Run BTS! 2022: Special Episode — "RUN BTS TV" On-Air, Part 2

The most relatable: "Jungkook is typing 'LOL' while frowning."

The most relatable if I was rich: "[V donated $5,045,000 because you ate the slice very deliciously]"

The most surprising: How riveted I am by watching a flamingo poop.

Conclusion: Any member of BTS could easily become a YouTuber and become one of the most subscribed channels on the platform. I'm just not sure who's funnier: BTS as YouTubers or BTS as YouTube commenters.

Dining Out: Oat Milk Latte and Sausage Benny with Potato Waffles at Starving Artist

What to do when you have to drop off your car at the mechanic to get your tires changed and you have time to kill? Ask your mom to take you to brunch.

Oat milk latte
Sausage Benny with potato waffles
We decided to go to Starving Artist because it's been a minute since we've been there. (The last time I went there was literally right before COVID started.) Latte for me, Americano for her, and Sausage Bennies for us both. Glad to report that Starving Artist still makes a killer Eggs Benedict. And that their potato waffles are still revolutionary (!!!).

Starving Artist

5762 Highway 7, Unit 3

Markham, ON L3P 1A7

(905) 554-6388

RM — Indigo Album Magazine Film Teaser

"I think telling the most personal story in the most universal way is the highest stage we can reach... This is my story over the last four years. I hope it stays with you for a long time like a tranquil field."

5 MORE DAYS. I am waiting with bated breath.

BTS EPISODE: J-Hope at Lollapalooza 2022

I know I've already said this, but J-Hope's stage at Lollapalooza was utter perfection. I know how much work he and the band and the staff put into this, but it really paid off. Not only does it show off J-Hope's professionalism, showmanship, and raw performance power, but it also shows how much of a fucking masterpiece Jack in the Box is. So, so proud of him. And I can't wait to see him perform at 2022 MAMA.

Unboxing: BTS Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE" Set

(Warning: This post is long and photo-heavy.)

My Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE" Set arrived last week, which is the fourth of the BTS member photobook series. This series is called Special 8 Photo-Folio because there will be a total of 8 photobooks — one for each member and one group edition. Though not confirmed by official statement, this seems to be BigHit's unofficial birthday project for the BTS members, as they've been releasing them by birthday order starting with Jungkook (September 1), followed by RM (September 12), and Jimin (October 13). This group photo book is the one outlier in this order (I really thought they'd release it for next June 13, BTS' 10th anniversary, which would've been much more fitting), but the series will be resuming birthday order with Jin (December 4).

Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"Front with PET Overlay Cover
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"Front and Back Covers
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"Frontispiece

The BTS group photobook is called "WE," and it consists of two main photoshoots. Like all the photobooks in the Special 8 Photo-Folio series, "WE" has a total of 80 pages and is a soft cover book with a removable PET overlay. Included with the photobook are several extra items: a mini poster, a folded poster, a sheet of "postage stamps," a randomized member photo card, two 4" x 6" photos, and member instant photos (BTS' items). "WE" also comes in a set option which includes a desk calendar and a DIY outbox that fits all 8 books of the Special 8 Photo-Folio series (first press only). The photobook retails for ₩33,000 or $30.65 USD, while the set retails for ₩45,000 or $41.80 USD. Both are available exclusively on Weverse Shop Global.

Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"BTS Self-Portraits
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"BTS Self-Portraits: RM and Jin
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"BTS Self-Portraits: Suga and J-Hope
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"BTS Self-Portraits: Jimin and V
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"BTS Self-Portraits: Jungkook and BTS
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"BTS Self-Portraits

The first photoshoot is comprised of self-portraits in front of a simple white background, as well as photo booth pictures. There is no real concept here, but rather just features BTS as BTS. The members are dressed in casual outfits, different styles for every member, that reflect their personal preferences. It includes both solo and group shots, including this iconic series of black-and-white shots of the members added one by one in chronological order of joining BTS. 

Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"BTS Field Day
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"BTS Field Day
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"BTS Field Day

The concept for the second photoshoot is "high school field day," or "school sports day." It features the members in tracksuits, with the subgroups in white or blue. It features various group and sub-group shots of them at a school, drawing on blackboards in classrooms, eating lunch at their desks, and playing sports outside. 

Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"BTS' Items: Instant Photos
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"Set of 4" x 6" Photos
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"Randomized Member Photocard (Jungkook)
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"Mini Poster and "Postage Stamp" Sheet
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE"Folded Poster
Of course, we get some extra items that come with the photo book. As with all of the books in the Special 8 Photo-Folio series, this book also comes with a "special item" that is chosen by its subject(s) — for this group book, BTS has chosen instant photos to include with it. "WE" also includes a set of two 4" x 6" photos (one from each photoshoot), a randomized member photocard (this is the only book in the series that has one photocard — all the solo member books have two cards of the respective member), a "postage stamp" sheet featuring solo shots from the "field day" photoshoot (honestly, I'm still not sure if these actually serve another purpose other than showcasing the members' photos in the shape of postage stamps), a mini poster that features a shot from the "field day" photoshoot, and a folded poster that also features a shot from the "field day" photoshoot. 


Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE" SetDesk Calendar
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE" SetDesk Calendar
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE" SetDIY Outbox
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Us, Ourselves, and BTS — "WE" SetDIY Outbox
Now, the photobook also comes in a set option, which includes a 14-page desk calendar (each month featuring a solo, sub-group, or group shot from either of the photoshoots), and a DIY card stock outbox that fits all eight of the photobooks inside to make it neater and easier to keep the books together as a series. However, this outbox was only available with the first edition press, so if you missed out, you'd really be paying an extra ₩12,000 or $11 USD for just the desk calendar. (Which, you know, is still worth it. Because there is nothing quite like seeing BTS on your desk to brighten up your day.) If you don't really care for a calendar (maybe you just don't need to know what day it is, or maybe you just use your phone like most people), then just skip the set and go for the photobook on its own. You'll still get all the other goodies, anyway.

Unboxing: BTS x AmorePacific Lip & Pop Edition Lip Sleeping Mask Set

Obviously, when I found out that BTS was coming out with a second collaboration with AmorePacific for more Lip Sleeping Masks, I had to get in on it. Their first collaboration was a purple Lip Sleeping Mask in Gummy Bear (which smells exactly like grape Hi-Chew candy, my favourite flavour in the Hi-Chew world) that came out last December. This second collaboration is a set of three Lip Sleeping Masks called "Lip & Pop Edition," which is themed around BTS' three English-language singles: "Butter," "Permission to Dance," and "Dynamite."

BTS x AmorePacific Lip & Pop Edition Lip Sleeping Mask Set
BTS x AmorePacific Lip & Pop Edition Lip Sleeping Mask Set
This set was released for global customers in late October on Weverse Shop, where it was available for about five minutes before selling out. It had retailed for $33 USD with a $45 USD shipping cost to Canada. So I scoured the Internet to see if I could get it elsewhere, but as it turns out, most of the sites that are selling this set are charging over $70 USD for it, anyway. I ended up getting my set from Holiholic, which is selling this set "on sale" for $54.50 USD — the cheapest I have seen it available for as of this posting. (Still cheaper than getting it from Weverse Shop with shipping, so it's a win in my books.)

BTS x AmorePacific Lip & Pop Edition Lip Sleeping Mask Set
The packaging of the BTS x AmorePacific Lip & Pop Edition set is designed to look like a turntable in the shades of purple (to represent BTS, of course), orange (to represent "Permission to Dance"), yellow (to represent "Butter"), and beige (to represent "Dynamite"). It is described as "a set of lip sleeping masks that provides smooth, firm lips by gently melting away dead skin on the lips overnight." While it is marketed as a lip mask that you leave on while you sleep, it's essentially a smoothing lip balm that you can use whenever you so choose. Note that the formulation of these Lip Sleeping Masks is exactly the same as Laneige's Lip Sleeping Mask — AmorePacific owns the Laneige brand.

