The global pandemic has indeed taken a lot from us- time that we could've spent to bond with friends and family, money to pay our monthly expenses, and quite frankly, that little fiber left of our sanity. More than anything, COVID-19 took a huge toll on our mental health. It made us scared and agitated like we're always walking on thin ice. And honestly speaking, we are. Because unfortunately, this pandemic doesn't seem like it's ending soon. It is despairing that humans are simply learning to live with it, slowly adjusting to a world where our health is always at risk and lives can be taken by this invisible monster any second.

Though faced with uncertainties, there are small, genuine joys that we can only discover amidst this tough time. In this blog post, I want you to observe your surroundings, the people around you, and yourself. What makes your heart flutter simply at the sight of it? Who makes you smile? When do you feel alive? And which of these things did you take time to notice when the world was too busy to revolve around the littlest things?

• Waking up with the sunlight's reflection on the wall makes my mornings warm. The bright sun is a sign and hopes that there will be better days ahead. 
• My first cup of water in the morning makes me fully awake. The crisp and clean taste of warm water is so refreshing, especially if you drink the entire cup! 
• Spending more time with my cats has undeniably made me happier. They give such genuine love that you need to work hard for. Dog persons might hate this, but I love the challenge, it makes everything worth it. 
• Picking up on things that I had to set aside because of school (which can be work for you) makes me feel productive (e.g. learning a new language). It keeps my mind busy, takes my mind off of unnecessary thoughts and I also learn a lot! Self-improvement is something that we should work on in this pandemic.
• The smell of newly-washed clothes. They stay longer because I do not have to wear them outside. The scent of the fabric softener is so delicate, it reminds me of a cool summer breeze.
• Staying in bed no matter how long I want to. I know this does not apply to everyone, but because I am currently working as a freelance writer, I have my time on my hands. I can enjoy the company of my soft bed sheets and blankets without feeling guilty.
• Home-cooked food. Most of the time, I prefer eating outside when I am heading out. I did not have the luxury of time to wait for the food to cook (or maybe I'm just super late to wherever I am going to). Now, I enjoy every dish that my dad or mom cooks. It's comforting.

When everything was moving too fast, I took all of these things for granted. And maybe, you did as well. It felt as if these will always be with me even if I don't pay enough attention. I realized it won't. Each passing moment, though similar, will always be a different experience.

Yes, this unfortunate series of events happening in 2020 will never be better by simply learning to find these small joys in our ordinary moments, but YOU will. 

Thank you for choosing to read my blog post! If you enjoyed this,

you might also find my videos interesting. Check out my Youtube

channel love, zee. Have a great day!

Woah there, I can't believe that it has been so long since I last dropped a playlist for this blog. During my inactivity here on Lucid Dreamer, I was able to listen to a ton of great music. I've always thought about sharing those here, but I couldn't seem to make my fingers type. So, I am sorry if it took more than a year to upload another post.

My music taste has been leaning towards Korean R&B, lofi hip-hop and chill music these past few months. Of course, I still love listening to sappy songs because that's literally what I live for. But, in this playlist I am sharing with you a lot of best Korean indie music recommendations! I've had this on a Spotify playlist for several months already, and now I get a chance to share them with y'all. These songs and their artists deserve recognition.

1. Slow by Sole

I recently discovered this song as I was scrolling on Youtube and instantly became a favorite. Slow is about encouraging one's self to not rush into things and take it slow. Korean singer Sole wrote this when she started living independently, conveying her thoughts about living alone.

Sole is a South Korean singer and songwriter under Amoeba Culture. She is a former member of a five-member group LiveHigh and debuted as a solo artist back in November 2017. Sole considers Slow as her favorite song.

Listen to Slow here.

2. For lovers who hesitate by Jannabi

I've had this in my playlist for quite some time and I'm not planning on removing it any time soon. Jannabi's For Lovers Who Hesitate is such a classic. It has this old school vibe, something you would hear over a midnight radio segment. It makes you feel nostalgic over an ex-lover (even when you don't have one). For Lovers Who Hesitate is a perfect song to listen at midnight when you want to ponder over things. 

Jannabi is a popular 3-member indie rock band that debuted in 2014. They had four members up until 2019 but unfortunately, their keyboardist left due to personal reasons. 

Listen to For lovers who hesitate here.

