DeCaFFeiNaTeD

Weekend Routine {Hair Care, Skin Care and Pizza Making!}

2016-10-09T20:00:00.000+08:00

Hi guys! I'm sharing with you my Weekend Routine, including hair care, skin care, and a little cooking on the side. I hope you enjoy this video, as much as I loved filming it. Join me as I go through my journey as a teen living in the Philippines!

Show some love by liking, commenting, and subscribing to my channel. Thank you!

Much love and toodles! 💖💖💖

💚 S U B S C R I B E: http://tinyurl.com/zh4jf4u

💜 T W I T T E R: https://twitter.com/chesteney/

💖 I N S T A G R A M: https://instagram.com/chesteney/

💚 W A T T P A D: https://www.wattpad.com/user/ThePurpleHuntress

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Did you enjoy this post? For more of my stories and adventures, you can subscribe to my updates via EMAIL or READER, or follow my blog through Facebook and Twitter. Take care, God bless, keep on shining and have a beautiful life! Mwah!

Filipino Snack Haul 2016 {Part 2}

2016-10-01T20:00:00.000+08:00

Me and my cousins Gia and Raffa, had so much fun filming this Filipino Snack Haul for you guys! I hope you enjoyed this video. If you still haven't, please watch PART 1 of this haul HERE.

I had to split it into two parts because it's quite long.

*Please expect random barking sounds in the background. We have so many dogs! :)

Show some love by liking, commenting, and subscribing to my channel. Thank you!

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Filipino Snack Haul 2016 {Part 1}

2016-09-18T20:00:00.000+08:00

Me and my cousins Gia and Raffa, had so much fun filming this Filipino Snack Haul for you guys! I hope you enjoyed this video. Please watch the PART 2 of this haul HERE.

I had to split it into two parts because it's quite long.

*Please expect random barking sounds in the background. We have so many dogs! :)

Show some love by liking, commenting, and subscribing to my channel. Thank you!

Much love and toodles! 💖💖💖

💚 S U B S C R I B E: http://tinyurl.com/zh4jf4u

💜 T W I T T E R: https://twitter.com/chesteney/

💖 I N S T A G R A M: https://instagram.com/chesteney/

💚 W A T T P A D: https://www.wattpad.com/user/ThePurpleHuntress

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VLog #1: The Day I Officially Became a YouTuber

2016-09-11T23:02:00.000+08:00

Hi guys! Welcome to my channel! Join me as I go through my journey as a teen living in the Philippines! This is my first YouTube video. This was recorded when we went to SM Aura Premier recently. It is quite long, but I hope you like what I shared with you here. :)

Show some love by liking, commenting, and subscribing to my channel. Thank you!

Much love and toodles! 💖💖💖

💚 S U B S C R I B E: http://tinyurl.com/zh4jf4u

💜 T W I T T E R: https://twitter.com/chesteney/

💖 I N S T A G R A M: https://instagram.com/chesteney/

💚 W A T T P A D: https://www.wattpad.com/user/ThePurpleHuntress

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Freedom, in My Perspective

2016-08-29T23:00:00.000+08:00

Let me ask you a question: “Would you stand around stark naked in front of a crowd, if you could? Yes, and why, or no, and why not?”

For some, it may seem like a bizarre question. Who, in their right mind would do something despicable like that? Let alone, even think of doing such a disgraceful act? The decision on whether to do it or not lies on free will and freedom of choice, to which every human being is entitled to. What could be right or wrong for you, is not necessarily the same for everyone.

We are born free, and have every right to be free. People that have lost such fundamental freedom through external oppression or conquest are said to be “liberated”, when freedom is restored. We talk about different kinds of freedom-- belief, choice, expression, speech, assembly, and the list goes on. Human beings want to live their lives as they please, without coercion. But what is freedom, really? How does one become truly free?

Freedom is usually depicted as liberation from any form of restraint or from the power of another, usually in physical terms or aspects. It is often described as a source of happiness, the most important of values, and the hallmark of civilization. People pride themselves of freedom and democracy, continually promoting and emphasizing it as they live on. They dislike to a certain degree, being conquered by any type of negative power, and allow themselves to be dominated. If it were not for the brave, heroic figures who dared to fight against opposing forces in order to protect freedom, society would not be where it is today.

Nowadays, freedom is defined as independence, acting based on one’s own decisions without influence of any laws. People have no way of getting the purest form of freedom there is, which is absolute freedom. However, this is often mistaken as a right of getting what a person wants, usually through any physical, mental, or spiritual means. Some take it as fickle and arbitrary, though it should not be. They use it as an excuse to pursue whatever objective they have in mind, to live and act in whatever manner they prefer. Having the right knowledge and using choices for the right reason gives us the right to be human, however, doing the opposite makes us inhuman. Freedom allows each and every person opportunities to make decisions that govern their life, and make their quality of life higher, yet respecting the rights of others.

Our actions are undeniably constrained. “It is by the goodness of God that in most countries we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them,” according to Mark Twain. Genuine freedom doesn’t mean that a person could do just about anything he desires. A truly free person lives out their life making decisions based on their sense of morality, guided by their conscience, and follows obligations and relationships that provide the essence of their lives.

Freedom and the Youth

The youth often yearn for true, absolute freedom. They are put into situations wherein they often feel restrained, similar as being locked inside an imaginary prison, even in the comfort of their own homes. They cannot always get what they want, may it be physical or non-physical desires. They need to think about what actions to take and not to take, how to exercise self-control, how to exude politeness and manners, if deemed necessary, and to choose to do things for the right reason. "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others,” says Nelson Mandela.

In this era, rampant drug use, premarital sex, pornography, crimes, and other widely-known immoral issues are very common. The heaviness of mortal sin is evident. People are well aware of what is perceived as “good” or “bad” in the public eye, yet they still do it, whether performed in secret or not. Without proper guidance and formation, teens tend allow themselves to be led through the sea of temptation. The power and influence of society and environment play a crucial role in cultivating their desires. The tendency is to spiral out of control and before they know it, the deed is already done. To prevent these things from happening, one should be fully aware of the long term consequences and the harmful effects of giving in to the pressures of conforming to what others think is acceptable and right. This is where the gift of conscience plays a major role.

Every human body is the temple of God. Yes, people are born free, but they are not promised absolute freedom. We can do anything we want as long as it is in accordance with the Will of God, follows all moral laws and rules, and respects the rights of others.

Freedom and the Universal Laws

In order to act freely, one should not allow themselves to be affected by any peculiar circumstances, desires, or goals. They should choose the same way others would choose, with the guidance of right knowledge and reason. They should act as others ought to act. Knowledge of moral, civil and divine laws are taken into account, propelled with the right motive and intention.

The mind governs and controls all aspects of the body. It can command any part to function the way you want it to, such as bring forth positive, healthy energy or destructive, negative ones. Anything in excess becomes poison. The constant practice of self-control and fortitude will eventually form a habit that will benefit you in the long term. Make it a habit to think before you act.

