Bests of 2013

My top ten reads for 2013 (and the reason/s why I swoon over it.) in at-the-top-of-my-head order:

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Way to end 2013. This book is a work of genius. Well for those who writes, fangirls over anything/someone and/or struggles in college.This made me revert to Rainbow Rowell works.
2. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. Ahhh, the feels. First love and all. Yes, I did say that I was fairly disappointed (note: never over-expect a book. or in anything for that matter) but I also did enjoy it (thanks to cute ol' Park,hihi). Really. Definitely not your conventional YA novel.
3. If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern. Ahern is one of the few authors whose works I indulge this year. This particular story is for both the kids and kids at heart. I could still remember how much I cried over this book. With a touch of romance and a slice of life, this is a good read for those who wants an affirmation of one's existence.
4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Optimism is all over it. Surprisingly, my floodgates didn't open because of this. But I love how the author plays the story. This is more than a drama book. 
5. If I Stay & Where She Went by Gayle Forman. The best two-books series I read this year. You can't read the second book without spoiling the first one. I think, this is the reason why I didn't (and couldn't) stop reading YA novel from then on. I love how the author can connect to every characters (and not just the MC and LI).
6. Just One Day by Gayle Forman. Take me to Europe now! Jeez, this made me think (more) that Europe is really my future destination. I'll definitely read the second installment (Just One Year) and find out why (why???) the LI did that (surprising ending, yup).
7. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. This is actually a middle-grade book. I know I shouldn't have read this (i.e. inappropriate for my age huhu) but I had to! The books is just irresistible. An ode to young (like young) love.
8. A Walk to Remember and The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Yes, I just read those this year. Bests of Sparks. Need I say more?
9. Room by Emma Donoghue. A suspense-thriller story of a boy trapped in a room with her mother all throughout his life. There is something refreshing with a five-year old boy way of looking at the two different worlds he has lived through. The book was a complete page-turner especially at the second-half.
10. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen. Sarah is one of my best author discoveries this year. And this book is (so far) my favorite read from her. Makes me feel young from all her characters. Yes, there's a Sarah-Dessen pattern but her books make me feel like indulging to my comfort foods.

Looking Back on 2013

• 1:What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
• -wrote and finished a 30k-words-novella,been a clinician, smoke, uhm...
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• 2:Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
• -no.NO
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• 3:Did anyone close to you give birth?
• -yes
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• 4:Did anyone close to you die?
• -no,thank God
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• 5:What countries did you visit?
• -none
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• 6:What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013
• -MORE books (and love hihi)
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• 7:What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
• -....
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• 8:What was your biggest achievement of the year?
• -*refer to #1 answer except the last one*
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• 9:What was your biggest failure?
• -being a coward
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• 10:Did you suffer illness or injury?
• -no
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• 11:What was the best thing you bought?
• -bb stick (yes,it's a work of magic!) kid. can't think of a more profound thing actually
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• 12:Whose behaviour merited celebration?
• -my father
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• 13:Whose behaviour made you appalled?
• -my mother
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• 14:Where did most of your money go?
• -B.O.O.K.S. oh, and in clinic
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• 15:What did you get really, really, really excited about?
• -*see #1 answer*
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• 16:What song will always remind you of 2013?
• -The Cab songs
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• 17:Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
• -all the latter
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• 18:What do you wish you’d done more of?
• -writing,reading,talking to old friends, and exercising (yeah)
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• 19:What do you wish you’d done less of?
• -smoke,drink,study
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• 20:How did you spend Christmas?
• -same old,with my immediate family and relatives
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• 21:Did you fall in love in 2013?
• -almost
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• 22:What was your favourite TV program?
• -TVD, NIkita
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• 23:Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
• -aha...
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• 24:What was the best book you read?
• -If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern
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• 25:What was your greatest musical discovery?
• -The Cab
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• 26:What did you want and get?
• -school achievements, (serious) writing experience
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• 27:What did you want and not get?
• -love life (ugh)
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• 28:What was your favourite film of this year?
• -Warm Bodies
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• 29:What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
• -spending the best summer
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• 30:How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
• -bolder, sophisticated
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• 31:What kept you sane?
• -prayers
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• 32:Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
• -Ian Somerhalder
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• 33:What political issue stirred you the most?
• -PDAF scam
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• 34:Who did you miss?
• -my father (as always), and Claire (a college friend)
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• 35:Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
• -There are things that will surprise you and all you could say is 'i didn't see that coming' but don't be afraid because it isn't constant. It will change. Everything will change. You'll be fine if you'll think so. And don't be afraid to try new things.
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• 36:Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
• -I say the tragedy is how you're gonna spend
• The rest of your nights with the light on
• So shine the light on all of your friends
• Well it all amounts to nothing in the end
• And I won't worry my life away
• -Jason Mraz (The Remedy)

