Music favorites - November. MAMA

Hello~! 
As half of the month has already passed, the time has come for Music favorites! ^-^ Last month I has some troubles writing a post about October, because I had more than usual 5 favorite songs. So that time I have done a TOP 7 of the month. Now I have exactly the opposite situation ~lol I have some new songs I like, but I have been listening mostly old ones. However, after some struggle, I have formed the TOP 5 of November~!! ^^`
As always, I will post the songs in no particular order.

1. 틴탑 "장난아냐" (Teen Top - Rocking)
The song has been released back in August. But i have really noticed it only at the end of October. Of course I have heard some tunes and lyrics from it earlier, but I guess i had to see the MV to understand how freaking cool the song (and especially dance) is!
Speaking about dance.. it is AWESOME!! This "free step" technique is so catchy that I whenever I see it I want to dance too ~haha The song is great too - fast and unique. *and it was the first time I have seen how hot the CAP is ahahha*

2. The Pretty Reckless "You make me wanna die"
I have always had a soft thing for bands with rock or metal music and female vocals. No wonder this band caught my attention. I have also heard some other songs, not just "You make me wanna die", but only this song was able to make it to my TOP 5. The MV isn`t fantastic *if only you aren`t a pervert enjoying a girl undressing herself*, but the songs itself is amazing (thought the lyrics are simple). Oh, and the song is quite old - it goes back to 2010.
Thumbs up for sexy blond vocals! ;p

  

3. 태양 "링가 링가"  (Taeyang - Ringa Linga)
This is definitely the great song!! 대박! The song + dance performance = ♥
Some people might say that "Ringa Linga" isn`t a Taeyang style, but I have to disagree with that. I think it is a nice change from his usual style - i enjoyed his rapping and dancing a lot! O, about the choreography... There are two versions of MV for this song: the 1st one is dance performance, which came earlier, and the 2nd - the actual MV. In my opinion, the dance version was better. Sure, it is more simple, but it shows how perfectly the music and dance are combined.
It is kinda sad the song came out at the end of the year, otherwise it might win at different categories, for example, at MAMA.
Anyways, I will show two versions of MV and it is up to you to decide which one is better. ^_-

4. 인피니트 "파라다이스" (Infinite - Paradise)
The song is 2 years old (September, 2011), but i have discovered it *accidentally* a few weeks ago *shame on me! >-<`*  Since that time I have been listening it a lot. My favorite part is chorus and I can play it on repeat a hundred of times.. literally. lol 

5. Deathstars "Metal"
Surprise~! No, not really. I am big fan of metal. I have been listening metal, power metal and black metal for more than 7 years now *just to compare - I am a fan of K-pop only for 3 years or something* Metal is my core. And Deathstars has been in the list of my favorite bands for ages. Their MVs are freaking awesome and they always have powerful live performances.
"Metal" is one of their latests MV (even though it was released 2 years ago t_t). Check it! Who knows, you might become a fan of powerful dark music too. ^-^

P.S. Guys, MAMA (Mnet Asian Music Awards) is coming~!!! Don`t miss the last chance to vote for your favorite artists!! Show how much you love them! Go and check the main page to support your artist -> HERE. The voting will be closed tomorrow and at the 22d (??) of November you can see MAMA 2013 live in Hong Kong~!! 

Korean snacks

WARNING! Never ending post full of photos ;o 

Hey, guys~! ^-^

Do you enjoy the November? Do you have a feeling that the Christmas is just around the corner? Not yet? lol I don`t have such feeling yet~ ;p I think it is too early to think about holiday.

So for today, I am planning to share some pictures of Korean snacks I have tried when I was in Seoul. I can`t really tell you about each food I ate, but if I have something to say about this particular snack, i will do that. ^^

뿌셔뿌셔 (whack whack) - this is a ramen with seasoning, which is supposed to be eaten dry (without adding boiled water). But before eating it you should crack the ramen inside of the pack *now you know why it is called like that kkk~*

i guess i don`t need to explain this snack lol you could find such cookies in your convenient store. This particular one is made by the well-known Korean company - Lotte (롯데)

 신짱 (shinjjang) - sweet honey-flavored crisps. I wonder why the are called "못말리는" (unstoppable lol), because I was able only to eat a little of it, as it was too sweet and "filling" and I am usually a big sweet-tooth.

