Well, we have Part 4... Summertime, yay!

My dear!

The last post was really long so I decided to split the final paragraphs into another publication, which I hope, will be more interesting for you.
The weather these days have been really hot and I can finally say that it's summer! But let me continue...

Music

Okay, here are my music suggestions for May, June and the beginning of July!

First it's my favourite Korean voice Zion. T! Ahh, I heard this song in the drama we watched with granny but more details about it later! It's a very sweet ballad - Zion. T - Kiss Me .

I don't think that I have mentioned BIGBANG to you before but they are finally back! Not that I am among the others who have waited for them to make a comeback for the last... three years (or something like that), simply because I have known about their existence since last year. But they are already among my favourite groups. (But I DON'T like Fantastic Baby )

I was really impressed by Taeyang's solo album Rise which came out last summer. It's rare for me to like all the songs in an album and I am sure that this applies to you, too. So, basically Taeyang won my heart with his voice (not with the muscles, dear fangirls, I watched the video of Eyes, Nose, Lips  at least two months after I discovered his awesome music). Usually I don't have the time to watch a music video (MV) so if the song pleases me, I put it on my playlist and listen to it... Well, summer 2014 was marked with Taeyang's Rise songs and among them some of G-Dragon's crazy pieces of music. I actually wanted to see the videos after I heard some of GD's songs. This man doesn't know decency, haha! (Of course I mean this in a good way.)

Anyway, this year they are having their moment of spotlight with an album called MADE. Actually the full-length album will be out in September but until then they will release singles from it at the beginning of each month (starting from May), like mini-projects, using the letters from their album (M, A, D, E). So far they have released... five videos and six songs. I like almost all of them but I will recommend only three of them to you. What can I say? Originality at its finest meaning. At least in my opinion. As far as I know, this kind of promotions hasn't been done in the western show business. Several months of concerts, new songs and enough presence under the spotlight. Their fans must be thrilled! Take notes from South Korea, people! 

So, starting from M: Loser. "Loser" is a song that you want to listen to while walking under the cool rain, so typical for the beginning of May. There is this sweet, almost childlike tune which you hear while listening to the song. Their voices combine perfectly during the chorus and everything escalates smoothly in Taeyang's part. Not to mention that the lyrics contribute perfectly to the pain that wants to be sung. Beautiful. Just beautiful. I really hope that you will like it!

The next song is BANG BANG BANG. It's literally a crazy three-in-one kind of a song. At first you feel the fast and juicy dance rhythm while Taeyang, T. O. P. and Seungri are singing and then G -Dragon comes and... "spoils" everything with a dramatic turn - BANG x3. 

After the initial shock you begin to like the song during the second part, even though (if you have the chance to watch it) at this moment GD is holding a woman with a chain (like a dog). Imagine my shock, when I decided to see what's going on during this part (because I really enjoyed listening to it) and end up seeing this... Red pants and glitter. Ouch! 

And finally, let's not forget the final mad part where they are all dancing. If you have already not jumping around screaming, I am not sure what can make you do so. The song is hilariously good! (BANYA, BANYA, BANYA!*) And its pure complexity cannot bore you. Pure, because you hear clear sounds. Complex, because, you listen to a deliciously made mixture of three songs. Nice job!

(*Banya= баня - bathroom in Bulgarian)

Third song: If You. Ahhh, such a beautiful song! Masterpiece! You have this feeling that their voices pour from the deepest corners of their souls.
I finally understood why they didn't make a MV for it (after checking on Wikipedia, out of curiosity) - they wanted their listeners to focus on the music and lyrics, not the video. Smart. And necessary, after all those crazy videos, haha!

