ICS 3 step nose pack

I finally tried a 3 step nose pack... I thought these were actually pretty fake and didn't work but I was pleasantly surprised that this... Was not expecting the results I got.

I tried the ICS 3 step nose pack, I wasn't able to find this particular strip anywhere online but it was amazing. 

Step 1: Hydrogel strip that dissolves blackheads for easy removal, leave on for 15 to 20 minutes.  This actually turned kind of gummy and dry at the end of the 20 minutes (maybe later) and when I peeled it off my nose looked and felt squeaky clean.  Note... The strip was packaged with a bottom layer of cellophane and a top layer of fabric.  You only apply the hydrogel, the other 2 are for easy application.

Step 2: Black charcoal black head strip, leave on for 15 to 20 minutes.  This is like your run of the mill biore strip and it was fairly easy to put on and remove.  I'm not sure if it's bc of the charcoal infused strip or bc of the 1st step... But blackheads galore

Step 3: Hydrogel strip to close pores for 5 to 10 minutes.  This was set up like the first step and once I got the hydrogel on, it felt great and maybe it was just psychosomatic but I felt my pores closing.

After 3 steps that could take anywhere from 35 to 50 minutes...  My nose has never looked better.  Never.  I am now in love with these strips!

Totally converted me!

Day tripping in Kernville

Saturdays, especially on long weekends are made for us to go explore all the beautiful nature that we are surrounded by in southern California.  Kernville is about 3 hours North of LA nears Bakersfield, on the edge of Sequoia mountain with Lake Isabella located centrally between upper and lower Kern river. 

 

Kernville itself is a small town with a small town square edged with yummy restaurants a few small inns and literally right on the river.   There are tons of water sports rental places as tubing is a huge thing to do here.  This weekend there was an arts and crafts expo in the square with all sorts of lovely crafts.

 

We drove up along lower Kern river and was treated to beautiful scenery of gorges and the lovely Kern river bubbling along, there were a few turn offs where more adventurous (and possibly child less) people were hiking down to the river. 

 

We drove along upper Kern river (the portion above Lake Isabella) and found a day use place and pulled off and had a totally delicious lunch of Korean pork belly grilled over a propane stove... There is just something about cooking and eating outside, even if over propane that makes everything taste 100 times better.  

We ventured out towards the river but literally both sides were lined with small tents and blankets and the kids were literally stepping in people's blankets to go look at the river...  Sorry guys.  Being the responsible parents we were, we decided to drive back to Kernville and have ice cream and coffee before finding a nice semi secluded area for some splash and wading fun.

 

While driving back down the 155 we found a small day use place off the road and quickly pulled off.  It was breath taking, there were a few fly Fisherman a few yards upstream and a group of people drinking and tubing downstream but it was perfect. 

 

The kids had tons of fun splashing in the shallow river bed, learning to skip stones and getting filthy, as kids should in the summer.  Being Korean we whipped out our propane stove and made some Ramen... Sapporo ichiban for the kids and Shin Ramen for the adults.  Ahhhhhh enjoying nature with spicy Ramen... Does not get better!

 

A few notes for those that want to explore Kernville.  Take the 5 North until the 178 East then get on the 155 West to Kernville.  Note that you may find a nice day use site before you even get on the 155. We passed plenty and ultimately ended up on the lower river, near the lake. 

Kernville itself has a lovely river front park that is also nice for families who prefer a less out in the wild river experience.  Plenty of street parking, and walking distance from the river to the square.  There is a coffee shop on the square that sold mini ice cream cones for ¢50! Perfect for the Littles.  There was also an awesome playground there which the kids loved.

 

Bring: bathing suits, towels, sunscreen, and tubes.  The water can be rough so always bring life jackets or puddle jumpers for the kids. 

 

We found the drive to be about 3 hours to Kernville and was do-able as a day trip but exhausting.

Happy exploring!

Why I will never wear maxi dresses again

It's been very very warm in LA. Very warm. Temps in the hundreds... The only thing you want to do is sit inside with lots of air conditioning... But guess what? You're a mom and the kids want stuff like food and drinks, one of them has a gymnastics eval... Dang it.

 

I did what all good mothers do... Bribe them with a post dinner walk to Baskin Robbins for a cone if they were good all day.  Bribery is totally okay right?

 

So let me set the scene. 

 

Crowded Baskin Robbins, cue myself in blue flowered maxi dress, wrangling a skipping H and struggling with Y who is fighting her harness (or baby leash whatever...)

 

Baskin Robbins is a steady stream of kids happy for ice cream, young lovers and us... A trio of mild discontent.   First H is annoyed they no longer make Spiderman ice cream, it's a red and blue ice cream that will not get out of clothes, so I'm overjoyed.

 

Ordered our cones and I'm standing at the register with cone in one hand, wallet in the other when I feel a pair of grubby hands yank on my panties... From UNDER my maxi dress. 

My panties unceremoniously slide to my ankles before I can even try to squeeze my knees together.  I'm pretty sure everyone is staring at my panties... And the only thing I can think of is "are they at least clean?"

 

I did the only thing to do, calmly hand H her cone, ball up the panties in one hand and ask to use their bathroom... Which of course is not open to the public. 

 

I'm convincing myself no one saw, not the girl who giggled or the 2 teens who pointed.  Nope. They totally didn't see.  I'm sure if I say it enough times... I can convince myself. 

Welcome to my Blog

First blog post!

I have been wanting to blog for a while, and have 2 blogs that I have started, made my "first post" then promptly forget to post again. Well 3rd time is the charm they say and this time, I found a topic I am passionate about and love talking about. 

First a bit about me...
I am a full time RN in my 30's, married to my husband, Oppa, for 7 years.  I am a 2nd generation Korean-American, while my husband is "Fresh off the boat" and very proud of it.   We have 2 little girls, H who is 4 years old and Y who is almost 2.  We live in the heart of Koreatown in Los Angeles, surrounded by Korean restaurants, homeless people and lots of traffic.  Despite this, we love living in LA, nothing beats being able to order Korean food 24 hours a day or having the best Al Pastor taco guy on the corner.  Yes, I love food and am constantly either gorging myself or attempting to diet.

I love bargain shopping, doing DIY projects off pinterest, reviewing things on Amazon, and reviewing restaurants on Yelp. I love discovering gems off the beaten path and planning fun day trips for the girls on the weekends. 

We have full busy lives but love taking the girls to fun hidden places all around LA on the weekends.  This blog will be full of fun things to do, delicious things to eat, simple arts & crafts to do with the kids in and around LA... and there are so many things to do, eat and see and I would love to share our adventures with you, good or bad.

Join me...