Today on the Japanese music show Hey!Hey!Hey!, Girls' Generation performed three of their Japanese singles – Oh!, Mr. Taxi, & All My Love is for You.  During their performance for the song “All My Love is for You” I noticed that the members all had a very simple and similar eye makeup. So this post is literally a no tutorial makeup tutorial.

Book Recommendation: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Before I even go into details I must emphasize how much I loved this book!! It was an amazing read that I highly recommend.

So as brief as I can be about the story, there is a circus where two "magicians" are bounded together force to compete. However because it is taking place in the traveling circus, every person who is a part of the circus is indirectly involved in the games.

That is all I can say because I will not be able to say anything else without spoiling the story (I somehow always manage to tell more than I should lol~~). However I can say that the imagery the author uses is absolutely stunning. As I was reading I felt as if I was watching a silent film in my mind, and the actual reading was a narration. Without being overdone, Erin Morgenstern, is able to describe the circus, the people, the scene, etc with such detail the images just form in your mind naturally.

Like the circus she describes, you read from one chapter to the next not knowing whose point of view you may read from or what will come next. A majority of the book is obviously spent on the two main magicians point of view but I enjoyed being able to read from the point of view of a few select players attached to the circus. The Night Circus was such a captivating book I was disappointed when I had finished reading the story. The ending was just as magical as the whole story and not at all disappointing plot wise, just the fact that I had quickly finished the book left me sad, literally like the "rêveurs" when the circus leaves their town (The "rêveurs" were hardcore fans of ‘The Circus’).

I give this book an amazing five out of five stars!!~~

 안녕!!

수지

~~ The picture is a cover of the book that I took for instagram (even the cover is magical lol) ~~

Korean Drama: High Kick 3! Revenge of the Short Legged (하이킥! 짧은 다리의 역습)

So I recently just finished watching the drama “High kick 3: Revenge of the Short Legged” (하이킥! 짧은 다리의 역습). This was a daily, sitcom style drama that featured: Ahn Nae Sang (안내상), Yoon Yoo Sun (윤유선), Lee Jong Suk (이종석) as Ahn Jong Suk, Krystal from girl group f(x) as Ahn Soo Jung, Yoon Kye Sang (윤계상), Suh Ji Suk (서지석) as Yoon Ji Suk, Park Ha Sun (박하선), Park Ji Sun, Kim Ji Won (김지원), Julien Kang, Baek Jin Hee (백진희), and Kang Seung Yoon (강승윤).

You may have noticed that not all the actors have a separate character name listed. This is because in a sitcom, the names of the characters tend to be the same name as the actors playing them. However I did list the character name if it was in some way different from the actor’s name (mostly the last name).



The drama follows the Ahn family and their neighbors at both home and work. In the very beginning Ahn Nae Sang’s business goes bankrupt and his business partner runs away with the money. His family who is used to living in luxury must learn to live without all the glamour while hiding from their creditors. They end up living with Yoon Yoo Sun’s brothers and learn to adjust living in four-bedroom home with six people. Ahn Nae Sang ends up drilling a hole into the bathroom floor of the neighbors, which paves the way of a new friendship.

Being a sitcom, this drama was mostly hilarious with many fun stories happening. Towards the end of the series, the mood got serious but they never failed to deliver the laughter as well. I absolutely love the character growth that occurs throughout the series, but you don’t truly notice till the very end. With every character’s story line you grew with them and saw how they had changed little by little. The actors really delivered their character well and my favorite was definitely Seung Yoon, who was a rich country boy who thought the world was square.

This lighthearted comedy with a great story line and characters receives an A+ and high recommendation to watch.

안녕!!

수지

PS. Other dramas that the actors have acted in include: The Moon that Embraces the Sun (Ahn Nae Sang), My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox (Yoon Yoo Sun), Secret Garden (Lee Jong Suk), The Greatest Love (Yoon Kye Sang), Manny (Suh Ji Suk), Dong Yi (Park Ha Sun), and To The Beautiful You (Kim Ji Won and Julien Kang).  

~~ Image from http://static.allkpop.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/High-Kick-3-Poster-2.jpg ~~

Korean Drama: Phantom (유령)

This is a belated review for the drama Phantom aka Ghost (유령). It stars So Jisub (소지섭) as Kim Woohyun/Kiwoong, Lee Yeon Hee (이연희) as Yoo Kangmi, and Um Ki Joon (엄기준) as Jo Hyunmin

Phantom follows the members of the Cyber Police Squad as they solve the murder of the actress, Shin Hyo Jung. This however leads to a bigger murder puzzle with the manipulation of one person who is out for revenge. Throw in some intentional mistaken identity, hackers, mystery and no romance (some flirtations here and there) and you got Phantom.   

