January Rewind

January In One Word:

SURPRISES

January was a so full of surprises, with all the good news and blessings, reunions, cooking/bonding with my mom, happening everyday! I really had a good start this year. Hopefully, it will be the same for the next coming months. There are six days left before my flight to Sydney, and I wanna make this a monthly segment here in my blog so I have something to look back on in the future.

1. My visa was finally approved on January 5th at 10:32AM. I've mentioned before how tedious this task was, so when we received the news, we felt overjoyed and I think I may have shed a few tears of joy. Praise God!

2. Booked my flight to Qantas Airlines on February 7. Obviously, the next step was to book my flight to Sydney!

3. Reunion with my friends. One of the best things that happened this month! I finally saw my best friends from high school and college after a long time.You can definitely tell those who are sincere and true to you, when they stick with you through rough times and I'm blessed to have a few but close and trusted friends in my life.

4. Balikbayan box arrived. FINALLY! My sister sent this box full of goodies last October and it only arrived this month because of a certain policy about the crates.

5. Lola's Lechon arrived for my despedida. My thoughtful and sweet grandma gave us a whole roasted pig for my despedida. She told me that if I ever miss the taste of lechon, I can always go back home and she'll cook one for me. She's the best!

6. Lego Cake. Mom and I made this Lego cake for my niece's birthday party.

7. Cooked holiday ham just because. My mom and I cooked this melt-in-your-mouth pineapple glazed ham. It came a bit late but its a tradition of ours so we couldn't let it pass up. We cooked five kilos of meat for three days and enjoyed it with bread and salads that lasted for a week(normal in our household! LOL!)

8. Healthy Foods. Still sticking with my healthy habits! So proud of myself, cause I usually eat everything without giving much thought. I'm more aware now of the foods that I put inside my body and how they affect my weight and mood. It takes a lot of discipline but the results are worth it.

9. Letting go of my favorite books and giving them a new home. As I was organizing and packing my things, I came upon a huge dilemma: Do I bring all of my books with me and pay a pricey baggage allowance or leave them inside boxes in the attic? I didn't want them to collect dust and fray, so I decided to go for the best option which is to sell them(even if it saddens me). At least that way, it will give happiness and entertainment to their new owners!

10. Dyed my hair Ash Brown. My first time to get it colored professionally. It turned out exactly the color I've always wanted, I'm super satisfied!

The Happy List

1. The approval of my visa

2. Starting a new adventure in Sydney

3. Balikbayan box from my sister has arrived last Sunday

4. Bonding with my family and friends

5. Cooking healthy meals and sharing them with my mom

6. Making fresh and yummy smoothies

7. Working out in the morning

8. Shedding unwanted fats, especially in my problem areas

9. Tons of nuts, muesli, chocolates, snacks shared with my family

10. Supportive people around me, helping me out every step of the way

11. Sticking to my healthy and fitness lifestyle for 2 months now

12. Thoughtful friends

14. Cooking holiday ham with my mom

15. S & R dates with my momma

16. Gaining confidence and loving myself more

17. Exploring and traveling new places

Credits: Camie Juan

Bucket List: Australian Edition

I'm already off to a good start this year! My visa was finally approved and I'm leaving next month! It took us months to collate all of the visa requirements, not to mention the expensive costs, but finally, all of our hard work paid off! Truth be told, there was a slight chance that my visa won't be approved since we had a problem with a certain requirement. I was already bracing myself for the worst and I was praying to God for help. Thankfully, my mother, grandmother and aunty were able to come up with a solution. And on January 5th at 2PM I received the great news via email, I felt overjoyed and I even shed a few tears of joy. I'm deeply grateful and blessed for my loving family! So now, all I have to do is make the necessary travel arrangements, shop for winter clothes and prepare my things. It feels SO good to finally be here. I chose to move out of my comfort zone in pursuit of bigger and brighter things.

