2015 Reading Challenge: Dear Girls Above Me

Done with my fifth book for 2015- huzzah! I'm on a roll. I must reach my quota this year- 50 books in 52 weeks- at kailangan ko ng pondo cos I'm sure all reading activities will be on hold the fourth quarter of the year as you know I'll be busy with bazaars and orders.

So. Dear Girls Above Me, I can't even remember how exactly I knew of this book but definitely not on Goodreads. Either I stumbled upon it on of those book blogs or while I was killing time in National Book Store. Read the blurb, it caught my fancy et voila!

Funny story of Charlie's everyday life living with two noisy albeit entertaining girls. Charlie thinks he could hear these girls loud and clear due to some architectural design or flaw... whatever... but then again maybe these girls are just really loud. But then again they're entertaining in a bimbo-ish kind of way but still funny, right? And he wouldn't have the material he needed for his Twitter and his book, riiiight? The girls also seem nice. Yun lang, are they still friends with Charlie even after the publication of this book? I'd definitely take offense of this book if I were on of those girls because, HELLO! my bimbo-ness and whorish ways were sort of brought out into the open for the entire world to read. But then again the book's "inspired by a true story" so maybe Cathy and Claire weren't actual depiction of the girls who lived above his unit- or sana he could've just issued an all persons fictitious disclaimer. Haha!

3 of out 5 stars. Fun read but what I'm looking for right now is kilig. Ha.

2015 Reading Challenge: We Were Liars

Gaaaahd that was sad. I didn't see that one coming and usually I am spot on when I second guess book endings. But this one- oh Lord, I can't even.

Cadence, Johnny, Mirren and Gat. They called themselves the Liars. The Liars' friendship began Summer Eight when Gat first came with Aunt Carrie and Johnny in Beechwood. Before that, Cady, Johnny and Mirren were just cousins. Beechwood was just a summer thing. After the summer vacation, everyone goes back to as they were, back to their normal everyday lives. It was Summer Fifteen when everything changed. The Liars were old enough to understand what's going on around them and it ain't pretty. They decided to do something about it and the rest, as they say, is history.

History that Cadence has no memory of.

She comes back to Beechwood two years after her accident. Still she can't remember anything of the accident or what happened prior to that. As each day passes, bits and pieces, snippets of what happened that fateful night of Summer Fifteen comes back to her.

Now I know they were liars. Ang saklap.

Actually I find it already masaklap when the aunts were fighting over who gets what. The Sinclairs were trust-fund rich but what the daughters failed to realize was that money also runs out. Not one daughter became successful, everyone just rested on their laurels. Each one wants to get the lion share. And this thing happens in real life. You grow up with your siblings sharing everything but you all grow up, have your own families and everyone's priorities shift. Your loyalty now belongs to your new family- to your husband and to your children (if any). You want to provide the best for them. Now everyone wants to get the lion share. Things get ugly. Well I just hope that no one in my family is too greedy to want everything for herself.

Aaaaaaaand back to the book- it was a pretty interesting read although I only give it 3 stars out of 5 because I didn't LOOOOOVE it with passion as I did the other books I gave 5/5. I recommend this book to all you YA lovers- a little deviation from our usual lovey-dovey storylines.

Yay!

So I've been video-hopping on YouTube, been watching book trailers. Just out of the blue, I typed "Attachments book review" because I wanted to see if there were other Attachments (by Rainbow Rowell) out there, fans who love the book with passion. And I found her~

And I loooove her already. Just because she likes Attachments just as I do. Well actually I love the book more than she does because she only gave it 4 stars, while I gave it 5. But still, that giddy look on her face while dishing out what she thinks about the book- so relatable. Haha! If only I was coherent, I'd totally make a book review vlog which would, no doubt, only contain gushing over fictional crushes. Oh, I don't need coherence pala if I'm just going to gush about hot boys who don't even exist. But whatever. Whatever floats my boat, right? 

I want to read Attachments again.

