IRIS: A New Species of Asian Drama

I started watching IRIS yesterday, a relatively new Korean drama about secret agents, assassinations, and backstabbing in politics. I think this is really my cup of tea because I don't have to watch the same old cookie cutter storyline for 40 episodes only to watch the one fated kiss happen ... 50 times in all sorts of angles and zoom.

The male lead, Kim Hyun Joon (played by Lee Byung-Hun), can actually act. He's not the typical prissy rich pretty boy who likes to give the nice girl a living hell, he's 100% man and quirky and realistic. Why can't dramas stick closer to how real boys are instead of giving millions of girls headaches and false ideals? It's a pity because it's been said that Byung-Hun won't be starring in the next season IRIS 2 : ( Even his English is impressive, but it confounds me that some of the Europeans even have strange Asian-like accents. And don't even get me started on some characters' awful attempt to speak Chinese.

The whole show is only 20 episodes, so it's short, sweet, and there's not a second wasted. The main lady, Choi Seung Hee (played by Kim Tae Hee) is not a damsel in distress, but rather a pretty, butt-kicking agent who knows how to flirt and talk back. I usually give up hoping for character development, but there is some serious acting going on here and I love it. Jung Joon-Ho plays Jin Sa Woo (I personally think he looks like Matthew Perry's Korean twin) and is pretty darn good at playing the shy, modest best friend hide-tanner. One character that confounds me to no end is the effeminate super-killer with the well-groomed eyebrows and baritone voice (T.O.P.?) ... Asian dramas can't settle for being normal now, can they?

I like that this show also appeals to boys. Perfect for snuggling up with your honey bunny and hearing him not complain for once, but rather enraptured in the boom explosion blood splurt. My inner tomboy is enjoying the visual vacation.

Everyone's so well dressed in sleek blacks and the romantic parts aren't too mushy and drawn-out, but rather tasteful, surprising, and smile-inducing. Oh man, this is going to rival Fated to Love You in my book. I'm only on Episode 4 and I'm certain that I'll be grabbing onto the edge of my seat til the very end.

If you're interested and need English subtitles, Mysoju is the place to be. I also discovered www.dramabeans.com, a site that spills the beans on gossip and news pertaining asian dramas and gives picture-filled episode recaps. Grab some ramen and get in on the action!

Favorite Perfume: Victoria's Secret Endless Love

I highly dislike perfume. It smells froofy, old, too musky, too flowery, always wrong. Body sprays are usually more bearable because of the fruitiness, but I never happily wore a scent until I found this: Victoria Secret's Secret Garden Collection's Refreshing Body Mist in Endless Love.

My boyfriend thinks it smells like candy, I can't even put a finger on what the true scent reminds me of, but it's sweet, not too sugary, not too flowery, not too high-end old-lady perfume. Victoria's Secret describes it as: "An irresistable blend of pomegranate and apple blossom with peach and ylang ylang." Sounds quite agreeable, doesn't it? In case you're wondering, ylang ylang is also know as the cananga tree or perfume tree, and its oils are extracted for use in aromatheraphy. Olfactory bliss.

I'm crazier about some of their scents than others, but below is the description list for all the scents in the Secret Garden Collection (click on the image to zoom in).

The Hydrating Body Lotion is also fantastic and very moisturizing. You can purchase these items at any Victoria's Secret or on the website. Both products are $9 for 8.4 oz. They will last you a long time! Currently, there is a sale: 3/$24, 5/$30, or 8/$35. Stock up while you can and enjoy!

Forever 21 Trend: Military and Biker Jackets

For Winter 09-10, Forever21 has been offering a wide selection of military-inspired jackets, complete with hook-and-eye designs across the front and gold buttons to give off the 18th century England vibe. While the blazers and vests are not the most feminine items on the market, they are slimming and give off an air of command. From the sheer number of designs and styles in stock, I would say that these jackets are quite popular, but I personally haven't seen anyone wear them. (Left: Metallic Fleck Military Blazer $34.80. Right: Military Jewel Jacket $32.80)


Could they be a tribute to Michael Jackson, somehow? The 50-year-old King of Pop recently passed away but many fans are not ready to let go. They live on in his music, his passion for dance, and his fashion sense. For about $35 a pop, you can get a lovely rendition of his unstoppable style and moonwalk your way out of the mall.