  BTS x AmorePacific Lip & Pop Edition Lip Sleeping Mask Set: "Butter" (Butter), "Permission to Dance" (Peach Iced Tea), and "Dynamite" (Sweet Candy)
BTS x AmorePacific Lip & Pop Edition Lip Sleeping Mask Set: "Butter" (Butter), "Permission to Dance" (Peach Iced Tea), and "Dynamite" (Sweet Candy)
The contents of the BTS x AmorePacific Lip & Pop Edition set are as follows:

"Butter" Lip Sleeping Mask (8g) — Named after BTS' song, "Butter." Described as a "lip mask with a creamy texture and the sweet scent of butter." Like all of the AmorePacific/Laneige Lip Sleeping Masks, it has a high-shine finish. Both the jar and the lip balm itself are coloured bright yellow, but the product is virtually colourless when applied on skin. While it does smell somewhat buttery, I find it more akin to caramel popcorn. The scent on this one is fairly intense. 

"Permission to Dance" Lip Sleeping Mask (8g) — Named after BTS' song, "Permission to Dance." It's described as a "lip mask with a skin-comforting texture and the scent of peach iced tea for a dreamy moment." (This is not to be mistaken for the original "Permission to Dance: On Stage" Sleeping Lip Mask, which was created for their concert series of the same name and was purple with a Gummy Bear scent.) Like all of the AmorePacific/Laneige Lip Sleeping Masks, it has a high-shine finish. The jar is coloured bright orange, while the lip balm is coloured peach. It provides a very light, sheer peach tint on the lips, but is not particularly noticeable. It does accurately smell like peach iced tea, but it's pretty faint.

"Dynamite" Lip Sleeping Mask (8g) — Named after BTS' song, "Dynamite." It's described as a "lip mask with the scent of sweet candy in the joyful vibe of a rhythmic disco." Like all of the AmorePacific/Laneige Lip Sleeping Masks, it has a high-shine finish. The jar is coloured beige, while the lip balm is coloured a light cotton candy pink. It provides a very light, sheer pink tint on the lips, but is not particularly noticeable. It is meant to smell like "sweet candy," but I find it to smell more specifically like strawberry gummy candy. Like "Permission to Dance," the scent itself is quite faint.

Now, if you're looking for value, you're not going to find it in this set. The Laneige Lip Sleeping Masks usually come in 20g sizes and retail for $24 USD, which is $1.20 USD per gram. This set originally retailed for $33 USD (and good luck actually finding it for sale at this price anymore) and contains a total of 24g of product, which is $1.38 USD per gram. But given that most retailers are selling this set for upwards of $70 USD, you're looking at an average cost of about $2.90 USD per gram. So basically, this set will only really be worth it if you a) love BTS, and b) love the Laneige Lip Sleeping Masks. As I fall into both categories, I will happily revel in my well-moisturized, buttery, peachy, candy-scented lips — value be damned.

Friday Five: Don't touch that dial

This week's Friday Five:

1. What was the most recent physical book you purchased and/or read? The most recent physical book that I purchased was Dim Sum for Everyone! by Grace Lin for my friend Viv's baby shower. (Instead of giving a card, she asked that everyone give a book for baby's first library instead, which I thought was a much smarter idea.) The most recent physical book that I read was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling because I was going through my annual re-reading of the Harry Potter series over the summer.
   
   
2. What was the last compact disc you listened to? Disc 3 of BTS' Proof.
   
   
3. What did you last watch on DVD? Pitch Perfect.
   
   
4. Whom did you last speak to on a landline? My boss. (We use landlines at work.)
   
   
5. What did you last purchase with cash? Yesterday's lunch at Taco Bell.
   

RM — Indigo Tracklist

RM — "Indigo" Tracklist

Erykah Badu?! Anderson Paak?! Tablo?! This is going to be one hell of an album. 

RM — Indigo Photos

RM — "Indigo" Photos
RM — "Indigo" Photos
RM — "Indigo" Photos
RM — "Indigo" Photos
RM — "Indigo" Photos

(Photo source: BTS Weverse)

"Record of RM: Indigo

From the colors of nature, human, etc.