This drama starts out AMAZING with strong characters and an extremely interesting plot. As I watched the first half of the drama it is very strong and I could not wait for the next episode, but then somehow I lost interest. Maybe it happened because the Olympics were being aired so they didn't air this drama for two weeks, but at some point it felt like a hassle to make time and watch. Looking back at this drama as a whole, the interest in the drama would have lasted if they did not drag out the main plot. After all the major events in the beginning (that leads to the main plot) there were a few episodes that were not truly relevant to the main plot. Like the scriptwriters put the side stories as their own episodes rather than fully incorporate it with the main idea. Do not get me wrong those episodes were very good but at the same time it added to the overall feeling the drama itself were dragged out.  Then there was the ending itself that was not as good as I had originally anticipated. I don't want to give huge spoiler or anything but after the final episode I felt like the plot itself sort of just gave up. The feeling is hard to explain so imagine this: you are working so hard on a project and it is going great. Then towards the end you begin to slack off and next thing you know its due. So you rush and give half the effort you had put in earlier. Then your teacher looks over your project and she is very excited because it looks very good but then your ending is only half as good. What grade does she give you? Probably a C+ or B-, the same grade I would give this drama (love my unnecessary explanation? Lol)

This drama's last few episodes felt like they were not well thought out but I was able to enjoy this drama considering everything else. The actors were amazing as the characters they were playing and the plot was an interesting idea. I honestly think that if the drama was not canceled for two weeks straight I would have better enjoyed the drama. So I definitely recommend you check this drama out or read episode recaps -- whatever you want to do!! Until the next blog post~~

안녕!!

수지

 PS. Check out these other dramas the main actors have also acted in: Scent of a Woman (Um Kijoon), East of Eden (Lee Yeon Hee), and Cain and Abel (So Jisub). 

~~ Image from http://wizard2.sbs.co.kr/sw11/template/swtp_wallpaper.jsp?vVodId=V0000364336&vProgId=1000798&vMenuId=1017167 ~~

Jiminel (AOA) Inspired Makeup Tutorial

If you have been following K-Pop this year, you will have noticed that like last year there are tons of new groups making their debut. This is a makeup tutorial inspired by Jiminel, the leader of the group AOA aka Ace of Angels. They debuted this past summer with the song 'Elvis' which kind of grows on you but does not become a favorite go-to song.

For this look you will need black eyeliner (gel or pencil), green eye shadow (preferably one that has shimmer or glitter), gold and silver glitter eyeliner (you only really need one), and black mascara.

After you prime your eyes, taking your black eyeliner you want to line your top lid and create a wing.

The next step is to line under your eye and connect the line with the top line.

Go over your bottom eyeliner with the green eye shadow then take your glitter eyeliner and go over your bottom line again.

The last steps are to line your water line then curl your lashes and apply mascara. Finished!

안녕!!

수지

Ps. The picture of her eye shadow is a screenshot from the official music video for 'Elvis' so be sure to check it out!!

The Face Shop "Clean Face" Skin Care Line Review

The Face Shop "Clean Face" skin care line review

*Disclaimer: I bought all products with my own money!!~~*

 

The Face Shop is a Korean beauty store that sells both skincare products and makeup. Thankfully a store has opened up in Hawaii at McCully Shopping Center.

The "Clean Face" line consists of face wash, toner, lotion, essence, and cream. I also purchased the post acne brightening serum for scars. It is suppose to be good for those with oily skin and acne with tea tree oil as a main ingredient. I will review the products in the order they should be used.

The face wash does not dry out the skin but is able to clean the skin well. It is not foam or liquid formula but almost gel/cream like (don't really know how to describe it).

Unlike other toners, this toner does not dry out your skin and there is no unpleasant scent.

The serum was also very nice to use and had no strong scent either. When you put on the serum you only need one pump. There is no sticky feeling and your skin is able to absorb the serum quickly. Although the product is good in texture and scent, I do not see any result/change in my post acne scars.    

After the serum, you then apply the lotion. When applying this lotion there is no sticky feeling on the face but rather your hands (which goes away after applying the other steps). It is not very moisturizing but does provide some moisture. Despite the packaging, the lotion comes out quickly so you have to be careful.

The essence is the second to the last step and come in a bottle with a pump -- very irritating! So I like that this product is light and not sticky but it eventually gets harder to pump out. I actually have to take the pump out and try to shake some of the product onto my hand.

The last step of this line is the cream. Despite being called a cream, it has more of a gel like texture and does not moisturize very well.

Overall I love and hate this skin care line. It is not very moisturizing but it does a decent job at keeping my face less oily throughout the day. It does not help with the actual problem of my acne/pores as it is said to do. So i would give this product a C. 

안녕!!

수지

PS. Don't forget that my opinion is based on my own skin. Everybody has different skin types that react differently. While this skin care line did not help my skin it does not mean it won't work for another person. 

Hyuna "Gangnam Style" Inspired Makeup Tutorial

This is a tutorial for Hyuna's (현아) makeup in the music video "Gangnam Style" (강남스타일) by PSY (싸이).  This is another simple look requiring only eyeliner (gel or pencil), black eye shadow, and black mascara. Let's begin!

 As usual the first thing you want to do is prime your eyes. For this look also prime under your eyes.

Then using either black gel or pencil eyeliner, line your bottom lash line and extend it out.

Then line your top lashes with a wing connecting the bottom line. Also fill in the triangular gap with your eyeliner.

Then taking a black eye shadow, go over the eyeliner.

Taking your black eyeliner again, line your water line.

Lastly curl your lashes and apply black mascara.

