For those who don't know - I love K-drama shows. I've shared bits of my interest in a few of my vlogs on YouTube but I've never gone into detail about them. I actually didn't start watching Korean shows until just a few years ago and since then, I have been hooked. I didn't realize how good TV shows could really be until I started to watch Korean drama shows. For any K-drama enthusiasts out there, I thought I'd share some of my favorites so far, and maybe even discover some new ones too!

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    When it comes to K-drama shows, I have genres that are my favorite. For example, I love comedy, and Korean comedy is unlike anything I've watched before. Their comedy is heartfelt, relatable, and so refreshing compared to American TV shows - no offense. I also enjoy Romance too - I use to cringe to the idea of watching romantic shows because I could never get into them but the story telling on most Korean dramas is so well done, that you're immersed into them before you can second guess yourself.

    With that said, I want to jump into my favorite K-drama shows. It's a long list and I may even cut this post into a second part in case it's too long. Also, if anyone has suggestions for me on new K-dramas to watch, please let me know in the comment section as I need new ones to watch! Heads up too,  this posts has minor spoiler alerts so read at your own risk!

Playful Kiss

1. Playful Kiss

    Playful kiss is a show about a young girl who has a love/hate relationship with a boy from school. While she struggles academically in school, a boy out of her league catches her attention despite their major differences. However, their relationship proves to be complicated as the two not only have a hard time getting along but they are constantly bumping into one another. The show itself has a nice amount of comedy, moments of sweet romance, and even emotional parts that are so relatable. This romantic comedy is a must watch and one of my top favorites! The fact that young Jung So-min is in it, is just an added bonus.

Monthly Magazine Home

2. Monthly Magazine Home

    As you guessed, anything with Korean actress Jung So-min is bound to capture my heart. She plays her roles so well and she's so dedicated to every one of them that I can't help but adore her. Monthly Magazine Home is a show about a girl whos home gets bought out my a greedy wealthy business man. As she struggles to find a home she can call her own and to support herself even, she ends up dreadfully working with the same business man who took her home in the first place. This show has moments that really left me emotional - making me cry and laugh at the same time. It truly opens your eyes on how special a home really is and how success can help you achieve the home of your dreams.

True Beauty

3. True Beauty

    Who doesn't like a good love triangle story? True Beauty may be known for it's romance, but to me it was much more than that. It was actually hard for me to watch this show because it covered topics that I myself could relate to; bullying, suicide, insecurities. The show revolves around a young girl who for so long struggles with accepting her looks. She turns to makeup to boost her self-esteem and  later befriends a boy who also has a past of his own. Together they lean on one another for support, helping each other through their own troubles. This show not only opens up on the devastating effects of bullying, but also the importance of loving yourself for who you are. 

What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?

4. What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?

    Besides the fact that I have a crush on Park Seo-joon, this show is hilarious and full of romantic moments that take your breath away and put you in a feel-good mood. Not only is the chemistry between Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young on point, but the plot is so entertaining. The story revolves around a secretary who ends up leaving her boss to take time off to care for herself. The boss isn't used to be told no though and does whatever he can to win her back. This comedy/romance show has it's cute moments but also dips into hidden fears that bring the pair together. If you need a good show to cuddle up on the couch to - this is definitely one!

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

5. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

    One of my absolute favorites - and one that I re-watch so often - this show wins my heart no matter how much time passes. This coming of age show highlights a young girl who aims to become a great athlete while at the same time she struggles to tap into her feminine side. As she discovers love for the first time and realizes she has no idea what to do with herself, the story unfolds to be so funny and romantic yet down to earth. Whenever I am having a bad day - or week for that matter - this show always cheers me up.

Itaewon Class

6. Itaewon Class

    This show really hit big and for good reasons. The story line is intense and focuses on a young man who's life is turned upside down by a viscous business man. As the young man builds his wealth from the ground up, he experiences great competition along with it. This show tugs at your heart and sheds light on the importance of perseverance, no matter how hard life becomes. While this show is full of emotions that hit a nerve within you, it also has moments of love and even comedy. I had Dimitar watch this show with me and he was hooked after the first few episodes - which says a lot since he's not really into K-drama like I am!