2015 Reading Challenge: Fallen Too Far

via Goodreads

Thanks to audio books, I am now 1 book ahead of schedule. "Read" Fallen Too Far before I went to sleep last Sunday and I was done by lunchtime Monday. But it's just not the same. It's different when you really read a book and not just listen to it. Mas feel ang kilig ba. Haha.

Well, I kinda like it that Blaire isn't as angst-y like her contemporaries even if she has the life experiences to back it up. Her dad left her and her mom then her mom got sick and died. Kung issues lang, maraming baon si Blaire. But she was still optimistic about things, relatively-speaking. She didn't self-destruct. She didn't try to kill herself. And I think getting attracted to Rush was reasonable. Kahit na minsan parang it's weird and awkward cos they're stepbrother and stepsister but in times like these, I just think Clueless. If it's okay in Clueless, then it is acceptable.

Alam naman nating lahat where Blaire and Rush's relationship was headed for. I may like Blaire but with Rush, I am not emotionally-invested yet. Woods is still a viable candidate. I liked how Woods didn't put up a fight when he realized that Blaire and Rush were already an item. I mean, he technically has dating dibs over the girl since he asked her out first, but he let them be. And Cain, the best friend. May chance pero minus pogi points pa rin when he chose to break up with her just so he could hook up with other girls who would put out for him.

Seriously, these kids have way too much freedom. Although Rush isn't a kid anymore but still to my 32-year-old-manang-eyes, he is still a baby.

So anyway, post- Rush Blaire leaves Rosemary Beach an angsty teenager and for understandable reasons. I just hope she doesn't wallow in it so we could start Never Too Far on a not-so-sulky air.

2/5 hindi kasi masyado kinilig.

2015 Reading Challenge: This Song Will Save Your Life

via Goodreads

Elise was an outcast. In Hey! Arnold terms, back-of-the-bus material. The popular crowd loves to harass her and honestly, I think I know why.

Elise has always been unpopular in school. She tries to be one of them and by this I don't know if this means to be one of the popular kids or be "normal." And I think she's bait to these popular kids pranks because she's trying way too hard. I could be wrong but this is how I see her. She's trying too hard and she thinks highly of herself.

In what way, you ask me? Because it seems that Elise is insecure, so why you say do I think of her as someone who thinks highly of herself? Well, let's just say that she has longed to be noticed by the popular crowd and how she has felt superior to Sally and Chava. Why, before her suicide attempt, does she have no friends? Not even one? Because the friends she wanted were the popular ones and the likes of Sally and Chava who with their shallow interests are so beneath her as evidenced by: "You may wonder how I managed to make these friends. Well, I will tell you: making friends is actually not that hard when you drop every single one of your standards." Lakas. Ikaw na, Elise, ikaw na.

So that is why I don't like Elise Dembowski. She's so full of herself. She realizes that in the end- THANK GOD- but I think she still thinks highly of herself and now that she's Elise, DJ extraordinaire, her self-worth must have gone off the roof.

Oh, you think you're so great. You think you're so special.
You think you're so much better than everyone else.

And that's what's inside Elise's head. And that is why I give this book only two stars. Not because other people don't listen to The Smiths or Oasis or some other "cool" band, they're beneath you, Elise Dembowski.

2015 Reading Challenge: On The Fence

via Goodreads

2015's first read! Huzzah! I remember starting the past two years with relatively sad reads such as The Fault in Our Stars (2013) and Just One Day (2014), and well, books and movies sort of affect my mood and so 2013 and 2014 were like saaaad for most part and I want 2015 to be happy, upbeat and all unicorns and rainbows soooooo.... I started with Kasie West's On The Fence. Kasie West's one of my favorite authors when it comes to YA and these days all I read are YA. I love her characters and how they have their issues but they don't sulk tirelessly about it. I have read and liked all her novels and all her heroines were likable.

I should really write these (non)reviews right after I read the book cos I tend to forget "the feels" of it when I jump right into another read and the emotions get a little jumbled up. So anyway, I will try to recall.

