torture

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“We always want what we can’t have. It’s human nature. We’re hardwired that way.”

Roman from Alyson Noël’s Shadowland

random schmandom

Just because I want to write... and that does not automatically mean this is going to make sense.

♥ Didn't have my scheduled movie marathon yesterday and I have something scheduled for next Monday. Hmm... looks like it'll be difficult to hit my goal of 100 movies for 2010. Plus, I also decided to be more hands on and be there most of the time. Business has been slow for the past two months and this is cause for alarm. I can't afford any booboos anymore. So this means I will pass up on watching Gossip Girl, How I Met Your Mother and Chuck a few hours from now. Will just download when I get home later. All these because I was told last night, 'hindi lahat ng kailangan mo gawin, gusto mo.' Totoo naman. So I will excruciatingly drag my ass off this computer chair.

♥ I still crush Atom Araullo and TJ Manotoc. I crush them!

♥ Didn't accomplish much yesterday because of the 5-hour wait in the doctor's office. Finally!  Good thing my friend was there so two hours of it was spent chatting with her. I was told the same thing- to lose weight. Okay, I will really really try this time. Conscious eating and not diet is what's needed. No more empty calories for this girl. Wish me luck ♣

♥ FaMEALy day yesterday! AC cooked kare-kare for dinner. Yum ☺ Seriously, food should stop tasting this good so I could lose weight already.

♥ Currently trying to read two books at a time. A serious on, Do It! Let's Get Off Our Buts and a teenybopper, feel-good one, Take Me There by Susane Colasanti.

♥ I miss Gossip Girl's first season. I was listening to my playlist and Angels and Airwaves' The Gift came and I was reminded of the scene where Serena was dressed in this sparkly sequined gold dress, leaning on the railing and Dan (when he was still cute and not douche-y) was looking up, at Serena and maybe wondering how on earth was he able to score this girl. Now, Dan is not like that anymore. Anyway, I still get kilig every time I hear the song.

And also this song... Aqualung's Something to Believe In

And also Strange and Beautiful, though not really a GG song...

And I've been secretly falling apart, unseen

minus one

Looks like that NY trip to visit AB is more probable now. Mommy promised to shoulder half of the airfare ☺ Wee~

Now, we must have her sign a contract saying that she said that or else she will retract.
First, must apply for a US visa.

cheese is love

Paano ba yan? Pizza kahapon, pizza ngayon. Mukhang mahirap na talaga magbawas ng timbang :P

Yellow Cab with mis amigas yesterday. It was my birthday treat. Since I was craving for cheese pizza and buffalo wings since August, what perfect timing to treat my friends and to satisfy my craving. After lunch was coffee time, Joji's treat. Could've been the perfect Saturday but... sige na nga, it was one PERFECT day. Let's not focus on the bad. Sabi nga ni Little Nicky, 'Release the gooood!'

I've died and gone to cheese heaven ☺

Sunday lunch out at Eastwood, c/o AD. First time to eat at Uncle Cheffy. I loved the food, especially the Cheese, Cheese and Cheese Panizza! I remember we ate something like this in Focaccia. AD liked Foccacia more but I can't really say which of the two I liked better since Focaccia was a long time ago already. All I can remember is the yumminess that was today's lunch. Memphis Barbecue U.S. Beef Rib Finger was also delish but it wasn't that warm when we ate so sebo formation stage na siya. Nom nom nom~ Yellow Cab also has their version of panizza, Dear Darla. I have always wondered why it was named as such. Naalala ko- this roll-up pizza has alfalfa. Nice =)


Must go to sleep. To-do list for tomorrow is overwhelming I don't even know if I can do movie marathon mondays. Toodles xoxo

kitchen duty

Could it be? Is it she? Sacre bleu! Guess who cooked Lemon Chicken for dinner? Moi! I know, unbelievable. Is this the start of my domestication? I am still very reluctant. Napilit lang ako talaga.

AD asked if I could cook dinner at their house. She has this lemon chicken recipe given to her by her officemate from this website that's supposed to be easy to prepare and yummy. Sabi ko, basta walang sisihan.

How to cook lemon chicken 101

The easiest part was juicing the lemons, haha. Though I was following a recipe, kailangan pa rin mag-estimate as to how much salt and pepper to put. I was worried with the lemon sauce cos for awhile I thought I was cooking barbecue with all that caramelized sugar. I never take cooking seriously. Laugh trip. Natatawa sakin maid ng ate ko kasi natatawa ako- natatawa ako kasi hindi ko alam ginagawa ko. So after an hour or so of struggling.... VOILA!

Lemon chicken extraordinaire

It doesn't look that good but I swear it is (crummy phone camera! must buy those batteries for my sister's pamanang camera). I'm not saying that because I was the one who cooked it. I especially loved the chicken even without the lemon sauce. The lemon sauce could still be improved, it's too lemony. Next time...

Next dish to learn: my daddy's anemic dinuguan

CHOCOLATES!!!!

Yahoo! I'm so happy I'm done reading El Zahir but with daya. Haha. Kasi naman I'm bored with it already. I like encountering 'quotable quotes' about life and love but story-wise, paikot-ikot, nahihilo ako. Still, that's one feat I'm proud of- reading a book in pure Spanish. Ha. Now, I can move on with other books in my list:

1. Do It! Let's Get Off Our Buts 
2. How to Sell Yourself
3. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
4. Outliers

Next goal: To read books abovementioned before the year ends. Better if I can read more. Let's see.


