Merry Christmas・メリクリスマス・메리 쿠리스 마 스

Well not much I can say.... I broke out the accordion today. Man, was it heavy, but I persevered =_=;. So now you get stuck with the results, as I had no idea what to put up for Christmas. Sorry for having no festive background. We didn't get a tree again this year. (Not that I mind.) My family isn't big into the commercialized Christmas :). Bah humbug to you Santa!

All I did was...open a few gifts, watch Korean drama with my mom, and I went with my family to our Christmas dinner that we help with, it's a dinner for those who don't have anywhere else to go. An outreach if you will, from our church. Finished cleaning up by 6:30. Now it's around 10:00, (I don't really remember what I just wasted those hours in between on...I was on the computer anyways.) Wow...that's pretty sad I can't remember....Oh right! I finished watching a Korean movie for my review later this week. :) yay I remembered!

So now I'm going to continue watching Korean Drama with my mom.
Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, and Merry Christmas ^-^.

メリクリスマス/메리 쿠리스 마 스

Sweet 18/ 낭랑18세

Wow this was cutting it pretty close, I only finished it last night.

Ah well I made my week deadline for it. :)

Genre:Romance/Comedy/Drama

Language: Korean

.

Jung-Sook has been arranged to marry Hyuk-Joon since she was a child. Now, being of age, it is time for her to marry him. She's graduated from High school, but has no real dream in life, and decides getting married would be the easiest option. Hyuk-Joon is a prosecutor, who is 10 years older than Jung-Sook. He is a dedicated man, who is worried about Jung-Sook being too much of a kid to marry. This drama tells the story of their married life, with the many problems they face. Such as when Hyuk-Joon's ex-girlfriend returns, and wants him back. Will he choose to go back to his old flame, or will he find feelings for Jung-Sook?

.

Review:

This is one of the best dramas I've watched so far. I really enjoyed it. Perhaps it's just a relief to get away from the Jdramas for awhile....(I still love them, but they are well....). Anyways, I really thought the main actors did a good job. Especially Lee Dong-Gun, (as Hyuk Joon), you could really read his subtle facial expressions well, throughout the whole series. (I'm not saying he over-acted or anything ;) As well it was so nice to see some character development in a drama. The main area being in Han Ji-Hye's character, Jung-Sook, as she starts of rather immature (I admit I was worried I would have to watch episode after episode of those cliched "stubborn-dumb-women" cliche episodes. You know the ones I'm talking about, where they do things that you just just know will end with something bad happening, that no one else in their right mind would do...blahhh.). However, in the drama, she matures rather early on, and continues to all the way until the end. I grew to like her character a lot, it rang true (most of the time).

.

This a definite watch. So far this is one of my favorite Korean dramas. An interesting note: the two leads actually dated for 3 years.^-^ they seemed pretty cute together, too bad they broke up.

Christmas Foods #2: Eggnog (and things made by it)

I really couldn't tell you why Eggnog is seasonal,
I mean it's eggs, milk, sugar, and some spices....>_>
Anyways, last night I made some Eggnog Bread.
(first time trying it, and it was an okay recipe)

For your information, no, that isn't a big burnt piece in the middle....
that was supposed to be the "cinnamon swirl",
that ended up being a "cinnamon chunk",
as I made it first....and the butter wasn't still melty,
when the time came to "swirl" it into the bread.....

As for these cookies they are Eggnog Cookies.
Fresh from today. A pasty looking cookie,
but yummy nonetheless.
(I discovered the recipe for them last year,
and it was a hit!)
.
I suppose I should put the recipes up. Bah I'm such a lazybug....

Here is a link instead:
Eggnog Cinnamon Swirl Bread courtesy Recipe Zaar/Mirj

Quick Review:
I omitted the toffee pieces and pecans, as I didn't have them.
The edges were a little browner than I would have liked,
but otherwise easy, and pretty good.
.
And now I guess I will....in the holiday spirit,
type out the eggnog recipe give you another link!
Eggnog Cookies courtesy of Recipe Zaar/Connie C.
(I just about did, but I realized that one was the same as
my recipe....I probably found it on that site to begin with anyways.)

So that is another probably too-long blog post ;).

Now a question for you...

What is the difference between original and classic eggnog?

&

Do you drink eggnog during the Christmas Season exclusively?

(I actually almost never drink eggnog,
I find it too strong, even when milked-down...

although the smell... okay it smells good :).
I wonder if you can freeze eggnog...?
so I could make eggnog cookies in march.....)

