Liebster Award

Omo!!  This was a complete and total shock to me, especially since I’m so new to the blogsphere.  I’ve only been doing this since the beginning of November 2013.  Wow!  I’m super excited and over the moon happy!  Thank you Erl!

I was nominated for a second Liebster Award!!! I’ll need a moment to calm down, or I might just hyperventilate from excitement!!!!!  Thank you so much to Ahjussi Fan!!!  I’ve added my new set of questions to this post!!!

Holy Moly!  I got nominated two more times!  This is just about the best New Year experience ever!  I want to send out a really huge and heartfelt thank you to Minozforever and Kelly for nominating me again!

What, what?  I got another amazing nomination from the beautiful Britni over at My K-Pop Love!!!  Thank you!

I think my head is getting bigger and bigger by the second with all this love of Liebster Awards going around!  I got another nomination from the lovely Joo of Sorry Sorry, I’m a Bad Boy!

At this rate I’ll never fit through anther door again, my head is quite large now.  Though I certainly won’t ever turn away the love because I return it to all you amazing people tenfold!  I just received another Liebster today from the talented Michele over at Your Daily K-Shot of Hot!!!

The love and adoration that we all share for one another could not have been expressed any better than in this post by dewaani over at Samsoon Down the Rabbit Hole.  Thank you dewaani for my nomination!!  And for giving us such a lovely post too!

Thank you so very much to the amazing and talented gals at Stone Cities for my nomination!  I’m totally honored to have received this award from you ladies!

I am honestly speechless that this community of bloggers is so loving and supportive.  I’ve received another Liebster from Zombie Mamma.  Not only has this award let me get to know more and more of my fellows in the blogsphere, it introduced me to Zombie Mamma who is super cool and we share loads of the same interests outside of the Asian Drama and K-Pop world.  How cool is that?

Truly, the love of the blogging community knows no bounds.  I’ve received two more Liebsters from two amazing bloggers!  I’m head over heels amazed at the world of K-Drama bloggers that I’ve tumbled into.  I want to thank Zhaoul of KDrama Dreamer and snow white of The Drama Corner!!!

Now the purpose of the Liebster Award is to encourage writers of new blogs and explore more of this world of blogging.

Here are the rules for the Liebster Award:

1. Each nominee link back the person who nominated them.

2. Answer 10 questions which are given to you by the nominator.

3. Nominate 10 other bloggers for this award who have less than 200 followers.

4. Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer.

5. Let the nominees know that they have been nominated by going to their blog and notifying them.

Next, my answer to Erl’s 10 questions:

1. What is your motivation to continue blogging?

I’m so new to both the blogsphere and dramaland that it is my uber excitement about the shows I’m still discovering that keeps me writing.  That and some very kind and supporting Sunbaenims.  I’m so in love with dramas and it is that high and those feels that keep me writing and posting and excited for the next thing I can discover.

2. What is your favorite blog post, one that you have written?

My most favorite blog post has to be by Kfangurl, The Unifying power of the K-Drama-verse.  Because for me it is so true.  The fanbase for K-Dramas and the people who squee/blog over K-Dramas is so welcoming and open.  From the moment I found them I was welcomed in as part of the world,

If it is a post that I have written myself it would have to be The Noona Romance.  It also happens to be the most popular post that I’ve written on my blog to date!  I had so much fun researching and compiling my list of Noona Romances.  Plus it is awesome to see that there are loads of others who love the Noona Romance as much as I do!

3. How do you spend a typical weekend?

My husband is a stay at home dad on the weekdays and I work full time.  But on the weekends he does two shifts at 12 hours and I’m home with our 5 year old son.  My weekends are filled with battles against armies of monsters, or hunting down super villains, or playing outside in the dirt.  Though my son loves to watch Running Man with me.  He doesn’t understand what they are saying, however, he laughs just as much as I do at their antics.  He likes the tall one (Kwang Soo) and the goofy one (HaHa) the most.  Thankfully he understands my need to watch dramas too so I do get some drama watching in as well.  However, I do have to work one weekend every four weeks so sometimes I’m at work for my weekends which is always a drag.

4. What has been your biggest blogging challenge so far?

Finding what exactly I want to blog about.  At first it was easy, just word dumps about how much I love Asian Dramas.  Then I added in reviews, then a section about my dongsaeng actors and idols, and then squees about actors who are Oppas, and then the Noona Killers.  Then trying to find a balance about what to write and when.  I feel like I now have this obligation to post all the time!  But I’m also afraid that if I do I’ll run out of things to blog about.  Plus, do people really want to read five posts a week from my insane ramblings?  I’m so new that I suppose my biggest challenge is discovering who I am as a blogger and what are my expectations for myself in this whole adventure.

