Weightloss Update

This past month has been really difficult for me.  I had a really bad Lupus flare which resulted in me being in bed for about two weeks with pain that we could not figure out what the cause.  Two ultrasounds and one CAT scan later, everything internally looks ok or what is "normal" for me so the docs are putting it to being apart of my Lupus flare.  My face still has not recovered yet and the butterfly rash is still flying on my face. 

Even though I had not been feeling the greatest, I was able to accomplish one of my weight loss goals for 2012.  Since January, I have been trying to lose weight and increase my walking abilities.  My primary goal was to walk in the The Crim Festival of Races which takes place every August in Flint, Michigan.  I am happy to say that I accomplished that goal this year.  While I only did the 5K, my goal is to increase it every year.  So next year I will either walk in the 5K again and try to improve on my time or extend the walk to the next 8K if I am able to find a better solution to my sun troubles.  With many of the medications I take at the present time, I am very photosensitive and blister in the sun after just a few minutes of direct exposure.

While walking in the race, I noticed I kept turning my head to see if anyone was behind me.  My biggest fear was that I would be the last one to cross the finish line.  Also I was desperately afraid of being lost along the race route by not being able to keep up with the other walkers. I am very happy to report my results.  Not only was I NOT the last person to complete the race, but for the first time I competed, I placed in the top third of the overall contestants!


#631 of 2143 people
#483 of 1394 women
#28 in my age group of women (I was in the middle of the pack)
Time 1:03:02


For a few days I actually hit the 240's and I was quite excited.  However with eating out a lot this past week, I am back in the 250's.  Soon, I will be going to the grocery store and getting ready to do a 21 day detox thanks to the help of Crazy, Sexy, Diet by Kris Carr.  I did this in the past when I was getting ready to go 90% raw and it helped me out a lot to feeling better.  I have noticed that I feel better the more "raw" I eat.  So I am thinking of going back to a heavy intake of fruit and vegetables.  I will never be Vegetarian again, I love to eat meat and dairy way too much.  But I can limit the amount I eat and live a healthier lifestyle. 


Every Wednesday, I will attempt to give an update on my weight loss journey.  I am still no way brave enough to show my "Before" pictures.  I am just not ready for them to be on the internet just yet without being supported by the "After" photos when I am going to look good. LOL

Hope you are having a Wicked Wednesday!  In a good way of course!

Blessed Be,
Crystal T.

Shows I have seen to date

So I keep getting asked what have I seen in the world of Asian Dramas and movies.  Here will be the list that I will update as much as I can.

Now there are so many different types of K-Drama as well.  You have the Romance, Romantic Comedy, Musical, Melodrama (Kleenex usually needed), etc.  Below you will find the growing list of which ones I have seen in what category.  How do I watch all these?  My main go to source is DramaFever.com, Netflix, then www.gooddrama.net for most of the non-Korean dramas like Meteor Garden.  Viki.com is also becoming another fav source as well.  Thanks Unnie Jess for that one!

As of today (August 23, 2013) I have watched:

Currently Watching:

The Master's Sun (I am so loving this one, its too damn funny with a bit of Beetlejuice humor!)
Who are You
Just You
Her Legend
Two Weeks

Here is a list of what I have watched.

