apparently...

If you're still talking about it, you're not over it yet. With which I beg to disagree. It could just mean I'm a nitpicker and I have this huge propensity to comment or critique people, objects, events, myself, etc. What can I say, I'm just a very observant person. Har dee har har.

So I saw pictures today from spending too much time on Facebook.

Comment on Photo #1: Someone does not look fresh today... nuninuninu...

Comment on Photo #2: For this, I will use a Mean Girls reference.

'you' also look like one

That's it.

I'm being hostile a lot lately and I think I have my hormones to blame and my meds. Damn you, Metformin. You know what's going to make me happy? Pizza. Stuffed-crust pizza.

It's Starting!

Oh joy! My series are already premiering one by one. Just yesterday I was able to get a hold on Bones Season 9's first episode and

well I kinda missed the awful lot of tension going on between Booth and Bones but I'm okay with this. I guess they're getting too old for all those bantering. They're like, what, 40?

And today I have New Girl Season 3's first episode. Huzzah! But of course, I'm most excited with Hart of Dixie, Awkward and Suburgatory. Right after my birthday, I wanted to skip to October 7 already because Hart of Dixie's premiering and now I'm even more excited because I just saw their season promo

What? No Jonah? Please let there be Jonah. 

2013 Book Challenge 35/35: My Life Next Door

I guess congratulations are in order.  ENHORABUENA to me because...

Congrats! You have completed your goal of reading 35 books for the 2013 Reading Challenge!

35 of 35 (100%)

I just hit my goal for 2013.  I know 35 is too little for all of you book fiends out there but for me who has just discovered the wonderful world of leisurely reading, it is a BIG deal. Before I learned to appreciate chick-lits and before I discovered the genre that is Young Adult, I liked reading books about psychology and spirituality and also essays, trivia and self-help books. I still enjoy reading those kinds of books but gaahd, YA books are this shizz, y'all! What did I ever do before YA? Haha. But seriously, these books are very fun to read, well maybe except those about teen suicides and terminal illnesses. I guess I have never moved on from Young Love, Sweet Love and Mr. Kupido. 

So my 35th book is My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. Another one of 'em YA reads. I know I should throw out the window any expectations I might have before reading a book but this book has a nice cover and I sort of judge books by their covers. Fortunately, it was at par with my expectations.

Pretty, smart and rich girl Samantha Reed comes from a very uptight household. Jase lives next-door, one of 'em Garretts, the family that her mother sort of dislikes for being rowdy, loud and disorganized. The summer before Sam's last year in high school, her moms's busy busy busy with the elections and sister, Tracy, is at the Vineyard with the boyfriend, working and making the most out of her summer vacation before starting university. In other words, Sam is alone and lonely. She retreats to her secret place which is the ledge just outside her bedroom window where she watches the Garrett family go on with the daily grind. One night, Jase goes up to her. The rest, as they say, is history.

But the mom clearly and explicitly disapproves of the Garretts next door so when Sam gets more than friendly with Jase, she kept it a secret from everyone who belonged in her world- her mom, sister and best friend. Wow, ang liit pala masyado ng mundo niya. So anyway, I think it's unfair on Jase's side because Sam is in his world whereas he remains to be Sam's little secret. I know it's better said than done because when you're in Sam's shoes and here is cute and hot Jase Garrett in front of you, hell I would do exactly what she did. Though if I were Sam, I wouldn't be intimate with the guy right away when I'm not being 100% honest with him. Then again, could you really blame Sam?

So aside from giving too much of herself too early in the relationship, Sam and Jase are so cute together and I am a sucker for anything secret crushes or relationships. There may not be a lot of bantering between Jase and Sam, actually there is no bantering between them, but still works for me. Didn't even notice that these two were always sweet and lovey-dovey to each other.

But I still can't bloody believe that Sam told on her mom. I can't even think it. I'd rather carry the burden that my mother may have ran over and hurt/killed somebody than have her go to jail. Well, it's a different story if my mom wanted to come clean with it. Cos you know in real life, not everyone is like the Garretts and your mom could end up in jail. Mom vs. boyfriend? No-brainer. Always mom over the boyfriend. Always.