5. What is that moment in your life that you regret the most?

This is a tough one.  I’m not saying that I’ve lived a blessed or perfect life, however, I’m pretty darn happy with it.  I have a hubby who watches dramas with me and we’ll be celebrating our 15 year anniversary in May.  I have a son who is just the most amazing little person I’ve ever met.  My family lives close by and I’ve got a good job.

I suppose that my biggest regret is that I wasn’t able to finish my degree in art school.  My mother got very sick and we had to move out of Seattle and to Idaho so that we could take care of her.  I wish that I would have had the resources to go back and finish my degree.

6. What are your favorite and least favorite drama clichés?

My favorite is no secret, it is the Noona Romance!!  So far every drama that I’ve watched that has a Noona Romance theme has just made me a total swoony mess.  I just love it.  Hmm, being so new to dramaland I don’t really have a least favorite.  Though if pressed I’d have to say my least favorite is that of a weak woman who can’t accomplish anything without a man.

7. Do you post under your real name? Why or why not?

I post under my real name.  It wasn’t really a concious choice.  When I started my blog was on blogger, the field asked for my name and I put my name in.  And so I just kept going.

8. Who is your ultimate bias?

Omo!!! How do I choose?  Seriously all my fangirl feels are hard to pin down like that!  It changes all the time, I keep discovering new lovelies and my feels grow and expand.  However, right now this instant it would have to be Choi Jin Hyuk!

9. Are you a coffee or a tea addict?

Both!  I buy teas from all over the world because I’m fascinated that there can be so many different kinds and flavors.  My favorite is Lapsang Souchong.  However, there really isn’t anything that can compare to a really good coffee, especially on super cold and snowy mornings here in the Pacific Northwest of the US.

10. What is your idea of a perfect drama?

It would have to have a happy ending.  Of course the main theme would be a Noona Romance, but it would have all the points in my article about Noona Romances.  And it would star Choi Jin Hyuk!

Here are my questions and answers from Ahjussi Fan!

1. What is your favorite movie? – from any country

This is such a hard question!  I don’t know that I have only one favorite movie.  I do have a few that I re-watch all the time.  I’ll give you a list instead!  Because there is no way that I can pick only one.  These are in no particular order; Princess Bride, Amélie, 13^th Warrior, Ocean’s Eleven, Matrix, Jane Eyre (with Samantha Morton and Ciarán Hinds), all the Lord of the Rings, and all the Harry Potter movies.  I’ll stop there or the list will be longer than this entire post!

2. What is the most wonderful thing that happened in your life.

Finding out that I was pregnant with my son.  I was told at an early age that I would have difficulties having children.  My husband and I tried for 6 years and lost 6 babies.  When we gave up trying and were looking into adopting I just felt… different.  We went to the doctor, afraid that something was wrong, and it turned out that I was pregnant!  It was a smooth, carefree, and easy pregnancy and my son was born very healthy!  He’s out little miracle and the best thing ever!

3. What are you doing right now other than answering this question.

Drinking tea, eating a cinnamon roll, and trying to keep out new cat from jumping on my keyboard while I type.  And being awesome… of course 😛

4. If you were given USD 10,000 what will you do with that money? Please don’t save it.

I’d go on a vacation to one of the places I’ve always wanted to see!  It would be a hard choice.  I’d want to go to Seoul (of course), but I also want to see Greece, England, Romania, and New Zealand.

5. Android or iPhone?

Android!

6. Do you have someone you want to punch at this current moment?

I’m against violence, but there are a few persons at work I wouldn’t mind slapping some sense into!

7. Express yourself in 3 words

Happy, Dorky, Supportive

8. Express your k-drama crush in 3 words.

Versatile, Hot, Amazing

9. What is your favorite korean phrases?

I say Omo and Daebak in everyday conversations (which earns me some strange looks I tell you) so I’ll have to go with those!

10. Coffee or tea or milk?

I start my day with coffee, because otherwise I’d be a Zombie.  And there is nothing like a good cup of strong coffee on a cold morning!  But I also love tea, and I love trying new teas from all over the world.  I’ll pass on the milk. 🙂

Here are my questions from Kelly!

1. If you can be a female drama lead in any drama, who would it be?

I would totally be Kim Na Na from City Hunter.  She’s got the best mix of everything that I love about strong female characters.  She is tough as nails, could totally kick the butt of any bad guy with her martial skills.  Not only that she’s a crack shot and isn’t afraid to use her gun when its needed.  Strong, confident, self assured, and knows what she wants.  However, she also has a sweet and wonderful vulnerability about her that is very believable to me.  Na Na has to over come some serious heartbreak with her family and is under the heavy weight of her father’s illness.  I adore her because she’s a balanced character.  When she meets Yoon Sung she doesn’t need him to solve anything for her or do anything for her, theirs is a true partnership.  They work together.

2. What would you do if a banana you are about to eat comes to life and begs you for his/her life?

This question made me laugh out loud!  🙂  First I’d probably scream and drop the poor newly alive banana.  Then I’d set the thing free, who am I to consume a new species?