Malapit na naman ako maging busy. I like being busy because it means INCOME! I hope I'll get busy more often. Not too busy that I can't have my Movie Marathon Mondays or Super TV Tuesdays. In life, balance is key. I don't want to be headless chicken trying to meet deadline here and there.

Green Teatherapy aka 'Lolo'

Because this is random and not about anything in particular, I will rant about this: I can't find any Healing Garden green teatherapy cologne anywhere. If I want a signature scent, I want either that or Estee Lauder's Pleasures. MUST. HAVE. THIS. Sobra. Kung anu-anong pabango andito sana magkaroon din nito dito. Ha, alam ko na! Titingin ako sa mga PX stores.

Every time I find myself obsessing over something like pizza or, now, healing garden's green tea cologne, I am reminded of this Spongebob Squarepants episode:

Haha! I can hear myself in my head screaming like that.

And last, I have my movie line-up for Monday :) Shutter Island, Get Him to the Greek and Sherlock Holmes.

Toodles xoxo

read 2010/6: El Zahir

Acabo de leer El Zahir por Paulo Coelho. Por fin. Finalmente. Después cuatro años, ya he leído este libro que este en los estantes, acumulando polvo.

This calls for a celebration! Ya he tardado casi siete años aprender la lengua y es solo ahora que he leído un libro en español. No fue facil porque todavía hay muchas palabras que no sé. A veces, dependo en el contexto pero si no entiendo totalmente, busco para la definición en el diccionario. Fijate que hasta ahora no hablo o escribo en el idioma con fluidez pero estoy feliz que ya puedo leer un libro en español puro y lo entiendo!

Bueno, ¿qué pienso sobre el libro? No me gusta mucho. Como los otros libros escrito por Paulo Coelho como El Alquimista y Veronika Decide a Morir, no estoy demasiado un fan de los temas 'sa hinabahaba ng prusisyon sa simbahan din ang tuloy.' Aunque El Zahir es mucho mejor de Alquimista. Tal vez porque el tema es amor. Tal vez... Pero también se trata de la vida y la busca para una vida plena.

Hay un concepto en el libro que me interesa- el "acomodador." Segun el libro, 'es un aconticimiento en nuestras vidas que es el responsable del hecho de que hayamos dejado de progresar. Un trauma, una derrota especialmente amarga, una desilusión amorosa, incluso una victoria que no entendemos muy bien, acaba haciendo que nos acobardemos, y que no sigamos adelante...' (p.212) Estoy muy de acuerdo con este concepto. Pienso que haya pasado en una fase muy semejante a eso en mi vida. De hecho, todavía estoy en esta fase... no he rescatado aún. Pero sé que no es una razon para parar vivir. Todavía tengo esperanza que lleguen los días mejores.

Que me gusta sobre este cuento es el amor del autor a su mujer Esther, que no ha parado buscar a ella. Y pienso que cuando Esther le dejó, no tenía un corazon hecho en pedazos sino un orgullo herido. Pero se demostraba que realmente esta enomarado con ella, porque ha cruzado montañas, ríos, desiertos literalmente para encontrarla.

Y para terminar, le comparto un snippet del libro que me gusta mucho-

Así me paso la vida: esperando el día de poder tenerte otra vez a mi lado, hasta que me canse, hasta que no pida nada más, hasta que cree un mundo donde pueda refugiarme siempre que tenga la necesidad: un mundo no tan distante como para que perezca que tengo una vida independiente, ni tan cercano, como para que parezca que estoy invadiendo tu universo.

El Zahir, Paulo Coelho

hard habit to break

Every time I catch 11:11 in my watch, I still wish for you
Even though I know it doesn't really come true
Which I think is better.

inaantok pero ayaw matulog

Weekend! What I look forward to in sucky crappy times like this are weekends, most especially Saturdays when I go to my Spanish class and have lunch con mis amigas and Sunday when we eat out or stay at home and person whose turn it is prepares the meal. I look forward to these 'events.' Yes, these are the events in my life.

This week has been alright, though I still feel I am still in a rut (which I think is directly related to business' performance). I've been stuffing myself with food to temporarily feel satisfaction. This is not good for someone who's trying to lose weight. Bah.

WAITING...

Well, upside of this week were season premieres of Gossip Girl, Chuck, How I Met Your Mother and Glee- the boon and bane of my existence. Boon, because they provide entertainment and a sense of happiness, even if just the fleeting kind; bane, because my world stops and I can't do anything else while waiting for the download to finish. I wish my internet connection has faster mbps.

Wednesday was okay although I still wasn't able to catch my ob for consultation. She had something very important to do and left earlier. Is the universe trying to tell me something here? Will give it one more try. Because supposed doctor visit was cut short, headed to Galle. AD subsidized this 'treatment' for me as a birthday gift and I would like for her to properly endorse me. Meeting time was at 5pm but I was in Galle at 2pm. Excited much? Had a lot of time to kill so I headed first to Saizen. Saizen is both a time and money wasteland. I can't believe it took me a whole hour to scour the aisles of Saizen! Though I am proud of myself for not buying anything. I was so tempted to buy some stuff but I was remembered that I need to save up. After Saizen, had my mocha frap fix and killed more time. Read (more like tried to read) El Zahir so I could finish that book and move on with another... didn't finish it yet but only 100 pages left!