 Now I know I don`t like Korean crisps ><` And by it I mean "made in Korea by Korean company" crisps. Why? I don`t know about other countries, but in Russia crisps are always salty + with different flavors. This Korean crisps (and others, as I have tried different brands and kinds) are SWEET. Like, what the hell?? t_t I would never ever buy them lol

참붕어빵 - literary translates as "real carp [looking] bread". It is sweet chewy cake with chocolate flavoring. 

This are chewy caramel & chocolate flavor sweets. We have it in Russia, too. So I have bought it mostly because I wanted to compare. Now I can say - the sweets are the same in Russia and Korea ~keke + it was super cheap at Daiso 1000 Won (~1$).

This tastes the same as Snickers chocolate bar. But cheaper when it comes to price. ^_-

These are cookies with a buttery-cheese flavor. Because it doesn`t have just a cheese flavor ("butter" makes cookies more "filling", so you can`t actually eat a lot of it), it was difficult even to eat a couple of cookies. ><` But such snack will definitely save you from starvation lol 

Comparing to the earlier mentioned Korean crisps, these ones were better. But. It can`t be even compared with the world-known brands, or even some Russian chips ;o p.s. "베이컨칩" means simple "bacon chips" 

후렌치파이 (French pie) has nothing similar with "pie" *in my perception* - it doesn`t look that nice and it tastes not-so-delicious. You would want to waste your money on something else, believe me ^-^

 "팥빙수" (patbingsu) - popular Korean "dessert"; consists of sweet red beans, lots of ice and some topping (might be marshmallow or jelly, for example). This is the best food for hot summer day, as it cools down and refreshes very good!

Don`t know what to say about it. It wasn`t the best food I have tried in Korea. And I won`t buy it second time.

Very good, "musli-like" snack. Healthy (fruits, nuts, berries, grains and yogurt) and convenient to use "on the go". d^^b

These were just a part of snacks and sweets I have tried in Korea. Overall I can say that sweet things in Russia are more tasty than in Korea. At this point I was kinda disappointed. However, there were some awesome super tasty things, like 팥빙수 (patbingsu) and 삼각킴밥 (triangle kimbap - i haven`t shown this one), which I love so much. I will buy it again and not just a one time for sure! ^-^ As you can notice, the most tasty snacks are "traditional" Korean snacks, which you can`t usually find in other countries, but in Korea. So, if you are planning to visit Korea, I recommend you to try it!  

p.s. What are your favorite snacks? ^-^

Seoul for soul. Pt.4. Yonsei University

Annyeong~! ^-^
I have already posted an entry about Ewha Womans University (이화여자대학교), which was truly beautiful. However close to Ewha there is situated another well-know and great Korean University - Yonsei University. Yonsei is as beautiful as Ewha is, but it is even more bigger (the territory) - this is the real small town! Yonsei is more popular *and cheaper! lol* among foreign students. So if you are looking for some Korean language courses, i would recommend you to check the Yonsei University. ^-^ As the territory of the Yonsei is huge, I have got tired walking around it  *lol bad stamina~ not really, but i started to feel tired way faster during hot weather >-<`* But it is definitely worth seeing!

연세대학교 (Yonsei University) - is a private research university located in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1885, it is one of the oldest universities in South Korea, and is widely regarded as the top private school in the country. In fact, many of South Korea's most influential politicians, lawyers, physicians, engineers, professors, and policy makers have graduated from Yonsei University.  As a tribute, the name 'Yonsei' was derived from the first syllables of the names of its two parent institutions, 'Yon; 연; 延' from Yonhi College and 'Sei; 세; 世' from Severance Union Medical College. (c) wikipedia

Oh, and right near the University there is a huge Severance hospital building, which is closely connected with Yonsei.
Anyway, let me show some photos I have made walking around Yonsei University. ~^-^

this is the entrance to Yonsei~

~*~ October favorites ~*~

Hi, there~ ^-^
The beginning of the month is the time for previous month favorite cosmetic products! If you want to check up last months favorites, feel free to click the links below:

