I changed my layout. Nothing new with that, right? Hey, always keep in mind that the only thing constant in this world is CHANGE.

Okay, on with my entry. So I was able to watch How to Steal a Million last night and I absolutely loved it! It was funny, clever and romantic. The plot was really simple yet the suspense and excitement were there.

Audrey was, like always, fabulous and so was her leading man, Peter O'Toole.

Aside from her fabulous outfits, I also loved Nicole's cute little red car!

I usually doze off when watching movies so late, especially old, old flicks, but this one kept me awake all 123 minutes of it! I just love the humor in this film, I can watch it over and over, just like Sabrina!

After 13 long years, my dad will be spending Christmas and New Year again with us here at home. This is really exciting. We finally get to greet him "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year" face-to-face instead of over the phone. That saves us him precious cellphone load, haha!

I can hardly remember the last time we spent Noche Buena with him. He, on the other hand, cannot remember how we spend Christmas. "Paano ba kayo nagse-celebrate ng Pasko?" he asked. Well this year daddy dear, you will find out how we do it. Of course it will be a little more special because you will be around.

Speaking of celebrations, it's my brother's birthday today! Happy birthday bro! No more gifts from ate ha! hehe. I gave him my gift two months in advance.

What else? Oh I am back in the office after my extended holiday. Wasn't able to watch Charade because of the cold weather. Sarap matulog! Also, I am getting addicted to Diner Dash! Now I want a PSP instead of an Ipod Classic, haha! But first things first. Got to save, save, save!

That's it for now. Got work to do. Happy midweek!

 
Heart Evangelista on the cover of Preview Magazine's November 2008 issue

Audrey Hepburn as Nicole in How to Steal a Million

*Audrey Hepburn's photo courtesy of Relicário de Elis Marchioni.

Last night I watched the first episode of the first season of Gossip Girl (GG), thanks to Sandz who lent me her dibidi. Yeah, I know, this fad is (almost) sooo last year, but better late than never.

I got home from our coffee night at around 11 pm and not even my droopy eyes were able to stop me from popping in the dibidi. A few more episodes and I'm ready to declare my addiction to this series.

Chuck, Jenny, Dan, Nate,  Blair & Serena

I originally wanted to read the GG books first, then watch the series, but they're so expensive! I'd rather buy the rest of the books in the Twilight Saga, which I already started doing with Breaking Dawn, or the Audrey Hepburn DVD Collection, which I will do very soon (fingers crossed).

Anyway, I enjoyed the first episode so I assume I would enjoy the entire series. Well, at least season one. Darn, I just remembered I won't be able to finish all 13 (or is it 14?) episodes tomorrow since it's the start of my classes. What a bummer. But I will try to watch as many episodes as I can tonight, I promise! It isn't so hard to stay up late when watching GG anyhow.

...was boring, so I'm posting this survey from Cheska instead of a blog about that.

1. What is your current ringtone?
~ Breakin' Dishes by Rihanna

2. What is your current wallpaper?
~ Serena and Blair!

3. Do you own a picture phone?
~ Yup

4. If so, what was the last picture you took?
~ wait let me check...my "school id." (actually it's just a name tag that misspelled my nickname, surprise, surprise!)

5. Go to your text message inbox and type what the 10th message from the top says:
~"mahal san ka na?" -Paul

6. How many contacts do you have on your phone?
~ 395

7. Go to your last missed call, who was it?
~ Michee

9. *nawala ung tanong???*
~san kaya napunta?!

10. At this very moment, how many bars do you have for your service?
~5

11. Who's on your speed dial number 5?
~ no one

12. Do you have a voicemail?
~ no

13. How many contacts that start with the letter D do you have:
~ 14

14. Who do you call the most?
~ Paul

15. How many text messages do you get a month?
~ i don't count. do you?

16. Can you send pictures?
~ of course

17. What are the last 4 digits to your number?
~ 1107

18. Go to your sent texts, what does the eighth one say?
~ "Haha! Congrats. Eh di manood ka po. Sama mo si Janno. Ingat kayo. I love you!" -to Paul

19. What about the 15th?
~ *it's too personal, sorry*

20. Who's the last person that you called?
~ Michee

22. Last person that texted you?
~ Paul

23. Last person you added to your address book?
~ I can't remember who

24. Do you like your phone?
~ yes

25. What is it?
~ SE K800i

26. Wanna give out your number?
~nope

There, I said it. After eleven episodes and three sleepless nights, I am not in denial anymore. I am officially hooked--and so is my sister! Sandz, I hope you don't mind that she ripped your disc and put the entire season 1 in her Ipod.

