~ Unknown, Beautiful Flower-friends I Met On A Cool Morning, In A Small Nursery In Panchagani. ~ 🌼

~ ‘Hyori’s Bed & Breakfast’ Reaffirmed My Love For A Simple Life ~

A lot of folks on my IG feed kept posting stories of them watching reruns of ‘Hyori's Bed & Breakfast’. After a point, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to add it to 'My List' on Netflix. It took a while before I actually got down to watching the first season, but man, when I did, I had to stop myself from falling head over heels for it.

A bit about the story:

The show revolves around K-Pop sensation Lee Hyori and her house on Jeju Island where she lives with her husband Lee Sang-Soon and their pets. The couple decide to open their home for a 'bed and breakfast' experience to selected guests.

Introverts by nature and unaccustomed to company, Hyori and Sang-Soon are initially quite apprehensive about the idea. But as the days go on, we watch them turn into beautiful caretakers to every single guest they host. 

Their pets are whole different level of cute. There's Mi-Mi the cat who's stoically disdainful of human beings, there's Sam-Sik who's so fat that she gets mistaken as a pillow most times, and then there are 5 dogs, among which Mocha is my personal favorite.

As the B&B opens, we watch people from all walks of life come in and make a home here. From college friends, to old couples, to high-school siblings and even scientists and explorers, the guests have a wonderful charm of their own.

If you've watched this show already, you know how IMPOSSIBLE it is not fall in love with IU a.k.a. Ji-Eun. 🐼💕

Even though I don't listen to K-pop music, knowing IU for the first time onscreen through the show felt like finding a kindred spirit. She's warm, kind, cool, extremely talented and humble. I love how she took over Sang-Soon's coffee duty at the B&B.

I've learned a gazillion things from this show but here's listing down my 4 favorites:

1. As we watch Hyori make peace with her super successful past as a K-Pop superstar, we also watch her in love with her present. Choosing to lead a life that feels right to her is what brings her immense peace and satisfaction, even if it isn't a life everybody (her fans, more specifically) would have her choose. Living in her own authentic way, I took pride in the way Hyori stayed true to herself.

2. Sometimes, discomfort is a pathway to new adventures. This is beautifully proven when we see Sang-Soon and Hyori open themselves up to other people, other ways of thinking and being, through the show. Initially awkward, we see them grow more confident and then even excited, to welcome new folks home.

3. When you watch Hyori and Sang Soon with each other, it just reaffirms the fact that the right kind of love will always find you if you allow yourself to be found. I felt my heart soar as I watched the ease, comfort, honesty, care and affection the two showered on each other without the need for words or loud actions.

4. Last but not the least, this show's taught me that we should laugh, as much as possible and be kind, as often as we can. Be it absolutely terrible jokes between Hyori and Sang-Soon or the camaraderie between IU and the guests or just our pet babies faffing around the bonfire for a piece of meat, the house was always filled with sounds of laughter and quiet, steady, care.

Picture Credits | Korea Boo, Netflix, (Art) The Doodle App

‘Dinner Mate’: One Of The Most Underrated K-Dramas Of 2020

My first access point to K-dramas has been Netflix, so it was quite a while later when I realized there are thousands of great dramas not listed on the platform that I could probably access elsewhere. Of course, there were a lot of trials involved in stumbling upon a high-quality, free streaming platform, but I managed.

The Story:

'Dinner Mate' a 2020 drama, fit the bill for my next watch. Two strangers share a meal coincidentally and what follows is a relationship where they refrain from sharing personal details as they continue meeting over dinner to enjoy food.

I came to love this drama SO much. Every element in the story has a purpose and a place. 

Dr. Kim-Haeyoung, a psychiatrist uses food therapy to heal his patients while Producer Woo Do-Hee breathes and slays B-Class tacky content at 2N Media Box. Both of them have survived terrible heartbreaks from long relationships.

What unfolds is not just a story of healing but also of how the acceptance of our pasts can allow us to make the most of the present moment. While their ex-lovers show up, demanding a place back in their hearts, it is wonderful to watch Kim-Haeyoung and Do-Hee let go of residual pain and hurt, as they begin to accept and flourish the love that's blooming between them.