Christmas Foods #1: Mini Honey Mandarin Oranges

These tiny oranges are about the size of a...flattish ping pong ball...?
But they pack a punch! They are super sweet :) and have
hardly any rind. (I know, I know.... that's supposed to be the healthiest part
..... but...bah!...when I was little I wouldn't eat any oranges,
because of all that "white stuff" on them)

Working as a cashier, I see a lot of yummy things go through my till.
One of these things were the Mini Honey Mandarin Oranges.
I had heard they were like eating candy. On one of the brands it
even had a light conversation between oranges.
Big Orange: I'm bigger!
Little Orange: But I'm sweeter!
I mean talk about marketing! I was rather convinced of their amazingness...
So now they sit, all cleanly washed ^_^
(I always wash produce before eating it).
I am happily indulging in these, hoping somehow, that all this
Vitamin C will kill all the cold bugs I have... and that I won't die
from led poisoning or anything (it says MADE IN CHINA ;)...

On a side note, I can handle most things, headaches, fever...whatever.
I have a pretty high pain tolerance. However once my
nose gets plugged.....I admit it....I turn into a baby.
Perhaps one day they will find a cure for a stuffy nose....

My Little Bride/어린 신부

Genre: Romance/Comedy/Highschool
Language: Korean
.

Fifteen year old Boeun is just trying to get through her school years, as a normal kid. However her grandfather made a promise, to his old friend, that one of their children would marry. Both men only had sons though, so the duty now falls on their grandchildren. Despite the fact that it means a marriage between 15 year old Boeun and 20/30 something Sangmin. They do end up married. However Boeun falls for a young, baseball player at school, just as Sangmin starts his new job, as her school's new art teacher....Will an arranged marriage become true love, or can you be too young for marriage?

.

Review:

Well this is one of the first Kmovies I've seen. Short enough, that it kinda summed up something I could of seen being a bit of a weak drama. Pretty cute, except for the minor (pun intended) problem of, Boeun supposed to being only about 15.

.

If you're looking for a light hearted movie to spend an evening with, and don't mind a slightly creepy age difference watch this.

.

*Note: It's not that I have anything against large age-gaps in relationships..it's just that the main girl is supposed to be a little gr.10'er. That's what weirds me out o_x;*

Cookies and....???

"Cookies and Their Appropriate Beverage Accompaniments"

.

(Pictured above, a confused glass, unable to shake the fear of making a wrong decision...is this glass you?)

.
I was recently eating a chocolate-chip cookie that I had baked, and as I am not-yet learned in the art of "how-long-to-bake-cookies-so-that-they-are-soft-kwan-doe" they were...a little...dried out? So...to make it easier on my mouth, I decided to soak them in Apple Juice. Dip, rather. This is a natural instinct for me, as I have memories of my father dipping his cookies in Apple Juice. Curious as to if I was the only one who did this, I searched on the Internet, and...zip, nada, nothing! Can you believe it? I mean...hasn't everyone eaten a cookie with apple juice?
.

I do realize there is the traditional "milk & cookies" saying, however this only applies to oreo cookies, or some close knock-off.

.

So for those of you who need a guide, in the cookie world,

here you go! In Living Technicolor!

(courtesy of MS Paint.)

..

Cookies & Their Respective Partners

Hana Yori Dango Finale/花より男子ファイナル

Genre:Romance/Drama
Language: Japanese
(I realized I haven't reviewed the Hana Yori Dango series, but I'm sure I will eventually.)

This is the story of Makino Tsukushi(Mao Inoue), and Tsukasa Domyoji(Matsumoto Jun), who are to be married in the Spring. After officially announcing their engagement, Domyoji's mother presents the "Smile of Venus", an amazing crown, worth billions. However it is stolen and they then must chase it around the world. Will they be able to regain the crown and are they really compatible for marriage together?

Review:
I'll start off with saying, this is a movie, not a drama. I normally find Japanese movies to be...disappointing. I find that they are like....over-cliched extra episodes. I'd say this could even be considered a souped-up SP, not even a movie ;). However apparently it did well in Japan...
Anyways, if you liked Hana Yori Dango you'll want to see it (like I did). As I finished watching this today, it's still pretty fresh in my mind.... Like I said, it's okay, nothing more, nothing less. I was rather amused at how they portrayed an American trucker though....ah I always love seeing the Japanese-English at work in Jshows.

In closing, watch it if you've seen the Hana Yori Dango series. If you haven't then....go watch the dramas first. ^_~.
.
Random Note: I actually have the photo book for this movie, Rei (my Japanese exchange student), brought it for me.