The Law of Attraction states, “What you think, you become.” Further delved upon and explained in several books about how it governs every aspect of people’s lives, it empowers one to transform his, in every positive way imaginable.

Why are we born free? We are born with freedom to choose and free will in order to take care of God’s creations, which also includes us in the loop. The weight of our actions rests heavily on our shoulders, and builds up our character and personality, our lives, and how we choose to see the world. Freedom is all about respect; respect for one’s self and respect for the rights of others. Our human laws, the ones we act based on, is fully dependent on Natural and Divine Laws. We cannot become absolutely and completely free people, because we cannot achieve the impossible with our own human hands.

Expressions of Freedom and Psychological Slavery

Technology

In this rapidly evolving digital age, living and thriving in a period wherein anything and everything is easily accessible to all, regardless of where they are, makes one bound to be caught up in the indulgences of the world at some point. The culture of oversharing is the very definition of physical freedom. Through the use of the internet, blogs, social media sites, gadgets, and other wonders of technology, anyone can express themselves to a vast audience around the globe, in many different ways.

Do most people even pause to think about the appropriateness of their content and the value of the message they are trying to get across, to people who view their posts? How people act online is a reflection of individual strengths, weaknesses, and insecurities, no matter how perfectly they portray their lives. Enslaved by approval ratings measured through praises or number of “likes”, this represents an individual’s never ending quest for acceptance.

The Concept of Beauty

Enhancing one’s external looks would be classified as one of the boldest, healthiest way of expressing freedom. There is that thought, until we burrow deeper into the darker side of beauty. Somehow, across the years, the demand for the use of modern cosmetics and plastic surgery has risen in alarming levels. The Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (USA) reported in October 2007 a fascinating survey from UCLA scientists. They had found that forty-eight percent of women said they would be interested in cosmetic surgery, liposuction or both, while another 23 percent said they would possibly be interested. This obsession with changing one’s physical appearance seems to be accompanied by a startling psychological devastation that afflicts even the youngest members of society. The National Eating Disorders Association (USA) reported that more than fifty percent of ten-year old girls wish they were thinner.

Even if freedom is widely present in our lives, psychological slavery coexists with it, as well. It is a terrifying thought that pre-pubescent children are willing to go under the knife just for the sake of appearances. The fact that they would even consider permanently changing at least one part of their body, is propelled by feelings of anxiety and inadequacy. It seems that in the olden days, early media have set up an unwritten standard for beauty, and this affected everyone’s perception about it. The said mindset is being passed on from generation to generation, up to the present. Having a sense of superiority among all the others aesthetically, seems much more important to some, than anything else. Rather than focusing on worldwide concerns and donating to organizations that aim to alleviate issues focused on real-world suffering such as poverty, hunger, and lack of education, people seem pretty keen on keeping their confidence about their superficial beauty intact, more than letting their inner beauty shine.

Idolatry

Another factor under psychological slavery is that it often comes in addiction. Addiction of entertainment, illusion and fantasy is another major part of anyone’s life. People have at least experienced fawning over a local celebrity, obsessing over a couple of TV shows and dramas, and tuning in to the latest showbiz, at one point in their lives. The popularity of these topics sometimes surpass those of war and worldwide suffering. They hinder focus on religion, studies, education, and work.

This is referred to as idolatry. Every type of idolatry is especially present in this modern age: through giving more importance on one’s self, long-spent hours on the television and surfing the internet, through worshiping and making celebrities seem like gods and not just role models, and so on. The act of idolatry violates Divine law, or the Decalogue, specifically in the first commandment.

Given the varying arguments about freedom, one question still remains: “Are you truly free?”

The decision lies on what we are and what specific goals we have in our lives and that of others. What is our purpose? What do we stand for? If freedom is love, living in accordance with God’s holy will and universal laws, being free means harnessing the good for the greater benefit of all. If freedom means moving in harmony and congruence with the world, devoid of hindrances that chain and enslave us, only then we can say that we are truly free.

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Playing with Kracie Popin' Cookin' DIY Candy Kit

2016-03-29T21:00:00.000+08:00

Hello everyone! Happy 2016!:D

I know it's been almost a year since I last shared something with you. My Grade 9 school life has demanded so much of my time and concentration, leaving little room for extra activities in my spare time. But it's summer time and school officially ended last March 15, so yahoo for that!

I am so excited because today’s blog post will specially feature a Kracie Popin’ Cookin’ DIY Kit product! The Kracie Popin’ Cookin’ line comprise a series of different kinds of Japanese soft candy that come in themed boxes. I have familiarized myself with these products before, as my aunt had generously given these to me and my cousins as gifts or 'pasalubong' from her trips to Japan. We had so much fun making sweets we would eat up later.

Kracie Popin' Cookin' DIY Candy Kit

Top view

There are various sweets in sushi form, in pudding form, and a lot more. To be honest, I don't know the exact name or theme of this box because it's printed in Japanese. There are so many products to choose from; you can check it out here. For this candy kit, I had a struggle finding what type of candy I would make. I know that it is not all that hard to come up with (instructions are in Japanese, as well), but I managed somehow by looking at the photos.

Instructions at the back

The packaging of the product is very appealing, with bold and bright colors. It was very easy to open. There were six candies, each in a different color, and sprinkles for the ingredients. When I opened up the packaged soft candies, out came the fragrance, They smelled super sweet and delicious! A cute mold and a stick for the candies were included as well.

Press on the perforated area to open the box

Tadaaaa!

Sealed package inside

Plastic mold

Soft candies in different colors and flavors plus sprinkles and plastic stick

I, then, started making my candies. I made a cake first. I remember the days when I was molding clay into different sorts of sweets and delicacies; I had often made cakes. It was color yellow and white, and finished off with a strawberry on top.

Cake

I encountered a problem though, when the candy started sticking to my fingers. There was a little struggle when it could not come off, as I won't be able to make what I originally wanted to do. The heat coming off my fingers made the candy moist and sticky (or maybe it's simply because of the summer weather), but I tried my best to make these as intricately as possible.

Blue and Pink Candy Swirl with Sprinkles

Baby Blue Pie

Each candy had a different flavor. The white one tasted like bubblegum, the blue candy tasted like blueberry, the purple candy tasted like grape, the pink one tasted like strawberry, and the black one tasted like blackberry, at least it seemed like that to me.

In the end, I made ice cream, a lollipop swirl, croissant, and a cute pastry. And the best part is, after I molded and designed it, I get to eat them too!

Ice Cream in a Cone

Ice Cream Sundae

Pink and White Lollipop Swirl

Croissant

Cute Pastry

You can design and create whatever you want out of these soft candies. You don't have follow each and every design in the box, because the possibilities are endless! I think I had taken photos of our early creations. Hopefully I can find them so I could share the other designs with you.