The other three songs from MADE project I didn't mention are also good, but I think I needed more time to get used to them. I still need some time for Sober actually, but Bae Bae and We Like to Party are already on my playlist. If you like the songs I already recommended, you can check these, too. Especially Bae Bae, it is closer to your preferences. But don't expect a good MV. ;)

View from SHINee is like the perfect song for a summer road trip. Fresh and youthful, it can even be your autumn song reminding you of some of the best nights from this summer. Sadly, it's one of the few songs I enjoyed from their new album Odd. The vibes which I get from the album are really mixed. Not bad, but I get this feeling that it's made from leftovers which couldn't make it in the albums from the Misconceptions Era. Well, you can't expect them to be always the same. But still I really dislike that SMEnt. tries to apply the same pinky concept to almost all their artists. Girl groups like Red Velvet and SNSD are okay, but SHINee... weeeeell, not so much. (Although Minho's eyes are really cool!) Anyway, I am really happy that they are back. They looked really relaxed and had fun promoting. It's good that their company didn't put so much pressure on them during these promotions.

On the other hand, Love Me Right (K's version and M's version) was like a second EXO comeback for this year. In "comeback" I mean hard and tiring promotions which exhaust the singers completely. The song comes from the repackage Exodus album, called Love Me Right. Hmmm.
I just can't understand the whole point of repackaged albums, especially when they are released almost exactly after the original ones. For me it is a way for the company to earn more money using 2-3 new songs (+ some new photos) from the blinded fangirls who are ready to go bankrupt just to buy everything connected to their favorite band.
Anyway, the song is likeable. I think I prefer the Chinese version, because Yixing's voice can be heard in many parts and it is amazing. SMEnt., please let that boy sing more! It's a kind of Western-style type of music and maybe that distinguishes it from Call Me Baby which smells like Kpop. They say that "Call Me Baby" had to be sexier, while "Love Me Right" has more happier feeling, but I think it is the opposite. The MV is awful and not appropriate for people who suffer from epilepsy, though. I think they tried to mix and stuff several concepts in a 4-minute video which turned like a mess (thank you, Tumblr users for the separated GIFs of the MV!).

Movies and dramas

As I mentioned above, I started watching an interesting drama, called Pinocchio. I must say that this is the most dynamic Kdrama I have ever watched. Even "Gap Gong" had some of those boring filling moments. But this one is different. A lot of drama at the beginning, but after that you are thrown into the hectic life of reporters who strive to catch the news and present it in the best possible way. Themes like being honest and responsible for watch you say are implied deeply in these series, but at one point you begin to wonder which way is the better - to lie or tell the truth?... I highly recommend this drama to you, you won't be disapointed! 

Fashion and other stuff

Recently I happened upon some interesting fashion blogs. Style Scrapbook is my favorite of them all. Song of Style, Le Happy and Fashionsquad are the others. Check those stylish ladies, they are gorgeous!

I am posting two photos from Urban Outfitters' facebook page. Beige sandals and black shoes - what more do you need?

 

Next week I will show you photos of my manicure which I made with the gift you gave me back in April! I hope that you will have some time to answer me. I know that you are in Paris now so make some photos for me, girllll! Haha!
Enjoy your summertime, darling! Kisses!

R.

Long time no see - Part 1

Hello, my dear! It has been a while...

We haven't posted as much as we should after our wonderful (but short) week back in April. Our baby blog has some growth issues, haha! I think we have to come with a sort of posting schedule, because, let's face it - our update timeline is a mess. :)

Anywayyy... I am going to write a really long post but it will be divided in three parts (according to the initial plan). So many things have happened after you left and I am pretty sure that even you have a lot to talk about but don't have the time to write here. So thank you for sharing those interesting things in your latest post! 

It's July and it's officially summer! Actually, the weather here is awful these days - it's raining almost every evening and the nights are extremely cold. Not that I am complaining, but I hate humid weather. Where are my hot days and fresh watermelons?! Ugh...

I will start with a brief summary of what you wrote last time in order to review everything. It's a good idea to use small sections (rubriques) - easier for us to organize our thoughts. ;)

You look amazing in that photo from you birthday party!!! Is that the dress you showed me when I was staying at your place last summer? A beautiful young lady! (And all those little toasts you made with your mom, awww, I am already hungry!)

