Moonlight is the new Love!

After the end of Descendants of the Sun, there come Love in the Moonlight (or can also be known as Moonlight Drawn by Clouds). Park Bo Gum fever is here to continue the Song Joong Ki fever. Of course, both are equally heart capturing.

The first drama that I watched Park Bo Gum was Nodame Cantabille. I knew he is such a sweetheart from then. Back to moonlight, watching the drama is such a pleasant to my eyes. Pretty boys and lovely girls, lovely dovey moments, heart-melting eyes, and everything good. Words aren't enough to describe. B1A4's Jinyoung is there too. How sweet!

Look at those eyes!!!

P/S : All the pictures here are from KBS World Facebook page.

Have you #Moonshot ?

Moonshot Flagship Store

During my last trip to South Korea, I got to discover a brand new beauty brand by YG Entertainment called Moonshot. If you are not sure on what is YG Entertainment, it hosts popular artists such Big Bang, 2NE1, PSY, newbie Winner and yet to be debuted IKON and also my favourite, Lee Hi (이하이).

Moonshot was launched in October 2014 and I happened to visit their first ever flagship store in Samcheongdong like after five days the shop's grand opening. How I discover it was purely by accident as I am not into YG Entertainment and thanks to my travel companions who are so into YG Entertainment, be it their artists and their business line. Actually none of us know the exact location of the shop. One of my companions know that YG has launched a beauty brand but thought it will be located at Gangnam area. One of the purposes going to Samcheongdong was to look for Innisfree Jeju House. Upon coming out from Innisfree Jeju House, my friend discovered Moonshot store and as a fan of YG, it is a must for them to visit. I still remember clearly that three of them made a move to the store first while I waited for another friend in front of Innisfree Jeju House.

Smartly dressed and good looking Moonshot Boys (pic from Facebook)

If it weren't for my friends, I wouldn't dare to step into the store. Ever wonder why wouldn't I dare to go in? I remembered I was totally shocked on my first step in the store. My friend and I were greatly welcomed by Moonshot staffs, ALL MALE STAFFS dressed smartly in black. The nervousness in me grew bigger the longer I was there. And I clearly remembered I was near to explode when I saw the two guys at the stairs coming down from first floor. My fangirl mode was on the entire time I was there. Seriously, who can resist when you are surrounded by good looking guys around you and they will smile at you whenever you look at them?

Interior decorations with Moonshot Bunny

It wasn't in my shopping list as I do not even know bout this brand. Compared to other familiar K-beauty brands such as Innisfree, Nature Republic, etc, it is way more pricey be it their skincare or makeup products. They are in comparison with big brands like MAC, Bobbi Brown, etc. Moonshot have both skincare and makeup products but their main focus is their makeup. They have two lines for the make up items, Color Moonwalk and Too Good To Be True. Their Color Moonwalk series are specially made for multi-purpose use.

Kwon Jun Woo, one of the staffs that makes my heart fluster

All the staffs their aren't just ordinary sales promoter like what we always see in other makeup brand stores. All the staffs are skillful makeup artist where they are known as makeup expert there. Their hospitality are really great which made me unexpectedly decided to try their makeup. I was introduced to the lip tint called Cream Paint. It has a creamy texture and the brush is shaped to imitate a finger as if you are using a finger to apply the tint. I have a allergic lips where my lips are always chapped and it is always best for me to avoid putting any lip product on it. The finger-like brush is really interesting and I would really like to try one. I courageously asked the staff to choose a colour for me and I was introduced to a natural shade, Strawberry Gelato. And this was where my whole body started to melt.

I was introduced to this Strawberry Gelato shade by the one of the makeup expert, Seo Chang Hyun. I was ready to try it on my hand, but rather than that, he actually drew it on his hand instead. A female staff who stood across me, who knows how to speak mandarin, was signalling him to offer to try the tint on my lips. The soft-hearted me agreed right away when he looked at me. He gently put on the tint on my lips, and he then put on lip gloss too as my lips were chapped. Then the female staff was signalling him to put tint on my cheek as blusher. And of course he did that by gently tapping the tint on my cheeks (at this moment I was already blushing even without the tint). Due to autumn season, my skin were dry due to the cold wind. And he quickly spray some mist on my face and gently tap on it. I couldn't help smiling from ear to ear the entire time. I mean, how could one resist when a good looking guy put on make up for you with gentle care? I was totally melted. And of course, I bought the Cream Paint that he recommended me.

My hauls from Moonshot

For the three weeks I was in Korea, I visited the store for four times. Yes, I know I am thick-face. I just couldn't stop thinking about Moonshot while I was there. I just want to be there, see the handsome faces of the staffs before I leave Korea for good. While I truly understand the staffs there are just providing their professionalism in treating every customers like a VIP and maintaining a good relationship with everyone of us, let me just have some fantasies that I am a special one to them, at least to one of the staffs.

Playroom at 2nd floor

Moonshot currently have two offline stores, one flagship store in Samcheongdong and one in Shinsegae Department Store. They also have a kind of like pop-up store in Common Ground, a new must-visit attraction site. Of course, they do have online stores where everyone from every corner of the world can purchase their items as they ship worldwide (probably not in North Korea though). Moonshot currently has three online sites cater for different people as per below:

Korean citizens - http://www.moonshot-cosmetics.com/

International - http://en.moonshot-cosmetics.com/

China citizens - http://cn.moonshot-cosmetics.com/ (opening in July)

My advice is that one should fly over to Korea and purchase the item in store. First, it is always better to get their own personnel to teach you on the exact way of using the item and the most suitable shades for better result. Secondly, you must try the hospitality of their warm, gentle and good looking staffs. And oh, they have a Cha Seung Won lookalike makeup expert in their Samcheongdong store. Isn't this reason enough to make you fly over to try Moonshot now? His name is Park Dong Min, do keep this in mind when you visit there ya! When you are done with your shopping, they will escort you to the front door and give you a high five before exiting the premise.