To celebrate this, I've decided to create an Australian mini bucket list! I'll be posting photos that I took personally over here. :)

1. Take the Bondi to Coogee walk
2. Walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge
3. Scuba dive in Great Barrier Reef
4. Hug a Koala and meet a Kangaroo
5. Witness the New Year fireworks at the Sydney Opera House
6. Participate in a Free Sydney Walking Tours
7. Go on a wine tour in one of Australia's wine areas
8. Wander Melbourne's laneways
9. Indulge in the famous coffee culture
10. Sunset cruise on the harbour
11. Walk through Hyde Park
12. Witness Vivid Sydney
13. Explore the Rocks District
14. Go to the Observatory Hill
15. Participate in a fun run

“Life hands us opportunities at every turn to get over ourselves, to get outside ourselves, to wake up from our own bad dreams and realize that really lovely things are happening all the time.”        Shauna Niequist

Life Lately

I made this post similar to Lauryn's, which is I think is a more personal take on the popular Sunday Currently link-up. Here's a look at what I've been up to lately.

Reading: The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama & Howard Cutler. I discovered this book from a good friend of mine who happened to carry it inside her bag during our reunion a few years ago. The title was stuck in my head until now, so I decided to read the book and find out what it's all about. Its a book about the philosophy and way of life of Buddhism and even if you aren't practicing the religion, it is a nice read about contentment, positivity, gratefulness and how to become an overall happier person. It was actually written by Howard Cutler, an American psychiatrist, who posed questions to the Dalai Lama and together they explore the different facets of life.

Listening: I mostly listen to R&B, hip hop, and pop music to accompany me while working out. I just browse through Spotify's workout songs and blast them on my speakers. It keeps you pumped up and motivated!

Feeling: Happy, excited, and nervous. Mixed emotions, really. There are two and a half weeks left before my departure to Sydney and I haven't started packing yet. Sometimes, I feel excited about starting a new life in a new place but other times sadness cause I'll be leaving my family behind. You see, I'm a very family oriented person and this is going to be my first time being away from them. So naturally, I've been bonding with my family and friends a lot these days. I'm definitely going to miss a lot of things here in the Philippines but also, excited to learn, grow and become independent.

Photographing: I love taking photos of the yummy foods that my mom and I are cooking. I also take the time to plate my healthy meals so I can snap a good photo. It serves as an inspiration to me so that I'll be motivated to continue this healthy lifestyle.

Writing: A list of things that I need to bring with me to Sydney so I won't forget. Also, a shopping list like my winter clothes, shoes, bags, etc.

Watching: I haven't been watching movies or TV shows that much lately. The only movie I saw this month was 21 Jump Street, a comedy movie starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. I'm going to watch the second part with my mom soon.

Using: Kayla Itsines' Bikini Body Workout Guide for 2 months now! That's a record for me right there cause I usually stick to a workout routine for only a month in the past. You only need 30 minutes a day to complete Kayla's routine, very sustainable if you ask me and it's like having a personal trainer right in front of you. I can honestly say that this is one of the best things I've done in my life.

Learning: To take care and love myself more. I used to be so hard and critical of myself, to a point that I get so stressed out and depressed. And ever since I made the decision to eat healthier and exercise every week, I noticed my stress levels are down and the fats are melting away! :D

Reminiscing: About my carefree days when I was younger, when life was so much easier. But now its time to put my big girl shoes on and face the real world! It's truly a bittersweet feeling.

Thinking: About the blessings I've received this year, the biggest of which is the approval of my visa, the positive things in my life, my lovely family and friends, my big move to Australia.

Reflecting Upon: My Australian dream and career path. This journey has definitely molded me to become a better person. I took a detour in my career path last year, but now I'm back to where I started. I believe God is directing me to the right path. :)

       

Five On Friday

O N E
Monday 1-5-15
Finally my student visa was approved! I can finally breathe! I have a few weeks left to prepare and say my farewells to family and friends. I'm so excited to start this new chapter of my life.

T W O
Qantas Airlines booked
I'm already booked on February 7th, I chose a flight with a strop over at the Changi Airport, Singapore as the ticket was a lot cheaper. I'll be setting foot on two different countries, yay! I'm coming AUSTRALIA! The wanderlust bug has bitten!

