Top Ten Book Challenge

Another challenge tagged to me on FB. This is a tough one but i'l try my best to come up with a decent list. Parang ang hirap kasi mamili ng sampung book lang!

10. Always in my heart by Catherine Anderson- I love Catherine Anderson so every time i pay a visit to the bookstore, expect that she's one of the authors that i'll be searching on the pile. I love always in my heart because its not your ordinary pa-sweet lovestory. It was a beautiful tale of love and second chances. It also tackles serious issues like divorce and death. Ang ganda talaga nito at sobrang connected ako sa mga main characters. I didn't want it to end! 

9. Remember by Barbara Taylor Bradford- The book was a hand-me-down one from may boyfriends's aunt so it was kinda old. It was published in the 90's. I was actually reluctant to read it at first but im glad i did! I became an instant BTB fan when i started reading it because it was such a powerful novel with unexpected twists and surprises. I love the heroine Nicky Wells. Ang astig nya kasi war correspondent sya.

8. Become the Better You by Ed Lapiz- It was a birthday gift from a friend. I love this book because it made a lot of sense. I dont usually read religious/christian books but Ed Lapiz is like a breath of fresh air. He is hard and straightforward but it will hit you to the core. I like his style and i think the man had conviction. Alam nya ang kanyang mga sinasabi.

7. Jihan's Price to Pay by Kyra Gray- Kyra Gray was a friend and i met her once on a PHR workshop. Isa ito sa mga tagalog books na iniyakan ko kasi nakakadala yung story. The plot was really flawless. Ang lalim ng hugot nung story at ramdam mo yung sadness nung heroine. 

6. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella- This book is again a birthday gift! hahaha. (Alam kasi nilang iyon ang kaligayahan ko!) It was downright hilarious and entertaining! Just like the movie. Kakaaliw si Becky. Natuto akong magbasa ng chick lit dahil kay SK. Ito rin ang unang libro nya na nabasa ko. 

5. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede- This is the first book of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, although hindi ko nabasa yung mga kasunod hindi ko makakalimutan yung book na toh. This one is one of the first books that i had in my collection. Akala ko nung una pambata pero hindi naman pala kasi kahit matanda ka na maeentertain ka. It was one of the very few fantasy books that i like. Grabe si Patricia Wrede pagdating sa description ng mga settings at characters! She was a genius. Three times ko tong inulit!

4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by J.K Rowling- Dito nagsimula ang lahat. 4 Pivet Drive, a boy named Harry Potter living in the cupboard under the stairs. High School ako nung ipalabas yung movie adaptation nitong book 1, and since then i became a HP fan. Feeling ko malaking parte talaga ng kabataan ko yung Harry Potter. Lumalaki ako kasabay nina Harry, Ron at Hermione kaya feeling ko this book and the whole series will always be a part of me. 

3. The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks- This is also a gift. Im a fan of sappy novels of Nicholas Sparks. Gusto ko yung atake nya dito kasi maayos ang pagka kwento pati yung mga backstory nung bawat characters, they all fall together. Marami na syang nasulat na ginawang movie, although kapag ina-adapt sa movie, may hindi ako nagugustuhan pero this one (the book) really lived up to its title dahil the best talaga kapag binasa mo. 

2. The Fountain by Emily Grayson- This one is one of the random books that i bought on BookSale Megamall. My heart was captured by the story dahil ang swabe lang tapos maraming cliffhangers na nakaka excite lalo nung bumalik si Will Combray sa buhay ni Casey! Kilig talaga. Pero ang ending? Hindi mo akalaing ganon. Overall, nagustuhan ko talaga. As in! lol obvious ba?

1. Okay i had to cheat with my #1. hehehe di kasi talaga ako makapili ng isa lang kasi tie talaga sila sa puso ko. Sorry po! Pagbigyan nyo na! :-) 

Switchback by Catherine Anderson- Ay grabe. Eto talaga yung libro na dahilan kung bakit ako naadik kay CA. Sobrang galeng at ganda nung story. This one got published a long time ago pero nung nabasa ko wala nganga talaga ako at sya na lang inatupag ko maghapon! This book had all the elements of a good book. Exciting, nakakilig, nakaka iyak minsan nakakainis kapag may mystery na hindi agad na reveal pero sobrang ang ganda nung ending. Eto yung klase ng book na gugustuhin mong hugutin sa libro yung mga characters and make them real persons and be part of their lives. Ganon ako ka-attach sa isang toh. hehe kailangan ko yatang lumaklak ng realidad para maisip ko ulit na libro lang sya.