Thank you for your compliment about my rice cooker! Actually I still use it, but not to cook rice in it - most of the time I make quinoa or steam veggies and I am planning to prepare some buckwheat tomorrow. I love rice, but even the smallest required quantity is a lot for me to eat. My granny said that it's too dry for her to eat and I don't have any device to warm it at work, so, yeah, it's a bit cold and dry for me, too. While we are on the theme, I want to tell you that I started eating more healthy! Of course I have my cravings sometimes (CHIPS AND ICE CREAM, PLEASE!), but I try to maintain a balanced food regimen. And I try not to surrender to my cravings during the weekend, because it's the most dangerous time. It's really hard to motivate myself to start running though...

I see that you have some difficulties with finding a job. Don't worry! It's hard sometimes but while searching you will understand your preferences and what you exactly want from your future position. Even if it's a summer job or a full-time job, you have to strive for a workplace where you are happy and satisfied. The balance between a creative and stable job position is important. If it's not interesting enough, it will be boring and you will feel apathetic. And if you feel that you are not developing, then the CDI is not the answer. At some point granted work stability makes you feel mediocre and a young and clever person like you doesn't need this. Sadly, sometimes only the boring types of jobs (or the administrative ones) can grant you longer occupied position. Of course, this is my point of view. The most important thing is being happy with the work you do, so keep searching and don't give up! :)

I'm really sorry for the delayed photos of the shoes! Shame on me! So, here are some photos of the slip-on sneakers with the golden chains I bought from AliExpress. (Sorry for the awful quality.) I am also putting two photos of my little cousin wearing them when we went to Varna in May and one when they came in Ruse in June, but I will write about this later.

 

I saw some photos of your sandals and the pink top on Instagram! I love them! You are absolutely gorgeous! 90's vibes!

You have chosen very calming songs. Armin's song is already on my playlist! Summer tunes indeed!

I don't think that we will be able to eat that much food or even to visit our favourite Chinese restaurant after what we did last time! It was traumatic binge eating, hahaha! Maybe we should cook it ourselves like we did last summer. And not eat that much. :D

So, that was part one. Not summarized in the best way, but still it's something after a long time! In parts two and three I am going to write about the last couple of months (May and June). Not much to say, but there will be more photos and, hopefully, less text.

Take care and wait for my next posts!

Love,

R.

It’s finally spring time!

 

Dear Oli,

The photos are amazing! Barcelona is indeed a magical city! You’ve been to so many places there! I wish we could revisit it together some day! And we will! :)

It seems that these days we don’t have much time to write to each other here. I know that you are busy now-tests and assignments and your days must be really hectic. I can’t wait to see you in a few weeks!!! Remember when we decided to start this blog several months ago? Wooow, can you realize that it has been like… two and a half seasons since then?! Spring is finally (and officially) here! And we have a lot to catch up!

So, what’s new… I HAVE A RICE COOKER! Hahaha! My father made me a present for the International Women’s Day! It was such a surprise! 

 

 

My granny wasn't so impressed, haha! For her it is “another thing that takes so much space”.

You can see the steamed veggies I also made. They were really delicious!

Work

So, apparently there was a job offer last week which was kind of interesting, but I decided not to apply. The reason-well, the position could not grant me the stability and the kind of development I want to pursue. Anyway, I keep looking for new and tempting offers, yet I am not sure in all my abilities anymore, but that’s another topic (probably some day I will get really drunk and confess everything here).

 The job must be something really creative and (most of the time) fun, but also something that can ensure a kind of stability. Sounds VERY confusing, right? Some may say that creative people can’t be sure about their nearest future and it’s really difficult to land a job that’s creative and at the same time can grant you the next five years. Yes, that’s true. And no, I don’t want to stay forever in one job position. But these days it is really hard for young people to find something that’s worth it for more than six or nine months. Usually young people get kicked out after a short period, simply because of multiple reasons. I won’t continue writing on this topic, because it’s long and boring. I like my current job, it’s not so stressful and the money I get is good, but I am a young person and I want to keep developing and keep learning new things. After all, we spend most of the time working, right?

Bonus photo: Can you believe that they still use audio tapes during meetings?! I know, it's so old school and vintage, but you can see  they are new. Apparently there are some manufacturers who still produce them. Nice touch of the past.

Fashion

I recently got interested in gradient nails. It’s my new obsession although I have done them like this only two times. I am putting a photo of my first (and more successful) attempt to do gradient nails.