Jase is soooo nice. Seriously, do boys like these gorgeous and hot fictional boyfriends exist in real life? Now I think I know why we're hooked on YA novels #sabikonga

Even if I am not stopping my reads just because I already reached my goal, I decided to lay low though. If before I though that my TV series paralyze and stop me from being productive with my time, books are much, much worse. Cos with my TV series, I can still do something while watching. Full attention is only required with a chosen few. But books, man they're evil. They suck you in and before you know it, another day has gone. Starting now, will be limiting reading when waiting for my turn in the bank or before sleeping at night. It's almost Christmas and I really need to keep it moving. So, toodles! Friendzone is on TV :P

2013 Book Challenge 34/35: The Kissing Booth

Hmm... first let me justify why I gave this book a rating of three stars on Goodreads. I was actually teetering between a 2-star and a 3-star rating with this one. I felt that it was a more superficial than most YA books I've read well maybe because it was written by a 17-year-old and that it didn't give me a definite ending and I really hate open-ended endings BUT I got the kilig fix I needed though and sometimes that is enough for me. Well I didn't really expect that much from a book written by a teenager. Not to be judgmental or anything, but the last time I read a book that was written by someone of the same age as Reekles when she wrote this book, I also found it a bit superficial. However, I still gave it ★★★  because it had me glued to my e-reader the entire Saturday.

So I can't help but notice that li'l Miss Elle seems to be so perfect- got decent grades, not only popular like with the popular kids in school but popular as in popular with EVERYONE and pretty gorgeous (in Noah's terms) and got curves in all the right places. I was rolling my eyes at her, like, the entire time I was reading the book. This was definitely written by a 17-year-old who wanted to be just like Elle. Haha. And not only was Elle all that, the hottest and unattainable boy (Noah) in school just happened to be smitten with her. Ikaw na, Elle! Ikaw na ang pinagpala. Ikaw na!

Aside from that, everything was A-OK. Nakakakilig and definitely a page-turner. Although Noah wasn't exactly the most swoon-worthy fictional boyfriend there is, I still am giddy over the fact that he was honestly head-over-heels in love with Elle. In love? Seriously, these kids are so careless with the term. Oh well, I used to think I was in love with Darren Hayes. Haha. However, Noah did keep their relationship and according to Mr. Oprah Winfrey (Stedman Graham), if a man is keeping your relationship under wraps, he is not so serious about you. But Noah did redeem himself towards the end with the flowers and the fireworks and the hotel.

**PRUDE ALERT** Speaking of the hotel room reservation, how are their parents okay with it? Are kids these days really that uncontrollable that all their parents could do was tsk-tsk at the fact that their kids didn't sleep at home? Spoken like a true-blue Manang. Haha.

Anyway... another thing I liked about the book was that Elle didn't end up with his BBFF (best boy friend forever). Usually these YA books with male and female leads who are best friends aren't just friends and usually have a longstanding history of 'tension' between them (or at least one of them has). Think Friendzone. And with Kissing Booth, I was worried that this would take that path and I feel that Noah and Elle are already good together and if Lee did have those kind of feelings for Elle, he already had an awful lot of opportunities to tell her and now that his brother and best friend has a good thing going on between them, he spoils it all by professing undying love for her. Well, that didn't happen and I am relieved.

I am ending this post with a quote I got from the book:

Man, I really have got to stop reading so many of those cheesy romance books!

How apt, no?

Adios Mi Gossip Girl Adorada

And it took me a whole year to finally finally FINALLY face the music and watch Gossip Girl's sixth and last season's final episode. In spite of the fact that I have just watched GG, I already knew that Chuck and Blair got married (no thanks to ETC) and knew that Dan is Gossip Girl (not-so-special thanks to my cousin who 'revealed' who GG really is). Actually, I think I must have watched until the sixth episode last year then stopped because I DON'T WANT IT TO END JUST YET and Dan being revealed as Gossip Girl isn't enough to make me want to see the finalé. You know what did? When someone told me that Dan and Serena still ended up together.