Hello My Twenties

7. Hello My Twenties

    Also known as Age of Youth, this coming of age show brings together five girls who learn to work around each other's unique personalities and needs - did I mention they're also roommates too? As you immerse yourself into the girls diverse lifestyle together, you also take a dip into all of their lives which reveals their own troubling past. Full of rich comedy, friendship, and heartfelt drama, this show reminds us of the importance of friendship, but also the importance of healing the past.

Crash Landing On You

8. Crash Landing On You

    Crashing Landing On You is an amazing show! If you haven't watched it yet - do it - you won't regret it. A successful, yet relentless, business woman struggles with her own ties with her family and one day disappears after an accident. She ends up finding herself stuck in North Korea where her whole life turns upside in a flash. Just when she fears the worst, she befriends a North Korean Officer and his comrades. Full of action, romance, and heart felt moments, this show really leaves you on the edge of your chair out of anticipation. Also, Son Yen-jin's acting skills are incredible and really pull you deeper into the show to experience each scene for yourself.

Because This Is My First Life

9. Because This Is My First Life

    This is another show that I find myself re-watching when I am having a bad week. It's so relatable to me on so many levels that it only adds to my admiration for Jung Son-min. The story is about a girl who is constantly moving around because she finds herself being surrounded by people who take advantage of her. She ends up meeting a man who is desperate for a trustworthy roommate that the unusual duo end up living together and marrying out of mutual interests. This feel good show not only left me emotional, but gave me so many good laughs too. Lee Min Ki and Jung Son-min work together so well and I look forward to watching more from them in the future!

Fight For My Way

10. Fight For My Way

    Fight For My Way is such a motivating show to watch that it's easy to see why this show captured my heart. You take a dip into the lives of a young girl and boy who have known each other since their school years. As both grow up and encounter struggles that weigh heavy on their shoulders, they eventually rely on each other to lift each others spirits to pursue their dreams. The dynamic pair in this show really inspired me because it reminded me that with every success story, there are struggles behind them and it's through a strong support system that makes the journey worthwhile. 

Record of Youth

11. Record of Youth

    This cute story reveals the life of three friends who work hard to achieve their goals despite the struggles they endure. As fame and success are priority for all of them, they all adjust with finding their own identity in a demanding world. With hard work, passion, and the right mind-set, this show reminds viewers that while you may not know what to expect from life, it's important to stay true to yourself and to follow your heart. This show wouldn't be complete either if it didn't have a love triangle of it's own!

Live

12. Live

    Live is one of the few Korean crime TV shows that I have come to really enjoy. It takes you on a journey of young cadets in the Patrol Division who follow the lead of their superiors. This show is more on the serious side as it reveals the everyday life of a Patrol officer, and it's not always pretty either. Filled with raw emotions and troubling cases, I love this show for the fact that it stays true to the issues Patrol Officers commonly face in real life. 

    

Start - Up

13. Start - Up

    Isn't Nam Joo-hyuk so dreamy - ugh - it's too much to handle sometimes. Anyways though, Start-Up is full of ups and downs that really leave you immersed in the story line. I cried so many times because of the hardships the characters end up enduring as they both strive for success. The story covers two young adults who are both hungry and determined to achieve their goals. With a first love that takes place at an early age, the story reveals a twist that only gets better as the show progresses. It's a must watch for sure!

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    And there you go! These are some of my top favorite Korean Drama shows that I really enjoy as of 2022. I could definitely use some more suggestions though so if you have any recommendations for me, I'd love to hear them! Also, if you've watched any of the shows I've mentioned in this post, let me know your thoughts on them too!

Until next time! xoxo - Sarah

    It's been awhile since I last went to a spa. I'm normally not the kind of person who craves physical stimulation to relax but Dimitar is the complete opposite. He needs physical touch to feel at ease and I need quality time instead. Since I don't enjoy giving massages either, we've both managed to stay relaxed together with massage tools and taking long hot baths. Occasionally we'll go get a massage together, but Dimitar can be quite picky when it comes to his masseuses.

* This post is not sponsored.