Charlie grows up in an all-male household which in effect makes her sort of a tomboy who's into sports and ungirly stuff. She gets a speeding ticket and her cop father's not taking anymore of it and wants her to learn her lesson so he makes her get a summer job to pay for her ticket. She gets this job where in she sells, surprise surprise, girly stuff and makeup. But wait, there's more- she gets to be the canvas. At first she refuses but being that it pays a lot of moolah, she agrees to it anyway. That and Charlie also has these recurring nightmares and when she does she runs at night but there was this time when she and Braden, the neighbor and the honorary fourth brother, talk about their problems by the fence.

I think I already sort of knew how this was going to turn out but when Charlie came clean about it to Braden and he replied with a "that's not what this is about" and "is that what you thought I was trying to tell you," all my illusions of Charlie and Braden went flying out the window. Which left me all confused. What's this all about? I was sure then that Braden liked Charlie in that way and if he doesn't, is he gay and is actually in love with Gage instead? Dislike-frowning face here- I respect other people and their beliefs and inclinations but I am not yet ready for gay fiction.

So I was mej annoyed with Braden when Evan comes into the picture and he gets all jealous. Parang pre-Evan he wasn't interested in her but now that there's someone there, he suddenly decides he likes her in that way? Nakakainis, diba? So I finally get my answer in the end and while my heart still feels sorry for Evan, I'm happy for Braden and Charlie.

See, YA novels can work without too much angst and too much sex (ahem, Waiting For You) and it's much more kilig when it's pa-innocent effect. Haha.

4/5 stars

But Mom, I Don't Want To Wake Up Yet

Now we're back to the daily grind, whether we like it or not.

After Pope Francis' five-day visit here in the country, it's so haaaard to get my momentum back. Maybe it's easier for people who have, like, an office to go to where there's a boss and everything (or they could be the boss, idk) because then you, like, don't have a choice. While in my case, I don't have an office nor a boss and there's no one to tell me that I should get it moving already and tendency is I get so lethargic. There's so much to do but when your desk is also your bed, it's kinda hard to get off of it.

So first I'm going to blog about the nonevents in my life this past week~

Aside from eating, eating and EATIIIIIING, AC and I watched Beauty and the Beast at the CCP. At first I was not that excited because, you know, I've been keeping my expectations at bay because EXPECTATIONS= DISAPPOINTMENTS.

dahil pasaway ako

When the play began, I started getting giddy on my seat- Beauty & the Beast is my favorite Disney cartoon FOR, LIKE, EVAAAARRR!!! I had the cassette of the OST and I used to listen to it all the time- and remember, this was during the time of the Rewind button which takes soooo much time. And if I remember it correctly, our Rewind button wasn't working properly- kinakain yung film- and so if I wanted to listen to it again (Side A... because who listens to Side B, anyway), I rewind the tape MANUALLY. As in, with a pencil inserted in the cassette hole and winding it backwards. So when the narrator started speaking, I got so worked and I found out that after all these years, I still know every word by heart.

After the narration, Belle appears. And sings. And talks. But my gaaahd SO LACKING IN ENERGY. Sin energía, ¡qué barabaridad! Well I thought maybe she'd pick up momentum but she was like that the entire time. Baka may sakit. But in fair naman to the rest of the cast, ESTUPENDO! Especially, Gaston. He stole the show from Belle and the Beast.

Sayang lang because if only Belle were more energetic, it would've been really really good. Eh mukhang kinulang sa vitamins. And she sounded bored. Her character's awkward not disinterested, IMHO.

Manila Bay captured by my humble phone cam

And I finally bought an external hard drive from Asianic 1TB for only P3,200. Huzzah! It's ever cheaper than the ones they sell in Divi (which is also Western Digital, by the way). I have yet to "spring clean" my laptop and transfer files into the external hd so my computer will work in open files and programs in lightning speed again.

Also got that facial already and OMG I look like a human being again. I should do this regularly para I don't transform into an abominable, hairy-in-all-the-wrong-places person.

Also.... from Monday to Thursdy, unica hija ang drama ko. AC's four-day workweek has begun and I can hog all of the second floor to myself. It's actually sad. I think I'm in a phase right now where I'm just sad for reasons unknown (may be the hormones), and being alone in my room all day, every day- more time to wallow in my sadness. So I read this article and I know I am not depressed but sometimes wonder if I am.. Haha. Schizo lang talaga. That is why right now I steer clear of sad books and movies. Sabi nga ni Leona Lewis, "I just want to be happy." LOL.

