All posts in: Culture

Culture
09 Jan 2021

McDonald’s Japan Has Healthier Happy Meals

https://youtu.be/MDaJhkqUwK0

Growing up, there was no such thing as a healthier Happy Meal from McDonald’s. In fact, healthier eating for young children wasn’t as prioritized back then as it is now so it’s kind of refreshing to see such a change. In order to promote healthier eating with kids, McDonald’s in Japan is introducing new side offerings including yogurt, a side salad and a medley of corn and edamame. Yum! We’d take this option as an adult if we had the choice. The main dishes themselves will not change, but if you’re a kid not wanting fries, at least you have options.

[Source]

Culture
08 Jan 2021

Malcolm & Marie

The trailer is out for the highly anticipated film starring Zendaya and John David Washington. As some of you may have read earlier in the summer, this was the film that was shot during the pandemic with a limited cast and crew. Even though the trailer was just released, rumblings about Zendaya being nominated for this performance are already starting. I’m excited for this to be on Netflix. My only hope is that it will be nothing like “Marriage Story.”

The film will be selected theaters, but out on Netflix on February 5th.

Culture
04 Jan 2021

Blog Roundup

  • The Astonishing Duality of BTS [The Atlantic]
  • How the Pandemic is Forcing Women Out of the Workforce [Vox]
  • The 10 Most Popular Recipes of 2020 [Bon Appetit]
  • 5 Small Changes to Make for a Happier New Year [The Every Girl]
  • Remembering the Startups We Lost in 2020 [TechCrunch]
  • Money Lessons From A Truly Terrible Year [The Cut]
Culture
02 Jan 2021

Son Ye-Jin and Hyun Bin Finally Confirm They Are Dating

Fans have been shipping the K-drama couple since the premiere of their series, “Crash Landing on You.” However, the rumors began long before the series aired as they also starred in the film, “The Negotiation.” The hints and clues were everywhere, but time and time again, the two continued to deny the rumors. Fans remained hopeful thinking one day it might actually happen and it did! Dispatch broke the news just after New Year’s Day giving us the perfect start to 2021.

Every time someone new watches a K-drama, they are always warned. “This doesn’t happen in real life.” “They’re just acting!” We fall in love with the leads not because they do a good job, but because we actually see the chemistry there. In the case of Son Ye-Jin and Hyun Bin, we were right! There couldn’t be a more perfect K-drama couple turned real life couple. This weekend, I’m seeing lots of CLOY enthusiasts and people re-watching the series (myself included!) Here’s hoping that the two stay together for a long time and have a happy ending!

[Source]

Culture
29 Dec 2020

Favorites of 2020

Favorite Style Icon (s): BTS

Before I even started writing this post, I knew I was in for a challenge. I’ve never had an issue deciding who was the most iconic in fashion for that year because we could always go back and look at who we shared the most for “Snaps for a Snapshot.” In a year where we had fewer red carpet experiences, that made this choice harder. And yet, it was easier. BTS truly shined in their “Dynamite” era and we were served impeccable looks for every editorial, appearance, and performance. Each one continued to top the last. Over the years, the guy have come into their own on highlighting the style that they are most comfortable with. Even though they show up as an ensemble, you can tell that they make it their own.

Runner Up: Margot Robbie

We somehow managed to get one award show season before the pandemic hit and Margot Robbie continued to stun on every red carpet.

Favorite Getaway: Los Angeles

I only had two places to choose from for this category this year and honestly, I loved Los Angeles and Phuket for two very different reasons. I think what pushed me towards LA is that I had the chance to celebrate the bachelorette of one of my best friends in a city that I love. No matter how many times I visit, I’m always being introduced to something new. Celebrating moments were few and far between, but this one was so memorable.

Favorite Artist: Dua Lipa

In 2020, I listened to an unhealthy amount of Dua Lipa. “Future Nostalgia” is a superb album and with the year that we’ve had, it was just what we needed. Full of pop tracks and dance hits, it’s actually quite difficult to be upset at any part of this album. It was the soundtrack to my summer and an album I know I’ll listen to even further into 2021.

Runner Up: Griff

Griff is just starting to come into her own, but we’re so excited for what she’ll achieve in the next year.

Favorite Guilty Pleasure: Selling Sunset

It’s not easy for me to add a new reality television series into the mix, but Selling Sunset had all the right components. The series was catty, smart, and somewhat educational? I learned so much about homes and real estate just from watching the show alone without all of the drama. The episodes are short so it feels easily digestible and it is great background noise in case you don’t want to pay attention too closely.

Runner Up: Emily in Paris

How could we forget the show that we thought we’d end up hating, but actually loved?

Favorite Item Purchased This Year: [Amazon Brand – Terry Cotton & Modal Oversized-Fit Quarter-Zip Sweatshirt] – $29.50

If you had told me that lounge wear would be my aesthetic this year (pre-pandemic) I would have thought you were lying. Contrary to what some may believe, lounge wear can be stylish as well. However, this year taught us that comfort is key. That denim jeans may be a thing of the past (for now at least) and that half zips are the ultimate basic piece to own. We’ve talked about this Amazon half zip so many times now across all of our platforms, but I could live in this for a week.