3. When It Snows by 1415

Another song that I've been listening to non-stop is When It Snows. I love every bit about this song. The way that the drums and electric guitar accompanied their vocals sounded so desperate and longing which is exactly what the song wanted to express. When It Snows is a song that made me fall in love at first listen. Though I did not immediately know what the lyrics were, the song itself was expressive enough to make me feel what it meant.

1415 is a male duo that debuted last 2017 and is now under the label Universal Music Korea. They released When It Snows through their album, From: X.

Listen to When It Snows here. 

4. Contrail by Moonmoon

(Side note: I actually recommended the same song for my June 2017 K-Playlist)

Contrail was such a gentle song and it made me feel at ease when I heard it for the first time. I still listen to the song when I feel like everything around me is moving too fast. Interestingly, the message of the song is something close to what I feel. Contrail is a song that the singer wrote when he was torn between dream and reality. The lyrics talked about "the hard and boring life of being an adult" that we soon have to face versus our innocent dreams as a child. He felt like a lot of young people will relate to Contrail because of this commonality.

Moonmoon is the very first K-indie singer that I supported and loved. I started listening to his songs last 2017, when BTS' Jungkook played Contrail in one of his live streams. I immediately fell in love with his music. It felt like a safe space, my own little sanctuary. I am very happy that he's gaining popularity these days, seeing that a lot of my friends and acquaintances have been listening to his songs as well. There's a little guilt in my heart though whenever I feel like I wanted Moonmoon's music to be my little secret. In my next music-related post, I'd love to introduce his music more to everyone reading this.

Listen to Contrail here.

5. Photograph by offonoff

Unlike the previous songs, Photograph is more of an upbeat Korean R&B song. Simply put, Photograph talks about slowing down and savoring the moment. What I always liked about this song is the instrumentals that linger in my ears even after the song has ended. The flow and beat makes it a perfect song for city night drives. I can also imagine playing this at a rooftop overlooking the city's skyline at night while drinking soju or wine. Photograph is a feel good song and it definitely puts me in a great mood.

OFFONOFF is a duo that debuted under YG Entertainment's sub-label HIGHGRND. Before debut, they release music through the popular platform, SoundCloud. OFFONOFF describes their music as "visual music'. You can easily grasp a visual imagery in mind if you listen clearly to their songs' lyrics.

Listen to Photograph here.

Thanks for reading until the end. This playlist is shorter than my previous ones, but I will make sure to deliver more in the future. If you liked this post, make sure to share it among your friends!

Support my blog through small donations via paypal.me/zeecruz . A little help can go a long way!

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Hey dreamers! It has been a while.

A month ago, I was given the chance to attend Park Bogum's fanmeeting MAY YOUR EVERYDAY BE A GOOD DAY at the MOA Arena. The Seoul Story, an entertainment news site, hosted a giveaway for the said fanmeeting and your girl fortunately got her hands on it!

(my ticket to the fanmeeting, c/o The Seoul Story)

On the 22nd of June, I arrived at the venue overwhelmed. I am finally getting the chance to see my Bogummy, the only Korean actor that I fell in love with from the day my eyes landed on his photo. There's something so emotional about me earning a ticket by luck to see someone whom I admire so much. As I was stepping inside the arena, while looking for my seat, I felt giddy then teary then giddy again.

While waiting for the FM to start, I was able to take in the amount of people who loves Bogummy as much as I do and how lucky I was to be given the chance to witness it live.

The fanmeeting started with Bogum singing I Like You by Day6. Believe me when I say my scream was overheard by everyone. I Like You has been my favorite Day6 song for so long so imagine how I felt! It's as if two worlds collided and created a wonderful synergy. He then introduced himself as "your boyfriend from Korea, Park Bogum" after that performance. The show then proceeded with a few interview corners with its host Anne Curtis-Smith, giving us an intimate chance to get updates from the amazing man himself about his life and career. He informed the crowd that he personally chose the title of the FM himself, stating that he wants all of his fans to have a Good Day as they attend the event. The night went crazy as several fans were given a chance to interact with him up close as they re-enact scenes from his recent drama, Encounter.

The concert—I mean the fanmeeting, even got better as he performed songs like Through the Night by IU, Always Be With You  by Baek A-Yeon, and his original songs Let's Go See the Stars and My Person. He then hyped up the crowd through energetic songs from Psy, Cho Yong Pil and B1A4's Sandeul.