Felt optimistic about the future but also felt depressed and poor for not being able to afford everything YET. Key operative word: YET. Soon, I can afford you. Another trip to Saizen with AD, then dinner...

na hindi masyado wagi :( Forgot the name of the restaurant but it's located on the 4th floor of Galle, near the cinemas. The ribs didn't taste as barbecue-y as I expected them to be. Pwede na naman, it just fell a bit short of my expectations.

Looking forward to Saturday lunch with my classmates at Yellow Cab. I've been craving for pizza for, like, ever! PIIIIIIZZAAAAAAAA!!!

super tv tuesdays

How I Met Your Mother S06E01: Big Days

TO EVERY THING THERE IS A SEASON

Just when I decided that Ted Mosby is too much of a hopeless romantic for my liking, I start to like him again. From watching all those love stories in movies and television shows, I've deduced that guys who are really into you will do anything and everything for you. And Ted Mosby is just so sweet. I want my own Ted Mosby. And don't get me started on Marshal- he's almost perfect! Well, if he has Josh Hartnett's face then he'd be perfect.

This is just what I need in a rainy day in my sucky crappy streak. Rachel Bilson guest stars so it's even more awesome ;)

Chuck S04E01: Chuck vs. The Anniversary

Are all spies good-looking? Yes, even Morgan is cute

My favorite team is back, y'all! First episode is freakintastic just as I expected though it seems I would have to re-watch the last few episodes from last season to remind myself what happened because I can't remember why Chuck bowed out from the spy life and were Chuck and Morgan surprised to see the Buy More in operation. I hope they keep it comin' for the probability of a fifth season. This show is just pure awesomeness and I can't see why some people just can't see that.

It looks like the spy life is usual of the Bartowskis. Again, I forget how Chuck all of a sudden had the interest to look for his mother. I completely have no idea where in season 3 that angle was injected. I really would have to review my past season. It's a shame, I know. Anyway, now we know Mommy Bartowski is a spy and also kicks-ass though I would still prefer that Chuck's dad is still alive. I hope his mom doesn't turn out to be an evil Fulcum/Ring/New Ring agent. No more double agents, please!

Chuck + Sarah. Two people I've waited three years for to couple up. I still get kilig over them but not as kilig when they weren't together-together yet. There's something about love that can never be... I hope they could include some kind of conflict in this couple's love story. I don't think I would like to see them all lovey-dovey the entire season. I want some conflict!

If I were Sarah, I'd melt

But yeah, I think they're perfect together ♥

Gossip Girl S04E02: Double Identity

Blair & Chuck breaking each other's heart, tearing each other apart

Today's episode didn't disappoint. This means I'm in love with you again, Gossip Girl. Episodes like this is what I live for even if an ideal GG episode for me would be one without Jenny Humphrey, without Vanessa Abrams and Serena with a hurt ego. So this episode was .1 short of being my ideal episode. Why can't Vanessa Abrams just kill herself.

Chuck Bass/Henry donning a walking stick? How apt. I've always likened him to DOMs (dirty old man). I know a lot of girls who like Chuck Bass because of his cockiness but I prefer the Chuck Bass in today's episode. He could be Chuck Bass and still act gentlemanly, right? Who said you have to be douche-y if you're filthy rich? Though I guess that is his appeal.

I feel for Blair. Just when she thinks she's ready to move on already, fate suddenly dangles Chuck right in front of her. Oh Blair, you must have done something very bad in your past life to deserve this. But you know what? I think I would still want that cos it means I would have all those adorable clothes. Materialistic, I know. Sorry, walang basagan ng trip.

Dear Blair and Chuck, ENOUGH already! Before, I couldn't imagine these two working up a chemistry but I was proved wrong. They're practically the only story angle worth following on GG. 

Blair: Changing your name doesn't change who you are. 
Chuck: It's a good start. A chance to live simply, earn people's respect. Maybe become a person someone could love.
Blair: Someone did love you... and you owe it to her and everyone else you're leaving behind not to run away, which is what you're doing. And I don't think that great man you're talking about wanting to be is a coward. I think he would face up to what he did.
Chuck: I destroyed the only thing I ever loved.
Blair: I don't love you anymore. But it takes even more than you to destroy Blair Waldorf. 
Chuck: Your world will be easier if I didn't come back.
Blair: That's true but it wouldn't be my world without you in it.

I die. Whyohwhy do these people torture themselves?!?

Vanessa and Dan really deserve each other. One's a douche and the other one's a hoe. Now I totally get it why Blair doesn't like those two- they're both ICKY.

Also, are barely-there brows the new shizz in fashion? Well, looks like I can join that bandwagon effortlessly. I just would have to skip the brow pencil and voila! If this really is happening trend, looks like Victoria Valerio aka Gretchen Barretto would be plucking a whole lot of hair out.

So grateful for torrents because had they not existed, I would still be waiting for forever to have access to these shows. Glee tomorrow but I'm not too excited about that one, let's see. Oh Tuesday, please be here already!

movie marathon mondays!

I have this goal to watch 100 movies in 2010 and so far I've only seen 52 movies which means 48 more movies to go. With only a little over 100 days before the year ends, I need to watch 48 movies. So I declare Mondays as movie marathon day to meet my target. Three movies today:

Movie #1: Bride Wars

 I've heard so many bad reviews over this film that didn't even bother seeing it when it first came out. Last week, my bro-in-law bought a copy and I'm in dire need of regular dose of chick flicks.