This week I went to the hairdresser. My hair is officially well cut, yay! I will have to wait until summer to make it even shorter, but now it is fine. No trace of the princess-like length which is a bit sad but after the disaster last year I think that I got used to the idea that I will have to wait again for longer hair. But it’s nothing to worry about. ;)

My new shoes are still in the box because of the cold weather but I think that the upcoming week I will have the chance to put them on. I don’t have a photo of them maybe I will post of I don’t forget. They are black Oxford-style velour shoes with some patent leather. Nice, huh? :)

It’s Seoul Fashion Week! Actually I am more interested in Seoul Street Style during SFW, hahaha! I found really good images of interesting combinations of clothes on Tumblr, but there’s no point to post them here when they are not mine. The point is that people in Korea for example are more innovative and bold when it comes to combination of clothes. And even though we all think that the West influences the East, I dare to say that in many cases it is the opposite. Of course this is my personal oppinion. ;) 

Music and Drrraaamaaaas

Granny and I are currently watching Gap-dong. This, my dear, is a very dangerous k-drama to watch! Not because it’s a crime story, but because it’s addicting! Awesome cast, awesome acting and, as of episode 6, a very good storyline. I strongly recommend this drama to you if you have some free time in the nearest future!

This is the BG poster I found in the Eastern Spirit forum

Another series that caught my attention last summer was It's Okay, That's Love. We managed to  watch it last month and we were really impressed by it. The drama may look like another love story – two people fighting at the beginning and then falling in love, but this time you have more serious topics in it. You end up crying and laughing almost at the same time. It’s a good drama, watch it! You will also see some familiar faces there. 

The soundtrack is also a sweet thing to listen to. There are several songs that are on my playlist but there is this one that makes me burst into laughter everytime I listen to it. It may not be a song for you to put in your playlist but it reminds of so many funny moments of the drama that at the end you fall into it’s rhytm. It also has that Balkan feeling in it, althought it’s made by Canadians (as I remember). It's my alarm. Can you imagine something like this to wake you up every morning? Funny and sunny. :D :D :D

Little Suns - Sunboat 

Of course, not to forget Chen-Chen’s awesome contribution to the soundtrack:  Chen - Best Luck

Speaking of Jongdae’s magical voice abilities (Chen from EXO) and, of course, mentioning EXO… Last weekend was insane for some K-pop fans. Even I was about to explode at some point.

Actually, the thing I was the most excited about was SHINee’s Tokyo Dome concerts. Two days. So many people. Live performances, lots of sweat and tears… I am so proud of them! 

The image is taken from Tumblr :)

They also said that there will be a new album in Korea untill the end of 2015. As I know SM Entertainment I’m pretty sure that the boys are already halfway done with the album. Can’t wait for their new concept!

Also, for some reason, SM Entertainment decided to hold the two remaining concerts of EXO at the same time…in Seoul. There you go-our sweet Baozi showed his fresh (and sexy, damn it!) abs, Jongin (Kai) cried, all the boys were literally stripping behind see-through tent (not sure of the word here) and many other things that shocked the hearts of schoolgirls and crazy fans in Korea (and abroad). 

Whose idea was this???

For me it was funny and at the same time sad, because SM uses this tactic for money (of course). Taemin form SHINee also performed half-naked in Tokyo, even Key wore some kind of S&M leather...things on him (ironically enough I mean sado-m... but it looks almost like the name of their company). Almost all of the boys usually are very shy and to see them like this may be exciting but I am pretty sure they do not do this because they really want to do it.

Anyway, I’m not the type to analyze or criticise, this is show business after all.

Their comeback is expected at the end of March and the company already began showing some mystery teasers which put the fandom in some crazy-calculating state. 

There are so many things I want to tell you about but it's really late and tomorrow is Monday so... I should write here more, even if it's about something small. 

I can't wait to see you soon! Good luck with all tests, assignments and exams! Have faith in your abilities! You can do it! 

P. S. I am posting two photos of the cookies we made with granny with the stamp you gave me as s present. Sorry for the delay!!! 

Hugs, 

R.