Sweet Nothings by Catherine Anderson- I guess by now alam nyo na adik ako sa writings ni CA. This one is a lot thicker than Switchback, and it had many chapters. Akala ko tuloy mabuburyong ako sa pagbabasa pero hindi pala. As usual, CA win my heart again! This book really sealed my love for CA novels kasi ang ganda talaga. Molly and Jake are few of the characters that i will never forget kasi sobrang mafi-feel mo yung depth nung love nila, even the tenderness of their intimacy ramdam mo hanggang buto. lol. . I really recommend this to everyone. Catherine Anderson had books to die for! 

Kayo, anong top ten favorite books nyo? :-)

20 random facts about me

A friend tag me to a post entitled “20 facts about me”on FB. I know I should post this on facebook but im not really comfortable sharing this on my fb ang tagging someone to do it so I decided to still do it but just post it on my blog instead. (Haha) Forgive me but I hate chain messages or post. I don’t want to pass it on and oblige people to do the same kasi hindi naman lahat sila game or interesado sa ganon di ba? May point naman ako. haha Lol

Anyway, enough of my silly rants. Here is my own list. 

1.My real name is Remelyn but I have a lot of nicknames. My family and my closest friends call me “kile”. My other friends and friends at work call me “Lyn” and some of my classmates back in college call me “Rem” and some “Myles”.  Hahaha! Ang dami noh? Ewan ko na kung bakit ganyan basta ang dami nilang tawag sakin.

2. I honestly think I was born on a wrong generation. I didn’t belong in this era. Why? Because im always drawn to old things. I love anything vintage. I love watching old movies and listening to old songs and I always have this fascination to go back in time. Kung pwede lang mag time travel ehh, I’d like to live in the 70’s.

3. I don’t watch HORROR movies, tv series or anything basta nakakatakot. Kahit suhulan ako ng kung ano ano para lang manuod hindi ko talaga kaya. Duwag na kung duwag basta ayoko. Period! Haha.

4. I play guitar. I sing. And I recorded videos of me singing hahaha but I never uploaded it. I just kept it in the safest room of my cellphone! Dalawang beses lang yata ako nag upload pero pili lang ang pinag share-an ko at dating dati pa yon, makapal pa ang mukha ko non haha. Aliw lang kasi kapag pinanuod mo yung sarili mo tapos may ilan ilan na naka appreciate dun sa ginawa mo. Masaya na ako dun.

5. I love sweets. I love junk foods. Pero ngayon, im trying to cut down kasi im trying to lose weight. Pero kumakain pa din ako kahit kaunti hehe di ko kasi talaga kayang i-give up!

6. I don’t go out without earrings. Feeling ko may kulang. Feeling ko parang nakahubad ako kapag wala akong suot na hikaw. Haha! I just have to have earrings, ke small stud or small pearls anything.. Basta pag lalabas ako lagi akong may suot na hikaw. Mas maganda ang tingin ko sa sarili ko kapag nakahikaw. :-P

7. Im not a girly girl. I don’t usually wear dress, sleeveless top, skirts, heels. Ang pormahan ko madalas naka pantalon, shorts (but not too short) , tshirt, blouse, tsinelas or sneakers. Dun kasi ako mas komportable. Lumalabas lang ang pagkababae ko kapag may mga okasyon na kailangan talagang magbihis like weddings, graduations etc..

P.S....
Na trauma nga pala ako sa pagsusuot ng heels dahil last time na nagsuot ako pinulikat ako at binuhat lang ako para lang maisakay ako sa sasakyan. Hahahaha! Very recent lang iyon. *kahiya*

8. My comfort food is hamburger! Hamburger forever! Anything basta my patty, may bun, ketchup at mayo, may cheese man or wala! In short—hamburger lang talaga ang all time favorite kong kainin. Breakfast, lunch, meryenda or dinner. Haha! I can eat that everyday at hindi ako magsasawa lalo na kapag may kasamang French fries! 

9. Hindi ako gumagamit ng wallet. Is that weird? Kasi most of the people (esp. girls) I know have wallets on their bags. You know the leather ones—yung may lalagyan ng mga cards, may pictures pa nga at kung anek anek! Hindi ako nasanay gumamit non. Ang meron lang ako sa bag ko ay coin purse. Dun na ako naglalagay ng pera ke barya ke buo magkakasama na sila don nalulukot. Haha

10. My favorite vegetable is ampalaya. No one else comes close to ampalaya. I used to hate it pero natuto akong kumain nito dahil kay Daryl. Sya ang may sala kung bakit ko nagustuhan ang ampalaya.