• July
• August
• September

1. Skin care products

The weather is getting colder here, so I have to take more care about my skin. Last month I have been using new skin care products, I haven`t tried before. So far, all of them are super effective. ^^ What`s why they are in my list of favorite products. However, I have been using many other products as well. It is just they have already been in other monthly edition of favorite products. And I`ve decided there is no need to show them again and again. Just keep that in mind, and check the earlier versions of "favorites"! ^_-

Here are the products I want to show this time:

1. The Face Shop RICE Ceramide moisture toner 150ml - my favorite Hadalabo lotion is coming to an end *sadly*, so I really needed a new product. This one was quite cheap, comparing to the other toners\lotions so I have decided to give it a try. Moreover, i like its characteristics and content. What can i say about it? This toner is a good moisturizer, which works perfectly in a tandem with the same emulsion (i always use them together). It keeps my skin away from dryness, which is very important during the cold season. I also like the softness i feel after using it~ ^-^
2. The Face Shop RICE Ceramide moisture emulsion 150ml - actually, I can say the same things I have written about the toner (remember! I use toner and emulsion together). The only thing i want to add - I can use emulsion only in the evening, because it leaves some "shine", which doesn`t look appealing at my face ~lol So it is a big NO for morning routine, but a perfect choice for evening care! ^^
3. MIZON Special Therapy Good Night white sleeping mask 50ml - I swear, this is like the best sleeping mask ever!!! It is a must if you have some blemishes or marks on you face, because it makes them less noticeable. This mask also makes my skin smooth and a little bit brighter *which I like a lot haha* It also keeps the moisture inside of the skin, so you might not even need to put some products on your face in the morning! 

2. Make up and other

1. Maybelline Baby Skin instant pink transformer 30ml - This is a special product you can find only in Asian countries *if I am wrong, please, correct me* How it works? You can use it as a primer or a single product, it depends on your need and desirable effect. I, personally, use it alone or together with the powder, if I want my skin to stay matte. This product makes your skin tone better and more even. It brighten the skin and leaves a little "pinkish glow". *beware! if you have a reddish face this product is your enemy! ;o* So basically, it makes your skin look healthy and gives a nice shine. More than that, it also protects from the sun rays, as it has SPF 35/PA+++
2. Tonymoly Baby Doll BB powder 15g - even though Innisfree No Sebum Mineral powder is currently #1 to me, this Tonymoly powder is still of of the best. Besides it works better in a cold season, when Innisfree powder is more suitable for warm days. It perfectly covers little "problems" on the face and makes the skin looks better over all. For me, it is enough to use this powder without any foundation or bb cream underneath.
3. NIVEA Soft eye make-up remover lotion #for sensitive skin 125ml - this is the best eye make up remover! Korean removers can`t even compete with it! *and this is super rare case when i can say that Korean cosmetic products work worser than some other haha* This remover gently cleans your eyes. It can remove even "hard to remove" mascaras. And what I like a lot is that it doesn`t leave an oily feeling: it is like a water. ^-^  
4. VOV Lip care balm #strawberry - this is a tinted lip balm with amazing strawberry scent! ~so yummy! It is a perfect choice for the ones, who wants to have some color and at the same time to protect their lips from dehydration. 
5. SKINFOOD Black Bean eye brow pencil #black brown - this is a "two-side" pencil. There is a brow brush from the one side and a pencil - from the other. It is easy to apply the color on eye brows. And I can say the color lasts pretty long without any smudges. Yay for the pencil! kkk~

 

[Review] EOS Honey suckle\Honeydew lip balm

Hello, guys~! ^^

First of all, this is going to be a very negative review lol As you can notice I rare write negative stuff about the products I use. Mostly because I have a good experience and usually like the things I have bought. The second reason is that I like to share a positive experience with you rather than writing a negative one. However, sometimes it is important to tell about bad products, too. So maybe someone won`t lost his\her money for the products, which isn`t worth it. 

Today`s edition - the product I regret buying or a crap product haha And as you can see from the blog title it is EOS Honeydew lip balm.