    Last week, Dimitar was complaining about his neck aching - he's a stomach sleeper after all - and so he later told me that he made reservations for us at a place called Spa World. I've only heard of it once through friends, but I had personally never been there before. After doing my own research, I realized it was a Korean Spa Center based in Centreville that offered a variety of different spa services. I was actually excited to try it out so Dimitar and I both waited for Sunday to roll along, which is when we typically have free time together.

    Sunday in general started off weird. For starters, it snowed! I had no idea it was going to snow either so it was a really nice surprise but it made the day very cold - perfect for the Spa! Since there was no set time for us to arrive at the Spa, we took our time getting there by running a few errands first. We also grabbed a quick bite to eat at an Italian restaurant. Since Dimitar wanted to watch the snow, we decided to eat in the car which was something we normally didn't do, but it was still nice. 

It's snowed again!

Enjoying a Cannoli

    When we arrived, the building itself was huge and located around many oriental shops and restaurants; something I was excited about coming back to visit. Once inside, we checked in easily where we were  given spa uniforms to wear and directed to drop our shoes off into the lockers that were in the lobby. From there Dimitar and I made our way to the Women and Men locker rooms where we went our separate ways to change.

    Since the locker rooms are connected to the pools and showers, it's worth mentioning that nudity is expected; I was already informed of this policy so I wasn't shocked. To keep the pools clean, no swim suits are allowed and everyone is directed to shower prior to entering any of the pools; creating a clean environment that everyone can enjoy together. Since I didn't plan on going into the pool though, I simply changed into my uniform and made my way to the Poultice rooms where Dimitar was waiting. 

Locker Rooms

Poultice Rooms

    Once we were in the Lounge area, we saw that the seven different Poultice rooms were all positioned around the room itself. For those who don't know what Poultice rooms are - because I didn't at first - they're basically similar to saunas except each one has different temperatures and are made out of different materials to help target certain holistic health benefits. For example, the first Poultice room we went into was called the Amethyst Gem Room which was great for balancing the body from within and had an internal temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit. 

    It was hard at first to adjust to the heat since I enjoy being cooler than most, but after ten minutes of relaxing, it was easier to tolerate. The best part about being inside the Poultice rooms is how each one is decorated differently, which made me feel like I was immersed in a different world completely. 

The Amethyst Gem Room Benefits

    Once inside a Poultice room, you can either sit down on the benches provided and let your body do it's thing, or you can lay down if there is space. I honestly preferred to lie down as it allowed me to fully relax my muscles. I found that spending fifteen minutes in each room was as much as I could tolerate before I had to leave to replenish myself. Since Dimitar loves the heat though, he would often stay in the rooms much longer than I would and he'd always come out drenched in sweat; it was quite amusing.

Taking a break

        Amongst the seven rooms, my favorite rooms were the Red Clay Ball Room and the Salt Room. Even though the Red Clay Ball Room was one of the loudest rooms to be in because of the little beads you have to lie on - it was the most comfortable. Unfornately, because of the noise from other people moving around on the beads, it was the room I spent the least amount of time in. The Salt Room though was the last room and the most detoxifying. I did my best to stay inside for as long as I could but Dimitar of course beat me by staying in a total of twenty minutes! Crazy crazy.

Inside the Amethyst Gem Room

Inside the Red Clay Ball Room

   For those who don't know, I have been creating videos on YouTube for the past seven years now. It sounds crazy to even admit but it's nothing compared to some of the more original YouTubers who have been on YouTube for over a decade - wow!

    Making art on YouTube was a way for me to let my guard down for a change and embrace who I really was; a creative person who often felt out of place. The more I dedicated myself to YouTube, the more I developed as a person because it helped me overcome many of my own faults like not investing enough time into getting to know myself.

    After six years of making art videos consistently, I began to desire to make different videos. As much as I loved art, I had grown tired of making art videos because of the lengthy recording process and the time consuming editing. In 2021, when I moved into my first apartment, I knew it was time to make a change. 

My desk during a typical recording

    I made the decision to record Vlogs for my YouTube channel and to also document my experiences through Blogging. I knew my channel would need time to adjust so I slowly introduced my audience to the fact that I would no longer focus on uploading art videos, and it sure was scary!