I love badass characters, especially female leads and Do-Hee is one of them. She's bold, fierce, proudly weird and says exactly what's on her mind. Kim Haeyoung is calm, composed and yet bears a childlike curiosity that always leads him to unexpected adventures.

Jin-Eol and Jae-Hyuk, the ex-lovers of our protagonists map a trajectory that begins with entitlement to the love they once walked away from, to fighting a one-sided fight and finally, understanding the beauty of letting go. There's my favorite Nam A-yung, the 43-year-old CEO of 2N Media Box. She's as wild as her wardrobe but has a heart that's more open than any of the lead characters we see.

The story is simply beautiful with elements of humor, heart and emotion seamlessly supporting and elevating each other. Every episode is a delight to watch, every moment dripping with insight and meaning. 

This is one of those underrated wonders which I'd proudly download and re-watch over and over.

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Pictures | IQUI & Doodle App

GIFs | 1&2 - Dramabeans | 3&4 - Soompi Forums

Heartwork 06.02.2020

Find more journaling inspiration @anvijournals

~ Sometimes, we need to be carried. We need to experience care other than our own. During such moments, I hope you find hands that carry your heart softly, with ease and comfort. I hope you they let your being rest. ~

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~ notes from everyday ~

~ Do you feel nourished, restful and calm with the people you surround yourself with? Or do you feel depleted, tired and often find yourself as a human soundboard for their thoughts and feelings? ~🐏  . Does your close circle uplift you, push to towards growth, or does it thwart your progress by belittling your ideas and work through constant negative judgment? 🐏  . Do you feel loved, seen and cherished for your heart, your mind? Or do you find yourself hiding your quirks and true feelings because there is no room for honest heart talk? 🐏 . May you choose those who choose you because we are conscious partakers of the energy we allow in our lives. 🐏 . And this beautiful little life, this sweet, fleeting existence requires you to choose people who are good to you + for you. 🐏 . . Love always, Anvi

~ Because, it was always about Nok-du and Dong-joo’s love.~ 

- The Tale of Nokdu (2019) - 

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Credits | 1 - @weguttersnipe, Tumblr | 2 - Omana, They Didn’t Live Journal | 3 - KpopMap | 4 & 10 -Tumbral | 5 - Amino Apps | 6 - @thingskateknows​ | 7 & 8 - Pannchoa | 9 - Soompi Forums | 11 & 13 - Tumgir | 12 - Bitches Over Dramas 

" 'It seems to me that you're getting anxious, thinking that you have to discover quickly what you enjoy or do well.' 'Is it so? Hmm... that's true.' Mincheol averted his gaze as he mumbled. He turned back to Seungwoo. 'It feels like I have to find it quickly.'

'Why are you in a rush? You don't have to hurry. If coming here isn't boring, just come over more often. Be who you are right now, and you will be fine.'"

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~ Page 221, Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop, Hwang Bo-Reum~

Image Credits: @spongecake on Tumblr

Got out my Mini Journal after over a year. Couldn't figure out my own style to create in this one for the longest time.

But today, my heart is very happy about not giving up on this baby. 🐥🥺

I love the little shiny quotes that bring in good energy.🥰

“serious transformations begin with two commitments:

the courage to try new things and act in new ways

the honesty needed to no longer hide from or  lie to ourselves.” 

~ @yungpueblo

If There Was Only One Thing I Could Write, I Would...

Hello,

I hope the weekend is being kind to you and I hope you're being kind to yourself. :)

I took a week off from writing (didn't realize it would be this tough, I guess I had proper withdrawal symptoms, lol). But it was necessary. Last week, I asked myself, "What do I really want to write about? If there's only one thing I can write about, what would it be?"

The answer was very clear: words that add to the world. Words that bring in love, light, healing and warmth.

After thinking on this a bit more, I've decided to follow my heart.

I would like to share daily, positive prose-poems on my blog going forward. As for dramas, rather than reviews, I want to share a list of learnings from each show that's inspired me.

Putting this out here because what you see here, in this space, will change drastically. Please feel free to unfollow if it doesn't vibe with you.

As always,

With love and in love,

Anvi :)