However, the most memorable performance for me was when he sang "I Will Be There", a song that is close to all Filipinos' hearts. He played the piano while singing it with his whole heart, so it was definitely a performance that made me cry a lot. And as the God-fearing man that he is, he ended the song with a part from Jesus Loves Me which made all of us at the arena fall in love with him all over again.

When we thought it was all over, he re-appeared on stage for an encore performance dancing to TWICE's What Is Love?, Seventeen's Pretty U and for the first time ever, he also performed BTS' Boy With Luv. He shared that this was the very first time that he performed the song and BTS' Kim Taehyung taught him the steps while they were in Busan. The FM really ended after two more songs from the heart shaker, Bogummy.

Here comes the part we've all been waiting for...

HI-TOUCH!

As a huge fan, this was something that I was very much excited about. Me? Finally seeing him up close? And getting to touch his hand? That thought never crossed my mind as possible. But y'all would know that my heart started pounding the moment it hit me: I am seeing THE PARK BO GUM UP CLOSE. I already know what I was going to say to him. I planned this out even when I was not sure if I can go to the fanmeet.

I thought it would take so long before we start lining up, but it felt as if time flew so fast. The next thing I knew I was already walking towards the hall where Bogummy is waiting. I was very much nervous, to the point that I was talking to the people behind me whom I did not really know. And then the staff told us to fasten our pace. We were almost running. Then there he was, wearing his green Hawaiian-like shirt, giving everyone the brightest smile. When it was my turn, I managed to give his hand a little squeeze and say "수고했어요", a Korean phrase that translates to "Good job!" or "You did well!" It was something that I really wanted to say to him, more than the phrase "I love you". I wanted him to know that he did amazing that night and every single time. What made me tear up was when he said "고마워용" or "Thank you!" in the cutest way possible. Up until now, I can hear that word clearly in my head, with his deep, clear voice. I never thought he'd reply, I never expected him to, but he did.

I went out of the arena with a happy heart, a peaceful soul, and a light mind. This was definitely one of the highlights of my year. Thank you so much, our dearest Bogummy. YOU DID WELL! You always do.

MAY YOUR EVERY DAY BE A GOOD DAY, everyone!

Hey dreamers!

I am back with a new post (a late one for that matter) and I'm literally so hyped while writing this. BTS just released their 3rd Japanese album on the 4th of April and I'M JUST SO HAPPY? I can't even express this enough but I'm really glad to finally hear their new songs.

ANYWAY

The album consists of 12 songs, with 7 Japanese remake and 5 originals (including intro and outro). Crystal Snow, which was released a few months ago along with Mic Drop and DNA Japanese remake is also included in this album!!

I won't be talking much about the remakes since we probably know what the songs are about. BUT, out of the remakes I really find Go Go the most appealing. I honestly don't understand why LMAO, but I think it has something to do with Jimin's voice in the beginning. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE CUTE, BUT PARK JIMIN SANG まだまだ (madamada) in the hottest way possible IM NOT OKAY. 

I also loved BST Japanese version very much. Sometimes I sing this more than the Korean ver. (lmao again). 

血、汗、涙
(chi, ase, namida)

NOW WE GON' TALK ABOUT THE REALEST.
Like I said earlier, there are 5 original songs including the INTRO and OUTRO. So I am actually gonna start with that.

So we have, INTRO: RINGWANDERUNG.

I, along with ARMYs around the world, made a little research about the title. And basically, Ringwanderung is actually adapted from the German language. It is a mountain-climbing term used to describe a situation of losing your sense of direction due to poor weather (e.g. fog, rainstorm etc.). This phenomenon causes you to believe that you're walking a straight path when in fact you're not and you're just circling around the same area. 

And here's an excerpt from the song lyrics:

Best of me, yeah
Tell me about forever, just one more time
I haven’t seen the end to myself either
But if there’s such a thing, wouldn’t it be you?

What I get from the song's vibes, lyrics and title actually agrees with one another. The vibe and tone of the song sounds lost. Hearing this song gives me a feeling of wandering around. The lyrics also prove to be fit to the title seeing that it was trying to say that they haven't seen the end either.

It's also such a good intro to set the vibe for the entire album. It sounds EDM-ish? I don't really know about genres so much but that's what I get from that.

Next, DON'T LEAVE ME.

YALL! This song!!!

