Gun Safety Basics.

Guns can be used for a variety of activities besides self-defense, such as hunting, riflery, or skeet shooting. Whether you're new to guns or an old pro, it's important to know some basic safety rules before using your weapon. This goes beyond storing rifles in a safe or keeping your handguns in blackhawk holsters. Although these are both good practices, there are a few principles everyone with a firearm should follow at all times to keep both themselves and others safe.

Song Joong Ki in Descendants of the Sun, 2016.

Be Aware of Your Direction

Especially when someone is comfortable holding their firearm, it can be easy to feel safe with it pointed in any direction. This can be incredibly dangerous though in case the gun goes off or misfires; it could seriously injure someone. That's why the first and possibly most important rule of handling a gun is to always point the barrel down and away from others. This ensures any accidents or malfunctions won't harm anyone nearby.

Jo Jung Suk in Two Cops, 2017.

Don't Keep It Loaded

You shouldn't have your gun loaded unless you're using it. That means when you get home from a hunting trip or day at the range, you should make sure to remove all ammunition—including anything that may be in the chamber of your gun—to prevent accidents. It's much safer to show people your guns or handle them in the house when they aren't loaded and there's no risk of it accidentally firing.

Lee Joon Gi in Gunman in Joseon, 2014.

Treat Every Gun Like It's Loaded

Some people rely on their gun's safety features to tell them when it's safe to handle the weapon in a perhaps hazardous manner. This isn't good practice. You should always treat every gun as if it could go off at any moment, whether it's loaded or not and even if the safety is on. This mechanism is a fail-safe feature to help make handling easier, but should not be treated as a perfect safety solution. Along with this rule of thumb, it's wise to stay away from the trigger of a gun unless you intend to shoot it. Even if you think you've removed all the bullets and the safety is on, there is always a chance something could go wrong, so staying away from the trigger is best practice.

These are just a few of many gun safety rules, but they'll help novices learn good behaviors around firearms and remind experts accidents can still happen.

Cooking with my Air Fryer | Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe.

If there's one snack that this house never runs out of (aside from Fuji apples and yogurt drinks), it has got to be cookies. Whether it's inside the fridge, in the cookie jar, or somewhere in the pantry, there has got to be cookies at my house almost all the time. And now that I have learned how to bake them myself, there's no way that this house will run out of Yue's favorite snack henceforth.

I've made cookies from scratch a few times since I got my air fryer, and after a few tweaks in the ingredients and some adjustments in the temperature, I can finally say that I have nailed this thing. Here's how I made my Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)

Procedure:

1. Preheat the air fryer to 170° Celsius.

2. Heat the butter in a small skillet until about half of it is melted. Turn off the heat and continue whisking the butter until it is melted entirely. Let the butter cool for about 3-5 minutes.

3. In a large bowl, mix the butter with the white and brown sugar until well-combined.

4. Stir in the egg and vanilla until incorporated.

5. Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg.

6. Mix the dough until just combined. Do not overmix!

7. Fold in the chocolate chips.

8. Scoop out 1 1/2 tablespoons of the dough and place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet.

9. Set your air fryer to Bake mode and bake at 170°C for 10 minutes. Switch to Convection Broil for 3-5 minutes to make the cookies look more brown. (Kindly make adjustments to the temperature settings if you're using a conventional oven.)

Choose your mix-ins! :)

Notes:

I use unsalted butter for baking. You may use salted butter if you prefer.

You may use other variants of chocolate chips. You can use dark, semisweet, white chocolate chips, or any combination of these types.

You may also use other mix-ins such as chopped peanuts, M&M's, or chopped chocolate bars.

5 Tips for Setting Effective Fitness Goals.

So you want to get in shape. Congratulations! The first step towards a healthier lifestyle is deciding to make a change.

However, as you likely know from experience, it can be hard to stick to your decision. With constant temptation from Netflix and Reese’s, not to mention the countless tasks of modern life, it’s easy to get derailed.