P.S. According to its creators, "all Kracie Popin Cookin DIY Candy Kits are edible and safe for children and adults alike. Popin Cookin is made of candy powder and all natural colorings. For example, red is from beetroot, yellow from algae gardenia, blue from algae superurina. No artifical sweeteners and preservatives are added."

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Crazy Chocolate Cake: No Eggs, Milk, and Butter!

2015-05-01T08:00:00.000+08:00

Crazy Chocolate Cake

I tried a new recipe last week, named "Crazy Cake" or Wacky Cake" otherwise known as "Depression Cake." Apparently, it originated during the Great Depression era in the 1930s, when milk, eggs and other dairy products were scarce. It is amazing that the cake looks and tastes much like real moist and yummy cake even when there are no eggs, milk, or butter in the ingredients-- exactly the reason why it is called "crazy"! Best for those who have egg or dairy allergies, it is so easy to make.

I loved it so much that I decided to make another one again the day after. Now, here is how to make yours!

Crazy Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup water

*Optional: 6-8 pieces of Hershey's Kisses chocolate

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 degrees Celsius.

2. Mix the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda and salt) all together in a greased square baking pan (8 inches).

3. Create two small depressions and one large depression in the dry mixture.

4. Pour the vegetable oil on the biggest depression, white vinegar on one depression and vanilla extract in the other.

5. Pour water over everything and mix thoroughly until smooth.

After mixing the batter well, I added melted Hershey's Kisses for a more chocolatey taste. This is optional and not included in the basic recipe. You can even add your favorite nuts if you wish to customize the recipe according to your preference.

6. Bake for 35-40 minutes or when toothpick comes out clean. Do not over bake.

After the cake cooled down, I smeared Caramel and Chocolate Duo Penotti spread on top as instant frosting, and even decorated it using a piping bag with the same filling. You can also use Nutella or any of your favorite spread that will complement the chocolate cake, if you do not want to go through the trouble of whipping up a batch of frosting from scratch.

I was so excited to let my family taste the cake after baking, and was curious to know what their responses will be. During dinner, everyone raved that it was delicious. My little cousin Sofia even commented that it tasted like the Lava Cake at Stacy's. Thanks to my Mom, I feel overjoyed learning about baking as a hobby this summer.

If you decide to try out this recipe, please feel free to share your creations with me. I would love to see what you've done with your own Crazy Chocolate Cake and how much fun you had making it! :)

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The Day I Made Chocolate Fudge Cake

2015-04-21T13:00:00.000+08:00

Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge Cake

This is the day after I had made my very first Chocolate Fudge Cake.

I felt very ecstatic and a little impatient while looking at all the easy, and delicious recipes that my Mom told me to start with, the day before. You know, we had the 'make-your-summer-productive' talk that meant doing more fun things other than staying in front of the computer all day.

So, yeah.

Luckily, I came across a Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix in our food supplies cabinet. My aunt told me that it was okay to use and bake with; so I did. It was around 2:00 P.M. at that time.

I started looking for the needed ingredients and measured them according to the instructions with my equally eager little helper, Sofia. We had first taken out the mix from the box, then grabbed vegetable oil, water, measuring cup, wooden spoon, and a medium-sized bowl. We mixed all the ingredients in the bowl, and added a little bit (actually, many, MANY bits) of leftover chocolate chunks into the mixture. After that, we each took turns in pouring the mixture on the glass baking dish, while my aunt readied the oven. It was set to 177 C or 350 F, and the baking time was about 25 to 28 minutes. We placed the dish it in the oven and waited.

I paced back and forth, anxiously waiting for the results of my cake. After what seemed liked forever, it was finally done and the kitchen was filled with the heavenly aroma that came from the oven. I took the cake out and it looked so deliciously chocolatey. I placed it on a rack and waited for it to cool. Topped with some wafer bits, it was ready to serve.

It was soooooo easy to make! But then I decided, the next time I bake, I would make my own cake straight from a tried and tested recipe, instead of a cake mix. Although using a ready mix somehow guarantees that your cake will turn out right, I want to learn the basics so I can experiment more later on.

I knew then, that day marked the beginning of an exciting baking adventure. So stay tuned for more!

P.S. If you are interested to try, different brands and flavors of cake mixes are widely available in groceries and supermarkets. Happy baking! :)

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Reflection Sunday: Saved by the Bell

2015-02-15T20:00:00.000+08:00

Me and Daddylo one Sunday afternoon

An inspired reflection I wrote on the second Sunday of November 2014, after hearing Holy Mass.

I am a religious person. I have always been.

I was raised properly, and taught at an early age to love and serve the Lord. I performed multiple religious practices when I was young, and diligently prayed everyday, thanking Him for everything I have, and will continue to receive in the future. I also pleaded for Him to lead and guide all the lost sheep that have come astray.

I have done what a normal Christian would do. However, I shamefully admit that I was, not at all times, dedicated to the Lord.

There were moments when I have committed disgraceful and irresponsible acts due to my own, selfish curiosity. There were also times when my lethargic self was sluggish and unwilling to spend precious quality time with the Lord, let alone one hour with Him on a Sunday. There were moments when I forget to speak with Him and bid Him goodnight before I sleep. There is literally no excuse for my actions.

But there were precious memories when I had really communicated and expressed deeply my emotions and thoughts to Him. Those moments happened occasionally, regardless of time. It was the thought that counted. I remember having enjoyed talking to Him and spilling emotions kept locked in my heart, waiting to burst out when I really needed a person to lean on to, aside from my family.

I told Him stories about how my life was going, my insecurities, and so on. Afterwards, I felt light and relieved, as if my burdens and worries have melted away—disappearing into nothingness. And then everything was alright. I sometimes wondered if He could have heard my prayers.

Deep down, I knew that He is always there, watching and guiding me whenever I needed help. He is the closest friend I ever had. Everyday, I imagine that He is walking by my side, wanting to be a part of my adventure. No matter when or where, whenever I feel down or lonely, He comes right at me and says, “How are you doing?” in a jolly manner.

I always feel that I am watched, protected, and loved, anywhere I go. I always silently thank Him for being there for me. He helps me solve my problems and somehow, takes my worries away. Currently, I am attending a private Catholic school, where most of the time I feel like a loner standing at the side, watching everyone interact and communicate with their friends, when I don’t really have many friends to confide in. I have always felt awkward and out of place. But there He stands, smiling at me and telling me that I am special, loved, and that I am destined for a great future. He has always enveloped me in the warmth of His love.

Whenever I don’t have the courage, and when I feel weak and helpless, He just smiles and gives me a gentle push, and we both take our time to complete each step towards achieving my goals and dreams. I always do things halfheartedly, and put a small amount of effort in what I usually do, so He, in turn, gives me a little nudge to motivate, inspire, and support me. He gives me the courage and strength to face my own fears and weaknesses, and helps me step out of my own comfort zone.