3.What is your all time favourite song to sing at the karaoke?

That’s easy!  I love karaoke so much, I might be a little addicted.  My go to song is, and always has been Mustang Sally.  I’ve got a deep voice for a girl so I sing songs that are sung by men.  So after Mustang Sally I usually sing Jack and Diane followed up by Turn the Page.  If I could speak Korean I would so totally sing Lady by CN Blue!  It is my favorite song right now, though Young Hwa has a much higher range than I 🙂

4. What subject are you majoring in and do you know what you want to be in the future/what is your occupation?

I only went to college/university for a short time and it was an art school.  My major was Multimedia Design, which is a super fancy way to describe designing websites (not coding just setting up how they should look after someone smarter than me does the code), photo-manipulation, digital design and artwork.  Currently I am an Operations Manager for a team of 20 people who take inbound calls for a bank.

5.If the world ends in a week, would you still watch dramas for the remaining time or would you think that it’s a waste of time?

I’d probably spend the time with my family instead of watching dramas.  If the world was ending I would want to steal every last available moment with the people who are the most important to me.

6. Do you believe in supernatural beings such as ghost, gumiho, aliens, etc.?

Absolutely!  Because the idea that there is something in this world that we just cannot explain fascinates me.  The world/universe is so expansive and vast that there has to be more than we here on Earth can explain or can understand.

7. What influences your choice in picking a drama to watch?

I’m still such a newbie to dramaland.  At first it was actors, I’d pick a show because it had an actor that I liked in the previous show that I watched.  However, I’ve learned to be more picky as time has passed.  Now I look up reviews, I ask my twitterbuddies what they thought of a show, and I get opinions from the bloggers that I view as my Sunbaes.  I try to pick one I’m semi-certain I’ll love.  I don’t have that much time for drama watching so I don’t want to waste time on a show that I won’t enjoy.

8. What is the earliest memory you can remember?

The day my little sister came home from the hospital.  I wasn’t quite three years old at the time.  There was some trouble when she was born, at the time I didn’t understand I just knew that she couldn’t come home after being born.  She had to stay in the hospital for two months because she had breathed in fluid in the birthing canal and her lungs were damaged.  I remember it was Christmas morning and my mom and dad went to the hospital after breakfast, my grandma stayed with me.  I waited by the tree for my sister gift.  When my parents came home with her I was so excited.  I can remember getting to hold her and thinking she was tiny, even littler than my baby-doll toys.

9. What food out of any dramas you’ve watch do you want to try?

I want to try the ramyun like they made in Flower Boy Ramyun Shop!  It looked so delicious!

10.What would you do if you have amnesia? (kinda like making up your own story involving amnesia)

Oh boy what a hard question!  I suppose there would be two options.  If my family was there around me trying to convince me that I was a part of their life I would think that I’d do my best to remember who I was.  If no one was there when I woke up who knew who I was I’d try and make the best out of the life I’d been given.

Here are my questions from Minozforever!

1] List your top 10 Korean dramas from 2013-Now? (Order them randomly, and it would be great if you add why for some of them.)

I only watched two dramas that were made in 2013.  I’m very-very new to dramaland.  I only discovered K-dramas in April of 2013 and I discovered them through older shows.  I spent a lot of time in the first few months watching all the older dramas that were being suggested to me and that I could find through looking up actor’s filmography.  However, the two dramas I did watch from 2013 are in my top five favorite dramas.

The Master’s Sun – this drama will forever live on in my fangirl heart as amazing.  Not only was it a truly amazing story, acting, and writing, but it was also the drama I used to convince my husband to watch dramas with me!  He loves anything supernatural and he wanted to see what all this fuss was with Korean Dramas. 

I Hear Your Voice – I am a sucker for a Noona Romance, like it is my Achilles heel.  This had one of the sweetest and adorable Noona Romances I’ve watched.  Though I also really loved the twists and turns of the story too!

(gif credit to owner)

2] If you were to live the life of any KDrama character, which character would you choose and why?

This is such a tough one!  I have a lot of favorite K-Drama favorite characters.  I think I’d like to be Tae Gong Shil, as long as I end up with President Joo that is 😉  But seriously, I think her power is interesting as is the story about how she gained the ability to see and speak with ghosts.  Being able to help ghosts find their final peace would be an ever fascinating experience.

3] What’s the most annoying thing that you probably see or hear in every KDrama?

When a female lead begins as someone who is strong and confident, but as the drama continues she becomes a weak and weepy mess.  That really drives me nuts!

4] An adorable phrase or word a character said very frequently?

Hoi Hoi from My Girlfriend is a Gumiho was completely adorable!

5] You’re the director of Man from Another Star and Kim Soo Hyun is already taken by another drama. Which actor would you choose and why?

Kim Woo Bin, hands down.  I think he has the charm and subtlety to make that character work.  But I haven’t seen it yet so take my answer with a grain of salt!

