Posted in life, motivational

why do people change

Posted on by M Artisans

Listening to For Youth of BTS while writing this post…

Change seems to be one of the scariest word in the dictionary. Everything changes, it’s inevitable. It’s an evolution, a transition that we all face in a lifetime.

There are reasons why people change may it be for the better or worse.

  1. they have learned a lot
  2. they have suffered enough
  3. life changing event or situation

I have seen some people around me who have changed. It was sad when they revealed their true colors over time. When they meet someone new, someone more interesting than you. Asking yourself, “what happened to them?”

People change because either they chose to or they are forced to. And it may be as part of growth and evolution. You have contemplated and wanted to improve your old habits and behavior. This intentional change is more likely to last long with the intention of wanting the better version of yourself.

Life is a journey, as the saying goes. There’s so much that you can learn along the way. You’ll meet a certain person that motivates and inspires you. And there is that eye-opening event/s that will shape your mind and your life – perhaps forever…

Photo by ShonEjai on Pexels.com

❤

Posted in Family health, health

Sunscreen ingredients to avoid

Posted on by M Artisans

It is a must for endowarriors to take time and read every label both in food and skincare. And I think it’s also pertinent for healthy individuals to read labels as there are many chemicals that can cause diseases like cancer and cell damage.

Unfortunately, majority of sunscreens on the market today are more harmful than beneficial according to Huffpost. Sunscreens are designed to decrease your risk of skin cancer and allow you to enjoy the sun without worry. Modern day sunscreens have ingredients that may increase your risk of cancer and disrupt the functioning of your hormones.

Photo by Kampus Production on Pexels.com

The chemical oxybenzone permeates the skin, enters the bloodstream and imitates estrogen in the body. It can activate allergic reactions along with another harmful ingredient – retinyl palmitate.

Chemical suncreens that are potentially harmful to our health (in order of toxicity from highest to lowest);

  • benzene
  • oxybenzone
  • octinoxate
  • homosalate
  • octisalate
  • octocrylene
  • avobenzone

News of famous brands recalling their sunscreen were in several sites recently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention routinely detects oxybenzone in more than 96 percent of the American population. Study participants who reported using sunscreen have higher oxybenzone exposures (Zamoiski 2015).

Experst suggest to avoid sunscreens with chemicals mentioned above and prefer mineral sunscreens as it is said to be safer. Mineral or Physical sunscreens like titanium dioxide and iron oxide are the ingredients to look for in a good sunscreen.

Sharing the sunscreen products I have been using lately, still it’s to your discretion to be mindful of these carcinogenic warnings. Please know that this post is not a paid ad. These products use physical or mineral sunscreen thus avoiding exposure to carcinogenic chemicals like benzene.

  • Axis-Y Complete No-stress Physical Sunscreen SPF-50+ Pa++++
  • Frudia Green Cooling Sun gel
  • Dr. G Green Mild Sun SPF50+PA++++

Stay safe and healthy ❤

Posted in Art & Music

For d love of Kpop: Le Sserafim

Posted on by M Artisans

In my playlists, there’s Le Sserafim. My favorite chill songs from them are Blue Flame and Sour Grapes.

LE SSERAFIM (르세라핌) is a five member girl group and the first female group under Hybe. They officially debuted last May of this year and also under Source Music.

Current members consist of (from left to right of photo) Kazuha, Chaewon, Sakura, Yunjin and Eunchae. Relatively a new group but some members like Sakura and Chaewon are former Iz*one members and Yunjin was from Produce 48 and been a trainee of Pledis Entertainment.

Not here to feature the members one by one, here’s my fave music from them and hope you also enjoy them as much as I do. You may opt to support and follow them in their official sites – links in the end of this article. ❤

Blue Flame
Sour Grapes

LE SSERAFIM Fandom Name: FEARNOT (피어나)

LE SSERAFIM Official Accounts:
Official Website: le-sserafim.com
Weverse: LE SSERAFIM
Instagram: @le_sserafim
YouTube: LE SSERAFIM
Facebook: LE SSERAFIM
Twitter: @IM_LESSERAFIM
Staff Twitter: @le_sserafim
Japan Twitter: @le_sserafim_jp
VLive: LE SSERAFIM
Weibo: LE SSERAFIM
Tiktok: @le_sserafim

Posted in life

Think Local, Support Small Businesses

Posted on by M Artisans

Why Supporting Local Small Businesses is good for the community?

Local businesses are establishments in your neighborhood that humbly faced all kinds of challenges in the economy. From crisis of covid-19 pandemic to destruction and outtages after typhoon Odette. They are optimistic locals who keep in mind the welfare of the community. For them service is on personal level. Not from a corporate standpoint. Everyone is treated like a family.


