2013 Book Challenge 25/35: Attempting Elizabeth

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July's book theme is a tribute to Mr. Darcy's creator, Jane Austen. I have around three to four Austen-inspired books in my Kindle and there's no better time than now, the month of her death anniversary. First book in line is Jessica Grey's Attempting Elizabeth.

Kelsey Edmundson is a self-confessed geek and a Janeite. Her favorite novel is Pride & Prejudice and it was a surprise when she woke up one day and found herself inside the pages of her favorite novel. She shuttles back between the present and Regency England, jumping from one character to another. She finally enjoys being inside her favorite novel when she successfully jumps into Lizzie Bennett's character then meets Mr. Darcy "for real."

So here it goes, my two cents worth regarding the book:

• Not that I do not enjoy fantasy novels because I loved Harry Potter but I somehow do not get how Kelsey gets inside the novel. At the beginning, I can somehow fathom how such could happen (ie. it is just a dream), but when Mark suddenly gets pulled inside the novel, that I feel is unbelievable. If both of them were dreaming during those times, is it even possible that their dreams are in sync? And I don't know if I just forgot how but how did it happen that they were together when they woke up? You can't also say that the time-traveled because this is fiction. So, someone please enlighten me.
• I am a big fan of bantering between two characters who we know have so much chemistry together. Blair and Dan. Blair and Chuck. Zoe and Wade. Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. And a numerous other fictitious characters I have read, including Kelsey and Mark Barnes. 
• It is a truth universally acknowledged that Fitzwilliam Darcy, also known as Mr. Darcy, does not exist in real life. Albeit the impossibility of his existence, I have included him in my list of ideal boyfriends (Ha!) which also includes Marcus Flutie and Chuck Bartowski. Even if Mark Barnes seemed like a candidate for the list, I reckon I find him a bit lacking. Feeling ko, no? Well, sige he's got a rockin' body, he's smart and a gentleman, but I guess for me there's still something missing. Maybe he was portrayed as perfect and without flaws. Marcus Flutie was once a drug addict. Chuck was expelled from Stanford. Even Mr. Darcy was a pompous ass. Mark Barnes needed a flaw, IMHO. 

Still worth reading especially if you're into all this Janeite shizz. We all want our own, personal Mr. Darcy's, don't we? 

2013 Book Challenge 24/35: The Truth About Forever

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It's amazing how time flies so quickly, no? I didn't know that I've been doing this book challenge since 2011. I remember the first Sarah Dessen book I read was Along for the Ride last 2011. I got a hardbound copy at a National Book Store sale for only P99. However, I think I didn't enjoy the book as much as I expected. Maybe I just didn't understand Auden that much. But fast forward to  early 2013 and a game of draw lots on which book to read next, I read my second Dessen novel- Lock & Key- which I enjoyed so much. So The Truth About Forever is my third Dessen book, recommended by a high school batchmate.

I was disappointed with my read prior to this one so I already kept my expectations low even if it was highly recommended by a friend. The beginning was promising but as I now know better than to be misled by a good start, I still kept my expectations at a minimum.

And the verdict: I LOVED IT!

So why exactly? Let me count the ways.

1. I like Macy. She's not too emo. Inspite of what the girl has gone through recently, we don't find her sulking in a corner. She just goes on with her life albeit it seems, with blind faith. Siguro to others this is not advisable, that one has to attack the problem head-on, but with Macy, I think she has to undergo a process before she heals completely which I think what happened in the book. It may seem that she was clingy with Jason but after her ordeal, Jason served as his anchor. It's just I think that her actions were reasonable.
2. Wes. I think I sort of like the bad boy facade when it comes to fictional leading men. I say facade because I don't want them to be real bad boys. I want the hard exterior type but a real softie inside. Haha! And I really hate brooding boys which Wes is absolutely not. After Marcus Flutie, Wes is one of my favorite fictional boyfriends ☺
3. Of course, the kilig moments! The kilig parts were a little subtle- there were no declarations of love or outright landian moments. What got me most was that almost everyone knew what Wes and Macy were feeling about each other except themselves. Or, except Macy. And I understand where she's coming from because she just doesn't want to be assuming. And do you remember that part during one of their Truth or Dare games when Macy asked Wes what would he do, if he could do anything, to which he declined to answer and I know why!!! Ack. I die. 