6] Insert 5 funny KDrama gifs! (Copy or upload them from Tumblr.)

7] What are your top 5 scenes from currently airing dramas?

I am only watching 2 currently airing dramas, Emergency Couple and I Need Romance 3.

1- The fight scene between Chang Min and Jin Hee in Emergency Couple. 2- The scene with the defibrillator in Emergency Couple. 3- The kiss on the beach in I Need Romance 3.  4- Jin Hee’s entrance into the intern group in Emergency Couple.  5- When Joo Yeon realizes who Wan really is in I Need Romance 3

8]What’s your recently favorite OST song?

The OST, Don’t Cry from I Need Romance 3.

9] What’s your idea of an ideal drama? Tell us the story and you may do the casting.

I am actually writing a drama right now and it has been cast!  You can see it in progress here at, Heart Murmurs.

10] Lee Min Ho in Faith, Lee Jong Suk in I Hear Your Voice, Kim Soo Hyun in Man from Another Star… There are a lot of super powered characters in dramaland. If you were to have only one of those super powers, which one would it be and why?

I would totally want Lee Jong Suk’s power from I Hear Your Voice.  Getting to see the inner thoughts of people around me seems fascinating.  Also it is the only show on the list that I’ve actually seen! 😉

(gif credit to owner)

Here are my questions from Britni!

1. What is your dream car?

A 1965 Lincoln Continental with suicide doors, specifically the one used in The Matrix because I am a nerd.

2. What is your favorite K-Pop song?

It is hands down Lady by CNBlue

3. What is your most played song on your computer/phone/mp3?

Well it is actually a tie between Lady, Doom Dada, and Nu Abo.

4. Why did you start your blog?

This is my very first experience with blogging.  I’ve done a lot of writing over the years.  However, it was all within a role-playing environment or collaborative storytelling sites.  But then I found Korean Dramas and then Taiwanese Dramas and Japanese Dramas… My friends and family did not understand.  They would just sort of give me a patronizing smile and ignore me.  Then it dawned on me, there has got to be more folks out there in the wide-wide-world who love dramas as much as me.  So I started lurking around the blogverse.  It had been a few months since I’d last done any writing and I was getting that itch again, however, my partner in crime had taken a leave of absence from the writing world.  So I thought I’d just take a stab at this blog thing.  About two hours after that I had a blog and two hours after that I had my first post.  I haven’t looked back since!

5. Have you been to a K-Pop concert?

No! *insert sad, pitiful face here*  I would love to see CNBlue, T.O.P., or f(x).  That would absolutely amazing!

6. What is your favorite K-Pop album?

I am so-so new to Kpop, I don’t have any full albums I just have individual songs.  I have been just buying the tracks that talk to me.  Like EXO’s Growl, love it so much but I haven’t found another song by them that grabs me like that one did.

7. What is your least favorite drama?

Of the dramas that I have completed it would have to be… pauses please don’t beat me for my unpopular opinion!  Ahem… it would have to be Playful Kiss.  The premise was lovely, but for me the execution left a whole lot lacking.  I talk about it in my review for the drama.

8. If you would be a conjoined twin whom would you pick to be your twin?

Omo, now that is a tough one!  Out of anyone in the entire world I would have to say I’d pick my best friend.  She and I have known one another for twenty-six years and we’re closer than we are with anyone else in our family.

9. Who is the most masculine idol you can think of?

Since I don’t yet know many idols off the top of my head I would have to say T.O.P.  However, I think I’d go with him even if I were exceptionally familiar with idols.  There is just something about that man.

10. What is your favorite sport?

I am not a sporty person.  I played a tad bit of soccer in middle school and I was in the marching band in high school so I technically went to every football game… couldn’t tell you anything about how it works though.  I do play a lot of video games though and I watch professional tournaments of gamers… does that count?

Here are my questions from Joo!

1. Who got you into Kdrama and/or Kpop?

I stumbled upon K-Dramas completely by accident.  I was watching something on Hulu (I can’t recall what it was now), however, when it was done Boys Over Flowers came up as a suggestion.  Not having any other shows to watch or even an idea what it was I clicked play… and never looked back.  From there the folks I’ve met in the blogverse had suggested K-Pop songs and bands and I’m beginning to dip my toe in the K-Pop waters.

2.  5 Dramas you’d watch forever.

City Hunter, Master’s Sun, I Hear Your Voice, Last Cinderella, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho tied with Coffee Prince (sorry I cheated hehe)

3. Name 3, 2nd leads that you wished that ended up with the girl.

Bae Sung Hyun in I Need Romance.  Ji Hoo in Boys Over Flowers.  Kang Shin Woo in You’re Beautiful.

4. If you were given a plane ticket to Korea and you’d be there for a week, where will you go?

I’d want to visit all the locations I could find in Seoul where dramas had been filmed.  There are way too many to name!  The first on the list would have to be Jeju Island.