Worry not! Even if your fitness goals have floundered in the past, there’s still hope. Follow our 5 tips for setting effective fitness goals to keep moving forward. 

Park Seo Joon in What's Wrong with Secretary Kim? (2018)

#1: Be Specific

If your goal is simply to “get fit,” you may not be sure where to start. Should you start prepping for a 5k, or train for a marathon? Should you be doing yoga for strength and flexibility? Should you eat keto or restrict your calories?

This is why you need to get specific. Which is closest to your actual goal? 

● Experience less pain in a specific body part (lower back, shoulders)

● Feel stronger

● Improve balance, stability, and coordination

● Build endurance and stamina

● Change a “problem area”

● Lose weight

● Complete a race

Your specific goal will influence your choices. For example, if you want to improve balance, you’ll start with leg and core strengthening routines. To lose weight, you might up your cardio game. Have several goals? Figure out a way to address each one—but don’t overwhelm yourself right out of the gate.

Choi Siwon of Super Junior.

#2: Start Small

If you envision getting shredded from head to toe, remember that that will take months of consistent effort, and changes in just about every area of your life. It can get discouraging when your goal is still far off in the distance after weeks of effort.

How can you avoid getting overwhelmed? Set achievable short-term goals. 

Examples include: 

● Complete 10 Pilates classes in a month

● Lose 5 lbs.

● Run 1 mile

● Bench 10 more pounds than last month

Once you’ve checked this small goal off your to-do list, enjoy your achievement! Then, set a bigger goal for the next month. 

Lee Joon Gi's sculpted abs.

#3: Make a Plan for Muscle Recovery

If your quads burn for a week after your first trip to the gym, you probably won’t be heading back anytime soon. Remember, we advised you to start small—try not to overdo it right away!

However, you can also take concrete steps to recover from post-exercise inflammation.

These include:

● Taking CBD drops after your workout

● Drinking plenty of water

● Getting adequate vitamins and minerals

Eat healthy like Kim Seok Jin!

#4 Eat to Support Your New Habits

Speaking of those adequate vitamins… remember that a supplement can only go so far. In order to find the energy for your next workout (and the next, and the next), you need to eat a healthy diet. That means:

● Whole grains

● Lean proteins (fish, eggs, nuts, beans)

● Leafy greens

● Vegetables

● Fruits

● Adequate healthy fat (coconut oil, avocado oil)

Interested in the Mediterranean diet or Whole 30? Don’t let us stop you. The most important thing is sticking to a realistic diet rather than ping-ponging between healthy eating and trips to McDonalds.

Starting small? Try to eat at least one fresh meal a day. Once you see the benefits, you may be inspired to up your cooking game! Just remember to put jam on your toast every now and then (you deserve it).

BTS exercising together in Burn the Stage.

#5: Create Support Systems

It’s easier to stick to goals when you create some accountability. You could:

● Form an accountability group with friends. Check in weekly or create a group chat and stay in constant contact!

● Ask your family members to support your goal. Some may even want to follow your new diet or join you on runs.

● Download a planning app to keep track of your goals. When you meet one, reward yourself with a massage or spa trip.

You may slip up from time to time. Having a support system in place helps you forgive yourself and move on. The sooner you get back to work on your goal, the sooner you can enjoy the rewards—emotional and otherwise!

Consistency is Key

Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor was Kim Kardashian’s body built overnight. When it comes to major changes in appearance, endurance, and overall health, there are no quick fixes or shortcuts. (At least none available through natural methods.)

When you set achievable fitness goals, you’ll see and feel incremental change. Once you pass a milestone, keep on going! Your effort is already paying off, and by keeping consistent, you’ll create new habits that become easier and easier to sustain.

Cooking with my Air Fryer | Easy Sushi Bake Recipe.