So tatlo lang pala siya, haha! Oh well, I'm never really good with these book and movie reviews. But the downside is that according to the one who recommended the book, this is the best one from Sarah Dessen she has read which means that the other books from the author that I haven't read yet are just so-so. Maybe I should continue keeping my expectations low.

YEE-HAW!

Bazaar season is almost here and so I am, again, frantically looking for printing supplier aka magpri-print ng labels ko. Two years ago, I had a serendipitous find- a printer who is just 10 minutes away from us and also offers lamination. However, last September I had been informed that their laser printer broke down; therefore, they cannot service my needs. I have been texting them ever since, asking if they're accepting printing orders again and they would tell me that their unit is still broken and they would advise me when. Siguro a few months ago, I sent them a message but this time, no one replied to my query. I must have texted them several times, all of those instances I didn't receive any reply. I assumed na closed na sila. But just last week I tried again and called their landline and inquired about their digital printing. Apparently, they are still in operation and they're accepting orders already but they have a minimum quantity, which they didn't require of me previously. HA! You know, I would have understood if they cannot accommodate me anymore since they now require a minimum quantity. They should have just informed me. Napakasnob. Leche, si Marcel ka nga!

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Lamination lang naman talaga habol ko sa inyo. Tse!

So I saw another printer near my sister's house but they only use a water-based ink printer which smudges when it comes in contact with water. Plus, it's not the same resolution as the ones printed from laser printers.

I went back to my ol' trusty printer. Inquired about their sticker lamination and turns out they now have that but I'd have to pay an additional P150 and that's just for lamination. Mahal na masyado.

So I just decided to buy my own laminating machine. I still don't know what machine's used for laminating stickers so I frantically searched the internet (Thanks, Sulit!) and my prayer has been answered ☺ I now have my own laminating machine

Yes, I'm in ♥ with my new gadget! My definition of gadget is different. Kung ang iba may iPhone, iPad, at anu-ano pang i-i, ako I take pride over my paper cutter, punchers and now, my own laminating machine- puedeng hot, puedeng cold, O ha! I'm such a geek, haha.

Actually dapat pala ako magpasalamat kay "Marcel" dahil kung hindi sa kanya, I wouldn't have been this motivated to find my own machine. Everything happens for a reason, I guess.

2013 Book Challenge 23/35: Stay

It's sad that I have seemed to slowed down on my readings. I don't know if it's because of my choice of books or I'm just slacking off. Maybe, both. Mas malaking factor ang choice of book, imo.

As with the case with Stay (Deb Caletti).  Even at the start of the story, I was already bored. Well, I tend to stick it out with books because I have encountered books that were excruciatingly slow and boring at the start but the ending was so well worth it (ie. The Waiting by Ha Jin). That's why I stuck it out with Stay but sadly, there was nothing there for me in the end. Caletti even had a passage in the book about this kind of books~

I tried to read that book again before I went to sleep. I didn't like that book, but I kept going for all the reasons a person hangs in with something that isn't good-- you feel bad about not giving it a chance, you've already come too far to give up now, you believe it's going to get better.

She knows how I feel about her book. As if it would matter to her.

Why didn't I like it?

Well, I really don't like crazy/beautiful-ish love stories, especially with people this young. Seriously, I just don't get young, passionate love. Kids, masyadong maaga para mag-seryoso sa lovelife. But I guess I'm no expert on the topic. If you listen to me, you'll end up like me. Hala. So sige landi na lang nang maaga. Hahaha! Anyway, ayun nga I feel that it's too early to get into deep a relationship during one's teenage years.

I have three words for Clara: Ginusto mo 'yan. She wanted him NOW. She wanted to do things NOW. Not only girls become heavily invested in relationships when they give their all, I guess it could happen to guys, too. Well, Christian is already troubled to begin with but you know what I mean (I guess you don't, haha). It's just that there were already signs that the boy is a little bit imba so she should've gotten out while she can. Easier said than done, I know, easier said than done.

But I really have this nagging suspicion na malandi talaga tong si Clara na 'to. So after all this Christian scare, she and her father temporarily live in this ocean town to get away from the boy. So what did Clara do? She finds another boy she thinks she likes in that way and makes the moves on him in hyperspeed. May kanta si Gary V para sa kanya- 'Di Na Natuto. After all she has gone through, she could've been at least more cautious, done things one step at a time. But no, sunggab agad ang lola mo. So now you get what I mean when I say she brought it upon herself? No? Oh well.

