THE 3Cs: CAFE CRAZE COREA [Ep.01]

Corea/Korea is all about creating social vibes and unique atmospheres in ordinary settings like cafes. If you've ever been to Korea, you'll know about the endless streets of wonderful smelling coffee houses filled with fairytale-like furniture, mugs, and don't even get me started on the sweets--just one summer in Korea means +5 happy pounds for me! With that been said, I do think it could be a tad bit overwhelming to be bombarded with thousands of different cafes all over the place. Soooooo I couldn't help but picky-pick-pick my favorite spots in different areas of Seoul. No need to thank me :).

#1: Take Out Drawing (Itaewon)

Not as spread out as the typical Korean cafes like Caffe Bene or Twosome Place (although they are pretty amazing in their own ways), Take Out Drawing is a unique blend of vintage meets comfy indie. I must recommend the signature "ice burg" macchiato (image below), but know that it will spoil your taste for coffee FOREVER. It's a whole new world *music que!* for coffee lovers. The frozen iceberg part--a delightfully frozen slightly sweetened milk/cream--floats in a smooth pool of creamy espresso. COFFEEGASMMMMMMM. 

They also have super yummy desserts like coffee cakes, pastries, cookies, you name it! I would recommend the tower coffee roll filled with fluffy white cream that instantly melts in your mouth as the chocolate cake bread part balances out the sweetness... #thismustbeheaven... Oh, and the funky creative ways they make their drinks is just another reason why you need to check this place out! 

Okay okay, I'll give away the secret now. 

Location: Seoul, Yong-san Gu, Han-nam Dong 683-139

Hours: 11am-12am

Tel: 02-797-3139

We All Need a Little Hideaway

 Sometimes there's nothing you can do about an unfortunate happenstance other than getting away from the clutter and the mess.

My mom used to tell me this confusing yet enlightening saying over and over - it actually took me years to fully understand what she meant, so if you find yourself as clueless as I was, no worries mate. 

"From disaster comes calmness." -The M.O.M.

It's funny how I sometimes find myself in my most calm state of mind during life's stressful moments. Some people would call it escapism, but I'd like to disagree. I think we simply forget that we need to let ourselves breathe for a second. It's like we're running a marathon, except it never ends. Take a day off to value what you've been forgetting to enjoy. Sit on that bench you've been eyeing every time you walked busily past it and look at what you've been missing out on all this time. I promise, you'll feel more accomplished than organizing that disgruntled stack of mess. After your hideaway moment, shrug your shoulders (and I give you permission to act like you don't give a darn), brush it off, and get back on your feet. After all, you know there's a hell of a crowd depending on you.

THE Photo-shoot

"I retired, but two days later I got back to work because 

I realized that I did not create my masterpiece just yet" - Horst Schultz 

Who is Mr. Schultz? He is the one who led the empire of the Ritz-Carlton to exist in every major city (who also happens to own a private jet and casually flies around the world on his own time, obviously). He is a man of real luxury and believes that customization is the key to luxury. Every aspect of his new creation, The Capella in Georgetown, Washington D.C., reflects his mission to create the highest of high luxury for every single individual. I had the honor of meeting him as an intern for Kelly Muccio (yes, the gorgeous blond up there is my boss- be jealous). The Capella is an incredible piece of artwork because every nook and cranny has a purpose and a story behind it. Mr. Schultz is now number 1 on my role-model list (Justin Timberlake is my number 2- just kidding, not really). 

Let's just say that I now have a different perspective on what my life goal should be. 

The Capella=Perfection.