**originally posted in Tumblr.

Holiday Sobereignty

3 (or more) cigarette sticks. Countless glass/shot of punch/gin. Tacos (half a pack?).

I was from our high school annual Christmas party. I think this is the best day of holidays for me having a free time for myself after (and during) what had happened (personal matters, can't tell). Although we're fewer than last year's party, the fun didn't become any lesser. Catch-ups, throwbacks, rumors, and all made the night. I just missed those guys. Until next year Bords! <3>

Holiday Reads (And Why I Decided to Make a Comeback on This Blog)

To celebrate (okay, not really) my return on this blog, I'll post what I've been (leisurely) doing for the past days especially now it's Holidays. Here are my Holidays book picks:

Note: The only 'Holiday' reads in this one is Cecelia Ahern's The Gift. The rests are my December TBR.

I know I've been MIA on this blog for three years now so why dig this blog from the dead? I noticed that my other blog had been a habitat of my mini-reviews so I turned it just the way it has been and decided to use this as my personal blog again. Am excited! I hope I could update this regularly as much as the other blog I'm carrying. Happy Holidays everyone!

Summer '10!

Looking back, I can still say I had a good summer, for consolation sake. I have went to a concert. I did some shopping last April. i have worked as a tutor of my sister and earned some money for some purposes. I have continued my drooping novel,though it's still not yet finish. I freely enjoy the net---chit-chatting with some friends, updating ALL my accounts, and starting to engage in some serious blogging (what is a serious blogging, anyway?) So it was still all worthy. Because these things? I can't say if I can enjoy it during schooldays. Oh yeah! Busy.busy.busy.

OK. How many days do I still have before school start anew? However long it is, I'm trying to stay mundane as if I have nothing to prepare for. I'm a geek but I hate reading in advance, so don't expect me reading some books related to my upcoming subjects. I'm actually still doing the same routine, waking and sleeping late. (Time check: 1:28 AM) Fortunately, my body is susceptible to my sched,changes. So i have nothing to worry about.

Actually, I'm busy working with an oplan with my co-listers. It's still a big secret. And no is blurting it out here. HAHAHA

Anyway, I actually fret when I saw my afternoon-shift sched. My earliest subject is 12nn and the latest is 8:30pm. Worst is I still have classes on Saturdays. Looks like I will have a no-gig-sem.this time. BUMMER. I'm still crossing my fingers for a sched.alteration. Cause I really hate going late at home. Waking up early is probably better than that. Another thing that suprised me is to know that our next p.e subject is SWIMMING. WTF?! I'm not yet prepared for it cause I was expecting it in the 2nd sem. I still need to loosen up my baby fats in my tummy.lols.

Aside from the things I aforementioned, I'm preparing myself, emotionally, for some chnges that would happen. Remember taht I had a rough 1st year in college? I wouldn't let that happen again. I want to make things the other way around. Ellaine next sem.would be better, stronger, and wiser. I will not let anyone bring me down again. Ok, I'm ready to face the next chapter of my life. Bring it on PD2!