T H R E E
I'm on a health kick!
I'm so proud of myself for sticking to my fitness routine until now. My clothes fit better, and my stamina has increased! No more bloated and sluggish feeling! I hope I can continue this when I go to Australia next month. This is my favorite post workout smoothie - banana dates!

F O U R
Oh She Glows cookbook
I finally have this vegan cookbook(my first ever) by Angela Liddon. I'm not really looking into going vegan, I just want to get inspired to cook healthier and this is just what I needed!

F I V E
Sunday Mass with my sister
The day before my visa was approved, my sister and I went to mass at SM Megamall. I asked God for help regarding my visa and the next day my prayer was answered. Its amazing how God gives you the things you need at the RIGHT time, His time. Praise God!

2015 Goals List

MY WORD OF THE YEAR:

POSSIBLE

LIFE GOALS 
- Move out of my comfort zone
- Move to Australia
- Take risks and opportunities that come my way
- Learn to be more patient and grateful
- Live happier and have a more positive outlook in life 
- Become less sensitive with what other people say
- Meet new trustworthy friends
- Learn, grow and become independent
- Build my career

HEALTH GOALS
- Achieve my ideal weight 120 lbs. and maintain it
- Finish Kayla Itsines' Bikini Body Guide 12-week workout
- Stay motivated with my healthy eating and fitness habits
- Give up sweets, sodas and processed foods
- Have one cheat meal, ONCE a week





 

Top Ten Books I Read In 2014

This weekly bookish link up is hosted by Broke and Bookish.

Yesterday, I completed my 2014 Goodreads Challenge, which was set to 40 books and I'm proud of myself for achieving this goal. Now is the perfect time to do my yearly round-up of the best books I read this year:

 1. Just One Day by Gayle Foreman - Allison's life journey is almost the same as mine, which is why I love this book so much. Her decision to agree with Willem's offer to go on an adventure transformed her life for the better and it made me realize the importance of taking risks in life now matter how scary it looks. There are so many nuggets of wisdom that you can find in this book and I'm truly grateful to Gayle for writing such a fantastic book!

2. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas - I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it kept me up reading until midnight for two days in a row just to finish it.

3. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - This is my favorite among the series and possibly one of my all time favorite novels. Perkins is now an auto read for me, I just love her writing style!

4. The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare - One of the MOST unputdownable books I read this year which is why it is so hard to pick a favorite in this series, so naturally I had to include all three of them. I much prefer the storyline and characters of this over the Mortal Instruments. I feel like it has more depth and exciting parts in the story and it has WILL HERONDALE.

5. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera -  I'm really glad I reread it this year cause there were so many parts that made sense to me when I did. It was that deep.

6. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse - I read this when I found out that it is Leighton Meester's favorite novel. It tells about a man's journey to self-discovery, spiritual enlightenment and the meaning of life.  It’s filled with incredible writing, and it is one of those books that I recommend everyone to read at least once.

7. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - I just found out that this is going to be adapted into film soon. AWESOME.

8. Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin - I'm reading the ASOIAF series, one book per year cause I think it'll make waiting for the 6th and 7th installation much bearable. Obviously, this is included and I can't wait to read the 3rd book next year.

9. South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami - I read this at the beginning of this year and it's responsible for breaking my reading slump. This book is so amazing, I'm definitely going to read more of Murakami's works next year.

10. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - It's impossible to start this without finishing immediately. It's just SO addicting! It made me wanna read her other novels too(I heard they are equally good!) and I'm now a fan of psychological thriller novels because of this! 

What about you? What are the best books you've read this year? Come and join the link-up!

Five On Friday

 Five On Friday is hosted by the lovely Liz.

O N E
I managed to get myself out of an unhealthy lifestyle rut and I'm proud to say I did this in December, a month full of festivities and delectable meals! I've been eating clean and exercising regularly for almost two weeks now. I disliked waking up feeling sluggish and bloated because of the unhealthy foods that I kept putting inside my body, so one day I decided that it has to stop. I was so fortunate to come across Kayla Itsines on Instagram and found her workout and healthy food plans. I'm on week two and I feel healthy, strong and confident! I found my inspiration from Kayla Itsines, Simply Taralynn, Pinterest, and a couple of Youtubers.