Unfortunately, Blair, I don't share your sentiment

I've been the BIGGEST Dan + Serena 'shipper ever and I may have my momentary lapse in judgment when I went gaga over the the Dan + Blair pairing but you know me, I love love love witty bantering. But man, this scene where Dan and Serena went on their first date (is it? Argh, I can't remember. That was six years ago!)

and you could just see that Dan was really enamored with her. And notice that Dan still looks cute here, unlike right now wherein he looks like a Lyle Lovett twin.

Ahh, just how I imagined this show's ending would be- Serena and Dan still together. Loved how the ending was very similar to that first time Dan and Serena went out on a date (see first two stills) ♥ That after the shit they've gone through, they still ended up in each other's arms. Pero this scene- parang prom night lang. Haha. Demure-demuran ang lola Serena mo. Hindi lang prom night ang peg, 80s prom night pa with the shining shimmering gold bustier. Well, I expected her in a much gorgeous wedding gown but still I'm happy that these two end up marrying each other. And that is why Lily and Rufus were never meant to be. Which makes me wonder whatever happened to their love child, Scott. He just walked away and that's it?

Even if my favorite pair is Serena and Dan, neither character was my favorite. Blair is my queen bee. Though I didn't succumb to the headband craze cos seriously, I think it looks stupid on other people who are not Blair. Okay, so I think high school girls can pull it off but when grown women in their 20s are donning super burloloy-ed headbands a lá Blair, NOPE. I love Blair because she is witty. Mean, yes, but witty just the same. And man, I love her wardrobe. I've been a fan since that episode where she wore that white eyelet dress.

I remember I was always on the lookout for a similar dress. I think I did see one in SM Department Store but it cost around two thousand bucks and I am not spending that much on a dress. I was just starting out a business back then and broke. Well, even now that I have a little to spare I still wouldn't spend two kiaw on a dress. Thank God for cousins who gives tights for pasalubong (yes, that same cousin who spoiled the GG finale for me so I guess she's forgiven), I was still able to imitate Blair's fashion sense and I think that happened once and only once- New Year's 2009. Oh I think that didn't happen just once... I had my sister sew a cocktail dress similar to Blair's for a cousin's wedding (this is a different cousin though). But man, I wish I were 30 lbs lighter so I could dress like Blair and not look like a trying hard oompa loompa.

What I didn't like with Blair is that she is with Chuck Bass. Even until now that Chuck has "matured" and does not dress like Barney the Purple Dinosaur, he's still my least favorite main character. I guess first impressions last in his case. He was such an ass during the first two or three seasons and even if he changed after realizing he is in love with Blair for real, I thinks he's still an ass. And what's with the voice? Nakakainis. But eventually, I sort of have accepted that Blair and Chuck may be good for each other which still doesn't mean I like Chuck. I just learned to tolerate him.

Speaking of intolerable characters, we have Jenny Humphrey and Vanessa Abrams for that. And oh, I sort of didn't like Eric van der Woodsen as well. But nothing beats Jenny and Vanessa who I think top everyone's list of the Most Hated GG Character. However, even if I hated them, it still was nice seeing them in the final episode cos

like there's a closure for everybody. Yay!

Though I think it was sort of bitin when they didn't say what ever happened to Bart Bass's death. He's like one of the most powerful, richest men in New York and they're not going to investigate his death further? I'm sure if they bring in the CSI guys they'd find a strand of Chuck's or Blair's hair or their fingerprints in the elevator. And I just find it so weird that Lily didn't show even an ounce of sorrow upon learning about Bart's death. Well, he really must be that despicable.

So we all know that Dan is Gossip Girl. Funny how almost everyone thought it was Dorota. Dorota was the unexpected star of the show. It might seem that she only has this small role but everyone knows who Dorota is. My sister said that she should be Blair's maid of honor. She was with her through thick and thin and in spite of all the verbal abuse from Blair. I hope I find my own Dorota. Haha.

Actually lahat ng wish ko for Gossip Girl ay natupad. Ang lakas ko pala kay Stephanie Savage

who I think looks like Emma Stone. Haha. Diba, she looks like Emma Stone?

Wow it's officially over for me since I have seen the final episode and also the special retrospective episode. I was in denial for too long, distracting myself with The Carrie Diaries and Sebastian Kydd. But just like what Blair said-

I guess there's nowhere to go but forward and on to Hart of Dixie. Yay!