Squeeeee!!!!

Another post. Because I have time. Har har.

Well, I think the internet is evil as it sucks me into the world wide web vortex. But I can't help but enjoy all the amusing things I find in the internet. For starters, BuzzFeed  has this Helga G. Pataki "article" today which I think doesn't really make sense but I still like because it's Helga/Hey! Arnold.

Another article on BuzzFeed I saw last night was '21 Books To Read Before They Hit The Big Screen in 2015.' It was interesting because I kinda sorta have this newfound appreciation for books, especially those in the YA genre and included in the list is one of my favorites- The DUFF. Yay, they're turning it into a movie ☺ I'm so excited and the best part about it it's coming out in theaters on Feb 20 which means I don't have to wait very long. Huzzah!

{source}
Bianca's supposed to be fat, or at least chubby, and this girl isn't chubby at all
And if that's Wesley Rush, umm... well, let's give him a chance

And oh here's the trailer which I haven't seen yet (as of  presstime, naks ;))

Aside from DUFF, I'm also excited for Insurgent (Hello, Theo James!), The Longest Ride (Hi, Clint Eastwood's handsome son), Paper Towns and The Scorch Trials (because I like Dylan O' Brien). Gahd, so many eye candies to look out for. 

Lola X. Me. Divi.

Because November and December were spent for work, January is sort of my self-declared "holiday" and this is when I meet up with most of my friends. The past years, January was my guilt-free just-sloth-it month which I think I deserve after the CRAAAAAZY holiday rush (uuy, defensive LOL), but this year I'm only giving myself a week of lethargic bliss- gotta keep the momentum rolling. 

Anywaaaay. Went out with A last Monday night. We originally planned to meet 29th of January, before the New Year, but she said she had to work. So we just settled with an after-work dinner. Because I'm a morning person, I was too lazy to get off my lazy arse and go to Eastwood. Buti na lang mabait pa si Nonoy at game pang manghatid na hindi kinakailangan ng pilitan. 

We settled for Cibo since I haven't eaten there yet. I've had high expectations with this resto because I've heard a lot of people rave about their food (A, included) and they're pretty expensive for pasta dishes. But it's the New Year and it's the season for trying out new things, ergo...

overpriced. imho.

I'm sorry to all Cibo fans, but I was disappointed. In fair naman to the soup, it was delicious. That pasta- so saaaad. At that price, sana the slab bacon were visible to the naked eye. Of course, exaggeration na yan but you get my point- the slab bacon was almost nonexistent. I ordered that dish specifically because was craving for meat at the time and the menu said the pasta had slab bacon. Consuelo de bobo na masarap ang bread.

Tuesday was spent with Lola X who was home from Singapore. We actually already met Saturday afternoon and she already treated me to pizza and chicken in Amici. But Lola X wanted the Wai Ying experience again so to Binondo we went. 

Introducing...

LUNCH!!!

Umm.. it may not be aesthetically appealing but they're muy muy muy delicioso (thanks to MSG, I think) but still my ♥ belongs to Wai Ying. I've tried so many lemon chicken dishes from other Chinese restaurants but Wai Ying's is the still the best- hands down.

pretty shrimp dumplings

siomai ♥

A little office supplies shopping in Nueva. Because my scotch tape dispenser got broken over the holidays- care of ze nephews- I needed a new one ASAP. I bought a big one for only P55. FIFTY FRICKIN' FIVE PESOS! At first I couldn't believe what I heard. Big, heavy-duty tape dispensers go for a two hundred or more. Happy na ako sa purchase ko- yup, I'm mababaw like dut.

Coffee and chocolate crepe cake for merienda then off to 168 and 999 malls for a little clutter-shopping. I bought two shirts for only 150 each- bonggels! Then we decided to part ways- NOT. Haha! Lola X suggested why don't we have dinner as well. So to Gateway we went. Dinner at Kogi Bulgogi. We ordered that lettuce wrap thingy you see in Korean dramas. And jap chae, of course.

free side dishes

yummeeeee!