5. Favourite Character in a drama?

That would have to be Kim Na Na from City Hunter!

6. Least Favourite?

Anna in Fated to Love You… she was horrid and despicable though I never finished the drama I just couldn’t handle the heartbreak anymore.

7. Reason that made you decide “I will make a blog!!”

Can I cheat again?  See Answer for Question number 4 from Britni

8. My goal is to be …

I would love to write novels professionally.  I am currently writing a story based on my love of K-Dramas.  It’s called Heart Murmurs.

9. If you could have a date with a person, living or not. Who would it be and why?

My husband!  Ok I know that’s cheating too, I’m a terrible person *wink wink*  Though I think I would love to go out for coffee with J. R. R. Tolkien, I’m obsessed with the man and everything he’s ever created.

10. Most favourite song in a drama?

Right now it is Don’t Cry from the OST for I Need Romance 3, it is haunting and beautiful and lovely.

Here are my questions from Michele!

1.       You are the star of your very own noona romance drama. Who is the younger man who will win your heart and how will he do it?

CHOI JIN HYUK!  Ahem… I mean… yes… *continues in a dignified manner* It would most assuredly be Choi Jin Hyuk.  In all truth he’d only have to give me that smile, wink, and crook his finger… yup I’d be that easy!  Though if it were a drama he’d shower me with simple gifts (flowers, couples coffee mugs, hand written notes)  and have loads of puppy love floating my way.

2.      Who do you believe is the K-star that can deliver the best and most believable kiss?

I am such a newbie to the K-Drama world that I haven’t watched many dramas with repeat actors in them.  So I’m gonna cheat a little and talk about some of my favorite kisses instead. 😛  The kiss Yoon Shi Yoon delivered to Lee Ji Ah while their characters were in the restaurant was really good.

All of Kim Jeong Hoon’s kisses in I Need Romance seriously amazing.  Not to mention Choi Jin Hyuk’s kisses too… I could watch that show loads of times for their kissing scenes.

Though I think my favorite kissing scene was actually in Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, all the kisses in that one were hot.  Jung Il Woo really knocked my socks off.

3.      Which K-pop star who hasn’t crossed over into acting would you like to see in a drama or film?

I have absolutely no idea!  I have seriously only just entered into the world of K-Pop.  Like within the last two weeks.  I have no idea who has acted and who hasn’t.  So I’m gonna cheat again!  The K-Pop star that I want to stare at for at least 16 episodes is (I was going to say T.O.P. but he’s in IRIS *points to the newbie!*) G-Dragon.

4.      Which character from a drama (or film) would you be ok with introducing to your mother and why?

Yeo Joon Hee from Heartstrings because they are two peas in a pod and would be BFFs forever.  It would be cuteness overload.

5.      Sageuk – yay or nay?

I’ve yet to tackle a Sageuk, though I did just start Sungkyunkwan Scandal and am really enjoying it so far.  I’m going to say yes, because Sageuks just look gorgeous from the outside.  The filming, costumes, and interplay of characters somehow feels richer.

6.      Which K-star (drama or pop) would make you leave the comforts of your home in order to attend a fan meet?

CHOI JIN HYUK!  Ahem… really I don’t know where all that yelling is coming from.

7.      Do you have a genre preference (historical, melo, romcom) and if so, which and why?

Really the one thing that matters to me is a happy ending.  I’ll give anything a try as long as I can be assured by others in the dramaverse who had watched it that I will get a mostly happy ending.  Not every little thing needs to be tied up in a neat and happy bow, but most of the characters need to be smiling and joyous when the credits roll.

8.     Do you have a drama watching partner? If so, who?

Just recently I convinced my hubby to watch a drama with me.  He’s been curious for a while as to what this strange new obsession is and why I sit in front of the computer for hours on end giddy, giggling, and sometimes crying.  So he picked The Master’s Sun and he’s been hooked ever since!

9.      Have you ever dissed family or friends to watch K-drama (hehehehe)?

… yes… and will do so again… I’m a bad girl…

10.  Do you have a fave ‘ship? If so, who?

Yoo Rachel and Kim Won from Heirs.  I never finished the show, I had to drop it because of so many reasons.  However, I thought that they would have made a perfect couple.  They could have helped one another heal and in the beginning of the show it felt like Rachel had a crush on Won.  But that could have been the fangirl feels taking over my logical brain.

Here are my questions from dewaani!

1. Choose a question from the 10 I just answered that you like and answer it.

Who do you have the most severe SLS (Second Lead Syndrome) towards?

I think my worst case of second male lead was for Choi Kang Hyeok (Lee Ki Woo) in Flower Boy Ramyun Shop.  I loved him so much, the pillar of strength and just so adorable to boot.