I truly admire Him for making me the person I am now. In my own little ways, I am striving to become like Him, who inspires others and is a leader and follower in both mind and heart.

I, like every other person in the world, cannot possibly repay Him in full for what He has given to us. We cannot repay His love, His kindness, His forgiveness, His mercifulness and His suffering. I cannot imagine why He has chosen to shower us all— weak and unworthy humans, with His love. We, who couldn’t do so much to deserve His wonderful, loving care and compassion.

With the hard work and effort He has put into saving our lives, and all of humanity, regardless of the fact that He was aware that people will reject, laugh, and underestimate Him, I am proud to say that I am one of God’s children.

I wish to be like Him someday.

Here I am, a simple high school student going on with my simple life, walking through a bare empty street, holding my grandfather’s hand as I continue to silently walk to the nearest local parish.

It is quiet, save for the low humming the engines produced coming from nearby vehicles. The streets illuminated by the soft, orange glow emitted by the lampposts.

The starless sky is dark, the wind slightly rustling my wet hair. There is a full moon tonight.

And as I listened to the gentle pitter-patter of our feet, we were nearing the church. After pausing slightly to greet some of our neighbors, we continued our walk. When we reached our destination, I glanced at my watch and smiled. 7:15 pm.

I looked up to the sky, and at that moment, the church bells rang. It resounded beautifully, and echoed in various directions, signaling to everyone that it was time to glorify and to praise the Lord.

Alas, saved by the bell.

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More than Words

2014-04-01T23:00:00.000+08:00

I have always been fascinated with the power of words.

My love for the written word dates back from my early years of reading my first story books, mock spelling bees with my cousins, all the way through my first attempt at writing novels. ‘Written’, mainly because I consider myself more of a reader and writer, than a speaker. Yes, I am the typical the silent type who reads and writes a lot more, but talks less.

So when I gave birth to my Little Lady, it came naturally for me to encourage her to develop not just love, but passion for the same. I bought her books even before she could read, and taught English as her first language. She learned to speak in our native Filipino tongue later on, with a little struggle, attaining decent proficiency nevertheless, before she turned high school.

People ask me time and again why I chose to teach the international language first before our very own, hinting a patriotism issue—a lack of it, to be precise. To which I would retort: I want to give my child the edge and advantage—to boost her confidence in communicating with all kinds of people regardless of social status and educational attainment; to speak impeccably in public without stammering due to a lack of vocabulary or the fear of being grammatically incorrect; and to write meaningfully with purpose, clarity, as well as style. These are just some of the reasons to ensure that my child would be at par with the best of her generation.

But that is just me. As parents, we prioritize what we believe is best for our children. We can mold them to be the future political leaders of the nation, but they can always go towards a different path.

My daughter can be whatever she wants to be—president, beauty queen, linguist, head of a translation company, novelist, fashion designer, or chef, the possibilities are endless. But what matters most in her journey is that she has been prepared well and equipped with everything she needed to pursue her dreams, and the rest is up to her to make it all happen.

Feeling Divergent

2014-02-08T18:46:00.001+08:00

Official Movie Poster of Divergent

Hi everyone! Happy New Year! I’m tied up with the holidays and school work so I did not have the time to update (I know, as always!). However, I had time to read :) This post features about my squealing reaction and love for Veronica Roth’s book, Divergent!

When I first read the beginning of the book, I felt bored because of the introduction. I decided to give up until I saw the first part about the ceremony, then I became interested and so caught up in the book that I cried whenever I had to stop and go to sleep.

The book is about a girl, named Beatrice Prior, who is unable to choose between 5 factions (a.k.a her way of life). One is Abnegation, her original faction, that is known for being selfless--they donate, share, and sacrifice anything for the sake of other people. The second choice is the Erudite, known to be smart, but vain. They are teachers, scientists, environmentalists, psychiatrists, and other well-known people that contribute to the knowledge and the order of the factions. The third choice is Dauntless, known for being brave and selfish. The fourth faction is Candor, the honest ones. The last is Amity, the peace loving people of the society. There is also the Factionless group whose members failed their faction initiation and therefore live in poverty. Divergent however, is the one that has more than two factions combined... the special one. Although Divergent is not a faction, but a person with special abilities and capabilities.

After Tris received her aptitude test results, she got the result Divergent. And she’s told not to tell this to anyone, even to her family. After that, she picks a faction (I’m not going to tell!) and then progresses through the initiation. She had a hard time at first, because she did not have much strength, but she overcame those obstacles and came out on top. Of course in the book, there was romance. :) She got herself a boyfriend in the second part of initiation. How sneaky. Her friend has one also, but I am not going to tell you any further, because that would serve as big time spoilers. Boohoo.

Anyways, if you like a great read, buy this book, or even better, the complete series of the Divergent Trilogy!!! Also please ship Tris and her boyfriend~ I would be happy to have someone to relate to! I swear, the story is very romantic and it will have you squealing in excitement and suspense. I am very relieved to hear that my favorite couple’s love has lasted very, very long. I am rooting for them, until now. :)

Plus, the movie version is showing in theaters on............March 21, 2014!!! Oh my gosh, I am so excited! :) I can’t wait to watch it! The actors look so cool and it seems like Mortal Instruments and the Hunger Games combined!!! After I watched the Hunger Games: Catching Fire, I've been thinking about the movie and I was jumping in and out of my seat. Literally!

But that is another story. :)

In the meantime, please enjoy the official movie trailer. You can read the book first then watch the movie, which is still a long wait ~ more than a month away, or vice versa.

Thank you everyone, for spending (or wasting) your time to read this post. It really means a lot to me. I love you!!! :)

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Pretty Little Liars Halloween Special

2013-10-14T19:56:00.000+08:00

I'm soooooooooo excited for October 22 (well technically, fans in the Philippines have to wait 1 more day, so October 23, that is) to watch the Pretty Little Liars Halloween Special! It's going to be two hours of suspense and revelation. It seems like Ali is finally going face to face with her friends in this episode, and I can't wait to find out what 'EzrA' has planned out for the girls in his creepy Halloween costume! In the meantime, I'm sharing this teaser until the big day finally comes!

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God, Bible, and Me

2013-08-12T20:00:00.000+08:00

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

I may not seem like it, but I used to consider myself one of those not very sociable and unpopular girls in school. I have always felt a low sense of confidence. Although I have the greatest friends in the world, no matter how hard they tried to cheer me up, I would always feel lonely and left out. I have always wanted to be friends with most of the girls and boys in my class and be close to them. I want to laugh, play, exchange secrets, and do other things with them. In short, I want to socialize more, be friendlier, and have a good sense of humor (not that I don’t have one).

My hand drawn version of loneliness

I feel this way probably because, even if I have all the things I ever wanted than some kids my age, deep inside, there is something very valuable missing in my life. I was not contented with the material things I had. My family and friends mean a lot to me, but there's still a void in my heart-- a missing piece yet to be filled or replaced.