 So we've already heard about a minute of it from the teaser of the Japanese remake of Signal (a Korean drama). And that already slayed so much. But to actually hear the entire song is a different feeling. This song is so powerful! It started of with Taehyung which was odsmfjksdng. I've always loved his deep, soulful voice :(

The transition from one member's part to another is also so smooth! From the beginning, after Taehyung sang his line he was immediately followed by Namjoon and I almost didn't notice when Joon's part ended and when Hoseok's started. That's how smooth it was.

And the CHORUS tho. JIMIN WENT OFF.  HE LOST IT. IT WAS AMAZING. I love the chorus so much. And Jin just owned it. He always owns the Japanese albums of BTS. Preach Worldwide Handsome.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE LET GO.

PEOPLE, I don't even know how to take in all these amazing-ness. Maybe because I was so used to hearing bops (except for the occasional Spring Day here and there),  I was surprised to hear this song. The emotions I've heard from the boys were very raw and natural. The vocal line slayed so much. I always love hearing Jin's voice in here because he gave it his ALL and it was GREAT. The lyrics were also very emotional.

To the person I loved too much
To the red thread that got too entangled in itself
I couldn't reach you, so I'll walk a separate path
For that reason I’ll say goodbye

Who else cried? Just me? Okay then.

And of course, the last one is OUTRO: Crack

This gives me similar vibes with J-Hope's Outro: Blue Side from his Hope World mixtape, or dare I say, HIXTAPE. It sets you back to a whole calm mood after the album hypes you with so many songs. That's how much BTS loves us LMAO.

THAT IS IT FOR THIS POST!

Hey dreamers!

I've been recently testing out different products and brands for my skin as it has been breaking out back and forth lately due to the changes in the weather. I've consumed a ton of them so I decided to do my first BEAUTY EMPTIES!

This is inspired by Joan Kim's Beauty Empties segment on her youtube channel. 

TONYMOLY I'm Real Aloe Mask Sheet (Moisturizing)

Specifically a water-type aloe essence, this product is best for people with dry skin. It is packed with aloe extract that replenishes and hydrates the skin to its fullest. 

THE VERDICT:

This specific sheet mask was the first that I used from TONYMOLY. The packaging was what got me to purchase the product, but the content did not disappoint. It definitely gave my skin the moisture it needs. Plus, it was filled with A LOT of essence that I can apply to my body. For a sheet mask that's less than 100Php, it was definitely worth the purchase. 

PACKAGING: 5/5

CONTENT: 5/5

EFFECTIVITY: 5/5

TONYMOLY I'm Real Red Wine Mask Sheet (Pore Care)

With the goal of reducing enlarged pores and tightening skin, this wine mask sheet is an emulsion type essence that contains red wine extract.

THE VERDICT:

Similar to the Aloe Sheet Mask, I purchased this because of the packaging, PLUS the red wine extract ingredient that piqued my interest. I also have enlarged pores which are really hard to deal with when applying foundation.

The goal of the product did not meet my expectations. It was moisturizing and it made my face glow the next day, but the supposed "immediate" results when it comes to reducing enlarged pores was not there. I may have to use this more than once to see the effect. 

PACKAGING: 5/5

CONTENT: 4/5

EFFECTIVITY: 3/5

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL: After School BB Foundation Lunch Box

This BB Foundation Lunch Box contains three essentials for makeup enthusiasts: BB Foundation, Concealer, and Highlighter. Created to fit in a small packaging, it's definitely a to-go product.

THE VERDICT:

Having three makeup essentials in one is certainly very helpful for students like me who always rush in the morning to do her makeup. It helped me save a lot of time since I do not have to look for separate containers. 

When it comes to the product itself, the foundation actually lasted me a long time. I usually switch this up with my daily foundations (depending on the occasion), but despite that fact you don't really have to use a lot of it on your face. It has a neat coverage that covers up my redness and some light marks. However it cakes a little throughout the day so I have to re-apply loose powder. When it comes to the concealer and highlighter, I don't really use them in my daily routine but I LOVE THE HIGHLIGHTER SO MUCH. It is a cream highlighter so it lasts for a long time, especially if you apply a powder highlighter on top. The concealer was a bit dry and not quite for my skin type so I seldomly consumed the product.

PACKAGING: 5/5

CONTENT: 4/5

EFFECTIVITY: 4/5

(effectivity includes longwear and coverage)

BEAUTYFIX Nose Pack (Whitening & Pore Minimizer)
Similar to all nose packs, this product aims to remove dirty blackheads and whiteheads through active ingredients that protects your nose skin.