    Even though I was much happier uploading Vlogs and trying something that I wanted to do for so long, my views on YouTube dropped drastically; it also didn't help that the world was in a state of crisis. I often worried that I was making a bad decision but I pushed those thoughts to the side and continued doing what made me happy. 

   Now that 2022 is here and I have had a full year to upload Vlogs and create a great amount of articles for this Blog, it has really helped me get closer to myself. Like any change, it can be uncomfortable because you aren't sure what to expect, but I'm excited to see what another year of Vlogging and Blogging has to offer.

First snow!

     I want to be able to share not only my creative side with my audience, but also my life experiences so that I can inspire people from all over the world to be strong when faced with difficulties. I want to also document my life because for the majority of my childhood I felt awkward in my own skin, so documenting my life is now a way where I can open up and find myself.

    I don't claim to know much, but if there is one thing I know for sure, it's that following your passions - no matter how long it may take to see the results - will always result in a happier you. 

Until next time! xoxo - Sarah

    Today I have a wonderful surprise! Everyone who knows me knows that I have fallen in love with Studio Ghibli films. I discovered the films a few years ago but since then, I have been hooked! I never knew such wonderful movies existed until I discovered Studio Ghibli and the films have truly changed how I live my life and who I am as a person today.

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    Last Christmas, Dimitar and I was inside Barnes & Noble browsing for Christmas presents. We were in the novelty section where the games and collectibles were and Dimitar suddenly pulled me over to a section that had glass displays. To my shock, there were Studio Ghibli merchandise there! I was so surprised because I never knew Barnes & Noble had such a section. They had collectibles for Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Howls Moving Castle, and more. I didn't buy any of them of course, but I did make a mental note. 

    Weeks later, I found myself checking my business email for YouTube, when I found an email offering a collaboration with a company called Bluefin. Not only did they want to collaborate with me, but, they were also an official distributor that sold Studio Ghibli merchandise - the same merchandise I had seen in Barnes & Noble - WHAT! I couldn't believe my eyes because it truly seemed like the Law of Attraction was at play! 

"No-Face" Artcrystal Jigsaw Puzzle

        The first item I explored was a small box with "No-Face" on it, who is a character from Spirited Away; one of my favorite characters in the film. The box was labeled Artcrystal Jigsaw Puzzle, containing 126 small pieces. I'll definitely put this puzzle together during one of my Vlogs!

    For those who have watched Spirited Away, to me No-Face lives his life around other souls who are often greedy and show little compassion. Since he has little to give, he is often ignored by others until Chihiro, the main character, lets him inside of the bath house to escape the rain; an act of kindness that leads him to cherish Chihiro's sincerity. When he enters the bath house, he quickly falls victim to everyone's greedy behavior and becomes unstable. With honesty and compassion, Chihiro is the only one willing to help No-Face return to his normal self outside of the bath house. 

My Neighbor Totoro "At The Bus Stop" - Paper Theater Ball

    While all of the Studio Ghibli films make me feel cozy inside, My Neighbor Totoro truly captures that child like nature within me and reminds me of my own childhood. Whenever I faced challenges or uncertainties growing up, it was always nice to have reassurance that everything was going to be okay, and My Neighbor Totoro is a reminder of this connection. Totoro brings out the best in the main characters and helps them settle into their new life and the difficulties that come with it.

Howl's Moving Castle "Calcifer" Mini Pan

    The last item inside of the box was a cute small pan with Calcifer engraved into it. Calcifer is a fire demon from Howl's Moving Castle and plays a significant role. All of the characters are intertwined in a unique way that really made this film by Studio Ghibli amazing. 

    The pan itself is fairly small but came in perfect timing! Since I only have one medium size pan, having an additional one that is much small will make it easier to cook smaller dishes. The added bonus is now I will have a cute fire demon of my own to admire as I cook!

    With that said, I am pleased to offer my readers a limited time only discount for Studio Ghibli Fans. On the Bluefin website in the Studio Ghibli section, you will receive a 20% off your entire order. They have a wide range of collectibles for you to choose from which will make your space feel like you are truly part of a Studio Ghibli film. Since this is a limited time only special, this discount is only available until February 28th, 2022 - so be sure to use it while it lasts!

20% Discount Code - "GhibliWinter"

    Until next time! xoxo - Sarah