T W O
I bought my first ever Nikes! I wanted one for the longest time and it was my early Christmas present from my parents. This will motivate me to work out more and achieve my fitness goals. I got mine from Zalora, it was perfect timing because I got them on sale and it was the pair that I wanted - originally, when you buy it at a mortar and brick Nike store the price is about P5,700($129) but because of the sale I only paid P4,000($90). Score! Its also my first time to purchase something online and I loved Zalora's customer service, I received my package the day before I placed my order in their website. This could be very dangerous for my wallet and a start of an addiction!

T H R E E
I started reading Landline by Rainbow Rowell this morning. It won the Goodreads Best Fiction book of the Year so I know that its gonna be a good one!

F O U R
Last Wednesday, my mom and I had our first taste of chestnuts this year and its one of our Christmas traditions to eat them during Christmas season. After all, Christmas isn't complete without sweet castañas.

F I V E 
I'm on a health kick! I bought this little notebook where I can put all of the healthy snacks and meals that I like. I found so many healthy recipes online and I'm so excited to try them all out. I've also been eating a lot of fruits and veggies and stayed away from white rice and bread.

All I Want For Christmas

 

 Yay! Once again its Christmas season, my favorite time of the year! These are the things that I would love to receive on Christmas day, not that I'm expecting any gifts and I know how expensive these are, I'm just putting it out there and just having a little fun!

Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor - This is the perfect tool to keep me motivated and reach my fitness goals. I finally found a sustainable workout routine by Kayla Itsines and I'm determined to stick through it until I achieve my ideal weight.

Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze - When I swatched this at the cosmetics counter, I instantly fell in love with its gorgeous color! Its a perfect everyday eyeshadow and you can practically bring it anywhere.

Kindle - I prefer ebooks over paperbacks and this has been in my lust list for the longest time. Thankfully, I got an Ipad this year so for meantime that will do but the paper white Kindle is so irresistible.

Purple Yoga Mat - gotta have this so I can perform Kayla's BBG workout routines efficiently.

Vans Perforated Slip Ons - I really like the style of these shoes and it'll go with so many casual outfits.

Under Armour long sleeves - I need more gym clothes in my life!

Silver necklace with cross pendant - I'm also eying the sideways cross necklace.

Dark Blue Pea Coat - I'm on a hunt for winter clothes nowadays, and I think this pea coat will be a lovely addition to my winter wardrobe essentials.

Ankle Boots - This is one of the most versatile footwear and I'm dying to have one! I'm also eying this chelsea boots in black.

WWW Wednesdays!

• What are you currently reading?

Game of Thrones: A Storm of Swords - I'm half way through this book but I've been delaying on finishing this book for months now cause I didn't want to end it just yet. Recently, I decided to pick it up again and continue where I left off.

• What did you recently finish reading?

#GirlBoss - This book is amazing. It follows Sophia's journey on how she built Nasty Gal, her own successful business and became a powerful brand in the saturated world of fashion industry. What makes her even more admirable is that she neither have a college degree nor any background in business. Additionally, she gives sound advice and how to's in order to empower women and become the best version of themselves. This isn't only for budding entrepreneurs but it is also perfect for women in their 20s who are building their career and trying find purpose and meaning.

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Little Women - The cold weather and the holiday spirit during this season calls for a classic novel! I have this book on top of my Winter TBR list and I cannot wait to curl up in bed and read this!

HAPPY READING!

The Happy List

1. Gossip Girl marathon

2. Sophia Amoruso's GirlBoss book

3. The color Tiffany Blue

4. Pinteresting

5. Jollibee's Aloha burger - absolutely delicious!

6. My visa application going well

7. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse - recommended by Leighton and I loved it!

