Friday 25 January 2013

Bonsoir tout le monde!

Pardon my random French. I'm cultured, I know.

This semester, I've been taking the FR 152 course (French) which is the level-up of FR 151 class that I took last semester. I have to say, I'm no longer dreading French lectures and tutorials. My new French prof is pretty bad with English but she's really friendly and she tries to explain the lessons really well. I really like her! My new French TA is... different from last semester. While I feel like she's much nicer, I have to admit... my TA from last semester was much better in his lessons and teaching. I felt like I learned much more from him, I guess? That took a lot of courage to say. I had my first French test yesterday. It felt a lot more difficult than last semester's tests and I can only hope I did well.

Other than French, my other classes are alright. Accounting is still as boring as it is in high school and I still hate it. I can already smell my failures in this class. Legal Studies is the same as it was last semester which is okay. Political Science is the worst class ever. I have absolutely no interest in this class whatsoever. Every time I'm in this class, I go on Tumblr or Twitter and maybe chat with friends on Skype. Recently, my roommate linked me to this blog: SAYA IN UNDERWORLD. It's filled with translations of Japanese horror stories and we all know those are the best ones. They're pretty slow with updates, I feel, but if you have time, definitely go through it if you're interested in scary things. I went through almost the entire blog in one period of Political Science. Haters gonna hate on my perfect studentness.

Lastly, I'm also taking Psychology. This, by far, is the most interesting class I'm in this semester. I've heard from other people that the amount of material covered is killer but I hope I can just pull through. I also need to manage my time better and participate in those research experiments for extra credit!

-transitions into another topic-

So lately, I've been a bit more active on Instagram and I think I may be slightly addicted. Especially every time I post a photo, I check back way too often to see if anyone has liked it. I'm shameless. Sigh.

Here's just two of my most recent photos I've uploaded to Instagram!

Taken from my bedroom window (my dorm at university).
My life is so glamorous, I know.

While I'm showing my Aldo backpack purchase, I also want to show everyone a bit of the stuff that I've bought these past few weeks. Before you judge me on buying so much, give me the benefit of the doubt! Check the prices I'll put under the picture of each item!

A navy blue sweater from Old Navy.
$5
Mint green blouse, also from Old Navy!
$12
Boots from American Eagle
(Okay, my only pair of boots broke, so...)
These were $20?
Patched Skinny Jeans from American Eagle
$15
Light Blue Skinny Jeans
$15?
(Forgot exact price)
These were the same boots from above but in a different colour.
They were $20 when I bought that first pair and when I went back,
they were selling it for $12.
Fashion scarf from Winners.
$12
Close-up of the pattern of the scarf!
Striped sweater from Old Navy
$7
Yes, I know I bought a lot! I promise not to buy anything for the next little while. But you gotta admit, everything was pretty damn cheap. I mean, the boots were originally at $40+. The mint green blouse was at $35ish, the American Eagle jeans were at $35-$45 and the last striped sweater was at $25 (approx)!

-awkwardly transitions into another topic-

I don't really have much else to say but I do want to show you guys some videos that I've found recently that were interesting or just captured my interest.


So apparently the medley above is an old video but I only found it recently. I thought it was really well done and the medley actually sounded like one song as opposed to those that sound choppy and pieced together. Plus, Victoria actually sounds nice here which is rare for me to say since I don't find her singing that amazing.


So the first time I heard of Wang Lee Hom was when Wongfu made his music video. Since then, I never paid much attention or really cared about his stuff. But since I'm getting into EXO-M, I was watching a clip of Xiumin/Chen (I forgot) performing this song and I thought it sounded really pretty.

So, ISAtv just released their newest "Step by Step" video and I've been looking forward to this episode for the longest time!


I'm by no means a dancer but something about dance is really interesting to me. I love watching K-Pop dance covers and I love the "Step by Step" series. I've watched all the episodes multiple times and I really admire all the dancers. If you guys have time, definitely watch this mini-series. Maybe you'll learn a dance or two!

Also, Wongfu released their newest short last night and I thought it was the cutest thing:


I absolutely love it when Ki Hong Lee is in Wongfu videos 'cause I think he's adorable. He's a good actor and he seems like a genuinely good person. I think he looks like one of my relatives but that's aside from the point. I didn't know who the girl was but she looked really pretty! I thought the short was simple and sweet and I'm so sure every one can relate to this. Not so much the ending but the "wow-that-guy/girl-is-cute" and "let-me-just-stare-at-them-all-day-and-fake-laugh-so-they-notice-me".