Documentation of my youth in the moment of independent phase.

Sun-bleached record faded like old jeans.

The last archive of my twenties."

I don't know what to expect since RM is so vastly different from Mono (which is still one of my favourite night-time jam albums, no matter how critical RM is of it now), but I know that Indigo is going to be eloquent, thoughtful, and poignant. 

Run BTS! 2022: Special Episode — "RUN BTS TV" On-Air, Part 1

I AM CRYING LAUGHING. 😂😂😂

Truly, no one roasts BTS better than BTS. 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

BTS Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jin — "Sea of JIN Island" Production Film

Love that this was basically a Making of "Super Tuna" — a true masterpiece.

Jungkook at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Opening Ceremony: "Dreamers"

Frankly, I don't care about sporting events, but our Jungkookie is all grown up and I AM SO PROUD OF HIM. 🥹

(Addendum, 11/21/22: Re-posted with the full official version from BANGTANTV.)

Jin's Traditional Alcohol Journey with Baek Jongwon: Drunken Truth, Episode 3 and 4

[After leaving the traditional market]

Jin: "It was too arrogant of me to do a popularity check over there."

Staff member: "I think you totally lost."

Jin: "That's an understatement. It was like being a speck of dust in space."

Mr. Baek: "I'll be in trouble if you keep saying that."

Jin: "It's been such a long time since I've gone unnoticed like this!"

Mr. Baek, chuckling: "That must've been new for you."

Jin: "It hurts less to know it, though."

Jin: "Wait, Mr. Baek! Before we drink, you have to change."

Mr. Baek, looking weary: "Why change?"

Jin: "I made some clothes and I brought some for you."

Namgil: "And he has to change right away?"

Jin: "That's right, that's right. This, this! I'll show you here."

Mr. Baek: "Let me see. If it's something weird..."

Jin: "It's not! Mr. Baek, I made this myself."

Mr. Baek: "Wait, I understand. It's going to look weird, isn't it?"

Jin: "No, no, no! I wear this 300 days a year."

[Changing into Jin's Artist-Made Collection by BTS pajamas]

Jin: "This is my amazing design."

Mr. Baek: "You designed this?"

Jin: "Yes!"

Mr. Baek: "You know how to design clothes?"

[Jin and Mr. Baek showing off their matching pajama sets]

Namgil: "Mr. Baek, that suits you very well!"

Mr. Baek: "I somehow feel guilty drinking while wearing this."

Jin: "Why? This is popular, Mr. Baek. It was sold out in two seconds! They don't even sell these anymore! You couldn't get this even if you wanted to, Mr. Baek."

Mr. Baek: "I still feel bad drinking with these on, but okay, let's drink."

They're drunk as skunks but it somehow makes them more wholesome.

Friday Five: Interrobang‽

This week's Friday Five:

1. What are you better at than you might have predicted? Building Legos. Though I think what's more surprising is that I actually like building Legos in the first place because I had zero interest in it when I was a kid.
   
   
2. When did you last surprise someone? About a month ago. I sent a baby shower gift to my friend Viv's house by accident instead of bringing it to her actual baby shower, so she was pleasantly surprised when she found a package at her door.
   
   
3. What has recently caught you off guard? Someone at my workplace resigned and it took everyone off guard because she's been working there for nearly 20 years and there was no sign of her wanting to resign or even looking for another job.
   
   
4. What did you learn this week? Malatang and naengmyeon are hecking delicious, and I can't believe I tried them both for the first time this week.
   
   
5. How much attention do you pay to weather forecasts? A lot. I'm a smoker. I need to know how to gear up for the day.
   

BTS Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jin — "Sea of JIN Island" Preview Photos

Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jin — "Sea of JIN Island" Preview Photo
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jin — "Sea of JIN Island" Preview Photo
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jin — "Sea of JIN Island" Preview Photo
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jin — "Sea of JIN Island" Preview Photo
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jin — "Sea of JIN Island" Preview Photo
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jin — "Sea of JIN Island" Preview Photo

(Photo source: BTS Weverse)

AYE, AYE, CAPTAIN!