Super solved! Because the other members of VAX2J were not present, I was the sole beneficiary of Lola X's Busog Lusog Feeding Program. The tummy was happy, but I think my liver wasn't. Haha. Super thanks to Lola X for feeding the hungry THRICE! I may not be proud of how much I ate but I am proud that I never had Coke with these meals. Cola-free for seven days ☺ 

Had a super fun and not to mention bochog, catch-up day with Lola X. We parted ways around 10pm- just in time for the last Santolan-bound train. My feet were tired and aching and the Noom Walk app on my phone recorded a new high- 16,493 steps! (But today's count is 0 so wala quits na haha). 

OH MY SOOOO MUCH FOOOOOD! AND THE WORST PART IS.... I WANT MORE  (｀(●●) ´)

Ang Disyembre Ko ay Masaya ☺

Since I wasn't able to post anything last month, I'm posting anything that is of significance that happened last December last year.

Last month was crazy- good kind of crazy. Of course, I procrastinated and instead of starting production, design conception and everything else by June, I started moving my arse October. Although I think I was more prepared for the bazaar this year.

Ze Annual Bazaar

I only joined one bazaar this year and it's the one I have joined on an annual basis for 4-5 years now. It's super far from where I live but since I've had good experience with this one so I keep coming back to sell every year. There's another bazaar I joined twice last 2013 and it was relatively not worth it since I didn't ROI. I say relatively because I got one big client out of it and also several repeat customers.

Anyway, this bazaar was different since my usual accomplices weren't available. Left with no other choices, I brought Dorota along which turned out also a blessing in disguise. She actually leveled up this year and I was able to leave her in the booth. V also helped me for one day and I swear that girl can sell anything. It was a good year for me and I hope that every year will be much better than the last. The only thing I disliked this year was the lack of private transportation this year. Dorota and I had to take public transport for two days and it wasn't such a pretty experience. Hey at least I didn't get lost and that's another route I can add to my list of commutable destinations.

Orders, Orders and More Orders

Which is why I love love love Christmas and 2014 was much better than the past years. What's better this year last 2014 was friends and high school batchmates also ordered from me ☺ When strangers order from me, I get all giddy but when people I actually know do- I feel giddier! 

What's different from last year was last 2013 I had a work place I can make a mess out of and no one will mind since I have it all to myself. But since the NS was evicted and we had to transfer it to my then-work space, I had to transform the library to my new work space/laboratory which also extended to my room ☺ so the entire second floor was practically chaotic during the holidays.

the new work space

inside my room

and this is my bed which you can barely see

 Nagmistulang obstacle course and sahig ng kwarto ko.  Bottles, gallons, paper and plastic were everywhere! I'm so grateful to my parents and sister especially who tolerated my mess the entire time. Grateful also to my Dorota who helped me with everything and also tolerated my grumpiness and impatience. I really feel blessed. Thank You ☺

Boys & Birthdays

My nephews (and AD na rin) had a joint birthday celebration last December 14. It was held at AD's new home.

cloudy with a chance of chicken wings ☺

I was practically useless that day as I just came from a delivery plus I haven't rested yet. I was the designated photographer but I sort of didn't do my job. I got hungry. Plus I felt so fugly and fat and I didn't want to go around showcasing my fugliness. So I just ate my feelings. 

{source}

The boys enjoyed their party and they absolutely enjoyed opening their presents. And oh, also playing with the big bubbles bubbles maker AD bought in the States. 

Almorzando Con Amigos

Christmas would be incomplete without lunch with my IC friends. Although this year there were only four of us present. Lunch at Benny's, Joj's treat.

Baboy con baboy con baboy. Actually, I think I just committed cannibalism haha. Everything we ordered had crunchy chicharon-ish pork in it. After lunch, C treated everyone to vino, tapas and dark chocolate truffles. YUM ☺

wow I feel so cultured haha

The perks of having big-time friends Haha! 

I always have fun with my IC friends and even if I think I didn't really retain much from my Spanish classes- all 28 levels- I got to keep the friends I made along the way. Now, what to do next?