You know what, not bad actually. Or maybe I was expecting it to be so bad that I find it good. Whatever the case may be, I enjoyed this movie.

One thing about American movies- why is marriage a big deal when they're already living under the same roof, sharing a bed and are practically doing what married couples do? WHY? If it's just for the mere reason that they get to don poofy white dresses... sorry I don't get the point.

Movie #2: Julie & Julia

Another pleasant surprise for me. This DVD has been on my stash for MONTHS! Heard it's good but I'm not into cooking and all that domesticated goddess shizz that I passed on in this fun movie.

I love Meryl Streep in this one. I always see her in serious roles and this makes me see her in a new light and my gosh she's one good actress. And Amy Adams- this movie made me see her in a different way and not as that Tourette-ish princess from Enchanted.

If there's one thing I've learned from this movie, it it Moderation is key. Yes, do that one thing that is your source of joy but there's also this thing called too much. When it starts becoming an obsession it starts feeling like a chore, then there comes a point when we don't enjoy doing it anymore or we start feeling bad because it doesn't make us feel good or happy like it used to. And another thing- having idols and why it's better not meeting them at all. We usually put our idols on a pedestal and we have these ideals of how they're supposed to be and if we do meet them and realize they're NOT what we thought they were, then we're in for a major disappointment. Admiring from afar is advisable.

Movie #3: The Blind Side
The movie which won Sandra Bullock her Oscar, around the same time she found out her husband is cheating on her with a tattooed freak. Back then, I didn't watch it because I thought I don't want to watch a movie just because everyone else was watching. Plus, football and wowowee-ish sob stories don't really appeal to me. Or so I thought...

 Another pleasant surprise. So sorry for judging this movie even before I watched it. It definitely wasn't a sob story. Albeit, it was a story of success. Really heartwarming and reminded me of the bahay ampunan story I heard last Saturday. And this movie is based on a true story which makes it even better.

Maybe it really takes someone to believe in you for you to believe in yourself, too. Also, it helps that this someone has a kind heart. There are a lot of kids like Mike Oher but he's lucky he has someone like Leigh Ann Touhy who believed that he is capable of great things. This made me believe again in the goodness in people.

Just felt it was a bit Erin Brokovich-ish. Anyway, I love it just the same.

Are these movies really tearjerkers or I'm just emo these days? What's wrong with me? Argh. I hope new GG episode, How I Met Your Mother and Chuck season premieres tomorrow will cure me of my emo-itis.

45 movies to go...

counting my blessings

I was in a rut for the past few weeks and I'm happy to say that I'm out of it starting today. All it took was a decision. Good thing I decided to get out the rut and make things awesome. Dapat proactive tayo ;)

Thank you for

... Hungry Hungarian sandwiches
... Free tortilla and bread with butter para el descanso
... A new outfit for only P500
... Crispy lechon balat
... Mocha frap c/o AC
... Having my favorite Mr. See's lechon manok for dinner
... my parents ♥

Feeling appreciative of my parents more than ever and grateful that I have my parents as my parents. The back story- I have a classmate whose work has something to do with adoption. She was in a bahay ampunan sometime last week and there was this father who came in to leave his three kids- a 4-year old, a 2-year old and a 1-month old baby- and give them up for adoption. His wife died giving birth to their 1-month old baby and maybe he thinks he can't bring up this children all by himself so he left them there. Wala naman daw problema sa mga younger kids pero sa 4-year old na may muwang na, he already knows what their father is about to do. Habang nakakapit sa binti ng tatay, sabi ng bata: "Tay, wag mo akong iwan dito. Hindi ko na sasabihin pag nagugutom ako." Waaaah!!! Gusto kong umiyak! I was fighting my tears because I was in class. What a heartbreaking scenario. And I thought I had problems. My so problems are nothing compared to other people's. Grabe, kahit naalala ko lang naiiyak pa rin ako.

So thank You very very much, Lord, for all the blessings! I hope someone with a kind heart will adopt those kids.

no wise words gonna stop the bleeding

I wanted Friday to be awesome but was a little skeptical since I thought we're still in mercury retrograde. Things didn't happen as scheduled, internet connection at home was problematic and daily sales for the past few days still drab. Generally, it was a shitty day but today also has its highs-

♥ woke up to a beautiful, sunny Friday with seamless blue skies. 

beautiful friday morning

wonderful contrast of colors

♥ shaping my beloved ornamental plants, which I find very therapeutic (even if I'm sweating like a pig and I smelled like malathion big time)

♥ finally that happening, although it seems my timing's always off because whenever that always happens, I'm always looking shitty, not looking my best and this time to make matters worse- not smelling my best either

♥ camote cue for merienda

HAPPY THOUGHTS!!! I need you right now.

One of the highlights of my day is that happening but really I don't know what to make of it. I like it but then again it confirmed what I was afraid to find out. Maybe it is actually a blessing in disguise. A wake up call for me. So for the nth time, I will try to quit it.

I wish I knew how to quit you.