I really should get that visa application started already because I still want to go on that Gossip Girl tour and it's been a year since the show's off air so I am worried that they have stopped offering it already.

oh yes I did
but I should remember to
keep my expectations low

Wow naman sa motivation ko. Oh well, 'til the next TV series I'm gonna love unconditionally...

2013 Book Challenge 33/35: Perfect Chemistry

I'm only two books away from hitting my goal this year! Yay yay yay! And it's only September ☺ Anyway...

Read Rules of Attraction (which is actually the second book in this book series) way before Perfect Chemisty (which is book #1) and at the time I checked Goodreads for ratings (which now I know better and I know now not to rely on it too much), Perfect Chemistry rated higher than Rules of Attraction and I really liked that book, so when I picked up Perfect Chemistry, I was expecting a more swoon-worthy guy and more kilig moments. Now, didn't I say that to fully enjoy reading a book (and life in general), we've got to keep our expectations at bay. Sometimes, I forget. Bah.

Well yes it is a cute love story which reminds me so much of Grease and The West Side Story down to the leather jacket-wearing bad boy Alex to the sweet and fluffy Brittany Ellis. Cliché, yes but we live for these clichés, don't we? Before YA, I was into non-fiction, psychology books but after picking up my first YA book, I am hooked and that is because of these clichés. Pero even after reading a lot of these books, I still am not used to with all these sexual activities among teens. Yup, still a prude. Pero unti na lang, I think I'll get used to it eventually. Haha. But you see, what makes these books so swoon-worthy is all the sexual tension between the male and female leads, most especially when there are an awful lot of bantering, to which Colin has something to say about-

"Get off it, Brit. So some girl pays attention to me in chemistry. Obviously you don't because you're too busy arguing with Fuentes. Everyone knows it's all foreplay."

Fair dinkum, Colin, fair dinkum.

Alex was described as uber hot Latino so if I hadn't watched the book trailer, I'd think he'd look like young Ricky Martin or Jay Hernandez. But I was able to watch the book trailer and man, was I ever disappointed

Actually, medyo cute naman si Alex but I was expecting someone waaaay cuter if girls are swooning over him big time. Carlos Fuentes is so not cute, btw. So even if I could, like, assign a different face to Alex, Alex in the book trailer still keeps coming back in my head. This is just like the Rock Chick case where no matter how they describe the characters as hot and sexy and handsome or beautiful, they all look like Dog the Bounty Hunter and his wife, Beth, to me. Bummer. 

Ang superficial ko, no? 

These teens are given way too much on their plates and for that, I truly am thankful for my life, haha. So I don't know if these scenarios happen in real American teenager lives then I feel for them. When I was 17, my only problems were getting good grades at school and getting home in time for Hey! Arnold on Nickelodeon. Seriously, these kids are forced to maturity way ahead of time. That or I'm just retarded for my age. Haha. Whatever. 

Will read the last book in the series soon and for that I should remind to not expect too much. Let's just hope that the youngest Fuentes brother will not commit the same stupid mistake Carlos did. 

And oh, I can't bloody believe Brittany Ellis' college major is Chemistry.

Not only am I superficial, I also am judgmental. And on that note, I bid you adieu :)

2013 Book Challenge 32/35: Meant to Be

This is cute. Since I've always been a fan of bantering, I easily fell in love with the book and the lead characters, Julia and Jason.

Julia has always been this goody two-shoes girl who always gets good grades and plays by the rules. While Jason is this fun-loving boy who knows how to have a good time but still knows his Austen and Shakespeare. On the class's trip to London for a cultural exposure trip, Julia was abhorred that she has been paired with Jason who she caught was trying to be funny at her expense. Even from the start, Julia has been hostile toward Jason, while Jason has always been cordial to her albeit how antagonistic Julia was towards him, which leads me the question of whether he already liked her even before. Because if he has been one who knew his way around the rules, I'm sure he could have went to the party all by himself, but did he want Julia to come with him? Diba? I'm sure he was already interested in her.

I know Jason has got to be cute but because of the description, this is who I have in mind

{image source}

Travis from Clueless. I knooow. Although I would have loved imagining a much cuter Jason, he is who first came to mind.

