Seoul Searching | Seoul Museum of History.

My family and I are such huge museum fans. We love museums so much that we make it a point to visit one or two in the places that we travel to. In Korea alone, we've been to a dozen different museums - but that's just a small fraction of the total number of museums and galleries in this culture rich country. (Korea has over 500 museums throughout the nation.)

Last spring, we had the chance to visit yet another museum in the capital - the Seoul Museum of History, located in the bustling Jongno district.

Seoul Museum of History.

Opened to the public in 2002, the Seoul Museum of History was established to provide visitors an in-depth knowledge of the city of Seoul through interesting and meaningful exhibitions. The main exhibition hall, located on the third floor, charts the history of Seoul since the Joseon dynasty.

Seoul during the Joseon era, a diorama.

More of Seoul Museum of History after the jump!

Sneak Peek | Laneige x YCH Collection.

Be still my heart, this year's Laneige Meets Fashion collection is out and oh-em-gee, the packaging alone is as pretty as can be!

Laneige Meets Fashion, year 4!

A yearly project, Laneige Meets Fashion aims to fuse Laneige with fashion designer's inspiration including collection story, product concept, and design to create an exciting, specially-packaged makeup range.

This year, the popular K-beauty brand teams up with Korean fashion designer Yoon Chon Ho, who is well-loved by celebrities and has had quite a career when it comes to fashion, having worked with some of Korea's top labels before establishing his own fashion brand, YCH.

Some pieces from the YCH Fall Collection.

Inspired by the modern glamour of the 80's, the Laneige x YCH Collection features classic herringbone and retro polka dot prints - hip, trendy, and definitely edgy. 

View the entire collection after the jump!

How to Get Rid of Your Wrinkles in 45 Days.

As we age, our bodies change. You may be doing everything that you can in order to prevent other issues from coming along in the meantime. Are there ways to keep up with those changes? Do you know what it is that you need to be able to do in order to take care of yourself better? And, in the end, do you know how to prevent wrinkles and other issues that may come along in the process of aging?

Wrinkles are, often, the thing that people worry about the most in regards to aging. But, thankfully, there are a lot of ways that you can be certain that your wrinkles stay gone for good, no matter what. Here is how you can get rid of your wrinkles in 45 days – and keep them away, too!

No to wrinkles!

Eat the Right Things!
Many people don’t realize how much that your diet can impact everything that goes on with your body, including how quickly you wrinkle and how prominent that your wrinkles may be. So, you may want to go on a diet that focuses on ensuring that your body has the nutrients necessary so that your skin becomes more elastic and that wrinkles start to fade.

The main thing that you’re looking for, in this case, is antioxidants. There are plenty of foods out there that fall into the category of “superfood” that have these. They include things like raspberries, green tea, strawberries, and honey. Antioxidants help to reduce the amount of “junk” in your body, making your skin more elastic and ready to go.

You also want to make some other considerations. For example, tomatoes have lycopene, which prevents damage from UV rays (which can cause wrinkles). Vitamin E, which can be found in nuts, can also help with its anti-inflammatory properties.

Try Natural Remedies
There are plenty of things that you can use on your wrinkles that you can find in your garden or on the grocery shelf. Cucumber juice is a popular one – if you use it in different areas (like the bags under your eyes) it can help to get rid of the wrinkles. Other popular home remedies for wrinkles include pineapple juice, almond oil, coconut oil, milk, and potato paste.

Consider Products that Work
One of the products that has been getting a lot of attention recently is Jeunesse Luminesce; it has been providing amazing results for many women who are trying to get rid of their wrinkles. By using a time-tested formula, these products actually help you to deal with your wrinkles for good – and it only takes a little bit of time to know that you’re doing what you need to in order to achieve those goals in an effective manner. These sorts of products are very safe to use and you can look all over the internet in order to learn about your options and how it could make your wrinkles go away for good.

Seoul Searching | Gwanghwamun Square.

It's almost autumn in Seoul, but I'm still not done with my Seoul Searching posts. There are still a few more places that I have yet to blog about starting with Gwanghwamun Square, which we visited last spring - the day after the South Korean presidential elections.

Yue meets King Sejong.

A national landmark located in the heart of Seoul, Gwanghwamun Square is a public open space which connects Gwanghwamun Gate, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, to Cheonggye Plaza, which marks the starting point of Cheonggye Stream. Gwanghwamun Square is divided into six sections, with the statue of King Sejong as its focal point. He is one of Korea's most famous kings, and one of the only two Korean rulers honored with the appellation 'the Great'.

Hangul, the Korean alphabet.

King Sejong, who placed great emphasis in education during his reign, created the Korean alphabet, Hangul. This, and his other main inventions such as as the sundial, rain gauge, and celestial globe, are on display in front of his statue at Gwanghwamun Square.

Rain gauge.

Celestial globe.

Sun dial.

