Seoul Searching | My Winter Travel Essentials.

Two more weeks and we're finally flying to Korea! Hooray!

To say that I am excited would be an understatement. I'm super psyched for this trip that I actually spent a good part of the day taking out luggage bags from the storage, sorting clothes, preparing the stuff that we need to bring, and listing down the items that I still need to buy. If I were more OC than this, I would have actually started packing a month ago. Haha!

Now as we all know, it's already winter in Korea and temperature has dropped to as low as 4 degrees Celsius. It has also snowed twice since winter started, with last Wednesday's snowfall heavier than the first. And while I am very eager to see, feel, and experience snow for the first time in my life, I'm also a tad worried because of my (and my son's) asthma. Hence, I've listed down our winter travel essentials - stuff that we're bringing (and/or buying) to brave the harsh Korean winter.

1) Thermals.
Otherwise known as thermal undershirts/underpants, these are pieces of clothing that are designed in such a way to help retain body heat.

Thermals for the little man.

Heattech by Uniqlo.

2) Coats, Jackets, Scarves, and Beanies.

They say the key to keeping yourself warm and toasty in the dead of winter is to layer clothes effectively. Coats, jackets, and scarves are key items in layering. Beanies, ear muffs, and gloves are options, too.

Keeping it warm!

3) Boots.

Because winter means boots, I'm trading my good old Onitsuka Tigers (for the meantime) for this pair of Dorothy Perkins ankle boots that I have not worn in a long, long time.

Winter = boots.

4) Hotpacks.

Perhaps you've seen these in Kdramas - those small sachets that give off warmth and are usually stuffed inside pockets. I bet I'll be buying a handful of these during our stay in Korea.

Photo credit: GrrlTraveler.

5) Medical Supplies.

Whether it's an overnight stay at the beach or a week-long trip to somewhere, I always make sure we have our medical supplies in tow. That includes our good ol' nebulizer and Duavent nebules (as prescribed by my son's pediatrician), Alnix Plus for my son's colds and allergies, and Ceelin Plus for his daily dose of Vitamin C. Also included in our stash are medicines for fever, cough, and upset stomach, pain killers, and my Salbutamol inhaler.

Some of our medical essentials from Unilab.

I guess I've got all my bases covered with this list. Hopefully, my son and I will be able to survive the unfamiliar season that is winter and have a blast while we're at it.

Do you wanna build a snowman? I do. :)

Fashion Pulse | Bomber Jackets are Here to Stay.

It's winter time for most countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Temperatures have dropped in most of these areas, and flurries and showers of snow are a common occurrence these days. That being said, people living in these countries now depend on heaters to keep their homes warm, and thick, layered garments to prevent their bodies from freezing.

Dress coats and parkas are winter fashion staples for most women, while leather military jackets are the outerwear of choice for most men. These jackets, originally meant for and first seen worn by soldiers, are designed in such a way to keep their bodies warm, while looking dapper at the same time. And because they look and feel good, soldiers continued to wear them even after they have served. Civilians who saw these began purchasing the military jackets too, as they were impressed with its durable construction, good looks, and of course their warmth.

Photo credit: TV Daily

The A2 Flight Jacket, for instance, has become immensely popular because of its warmth, durability, and rugged, masculine style. First released in 1931, this jacket gained much attention in the fashion industry, and has retained its spot in the fashion world for over 80 years. Needless to say, this jacket is a fashion icon itself, and has been worn by soldiers, civilians, presidents, and celebrities all over the world.

And yes, even my favorite Hallyu stars and KPop idols wear them, too!