It's been more than two months since I got my air fryer and so far, my adventures with this nifty kitchen gadget has been nothing short of amazing. If you're following me on Facebook or on Instagram, then you've probably seen the different dishes that I have made with my air fryer - from something as simple as tofu, to viands that are a bit more complex ('pangmalakasan' as the husband puts it) such as smoked ribs and crispy pata.

These days, I'm also dabbling in baking because hey, everyone seems to be doing it as a means of de-stressing during these trying times. I've baked brownies, muffins, cookies... mostly snacks that my little man (well, not-so-little now since he's entering junior high) loves. My latest experiment is something that I've always wanted to try (and by that I mean eat) since it started trending during the quarantine - Sushi Bake. Basically, it's a deconstructed version of the sushi roll. Instead of rolling the rice and other ingredients inside large sheets of roasted seaweed using a bamboo mat, you just spread everything in a pan and bake it into a casserole. 

I was thinking of ordering it online at first, but eventually I decided to just make my own from scratch. And because my first attempt was a success (my neighbors can attest to that, haha), I'd like to share with you my easy peasy Sushi Bake recipe. 

Sushi Bake

Ingredients:

Sushi Rice

3 cups cooked rice (Japanese rice or Dinorado)

3 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

Topping

2 cups kani, shredded or cut into chunks

1 large ripe mango, diced

1 medium cucumber, diced

1 cup cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup Japanese mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Sriracha 

2 packs Aji Savor on Rice (used as furikake)

3 packs Korean roasted seaweed (nori) sheets

Procedure:

1. In a small bowl, mix the rice vinegar, salt, and sugar. Mix well, and make sure that both the salt and sugar are completely dissolved.

2. Pour the mixture over the rice and toss until the rice is well-coated. 

3. In a separate bowl, combine the cream cheese, Japanese mayonnaise, and Sriracha. Mix well.

4. Add the kani, half of the mango, and half of the cucumber to the mixture. Add a bit of salt to taste and stir until well-combined.

5. Spread the sushi rice evenly in an oven safe pan. 

6. Sprinkle a thin layer of the Aji Savor on Rice on top of the rice until fully-covered.

7. Add the topping by spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining cucumber and mango bits on top, and a bit more furikake if desired.

8. Drizzle with a bit of Japanese mayonnaise and Sriracha before baking.

9. Set your air fryer to Bake mode and bake at 170° C for 17 minutes. (Take note that this setting is for the Hanabishi Air Fryer Oven. Kindly make adjustments if you're using a conventional oven.)

10. Serve by scooping into nori sheets.

My very own Sushi Bake!
I baked this on my air fryer!

Please look forward to more air fryer recipes on my blog! :)

9 Best Seller Tony Moly Lip Products to Try.

Tony Moly is a highly popular Korean skincare and cosmetics brand. It aims to be a source of high-quality beauty products packed with natural ingredients. With over 400 stores in South Korea alone, it prides itself on its trendy and unique packaging aesthetic and collaboration with high-profile brand spokespersons, such as the K-Pop group JYJ and actress Min Hyo Rin. Click here to check out their wide range of products from lippies to face masks.

JYJ (Junsu, Yoochun, Jaejoong) for Tony Moly.

Here are some of the brand's best selling lip products: 

1. Perfect Lips Shocking Lip

The Perfect Lips Shocking Lip highly-innovative lip color has been enriched with vibrant pigments and moisturizing oils that provide a high-impact, and long-lasting color. This highly-pigmented lip tint puts vivid colors on your lips minus the sticky finish. Vitamin E keeps your lips moisturized, while Safflower, Jojoba, and Argan Oil plus Shea Butter locks in moisture, keeping your lips soft for hours and vibrant color that stays all day.

Tony Moly Perfect Lips Shocking Lip.

2. Liptone Get It Tint S #06 Chili Pepper

A K-beauty collaboration with MONSTA X, this special lip tint offers a smooth, spicy color on your lips that MONSTA X fans will surely love. Its oil-based formula also keeps your lips soft and glossy all day long. This highly pigmented lip tint produces a deep red shade that doesn't quickly lose color, and its buildable texture enables you to adjust color intensity and application easily.