Brokeback Mountain

break it to him gently daw

What's keeping me sane in this shitty streak of mine is that I'm attributing all these bad stuff to the mercury retrograde. Imagine my disappointment when said mercury retrograde has ended last Sept 12. That means things are just shitty on their own. Boo! Starting NOW, I will wield the power of mind over matter. TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE... wait for it... LEGENDARY.

GG s04 e01: belles de jour

B, what are you doing? Cinderella did not google Prince Charming!

Yay season 4! Not that I'm that excited because Gossip Girl has lost its chutzpah. Promiscuity isn't the only thing that sells, people!

♥ Totally ignorant if these kids' lifestyle is probable in real life but I wish I also could afford to shuttle to and fro New York and Paris. Two of the most beautiful cities in the world and both are pedestrian cities. 

New York, I love you

Paris, je t'aime

Ahh, to be rich and fabulous! One day, you could be walking the streets of Paris, sitting at a Paris café while taking a sip from your cup and people-watching then reading a book in a bench in Central Park the next. Aside from Blair, another reason why I keep watching is the beautiful cityscape.

♥ I love Blair but sometimes she could be so daft. Well, I didn't see it coming either but my sister already already knew it. Maybe it's karma way of getting back at her. Though my sources tell me that this is not the last time we'll be hearing from our prince ;) 

 

I hope the next time she doesn't let go of this cutie. Blair should have not laid her cards on the table this early. I really like her and I really want her to have a happy ending. She is too afraid that people are like her- very suspicious of other people's motives- that she often gets caught in her own traps. So here's a lesson to us girls, bawal magsungit dahil baka milyonaryo pala siya.

♥ When Rufus Humphrey speaks, it seems as if he has been a hands-on father to his children. I mean, he's barely even there for his kids. No wonder Dan and Jenny turned out like that. All Rufus does is whine about his children to Lily. Clearly, these two really don't make a good pair because they just let their children loose in the city. He knows where to find Dan and if he's not picking up, why not pay him a visit, dumdum? And now he's asking Dan why he didn't come to him when Georgina first showed up? Obviously, he hasn't been much of a father to him.

♥ What's with Serena? Seriously, Skeezy Serena should be arrested for indecent exposure. And if she really is Blair's best friend, she wouldn't show up on their double date dressed like this:

hello there Serena's butt cheek

Skeezy Serena knows Blair is insecure of her so why does she go around looking like that. Oo naman, Blair's insecurity shouldn't stop Serena from being herself (which is a skank) but on occasions such as this aka Blair's date with a supposed royalty, she should play down her skankiness and give the limelight to her friend. Agaw-eksena lagi ang lola mo so I think she deserves this

Blair must have done something terrible in her past life to deserve Serena.

♥ I thought Dan's supposed to be smart? Whyohwhy? You have been duped by Georgina Sparks, not once, not twice but thrice! And he's also supposed to be street smart- why Dan? WHY? I miss first-season Dan.

♥ I know why Chuck would want to leave his old life- the people around him are toxic- but I'm not so sure what are his motives for doing so. Is he leaving his privileged life behind for real or he's just planning for the perfect comeback? Yet I still can't believe how nobody recognized Chuck Bass when he lays unconscious in the streets of New York. And what's more unbelievable was Gossip Girl missed this? Akala ko pa naman all-knowing siya. 

♥ If I were Blair, I'd prefer a guy who drives his own car than someone who gets chauffeured around. Having someone drive you around when you're a guy sounds so gay.

♥ The best for last- did you notice how skinny they all are? Do these people ever eat? Sell-out Vanessa seems to be getting tinier and tinier every season, a few more seasons and she might vanish into thin air. 

Anubah!!! I swear I'm only sticking to this series because j'adore Blair Waldorf and because of the breathtaking cityscapes. Double Identity better be awesome.

latest haul: body shop's deo dry deodorant

DOES NOT WORK. I want my 550 back.

When my sister told me that Body Shop has this very effective all-natural deo, I got myself one. And this has got to be one of my biggest regrets to date. OA. Anyway, dahil hindi ako laking-aircon at pawisin, I got to put this product to test right away. And as I've said before, it doesn't work. Not even in non-stressful, non-scorching hot days. No dry effect whatsoever. I'd rather stick to my Mitchum 89-peso deodorant that works. Even Milcu works better!

Like what Lenka said, I want my money back!

latest haul: elianto's turquoise

I bought three new nail polish last Tuesday- Elianto's Grape Wine and Turqouise and Face Shop's BL607. Even though I have a nail spa, I am not as adventurous when it comes to nail color. I'd rather buff it shiny or have a french manicure and in times when I feel daring, I put red nail polish on. But tumblr has changed all that- now I am more experimental when it comes to colors and it has also made me adore nail art. Now, I am trying to scour cute nail polish colors to add a little color to my mainly red, pink and brown selection.

I really want China Glaze's For Audrey or Orly's Gumdrop but Chine Glaze is not yet available locally and looks like Gumdrop still hasn't reached Philippine shores. So I settled for the next best thing- Elianto's Turquoise.

China Glaze For Audrey

My version. This isn't how it really looks like.

I guess it's because of the camera's flash. It actually looks like this:

Did a little tweaking to capture the real color. We don't want false advertisement here, ya? It says Turquoise on the bottle but it's actually more like teal.