11. I have a soft heart when it comes to dogs. Marami na akong naging pet na aso. And everytime mababawasan sila, my heart breaks really bad. I just love dogs so much kahit na minsan nakakainis sila ang iingay at ang gugulo but they can easily turn my heart into mush kapag pinakita nilang excited sila na makasama ako.

12. I love listening to love songs. Old or new. Pero mas madalas yung old. Ako ay self-confess sentimental. A song can easily move me.

13. I cant live without coffee. My average coffee intake is 3-4 cups a day.

14. I love reading. Im collecting books.  Any genre, wag lang horror. Siguro dun nagsimula yung hilig ko rin na magsulat.

15. I cant sleep with lights on at hindi ako makakatulog ng walang yakap na unan. Gusto ko rin yung itatapat ko sakin yung electric fan or aircon pero balot na balot naman ako ng kumot! Hahahaha saka sabi nila, naghihilik daw ako. Hindi ko alam kung totoo, wala naman silang ebidensya! Lol

16. Hindi ako marunong lumangoy. Muntik na akong malunod nung grade 3 ako kaya simula non natakot na akong mag swimming sa malalim. Pang kiddie pool lang po ako.

17. Hindi ako sumasakay sa mga nakakatakot na rides! Example: space shuttle, roller coaster, or anything extreme! Perriswheel pwede pa siguro kasi mabagal.

18. I hate math or anything that has to do with Math! Mahina ako sa numbers. Madali akong malito. Nung nag aaral pa ako, ang paborito kong subject ay english at science.

19. I have 5 published books under precious hearts romances. My pen name is Bella Sabina. Pero matagal na akong walang release. Still struggling with my revisions. 

20. I have fallen inlove twice in my life.

Movie Review: Something Borrowed

Title: Something Borrowed

Year Released: 2011

Genre: Romantic Comedy-Drama

Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin as Rachel White

   Kate Hudson as Darcy Rhone

John Krasinski as Ethan

           Colin Egglesfield as Dexter "Dex" 

Synopsis:

Rachel White (Ginnifer), Darcy Rhone (Kate) and Ethan (John) are best friends for as long as they can remember. They we're inseparable since childhood. They have gone to the same schools and practically grew up together. 

The movie opens as Rachel celebrates her 30th birthday on a bar which happens to be a surprise party for her prepared by her best friend Darcy. Everyone was there including Darcy's fiance Dex (Colin) who happens to be Rachel's classmates in law school, that she later introduced to Darcy and eventually the two (Darcy and Dex) became a couple.

Darcy had too many drinks that night and unconsciously left her purse on the bar. When Dex came back to get the purse for her, He never thought he would be getting so much more when He and Rachel decided to have a night cap, and had a serious heart to heart talk. Their time together rekindled old flames between them six years ago when they're still at law school.

Rachel confessed that she had a thing for Dex back then, and vice versa. They end up in bed and the story gets more and more exciting as they try to keep their "secret" relationship. Until...Ethan found out about it and to make the picture more complicated, He admits that he likes Rachel too. Darcy on the other hand, admits that she also cheated over Dex and get the biggest surprise of her life when she found out that Rachel and Dex are having an affair all along.

Following the complicated turn of events, the wedding of Darcy and Dex was instantly shelved. Darcy gets impregnated by a different guy. Ethan ends up being just a best friend to Rachel. Rachel and Dex had finally became an official couple.

Rachel and Darcy eventually reconcile after a few months.

What I like about the movie:

This movie was based on a book and i didn't get to read the book yet, so i have no comparison to the original story (if they changed some parts and stuffs).

I like the plot because even though it sounds so complicated at first, as you watch the movie and as you get the hang of the characters, you'll easily understand them and you wont have a hard time following the story.

Among the characters, i love Rachel and Darcy. I thought Ginnifer Godwin is like a breath of fresh air in this movie. Although her character is a little bit stiff, and not so much fun compared to Darcy, i think Rachel White was a well written character. Seeing her naive and conservative persona on the beginning and later it grows to a more go-getter type of woman, shedding a bit her goody two-shoe image and following her heart and pursuing the man of her dreams.

Darcy on the other hand, is the exact opposite of Rachel. She's loud, fun, cool and she always get what she wants. I think Kate Hudson is so good at portraying this "mean-girl" roles as i've seen her on "Bridewars" with the same type of character, only with Something Borrowed she is more bitchy. She is fun to watch though! Kate Hudson knows how to bitch it and still when she cries, she will affect you. She will get to you.