I have wanted to try EOS lip balms for a while. I have seen lots of videos on Youtube, where girls have this lip balms. I liked the packaging a lot and I thought if so many people are using EOS, this lip balm should be something really amazing, right? How wrong I was... t_t 

It is impossible to find an EOS products in Russia. The only available option for me was to buy it from e-bay. You can imagine, that EOS lip balm at e-bay is way more expensive than at some local shops in the USA. But i have decided to try it anyway, so I have found a seller with not-so-high prices. This little egg-shape lip balm cost ~8$ (at my case). I find it very expensive for a lip balm, but remember, I though this is super good product. so it might be worth the money! How naive i was.. lol

After a while I have received my purchase. 

  

this is how much I`ve used it. I really tried ><

Look pretty nice! This light green packaging is cute ^^ Of course, the content and the properties seem to be awesome. I was soo~ excited to use it! However, very soon my excitement became a huge disappointment. >-<`

Just let me show you the pros and cons of the EOS Honeydew lip balm, and you will understand why I don`t like it at all. *and why it is so crappy*

Pros

1. cute package
2. nice smell
3. good content - super natural! 

Cons

1. uncomfortable to apply - the ordinary lip stick shaped lip balms are way better and easier it usage
2. sweet taste - omg, i hate it sooooo much!! I want my lip balm to have no taste whatsoever! >-<``
3. pricey - i can buy 3 (!!) Nivea lip balms for the same price (as each is just 2$)!
4. not moisturizing - i have to re-apply this lip balm again and again and still it doesn`t moisturize lips at all. Once again, Nivea lip balms always work amazing when it comes to moisturizing and keeping my lips soft and smooth. 

EOS stands for "Evolution Of Smooth" - are you guys serious? Like, really? *smooth my arse*

The main reason for buying a lip balm is that we want to keep our lips moisturizing and soft, to protect them from cold or windy weather or to much sun. However, EOS lip balm can do nothing! Except having a cute package and nice content. 

This product is so not worth a hype!

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

p.s. Do you have another experience with EOS lip balms? Or maybe you were also disappointed? Share it with me!

Best Absolute Perfect - One Shot. Pt.5

Annyeong~! ^-^V
This is the 5th part of "Best Absolute Perfect" series, where I am writing or more like showing the CDs of my favorite Korean group - B.A.P. For the previous parts please, check the links below:

• Debut of Warriors. Pt.1
• POWERful comeback. Pt.2
• No Mercy. Pt.3
• The 3rd single album. Pt.4

What I love about "One Shot", is that with this album B.A.P returning "back to basics" to their first to powerful albums. And this is the music I like the most! ^^ Powerful, strong music is more appealing to me *no wonder, I have been a fan of metal bands for ages*. 

One Shot is the 2nd mini album, which consists of 5 tracks: 

1. Punch 03:29
2. One Shot 03:55
3. 빗소리 (Rain Sound) 03:24
4. Coma 03:28
5. 0 [Zero] 03:25

The main song of the album is "One Shot" and it has an official MV

 

As to my favorite songs from the album.. It is definitely "One Shot". But "One Shot" B.A.P album is this rare case, when all songs are very good. So it is difficult to choose one. I like them all~ ^^

"Punch" has a similar tune with "No Mercy", especially you can notice it listening the chorus. 

"빗소리" is very melodic and leaves a sad feeling, but it is beautiful for sure. It has been released earlier than One Shot, and also has it own MV:

"Coma" is my 2nd favorite from the album. Well, it is as good as the title song - One Shot. ^^ O, and 송지은 (JiEun, from Secret) has a part in the song, too. And she is an owner of a very beautiful voice, which makes "Coma" even better. 

"Zero" - is more melodic comparing with powerful One Shot, and this is a kind of song you can relax by listening it. So, thumbs up!

Anyway, here is the photos of the CD:

the front side - the design of the CD is super cool! >-<

the back side with featuring songs

"Empties" - "come to an end" products~

Hey, hey~~! ^_-
This is the very first time I am writing a post about the products I have finished during the month. Actually, it is a rare case, when I have more than 3 products coming to an end at the same time. And I don`t like to collect empty bottles -_- But for the sake of the "brad new" entry, I have collected all the "leftovers" of the month. So I am going to write a few words about each product - whether I liked it or not.

