It’s a little bit pricier than The Face Shop but they do have better products, IMO. The company is endorsed by actress and former Fin KL member Sung Yu Ri. You may remember her from the drama “Snow Queen” where she played the role of Bora, Hyun Bin’s character’s love interest.

I prefer Skin Food’s Mushroom BB Cream ($12) better than The Face Shop’s Quick n Clean Oil Free BB Cream. I love its scent and it has SPF 20. I also like their White Grape powder pact ($12) in 23. When I last visited the store, I also bought their Grain cleansing foam (around $6), brown eyeliner and peach pink lipliner.

I really prefer The Face Shop’s freebies. They don’t give as much freebie in Skin Food but it’s okay. I get to experiment with their make-ups (but Laneige still wins with their trial make-up counter). I just love that these two stores sell not-so-pricey items. I need not worry even if our cabinet knobs are broken and my son constantly play with my things. Nope, he doesn’t put on my make-up but he likes to open and close my compact.

Have you ever been to The Face Shop? It is the cosmetics store endorsed by actor Kwon Sang Woo. Here in Korea, you can find The Face Shop in major shopping areas, subways (you read it right!) and hypermarts (good thing I haven’t seen them in furniture stores). I’m not really a big fan of their products, and most of the things that I have from them were given to me by my sister-in-law. What I usually buy from them are things like cotton, sponge, and brushes. I tried their oil free BB cream and I liked it, but I’m now using something better.

Last Friday afternoon, I went to The Face Shop and bought a sunblock cream for my son. One tube is 6,500 won. Then I also bought a lipstick brush for me for 2,000 won. My total purchase is 8,500 won. Pretty cheap, isn’t it? Now the best part are the freebies that they gave: a bottle of 옥수수차 (ok-su-su cha or corn tea), a bar of Lindt mint dark chocolate (one of my faves), two sets of toner/skin lotion samples, and a sample of their new Vitamin C product, Pure Vita. Plus one of their staff looked after my son while I shopped and that’s priceless.

Why I like The Face Shop? Best customer service there is in Korea!