Runner Up: [BLANKNYC Good Vibes Faux Leather Moto Jacket] – $98

The girl who thought she could never pull off a leather jacket finally did!

Favorite Albums (in no particular order):

  • Justin Bieber – Changes
  • The Weeknd – After Hours
  • Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
  • Kiana Ledé – KIKI
  • Tom Misch – What Kinda Music
  • JoJo – good to know
  • Kehlani – It Was Good Until It Wasn’t
  • Kygo – Golden Hour
  • Teyana Taylor – The Album
  • Jhené Aiko – Chilombo
  • Henry Green – Half Light
  • BLACKPINK – THE ALBUM
  • TWICE – Eyes Wide Open
  • BTS – BE
  • KATIE – Our Time Is Blue
Culture
27 Dec 2020

This Weekend:

What We’re Watching: Love Life (HBO Max)

I’m a little late to the “Love Life” game, but decided to start this on Christmas. As much as I love Anna Kendrick for her work as an actress, I was surprised to find that her portrayal as Darby is wildly unlikeable. It was quite a struggle to get through the first two episodes, but after you get past that hurdle, it’s somewhat smooth sailing from there. What’s great about the series is that you feel like you’re sort of growing up with Darby. While she makes many mistakes early on, she learns from them. Part of why it’s so difficult to like Darby is because many of us watching her see ourselves. Therefore, watching the show is triggering because our mistakes are similar to the one’s she’s making herself. And with that, we’re already on episode 8 and can’t wait to see how this all unfolds.

What We’re Listening To: The Postal Service – Everything Will Change

I used to think that listening to live albums were never going to measure up to the real thing, but in a year like 2020, any and every type of music has the ability to bring someone comfort. We don’t have an option to be picky this year. We’ve talked about this a few times now, but early on in the pandemic, Ben Gibbard’s daily 4pm shows helped keep my spirits up in a time of uncertainty. Everything Will Change is a live album from their two-night performance at Berkeley’s Greek Theater back in 2014 brought back to life with it’s 2020 release. This is actually one of the few albums I have on vinyl and now I feel like I need this version as well.

What We’re Wearing: [The Drop Women’s Mirabelle Long Bell Sleeve Open Front Cozy Cardigan] –

And the coziness continues! As we drag our feet through winter looking ahead to spring, I’m starting to swap out my thick sweaters for some lighter ones including this cardigan. I actually found this through an influencer I follow and love the ease of how you can pair this with any outfit. At the moment, the cardigan is currently unavailable, but there are similar styles coming from The Drop often!

What We’re Eating: Daeho Galbijjim

For Christmas this year, we ordered from Daeho! I’m probably the last person in San Francisco to finally try this place for the first time and have spent the last year hearing from my friends how much they love going to this spot. The FOMO was real. Now that I’ve finally had it, I can confirm that it really is as good as everyone says it is. The takeout itself was awesome, but I can only imagine how better it is to have in person and can’t wait to go there myself when things open back up again and are safe.

Culture
25 Dec 2020

Blog Roundup

  • The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020 [Paper Mag]
  • The Year Instagram Became Facebook [The Verge]
  • Some Cities Will Pay You $10,000 to Relocate [NPR]
  • The Missed “Magical Negro” Trope in “The Queen’s Gambit” [Bitch Media]
  • Steve Yuen on the Honesty of ‘Minari’ and His Eclectic Career [Variety]
  • Meet Pdogg, the Musical Dynamo Helping Shape BTS’s Greatest Hits [Fast Company]
  • Your State’s COVID-19 Epidemic, Explained in 4 Maps [Vox]
  • The 100 Best Songs of 2020 [Pitchfork]
  • The Best K-Pop Moments of 2020 [Teen Vogue]
  • 10 Remote Airbnbs As Stunning As They Are Secluded [Architectural Digest]
  • ‘The Bachelorette’ Stylist Shares How the Fashion Came Together for this Unprecedented Season [Fashionista]
  • The Journalist and the Pharma Bro [Elle]
  • Why Dave Chapelle Doesn’t Want You to Stream Chapelle’s Show [Vox]
  • Best House of 2020 [Arch Daily]
  • My Unusually Normal Life in Taiwan Amid the Global Pandemic [Bloomberg]
Style
19 Dec 2020

This Weekend:

What We’re Watching: House of Ho (HBO Max)

When I first imagined what Vietnamese representation would look like on mainstream television, this isn’t exactly what I had in mind. The show highlights a wealthy Vietnamese American family out of Houston. It’s sort of a cross between My Super Sweet Sixteen and A Real Housewives series. However, the quality level looks like it could be on the Bravo network so they’ve got that going for them! House of Ho is purely for entertainment. It’s not educational or inspiring, but it’s clearly tailored for an audience that is more modern and young. I don’t have a similar upbringing like the Ho family, but there were some similarities that I recognized about my own childhood. There are seven episodes today and we finished the series in two days.