1. SKINFOOD Pomegranate Shampoo (헤어로스케어 샴푸액) 320g - This is a shampoo against hair loss and thinning hair. I have to say, the shampoo is just amazing! It worked very good for my hair. The smell is also nice~ ^-^ What I liked the most about this shampoo is that it made my hair less curly and more shiny. And it was also economical - I needed to use a little amount of the product, even though my hair is pretty long. The funny thing is that because of the different water (i guess it was the reason) this shampoo didn`t work at all in Korea, but it was super good when I used it in Russia!  
2. Black Pearl "Ideal skin" body scrub 200ml - the best body scrub I have ever had!! Seriously! This is a Russian product and I usually less enthusiastic when I make a review on Russian products, but this one is worth to be noticed! Not only it has a wonderful coffee scent, but also it made my skin soft and smooth. ^-^ It might be considered a little bit harsh, but I think for body it is a perfect kind of scrub (don`t use it for face though!! ;o). I have been using it for more than half of the year and I will definitely buy it again. 
3. Yves Rocher Jardins du Monde Spanish Pomegranate energizing shower gel 200ml - it has a yummy fresh, little bit sour scent, which really gives some energy and keeps you fresh and alive lol (good for a morning shower!). I can`t say it made my skin moisturized, but I also haven`t noticed any dryness or uncomfortable feeling. 
4. SKINFOOD Rice Mask wash off 100g - what I want to say about this mask.. it wasn`t a "love from the first try" ~kkk At first, I didn`t like it that much. It was fine, but that was all. But when I have used a half of it I have noticed that my skin reacted very good on it. The rice mask works actually like a scrub, as it has this little rice parts on it. It gently removes dead skin cells and makes your face clean and smooth. So for now I can give 5 out of 5 for this product! ^-^
5. NIVEA Intensive care SPF15 lip balm 4,8g - if you have read my early posts you might have already noticed how much I love Nivea lip balms. ;p This particular one is moisturizing and medicated. It protects lips very well from any kind of cold, windy or dry weather. But you have to use it regularly, so you lips will always be beautiful. ^^
6. Etude House Lip & Eye remover (립앤아이리무버) 100ml - this is the only product from this list which I wasn`t over excited. It worked fine.. just fine. Maybe around 3 out of 5. This remover is a two-phased product, so it leaves skin oily after usage. And what I didn`t like is that it took quite a lot of time to remove eye make up. >-<` Even though I have used it on Korean mascaras only. Korean remover can`t remove Korean mascara well.. What the..? Not fun >-<

Seoul for soul. Part 3. Ewha Womans University

Hey, everyone~! ^^
Today I will continue showing some pictures from my trip to Korea, Seoul. My 3d day in Seoul I have spent with my friend, walking around Sinchon, visiting two Universities - Ewha Womans University and Yonsei University. For now, I am going to introduce Ewha Womans University.
As I have been living close to Ewha, I can say I went through it pretty much every day. It was the shortest way to subway station and I also liked shopping in this area (there are lots of clothes, shoes, accessories and cosmetic shops at the area near university).
What is Ewha Womans University?

 이화여자대학교 (Ewha Womans University) - is a private women's university in central Seoul. It is one of the city's largest institutions of higher learning and currently the world's largest female educational institute. It is one of the best-known universities in South Korea, also considered to be one of the top universities in Korea. Ewha was founded in 1886 by the American Methodist Episcopal missionary Mary F. Scranton. "Ewha" (이화) is a Sino-Korean term for "pear blossom". (c) wikipedia

Ewha Womans University is such a beautiful place, which is very popular among girls. No wonder! I wish i would be able to study at this place too. ^-^` On one photo you can see a museum. It is free to enter, but you cannot take picture there >< The museum is quite interesting, so if you are walking around Ewha, don`t miss the chance to visit it! ;p 

Oh, and I have seen the University at May. I think this is the best time to visit it, because of the full bloom of flowers. The scenery is just wonderful! Besides, the university festival is held during May too! It is open for everyone and you can even have a chance to see your favorite K-pop idols on it!!! >-<