Since my Dad went to a foreign country, I was deeply affected by his absence. “Why did you leave us?” was my lonely, unanswered, lingering question. My Mom says that he left for a reason— a good one at that. And that he always loves us. I had faith in him, but that was slowly disappearing day by day. How could he love us, when he’s been away for a very long time? I ask myself. The small hole in my faith for him kept growing bigger as time went by. I cried every night, my heart full of sorrow, breaking into sobs every now and then. I just can’t get over the fact that I am losing him, my only Dad, the only irreplaceable one in my heart.

Ironically, it is in this phase of longing and loneliness that I had found true joy and new meaning to life. I have decided to move on. I realized I should write my own story, because I have my destiny to make and my own path to take. I can make great things happen in my life, for I have found my ‘real Dad’ in heaven— the answer to my loneliness. I have discovered that the greatest joy of all was God, Himself.

My family taught me about religion since I was a young child, but I still ask myself, “What is true religion?” I have known all these years that I am a Christian. I have studied in Catholic schools and I have learned a lot about God, but I did not know the depth of meaning behind His existence. I knew about sacraments, commandments, the cycle of the liturgical year and all the teachings I hear from attending Holy Mass during Sundays and holidays of obligation. I thought I already know Him, but I was wrong. Yes, I have prayed all the possible prayers and I have sung praises before, and I thought that I have worshiped Him enough, but I was wrong. I have not truly opened my eyes and welcomed God into my heart. I haven’t welcomed Him fully with my love.

It is then that the realization dawned into me. Were my feelings and prayers to God meaningless, and my worshiping utterly useless? I was an unemotional robot all along. I haven’t felt real love towards Him in the beginning. When I read the Bible, and felt the power of God’s love, remorse and regret poured all over me. I asked myself once again, “Why have I only realized it now? Why when, after all these years, when I always knew about God, I have only realized this now?” I was truly ashamed with the thought that my worshiping and praising then seemed like a mockery to God— a mockery to His love.

I had begged forgiveness when I prayed that night. I begged Him to forgive me, so we can both start over again. I was renewed as a true, God-loving Christian. As the days passed by, little by little, I have opened up to Him my deepest sorrows, dreams and longings. I had grown to love Him more and more each day, looking up to Him as a father figure I may not necessarily see, but I know who will always be there for me. Even if God has no physical form, to me, He is always there, watching and guiding me wherever I go. He is also my shoulder to cry on and my best friend. I always share with Him my thoughts, feelings, and stories.

When I started this fresh new phase in my life, I have also renewed my relationship with the Bible. The Bible is God’s plan of salvation for all of us. What was written in it were Christian teachings and incredible stories about Jesus. Whenever I think of my Dad and needed guidance, I turn to the Bible. I flip to a random page and read what message it has in store for me at that particular moment. And every time, I feel that the message accurately addresses what I need to realize at the moment. It speaks to me in a sense that I will never be able to explain, because it spoke to my heart. It is an amazing book, no wonder it is known to contain ‘the greatest story ever told’.

Sadly, the Bible is often treated like an everyday possession by most Christians. It remains unopened, gathering dust and cobwebs in most homes, waiting to be read. Sometimes people even pile things up on top of it! It is a sacred book meant to be treasured and respected. Most people don’t realize that one of the best ways that God communicates with us is through this book. All we need to do is to open and find out God’s message and reflect. I believe the Bible can change one’s perspective in life, because it changed mine. Try to discover how it will transform yours, today.

My Dad is still away, and I miss him— nothing has changed that fact. But what greatly changed was how I have come to accept that all things happen for a reason, most of the time far beyond our human understanding. We must trust God’s plan and His eternal goodness and wisdom. Just like a father plans grandly for his child’s future, so does our Father in heaven. Imagine how much more can the one who holds all the riches of the entire universe bless His children? Immensely and immeasurably!

God loves you. All you need to do is to reach out, ask, and listen.

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Turning Korean { Part One }

2013-08-09T19:11:00.002+08:00

Anneyonghaseyo (hello)! =) The theme for this certain post is about my favorite Korean dramas! Thanks to my Korean-obsessed super best friend (no offense to my other super best friends!), I have been persuaded to love Korean songs and dramas, as I have been the last few years thanks to my mom (THANKS MOM, YOU’RE THE BEST!!!), but over time I have began to forget my love for it as I concentrated more on anime and manga. But well, congratulations to my friend, because I began to love it again! =)

Anyways, moving on! Although the other dramas were great, like the Master of Study and Rooftop Prince and other series, my most favorites are You’re Beautiful or He’s Beautiful, Boys over Flowers and Heartstrings! Even though they have already gained immense popularity, they still stayed as my favorites because I really enjoyed watching them and will not mind re-playing their stories all over again. For this blog post, I will present........dan da da da! You’re Beautiful! Squee!!!

I will rave about You’re Beautiful in this post because it is a cute and very fluffy love story. The series is all about a girl, named Go Mi Nyu and three handsome band members. Go Mi Nyu is a sister-in-training. Her twin brother, Go Mi Nam auditioned for a famous band named A.N.JELL. But something happened to him causing him to leave for America to correct a certain type of plastic surgery. Her brother’s manager pleads for her to pose as Go Mi Nam for the time being while he recovers. She was against it until she she agrees to go later to fulfill her dream to find her mother. After that, she cuts her hair until she looked like Go Mi Nam and meets the band. First is Jeremy (Lee Hongki), Kang Shin Woo (Jung Yong Hwa, my favorite!), and Hwang Tae Kyung (Jang Geung Suk). Tae Kyung does not like Mi Nam and makes her life hard, and Shin Woo and Jeremy are friendly to her. Tae Kyung discovers her secret and threatens to reveal it, and also Shin Woo discovers it but does not reveal it and develops feelings for her. Jeremy later on, also develops feelings for her, but Tae Kyung secretly likes her too. The story follows their lives away from the cameras and Go Mi Nyu's efforts to keep her secret. So there is like, a love square (LOL) and I can’t help but to fangirl scream!

Anyways, if you are dying to watch it, don’t just stand there! (sit there, I mean) Aren’t you being filled with my un-mortal enemy, suspense! Go and watch it online, or buy it on DVD! Truly a must watch, I tell you! If you don’t watch it, you will be sorry because you will be missing out on a lot! :(

JUST KIDDING!!! =)

But seriously, you should watch it. It’s like, REALLY GOOD and it will keep you entertained! You will never get tired of it and later, after watching all the episodes, you will find yourself re-playing your fave episodes, just like me! And you will download all the songs found in the series and listen to it all over and over, like me! And then you will keep on squealing when there is a super cute part, just like me! And then, you will announce your crush on one of them in Facebook, just like me! And you will...