It was an okay read but I don't see myself picking up another book by the author sometime soon. I'm so sad that I am not reading books with the same pizzazz as before. I had planned on dedicating this month of July on Jane Austen-inspired reads (because Austen's death anniversary falls on this month) and it's already almost mid-month and I haven't started on it yet. I am currently reading Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever (which is actually good. Inuna ko lang Stay because if I don't get my arse on that book, I may not finish it at all) and will start with my theme after that.

"Butter. You know, Pea, I love butter. I really do

love it. My heart even swells a little when I think of it."

Recreation Therapy: Four Sisters & a Wedding

Wow, it's been a while since I last wrote a movie entry. I noticed that I dedicated this year mostly on books and TV series. I have been introduced to more amazing TV shows (ie. Elementary) and re-introduced to Korean dramas, so that took up most of my time. Aside from reading and watching TV shows, I have been more active than usual with my business and the "R&D" aspect of it. In fernez, may life na ako. Haha!

So I took my "EA" (naks!) on a movie date. It was her 18th birthday last May and since May was a very busy month for us (AB's homecoming, Daddy's 70th birthday), we weren't able to celebrate her birthday. Took her to Glorietta to watch Four Sisters and a Wedding.

It was actually a choice between this and the new Marian Rivera movie. I thought she would choose the latter, her being a Marian fan. I am fine with whatever she chooses.

Although we were 15 minutes late, I think we didn't miss anything. I think we missed the flashback scene and I'm perfectly okay with it because I hate flashback scenes- hindi lahat ng teleserye at pelikula ay dapat magsimula sa pagkabata, no? Anyway, I liked the movie. I guess everyone who has siblings would be able to relate to it. I hate tearjerker movies cos I hate crying in the cinemas. I mean, I couldn't go all-out hagulgol, diba? And I was caught off-guard. I knew we were watching a comedy film. I should've suspected it already. Family-themed movies usually make one cry cos it's too close to home. In the middle of the movie, the EA looked at me intently and said, "Ate, umiiyak ka rin?" Haha. Huli.

So even if my head hurt from controlled crying I did, I did enjoy this one. The headache's worth it.

Just a few comments about the movie:

1. Hindi naman ganun ka-"chararat" si Angeline Quinto, ah? Lalo na if the description came from Toni Gonzaga's character. Coming form Bea, mas acceptable pa.
2. Since we weren't able to watch it right from the start, bakla ba si Frodo? Na-confuse talaga ako.
3. Hindi naman masyadong halata na struggling sila. They live in a big house, for crying out loud. We're seven in the family and our house is nowhere near theirs. 

That's it, pansit ☺

GHOST MONTH. WELL, ALMOST. WHICH IS A GOOD THING, RIGHT?

I'm not sure if this affects all business now or just mine. I hope it affects ALL. Damay-damay na. I hope this is just for now and hopefully business will pick up soon, like tomorrow soon ☺ Please! Pretty please with cheese on top ☺☺☺

On other news, I am going to supply for another business. Huzzah! Well, she's going to try it out first, see how it will pan out. I hope it'll be a hit para may continuous client ako. And oh, she's also ordering her company Christmas giveaways from me! Thank You!!! Although nothing's final yet because there's no deposit yet whatsoever BUT I am claiming this already. Really, thank YOU ☺

And on other good news... I dunno if I have ever mentioned here that I sort of dabbled into investing in stocks. AD and I each opened an account with COL Financial last month. I bought BDO stocks, well it was only ten shares but hey it's a start. So anyway, today I got this in my email:

HUZZAH! It's only Php15 but it's still 15 pesos in a month! Multiply that by 6 months (the remainder of the year) and I'll have Php90. Hindi ko yan kikitain sa bank interest. Yay me! Gujab ☺

Happy Sunday, everyone! Sana madami benta namin bukas ♥

DREAMS ON HOLD

I cringe when people tell me I'm masipag because I do not feel masipag AT ALL. I tend to procrastinate every friggin' time but I have an explanation for that- I work better under pressure. But you know, I really really wish I could be more industrious, more proactive and more productive everyday. I would never admit this to my parents and sisters, dito lang, that I rely too much on them. Some projects are on my own merits but I tend to always need their help. Yun nga, I wish I could be more proactive and not wait for things to fall on my lap. Juan Tamad ba lang ang peg. Not funny, IMHO.

