Tag: Squad Goals

The Wednesday Five: Things I Love about K-Dramas

Posted December 28, 2022 by Rowena in Features | 2 Comments

I’m a list person. I have a list for every single thing in my life from a to-do list, a list of books that I want to read, a running shopping list, and in the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing different k-entertainment lists that I’ve been keeping track of. You’ll be seeing my top 5 lists of stuff like my current celebrity crushes, my favorite k-drama female protagonists, my favorite k-drama male protagonists, my to-be-watched k-dramas, and you know, stuff like that.

This week’s Wednesday Five will feature five things that I Love about K-Dramas. I’ve got an obsessive personality where once I get into something, I really get into it and I won’t come up for air until I’m over it. It’s been about 2 years since I started watching k-dramas and I’m not seeing any signs of my obsession cooling and it’s mostly because of these five things.

Korean dramas are rich with culture, with unbelievable talent, and they provide the needed escape that I need from my everyday life. I used to only read books for that escape but now I’ve added Korean dramas and I find myself a lot lighter these days because I’m doing a better job of balancing all of the things that I love and not just throwing myself into one of them. So, if you’re a friend or family member of mine and are wondering why I love Korean dramas so much…here you go.

1. The Food

I’ve started, not just eating more Korean food since I started watching k-dramas but I’ve also started making Korean food. Every single drama that I watch has at least three scenes when the characters are eating food that looks amazing, even if it’s just ramen, that shit be looking good as hell. My next thing that I make is going to be one of those rolling egg omelets. Japchae and kimbap are my absolute favorites.

2. The Visuals

There is no denying that there are many, many beautiful people in Korea and a huge chunk of them star in k-dramas. Along with their good looks, they are really good in these k-dramas. Therese is probably sick of my on-going dialogue of, “DAMN HE’S FINE” every ten seconds in every drama that we watch together. I have so many favorite actors and actresses because they be killing the visuals game on these k-dramas. It’s never a bad thing to watch pretty people on screen and that’s why this is one of the reasons I love k-dramas. They introduced me to Park Seo Joon, Kim Tae Hyung, and Lee Hyeri.

3. The Friendships

There have been some solid friendships in almost all of the k-dramas that I watch and each time, I love them more and more. I love all of the friendships too. The bromances, the girl squads, and even the friendships like the one pictured above. Their friendship in particular sticks out as one of my favorite k-drama friendships because the love and care that they showed for each other, always having eachother’s backs through thick and thin is what friendship is all about. No smoldering glances, no hidden romantic love, just a genuine connection of support for the other. K-dramas do such a great job of portraying that and it’s one of the reasons I love watching k-dramas so much.

4. The Romances

I’m a romantic at heart and will always ship and support a love match so it goes without saying that I love the romances in k-dramas. There have been some really good ones too. I love that k-dramas showcase all of the different tropes so well too. There is a k-drama for every trope and the pairings for each k-drama are so good. The visuals I mentioned before, in a second chance romance? Love it. In a unrequited love? Yep, love it. The romance between a gumiho and a college student? Yeah, I’m in! I love romance in all its forms and I love romance in k-dramas the most.

5. The Settings

No matter what k-drama you’re watching, at one point or another, you’re going to be hit in the face with the beauty of Korea. From the different palaces, to the beaches of Busan and Jeju, the fields all over, it’s all super beautiful. Even their amusement parks are beautiful and k-dramas showcase that beauty all the time. It’s one of my favorite things about k-dramas. So much beauty.

What are you some of your favorite things in k-dramas?

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The Wednesday Five: Squad Goals

Posted December 14, 2022 by Rowena in Features | 0 Comments

I’m a list person. I have a list for every single thing in my life from a to-do list, a list of books that I want to read, a running shopping list, and in the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing different k-entertainment lists that I’ve been keeping track of. You’ll be seeing my top 5 lists of stuff like my current celebrity crushes, my favorite k-drama female protagonists, my favorite k-drama male protagonists, my to-be-watched k-dramas, and you know, stuff like that.