Not exactly what I was looking for but I'm loving it just the same.

pick flick: letters to juliet

Letters to Juliet download became available only recently. Even if Armida raved about this a month ago, was able to download a copy only today and also because of Juno's recommendation. But before Juno's recommendation, I already wanted to get myself a copy when Armida said it's a must-see movie for hopeless romantics. Not exactly a hopeless romantic here, hopeless lang.

 
Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) plays a fact-checker who lives in New York. She goes on a pre-wedding honeymoon (?) with chef boyfriend Victor (Gael Garcia Bernal) who is very passionate with his craft. So they went to Italy and found themselves doing their own thing in what's supposed to be their time together. Sophie finds herself in a tourist sight- the supposed house of Juliet of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. She helped this group of women who claim to be "Juliet's secretaries" who wrote back to all those heartbroken girls who posted their love problems below Juliet's balcony, by replying to this one letter which was written 50 years ago. Claire (Vanessa Redgrave), the one who wrote that letter 50 years ago, comes to Italy to take another chance on love with the one that got away, Lorenzo Bartolini. But his grandon Charlie (Chris Egan) wasn't so happy about this...

Oo nga, perfect for hopeless romantics for this movie makes us believe in love. Letters to Juliet makes us believe in destiny, that the powers of the universe will conspire to make it happen. As with Sophie and Charlie's case, even if they started on the wrong foot, things still unfolded the way as it should be- which was to make them fall in love with each other. Sabi na nga ba, ang mga nagtatarayan sa umpisa, usually sila din nagkakatuluyan.

Italy is such a beautiful country! How I wish I could visit Italy someday... And also I'm envious of their cities. How I also wish Metro Manila would become a pedestrian city! I would love to go around the city thru walking. And that would be hitting two birds with one stone- 1) good for our health; and, 2) we're helping the environment by not taking our fuel-powered automobiles.

However if Claire's true love is really Lorenzo, does this mean that she didn't really love Charlie's grandfather? Just a thought. This reminds me of Bridges of Madison County though. Speaking of Bridges of Madison County, I want to watch that movie again.

Such a cheeseball if you ask me, but all love stories are supposed to be cheesy. The story's cheesy enough. Add Taylor Swift's Love Story playing in the background, we've got one helluva cheesefest. But I like it :) I like cheesy. Makes me all giddy inside. Aamagin nako dito sa sobrang daming keso.

pick flick: an education

Recommended by AB, I downloaded this movie right away but that was a month ago. I still have this long list of unwatched DVDs and downloaded movies and An Education is in queue. Last Friday while I was in Shangri-la to watch Resident Evil 4, Cine Europa was also happening. I suddenly missed my AB- we watched Alles es Liefde and I Demoni di San Pietroburgo last year. Checked out the line-up for this year and saw An Education and that made me more curious about the movie.

 An Education is about this smart, 16-year old girl who dreams of getting into Oxford. She then meets David, an man who is about twice her age. What do I think of relationships that have b-i-g age gaps? They say that age ain't nothing but a number but I think that it matters a lot, maybe when you're younger. Cos say you're 16, it sure is a big deal when you're dating a 26 year old guy. But when you're 40 and he's 50, the ten year age gap suddenly doesn't seem so big now, right? But when you're 16, I say stick with boys your age.

In the movie's case, I think that this kind of relationship robs Jenny off her innocence and I do believe that there are things that she should experience with boys her age. Not only David used his supposed maturity, but he also used his money to lure Jenny. He took her to places (ie. Paris) she could only dreamed of going and he took her to jazz clubs. She thought it was love but I think it was more of convenience masquerading as love.

Then again, we should consider that this was set in the 1960s when girl power wasn't the shizz. Like Jenny told her teacher, even if she gets into Oxford, she'd just end up a teacher and maybe being a teacher doesn't pay much and wouldn't allow her to enjoy all the luxuries that David has been giving her. So she threw away her dreams of a higher education and left school because she thought David was "it," David could provide her everything. Ergo, she doesn't need a fallback aka an education. But later on, Jenny finds out that in life there are no shortcuts.

If there is anything I learned from this movie, it is to rely on my own efforts and not depend on other people whether for my happily ever after or dream of being a bazillionaire. So there, looks like I would have to start working on my plans so I could be a landlady of leisure and not wait for someone who would sweep me off my feet and make me a shopping housewife.

juno's day out

After her short stint as ermitanya, finally nagparamdam ang Lola Juno. Her dad invited me, Christmas and Aissa to dinner last Saturday. I was willing to go but since the other two weren't going and I thought dinner was all the way in Las Piñas, I didn't go. Sayang because I found out dinner was in Macapagal. Anyway highway, met Juno yesterday in RP.

Lunch at Brooklyn Pizza. Meal was disappointing :( I was looking forward pa naman to the buffalo wings pero hindi masarap. Kainezzzz. Haha. Sinasapian ako ng jejemon! Jejeje :P Pero in fairness, masarap naman ang pasta. Kwento galore and boy have I got PLENTY of stories! Paano naman, ilang buwan din "namundok" ang kaibigan ko. Aagawan pa ako! Haha. Juno's coffee treat after all that aimless wandering. More kwentuhan. Had so much fun hanging out with Juno. I still can't bloody believe that it's been 10 years. To the T-party girls, dapat i-celebrate ang ating ten years of friendship!