What We’re Listening To: KATIE – Our Time Is Blue

This album actually came out the same weekend as “Evermore,” so it was a bit distracting trying to do both. I was able to dedicate more time to KATIE’s this week though and I loved it so much I added all six songs to my current playlist. KATIE was a new artist for me as I only discovered her through another person’s Instagram account that I follow. Her sound reminds me so much of the kind of old school R&B that I used to listen to like pre-Jhene Aiko or even present day Summer Walker. Also, we will never get tired of hyping up Asian American artists.

What We’re Wearing: [AllSaints Sandra Jaine Denim Shirt] – $185 – $88.80

You could say that this shirt is a bit out of character for me, but there’s a story behind this. As some of you know, we’ve spent a significant amount of time with BTS in the last few months. Naturally their sense of style has peeked my interested a bit. You might even say that I ripped this look directly off of Jungkook from this year’s MAMA performance of “Dynamite.” It’s fun though, right?

What We’re Eating: Trader Joe’s Hearts of Palm Pasta

I’ve decided that I think I don’t understand vegetable substitutes of pasta after tonight. There’s a chance that I could’ve butchered this in the cooking, but I think that probability is low. Tonight, I threw this in with garlic, green beans, olive oil and a sauce from my local market, but finished it feeling unsatisfied and hungry afterwards. I know that there are people who swear by vegetable pasta, but the real thing is so much better! I’m not convinced by these.

Culture
13 Dec 2020

Blog Roundup

  • These Are the 11 Best Korean Dramas of 2020 [Hypebae]
  • Our Shared Unsharing [The Cut] The things I felt, but didn’t want to share myself
  • The Real Reason Americans Aren’t Quarantining [The Atlantic]
  • How Did Breakdancing Become an Olympic Sport? [LifeHacker]
  • The Search for the Next ‘Jeopardy’ Host [The Ringer]
  • 11 Skate Parks Around the World [Arch Daily]
  • Anime Fans Can Now Book ‘Sailor Moon’ Themed Wedding Receptions [Hypebae]
  • Chanel Miller on Slowing Down and Creating in Quarantine [Girls’ Night In]
  • Essential Things You Should Keep In Your Car [Life Hacker]
  • Major Brands Describe 2020 in One Word [Hypebeast]
  • Entertainer of the Year: BTS [TIME]
  • Everything Diners Need to Know About the Bay Area’s New Coronavirus Lockdown [SF Eater]
  • The Songs and Albums That Defined K-Pop’s Monumental Year in 2020 [TIME]
  • Twitter Will Now Let Users Share Tweets on Instagram and Snapchat [Hypebeast] Good, cause I’m tired of having to screenshot everything.

Culture
05 Dec 2020

This Weekend:

Watching: The Queen’s Gambit

After hearing for weeks about this Netflix miniseries, I finally finished it just last night. It was a great series to start after our Thanksgiving meal and since then, I’ve been chipping away at episodes every couple of days. I’m hearing now that this show has influenced watchers to buy their own chess set for the holidays. When I look back at everything I’ve watched this year since the beginning of quarantine, The Queen’s Gambit is one of the series that I find quite intriguing. In terms of enjoyment, I’d put it behind “Start-Up,” but it terms of quality content, I’d put it ahead of “Tiger King.” I know that these things aren’t always comparable, but I’ve now consumed more television and film content in a year than I have ever before in my life.

What We’re Listening To: Shawn Mendes – Wonder

Caught up in all the hype that is BTS, for awhile, I felt like all other music couldn’t reach me. Or rather, I wasn’t letting it. 2019 was the summer of Shawn Mendes for me. He had two summer hits and a concert that I still can’t believe I had a chance to attend. The publicity around this album has also been rampant with not one, but two Netflix programs. I’ve already watched the documentary, but have my on my to do list is concert special. This weekend, I’m really looking forward to spending more time on his album and dissecting every song a little closer.

What We’re Wearing: [Jouica Women’s Casual Lightweight V Neck Batwing Sleeve Knit Top Loose Pullover Sweater] – $27.99

My favorite part about shopping on Amazon is how long the titles are for every piece under the fashion category. I haven’t always shopped for my clothes on Amazon. To be honest, until the pandemic, I wasn’t doing much of my shopping on Amazon to begin with. An Instagrammer I follower, however, swears by some of the pieces she purchases from them. With her being a similar size to me and us having similar tastes in clothing, it was her influence that led me to the half zip sweater that I wear on a weekly basis. The other morning, I was in bed going through my IG stories when a video popped up of her describing this sweater above. It didn’t take me more than five minutes to add this to my cart and finish my purchase. With less of us going out and more time indoors, it doesn’t seem reasonable to be purchasing expensive sweaters especially if you can find them at the same quality and for a better price.

What We’re Eating: Jollibee’s Spaghetti

Ahead of our grocery shopping errands today, we stopped on over to Jollibee’s for breakfast. My favorite is their Spaghetti, which honestly, looks very simple and is something I could make myself, but don’t even attempt to. It’s slightly unconventional to be having pasta so early in the morning, but somehow it works and it’s delicious!