I just recently discovered Justkiddingnews (the Youtube channel) and I spent a whole night just going through some of the more interesting videos. This is one of the more recent ones and I thought the whole conspiracy theory was interesting. Take these things with a grain of salt but I figure it's just nice to see things from a different perspective. With this video, I'll admit... the news was interesting but the thing that interested me the most was Anthony Lee. I never knew who he was until I watched "When it Counts" where he played such a derp and then I see him on "Step by Step" and again, he was really funny and chill. When you watch this video, you notice how Anthony is a really bright person and I think that's really awesome when a person can have so much depth to them but you just don't really notice from first impressions/acting. It's probably not the best comparison, but I find him a bit like Tablo from Epik High? We all know how Tablo can be the weirdest, funniest guy. I think just his choice in usernames (blobyblo) is good enough proof of that. But on the other hand, he's a Stanford graduate and he's just a genius with his words and his music. Gap moe, guys, gap moe.

-slowly moves into another topic- 

So, this month, I've finished two TVB dramas which were "Friendly Fire" and "Missing You". I think TVB started off the year well with these two dramas since they were both so well done! I definitely loved "Friendly Fire" more whether you compare them based on cast, story-line, and just the general drama as a whole but "Missing You" is good as well.

I really LOVED Sammy Leung's acting in "Friendly Fire" and for his first time acting in a drama, he was absolutely amazing! I think I pretty much speak for a lot of people when I say that while the plot was captivating, Sammy's acting and character was even more beautiful. Suddenly, "Friendly Fire" just topped a lot of my favourite TVB dramas and became my #1 most recommended series!

"Missing You", on the other hand, was more of a romantic-comedy type of drama. I loved the concept of it and the storyline was cute and really heartwarming. But, for me, action-packed dramas with undercover police, lawyers, and shootings will always be the best.

Sometimes, I feel like maybe I should make a separate blog just for my TVB feels. I could do like episode reviews or just spazz about my love for a character. Sigh. When time allows...

While we're on the topic of dramas, I spent a good amount of time last night trying to find the drama I watched when I was in China this summer. I finally found out that it was titled "Queen of SOP" or something like that. What the crap is an SOP anyways? Apparently, the cute guy from the drama was Zhang Han which was the same guy who played the Domyouji in the Chinese version of "Hana Yori Dango". I had watched this (Let's watch the Meteor Shower) in China too but never noticed they were the same guy......... Ah well, this summer, I'm dedicating myself to this drama! and finding a job... and reading more books... and having fun before I spend the next 4 years of my life studying/working... and yeah.

Also, because I've watched Taiwanese, HK, Japanese, and Mainland dramas, I feel like I should give K-dramas a try. I've watched half of "You're Beautiful" and given up and now I think I should try and watch some of those highly recommended ones. I heard "City Hunter", "Reply 1997", and "Ghost" were good but does anyone have other recommendations? I actually spent a good portion of time last night watching clips of Jessica in "Wild Romance". Is that any good? I'm really not interested in the whole "rich-guy-falls-in-love-with-poor-girl-but-can't-date-her-because-his-mom-says-she's-too-poor" storyline... well, unless it's really amazing.

ANYWAYS, I think I've went on for long enough...

- eggtart

P.S: That weird countdown thing on the side? That's all fishandchips and her obsession with books. If you guys think it looks whack, you can take it up with her. I guess it adds a bit of colour to our boring-looking blog though.

Friday 18 January 2013

Books of 2012 and Happy New Year!

If you haven't really noticed, I'm book crazy. Last year, I set a reading goal for myself. 100 books in 365 days. I'd just like to say... I DID IT :D

Here's the list of books I read, in case you care, haha ~

2012 Reading Challenge

2012 Reading Challenge
Alicia has completed her goal of reading 100 books in 2012!
hide
(B) - Bought // (L) - Library // (*) - 2012 Release // (R) - Received from a Publisher/Author/Contest

Bolded - Read // Not Bolded - To Read

January:
(B) Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac - Gabrielle Zevin (4/5)
(L) Kiss Crush Collide - Christina Meredith (2/5)
(L) Bloodlines [#1 Bloodlines] - Richelle Mead (5/5)
(L) Fire [#2 Seven Kingdoms] - Kristin Cashore (5/5)
(L) I was Told There'd be Cake - Sloane Crosley (4.5/5)
(L) The Sky is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson (4.5/5)
(L) Die for Me [#1 Revenants] - Amy Plum (4/5)
(L) Angel Burn [#1 Angel] - L.A. Weatherly (2.5/5)
(B) Math Curse - Jon Scieszka (5/5)