9 End 2 Outs
The King of Dramas
I Miss You (you will need Kleenex)
49 Days (Kleenex)
A Gentleman's Dignitiy
A Love to Kill
Answer Me 1997
Athena
Attic Cat
Autumn in my Heart (Kleenex)
Autumn's Concerto
Baby Faced Beauty
Bad Couple
Bad Guy
Bad Love (Kleenex)
Baker King
Barefoot Friends
Beethoven Virus
Big
Boys Over Flowers
Can Love Become Money
Cheongdamdong Alice
City Hunter
Coffee Prince
Couple or Trouble
Creating Destiny
Dalija's Spring
Dating Agency: Cyrano
Delightful Girl Choon Hyang
December Fever
Dream High
Dream High 2
Easy Fortune Happy Life
Faith
Fated to Love You
Fire
Flower Boy Next Door
Flower Boy Ramen Shop
Full House
Full House Take 2works
Goong (aka Princess Hours)
Goongs (aka Prince Hours)
Gourmet
Greatest Love
Haeundae Lovers
Heading to the Ground
Heartless City
Heartstrings
Hello Miss
Hong Gil Dong
I do, I do
In Time with You
I Need Romance
I Need Romance 2012
I Miss You (Kleenex)
Invincible Shan Bao Mei
It Started with a Kiss
Just You
King 2 Hearts
Koizura (Japanese)
Last Scandal
Lie to Me
Love and Marriage
Love Around
Love Forward
Love Now
Lovers
Manny
Mary Stayed Out All Night
Me Too Flower
Meteor Garden (both seasons)
Meteor Rain (Continuation of other members of F4)
Midas
Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo
Miss Rose (Has many same cast from Office Girls)
Monstar
My Girl
My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox (aka My Girlfriend Guhmio)
My Lovely Sam Soon
My Princess
My Queen
Nail Shop Paris
Office Girls (has many of same cast from Miss Rose)
Oh My Lady
One Percent of Anything
Operation Proposal
Over the Rainbow
P.S. Man
Paradise Farm (or Paradise Ranch)
Pasta
Personal Taste
Playful Kiss
Prince's First Love
Protect the Boss
Que Sera Sera
Romance Town
Rooftop Prince
Say You Love Me
Scent of a Woman
Secret Garden
Shinning Inheritance
Shut Up Flower Boy Band
Soulmate
Spring Waltz
Spy Myung Wol
Stars Falling from the Sky (Some Kleenex needed)
Substitute Princess
Summer's Desire
Sungkyunkwan Scandal
Sweet Spy
Take Care of the Young Lady (Note to my friend Debbie, Jung II Woo!!!)
Temptation of an Angel
That Winter, the Wind Blows
The Birth of the Rich
The King of Dramas
The Master's Sun
The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry
The Musical
They Kiss Again (Part 2 of It Started with a Kiss)
Time Slip Dr. Jin
To the Beautiful You
Two Weeks
Vampire Prosecutor
Vampire Prosecutor 2
We Got Married Global Addition (Taecyeon with GuiGui & HongKi with Fuji Mina)
What's Up
What's Up Fox
When a Man Loves
Who Are You (with Taecyeon and Jaewook. There is another one with same name)
Wild Romance
Winter Sonata (Kleenex)
You're Beautiful
Young Love Jae In

K-Drama Top Ten Love Triangles

Top Ten Love Triangles!!

Now I am not going to write a lot about what these storylines are about.  My reasoning is because I want to share what they are in my opinion so that you go and watch them yourselves.   They are not in any specific order with exception to my ultimate favorite being listed last.   Also, those that have been watching K-dramas for some time will notice that not all of these are Korean.  I am using the term K-drama right now for everything until I am able to have my own lists for the other languages.

In Need of Romance 2012

Yeol Mae with Ji Hoon and Seok Hyun
This is probably the first time I have seen a decent shower scene in a K-drama.

Summer's Desire:

Xia Mo with Luo Xi and Ou Chen
The tension between the two males is outstanding.  You can cut the tension with a knife.
I have watched this series over 10 times because I like it that much! 
It is probably my number 2 go to show!
 

Boys Over Flowers

Jan Di with Goo Joon Pyo and Yoon Ji Hoo
Now you know I am a Kim Hyun Joong fan.  I love him dearly. 
Yes I wanted to slap Jandi multiple times for giving up on the guy she liked FIRST!
 How can you beat falling in love with your soulmate?
Ji-Hoo is too much of a gentleman.

Flower Boy Ramen Shop

Cha Chi Soo, Eun Bi and Gang Hyuk.

This was my first k-drama.  It had me hooked after the first episode! 

I couldn't get enough of Jung II Woo who portrays Cha Chi Soo! 

Immediately after watching this I searched for more with him which lead me to 49 Days

....that is for another post to come.