This week’s Wednesday Five will feature my favorite friendships, or squad goals. These are my favorite friendship circles from all of the k-dramas that I’ve watched up to date. I laughed, I cried, I happy sighed, with each of these squads and I just adored their dynamic, their love for each other and just them. Period.

1. Reply 1988

Where to Watch: Netflix
Starring: Park Bo Gum, Lee Hyeri, Ryu Joon Yeol

These five are at the very top of my favorite squad goals list. They were everything. Their friendship was crazy and it was fun but they were also very loyal to one another. The way that two of the boys were in love with the one girl in the group and were considerate of each other warmed my heart but I also loved just how silly they were with each other. The way that they looked forward to Taek winning his tournaments so he would buy them all food, the way that they all took turns teaching Taek bad words, how to be a normal kid, and the way that they reacted to each other (especially when they found out that Sun Woo was dating Deok Sun’s sister, haha) and just…everything. These guys were everything.

2. Twenty Five, Twenty One

Where to Watch: Netflix
Starring: Nam Joo Hyuk, Kim Tae Ri, Choi Hyun Wook

These guys were another fantastic friend group. I loved how supportive they were of each other, even when it was hard for them to do so. Hee Do and Yurim’s friendship came a long way but once they became friends, they were tight as hell and I really liked their friendship. Each of them had their own relationship with each other but I really liked the scenes in which they were all together. I mean, it’s hard to top the friendship between Ji Woong and Seung Wan but I thought their collective friendship between the five of them was pretty special and I really enjoyed seeing them.

3. Dear My Friends

Where to Watch: Netflix
Starring: Kim Hye Ja, Na Moon Hee, Go Doo Shim

I watched this show and couldn’t help but hope that my own squad would be just as tight as this squad was in this drama. They were damn near 80 years old, still getting in trouble but close as ever. I loved how they kept showing up for each other, even when it meant that they would get in trouble from kids. I know that I’m going to be giving Brenna fits when I’m older and I’m low key excited about that. I adored the friendship between all of these old ladies, so much so that I want that for myself.

4. Fight for My Way

Where to Watch: Viki
Starring: Park Seo Joon, Kim Ji Won, Ahn Jae Hong

These four were a lot of fun. They were also extremely loyal to each other even through the downs of a couple going through it. I loved how they each knew their place in the friendship and the girls stuck with the girls while the boys did the same. I also loved how supportive they were of each other. Love, love, love these guys!

5. Crash Landing On You

Where to Watch: Netflix
Starring: Hyun Bin, Son Ye Jin, Seo Ji Hye

This squad holds a special place in my heart. I love how loyal they were to their boss and how that loyalty extended to his lady love. These guys were such a joy to watch and seeing them struggle, stumble, and then get back up to try again had me super happy. Adored these guys.

What are some of your favorite k-drama squad goals?

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The Monthly Recap: July 2018

Posted August 7, 2018 by Rowena in Features | 2 Comments

What I Did

Family pictures: My month started off with family pictures on the beach in Redondo Beach. I thought it was going to take much longer than it actually took. There are 9 of us and we all have hella kids between us but we were done within 3 hours. We almost made it through the entire shoot without any issues but then little Caleb fell into the ocean with his cast so between his family pictures and the rest of our big family pictures that we took a couple of hours later, his shorts are 8 shades darker but he’s still a cutie patootie.

The picture above is one with just my siblings and my Pops. We’re missing my sister Ingrid but everyone else is there and I really like this one.

Here’s a picture from me and Brenna’s shots. It’s my favorite. I love the background with the Palos Verdes cliffs, it’s a gorgeous shot.

David’s Funeral: My month ended with a funeral for one of my good friends David. He suffered from depression and struggled with it for a while. I’m going to miss him but am glad that he’s finally at peace. It was really good to see everyone that came out to pay their respects. Lots and lots of our friends from Church came out, which was nice because everyone is so spread out. We have people in Utah, Arizona, all parts of California but everyone came home to say their final goodbyes to David and that made me happy for him.