So yeah, Julia tries to shed her inner prude and with Jason's help, explores London and see how it could mean to her the same way it did to her parents. Mark was her MTB (meant to be) but the mystery of this Chris guy she met a party appealed to her. And Jason was by her side all this time- helping her discover the mystery that is Chris and 'warning' her of Mark's 'charming' ways. Which really brings me back to the question of whether he already liked her in the first place. Now I am going in circles. Damn you, incoherence.

Again, I really really feel that Jason was already into her right from the start. It is not his personality to stand by her and help her with things but he did; therefore, I think that he did all those because he cared about her. I'm just gonna stop here because I'm not making sense anymore. I should really write my thoughts as they come because I really get scatter-brained if I don't.

This non-review sucks but don't let it discourage you from reading it.

2013 Book Challenge 31/35: Forever My Girl

So Liam left Josie to pursue his dreams of being a musician instead of attending university and doing college football. At the time, it seemed that it was all-or-nothing for Liam- it was either he leave everything behind, including Josie, or stick to what his father had planned for him. What he didn't know what Josie was already with child when he left, so for ten long years, he was totally oblivious that he has spawned another being in this earth. Fast forward to ten years after, tragedy strikes and he was forced to come home. He wanted to remain inconspicuous, pay his respects unnoticed but when he sees Noah and notices the uncanny resemblance, he knew he has to confront her.

But of course old feelings die hard, most especially that there was no closure between Liam and Josie [cue in April Boy's Muling Ibalik and Tamis ng Pag-ibig]. Even if those two clearly still has got the hots for each other, things aren't the same and are, as they say, complicated. Nick is now with Josie and is assuming Noah's father figure. Actually, if Nick hadn't gone uber insecure, Josie would've stayed with him. Nick shouldn't have given her reason to kick him off their lives because he has the girl's loyalty for staying with her and the boy all those time that Liam wasn't there, but seriously, I don't know how long Josie could keep her loyalty with Nick. Although again, I feel the author employed a very easy way to resolve the conflict- Nick left on his own. Well, I guess there's no need for hardcore drama every time.

What I loved about this book is that the story's told both from Liam's and Josie's POVs. As a reader, I know right away what the two lead characters in the story are feeling as opposed to when only told from one POV. Frustration galore since I, as the reader, know that they both are still head over heels over each other but since things are, well, complicated, they can't act on these feelings right away and think about the consequences of their actions. And I love books like this one. However, I only gave it three stars because in my opinion, Josie forgave Liam so easily. I expected for her to, at least, woo her back- ipagsibak niya ng kahoy, ipag-igib ng tubig, the works! Eto naman si girl, nadadaan sa tingin. Haha.

Also, what's with Burberry colognes? This is the second book that described the male lead wearing a Burberry cologne, the other one being Wesley (The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend), which reminds me to include it in my product line ;)

what day is it today?

It's...

Kitty Kat's birthday! Heypi birthday Kitty Kat, ang remembrance ng T-party: SG edition.

I'm already 31. 

Ack.

But whatever, I do not feel 31 or 30 or 28 even. 

Peg ko lang si Taylor Swift- I'm feeling twenty-threeeee two....

source: perezhilton

In preparation of official onset of my fourth decade in this world, I got my nails did last Tuesday and a haircut yesterday. I wanted a short 'do but the stylists didn't want to do it. No one wants to cut my hair short. They all like my wavy 'do (parang naka-digital perm daw) and if I cut it short, like above the shoulder, mega-fly away daw ang eksena. Since they (should) know these things better than I do, I went with what they suggested. They also suggested that I use hair product to tame my tresses and since I'm in a gastusera mode yesterday, I gave in.

And oh, I also got myself an eye cream. Dapat labanan ang wrinkles ;) And hopefully, this hair product will do help tame my messy 'do. Sabi ni beki hairstylist, nasa uso naman ang messy na buhok. Hindi niya lang alam na nasa uso nako fifteen years ago pa at isa rin ako sa mga nagsimula ng no-comb revolution. Ano'ng paki niyo sa long hair ko?