Invited Juno to sleep over at my house so we could play with my nephew. Sana wag ka tamarin :)

gratitude list

Things haven't been all rosy as of late and everything's pretty effed up. I'm putting the blame on the mercury retrograde that's ending on the 26th pa of September. Parang ayoko nang ganito pa for two more weeks. So I will try to fend off BV by consciously reminding myself of the simple and finer things in life. Remember, this too shall pass.

1. New sheets.
   
2. Chelsea Handler hosting the VMAs. She's so funny I love her.
   
3. The VMAs airing in the Philippines just a few hours after it airs in US
4. Already halfway into El Zahir
5. Dinuguan ♥
6. a birthday card with $20 pa-birthday ;) from AB, via air mail. Snail mail is still the best.
   
7. Lunch, movie and merienda with my BFF
8. that bazaar slot
   
9. a clean-er room
10. family lunch outs
11. Max's Pork binagoongan
12. New season!!! Gossip Girl on the 13th, Chuck and How I Met Your Mother on the 20th and Glee on the 21st.
    

things i blame on the mercury retrograde

because things are a little shitty these days

1. SUCKY BIRTHDAY The day I was so excited for didn't turn out to be as awesome as I hoped it would be. Ayan kasi keeping my expectations up and my hopes high. Wala man lang akong birthday cake!
   
2. LOW SALES Tapos na ghost month, mababa pa rin ang sales. I need sales to pick up so bad, most especially that I am in dire need of funds right now. Dear sales, please pick up!
   
3. Pizza Hut not having stuffed crust pizza. Went to two Pizza Hut branches and both didn't have stuffed crust. Boo.
   
4. Pizza Hut's shitty service. Dahil ba Super Panalo promo lang kami? Haha. But still diba... because of this, I think it will be awhile before I step foot in there. I really want to boycott Pizza Hut because Philippine franchise is owned by Mar Roxas and family but because I so love their stuffed crust pizza, I (excruciatingly) patronize their product. But since their service is so sucky, I think there's no more reason to continue patronizing them.
   
5. Not making it to the doctor in time
   
6. Overactive hormones giving me blackheads and pimples galore
7. Nail spa drama and other business-related concerns that aren't exactly positive
8. a botched facial at Nisce =/
   
9. and many more!

Though I would have to say there were good things that happened within the period, such as:

1. getting that bazaar slot
   
2. new stash! :P

Shet, yan lang pala.
Hay, HAPPY THOUGHTS, where art thou?

pick flick: resident evil 4: afterlife

Choices were Despicable Me, Going the Distance and Resident Evil 4: Afterlife. I already saw Despicable Me. Armida saw Going the Distance. So I guess we're left with Resident Evil but then again original plan was watch Resident Evil. Apparently, my bff is a sucker for zombie movies and that fact I came to know about only recently even if we've been friends for 16 years.

1. Milla Jovovich still looks beautiful and svelte even in her 30s (psssh! life is not fair). This is the first ever Resident Evil and Jovovich movie I've seen. I didn't expect much so there wasn't much room for disappointment. I enjoyed it, especially with its Matrix-esque effects. I was surprised A didn't like it that much. Then again, I don't have anything to compare it with not having seen the first three Resident Evil movies.
2. Having been traumatized by Silent Hill, I have aversion towards movies based on video games. Maybe it really is better to not have expectations because I went in thinking it could be another lame zombie movie that I would so hit my head had I paid money for it (watched it for free! c/o A's handy-dandy pass). But you know what, I totally loved the suspense- "SA LIKOD!!!" Haha. I literally jumped off my seat! Though there wasn't much zombie action. Night of the Living Dead pa din.
3. How come everyone suddenly knows kung fu or some other form of martial art? So now I know that when this happens I'd die for sure because I don't know any kung fu or karate. The zombies will surely eat my brains! Those will be one of those days when I wish I were born as a lawnmower. Ha!
   
4. This is survival of the fittest, y'all! Notice how only the beautiful people made it alive??? Beautiful and knows kung fu.
   
5. Though this movie is science fiction, I think it is possible. Humans play God. Yes, we want to find ways to improve quality of life and the shizz but we have to have limitations. I feel human cloning is just too much though I am clueless if this is already possible. If we play God, we change the natural order of things and we destroy the existing balance. I just think this could happen in the future.
   
6. We could all deduce from the movie's ending that there would be a fifth installment and I'm so going to watch. Will borrow Resident Evil 1 to 3 from A.
   

Sleepy sleepy. Toodles ☺

pick flick: despicable me

Going to keep this short and sweet because I have a splitting headache.

Despicable Me is a nice and heartwarming movie. I did expect a little from this movie because people raved about it in reviews but not so much as to give me super high expectations.

Gru wants to be the best villain ever by stealing the moon and he does this with the help (unknown to them, though) of three orphan girls. At first, he just wants to use them but eventually he gets attached to them and starts acting like a dad to them. Really, really heartwarming. We find out that Gru's heart is in the right place and he only does this mean things to win the approval of his mother who seems to be unfazed by his heists.

Vector, the other villain, reminds me of Bo Sanchez. Yes, him, the preacher in blue jeans. Haha. Maybe it's the glasses. And he's such a geek! "Victor is my geeky name. I am Vector!" Umm, still geeky. Ha.

The kids are adorable I want to keep them in my pocket. And those little yellow creatures... I wanna keep them, too.

Gah! This movie is just oozing with kyootness! Yes, that's beyond cute because I just spelled it kyoot :P It's cuter than cute.