Why Support local stores?
Because they care for you. With the endless motto – “customer is king” their top priority is to serve the neighborhood especially in this time of crisis. For owners of micro-businesses every customer, employee and staff is important. Their interests, health, transport, stress, total well-being are kept in mind. They take measures for the concern of each individual.

In this volatile times, smaller, local businesses count on your patronage in order to stay afloat; every transaction is precious to them. They start small, with capital that came from their savings, goals and dreams are humble and decent. By supporting these small businesses, you are in turn supporting your local economy; more money stays in a community when purchases are made at locally owned. You support their dreams!

Local small businesses are owned and operated by your neighbors! They care about you and are invested in the well-being of your community and its future. They employ trust worthy people who have become a family.

So the next time you need to get some groceries, craving for snacks or do a little shopping, seek out a small business and see what they have to offer! You could discover some great products (even handmade) and services while helping to build a strong and successful community around you.

Angel Pharmacy Cebu
Angel Pharmacy Cebu
Angel Pharmacy Cebu

#thinklocal

❤

Posted in Kdrama

Tragedy in Epic Fantasy – Alchemy of Souls

Posted on by M Artisans

The curse of being late in following a series is to get spoiled by its ending.

[Disclaimer – this post may contain some spoilers]

I was told by fellow K-drama lovers to get my tissues ready. And of course the sentimental side of me who cries so easily – is expecting the tragedy behind this fantasy drama.

Growing up with Disney fairy tales such as Beauty and the Beast, Snow White etc, happy endings are the norm and what’s needed for a complete closure. But not in season 1 of Alchemy of Souls.

Ep 1

A tragic romance between Jang Uk and Mu-deok is what makes this show beautiful. My heart aches as I watch their love and friendship unfold. In the beginning, there are light moments with cute and comic exchanges between the characters. And I love how they portray the “change of heart” from Haksu to Mu-deok, in one scene you’ll pity her and another scene you’d like her to stay away from Uk.

The essence of true love is manifested here not by sensual scenes, but by what truly matters – sacrifice, dedication, loyalty.

I can do anything, if it only means being able to see you.

– Jang Uk

Netizens find this story gripping and exciting, making us beg for more. Yes, many fans go through a plethora of emotions and I’m no exception. Real life experiences tell me that we can all relate with their struggles…

Gearing towards the season finale which they said – genius & gorgeuos! Let’s all get ready for this… ❤

Posted in kdrama

Alchemy of Souls: Spellbound & enchanting series

Posted on by M Artisans

Quite late on this as everyone’s talking about season 2 coming this December. We just finished episode 3 and this series continues to mesmerize me. With beautiful faces, gorgeous ensemble, makeup, costumes, scenery and fantastic special effects.

Alchemy of Souls (Netflix) from creators the Hong Sisters, Jung-eun and Mi-ran (Hotel Del Luna, Korean Odyssey), takes us to a magical land called Daeho, where sorcerers (mages) have harnessed the power of the natural world.

Jang Uk (Lee Jae-Wook) comes from the noble Jang family. He holds an unpleasant secret about his birth. A troublemaker, switching from one master to another and happens to meet Mu-Deok (Jung So-Min) – an elite warrior and assassin, but her soul is trapped in a physically weak body. She then becomes Uk’s servant, secretly teaching him martial arts and skills.

So the plot seems pretty simple, about these two main characters – Uk and Mu-doek exhanging funny antics, determined to prove themselves in this magical world while romance is being developed.

Alchemy of Souls – tVn

One notable character is Seo Yul (Minhyun) who comes from Seo family. Aside from his good looks, he is also intelligent and has strong martial arts skills. I’m sensing a love triangle in the future episodes 😉

Alchemy of Souls

Stream this on Netflix and other sites, surely your love for fantasy will be revived as spells come left and right.

❤

Posted in kdrama

What we can learn from Kdrama Tomorrow

Posted on by M Artisans

Tomorrow is a fantasy drama based on a webtoon of the same name by Llama. It follows the story of Choi Junwoong and his job as part of the Special Crisis Management Team of the underworld. Casts include Kim HeeSun as Koo Ryun, SF9’s RoWoon as Choi Junwoong, Lee Soo Hyhuk, and Yun Ji On.

Tomorrow or Naeil in Korean is a drama that said to convey warm sympathy and comfort to those living in real harsh world. True to its promise, me and my hubby (kdrama) buddy are currently glued to this series as we watch the characters and their sufferings and healing. This series has gained attention for its different approach to sensitive and dark topics like suicide.