Love is lovelier on the 25th year

Kuya B and Ate A's silver wedding anniversary. Made the giveaways for their special event ♥

and here I am with my smart casual attire LOL

Good food ♥ I loved that dish with straw mushrooms! 

Time flies, no? I don't know if it's just me or if time really goes by eerily fast when you're old. It's another year- 2015! Chinese astrology and feng shui say Dogs have good luck this year- I hope it's true. I believe it's true. My main goal this year- New York City! Totoo na ito ☺

Happy 2015!

Wow it's been a while, my dear blog. The last post was last November when I was panicking big time about my then-imminent annual bazaar. Turns out the bazaar was just the start of the holiday chaos which was actually a good thing and I am not complaining. Still I haven't had my holiday bazaar/order system down pat. I think I'm still not much of a risk-taker so I basically still make everything on a made-to-order basis. Promise talaga next bazaar I'm going to prepare earlier. Anyway... let's start our 2014: Year in Review post.

first things first.. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I would like to be able to tell you that in the past year I...

♥ finally lost weight
♥ finished my 2014 Reading Challenge- 50 books!
♥ had finally applied for a US visa
♥ was more hands on with the NS business
♥ put myself out there (if you know what I mean, **wink wink** )

Instead, I have to tell you that in the past year...

♥ actually GAINED MORE WEIGHT! FML. I'm so fat I can't even. Saw my pictures and gaaahd I look like a frakkin' blob! It is actually cause for alarm. I need to do something about it STAT.
♥ I was 20 books short of my goal. Well, I was a little "well-rounded" this year and divided my free time among reading, watching TV series and watching movies. Hihi ☺ Plus, the second half of the year was pretty busy.
♥ umm... well I did finish answering the online application and only lacked the picture. Does that count? I guess not.
♥ Honestly, tinatamad na ako with the NS business. After we were "evicted" from the original location, business has been slow and medyo nakakawalang gana but I think it can still be salvaged. I just need to get it in order again (permits, etc).
♥ I absolutely have no idea how to 'put myself out there.' I'm no extrovert and I'm not one to start a conversation. Sa aspetong 'to, bahala na si Batman.

However, in the past year I also...

♥ finally enrolled in a driving school, got my non-pro driving license and learned how to drive, beeeches!!! FINALLY. I still can't drive without supervision because I'm duwag like dut. But little by little does the trick ☺ Hopefully by next the bazaar, I can drive myself to where I need to go. 

♥ had my summer vacation at the beach- Boracay! But to be honest (again), I'm not a beach person. I like cities. After my aunt and uncle's wedding anniversary in Roxas, the family headed to Boracay. Hindi ko na-enjoy masyado. Dapat talaga this year matuloy na ang New York City expedition.

♥ incorporated my scents business- huzzah! As I was advised to do so by my BFF to do so plus I was sort of forced by circumstances. But anyway, it has been done and I think this sort of pushes me to put in extra effort and make more moolah. Wish me luck ♣

♥ was quite disappointed due to the end some of my TV series and was even more disappointed with the sudden cancellation of Suburgatory. Pampalubag-loob ko na lang na I got the ending I wanted. And oh I think the fact that I finished watching all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls within a month is worth mentioning ;)

♥ did something very grown-up which is get a life plan- I P'YOLO-d. Well, if it wasn't for my cousin I wouldn't have done this but I think investing in something like this is also wise. 

In the next year, I am hoping to...

♥ be able to drive by myself, without adult professional supervision 

♥ really lose weight 

♥ and in relation that, quit drinking Coke and 3-in-1 coffee for real

♥ apply for a US visa and go to the US- NYC, baby! It's time ☺ Hahahahaha!

♥ find love and hopefully not in a hopeless place LOL!

♥ sleep early☺ 

♥ be more social 

♥ enjoy the fruits of my labor- saving up is good but I think I should let myself enjoy once in a while

So that's it, pansit! Hopefully I can tick off more than one item on my resolution list and I hope it's the NYC and the losing weight part. Cheers to the new year!