With Kelly 언니 whom gave me the Moonshot Bunny and Chang Hyun at the back

How to reach Moonshot

Moonshot Flagship Store

Address : 111 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea

               109-1 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea

Post code : 110-230

Contact no : 070-4100-4607

Opening Hours : Everyday from 11am to 8pm

Nearest subway station is Anguk Station (Orange Line 3), Exit 1. Walk about 20 minutes. It really isn't that far from subway station. You should enjoy the scenery along the way to Moonshot. It is especially pretty in autumn.

P/S : I only got to find out that Chang Hyun is not just a normal staff but Assistant Store Manager. Oh my! I get to have ASM to serve me and put on makeup for me. Not only that, he also help me trim my eyebrow on my third visit to the store. I sincerely hope that I can fulfill the promise of travelling to Korea again next year and pay him a visit. 

Till next time! n_n

It's A Korean Thing

 

2014 is coming to an end soon and everyone, I guess is anticipating this month of December mostly because of Christmas. I bet couples already have a list of what to do, where to go, what to eat, what present to be given to their other half. I am not sure whether you have already know, but there is an additional day where Korean couples celebrate in Korea.

Koreans have a specific day every month to do a specific thing. It is a mid-month celebrations for couples in Korea. To be specific, the said day is the 14th of every month. I don't actually know this beforehand until I saw a post on Allkpop. You may check the post and its explanation of each specific day here.

For easy referencing, I have list down the mid-month celebration as follow:

Jan 14th - Diary Day
Feb 14th - Valentine's Day
Mac 14th - White Day
Apr 14th - Black Day
May 14th - Yellow Day / Rose Day
June 14th - Kiss Day
July 14th - Silver Day
Aug 14th - Green Day
Sept 14th - Photo Day/ Music Day
Oct 14th - Wine Day
Nov 14th- Movie Night
Dec 14th - Hug Day

I am not sure about what you think on this mid-month celebrations practiced by Koreans but I find it quite pretty and it isn't a bad idea to celebrate it. And actually Korea couple don't just show their affection on these particular days, they actually show it all-year-long. Koreans couples, be it man or woman, they are not afraid or shame in showing off their affections publicly. You may easily spot couples with matching clothes, shoes, bags or whatever you can mention. For singles, you need to be mentally strong enough to walk on the streets in Korea or else you will be defeated by endless of jealousy and envious, and mostly loneliness.

Since it's December now, let's talk a bit on it. Actually I have never anticipated the coming of December since 5 years ago. I know that most people anticipated December because of Christmas. I once thought December will be a month I anticipated much beside January (my birth month). However, everything changed 5 years ago, which was also the year where I anticipated the coming of December more than ever.

Dec 24th, Christmas Eve, an excuse where people use to gather around for celebration. Be it with your family, friends or special half. 5 years ago, that day used to be meaningful for me because it will be a day where I not only get to exchange present with other, it was also a day where I will celebrate the birth day of someone whom I used to love so dearly. Dec 24th is my ex's birthday. While I was still scratching my head to come out with a special events to make him happy, on this very Dec 14th he decided to put an end towards our relationship.

5 years had passed, but this Dec 14th is still clearly embedded in my mind and heart. NO, it's not that I am still clinging to him, I have gotten over him. It's just that that particular day, the memory I had is way too difficult to just let it go. It all started 5 years ago where I, subconsciously will be emo during every December. To be honest, there was a time where I hated December very much.

For this fifth year, when I get to know that Dec 14th is a Hug Day (it's freezing winter in Korea, so you hug people to give warm) I could imagine how lonely it is for singles on this particular day. No no, I am not being too emo this time (though it is better to have someone hugging you). After my long time from Korea this autumn, something has change my mindset. Being singles isn't bad after all. I get to know people regardless of sex, need to worry if I try to pick on any Korean guy or adoring any guy. Or another word, I do not have to worry, or I should say I have the right to flirt with any guy I am interested in (of course if only the guy is single too).

Though I would love to date someone now, I think it is better for me to stay being single for the moment. For those who are currently in a relationship, may you have a good Christmas with your loved ones and do not forget to give him/her a hug on Dec 14th. For those who are single like me, may you get to find someone special this Christmas. Happy December peeps!

p/s : Yes, I went to Korea this autumn and I had an amazing Korea tour (as you may see from the picture above where I took a picture with a quite ok Korean guy). I am not sure when I will finish blog about it and I will try to make time for it. Till then, see ya! n_n

Long Hiatus

1st Day at Seoul Station

It has been two months since I came back from the summer camp in Busan, South Korea. And I have yet to update my blog on my summer camp experience in Busan. All thanks to the hectic life I have been experiencing now.

Just got back from Busan, I have to start doing my assignments, handling Hallyu stuffs and back to assignments and back to K-Gen stuffs. What a busy life I am having for a last year last semester student. Presentation every week, journal entry every Friday night = lifeless.

Assignments deadlines coming real soon and I have yet to start on everything. I wanted to blog on my summer camp experience so damn much but I don't really have that time to do so. I don't want to simply blog about it because the camp was really amazing. When will I have the time to blog? I have no idea.....

My ISC buddy, Mira Yoon

Gwangan Bridge at Gwangalli beach