2. If I were to visit you in your city/country, what activity/touristy thing would you want to do? (If you want to, please include where that might be)

I live in the middle of lake country in Idaho.  We have a lot of nature walks around the lakes which are a huge draw for tourists.  I actually live in a tourist town, loads of people come for the resort, fishing, hunting, boating, camping, and general outdoorsy activities.  So getting to show off all the amazing vistas we have would be fun!

3. What is your favourite K-drama (or K-pop) trope?

I think those who have stopped by my blog know the answer to this!  The Noona Romance, hands down I love it so much.  However, that is followed up closely by the arranged marriage/contract marriage/forced living situation.

4. What is your favourite Korean food? (Or if you haven’t eaten Korean food, just your favourite food)

I’ve only had Chapagetti, and I love it a lot.  I want to try kimbap and all of their soups.  However, my favorite food is probably pizza lol.  I could eat pizza every day and be perfectly happy.

5. (And I did ask this question last time) Please recommend a K-drama (or Korean film) for me to watch. You can see which dramas and films I have already watched on our ratings page (I’m the one who writes in blue).

I Hear Your Voice, The Master’s Sun, and The Greatest Love.  If you like Noona Romances and are interested in a Japanese Drama then Last Cinderella is amazing too!

Here are my questions from the amazing gals at Stone Cities!

1. Who is your least favorite character in drama land (aka the one that you wish you could slap)?

Can I go with an entire character type?  That might be cheating, but I’m a gal who likes to live on the edge.  For me I want to slap all those conniving/scheming/manipulative parents that don’t have a smidgen of care for what is best for their kids.

But outside of that whole group of folks I think I’d have to go with Kim Tan.  Omo don’t get me started on him!  He was just so aggravating, self-centered, and egotistical.  Not only that, he was badly acted.  Don’t get me wrong, I love-love-love Lee Min Ho, a lot.  However, this character was a mess and a half.  If LMH could have given Kim Tan the same life as Kim Woo Bin had given Young Do it would have been a different story.

2. What is the story behind your blog name / blogging ID?

It is pretty simple.  I’m a Noona myself and I love Asian Dramas.  I wanted something that could be a name for the blog and also a sort of blogging identity.  Thus The Drama Noona was born.

3. Favorite Korean variety show and why? If you do not watch Korean variety shows, do you have a favorite variety, talk or reality show (from any country) and why?

The only Korean variety show that I want is Running Man, but I’m pretty close to having seen every single episode ever made, I think I’ve got 20 left to see.  Yes this means that I’ve watched three and a half years of TV in a little under a year… don’t judge me.

I love the show, it makes me laugh like I’m insane with every episode.  When I first started watching I only had one drama under my belt.  Now that I’ve got about twenty shows that I’ve watched and I’ve immersed myself in the land of dramas and K-pop I recognize the guests.  And with recognizing the guests I’ve fallen in love with the show all over again.  It is so much fun to watch these uber famous people be put through these hilarious games.

Also, my five year old son watches with me!  He can’t read the subtitles or understand what is going on, but he loves watching them laugh and do the name tag races.  He pretends to chase imaginary opponents down and rips their name tags off.  He likes Kwang Soo and Jong Kook who he calls the long one and kitty respectively.

4. Why do you enjoy writing?

I’ve been writing as long as I can remember, pretty much since I learned that letters could be jumbled together to make words and those words could be tossed together to describe a thought.  Writing has been many things for me.  A therapeutic release.  An outlet for creativity. The means to tell a story that is close to my heart.  I think that I enjoy writing because it can be so many things.  No matter what is going on in my life I can write and usually help myself to feel better about things.  Or if something amazing has happened then I can write about how fantastic things are and share it with the world.

5. If you could choose only one drama to have while stranded on a deserted isle (and could watch it via a magic coconut blu-ray / DVD player) what would it be and why? This would be the only drama you could watch until you were rescued (if you were rescued).

Can I have the magic coconut blu-ray player too?  Because that sounds rather magnificent.  Omo, this is so hard!  Just one is so totally cruel!  There’s at least five that I want and I don’t want to pick just one!  Fine, if I have to…  I think because my Noona heart would rebel if I didn’t have a Noona drama to drool over while stuck on an island.  I’m going to have to go with Last Cinderella.

Of all the Noona Romances I’ve watched so far (which admittedly isn’t that many) it is my most favorite.  They did such an amazing job on the Noona Romance that I want to watch this again and again and again.  But beyond that, I loved all the side stories and characters so much.  The whole show was just wonderfully crafted.

(gif credit to owner)

6. If you were to describe your personality as a Kdrama character, what type of character would you be and why?

I would definitely be the odd, eccentric girl who isn’t well liked because she’s strange.  But when you get to know her you realize that she’s kooky and fun, but most importantly has a big heart and will do anything for her friends.

7. What is the one thing in a drama that is a deal breaker for you? I. E. You hate it so much you can no longer watch it, why?