Goong

Chae Kyung, Lee Shin, and Lee Yul

Oh this is another one I was yelling WAE WAE WAE?  Can't you tell he is in love with you?

I only feel this way about Yoon Eun Hye, what ever she is in is WORTH watching!

I so want Prince Lee Yul's silver necklace!

When a Man Loves

Mi Do, Tae Sang and Jae Hee

One of the better "gangster" series out there.

Oh boy, this one had me torn.  I was actually rooting for both guys. 

She is a lucky girl to have two men such as those to have fallen in love with her.

Miss Rose

Cheng Kuan, Si Yi, and Yi Chun.

The on screen chemistry of these three actors was very good.

The hints of possessiveness from both men wanting to be her man played out well.

My Girl

Lee Joon Ki

He's so great in this series. Yes I am bias towards him.....it is really worth watching just for him....

(He makes me smile!)

 

Protect the Boss

Eun Sol, Ji Heon and Moo Won

I never thought I would like a boy named Moo! LOL

I would so go to work everyday is JaeJoong was my boss!!!!

The possessiveness of the males are very cute.  Especially when they get physical.

That is one of the best "cat-fight" scenes I have ever seen.  I was crying I was laughing so hard.

Stars Falling from the Sky

A family of men falling for the same woman.  One didn't stand a snowball's chance in Hell.  The other two had both the positive and negative qualities.  I really enjoyed Shin Dong Wook's portrayal of the younger brother.  He's a really talented actor.  I hope he's doing well as he suffers from rare disease called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome / Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (CRPS).  Having Lupus, I can only slightly relate to his condition.  I truly wish him well (especially for him to experience no pain) and medical science can find a cure for him!

Paradise Farm

Lee Da Ji, Han Dong Joo and Seo Yoon Ho

Another great threesome chemistry wise.  The possessiveness is definitely present as well. 

The nit picking of each other was so funny.  Their facial expressions were sometimes priceless. 

Very cute series to watch.  Not too heavy hearted and very fun. 

Mary Stayed Out All Night

Kang Moo Gyul, Wi Mary, and In Jung (aka The Polite Bastard)

Those that know me, KNOW this is my FAVORITE SERIES OF ALL TIME!

It has great music, fantastic actors, and a really cute storyline.

It makes you laugh, cry, and sometimes both at the same time.  My favorite part of this triangle is when the three realize they all know one another and how it is they know each other.  (Yes I am attempting to talk in circles.)  Also when they fight over her as well after the company party.

Jealously and competition for her heart is definitely present.  Wi Mary is a hoot and I could see the two of us being friends if she were a real person. 

Time flies when you are having fun and are sick...

Yep time flies when you are having fun.  Also if you are sick or on a vacation to Alaska!

Photo of one of the pieces broken off from the glacier.

Once again, I have been neglecting this blog.  My computer had died and my husband blessed me with a brand new laptop!  I love it, but hate Windows 8.

So I am slowly getting back to feeling better.  I am also writing a lot these days, just not on my blog. 

Autumn is upon us and weather here in Michigan means that the snow will fly soon.  I just hope its not too freaking soon!

I am going to be changing my blog around again.  There are just so many topics I love, I can't keep track of posting them to various sources.  So the Cauldron is about to become one heck of a Jambalaya! 

As I work out the kinks, if there is a particular topic you like to read about, please make sure to keep track of the labels.  Until I figure out what I am going to do for what day of the week, that might be the best way to stay on top of what your interests are.

I know most of my subscribers are of that Magical realm, but I am getting an increased amount of mail from others interested K-Drama, K-pop, etc.  I will try to have specific days I will be posting on these topics so that you don't have to read the things you are not interested in as well. 

Keepers of the Hearth has a new website in development.  We recently purchased the .org version of our website as well.  So now we own both www.keepersofthehearth.com and www.keepersofthehearth.org .  Both websites are currently active. 

I hope everyone is doing well.

Tonight is the full moon and I am off to go celebrate it with my sisters from the honeybee tribe! 

See ya!

Blessed Be!

Crystal T.