THE VERDICT:
I've consumed a bunch of nosepacks that reddens and irritates my nose skin. But finally, after a long search I have found a product that does not do that. *inserts crying emoji* The formula is very mild on my skin and does not sting at all. I especially love how thick the consistency is because I can save up a lot of the product for future uses.

The only problem I encountered with this product is the way you remove it. It does not come off in one go and I have to wash it off with a lukewarm water. It also does not quite minimize my pores but it makes my nose skin soft.

PACKAGING: 4/5

CONTENT: 4/5

EFFECTIVITY: 4/5

I do have more products to show you on my future beauty empties! If you've reached this far, thank you so much for reading this post. I hope it will help you on your future purchases. Keep on dreaming!

Hey dreamers!

I am doing another K-PLAYLIST for you guys. 

I PRESENT, MY MARCH 2018 PLAYLIST!

(photo by Kim Namjoon of BTS)

1. A Daily Song (매일 듣는 노래) - Hwang Chi Yeol

"This song we listened to every day

It makes me cry every day. 

It makes me think of you, because it sounds like our story.

No matter how hard I try to cover my ears, it spins around me.

I don’t wanna hear it, I throw a fit. 

But I hear it every day."

2. Breathe (한숨) - Lee Hi

This is a song that I got to listen due to the heartwrenching loss of SHINee's Jonghyun. He wrote this song to be able to help people going through hard times. He hoped that when people hears this song, it will be able to help them breathe. This personally brings out a lot of emotions in me, given the fact that it was written by Jonghyun.

3. Starry Night (별이 빛나는 밤) - MAMAMOO

Contrasting the first two songs on the playlist, Starry Night gives a house-electronica sound for this track and their entire album, giving their album a new vibe. MUST LISTEN!

4. Will There Be A Next Time (다음이 있을까) - Lee Hyun

The lyrics of this song is honestly really easy to understand. The song is about longing for someone you might never see or get back again. The song describes the feeling of missing a person so bad, and not being able to let go of the memories.

5. Really Really - WINNER

Another upbeat song on my playlist is WINNER's Really Really! I've been into this song for several months already and I can't stop listening! The song is such a bop, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

6. Bad Boy - Red Velvet

This is a major bop! I honestly loved this song so much I even had to learn the choreography when I don't even dance (LMAO, I know).

7. I'm in Love With Someone Else - Suzy

"Because I’m truly in love

At the end of our beautiful love

I didn’t want to tell you

In case you get hurt

But stop trying to hold onto the crumbling sandcastle

I’m in love with someone other than you."

8. Missing You (그리워하다) - BTOB

"I was missing you and another day passed

I was missing you and another year passed

This is how I live

As I long for you"

These lines hit me right. The song is just so good and melancholic and their voices! You definitely cannot pass this up. (I AM A PROUD MELODY NO BUTs)

9. Only Then (그때 헤어지면 돼) - Jungkook of BTS (COVER)

Jungkook recently did a cover of Roy Kim's 'Only Then' for White Day which was last March 14. 

"If you start to like someone else

If I get used to not being with you

When that time comes, when it’s that time

Only then we can break up"

10. Hope World (MIXTAPE) - J-Hope of BTS

And for the last, I won't only be recommending a song but an entire album! J-Hope recently released his mixtape for the amazing world to see and I am loving it so much! Every song is amazing, there's this unique Hoseok touch that I can feel from the vibe. My personal faves are Airplane and Blue Side. You should definitely check it out!

That's it for this month's playlist! It came early but I am pretty sure I'd only be listening to these songs for the whole month. (PLUS, Wanna One's recently released songs 'I Promise You' and 'Boomerang' - this is a fresh release from the date I posted this!)

Hey dreamers!

It has been a long time. I posted way back in June 2017 and stopped since. I was caught up with school, student leadership, and basically life. But again, I am back. I know I've said this several months ago and I won't promise I'll stay and constantly post stuff but let me try.

I decided to come back for a few reasons. First and foremost, this has always been my outlet for everything. Stopping means I do not have any means to vent out how I feel or share my experiences, even when no one cares to read them. Second, a subject that I am taking up for this semester has given us a chance to create a blog, which for me means to return to it. And I have been meaning to do that!

So hello my dearest dreamers! I am back and will hopefully stay for a long time. I can't wait to share everything with you again.

Keep on dreaming!