8. The thought of moving away from home soon and taking risks to become a better person

9. Opportunities coming my way

10. People who love and support you every step of the way

11. Journaling

12. Actually putting into practice all the good advice I received from people whom I'm closest with and the ones I've read from books and online

13. Baking delicious cakes and pastries with my mom

14. Chuck Bass!

“Life hands us opportunities at every turn to get over ourselves, to get outside ourselves, to wake up from our own bad dreams and realize that really lovely things are happening all the time.”  -- Shauna Niequist

Credits: Wild Spirit for THL

October Rewind & November TBR

OCTOBER In One Word

EVOLVE

  3 Things About My Life In October:

1. Celebrated my 24th birthday.

2. I binge-watched Gossip Girl and finished the whole series in one week! This is the first ever TV series that I've watched from beginning to end as it was so addicting. Chuck and Blair holds a special place in my heart.

3. I finally got my acceptance letter from the school I'm applying to in Australia. It is one of the most vital documents that I need for my student visa application and hopefully, I'll be able to lodge my application this month so I can fly there in February.

5 Songs That Were Most Popular On My Ipod This Month:

1. Welcome to New York

2. Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran

3. Heartstrings - Leighton Meester

4. With You - Sum 21

5. I'm In Here - Sia

Top 3 Books I Read This Month:

1.Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse - this was 

2. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

3. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

3 New Obsessions In October

1.Gossip Girl - Till now, I'm having separation anxiety now that I'm done watching it.

2. Travel - New York and Paris are on top of my travel bucket list - Gossip Girl and 1989 influence.

3. 1989 by Taylor Swift - No surprise here, really. Everyone's buzzing about her new album and I'm certainly one of them!

Favorite Quote From A Book I Read In October

“I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way we 
can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value.” 
― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

My November TBR List:

1. The Secret History by Donna Tartt

2. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

3. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

4. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

5. Brida - Paulo Coelho

6. For Whom The Bell Tolls - Ernest Hemmingway

7. Landline - Rainbow Rowell

This post was inspired by one of my favorite book bloggers, Jamie!

TBR Tag

I saw this tag on Books Equal Awesomeness and although nobody has tagged me, I wanted to do it as it looks so fun!

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

I keep track of books I want to read but don't yet own on the ever handy Goodreads.

Is your TBR mostly print or ebooks?

Ebooks! They're perfect for people like me who are on a tight budget. But if I had the moolah, I'll most definitely have more physical TBR books.

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?

Generally, I just look at the Goodreads/my iBooks app and see what I'm in the mood for. I'm a mood reader - one moment its a chick lit, YA or a self help novel in my hands and the next it'll be classic or heavy literature. And sometimes, if a certain person whom I look up to recommends a book, I'll immediately read them.

A book that's been on your TBR the longest:

A Storm of Swords by GRRM. I've been putting this series off for a long time now because I don't want to end it just yet. And because the release of the sixth book is still unknown, I'll surely be left hanging and wanting for more after I finish the five books.

A book you recently added to your TBR:

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - this was highly recommended by booktuber that I love.

A book that is in your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover:

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson - I love the rainbow colors and its exciting vibe!

A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading:

Not that Kind Of Girl by Lena Dunham. I had high expectations on this one as it was raved by a lot of people I know, but after reading 100 pages, I decided to drop it. I didn't connect with her stories probably because of the way she churned them out in an outlandish manner. I only got into the lovelife part and it was beginning to get tiresome as she elaborated about her ex boyfriends.

An unpublished book on your TBR that you are excited for:

Definitely the 6th book in the A Song of Ice and Fire Series by GRRM - The Winds of Winter.

A book on your TBR that basically everyone's read but you:

Most of them are trilogies - Legend by Marie Lu, The Grisha Trilogy and Lunar Chronicles.

A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you:

Pride and Prejudice :)

A book that you're dying to read:

Lately, I've been leaning towards heavy literature like The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I'm also dying to read classics like Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Lord of the Flies and Little Women. Also, there's Shauna Niequist's books. There's just too many!

How many books are on your Goodreads TBR shelf?

265 :)