Little Seoulster

Exploring Korean-American Heritage & Interculturalism

Tips on Choosing a Martial Art Studio for Your Kid

How to Choose a Martial Art Studio for Your Kid

How to Choose a Martial Art Studio for Your KidTips on Choosing a Martial Art Studio for Your Kid

If you have a high energy kid like mine, you’re constantly looking for ways to burn off that energy. That might mean anything from enrolling them into soccer camps to gymnastics classes.

I’m not one of those parents who tries to get my kid signed up for everything so that every minute of his day is accounted for…oh wait, yes I am! 😆 But really, it’s not so that he’s just occupied. It’s because he has a ton of energy, mentally and physically. And he needs outlets for that in order for him to be able to decompress and have quiet time (and yes, that means quiet time for me too 😉 ). [Read more…]

A Memory from a Korean-American Childhood – Itchy Hanboks

A Memory from a Korean-American Childhood - Itchy Hanboks

A Memory from a Korean-American Childhood - Itchy HanboksA Memory from a Korean-American Childhood – Itchy Hanboks

For those who may not know, a hanbok is a traditional South Korean assemble. And with Seollal (Korean New Year) having just passed, many people would’ve donned one for the celebration. It reminded me of those days long past when I had to wear an itchy hanbok this time of year, in addition to any other celebration during the year.

It was the equivalent of wearing uncomfortable Sunday church attire, which I had to do as well. There’s multiple parts to the outfit and you’d be in big trouble if you got it dirty! So it’s basically a straight jacket for any fun-loving kid! [Read more…]

How to Make a Cute Kiss-Kiss in Korean T-Shirt

How to Make a Cute Kiss-Kiss in Korean T-Shirt

How to Make a Cute Kiss-Kiss in Korean T-ShirtHow to Make a Cute Kiss-Kiss in Korean T-Shirt

I wanted to make something cute for my toddler for Valentine’s Day. It had to be easy, quick, and something he could wear any time of the year.

Well, one of the cutest words in Korean is “ppo-ppo” (뽀뽀), which means “kiss” or “kiss-kiss” in Korean. I think it may technically be slang, but who cares? It’s adorable when a little kid says it!

So I decided to put this saying on a t-shirt using my super handy dandy Silhouette Cameo! It’s easy to make and you can do it too!

Don’t worry if you don’t have a Silhouette Cameo though. You can use freezer paper instead! The difference is that with the Silhouette, we’re printing the design right onto a sheet that will get ironed on to the fabric; whereas, with freezer paper, we’re making a stencil to fill in with fabric paint. The stencil won’t have as much detail as the Silhouette print but it’s MUCH easier and cheaper to do and it’ll still be adorable! [Read more…]

A Memory from a Korean-American Childhood – Seollal (Korean New Year)

A Memory from a Korean-American Childhood - Seollal (Korean New Year)

A Memory from a Korean-American Childhood - Seollal (Korean New Year)A Memory from a Korean-American Childhood – Seollal (Korean New Year)

In case you didn’t know, Seollal (sometimes known as Seolnal) is Korean New Year. It spans three days and this year it’s February 15th through the 17th.

It’s a major holiday in South Korea and it’s typically celebrated by getting together with relatives (even the extended family!). Roads and airports will be jam packed with travelers just as the grocery shelves will be packed with fruit gift sets. It’s a lot like what Christmas is here in good old U.S. of A. So it appears holiday travel traffic is pretty much universal. 😣 [Read more…]