So anyway, the weather this morning was verrry conducive to petiks mode. I was super tempted to just lie on my bed and finish the book which I am reading. Imagine, ang sarap ng ihip ng hangin at malamig kahit walang electric fan...

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this was my mood this morning

What got me out of bed was an early morning phone call from my sister. Buti na lang. I have A LOT of things I need to accomplish and it seems that I have my dreams on hold which is due to my fault din naman. Parang active lang ako once a year which is during the Christmas season. I need to do something para the whole year round na ang business at busy-ness.

WISH ME LUCK!!!
(na sipagin na ako. hihi. huhuhu...)

PS. UPDATE!! Note to self:

SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS

You know I already this topic in mind when I logged in to the system but now I can't remember what it is. So instead, I am blogging about my most recent product hoard ☺

pardon the crappy image. i don't have patience anymore
to make it more visually palatable. whatevs.

Actually, this was last month's product hoard pa: Hair Treats "Tsubaki" hair treatment, Maxi-peel Exfoliant Scrub, Cyleina Organic Carrot Soap and Snoe Outzit Acne Soap.

The 'Tsubaki' hair treatment I used to substitute for a conditioner because it is cheaper than a conditioner and it had me at tsubaki. I once bought this Japanese Tsubaki shampoo online before and from what I remember it had satisfactory results. What I didn't like from it was it made my hair oily at the end of the day, plus the fact that it is very expensive (700 per 220ml). But these days that my tresses need a little taming, I think I need a little tsubaki action. Okay naman siya. I like the minty feel on my scalp and my hair does feel soft afterwards. Buhaghag pa rin nga lang.

The discolored patch under my mouth has resurfaced AGAIN which explains the three products for facial care. AC bought Maxi-peel facial scrub before and I kinda liked it so I bought another one. I use it alternately with the St. Ives Green Tea Scrub (ang tagal maubos! Mas type ko pa rin ang Apricot Scrub). I haven't tried the carrot soap yet because I used the Outzit soap first. I have tried several Snoe products before and I wasn't happy with them so I was a little skeptical about buying another soap from them, but I was DESPERATE and would try anything to cure the worsening fate of my skin. So for 200 bucks, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best that this one will work its magic. So it's been a month already and I'm still using the soap and I'm very happy with the results ☺ Tiis lang kasi you have to leave it on your face for two minutes and when it's sitting on your face for that long, it starts to sting like crazy! But man, I love that soap and I recommend it to those with pimple problems.

Here's an update on the wonder cream I was raving about four months ago. Turns out it not-so-wonderful pala. Since the literature was in Chinese, I didn't understand a thing. It doesn't have lead or mercury but it should not be used on mucous membranes and it is where I apply it on! ¡Qué horror! So instead of lightening the area (which it did during the first few days I was using it), it burned the area and left it even darker. Frakkit.

So there goes another round of trial and error with myself as the guinea pig. Anyway... I have new product stashes from MM and AB.

These are from AB

again, pardon the crappy image. i did photoshop this a bit
but to no avail. still is crappy.

I love ALL but I bet you can guess what's my favorite... The Milani brow kit. The Benetint cheek tint is a close second although I don't know why it costs so much. Pero in fernez, hindi ako pinipimple. Apir.

And these are from MM

My favorite from this stash is the Garnier Roll-on for dark under eye circles. AC and I used it as a concealer for MM's wedding and effective siya. A close second is the Sephora Super-lift Eye Contour which I always forget to apply before going to sleep. Napansin ko nga puro eye product. Naisip ko, ganun na ba ako ka-haggard tingnan? Haha.

While in Roxas, I bought another product to try- Skinmate Shark Oil. I heard over the radio that it can treat sunburn on the face so I thought I needed to try it. So try it, I did. Verdict: Laos. The discoloration got darker and more noticeable.

So I finally remember what it is I originally thought of blogging about- my sorry life. Ha. Emo much? Well, I had my annual physical exam last week and I got the results today. I was worried about my blood sugar, most of all. Creatinine and lipid test aren't included. Buti na lang I got the doctor recommend that those tests be included also. Findings: I have fatty liver. The Chinese doctor already told me that but Western medicine confirming it is tragic. I guess I'd have to say goodbye to cheese, chocolates, mocha frappes and everything else I love to eat... for now. You see, fatty liver disease is a reversible condition so when everything normalizes again, I can indulge once again (but with caution).

I'm scheduled for two ultrasounds- liver and ovaries- on Monday. Wish me luck!