The moment you quit smoking, you set in motion an amazing healing process that starts with the feeling of fear and excitement over making such a positive change in your life. The healing process continues:

Thirty Minutes Later …

Your blood pressure goes down. The nicotine in cigarettes stimulates the release of adrenaline , which raises your blood pressure. Chronic smoking then keeps your blood pressure high, which in essence creates ppersistent hypertension. Hypertension is a risk factor for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, arterial aneurysm, and chronic renal failure.

Your pulse rate also decreases. Just like with blood pressure, the nicotine in cigarettes stimulates the release of adrenaline, raising your heart rate. An increased heart rate, especially over a period of time, can create a number of problems, increasingly inefficient pumping of blood by the heart and an imbalance in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the hemoglobin in the blood.

Eight Hours Later …

Two great things happen in your blood: the levels of poisonous carbon monoxide decrease because you’re no longer inhaling so much CO. This then allows your levels of oxygen in the blood to increase.

A Day Later …

Your chances of having a heart attack begin to go down—in just one day after having quit!

Two Days Later …

Your nerve endings begin to re-grow and your senses of smell and taste begin to improve

Three Days Later …

You will be largely nicotine-free. Most of the nicotine metabolites in your body will have been passed through your urine. Although nicotine withdrawal will be peaking, your bronchial tubes will be relaxing, increasing your ability to breathe.

Two Weeks To Six Months Later…

Your circulation gets better, simple activities like walking get easier and you fatigue less quickly, the function of your lungs improves, you aren’t coughing nearly as much and your sinuses are less congested.

One Year Later…

You will have lowered your risk of coronary heart disease by half compared to smokers.

After Five Years …

You will have lowered your risk of stroke down to the same risk as people who have never smoked.

After Ten Years…

Your risk of lung cancer drops to as little as one-half that of people who continue to smoke. Furthermore, you will have significantly reduced your risk of developing cancers of the oral cavity, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas.

After Fifteen Years…

Your risk of developing coronary heart disease will be no higher than that of people who have never smoked.

And most importantly, you will have lowered your risk of death—period—nearly to the level of people who have never smoked.

Here are some of my tips to help you quit:

• Don’t give up.  Even one or two less cigaretttes is better than nothing.
• If you quit for a while (even a day or two) but fall back, don’t be discouraged. Keep trying.
• Try to pick up some healthier habits.  Eating healthier foods, Sleeping more, Excercise~ Living a healthier lifestyle can make quitting easier.
• Watch You Tube anti-smoking videos. The Australian ones are the WORST!
• Candy. Lots and Lots of Candy.

 

• If you are constantly berating yourself because you’re not good enough…. then you won’t be.
• If you can’t see accept yourself, how can you expect others to?

Positive reinforcement works much better on children than negative reinforcement~ This also applies to you.

• Stop being so hard on yourself, accept your faults, embrace your positive traits, and work on changing the things you want to change about yourself.

• You might not feel confident, attractive, or good enough…. but take a deep breath, pretend you are, and soon you will be.
• Your self-perception shows in your behavior and actions.
• A person who is confident in a paper bag can shine much more brightly than a self-conscious person in gorgeous clothes.

Self-Acceptance and Self-Confidence are two of the biggest beauty tips I could ever give you.

 

There are certain questions you may get asked more frequently depending on where you are. 
“In Washington, the first thing people tell you is what their job is.  In Los Angeles, you learn their star sign.  In Houston, you’re told how rich they are. And in New York, they tell you what their rent is”.
I’ve been asked by many in L.A. what my start sign is, and New Yorkers may not talk rent, but what area of NY you live in usually comes up when meeting someone new.

A  pretty popular question that Koreans will ask is, “What’s Your Blood Type”. I have found that most Koreans will know what their blood type is.  I’ve also found that my Korean and American friends that are more Americanized don’t.

It seems that many Koreans believe in the Blood Type Hype (haha).  What do you think?  Does your Blood Type match your personality?

(hee hee.  “Babo” = “Stupid/Idiot” in Korean)

Here are the typical Personality Traits ascribed to Blood Type:

Blood Type A:
Positive Traits: Conservative, introverted, reserved, patient, punctual and inclined to be perfectionists.
Worst Traits: Obsessive, stubborn, self conscious and uptight.
Referred as ‘farmers’ in some descriptions, Type A’s are said to be considerate of others and loyal to a fault. They can also be secretive and reluctant to share their feelings. Apparently they don’t hold their liquor well, either.

Blood Type B:
Best Traits: Animal-loving, creative, flexible, individualistic, optimistic and passionate.
Worst Traits: Forgetful, irresponsible and self-centered.
Referred to as ‘hunters’, Type B’s have very independent natures and tend not to be concerned about what other people think of them. Although often described as shallow and lazy, they can be quite passionate about the things they hold dear. Patience is not their strong suit either.
Type B men have acquired a very negative reputation in Korea and are not considered by many to be good husband material. Often described as ‘players’, they are perceived as being selfish and mercurial, quick to anger and not terribly reliable. That said, their bad boy image makes them very attractive to women, but not for the long term. (Type B women do not share in this bad rep, for some unexplained reason).

Blood Type AB:
Best Traits: Cool, controlled, empathic, introverted and rational.
Worst Traits: Aloof, critical, indecisive and unforgiving.
Referred to as ‘humanists’, Type AB’s are said to be controlled more by their heads, than by their hearts. They are rational, good with money, but unpredictable. Although inclined to be distant, they prefer harmony and as such, work well with mediators. Some consider them two-faced, and therefore untrustworthy.