I still think there's way too much making out, but Dan Humphrey is so effin' hot, so what the heck! And also, I like Serena Van Der Woodsen better than Blair Waldorf, even though B. is prettier and loves Breakfast at Tiffany's (Oh I hated her Holly Golightly in that dream sequence!). I also like the parents, especially Lily. At first I thought she was a total bitch, but now I feel sorry for her and Rufus. They remind me of Luke and Lorelai.

Anyway, so how addicted am I to the series? Well, my message alert tone now is Young Folks and I've just created my own Gossip Girl cellphone theme. A little later I'll be changing my desktop wallpaper from Edward & Bella to Chuck, Nate, Blair, Jenny, Dan & Serena and you can bet that I won't sleep until I've seen all the episodes tonight--or until dawn tomorrow.

XOXO,

Caution: This list is one big spoiler, so please don’t read further if you haven’t read the book.

From Business Mirror

Written by Denise Martin / Los Angeles Times
Tuesday, 09 December 2008 18:36

WHILE Twilight fans begin to debate the issues facing the filming of New Moon—the next installment in Stephenie Meyer’s teen vampire series involving werewolves and a growth spurt that will require actor Taylor Lautner to appear 6'5" and 25 years old on screen—an even more urgent problem nags: The problem with Breaking Dawn. With Twilight having banked $70.55 million in its first weekend of release, Summit Entertainment has already snatched up rights to the next two books in Meyer’s saga, New Moon and Eclipse, and is negotiating for the series-ending Breaking Dawn.

Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward, has said he’s only signed up to star in the next two films, and the fourth book has had little mention in the media when it comes to reports concerning Twilight as a movie franchise.

Perhaps the powers-that-be are figuring out a way to end the movie series as a trilogy.

Why? Because whether you loved or hated it, Breaking Dawn poses more than a few problems for the big screen. Even barring the very divided reaction from Meyer’s fan base over the final book, Breaking Dawn contains several head-scratching scenes and themes. (Full disclosure: As a Twilight fan, I thought Meyer could have done better.) The following are 10 reasons the book would be a tough-to-film movie.

Bella and Edward get married by Page 49.

There goes your love triangle. You can retire those Team Edward and Team Jacob shirts now. Also remember, Edward is forever 17 and Bella’s 18. A teenage wedding!

After three books’ worth of buildup, Bella and Edward finally have sex—but we get a fade to black?

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated Meyer’s post-coital details: the ripped-apart pillowcases and feathers in Bella’s hair, her black-and-blue bruises, the broken headboard. If the movie just has to be rated PG-13, then I guess it’s the only way.

But after more than 1,500 pages of chaste kisses, we’re rewarded with a fade-out after fade-out on their honeymoon? Instead we get morning-after fried egg breakfasts and Edward’s nonstop agonizing over having finally bedded his bride. Hardly satisfying.

Then Bella gets pregnant.

By Page 118 (in a 754-page book) Bella is with child. At this point, the film would already be worse than a Lifetime movie of the week. What follows are chapters and chapters of the half-vampire, half-human baby making life violently uncomfortable for Bella, which required Meyer to let Jacob narrate the entire middle chunk of the book. So in the final movie, we’d shift our focus from Bella to Jacob?

Edward goes from being the man of every girl’s dreams to a man in need...

...of some guts, some personality, something that doesn’t read pathetic.

Throughout Breaking Dawn he’s guilt-ridden over his love for Bella, even more so than in the other books. That’s admittedly difficult to believe, but true.

While Bella is bedridden, trying to keep alive the half-human, half-vampire baby eating its way through her belly, we get this choice scene in which a desperate Edward begs Jacob to offer Bella the latter’s baby-making services. (I guess half-werewolf, half-human babies are safer?) If you’d blocked that moment, here it is:
“I don’t care about anything but keeping her alive,” he said, suddenly focused now. “If it’s a child she wants, she can have it. She can have half a dozen babies. Anything she wants.” He paused for one beat. “She can have puppies if that’s what it takes.”

That’s right. He said “puppies.”

When she gives birth, Edward rips open Bella’s stomach with his teeth to get the baby out.

It’s a bloody and gruesome birth. And what does the little bugger do once she’s out? Sinks her half-vampire teeth into mom’s chest, that’s what. What follows is an equally bloody and gruesome transformation of our teenage heroine into a vampire. How any of the birth scene gets magically transformed into a PG-13 moment is anyone’s guess.