At the other end of the square, you'll find the statue of Admiral Yi Sun Shin, a Korean admiral and national hero whose naval victories were instrumental in repelling Japanese invasions of Korea in the 1590s. If you've seen the movie 'Roaring Currents', then you probably have an idea why Yi Sun Shin is a much revered figure in Korean history.

Yue meets Admiral Yi Sun Shin.

In front of his statue is the 12.23 Fountain, a symbolic fountain which honors the achievements of the brave admiral. The fountain commemorates the 23 battles he fought with 12 warships when he led Koreans to victory during the Imjin War. The water jet rises to a height of 18 meters along with 300 smaller jets, which symbolizes the battles he fought on the sea. In the summer, this fountain is opened to the public, allowing kids and even adults to play with the water.

Honoring the great Admiral Yi Sun Shin.

As we walked around Gwanghwamun Square, we discovered a door located behind King Sejong's statue. Apparently, this is the entrance to the exhibition hall and museum dedicated to both King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun Shin. Entrance to both exhibitions is free, with operating hours from 10 am to 9 pm, Tuesdays to Sundays.

Entrance to The Story of King Sejong.

And since Yue and I love museums, we made our way to the exhibition hall which is actually located underneath the statues, at the basement of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

The Story of King Sejong.

More of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun Shin after the jump!

Kids and Pets: Top 5 Kid-Friendly, Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds.

My son has been begging me to get him a pet for the longest time. He started asking for it around Christmas time last year, when we chanced upon a Korean family buying a pet hamster at eMart. (Oh yes, in Korea they sell pets at their discount stores.)

A few weeks later, he asked me if we can raise an iguana at home - an idea most likely inspired by watching Nat Geo Wild day in and day out. I vehemently disagreed, of course. Save for turtles, I really can't stand the sight of reptiles.

These days, he's been leaning towards more 'normal' pet choices, like a cat or a dog. And if you've been a long time follower of this blog, then you might recall that I used to have a dog - a Shih Tzu-Poodle named Stalin.

After Stalin passed away in 2012, it never occurred to me to get a new dog or a new pet. Losing Stalin had been very traumatic and emotionally devastating, and I thought I can never love another dog again the same way I loved my Stalin. However, it's a totally different story when your child earnestly begs you for a pet dog and wholeheartedly promises to care for it and attend to its needs. *sigh*

My husband has already agreed to Yue's idea, and now it's up to me to choose which dog to get. The Goody Pet has a comprehensive list of child-friendly dog breeds, which I have narrowed down to these hypoallergenic, asthma-friendly choices.

Poodle

Photo credit: Pup Home.

When it comes to hypoallergenic or non-shedding dogs, Poodles are at the top of the list. They come in three different sizes - toy, miniature, and standard. The latter make good family dogs, as they get along very well with children. Poodles are one of the most obedient and smartest dogs; they love to play, and enjoy physical activities. Poodles have hair - not fur - which do not shed, making them the perfect companion for dog-lovers with asthma and/or allergies.

Maltese

Photo credit: Spoiled Maltese.

One of the more popular breeds of lap dogs, Maltese are known for their straight and long white coat. Maltese dogs can weigh up to 7 pounds, and have a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Extremely lovable and playful, Maltese also make good watchdogs as they bark at strangers and other dogs. Shedding is almost non-existent in this breed as they have no undercoat. They do, however, require regular grooming to keep their white coats clean and free of mats.

Bichon Frise

Photo credit: Dogster.

A Bichon Frise is a small breed of dog which traces its origins from Spain and Belgium. One of the sweetest and most affectionate breeds, Bichon Frise dogs are known for their cotton ball cloud of curly white hair which have minimal shedding. They are playful and energetic, and very amicable towards children. Like the Maltese, the Bichon Frise also requires regular grooming to keep their coat in good shape.

Yorkshire Terrier

Photo credit: Pinterest.

Yorkshire Terriers are tiny dogs with a big personality. Good-natured and playful, Yorkies - as they are often called - usually weigh less than 7 pounds and have a lifespan of approximately 14 to 16 years. The hallmark of this breed is its coat color - a lovely shade of tan with a dark steel blue hue. They don't have an undercoat and they hardly shed, but it does take a lot of work to keep their coat fine, silky, straight, and free of mats. Yorkies also make good guard dogs as they tend to bark excessively (sometimes a little too much) at strangers.

Shih Tzu

Photo credit: Vet Street.

Originally bred for for royalty in China, Shih Tzus are known for their warm and friendly personality which makes them one of the most popular toy breeds around the world. Playful and affectionate, Shih Tzus are friendly towards just about anybody - whether its kids or strangers or other dogs. Shih Tzus are also one of the few breed of dogs whose coat is made up of hair. They shed very lightly, but their coat needs to be combed daily to keep tangles at bay. Professional grooming is also recommended, especially during the hot summer months when their coat needs to be kept short.

So, which breed will we be getting? Honestly, I'm still undecided.
I guess we have to visit the pet shop soon so we can see the dogs in person. Hopefully, one adorable pup will steal my heart again, the way Stalin did when I first met him eleven years ago. :)