February:
(L) The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern (4/5)
(L)  Once a Witch [#1 Witch]- Carolyn MacCullough (4/5)
(L) Always a Witch [#2 Witch] - Carolyn MacCullough (4/5)
(L)* The Fault in Our Stars - John Green (5/5)
(L) The Secret Year - Jennifer R. Hubbard (3/5)
(L) Me, My Elf, and I - Heather Swain (4/5)
(L) Starcrossed [#1 Starcrossed]- Josephine Angelini (2.5/5)

March:
(L) Wither [#1 The Chemical Garden]- Lauren Destefano (3/5)
(L) Across the Universe [#1 Across the Universe] - Beth Revis (5/5)
(L)* A Million Suns [#2 Across the Universe] - Beth Revis (5/5)
(L) Candor - Pam Bachorz (4/5)
(L) Poison Study [#1 Study] - Maria V. Snyder (5/5)
(L) Magic Study [#2 Study] - Maria V. Snyder (4/5)
(L) Fire Study [#3 Study] - Maria V. Snyder (4.5/5)
(L) The Cardturner - Louis Sanchar (5/5)

April:
(L) Kisses From Hell - Kristin Cast, Richelle Mead, Kelley Armstrong, Francesa Lia Block, Alyson Noel (3-4.5/5)
(B)* The Calling [#2 Darkness Rising] - Kelley Armstrong (5/5)
(B)* Out of Sight, Out of Time [#5 Gallagher Girls] - Ally Carter (5/5)
(L) Somewhere in Blue - Gillian Cummings (4/5)
(L) Where She Went [#2 If I Stay] - Gayle Forman (5/5)
(L) The Ghost and the Goth [#1 The Ghost and the Goth] - Stacey Kade (5/5)
(L) Queen of the Dead [#2 The Ghost and the Goth] -Stacey Kade (4/5)

May: 
(L) Switched [#1 Trylle] - Amanda Hocking (4/5)
(L) Torn [#2 Trylle] - Amanda Hocking (5/5)
(L) Ascend [#3 Trylle] - Amanda Hocking (4.5/5)
(L)* I've Got Your Number - Sophie Kinsella (5/5)
(B)* Shine [#3 Shade] - Jeri Smith-Ready (5/5) (ABSOLUTELY AMAZING)
(L)* Underworld [#2 Abandon] -Meg Cabot (4.5/5)
(B)* City of Lost Souls [#5 The Mortal Instruments] - Cassandra Clare (5/5)
(L)* Body and Soul [#3 The Ghost and the Goth] - Stacey Kade (4.5/5)

June: 
(R)* The Golden Lily [#2 Bloodlines] - Richelle Mead (5/5)
[Obtained via Razorbill Canada (a division of Penguin Group Publishing)]
(L)* Until I Die [#2 Revenants] - Amy Plum (5/5)
(R)* Soulbound [#1 Legacy of Tril] - Heather Brewer (4.5/5)
[Obtained via Razorbill Canada (a division of Penguin Group Publishing)]
(L) Angel Fire [#2 Angel] - L.A. Weatherly (3/5)

July:
(B) Blood Red Road [#1 Dust Lands] - Moira Young (4.5/5)
(L) Sisterhood Everlasting [#5 The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants] - Ann Brashares (4.5/5)
(B)* The Thing About the Truth - Lauren Barnholdt (3.5/5)
(L)* The Immortal Rules [#1 Blood of Eden] - Julie Kagawa (5/5)
(B)* Keep Holding On - Suzane Colasanti (4/5)
(B) A Game of Thrones [#1 A Song of Ice and Fire] - George R.R. Martin (5/5)

August:
(L) Someone Like You - Sarah Dessen (3/5)
(L) Daughter of Smoke and Bone [#1 Daughter of Smoke and Bone] - Laini Taylor (5/5)
(L) All You Get Is Me - Yvonne Prinz (3.5/5)
(B)* Cinder [#1 Lunar Chronicles] - Marissa Meyer (5/5)
(B) The Expressologist - Kristina Springer (3.5/5)
(L) Dark Souls - Paula Morris (3.5/5)
(B)* Pushing the Limits - Katie McGarry (5/5)
(B) Divergent - Veronica Roth (5/5)
(B)* Insurgent - Veronica Roth (5/5)
(R)* The Edge of Nowhere [#1 Saratoga Woods] - Elizabeth George (3/5)
[ARC obtained via Razorbill Canada (a division of Penguin Group Publishing)]