Bella names her baby Renesmee.

A blend of Renee (the name of Bella’s mom) and Esme (the name of Edward’s). Renesmee.

How will Kristen Stewart, she who fights against dumb dialogue, deal with such a name? Will she rename the kid? How will audiences not blindly obsessed with Stephenie Meyer’s prose react to hearing it? It just can’t happen. But the name’s the least of it after...

Jacob falls in love with her. 

Yes, Jacob imprints on newborn Renesmee. Meyer introduced the concept of imprinting, in which werewolves become tied to their true loves through some sort of love-at-first-sight kismet, in her earlier books. But it’s even creepier when Jacob goes from his mad obsession with Bella to one over her daughter. Her half-vampire daughter.

Meanwhile, Bella’s transformation into a vampire requires no effort on her part at all.

Other humans that get turned? It’s tough. They want bona fide human blood and lots of it. Bella? She’s cool to snack on deer. She doesn’t have the urge to accidentally chomp down on her human dad. And she’s quicker, faster and stronger than all the Cullen men. There’s no struggle to get what she wants.

When it looks like things are heating up between the Cullens and the big bad ruling vamps, the Volturi, over the existence of Renesmee—the Volturi want her dead—the Cullens gather friends, they strategize, they train for war. And it all ends...

...not when Bella, and her special protective power, save the day—she doesn’t—but when little Alice reappears with a tale of another half-human, half-vampire named Nahuel living happily abroad. Nahuel’s not harmful at all, she explains, so there’s no need to fight.

Wait, what...

Did I say war? I meant peaceful gathering in the forest.

After hearing the explanation, the Volturi make a peaceful exit. Head bad vamp Aro even bids the Cullen clan a fond farewell: “I’m so glad this could be resolved without violence,” he said sweetly. “My friend, Carlisle—how pleased I am to call you friend again!...Perhaps, in time, you will forgive me.”

And there begins the final chapter (titled “Happily Ever After,” natch.)

Have you ever wondered how your blog would look like in another language? Here's mine in French and in Filipno.

I couldn't stop laughing while reading the Filipino version.

I guess the reason why I didn't like Blair at first was because she reminded me so much of high school. My high school. That point in my life where I had to deal with too many drama queens and bullies. Too many Blair Waldorfs. And add to that a whole barkada of backstabbers and tattletales. I still shudder at the awful memories of my freshman year.

Embarrassing as it may be, I was Little J. I wanted to be with the "in" crowd during my first year in high school but, fortunately, not to the extent of having to steal or lie to my parents. And now that I think about it, maybe that was why I never did get in. I was too straight and so afraid to disappoint my parents.

They said that they couldn't see the real me because I was always on the safe side. But that wasn't enough reason to judge me and call me names behind my back or, actually, even right in front of me since I had no idea that their codename was referring to me. That didn't earn them the right to ruin my reputation.

But what's done is done. Looking back, my only regret is having wanted to belong to their group. I wish I never had that desire to be one of them. Now I can honestly say that even though I have never really forgotten everything that happened, I have already forgiven. I have moved on a long time ago and I assume they all have, too. After all, what's important is that I was able to prove them wrong.

So, having said all that, I am now happy to admit that I'm finally a Blair fan. At last I am able to see the real goodness in her. I can't wait to watch season 2!

And he's called a FED 5-B Rangefinder Camera

Si Abby kasi eh!

Photo courtesy of Jennie Castillo

I am reading this:

For the record, I didn't buy the book. My sister did.

I ask the same question that Oprah Winfrey now asks herself. I guess I must have "fallen off the wagon" of healthy living, too. Fortunately I'm not yet on the 200-pound mark like Winfrey, not even close. But the bulges clearly show how much weight I've put on.

More than other people's judgment, what I'm really worried about everytime I gain extra weight,  believe it or not, is my health. I may not be that old but in this day and age, nobody is really too young to have a heart attack or high blood pressure.

Also, I find it difficult to move around when I'm fat. Feeling heavy and bloated only makes me even more irritable than I already am and we all know that means more petty fights with the boyfriend. How he sees me is out of the question because I know that he'll still love me no matter how big my waistline gets. It's just that I tend to be whiny during this phase and that really ticks him off.

