RT 2012 book 24: the list

This is my 24th book for the year, sooooo

to me for FINALLY meeting my goal for the first time after a few years of trying to finish 2 books per month. I'm really upping the goal next year- 50 books. Bring it on!

So anyway, my 24th book is Siobhan Vivian's The List. Another book in the YA category.

Every year, a list containing the prettiest and the ugliest of every batch mysteriously appears in the halls of Mount Washington High. For a week before the much anticipated homecoming dance, the book follows each character that was in the list. According to the book,  EVERYONE IS INSECURE about something. Haha. Just when you thought that the pretty girls are so sure of themselves, this book shows you that actually, they're too caught up and worried about living up to the expectations of being pretty. It also shows that everyone cares about what other people think (even when they say they don't care what other people think)- most especially in high school.

It was interesting enough but it fell short of my expectations. I felt it ended abruptly, like it didn't really have a legit ending.

happy thanksgiving, y'all

It's actually Friday now and technically, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in the Philippines but we still can join in on the fun, ya?

I have a lot to be grateful for and I mean A LOT. This year has just been very good to me so who cares if the world is ending next month. Just kidding. I reckon I've been watching too many doomsday prophecies and Mayan apocalypse theory on History Channel. Anyway, so without further ado~

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. My family. Seriously, I have the best family in the whole wide world. Everything's not perfect and we've had our ups and downs but man, I have the most supportive family. Okay I now get it that my mommy just wants to teach me a lesson or two (actually, more) in business and not just dissing me and my efforts. Everybody has just been so helpful and supportive and I know they're proud of me even if I've achieved only this much. I feel so loved ♥
2. My nephews. They're quite a handful now and super bratty, might I add, but they're ADORABLE. Nothing picks me up from a bad day better than just seeing them, playing with them. Even just the pitter-patter of their small feet on the marble floor brings a smile to my face. Another boy will be added to the brood of nephews soon. Excited ☺
3. Business has been good. The nail spa has been doing better, relative to last year's performance. It still won't support me and my propensity to splurge on notebooks, wrapping papers and expensive scrapbook paper, but it's enough to pay for me language courses and lakwatsas. And my clients, I love them for sticking with me even if our little spa's a little worn out already. I promise to spiffy it up next year- new chairs, new towels, etc.
4. It's been raining projects! Well, it's more of just a drizzle but still, this year has been one project after another. Orders keep on coming and I've been getting positive feedback. Nothing feels more fulfilling than people telling you you have awesome stuff. My favorite bazaar's next week and I can't wait to meet my fans again. #feeling
5. That Singapore trip with my friends. That was really fun. I wish we could do that again someday. In Paris, perhaps? #asa #librelangmangarap #malaymo
6. My friends. They're the best. I really love the fact that my friendships are low maintenance. We don't need to call or text each other everyday and meeting up usually happens less than ten times a year. I love it that they're the same old people that I loved ten twelve, seventeen years ago. Of course, there were others that fell by the wayside but it doesn't hurt to do a little weeding once in a while, right? And on that note, I miss my friends. 
7. My new gadget- the Kindle from AB. I ♥ it to bits. Even if I haven't been using it as often as I want to just yet. You'll have your time, dear Kindle. I'm just too busy now, earning money so I could buy you a pretty case that costs half your price [ridiculous, no]. I've been filling it up with loads of books and honestly, I'm already overwhelmed with all of the books I think I have to read. I'm stepping it up next year, a goal of 50 books. #personalchallenge

Gahd. I swear I have a lot lot more to be thankful for. It's just I'm pressed for time and I really need to move my ass off this chair right now. Again, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

small treats

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a mi hermana...

¡Muchisimas gracias!

AB sent a package via her friend. I totally had no idea that, aside from mommy's vitamins, the package also contains my birthday gift. And guess what my gift is~

cute card that came with my gift

iz a Kindle! Christmas came early for me, ho ho ho! Well, it was a birthday gift but it's such a lovely lovely surprise that I consider it not only a birthday but also a Christmas-Easter-Valentine's gift. Now I can read anywhere and lug it everywhere because it practically weighs nothing. I really thought she got me a hair dryer, but this is SO MUCH BETTER.

I feel so spoiled. Not that it's a bad thing. I'm very, very thankful to AB for giving me such a fabulous (and useful) gift. It's so pretty ♥ I think I'm in love na. Haha.

Thank you, AB! ♥

RT 2012 book 23: rock chick

Book 23. Just one book shy from reaching my goal. I know it's not much but still, 24 books in one year is a huge deal for me. I have Jessica Darling and Marcus Flutie to thank because out of the 23 books read, 5 of those are theirs. And now I have another book series in my possession. Bwhahaha!

The existence of this book came in to my attention while quickly scanning through friends' updates on Facebook. Noticed that this one girl from my high school has a Goodreads account and on her book challenge, she has a goal of 120 books. 120 BOOKS! Nahiya naman yung goal ko ng unti. Haha. So anyway, she was raving about this Rock Chick series by Kristen Ashley, so I thought I'd check it out. And check it out, I did. Now, I'm finished with Book 1. 

Indy Savage has been in love with Lee Nightingale ever since she was 5 years when he held her hand during her mom's funeral. In her teenage years, she's been practically throwing herself at Lee but he seems to be deflecting her actions, so Indy thought maybe he's really not that into her. Plus, Lee told her that he only sees her as a little sister. 