What I Read

1. Coming Undone (Brown Family #2) by Lauren Dane | 4.25 out of 5
2. The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely | 4 out of 5
3. Every Time You Go Away by Beth Harbison | 3 out of 5
4. Baby Daddy by Kendall Ryan | 3 out of 5
5. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han | 4.5 out of 5
6. P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han | 4.75 out of 5
7. Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han | 4.75 out of 5
8. A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals #2) by Alyssa Cole | 4.25 out of 5

Book Boyfriends

Michael Phan in The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Hunter Cross in I Think I Love You by Lauren Layne
Peter Kavinsky in P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
Peter Kavinsky in Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

What I Reviewed

Good Kids (2016) | 3.75 out of 5
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang | 5 out of 5
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) | 4 out of 5
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts | 4.25 out of 5
I Think I Love You by Lauren Layne | 4.5 out of 5
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han | 4.5 out of 5
Double Standards by Judith McNaught | 4 out of 5
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han | 4.75 out of 5
The Kissing Booth (2018) | 3.25 out of 5
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han | 4.75 out of 5

What I Posted

Week in Review (92)
Monthly Recap: June 2018
Can’t Wait Wednesday: When a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath
Week in Review (93)
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Down with Love by Kate Meader
Week in Review (94)
Can’t Wait Wednesday: The Good Luck Charm by Helena Hunting
Week in Review (95)
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Forget You, Ethan by Whitney G
Throwback Thursday: Saying Goodbye to David
The Weekly Recap (96)
My TBR Pile: August 2018

What I Bought

Save the Date by Carrie Aarons
Crank (The Gibson Boys #1) by Adriana Locke
Cross (The Gibson Boys #2.5) by Adriana Locke
Getting Schooled by Emma Chase
Baby Daddy by Kendall Ryan
Book Boyfriend (Book Boyfriends #1) by Claire Kingsley
Cocky Roommate (Book Boyfriends #2) by Claire Kingsley
The Soldier Prince by Aarti V. Raman
Coming Undone (Brown Family #2) by Lauren Dane
Cocky Client (Steamy Coffee Reads #3) by Whitney G.
Beginner’s Luck (Chance of a Lifetime #1) by Kate Clayborn
Luck of the Draw (Chance of a Lifetime #2) by Kate Clayborn
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend (Kwan Sisters #1) by Jackie Lau
Mr. Hotshot CEO (Kwan Sisters #2) by Jackie Lau
Stay by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

What I Got for Review

All the Way by Kristen Proby
Fight or Flight by Samantha Young

What I Listened To

These are the three most listened to songs for me in the month of July. I have so much love for all of these songs.

What I Watched on TV

I enjoyed each of the shows I watched, even in some parts, 13 Reasons Why Season 2. There was a lot going on and while I was still frustrated with how shitty those kids were, in the end, I’m glad that I watched it. Suits and Take Two are both great shows that I’m really liking and Kims Convenience cracks me up. Goodness I love Asian comedy shows and movies.

What Movies I Watched

1. Forever My Girl (2018) | 4 out of 5
2. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) | 3.75 out of 5
3. How it Ends (2018) | 4.25 out of 5
4. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018) | 3.75 out of 5
Locke (2013) | 3.25 out of 5
Blackway (2015) | 3.5 out of 5
The Loft (2014) | 3.5 out of 5
Love, Simon (2018) | 5 out of 5
The Commuter (2018) | 4.25 out of 5

What I Loved

Having this guy around…

There you have it, the month of July in my life. How did your July treat you? Read anything good? Do anything fun? Share in the comments!

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Throwback Thursday (10)

Posted May 5, 2016 by Rowena in Features | 2 Comments

TBT

When I was younger and in the Youth at Church, every summer we went to Young Women’s Girls Camp and my partner in crime was always Hanah. There aren’t a lot of memories from Church back in the day that don’t involve Hanah. Whether I was helping her boyfriend at the time figure out how to see her or talking about anything and everything at her house, my house or in Young Women’s class, we were always together.

..and I have a lot of pictures to back up that statement. This week’s throwback picture is from Girls Camp when we were, around 15 and 16 (Hanah’s a year older than me). I don’t remember much about where this picture was taken but I do know it was taken after our big camp picture that we took every year.