September:
(L)* Grave Mercy [#1 His Fair Assassin] - Robin LaFevers (4.5/5)
(B)* Between the Lines - Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer (2.5/5)
(L)* First Comes Love - Katie Kavinsky (4/5)
(L)* Enchanted - Alethea Kontis (2/5)
(L) A Need So Beautiful [#1 A Need So Beautiful] - Suzanne Young (4.5/5)
(L)* A Want So Wicked [#2 A Need So Beautiful] - Suzanne Young (4/5)

October:
(R)* Black City [#1 Black City] - Elizabeth Richards (5/5)
[ARC obtained via Razorbill Canada (a division of Penguin Group Publishing)]
(B)* The Rise of Nine [#3 Lorien Legacies]- Pittacus Lore (5/5)
(L) Perfect You - Elizabeth Scott (3/5)
(B) Oedipus Tyrannus - Sophocles (4/5)
(B) Doctor Faustus - Christopher Marlowe (5/5)
(L)* Sweet Evil [#1 The Sweet Trilogy] - Wendy Higgins (5/5)
(L)* The Iron Legends [Novellas; The Iron Fey Series] - Julie Kagawa (5/5)
(L)* The Selection [#1 The Selection] - Kiera Cass (4/5)
(B)* What's Left of Me [#1 The Hybrid Chronicles] - Kat Zhang (5/5)
(B)* Stealing Parker - Miranda Kenneally (4.5/5)
(B) Coffeehouse Angel - Suzanne Selfors (3.5/5)

November: 
(B)* Easy - Tammara Webber (6/5 IF THERE IS A BOOK YOU SHOULD READ, IT'S THIS ONE)
(B)* My Life Next Door - Huntley Fitzpatrick (4.5/5)
(B)* Days of Blood and Starlight [#2 Daughter of Smoke and Bone] - Laini Taylor (5/5 OMG. THE FEELS.)
(B) The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde (5/5)

December: 
(B) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain (4/5)
(L)* The Lost Prince [#1 The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten] - Julie Kagawa (4.5/5)
(B) The Odyssey - Homer (Trans. Stanley Lombardo) (5/5)
(B) Beowulf - Unkown (Trans. & Ed. Dick Ringler) (4/5)
(L) All These Things I've Done - Gabrielle Zevin (3.5/5)
(B)* The Dark Light - Sarah Walsh (5/5)
(B) The Lightning Thief [#1 Percy Jackson and the Olympians] - Rick Riordan (5/5)
(B) The Sea of Monsters [#2 Percy Jackson and the Olympians] - Rick Riordan (5/5)
(B) The Titan's Curse [#3 Percy Jackson and the Olympians] - Rick Riordan (5/5)
(B) Between the Lines [#1 Between the Lines]Tammara Webber (5/5)
(B) Where You Are  [#2 Between the Lines] - Tammara Webber (5/5)
(B)* Foretold: 14 Tales of Prophecy and Prediction - Carrie Ryan (3-4.5/5)
(B)* Poison Princess [#1 The Arcana Chronicles] - Kresley Cole (3/5)
(B)* Witch World - Christopher Pike (2/5)
(B)* Avatar: The Last Airbender The Promise Part 1 - Gene Luen Yang (5/5)
(B)* Avatar: The Last Airbender The Promise Part 2 - Gene Luen Yang (5/5)
(B)* Avatar: The Last Airbender The Promise Part 3 - Gene Luen Yang (5/5)
(L) Beauty Queens - Libba Bray (4/5)
(B)* Slammed [#1 Slammed] - Colleen Hoover (6/5 Another amazing book, just saying)
(B) Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Christmas - Charles M. Schulz (5/5)

I currently don't have a goal set up for 2013... I may make one later, but it definitely won't be more than 100 'cause I don't think I have time for that thanks to university...
Anyways, I just wanted to point out that that was probably the first year where I made a goal at new years and actually succeeded in completing it.

I know it's late, but Happy New Year! Hehe ~

-fishandchips

Tuesday 1 January 2013

Happy New Years! 2013, let's GO!

HAPPY NEW YEARS, EVERYONE!
Wishing everyone another wonderful 365 days to come!
May all your goals/resolutions come true!

I hope you guys spend the year with your friends, family and all your loved one!  