Okay, that is enough of me. I am just like that, okay? So please bear with me. But I can’t blame you if you do the same and say that I am rubbing off on you. =)

After this really short post, I just want to say I am very sorry if you have been long waiting for my articles. You need to have to a looooooooot of patience because I don’t update very often. As you can see, I slack off a lot (mostly because of anime and school), but I greatly appreciate and thank those who still visit my blog and check out my posts. Really, there is so much to be said, but I just cannot express it into words.

Okay, enough of the sappiness here (Is ‘okay, enough of’ starting to be my catchphrase?). I will TRY to update more often, as I have said so many times in my previous posts. Bye for now, wishing you good vibes and love, love, love! :)

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My Interview with Ms. Bianca Valerio for Total Girl Magazine September 2012 8th Birthday Issue!

2012-11-03T20:00:00.000+08:00

Konnichiwa minna-san {Hello everybody}!!! Gomenasai {sorry} for the late update! I've been so busy sleeping, watching and playing to my heart's content that I forgot to blog... again, for the umpteenth time.

How is your long vacation a.k.a. SEM BREAK? Mine has been awesome so far! I plan to enjoy it until the last day of vacation, which is tomorrow already (boo hoo!!!).

Anyways, looking back to the recent major event in my life, I'm finally sharing what happened last September, this November: I WAS FEATURED IN TOTAL GIRL MAGAZINE PHILIPPINES SEPTEMBER 2012 8th BIRTHDAY ISSUE!!!

Total Girl Magazine September 2012 8th Birthday Issue

Yes! I was given the chance to interview a celebrity who is a TV and events host, bestselling author, endorser, makeup artist, columnist, personality development speaker, blogger, model, and a mom -- the one and only... Ms. Bianca Valerio!!! How cool is that?

The interview!

At first, I was shy to even mumble a word to her, but after she talked to me, I felt like I was speaking to a good friend of mine. She shared about how to handle bullies based on her very own personal struggles in life. She explained how bullies try to make others feel miserable and feel bad about themselves, but in reality, they are actually wearing masks because they are afraid and want to hide their weaknesses. She was bullied for a very long time and she didn't have friends. But she has overcome that phase in her life by being close to God, living a positive life and focusing on her dreams.

Learning so much from Ms. Bianca's experiences

The interview is full of lessons, hope and inspiration. I feel lucky to be given the opportunity to meet someone like her who succeeded despite the hardships she went through in life. I believe she is very blessed to be all the things she wants to be... all at the same time!

We talked about a lot of things-- the greatest lesson she learned about growing up, her childhood dream, proudest tween moment, crushes, and so much more. Now, she knows my secret crush too! :) You can read all about it in the magazine {except my crush}. Hopefully you can still grab a copy. :))

Final pose after the awesome interview! :)

Ms. Bianca tweeting about it :)

Be in TG, Page 10

Be in TG, Page 10 {Close Up}

Role Model Section: 'Braver Than Her Bullies'

Braver Than Her Bullies: Pages 62 and 63

My thoughts!

"I had a wonderful time interviewing a person like her. She shared so many lessons in life that truly inspired me to believe in myself and follow my dreams, no matter how impossible they seem. I will always cherish her words of wisdom, try to live by them and become a positive inspiration too, to those around me." ~ Chestene, 11

Well technically, I was still 10 years old when I interviewed her, because it was July 13 then {my birthday is on August. More about it on my next post}. It's my luckiest Friday the 13th ever!

A sweet personalized message on the book!

As a surprising bonus, she gave me a copy of her bestselling book entitled Face to Face: The Healing Power of Make Up, which features amazing make up transformations. Mom and I got Stila lip glaze too! Thank you!!!

More tweets!

I would like to thank Ms. Bianca Valerio for the great interview. I hope you don't mind me snagging your tweets for this post. I just had to share! :) It's also a pleasure singing 'Call me Maybe' for you and tell a joke {though corny, hahaha!}. And to the awesome people behind this Total Girl Magazine Philippines Role Model Section interview -- Ate Mara Agner {Thank you for giving me the chance!} Ate Katsu Modomo {who is a fellow anime fan!} and Kuya Alfred Mendoza {for the beautiful photos!}.

I LOVE TOTAL GIRL !!!♥

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Disney's Friends for Change Ambassadors Stand Up to Bullying

2012-09-30T17:00:00.000+08:00

Hello dear friends!

This video features my favorite Disney Channel stars Bella Thorne and Zendaya Coleman, along with other kids who shared experiences and helped each other stand up to bullying.

I personally support this cause, being a victim of bullying myself. I believe each one of us has been bullied at one point in our lives and whenever we look back, we wish we had the courage to do something at the time to stand up for ourselves.

Now here is our chance to make a difference, because it's never too late to encourage others especially kids, to be confident and believe in themselves. Let's all unite and spread the word to stand up to bullying!

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Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away

2012-07-07T19:51:00.000+08:00

Hello dear blog followers! My previous post is about Howl’s Moving Castle and I know that it has been awhile since I wrote that. School days are filled with so many assignments and I still squeeze in watching my favorite anime shows and drawing them after I'm done with all of my homework, that's why blogging seem to take a backseat for now.

Anyways, The topic for today is again, one of my very favorite anime movies called Spirited Away! Happy reading!

This wonderful and unforgettable story is all about Chihiro Ogino, a 10-year old who is moving with her parents to a new home in Japan. On their way there, to get away from so much traffic, her father decided to take a shortcut along the woods. They go through a tunnel and come across a restaurant filled with delicious food. Her parents were so hungry that they started eating lots of food from a restaurant. They insisted that she should go eat with them too. But she refused because she senses danger.

After a while, Chihiro finds out that her parents have been turned into pigs, and a boy from her past meets her once again. His name is Haku. He tells her to work in the bathhouse so she could stay and save her parents. She then she meets Kamaji, the boiler man, Lin (to whom she becomes an assistant), and Yubaba, the witch who rules the bathhouse. She has a gigantic baby named Boh, who is very spoiled.

She meets No Face and lets him in the bathhouse, where he creates a lot of trouble. One day Haku comes back to the bathhouse hounded by flying papers and he gets deeply wounded. She gives Haku the gift the river spirit gave her and he coughs a golden seal, something he took from Zeniba -Yubaba’s twin sister. She set off to Zeniba’s house with No Face and she returns the golden seal and apologizes for Haku. Then she figures out Haku’s name and Haku is freed from his curse.

But before she could go home, Yubaba gives her a final test and if she fails, she will never see her true parents ever again. She passes the test and is free to leave with her parents to the real world. Then she and Haku go to the tunnel and Haku made a promise to see her again and she is told not to look back, not until she went through the tunnel.