Done. I'm afraid I'm not making any sense anymore. Head aches.

pick flick: timer

If a clock could count down to the moment you meet your soul mate, would you want to know?

See, this is a dilemma actually. If you already know, where's the fun in that? But then again, I think I would also like the feeling of certainty.

• If a device would tell you when exactly you would meet the one person you're destined to be with, would you get it? With NOT KNOWING, there's always the element of surprise which I think makes life exciting. With KNOWING, you will know beforehand whether there's someone out there for you (provided he has gotten himself a timer, too) and I always like that feeling of certainty. But the element of surprise is tempting. And since not everyone in the movie has a timer, what if the one you're destined to be with doesn't have one yet? And what if he never gets one? Do you take the chance or do you patiently wait?

• Oooh, Gossip Girl connection! Uncle Jack is Dan and cute, younger boy Mikey is Aaron Rose. Uncle Jack/Dan is sooo much handsome when he's kind and not manyak-ish and Mikey/Aaron is so adorable playing non-stuck up characters.
  

Really like 'em scruffy, eh?

• Not only does the timer gives you your "one true love," but it also spares you from heartaches and heartbreaks from people who aren't "the one." But then again, gone also are the little joys brought about by crushes and secret loves, gone are those butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling you get every time the object of your affection throws you a glance. And what do you do during that period when you haven't met him/her yet? Can't you love another in the meantime?

blank timer. yikes.

Sabi ko na nga ba I should've blogged about this movie right after I saw it because all of the other comments and stuff that came into mind are all gone by now. Anyway, this movie was such a pleasant surprise. Really didn't expect much from it. I'm happy I bought this because this pretty much is what I'm sort of preoccupied with as of late. Well, that and how to make bazillions of money. If such technology would be invented, I think I'd get one just because I would like to know whether or not I am destined to be in a relationship or in marital bliss or whatever. I. JUST. WANT. TO. KNOW. Because if I wasn't meant to have my own family, then there's no need to save up. I'll just use them all up and give myself one helluva freakintastic life!

Is it just me, or does this party all of a sudden suck?

{source}

What a sucky birhday that was. This year, anticipation wasn't half the fun. It was ALL the fun there was. Aside from the birthday greets that made my day, there was nothing else that made my birthday feel a little extra special. Thanks to two people who rained on my parade. Really, I would have enjoyed more had I spent it alone.

And now my birthday's done. Let's start our Christmas countdown! 109 days until Christmas 2010.

Today, I'm going to make it right. A day late but as they say, better late than never. Going to Mega to do some errands then I will watch Despicable Me, treat myself to lunch and then find myself a birthday gift ♥ So, ta-ta for now!

broadway mode

I'm referring to the shushal Broadway, home of great musicals and cheverloo, not the Broadway, set of Eat Bulaga. I forgot how I got into this mode- maybe because of my Glee marathon. I ♥ Idina Menzel's voice... hope one day I'll wake up and find out I can birit it like her.


BROADWAY MODE + EMO = (UNEXPECTED SONG) + (I KNOW HIM SO WELL). Yes, this is nosebleed to the max!

 UNEXPECTED SONG

I remember hearing this song for the first time and it reminded me of cats shrieking- ang ingay! AB was playing Bernadette Peters' version on youtube over and over at natutuliling na tenga ko sa ingay. I just learned to appreciate this song this one night when AB brought me to a PETA event and someone sang this song, beautifully. Searched for it and here it is, Idina Menzel's version. Plus, lyrics are ishweet ;)

I have never felt like this For once I'm lost for words
Your smile has really thrown me
This is not like me at all I never thought I'd know
The kind of love you've shown me
Now, no matter where I am No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
That only we are hearing
I don't know what is going on Can't work it out at all
Whatever made you choose me
I just can't believe my eyes You look at me as though
You couldn't bear to lose me

I KNOW HIM SO WELL

 

I'm familiar with this song cos I used to sing it as a kid or my sisters used to sing it back then when minus one and multiplex was still the shizz! Got re-acquainted with the song just yesterday and found out it was from a Broadway musical as well. Version na ni Whitney Houston ang naabutan ko haha.

Nothing is so good it lasts eternally
Perfect situations must go wrong
But this has never yet prevented me,
Wanting far too much for far too long,
Wasn't it good? Wasn't he fine?
Isn't it madness
He can't be mine?
But in the end
He needs a little bit more than me,
More security
He needs his fantasy and freedom,
I know him so well
No-one in your life is with you constantly
No-one is completely on your side
And though I'd move my world to be with him,
Still the gap between us is too wide
Looking back
I could have played it differently,
Learned about the man before I fell
But I was ever so much younger then
Now at least I know I know him well
Wasn't it good? Wasn't he fine?
Isn't it madness
He can't be mine?
Didn't I know?
How it would go,
If I knew from the start,
Why am I falling apart?
 

Have an addition to my 30 Things to do before 30- watch a Broadway musical in Broadway! 

dear sunday, i miss you!

i wanna cry!

a-ber, a-ber, a -ber

 
First day of the first -ber month- it's September, y'all! My favorite month, my birth month. And we all know once it gets to the -ber months, Christmas is just around the corner ;) I don't want to get all premature and start counting down the days 'til the Christmas holidays... first up, mi cumpleaño. But really, the nearer the date gets, the less excited I am. Oh well. I want balloons and a birthday cake :l