Wena and Hanah

Look at us, we were freaking babies! I can’t believe it!

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Book Club: Own the Wind by Kristen Ashley

Posted May 4, 2016 by Rowena in Features | 2 Comments

Book Bunch 1

April’s book club meeting was the first meeting of the year that we had to postpone and surprisingly, that was my fault. Meghan’s basketball banquet was on the same day we planned to meet up for book club so I moved the date back and I’m hoping against hope that it won’t be an every month thing. We’re trying to keep things on track each month and I want to keep that going.

This month also marks the second month that I was a group picture failure. We didn’t take a group picture again this month. Ehh. I need to put Tasha in charge of making sure that we take pictures each month.

Book Club Book
Own the Wind
Own the Wind (Chaos #1) by Kristen Ashley.

Too hot to handle…

Tabitha Allen grew up in the thick of Chaos—the Chaos Motorcycle Club, that is. Her father is Chaos’ leader, and the club has always had her back. But one rider was different from the start. When Tabby was running wild, Shy Cage was there. When tragedy tore her life apart, he helped her piece it back together. And now, Tabby’s thinking about much more than friendship…

Tabby is everything Shy’s ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can’t have. She’s beautiful, smart, and as his friend’s daughter, untouchable. Shy never expected more than friendship, so when Tabby indicates she wants more—much more—he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn…

This month, we met up at Black Bear Diner in Signal Hill to get our discussion on and everyone was in attendance. We had a straight up discussion on what we thought about the book and as far as enjoyment went, we were split down the middle.

Lilo didn’t like the book at all, while B Nice said it wasn’t her favorite but Tasha and I? WE LOVED IT. Haha.

Book Club Thoughts

Hero: Tasha and I loved Shy while B Nice remained of the opinion that he wasn’t her favorite and Lilo hated him. Everything that Lilo hated Shy for are the very reasons that both Tasha and I loved him. Lilo thought Shy was an asshole who was too alpha and too dark for her tastes. She didn’t like the parade of women at the club house and the way that he broke Tabby’s heart. She felt that he was cruel. Tasha and I loved the fierceness of his feelings for Tabby…the way that he stood by her, the way that he comforted her when her fiance’ died and the way that he stood his ground when he was cast as the black sheep of the MC for daring to bang the president’s daughter. In my eyes, he was Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy and just like with Jax, I forgave Shy everything. Both Tasha and I adored him.
Heroine: We were all in agreement that for a huge chunk of the book, Tabby was a freaking brat. When we first meet her and she’s being followed by the MC so they can watch her back and she keeps getting herself into trouble that the guys have to bail her out of, we were all not fans of that. But she does grow up and even though she still had her moments where she drove me nuts, we all liked when she stood her ground where Shy was concerned and we loved how she called both her father and Tyra on their shit.
Story: Tasha and I read this book a while ago and after reading it the first time, we were absolutely in love with the book. We were in love with everything about the book but after this last re-read, the story itself didn’t hold up to all the love we had for it the first time around. B Nice remains unchanged in her opinion that while she enjoyed the romance between Shy and Tabby, the story itself was a bit much for her. It was raw and gritty and that’s not really her thing. Lilo felt much the same way as B Nice but while B Nice was more “meh” about the story, Lilo was “ugh”.

We picked this book last month cause Tasha and I were curious to see if Lilo and B Nice would enjoy something like this…now we know. Haha.

Most Memorable Scene: Hmmm, we didn’t talk about this last night. Mostly we talked about the book as a whole.
Pimp Worthy: Even though Tasha and I didn’t LOVE the book as much this time around, we still thought the book was pimpworthy. Lilo and B Nice? Nah.

Book Club Next Book


Falling into Bed with a Duke and The Earl Takes All (Hellions of Havisham #1 & #2) by Lorraine Heath.

It would appear that my book club is all about the historical romances these days. B Nice is reading a bunch of them and loving them while Lilo was curious about this set of books so it was decided that these are the books we’re discussing next month.

I can’t freaking wait!

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