When I search "military" on Forever21's website, I get 48 results - mostly jackets, some tshirts, dresses, even leggings. These dark-wash, slimming jackets will keep you warm, while showing everyone who wears the pants.

On the other side of the scale lies the biker jackets. I have been craving one of these rough-and-ready, rebellious babies for a while now, and there's nothing that says HARDCORE better than faux leather with lots of zippers where they shouldn't be. The angled collars and back-to-black give a little kick to our styles. Load on the black eyeliner, tie a super high ponytail, strap on the boots and you're ready to go. It doesn't matter if you're going to the movies, to Grandma's house, or to the dirt bike trail, everyone will think you just stepped off your still-hot Harley.

Again, these jackets go for about $30 and are incredibly stylish.
(Row 1 from left: Zippered Snap Moto Jacket $32.80; Faux Leather Vest $27.80; Row 2: Biker Style Vest $32.80; Harley Boot $36.80

Resolutions To Ring In The New Year

And I definitely slept through the ball drop - oops

It's the final hours of 2009 on the West Coast, and I've already been celebrating with friends in other time zones across the country. Happy New Year, everyone!

I can't remember a single year in which I made resolutions and remembered them long enough to keep them. This year will be different - I'm all about practicality and little steps, because those are the building blocks to success. And I'm also throwing out any mention of exercise because I am a terrible person who likes to sit. All day. Unmoving. This doesn't mean I won't exercise at all ... I'll be sure to hit up the Estrogym with a good book.

Without much further ado, here is the list in no particular order of importance:

1) Keep up with Orgo
Terribly simple plan, isn't it? BUT IT'S SO HARD TO FOLLOW. Sometimes I simply don't want to look at another problem again in my life, but alas, that is unavoidable. So, to shoot for a better grade than fall semester and to conquer the Vlad, I will assign myself daily sections and do all the end of chapter problems.

2) Dress better
If you WashU kids don't already know, my fashion sense can be best described as "bumtastic." I sport my nerdy dark framed glasses (they do slide off the bridge of my nose too), wear my trusty WashU sweats (perfectly tattered at the bottom due to my short little legs), and pile on the cardigans and sweatshirts. Let's all be honest here - that's not attractive. I also feel incredibly sluggish in that attire, so it's time to start dressing to impress. Better self-esteem, more attentiveness, and looking less like a hobo, here I come!

3) Don't be a bitch
Under stress, people tend to lash out every once in a while. I did a lot of that this semester because it was easy to vent and throw hissy fits when things weren't going my way, when I was not sleeping well and propping up my baggy eyes with cup after cup of coffee. My friends don't deserve that kind of treatment when they've been nothing but wonderful to me. Stress is an inevitable thing, but that doesn't mean I can keep snapping at people who care about me because I woke up on the wrong side of bed (or too early).

4) Work hard, play hard
Here's the deal. I'm actually going to be living inside the library or NSLC religiously on weekdays. I work enough to get "good" grades, but they can be way better and I could be learning much more efficiently. So why not turn this into a GOOD habit that's hard to break? On the weekends, there will be time for partying (it's been absolutely forever), reading for pleasure, watching movies, enjoying life. Working diligently M-F is better than cramming everything and playing catch-up on those well-deserved weekends.

Meanwhile, I will try to eat less half and half's (or is it .. half and halves?) and run/bike while memorizing those mechanisms, and perhaps master the art of wearing ridiculous high heels for 5 hours at a time.

Enjoy 2010, friends! Make the most out of all 365.25 days!