Badly written story.  So far I’ve only dropped a few dramas.  Most of them because I wasn’t in the mood for that drama, so I guess you can say I put them on hold.  However, there is one drama I dropped with a fury and much anger.  Heirs.  It was so badly done.  The stories never went anywhere.  The whole thing was so convoluted I had to walk away.

8. Your dream team F4 looks like…?

Oh yeah this one is easy!  Choi Jin Hyuk, Kim Woo Bin, Seo In Guk, and T.O.P.

9. If there was any drama out there that you could rewrite with an alternate ending, what would it be?

My drama watching is still limited.  However, I would say I Need Romance.  I would totally make that Noona Romance happen!

10. Name one thing you cannot absolutely live without? Why?

My family.  I would be lost without them.  They are my whole world and without them I really couldn’t survive.

Here are my questions from Zombie Mamma

1. What was your favorite drama of 2013?

Absolutely hands down that would be Last Cinderella, a Japanese drama.  Not only is it my favorite from 2013 but it is currently my most favorite Noona Romance.  I loved the story, the whole cast, and the chemistry between the leads was amazing.

2. If K-Pop is your thing, which artist/group is your all-time favorite? Which song and/or album of his/hers/theirs is your favorite?

I am really new to the K-Pop-sphere.  I’ve only been listening to K-Pop for about a month.  Through the excellent suggestions from my blogverse friends. (special shout out to dewaani who has some amazing K-Pop lists!)  My favorite right now is CNBLUE and I really love the Present album, Lady is my favorite from that album.

3. If you were to star in your very own noona romance drama, who would be the younger man to steal your heart and how would he do it?

CHOI JIN HYUK…. Ahem… why is there always someone yelling his name while I’m around?  But that loud shouting voice has it right, it would so be Choi Jin Hyuk.  There are so many ways that he could do it, mostly he’d only have to smile at me and I’d melt into a puddle.  But if I were writing it as a story he’d be the sweetest most adorable man ever and would woo me by cooking for me, protecting me, and just being himself.  Haha really though, it won’t take much.

4. Who is your all-time favorite K-Drama/K-Pop star/group? Why?

So as not to sound obsessed (I totally am) I won’t say Choi Jin Hyuk, even though I am so totally enjoying him in Emergency Couple.  I’m not going to stray very far though and I’m going to say Song Ji Hyo, because I can’t pick one for all time.  I’m a fickle creature and my favorite actors change all the time.  However, I’ve loved Song Ji Hyo for so long.  The first time I saw her was on Running Man and then Goong and now Emergency Couple.  She is not beautiful but she’s capable too.  (credit to gif ower)

5. If you could spend a day hanging out with your ultimate bias, who would it be and what would you do?

This one is tough!  I’d be a gushing blubbering fangirl if I were able to spend a day hanging out with Choi Jin Hyuk.  Seriously the man would think I had mental issues, I doubt that I would be able to make a single coherent sentence.  However, if I could get over that I’d love to have a day with him.  I wouldn’t want to do anything extravagant, I’d just like to sit and have a cup of coffee and get to know him. 

6. If you could visit South Korea, would you be more interested in exploring the country as a whole or would you rather visit all of your favorite drama locations? Why?

Can I answer both?  Because it’s my Liebster I’m totally going to say both.  I would love to have enough time to dedicate to both of these endeavors.  I want to visit all the places from my favorite dramas (the fountain from City Hunter!), but the countryside there is so absolutely gorgeous I want to explore that too.

7. Which do you enjoy more: Watching all the newest dramas, even if it means waiting a week to find out what happens next or waiting until a drama has finished airing so you can marathon the entire drama in one go?

Again, Both! Hehe Seriously though, I like both for different reasons.  This year is the first time I’ve successfully watched an airing drama.  My usual M.O. is a marathon.  However, I am really enjoying watching a drama live.  I don’t O.D. on it like I can when marathoning.  I get a small dose that makes me want to come back for more.  But, sometimes I want to just lose myself to dramaland for hours on end and that’s when I like a good marathon.

8. In your opinion, which K-drama has the best kiss scene and which has the worst?

I like so many of the kissing scenes for so many different reasons.  Though one of my all-time favorite is the rooftop kiss scene in City Hunter.  It has just stuck with me, there was something powerful about it.  Also I loved the kiss in front of the movie theater in Flower Boy Ramyun Shop.  As for worst?  Any kiss where the girl stands there like a cold fish with her eyes wide open in surprise.

9. What is the most played song on your iPod (or equivalent) right now?

Lady by CNBLUE!

10. If you could interview any Hallyu star, who would it be and what would you ask?

I think it would be G-Dragon.  I know that sort of comes out of left field, but he’s crossed so many boundaries and has been recognized by many musicians from several countries as an important figure in music.  That is a huge accomplishment.  I’d like to know how he approached that, if it was an overarching goal, or if it just happened.

(credit to gif ower)

Here are my questions and answers from Zhaoul!!!

1-      Which manga, anime, book or popular movie would you like to see turned into a Kdrama?

