Scrumptious Banana Bread!

I decided to make banana bread for the first time in my life... and ended up taking a tupperware full of it to school today to share with my co-workers during tea time!  NONE OF THEM had ever tasted banana bread before, and now they're all hooked!  It was literally gone within the first couple minutes!  And Okk, my biggest critic, was crazy about it!  

There will be no more throwing of bananas away in my home!  

I'm gonna make banana bread and become everyone's favorite co-worker! ** 

Sunny Sunday

Guess who bought a new scooter?!  We did!  The old scooter wouldn't start and was getting kinda rusty, so we went out and bought ourselves a new ride!  Hey for only $500, why not, right?!   We bought him just in time, because today's weather was GORGEOUS!  It's been the warmest day in probably 7 months, and sunny sunny sunny! Spring is FINALLY here!

We started the day by scooting over to Cafe Benne for some coffee...

and yummy lemon-ade!  BTW: Does anyone have a recipe for lemonade syrup?   I'm dying to make some at home, since this measly cup at the cafe cost me (actually Aaron) $5.00!  I know I can make it for a fraction of the price and in the comfort of my own home, just can't seem to find a good recipe online!  HELP  

After Cafe Benne, we scooted over to our favorite art store in Seodaeshin-dong to pick up some more specialty paper for our wedding invites!  I love this wall of handmade Korean paper!  We're using a gorgeous golden yellow one for our invites!   

I decided to hand make all of the invitations!  It's a big project, but I wouldn't have it any other way! For me, it's not about saving money, it's simply about making something that's personal and one of a kind.  I want the recipients to be able to hold it in their hands and know that a lot of work and love went into it... just for them!  Hopefully they appreciate them! :)  I love this wall of paper in every color and texture imaginable!

After picking up some paper, we rode through the newly blossomed Cherry Blossom street nearby! 

(It's the best one in Busan, in my opinion)

... and then met up with Meagan on my street in Yeongdo for some HaeJang Gook (hangover soup), 

...because s-o-m-e-o-n-e (girl on the left - hint hint) had too much to drink last night! lol

 Luckily, the soup cured Meagan's hangover, so the 3 of us walked up to Aaron's school to throw the baseball around and enjoy the sunshine!

I think we've all been a little depressed lately with no sunshine and brutally cold and windy days and nights!  It's true what they say about having a vitamin D deficiency, because I haven't felt as cheerful or upbeat as I did today, in a long time, after being in the sun so much!

Aaron was in heaven!!  

Meagan too!

The three of us walked back to my place, made some banana bread muffins...

... and lounged around watching episodes of Grey's Anatomy and New Girl! 

Meagan left about 6:00pm, and Aaron and I scooted over to the island lighthouse to watch the sunset!  I spent the rest of the night sitting on my floor with Kitty, cutting and folding paper for the wedding invitation envelopes!  I'm pretty excited about how everything is coming together! :)  Can't wait to send them out in a couple months!

Hoping that tomorrow will be as gorgeous and full of smiles and sunshine as today was!

Play time / attack time!

While I've always wanted a cat to cuddle with, unfortunately Kitty ISN'T that cat!  He'd much rather be playing with his new laser toy, looking out the window, hiding in my closet, or sitting next to me while I'm doing an art project.  I will say though that he's getting better at letting me hold him!  I usually get him in my arms for at least 45 seconds before he attempts to bite me!  haha

Aaron and I have been busy making our wedding invites, and putting together our Save The Dates, so there have been lots of paper scraps and art supplies lying around!  We thought Kitty would have fun playing with this string, so we hung it around over his head, hoping he'd play...

... there we go!  He finally took a liking to it and started getting interested...

...and then came the attack!  

Kitty is either the sweetest little guy or a crazy lil' Ninja cat (hence his former name!)

For those of you who come to visit... Beware!!  ... and cover your feet if you stay the night!  Kitty definitely thinks the best way to play or wake me up is by batting at and biting my feet until I get up!

But rest assured, a spray bottle has been bought and the good kitty training has officially commenced!

Wish me luck!

Hunger Games

Aaron and I met up with our new friends Ashley and Adam to see the Hunger Games tonight!   

Aaron and I both read the first book and were excited to see it on the big screen!  

I was a fan... Aaron was a critic!  Can't make everyone happy, I guess!

We saw it at a theater in Nampodong that has a front entrance into the theater... ie, the door to the theater is near the screen and you have to walk up the stairs to get to your seat.  About 10 seconds into the movie, a woman in her 30's walked in the door and immediately tripped over a step and went face forward onto the ground, popcorn and coke flying in the air!   I'm not gonna lie, it was really funny!  I'm SORRY!  But what was even funnier was when her boyfriend reached for his phone and shined a flashlight app down on her from about the 10th row, basically spotlighting her for everyone to see, as she attempted to get off the ground and collect herself!  It's bad enough that she fell... but then her boyfriend spotlighted her for everyone to see!  We all probably giggled about it for at least 5 minutes!

Luckily she was fine, just a bit embarrassed... the movie was great, and having Ashley and Adam with us was just icing on the cake!  Who doesn't love double dates to the movies?!

BTW: Special shout out to my dad who turned the BIG 66 today!  Love you dad!

New baby niece!

I am an auntie a third time over as of yesterday afternoon!  

Welcome to this wonderful world

Hannah Grace Murphy

I love that your name means "beauty" and "passion" because with a gorgeous mom and a handsome dad, there's no doubt you'll be beautiful (inside and out)... and with a family like you'll be surrounded by, there's NO doubt you'll be passionate as well!  

I love you already baby girl!