Another simple K-Pop inspired look finished ^.~

안녕!!

수지

Lee Hyori U-Go-Girl Inspired Makeup

This is another K-Pop inspired makeup look from Lee Hyori's (이효리) music video "U-Go-Girl". For this look you need black eyeliner, mascara, and blue, green, and brown (or black) eye shadow. (For this look I used the colors Shattered, Mildew, and Smog from the Urban Decay Ammo palette I bought from Sephora.)

After you prime your eyelids use your blue eye shadow focusing on the inner third.

Then take a green eye shadow and focus the color on the outer third of your eyelid blending inwards.

If you want to deepen the outer corners take a brown or black eye shadow and focus the color on the outer V of your eye.  You can also reapply the blue if the color has faded.)

Apply your eyeliner drawing out a wing and go over it with black eye shadow.

Lastly curl your eyelashes and apply mascara.

Be sure to wipe off any eye shadow fallout!!~~

안녕!!

수지

PS. Sorry that the colors looked faded towards the end, but you get the gist ^.~

Korean Movie: Deranged (연가시)

So here in Hawaii, the theater in Pearlridge is playing the Korean movie “Deranged” so my whole family went to watch it. Surprisingly it was very good/interesting especially for the sci-fi type genre that I usually do not enjoy watching. This movie starred Kim MyungNim (김명민), Moon JungHee (문정희), Lee HaNui (이하늬), and Kim DongWan (김동완).

Basically a mutated variant of the horseworm parasite, usually found in insects, infects thousands of people and causes them to literally commit suicide unknowingly. The huge death toll makes the situation an emergency health problem nationwide. With only one known cure a father tries to find the medicine for his wife and kids. His brother, a low level cop, is put on the case and discovers how far some people are willing to go for money.

This movie was well acted by the cast and the child actors were beyond adorable. Some moments in the movie are enough to bring tears to the eyes but no big sob fest will occur. There are areas in the movie that could have been better but when you look at the whole picture you do not even notice. My only concern was the translation because this movie was showed with English subtitles. The translation was perfectly fine, but to have an American appeal, in my opinion, they chose an unnecessary swear word. Given that the character was swearing Korean, he definitely was not saying F*** but something more milder. (This is not a big problem since there is almost no cursing but I just personally dislike translations that do that.) Before I forget, unlike some sci-fi thriller movies, this plot is not wild. There are no aliens or anything that could be 100% unrealistic, instead they take horsehair parasite that uses humans as their host rather than animals, and hence the whole mutated variant. Quite disgusting. Another thing I would point out on the side is the title of this movie. The Korean title of the movie is actually the name of the parasite and “Deranged” is the English title that still fits the movie (just think if they gave the movie the literal translation: “Horsehair Parasite” lol).  Anyways I give this movie an A- and definitely recommend this movie to others. The cast was good at playing their characters and the plot was interesting so if you live in Hawaii be sure to check out the movie playing at the theater in Pearlridge shopping mall.

안녕!!

수지

PS.  Unfortunately the only drama I have seen with one of the actors from this movie was the daily drama “Daughter-In-Law” with Moon JungHee. For the others you could Google them and take a look at other dramas/movies they acted in. On a side note, Kim Dongwan is a member of the K-Pop group, Shinhwa. They have been in the business for such a LONG time and continue to promote together as one. Definitely check out their music and take a listen to their most recent song, released early 2012, Venus.

~~ Image from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c7/Deranged-poster.jpg ~~

K-Pop: Girls’ Generation (소녀시대)

In celebration of one of my favorite K-Pop group’s five-year anniversary, I decided that the first K-Pop group I would introduce is Girls’ Generation (소녀시대) aka SNSD (the abbreviation of their Korean name). Any K-Pop fan will know who they are and may or may not be a fan. But for those who do not know who they are here is a quick and simple introduction to the leaders of K-Pop.
SNSD debuted on August 5, 2007 with the song “Into the New World.” They are a group of nine girls whose names are: Taeyeon (태연), Tiffany (티파니), Hyoyeon (효연), Seohyun (서현), Sunny (써니), Jessica (제시카), Sooyoung (수영), Yuri (유리), and Yoona (윤아). Over the last five years they grew to become one of Korea’s top K-Pop group becoming the leaders of the Hallyu (한류) wave.
They found huge success in 2009 with their hit single “Gee.” Since then the popularity of SNSD has only continued to grow one album after the other. Their popularity also expanded overseas and after dominating the music scene in Korea they officially began their activities in Japan in 2011. They released their Japanese album that was met with great success proving they truly are the leaders of K-Pop. They have also released their single “The Boys” in English for the US market in January 2012. SNSD’s most recent activities were their unit promotion “TaeTiSeo” and release of their newest Japanese single “Paparazzi.” I definitely recommend you listen to their music and for more information on SNSD, feel free to use Google or check out soshified and snsdkorean (because that is what the internet is for lol ^.~) 

안녕!!

수지


Ps. Some songs i recommend include: Gee, Twinkle, Love Sick, Sunflower, Be Happy, Tell Me Your Wish, My Best Friend, Run Devil Run (or just listen to all their songs)