Hmmm that is a very tough question!  Equilibrium could be totally cool as a K-Drama.  The Ocean’s 11 stories could be equally as cool.  As far as a American TV show Dark Angel would be a killer K-Drama.

2-     If you were asked to play a part of an English actor in a Kdrama, who would you want to act with?

CHOI JIN HYUK… ahem… hands down my very first choice.  But I would totally love to act with Shin Min Ah, Gong Hyo Jin, Choi Yeo Jin, Lee Kwang Soo, and Kim Woo Bin.

(credit to gif owner)

3-     Which older actor who usually plays a supporting role do you really enjoy watching?

Lee Soon Jae and Choi Jung Woo.

4-     If you could kiss any Kdrama actor, who would it be?

… Choi Jin Hyuk… though I guess that answer is totally obvious.

5–     Who is your favorite Kdrama actor who is also a Kpop star?

I don’t know enough about the K-Pop world to have a very good answer to this.  Also I haven’t watched many K-Dramas comparatively.  I’m nearly done with Sungkyunkwan Scandal and I am loving Park Yoo Chun so much!  I’ll go with him!

6-     Can you speak Korean?

Sadly no!  But it is on my new year’s resolutions to start and try learning it!

7-     When was the last time you watched something that wasn’t Korean or Tawainese or Japanese?

Last night actually!  The hubby and I watched the two most recent episodes of Arrow.  We love our superhero shows.

8-    Have you made a lot of friends through blogging?

I haven’t been blogging all that long, yet I’ve met so many friends!  Seriously my love has been enriched by the people I have met through blogging.

9-     Do you think your Kdrama obsession will cool down, stay the same or get worse?

I don’t know.  Since I have converted the hubby to watching K-Dramas with me I’m going even stronger than ever.  It will be a year in April since I found my way down this spiraling obsession.  I truly don’t see my love of all things Korean related to dwindle any time soon.

10- On average, how many hours do you spend a week watching Kdramas?

Omo, I believe it’s about 12 to 16 hours a week hehe.

Here are my questions and answers from snow white!!!

• What is your all time favorite movie and TV show? (outside K-entertainment)

My absolutely all-time favorite TV show is Firefly.  I’m somewhat obsessed with it actually.  In a terribly bad way.  I’ve written so much fanfiction about the show, the characters, and then creating characters of my own. Heh.

• Your favorite drama under following categories—rom-com, melodrama, thriller, family drama.

Rom-com = Last Cinderella

Melodrama = Sungkyunkwan Scandal

Thriller = I Hear Your Voice

Family Drama = I have yet to watch an Asian Family Drama so I’ll take suggestions!

(credit to gif owner)

• your dream pair?

Choi Jin Hyuk and Shin Min Ah, I want them to be the leads in a drama, any drama, ever.

• rainfall or snowfall?

Rainfall.  There is nothing better than listening to the rain while reading a good book and drinking a cup of coffee.

• your favorite romantic drama cliché.

I don’t think this will come as a big surprise, hehehe.  The Noona Dongsaeng Romance is my most favorite ever in existence.  I love it so much!  However, a very close second would be the contract marriage trope.  I adore that story cliché very much.

Now, here are my nominees:

http://www.samsoondowntherabbithole.com/

http://lovebugsobsession.blogspot.com/

http://www.asianaddictsanonymous.com/

http://harroro.com/

http://ahjussifan.wordpress.com/

http://dramadrenaline.wordpress.com/

http://outsideseoul.blogspot.com/

http://stuckonhyuk.wordpress.com/

http://dr-myri-blog.blogspot.ch/

http://mymyooz.wordpress.com/

Honorable Sunbaenim Nomination http://thefangirlverdict.com/

Because I was nominated a second (and now up to nine!) time I get to nominate a few more folks right? I think so and because I want to I’m going to do it anyway!!

My additional nominees are:

http://kellykdramafantasy.wordpress.com/

http://www.asianfixations.com/

http://shukmeister.wordpress.com/

http://kdramahangover.wordpress.com/

http://dontevertellaseoul.wordpress.com/

http://itsyoubadboy.wordpress.com/

http://ask4kimchi.wordpress.com/

http://myanonymouskpopaddiction.wordpress.com/

http://kshotofhot.wordpress.com/

http://loreinstonecities.com/

http://www.zombiemamma.com/

And here are my questions to you lovely folks!

1) Why did you start blogging?

2) How did you come up with the name of your blog?

3) Who is your favorite author?

4) What type of show/movie is your guilty pleasure?

5) Do you have someone to watch dramas with?

6) What is your favorite drama genre?

7) Do you watch dramas from multiple countries?

8) If you could meet any actor, from any country, who would you meet?

9) Who is your current drama crush?

10) Have you ever been nominated for a blogging award before?

I hope that you all have as much fun as I have had with this process!  Thank you again to everyone for the nominations!  Congratulations to all the nominees!