Using the applicator, apply to your lips' inner part for a gradient look or fill the entire area for a bold look.

Wonho of Monsta X wears Tony Moly.

3. Perfect Lips Lip Cashmere

Tony Moly Perfect Lips Lip Cashmere is a velvet matte lipstick that smoothly glides on your lips; it feels like wearing cashmere on your lips. Comfortable to wear and long-lasting, this velvety lipstick contains Jojoba Esters and Sunflower Seed Oil to moisturize your lips with a good color payoff without getting dry. Smoothly glides on your lips upon application.

Tony Moly Perfect Lips Lip Cashmere.

4. Delight Tony Tint

With its sweet-smelling, fruity scent, this lightweight tint gives lips a sheer hint of color and its Rosehip, Jojoba, Argan Oil, and Shea Butter infusions create a moisturizing luster on your lips. With Rose Flower Extracts, Cranberry Extract, Pomegranate Extract, Acai Extract, and Cacao Extract, this lip tint gives a yummy scent and makes for pleasing lip makeup. Apply a moderate amount from the inside to the outside lip for a polished look.

Tony Moly Delight Tony Tint.

5. Perfect Lips Curving Lipstick

Thanks to its ergonomic applicator, this unique lipstick is designed to match your lips' curve to deliver a smooth, long-lasting vivid color. It is enriched with Rose Extract, Rosehip Oil, and Avocado Oil to moisturize your lips deeply. Because of its curved design, it easily creates gorgeous and vivid lips without lumping. Apply moderate amounts from the inside to outside lips gently.

Tony Moly Perfect Lips Curving Lipstick.

6. Perfect Lips Rouge Gloss

Achieve smackingly sexy lips with this lip gloss! Formulated with Lavender Extract, Tea Tree Leaf Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract, and Fermented Yeast Filtrate, this lip gloss offers moisture and added nutrition to your lips. Perfect Lips Rouge Gloss is also designed with a unique oil film that locks in moisture within your lips to maintain the vibrant color and keep it plump for hours.

Tony Moly Perfect Lips Rouge Gloss.

7. Spoiler Sheer Matte Lip Pencil

Enriched with Shea Butter, Vitamin A, and Vitamin B, this matte lip pencil adds moisture and nourishment to your lips and leaves a soft, velvety finish and vibrant color that lasts for hours. This creamy, textured lip pencil is also very easy to apply for a smooth focus. Apply the lip pencil from your inside to outside lips, carefully following along your natural lip contour.

Tony Moly Spoiler Sheer Matte Lip Pencil.

8. Easy Touch Auto Lip Liner

This creamy, extremely easy to use auto lip liner contains Argan Oil for an extra moisturization boost. Forego manually sharpening your lip liners with this smudge-resistant lip liner that applies smoothly on your lips. Simply outline the natural edge of your lips, then fill or layer with a lipstick or lip gloss. This creamy lip liner is blendable and can easily match into your lipstick or lip gloss.

Tony Moly Easy Touch Auto Lip Liner.

9. Perfect Lips Rouge Intense

Create a glamorous, HD-like lip finish with this highly-pigmented lipstick with bold, dramatic color in one swipe. This lipstick is also infused with botanical extracts, Collagen, Glycerin, and Sodium Hyaluronate for a unique, super boosted hydration. Enriched with Rose Flower Extracts and Calendula Flower Extract, Perfect Lips Rouge Intense keeps your lips soothed and moisturized. At the same time, the added Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate delivers intense hydration to your lips. As a final treat, its added Collagen helps keep your lips firm and a must-try for lipstick enthusiasts.

Tony Moly Perfect Lips Rouge Intense.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're going for a sassy, sophisticated, or natural look, you should purchase cosmetics from trusted makeup brands like Tony Moly. Lip products can complete or ruin your face makeup, so it's important to buy those that suit your skin tone best.