Another thing that i liked about the movie is--it is not boring. I must admit whether i like the scenes or not, it is definitely not a boring movie. The tension between Rachel and Dex's characters when Darcy is around is just very effective that in a way, it gets to you and you will eventually look forward on how things are going to turn up. Ethan is also another factor on the entertainment part of the movie, i really like how he and Rachel banters, and all the gay thing going on is just hilarious!

What I didn't like about the movie:

I didn't like DEX!!!! His character is so lame, and coward, and inconsiderate! LOL. Whatever Emily Giffin had in mind when she wrote Dex, i dont know but I really dont like what i saw in him. Being in the center of two strong-willed woman, he seemed a little weak and spineless. I mean, what kind of a man is that? He is always not sure of his feelings.It gets to a point where he is painful to watch and i cant stop hating his character towards the end. (even after He called off the wedding and finally made a brave decision.)

Well, im sorry if i kinda took out my annoyance on Dex (haha!) Anyway, on a lighter note i think his character was really supposed to be that way, if not then the plot would be so different. :-)

Favorite Quote from the movie:

“You are my best friend is the understatement of the century. You're the sister I never had.You're sometimes the mother I often need. The reason why I can't stumble so furiously into adventures, because she's always there. She is always, always there.” - Darcy

“He makes you the person you want to be, Instead of the person you are, and that,the idea of life without him is, not only unbearable, it's unimaginable.” 

- Rachel

"I want not to want him." -Rachel 

Overall Rating:

Fun movie about friendship, love, life. Sheer fun and entertainment. I love that this movie is so realistic. You could imagine this happening on real life.

Overall, i could say that like the movie. There are so many things to like about the movie. The casting, the lines, the plot and characters. The totality of it kind of worked together to create a nice, feel-good chick flick that is perfect on a friday night to watch with your girlfriends.

Not over the top. Just ENOUGH. :)

3 OUT OF FIVE STARS!

2 days after 2014....

Happy New Year guys! :-) Time really flies huh? Its 2014 already. To be exact, we are now on the second day of 2014. *sigh* I really feel nostalgic tonight. Looking back on the events of 2013 is both easy and difficult.. Both sad and happy.. Both bitter and sweet.. 2013 was a life changing year for me. I've made a few decisions that changed me forever and made a huge impact in my life in general.

Early last year, I decided to leave my previous job. I attempt to land a new job or should i say jobs coz I've tried a few times but unfortunately, not even one of those jobs push through. I did get some great opportunities though but i had to give it up due to some conflicting priorities. Well... Now that i thought about it, Its actually surprising I still had the same feeling as i did last year about turning all the offers down. I have no regrets. Hindi naman ako nanghihinayang kasi it's all just material. I mean, lets face it. We do look for jobs primarily because we want to earn money right? Im not saying that's its wrong, it's just that for me, i dont want to be motivated by money. Rather, i wanted to do something i really really enjoy. Kung may sweldo, bonus na yon di ba? mas okay nga yon, but i dont really want to focus on the money.
Well, It's not that im trying to justify my decision of not working. Ofcourse, there are times that i do get bored. It's been 9 months now and im starting to lose hope every now and then but I've finally decided now that i dont want to presure myself. I dont NEED to pressure myself.
This 2014, im planning to live by that mantra except that maybe i'l be more go getter, and i'll start trusting myself more. And this year,i know i will land a job again. a much much better one than my last :-)

Another reason that made my 2013 unforgettable is this one person i met.. I can say its one of the happiest and the saddest, tragic event of my life. And it all took part last 2013. I met a very special friend, we really get along and became so bonded and then i lost her before the year ends. It all happen so fast.
It really pains and saddens me until now, but i think im okay. At least, things are starting to look up lately... We made amends and that's about it.. Things will never be the same but I guess I've already mastered the art of accepting.. In life, there are people we met..and sometimes.. or most of the times, due to situations, circumstance or fate, they cant stay in our lives for a long time. But that doesn't mean they will not stay in our hearts right? Anyway, I'm all charging it to experience. I dont want to be cynical just because of that one incident. I know 2014 will be better and a lot of new people, new colleagues, new friends will be waiting on my way. :-)

Happiness, Im claiming you this 2014!

WELCOME 2014!!! Im so ready for you!

 More blog post to come for me! :-) :-) :-)

 happy new year everyone!!!01.02.14 <3

"Use your smile to change the world but dont let the world change your smile." :-)