So that’s the summary in my point of view. I like the movie because it is adventurous, full of courage, bravery, and funny moments. I think should add some improvements to the story, though. No big ugly wart in Yubaba’s face (LOL!) and no piggified parents (some other animal instead). What do you think? :)

The movie-maker and writer is once again Hayao Miyazaki. Mom downloaded some of his movies and we enjoy watching them together. How cool is that?! I highly recommend his films, so much that I'm making a couple of fanfics about his stories, but I still need to finish them before showing it to you. I do hope to be an author someday, although I have many other ambitions I want to fulfill.

So that’s all for today. Thank you for always supporting me. God Bless us all!

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Dreaming About Howl's Moving Castle

2012-06-03T13:00:00.000+08:00

Hello, dear blog friends! I am very sorry if I haven’t updated my blog lately. I had sooooooooooooo much fun during my summer vacation, and I promise to tell you all about it on my next posts. In the meantime, the topic for today is about one of my favorite anime movies, Howl’s Moving Castle! I wrote this post months ago, but wasn't able to share it right away.

This story/movie is all about a young and simple girl named Sophie Hatter, who runs her family’s hat shop (no wonder their last names are called Hatter). She then meets the notorious Howl, who is a wizard and is famed for eating the hearts of beautiful girls. One day, when she comes home, she is cursed by the evil Witch of the Waste into the body of a 90 year old woman, and, as the witch said it, she could not speak of the curse to other people. She sets off to find Howl’s castle and is helped by a scarecrow who she calls Turnip Head.

Then she meets Calcifer, a fire demon who holds Howl’s heart. She also meets Markel, Howl’s young apprentice. When Howl finally sees her again, she tells him that she was hired by Calcifer to be their cleaning lady. But Howl could sense the curse the witch cast into her and could see her true age like Calcifer. Sophie turns Howl’s life upside-down as they encounter problems, friendship, and love.

Suddenly, Howl realizes that he loves her even though she is cursed and Sophie also loves Howl even though he is cursed too, by the Witch of the Waste into a bird-like monster. Howl also finds out that she is the girl from his dreams who frees him and Calcifer from their curses. She doesn’t only free Howl, but their relationship also deepens. She also broke the curse of Prince Justin, who was the scarecrow Turnip Head, who helped her earlier. She has the ability of talking life into things and she also got Howl’s heart back literally. Then slowly, her curse is lifted and she becomes her young self again.

This movie was based on a book written by Dianne Wynne Jones. I hope that more people will watch movies by Hayao Miyazaki. I recommend this to everyone! I super loooooove it because it's very inspiring, magical, romantic (though a little too cheesy) and teaches one to stand up for himself and for others.

I made some improvements on the story (yes, my own fanfiction!) no witch with wobbly layers of neck :), no spell on Sophie, and a little more fluff to the story. I will post my fanfiction stories here and share them with you soon! I hope I don't get very busy with school, but I will try my best to update my blog as frequently as I can.

I am a little addicted to Howl’s Moving Castle that, I watch it almost like every day after the first time I laid my eyes on it. I also watch repeatedly another one of my favorite movies entitled Spirited Away. But I will tell all of you about that, on my next blog article. More stories to come so please come visit me back again.

Thank you for reading dear friends! I love you all!

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My LOOKBOOK: Korean School Girl

2012-03-24T20:00:00.000+08:00

Hello dear blog friends! Today I'm so excited because I'm starting something new again just like I started my photo journal last issue. I have so much time in my hands right now because school is finally, totally and officially OVER and summer is here again!

Now, back to what I'm so excited about! I'm still years away before I can register my very own Lookbook account, so I think this is the best place for me to post my fashion dreams and fantasies for now. I'm just so glad I could share them with you!

For my first fashion post, here I dressed up as a Korean school girl during my McDonald's Kiddie Crew Summer Workshop graduation last year. I just adore the cute mini skirts and knee high socks that Korean girls actually wear when they go to school so I really love this look! Plus, I watched 3 Koreanovelas last year: You're Beautiful, Master of Study and Boys Over Flowers, so I'm really into the theme, you know. :)

What I'm wearing: Red hat, black sleeveless top with sequined black and silver tie (my super favorite!), red plaid skirt with knitted trimming, white socks with lace trimming and black and silver shoes. These are all unbranded pieces except for the shoes from Merona.

Thank you for the visit and please come back again for more posts. Right now I'm writing a story but it's a BIG surprise so I won't tell just yet what it's all about. But it's something I hope you will really like! See you again next time and SARANGHE!!!

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Photo Journal #1: One Fun Day in August

2012-02-18T22:46:00.000+08:00

Outfit for the day: Pink sleeveless plaid shirt, Yellow spaghetti top by Bayo for Kids,
Handpainted jeans by Orange Juice, Pink Barbie sandals,
Denim bag with leopard print by Bratz

Hello dear blog friends! I decided to make a photo journal today, because I have tons of photos of my activities and whatnots that I would like to share with you, but don't think I can make long stories of, all the time. So Mom suggested I make photo journals instead with short captions. Maybe by doing this, I can update my blog more often despite my busy schedule.

I know it's been a long while, but are you all ready for the next issue? Well here it is! Okay, it happened one very sunny morning last August when Mom and I went to Landmark and Greenbelt. I felt it took a very long time for us to reach our destination so I took a little nap on the seat, while Mom comforted me and I waited until we were there. And then finally, we hopped off the car excitedly as we first went to Greenbelt!

We looked at the stores, mini shops, the food court, and the rest, then we went to POWERBOOKS! We bought me a notebook to put my recipes in, and a Rotten School book by R.L. Stine. Then we went to some other stores, took a stroll around the mall, and ate at WORLD OF CHICKEN. I ordered grilled chicken with BBQ ranch sauce, fettuccine with white sauce, and mashed potatoes with gravy, while Mom ordered grilled chicken with teriyaki sauce and macaroni salad. We ate heartily and the expression on our faces are incredible!!! I loved my food and it's now officially one of my favorite restaurants. I also discovered that it was Mom and Dad's favorite restaurant too in Glorietta 4.

My World of Chicken Plate: Grilled Chicken with Ranch Barbecue sauce

+ Fettuccine + Mashed Potato with gravy = HEAVEN!!!

After our lunch, we went to Landmark. Then I saw things that I wanted, am addicted, and are my favorites: FOOD ERASERS!!! There were so many erasers but I finally picked two packs for me and one pack each for my cousins, Raffaello and Gia. We also looked at some stuff like bags, dresses, shoes, and mom bought me a cute, organizer for my make-up kit. We passed over some more food erasers which I do not have and I pleaded mom to buy me some, but she said to me that it was enough.

We went to Powerbooks again, but this time, the one in Glorietta where I was able to read some books. There I spotted a shiny, silver old style alarm clock that I wanted for so long, which Mom bought along with some more books for me. She bought a lot of books too on sale which some are for gifts, and some for her collection. After that, we each had a huge McDonalds vanilla ice cream cone before we finally went home.