Fast forward to a few years later. Indy gets herself into this mess and her best friend and Lee's younger sister, Ally, orchestrates and sets her up with Lee. And this, my friends, is the beginning of one action-packed (and I mean action in two ways: action such as those involving guns and car chases; and action involving a bed [or a shower or a couch]). 

So what do I think about Rock Chick?

• Of course, I enjoyed it. I wouldn't breeze through a book had I found it boring. It was an easy read and of course benta sa akin ang mga kilig moments. What happened to Indy- when Lee wanted her all along- didn't we all want that to happen to all of us with the objects of our obsession? Haha. Well, mine was Darren Hayes when I was in high school and since that he is indeed gay and is married to a man, I reckon there is zero probability that would happen to me.
• Feeling ko lang Lee supposed to be this good-looking macho man (with abs, mind you) but after watching one episode of Dog the Bounty Hunter, I keep associating Lee with Dog. So feeling ko hindi naman siya ganun ka-hot. 

And to make matters worse, Dog's wife is also in the series so I keep associating Indy with the wife (the wife, Beth, is really pretty though imho).

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Diba???  And to think I only watched one episode of Dog the Bounty Hunter. ONE! Dog ruined Rock Chick for me

• While reading the book, there were times when I thought that they're just going round in circles- it's like 50 Shades of Grey all over again. Although this is much better than 50 Shades. Lee tells Indy not to do anything (ie. leave the house) because it's dangerous (ie. she has been kidnapped before) but she leaves anyway just because she thinks she's not the type who does what she's told. So, she'd rather be shot at? Diba??? Sometimes it's so stupid na. 

But yeah, it was a fun read. Yun lang nga, there were times when I'd get tired of the same situation happening over and over. I think it's interesting enough to continue reading the other books in the series, which aren't really about the same lead characters. Book 2 (Rock Chick Rescue) is about Lee's best friend, Eddie. Soon.

RT 2012 book 22: the summer i turned pretty

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My files are taking forever to attach so I'm going to squeeze in one post.

After listening to Twilight on audio books, I swore to never "read" another book via audio books unless it was the author herself/himself who was doing the reading. So anyway, Twilight was already a distant memory so I gave audiobooks another try- with The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han.

Okay. It was an okay read, very easy to get into the flow of the story even if I was busy with other things. This is just what I need right now, an easy read, something to keep me entertained while working. The TV keeps me distracted so audiobooks are perfect. That way, I was hitting two birds (hmm.. three, even!) with one stone: 1) reading a book, 2) working, and 3) getting closer to reaching my 2012 Reading Challenge. Huzzah!

Belly is your literal na mahaba ang hair bida. (Micay, isdatchu?) And humble pa siya sa lagay na 'yan because apparently, she is not aware of how beautiful she is. Echoserang palaka. Belly has been spending her summers with her mother's best friend's family since time immemorial. For Belly, summers are the highlights of her years since she'll be close to her long-time crush, Conrad. Her mom's BFF, Suzanne, has two sons- Conrad and Jeremiah. Conrad is the object of her affection. Jeremiah is the best friend. Belly's the object of Jeremiah's affection. Yes, it is complicated. But exciting ;)

But this summer's different. Aside from other issues our teenage protagonists are dealing with such as divorce, break-ups and cancer- Belly also became pretty. Shallow, no? [this reminds me of a Toni Gonzaga commercial- a slimming tea- wherein she enumerates what she likes about her life which includes being an actress, a singer BUT MOST ALL, she likes being sexy. As if being sexy is the end-all and be-all of her existence. Ang stupid lang]  Personally, I think the author should have come up with a less superficial title. Okay, this summer Belly became pretty so Conrad finally noticed her. I just find it superficial kasi. Maybe I could write a book with a title The Summer I Grew Boobs or The Summer My Braces Came Off with a protagonist who's harboring a long-time crush on this boy but has never looked at her in that way but during that summer when she had boobs/her braces came off, this boy finally noticed her. Anubah. Anyway, I just want Belly to end up with Jeremiah (but then again this is just the first part of a trilogy) because he already liked her even before she "became pretty."

I enjoyed listening to it because I LIVE FOR KILIG. Every time Belly would elicit attention from Conrad, didn't we, too, wish the same would happen to us. Omigaaaahd, am I too old for stories like this? Anyhoo, I'm on Team Jeremiah. Conrad has got to show us his redeeming qualities to get me on his team.

In fernez, walang deflowering na naganap dito. Haha. Ha.

oh d-d-d-dear

In panic mode already.

I have a bazaar this coming Sunday and I don't have labels yet. And I really thought I started early na this year, hindi pa rin.

So I'm now super duper tired and I'm still flip-flopping whether to get this new printer (which, by the way, is more expensive than my suki. in case you didn't know, my suki's printing machine broke down when their building caught fire). Hope this is a blessing in disguise. So anyhoo, since I'm exhausted and I haven't had a decent shut eye and people around me are being super slow and emotera, I'm SUPER CRANKY today. All I'm asking for is a little initiative. Turns out common sense is not so common after all. ARGH.

{cranky pants}

Do not cross me. 

You have been warned.