So how bad is it? Well, aside from the "ang taba mo ngayon" greetings that I usually get from people whom I haven't seen in a while (or even from those whom I see everyday), there's this one person, a high school classmate's mom, whom I caught checking my tummy for a baby bump when we had a chance meeting over the weekend. Her thoughts were made clear when she finally asked if Paul and I have finally tied the knot. Of course the answer to that was a big NO and I hope that also shed light on her suspicion about my "condition."

Anyway, I still have no answer to that question, but I have finally found the courage to lose all these extra pounds. I was able to do it before, I can do it again and I WILL.

Videoke session with my UST friends
December 13, 2008 (Saturday)
Top Grill KTV Bar & Restaurant
Jupiter Street, Makati City

The night started off with dinner at Aristocrat, also on Jupiter Street, then everyone headed to Top Grill, which was just a few steps away. For the first time in my adult life I sang in front of "many" people, haha! I didn't want to be the only KJ in the group, so I gave in to their, um, requests. Hehe. It was a fun experience, although I doubt if I'll ever do it again.

We missed Jaja, of course, but being all-powerful as she is the goddess in our group, she managed to send us her Christmas presents with a little help from Candice. Thanks Ja!

After belting it out in the videoke machine, the gang went to the nearby Starbucks outlet for the gift giving. Our gifts, however, are yet to be distributed so we set another date with them tomorrow night at Shanghai Bistro, our treat! (By "our" I meant Paul and moi).

It was truly another fun and memorable gathering with my Ka-Seasons. Thank you guys for another adventurous year!

I am not ashamed of the stuff that make me happy no matter how old (or dead) they may be.

What used to look like this:

Now looks like this:

Squeaky-clean!

The Kinsella books are at the back together with some lomo stuff (processed films, Digiprint CDs), VCDs and some books that I'm already done reading. As you can see, I bought DVDs of Audrey Hepburn flicks that I only had in VCD copies and, as promised, all the books in the Twilight Saga (yes, even New Moon).

I'm so glad I was able to tidy up this space before the Holidays. Now all I have to worry about is which Audrey Hepburn flick to watch (again) first! Oh by the way, I also bought a DVD of The Sound of Music, my all-time favorite Holiday family movie! Another old stuff, I know, but like I said, I am not ashamed! haha! At least these will distract me from my annoyance with the Gossip Girl dibidi that I bought. Hanggang episode 10 lang! Anyway, maybe I'll just wait for season two to really be over para di na ako pinapaasa ng mga dibidi na yan (wait, 'di pa nga ba tapos?). Huhu, sorry Abby nabitin!

What else? Ah! I've been listening to I am Sasha Fierce, the Twilight Movie soundtrack and songs from Gossip Girl all week. Love 'em all!

Oops, I have to go. Maghuhuromintado magwawala na yung kapatid ko. Happy weekend guys!

Confessions of a Shopaholic movie trailer

Bakit kumikinang ang skin ni Edward Cullen?

kasi...

Only Bella touches his skin...Who touches yours?

harharhar!

Credits to Eunice

Will somebody PLEASE STOP THIS!!!

This is how your vision will be like after riding the Space Shuttle or downing an entire case of beer or doing both at the same time:

Of course I am just showing off my "latest" shots. Click here for more. Happy Holidays!

Like most of you, my 2008 was a blast. I've received many blessings, tried new things, met interesting people and saw new places. Likewise, it has been a challenging one for me. Problems came and went but here I am, still standing. Sabi nga ni Ina Montecillo, "ang babaeng hindi natutumba ay dating kunduktora." LOL! Of course I was never a konduktora, but I've learned to balance all aspects of my life. Work, family, friends, and love life. I was able to allot time for all of them and even managed to start a new hobby and get hooked on new addictions.

As for my financial statement, NO COMMENT. haha! Oh dear, I seriously need to minimize if not totally get rid of my tendency to impulse buy and over spend. Also, I have to limit my carbo intake and get my butt on the treadmill. I can really feel the "weight" of this problem now. My pants won't fit anymore, huhu. But due to insistent public demand, I have decided to postpone my diet to January 2009 (clap! clap!). However, this doesn't mean that I would totally pig out during the Holidays. I would eat what I want but in moderation. Don't want to upset my stubborn tummy over and over.

Anyway, enough with the rants and resolutions and let's focus on the happy vibes, shall we? Here's a visual summary of how my 2008 turned out to be:

To everyone who's been a part of my 2008, THANK YOU! Cheers to a more colorful 2009. Happy New Year to all!