What an exciting day!!! I finally went to bed and smiled to myself and recalled the memory of our fulfilling trip. Below are some of the photos of that special day. Thanks for reading my adventure, dear blog followers!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Accessories: Bracelet with strings of colorful wooden beads, Pink stone vintage ring, Blue star headband

My first meal at World of Chicken and I fell in love with it!

Isn't this the biggest limited edition Swatch ever, or what? Of course,

Mom insisted I pose beside the giant Ninoy and Cory watch :)

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I Love Cooking!

2011-10-02T01:45:00.000+08:00

Hello, dear blog followers! It’s me again! Please enjoy this fresh and juicy article that I just cooked up for all of you! For today, I will share with you about the dishes I cook with the help of our helpers and my grandmother.

I was thinking about the time we made cheese sticks and tacos. It was so much fun! The first recipe is very easy. I buttered the bread sticks all over, then I rolled them in grated cheese before putting them in the oven toaster. I waited for 5 minutes then… voila! Le cheese sticks are served!

Cheese Sticks

My cousin and I made tacos for the whole family. Our grandmother prepared the ingredients and we took care of filling the shells with yummy stuff! There are no rules in making tacos. You can do it however you want it. Just pack each shell with the ingredients and top them with grated cheese and mayonnaise or cheese sauce as a finishing touch. Here's our very own taco recipe:

Taco Baby

taco shells

ground beef sauteed in garlic and onions

cabbage cut into strips

chopped tomatoes

grated cheese

mayonnaise or cheese sauce

I also get recipes from my favorite magazine, Total Girl. They look totally delectable when they are fully served! I think all of the recipes that are from Total Girl are so yummy! Here is one of my easy to make favorites:

Strawberry and White Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

1 pack fresh strawberries

½ cup strawberry jam

¼ cup sugar

½ cup plain yogurt

1 1/2 cups whipped cream

½ cup white chocolate chips

Colored candy sprinkles, to decorate

strawberry syrup

How to make strawberry and white chocolate-chip ice-cream:

1. Place strawberries, jam, and sugar in a blender and process until smooth. Add yogurt and blend until well mixed in with other ingredients. Using a spoon, carefully mix in cream and chocolate chips.

2. Transfer ice-cream mixture into a freezable container and freeze until firm.

3. Scoop ice cream in serving cups and decorate with sprinkles and strawberry syrup.

Besides cooking, I also love Home Economics. The subject inspires me most of all because it's so cool to create plenty of things by myself. I like to weave mats, sew handkerchiefs, build furniture, arts and crafts, but best of all, I like to give and sell them after.

I love singing, writing blog articles such as this one, and so much more! I have so many ambitions that I would like to take some off, but they are all too good and they perfectly suit me to take out even one of them. So I said to myself, forget about it for now and just think about it again and make it a problem when I'm all grown up. : )

I wish you all good luck with the things you have to deal with in your life. Home Economics is not just about cooking, cleaning, washing your laundry, or using recycled things. It is also about taking care of yourself, your family, relatives and other people that you love and care about.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post. See you again next time and don’t miss my next issue! I love you all!

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When I Become a Star...

2011-07-24T13:27:00.002+08:00

Hello, dear blog followers! Today I will tell you my feelings when it comes to stardom!!! I hope you love this issue because I would like to know if you really like it or not! ( just kidding! :)

I am very happy :) and confident today and I am sharing this with all of you. I think that you are all wondering how does it feel to be a superstar. You know: your popularity increases around the world every hour, your trendy clothes are available on stores, and every concert, you have adoring fans. But deep inside of me, I think that every person should not like a person just because she/he is a star, wears trendy clothes, is rich and famous, or appears on shows or commercials. Every person should like a certain person because of one’s special talent and they should be happy and proud of them.

I also feel that I am hyper and excited as I write this. I know that my life is filled with surprises, excitement, worries, and sometimes nervousness. I would love to be a star, but it would take some challenges in different levels before reaching the chance to be one. I may not be a superstar yet, but someday, I think that I would be one! If I were a star, I would feel that my parents, grandparents, relatives, cousins, teachers, classmates, and best friends are going to be proud of me and will continue to support me as I continue my journey to stardom.

If there was an audition to star in a show or commercial, I’d definitely be there! If I were chosen to be a star, I would have to keep in mind that it is my chance to show the world my special talents. And if I am already one of them, I would feel ready, strong, confident, serious, and nervous.

Before, when I was second grade, I knew someone really special who made me so popular even for just one day. She is my second grade adviser and her name is: Miss Milagros Galdones!!! She let me and my best friend and classmate Mikaela perform in our Family Fun Day. Miss Galdones also let me sing in class at the end of the day, she even attended my birthday party when I turned seven years old and loved my Hannah Montana songs. She is one of my favorite and memorable teachers. Here is the video of that memorable event!

Aside from my dream to become a star, I love to read interesting books, sing songs that I know of, cook my recipes that I copied to my recipe notebook that came from every Total Girl issue from last year up to now, draw and doodle anything I like in a plain piece of paper or sketch pad, update my profile picture in Facebook, update my scrapbook, add comments and paste pictures in it, watch television, play my favorite computer games, design clothes using my Harumika play set, and chat or text my best friends.

See you again soon and thank you for reading this issue. If I were a star, I really need all of the confidence I could get. I love you all and thank you again!

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Photo Frame Model Me

2011-06-20T20:21:00.003+08:00

When Mom and I went with my grandparents for their check up at a mall clinic sometime in August last year, Mom saw this:

Yes, that's 5 photos of ME (except for the baby in the middle)! So Mom, who brings the camera all the time, took this shot as a remembrance of my stint as a photo frame model:

Feeling celebrity :)

I had my photos taken a month before in this studio. We didn't know they printed extra to use for their frames. Mom even joked they should pay me for this. Hahaha. The frame was already sold the last time we checked. :)

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Colors of Summer

2011-04-27T01:11:00.008+08:00

Hello friends! I hope you're enjoying your vacation despite the hot summer weather! It becomes a little hard to sleep at night and I wake up earlier than usual, but I'm still enjoying my vacation even if I stay in the house most of the time.

Anyways, today I would like to share with you 2 designs I made in Polyvore. It's actually in Mom's account, and she just let me design there. I submitted my designs to ____, it's one of the requirements for me to join and qualify. I'm keeping it a secret for now because I don't know if I will be chosen. So please pray for me. I want it sooo much!

These are my summer designs. Which one do you like better?

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Have a Blessed Holy Week!

2011-04-17T03:02:00.003+08:00

Pink Jewel

I haven't been drawing for a while because I spend too much time reading. But I would like to share one of the drawings I made a few months back. Actually, this is my version of Mom's drawing. She likes to draw faces a lot.

Anyways, I just want to wish everyone a blessed Holy week ahead. Let's pray and fast from the things we love to eat or do most, like watching TV and Facebook. :)

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