Suicide is a serious topic and with South Korea ranking fourth in the world when it comes to suicidal rate according to WHO. In the Philippines, there’s a 57% increase in suicidal rate because of Covid-19 mainly from loss of jobs and business.

This appealed to me from a personal level and there are many lessons that we can learn from this drama (Will post separately). You help people with kindness, kindness that begins with understanding that we all struggle. We all have problems.

You would think of grim reapers as escorts of death, but no, there’s a special group dedicated to save souls or people from committing suicide. The empathic side of me is very touched, an innate desire to help people in dire need.

“What saves people is not your powers but the weight of your words”

Director of Jumadeung

❤

Posted in kdrama

Extraordinary Attorney Woo: Season 1 finale & Spoilers

Posted on by M Artisans

Episode 16: Though Unusual and Peculiar

This marks the finale of season 1 and what a beautiful way to end it by Attorney Woo discovering a new emotion – “fulfillment.”

In my Psychology class, we’re repeatedly taught to identify our feelings. It is amazing and extraordinary for Attorney Woo who has Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was able to discover and name that new feeling. Thanks to the good upbringing of her father that even in the lack of money/power, she turned out well.

This drama grew on me as I see the maturity of Young Woo despite her disability. Her conversations with her parents and peers are thought provoking even the dialogue with herself is heartwarming. No wonder I have made several posts about this Kdrama 😉

In this episode we’ll meet Tae Su-mi’s son and younger brother of Attorney Woo – Sang Hyeon, also a genius and gimbap lover. Many “good” things happened like Attorney Min-woo having a change of heart, bravery of Young Woo and her realizations, confession of Jun-ho, etc. It’s like everything falls into place as they wrap up season 1.

Allow me to share the touching words of Young Woo talking to Tae Su-mi ~

“Sang Hyeon believes you’re a good mom. Don’t betray his belief.”

“You were not a good mother to me, but at the very least, please be a good mother to Sang Hyeon.”

Young Woo began the confrontation by saying that she is like a narwhal in a pod of belugas. Being with different whales and an ocean of many experiences, she appreciates and sees this in a beautiful way. “Though unusual and peculiar” – title of this episode was manifested very well. Jun-ho got back together with Young Woo and their talk about a love for a cat is cute and funny.

After winning the case, the characters gather to eat and celebrate. They are happy, teasing each other as usual. I love this Hanbada team so much!

Episode 16 stills

Attorney Woo is the character we all need in this difficult times. This drama appealed to me in many levels and if you’d agree with me the ending is life-like, it’s meant to go on (as we look forward to season 2).

Youtube/The Swoon

All whales are happy now, this is a perfect ending for season 1 indeed

❤ 사랑

Posted in kdrama

Extraordinary Attorney Woo : Episodes 13 & 14 Spoiler Insights

Posted on by M Artisans

– The Blue Night in Jeju

Every Wednesday/Thursday night airs 2 new episodes of this Kdrama we all adore – Extraordinary Attorney Woo. I’ve talked about this in previous posts and obviously this has become my drama of the year.

As this series is nearing its end, I can’t help but feel sad, the more after watching episodes 13 and 14. We’re all worried for attorney Jung (Kang KiYoung) as he was diagnosed with stage 3 stomach cancer. Actually, I thought he has lung disease as he spat blood prompting him to see a doctor.

This episode with their new case in a cultural heritage in Jeju, is most meaningful to Attorney Jung as he was reflecting on his life and marriage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuLqexa9JyE

Episodes 13 & 14 highlighted the story of attorney Jung, plus the emotional scenes of Attorney Woo with Jun-ho. I will only spoil you a bit because these two episodes are unlike the previous ones and you wouldn’t want to miss it.

Attorney Woo in dolphin watching

It is a challenge no doubt to love somebody with health issues or a disability. You need a great amount of understanding and patience. We see different sides of each character here in this week’s episodes…

❤

Posted in motivational

Signs of high EQ

Posted on by M Artisans

As part of my note taking in Emotional and Social Intelligence ESI (UC Davis) – a course I’m currently taking online. Here are the signs of a person, employee or co-worker with high EQ (emotional quotient) or EI (emotional intelligence).

But first we define Emotional Intelligence or EQ as the capacity to be aware of control and express your emotions as well as navigate interpersonal relationships with both good judgement and empathy.

EQ/EI affects every aspect in your life and has been proven to be in the top 10 most important workplace skills needed for success according to World Economic Forum (2020).

Professor Laurie Cozart, UC Davis
– UC Davis

More bullet points to remember;

  • EQ is not as a soft skill
  • people with high EQ make more and perform better
  • high EQ is synonymous to high satisfaction
Professor Laurie Cozart – UC Davis
UC Davis