Please continue to follow yu-ai and I promise this year that I'll try to better myself and this blog :)

So how was your New Years, everyone? I spent four hours before the New Years on Skype chatting with some of my closest friends, including fishandchips. It was really cool that we counted down together and everything (fishandchips NOT included here because she rather spend it with her family it's ok bro, I get it. I get it.)

I went to bed at 2AM because I stayed up longer wondering if my husband Jay Park would come online to Twitter and have another fan-chat. I've never been able to catch him online and I've been disappointed each time since I see his replies to his fans are so funny/sweet and I really want to be a part of that!

Resolution #1: Communicate more with my favourite idols (my husbandos) on Twitter! I hope one day I'll be able to get replies from Jay Park, maybe some of my favourite Youtube stars and others! :)

I woke up today to have curry and rice for breakfast. It's a microwaveable meal but let me tell you... those curry and rice boxes are soo good! I need to take a picture one day and show everyone! Promote promote.

Then, I went over to my friend's place to make some crepes. We ended up having to mission out in the cold to an Asian supermarket because only Asians don't close on holidays because she forgot that she ran out of eggs. The finished crepes turned out pretty good and I didn't get diarrhea!

Making the crepes!
My crepe!
A bit plain looking but it tasted good! :)



My friend's second crepe (sorry, wrong order of photos!)
She didn't know how to "drizzle" the Nutella on top but it still looked nice!
My friend's first crepe!
I feel like ice cream on the inside of the crepe might be better...
Resolution #2: Learn how to make more desserts/foods for a hobby! Since school is ending at the end of April, as opposed to the end of June now, I'll have more time to pick up some cooking skills!

Anyways, a couple days ago, my family drove up to a place near Barrie? I think it was Barrie... or close to there... BUT ANYWHO. We found a Coach outlet store and we ended up buying a bit over $500 worth of stuff. Even though it was my dad's money, it still hurt to see him spend so much on my mom and I. I love you dad... ;v;

The reason was because my mom and I don't own anything Coach. While it was popular back then, we were never willing to spend so much money on something that wasn't that brand name or amazing. Plus, even though I kinda wanted it, I never really wanted it that much and since I never got it... my want kinda dwindled down. But there was a HUGE sale and there was a coupon for 30% off all items with an additional 10% of after. Some items on one side of the wall had 50% off too and with that coupon, it really was a big deal! There was a long line outside but we managed to get in early.

I ended up getting a backpack and a wallet!



My mom ended up getting two purses for her birthday which is coming up tomorrow (January 2nd). I mean, I'm pretty satisfied with my purchase and I'm happy and all but at the end of the day... I still feel like my dad wasted too much on us. Even though I kept saying I didn't want this and I didn't want that at the store, they kept telling me to get something since we're never gonna see such an amazing sale again. Now that I think about it... I regret not getting a longer wallet/mini messenger bag. Oh well. I can't complain when I already have two such amazing things already!

On Boxing Day, we didn't even end up buying a lot like most shoppers. We bought one item which was this:

PJ bottoms!
They were $3? $4?
Pretty comfy, cute, and cheap :)
Resolution #3: Invest more into nice clothing and improve my dressing style! I think because of Tumblr, I've been really getting into different, more sophisticated and interesting pieces. I really want to try out some new looks rather than sticking to my jeans and casual wear...

To do that and look good...

Resolution #4: LOSE WEIGHT. I've been saying this every year but it ends up in the back of my head within a week. I always manage to exercise and eat healthy for a short period of time and just give up. Maybe if I write/type this down, I'll stay motivated? Fighting!


Gotta stay focused! AND PERSEVERE. Following David So's words... I must...

And while we're talking about this...

Resolution #5: No more procrastination! Or at least... less of it! I need to improve my grades since this semester could have been a lot better grades-wise if I had stopped procrastinating and pushing things to the last minute! No more excuses for not eating healthy and giving up on diets, giving up on books/dramas/animes, giving up on fighting addicting habits. ADD OIL!

Resolution #6: Be more outgoing! While I'm definitely capable of making friends and speaking up for myself when necessary, I tend to still stay near the shy-end of the spectrum. I need to open up in class, participate, and not be afraid of being judged! :)

I think that's it. That should be enough resolutions to keep my busy this year. I hope I stick to them!

What are your resolutions?

- eggtart
EDIT:

Did you guys hear this new song from SNSD?
Sounds funny since it sounds like a couple songs mixed into one...
But still kind of catchy!
 
I got a boy 멋진! I got a boy 착한! I got a boy handsome boy 내 맘 다 가져간