So anyway, pre-birthday celeb yesterday with AD. She treated me to ramen for lunch yesterday at Santouka. It was okay. Not really a fan of ramen and I think I just reached my saturation point with katsu or maybe I was not feeling well yesterday. Dessert was at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. I had ice-blended Moroccan Mint Tea. Loved it. In my 31 years of existence, I found the secret to happiness~

True dat.

I go to Starbucks not for anything else but their mocha frap and when AD said she wants CBTL, I was a little sad because I never really liked any of their coffee. The only beverage I drink from there is caramel macchiato and I don't even like it that much. Just to cut the story short, I was delighted & surprised with their ice-blended Moroccan Mint Tea. Now I have an alternate to Starbucks' mocha frap :)

I really don't have expectations for this year. I didn't even have a countdown. And although birthdays tend to suck when one gets older because there are less gifts (ha!), I still get the best gifts a girl (girl?) could wish for- last year I got a Kindle from AB and this year, Juningning treated me to a Linkin Park concert and AD gave me shorts from Uniqlo and you know that shorts are one of my favorite things right now because they're the only ones that fit #MeanGirlsreference And oh, my nephews gave me Coke and chips for my birthday. That and unlimited singing of 'Happy Birthday.' Ano pa nga ba ang mahihingi ko?

May sagot ako diyan. Daddy's dinuguan and Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust Pizza. 

Kidding aside, thank You Lord for another year and I hope for many more awesome years to come. I've had my ups and downs but I could say that I'm happy where I am right now and there's nowhere to go but up. I wish for more projects to come, better health (fatty liver begone!) (and I wanna get off my meds! Metformin and pills are making me super sungit) and many more blessings. I hope I also finally get to go on that New York trip this year, before I turn 32, cos GG's been off TV for almost a year. Time is of the essence, people! But first, gotta get my ass to apply for a visa first. And here's hoping I get one. 

Happy birthday to me ♥

2013 Book Challenge 30/35: The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend

Now, this book reminds me so much of Awkward. They're not entirely alike, just that part when Matty and Jenna kept their "relationship" a secret from everyone else. So okay, just a disclaimer before I start gushing- in the last book I read, I was gushing about the innocence of the main characters' love for each other, proving that it's not always about sex. SO ANYWAY, I picked up The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend without any expectations. I didn't check Goodreads for the reviews, ratings or synopsis so I totally had no idea what the book is all about. Turns out it is mainly about sex. Yep, not that innocent love I get giddy about but whaddya know, I liked it. Well, it's not really about sex-sex, just teenagers having a lot of sex. Kind of the same thing, harhar. Usually, I'd be all prudish and renouncing all these teenage sex happening all around but in this book, I get giddy when Bianca and Wesley do the deed. Sick, I knoooow.

I have a knack for guessing book endings and I sort of felt that this non-friends with benefits relationship between Bianca and Wesley would somehow eventually turn real. Actually even from the start, I felt Wesley already liked Bianca and telling her that she was a duff was his way of flirting with her. Like you know how boys tease girls they like? But I guess he truly meant it at that time. Well, mabilis ang karma and look where it got him. Still, I love love love the witty banters between the two. Ack!

I liked it but I hoped they could given the Toby Tucker more role in this love story. I would have loved seeing Wesley all jealous over this boy and actually do something about it and not just creepily stare at her in a club. Also, I felt that they resolved this Bianca- Wesley- Toby love triangle too easily. Yun lang naman ang reklamo ko. I felt they should have played the love triangle angle longer.

I think I have already mentioned in here that I like putting faces into the characters when reading books and as for Wesley, I have Nolan Gerard Funk in mind

mainly because he was sort of the flirty boy in Awkward and I have that TV show in mind while reading. Plus, he's also cute and has a nice body (ahjumma moment! haha) just as how he was described in the book. As for the girl, I do not have Jenna in mind. Not even frumpy Jenna. Who I have in mind is Schmidt's ex-girlfriend in New Girl

because they said she's fat. However, I have totally no idea how fat is fat cos sometimes the standards differ from person to person. I even doubt it that Bianca is that fat. She may be not just as thin as her friends are.

So I'm pushing aside the prude in me and rating this book 4 stars because I

Huzzah!