Blood Type O:
Best Traits: Ambitious, athletic, robust and self-confident.
Worst Traits: Arrogant, insensitive, ruthless and vain.
Referred to as ‘warriors’, Type O’s are viewed as natural leaders and are often, also, natural athletes. They tend to be outgoing, expressive and passionate, but can also bore others to death with their obsessive drive for success coupled with their absolute convictions that they are winners. This certainty that they will always win explains why they aren’t afraid to take risks or gamble. They have a strong physical presence and are unlikely to ever be overlooked.

There is also a “Eat Right For Your Blood Type” Diet.

What You Can Eat on This Diet

• Type A (“for agrarian”) flourishes on vegetarian diets, “the inheritance of their more settled and less warlike farmer ancestors,” says D’Adamo. The type A diet contains soy proteins, grains, and organic vegetables and encourages gentle exercise.

• The nomadic blood type B has a tolerant digestive system and can enjoy low-fat dairy, meat, and produce but, among other things, should avoid wheat, corn, and lentils, D’Adamo says. If you’re type B, it’s recommended you exercise moderately.

• The “modern” blood type AB has a sensitive digestive tract and should avoid chicken, beef, and pork but enjoy seafood, tofu, dairy, and most produce. The fitness regimen for ABs is calming exercises.

• If you’re blood type O (“for old,” as in humanity’s oldest blood line) your digestive tract retains the memory of ancient times, says D’Adamo, so you’re metabolism will benefit from lean meats, poultry, and fish. You’re advised to restrict grains, breads, and legumes, and to enjoy vigorous exercise.

So, if you don’t already know, go and find out what your blood type is.  Try the Blood Type Diet and see if you notice any changes. Let me know what you think!

* And girls, STAY AWAY from the “B” boys. They really are Bad News Bears…. O_O    ermm… j/k? *   ;)

*~ Have a Beautiful Day! ~*

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Do you have skimpy, wimpy lashes like most other Koreans?
Have no fear.

The Basics:

1. When removing False Eyelashes from the tray, don’t peel them from left to right (or vice-versa) because you can stretch them out.  Instead, put your two thumbs around the middle and gently push the eyelash down.  It can help to lightly bend the eyelashinto a U-Shape                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                – If you decide to cut the Lashes in half, Bend them into a U-Shape and cut them right in the middle
2. Put a very thin layer of Eyelash Glue on the band of the False Eyelash.
* (I usually squeeze the glue onto my hand first to make sure too much glue doesn’t get onto the lashes)
- Wait about 15 seconds for the glue to dry and become tacky
3. Bring the lashes as close to your real lashes as possible, adjust, and gently press down.
* (When applying a full set of lashes, I usually place the lashes from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner)
*(When applying a half set of lashes, I usually place the lashes from the outer corner of the eye and work my way in)
- You can use your finger, or any flat object (like the flat end of a tweezer) to secure the False Lashes right on top of your own.
4. Open up your eyes so that the Top Lashes don’t get glued to your Bottom Lashes.
- If they get stuck, just separate them with your fingers.  If there is excess glue on your bottom lashes or under your eyes, wait for it to dry and gently rub off.

* Extra *

5. Gently use an Eyelash Curler to curl the Lashes together
6. Apply Mascara to bond your False Eyelashes with your own.
* (I like to brush through with  a clean Mascara Wand after so it looks more natural and there are no mascara clumps)
7. Apply Eyeliner as close to the Lash Line to fill in any gaps between the False Lashes and your natural lashes
8. When removing False Eyelashes, gently press down on your eyelid and remove the lash from one corner to the other
* (I find that removing from the inner corner is the easiest)
-Remove and clean the excess glue from the Lash Band.  You can probably use these False Eyelashes once more.

It might sound complicated and it may seem difficult, but with a little bit of practice, you’ll be a False Eyelash Expert in no time!

*~ Have a Beautiful Day! ~*

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Gallup Korea conducted a telephone poll among 501 ethnic Koreans living in the Los Angeles area.  So are Korean-Americans proud of their Korean heritage?

• 78% of respondants said “Yes” they were proud to be Korean.  Only 3% said no and the rest just didn’t feel strongly either way.
• Those of Korean descent were equally proud whether they were second- or first-generation immigrants.  Age and education were also not a factor.
• Asked when they felt most proud of their heritage: 32% said when the Korean national teams triumphed in sporting events.  Approximately 14% singled out the moment when Korea beat the U.S. team in the World Baseball Classic in March.
• Next was when Koreans despite being a minority are able to achieve prominence in any field (9 percent), and when people acknowledge that there are many outstanding and intelligent Koreans (6 percent). Times when respondents saw Korean-Americans work hard were proud moments for 5 percent, and another 5 percent glowed when the quality of Korean products was praised.
• The survey also asked about the discrimination Korean immigrants face. But 61% said they were not being discriminated against, while 24% thought they had been the victims of discrimination, and 16% said the level was “normal.” Those in their 20s experienced less discrimination with 10 percent than those in their 30s and 40s (30%).
• Asked why they experienced discrimination, 30% cited their poor English. Ten percent cited Caucasians’ bias about Asians, 9% felt discriminated against at public institutions, and 3% when they go out to eat in a fancy restaurant.
• To the question whether Koreans living abroad should have the right to vote in the Korean presidential election, 57% said yes and 42% no.

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

How good is your Korean?  This Finnish woman puts a lot of Korean-Americans to shame with their Korean language skills.

The United States, Spain and Latin America are not the only countries that have a strong tradition with Bulls.  In Korea, bullfighting  is a one on one bout between one bull and his oppononent.  Some might argue animal abuse, but the article states that it’s normal for bulls to fight amongst themselves for reproductive reasons and more importantly unlike Spanish and Latin American bullfighting, the Korean verison of the sport spares the lives of the bulls.

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