The Uncomplicated Chatters

From Paperback Designs...

2009-07-19T15:41:00.005+08:00

YES! You heard it right.

Win a website design package worth of $450:

- Custom Layout
- Matching Favicon
- Menu Headers (sidebar)
- Matching Site Button (125 x 125px)
- 2 Major Revisions (before or during installation)
- 24 Hours Repair Guarantee (after installation)
- Design Installation (domain name and webhost account not included)

…plus six months premium advertising to i-Love Boutiques worth $80!

Here’s what you will need to do:

1. Write a short review about Paperback Designs on your blog, website or even your social networking site with links to this contest and Paperback Designs' homepage.

2. Become a fan on Faceboook: facebook.com/pages/Paperback-Designs/98961399960

3. Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/pbdesigns - When you follow on Twitter, reply to @pbdesigns with the hashtag #winpbdesigns

Sample Tweet:

RT @pbdesigns I just joined #winpbdesigns here's the link: http://paperbackdesigns.com/pages/contest.php

4. Subscribe to the mailing list: paperbackdesigns.com/pages/mailinglist.php

5. Make a CREATIVE RESPONSE to the contest! It can be a video, photo or any crazy thing you could think of. It must show the title Paperback Designs and why you deserve to win the contest. Best response will be featured on Paperback Designs homepage! - paste the link to your creative response on the guest book or email the link to Paperback Designs.

PRIZES:

1 Grandprize Winner: Website Design & Adspace

3 Blogger Makeover Winners (worth $25 each)

5 Premium Adspace Winners (6 months each)

Deadline of entries is on September 25, 2009 (PST).

REMEMBER: Entries
should follow steps 1-5 to be qualified! Sign in the guest book (link at sidebar: http://paperbackdesigns.com) to let
me know you've entered. Don't forget to fill in the email address so I
could contact you.

PSSTTT... Special Secret Judges for the contest will pick the WINNERS! Yay! Watch out for their Twitters, you may find a hint. Go ahead... Bribe them!!!

Winners will be announced on September 27, 2009 (PST).

The Host

2009-03-26T13:35:00.006+08:00

Stephenie Meyer has done it again with her new book, The Host. It's a sci-fi book for non-sci-fi readers and is the complete opposite of Twilight, her earlier book. Unlike Twilight, the story takes place at an underground desert cave, rain rarely happens and the antagonists, the entire alien race are pleasant creatures (except for the Seekers).

It would be cool to take a trip to Stephenie Meyer's mind to see what she's up to! The story is unbelievably original... alright, maybe not THAT original, but with a twist. A very good twist, if I may add.

The Host:

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.

Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.

Apparently, the book is going to be a series. Meyer said that the next titles would be "The Soul" and "The Seeker". Honestly, I hope that she works on Midnight Sun. I'd rather hear Edward's thoughts. It's going to be great novel for sure. *sigh... This is one of the times when I wish I could just hop to the future and buy myself a copy of the published Midnight Sun...

The Family Chef

2009-03-22T23:44:00.008+08:00

The last thing that would probably happen in this lifetime is for me to perfect my cooking skills... that is if I even have one. My mother forbids my presence in the kitchen, and I cannot blame her. She have good reasons to do so. You haven't seen me fry a burnt hotdog before, good thing for you. I swear, it's not a pretty sight! So my mom is crafty when keeping me out of the kitchen, like shoving a book under my nose to keep me busy or just threatening to whack me with a skillet if I come 10 mile radius within the stove. Okay, I am exaggerating a little... about my mom whacking me with a skillet. But overall, I'm a really bad cook!

Good thing that I don't have to worry about getting hungry because believe it or not, I came from a family of wonderful cooks! My mom is the best! And I'm not saying that just because she's my mother, but because she's the best. I also have a younger cousin (from my mom's side), Kim who is soon to make headlines because of her superb cooking. Okay, I am just sucking up but to be fair, it's not far from reality. Hahaha!

Kim is an HRM (Hotel and Restaurant Management) student and she gets to cook a lot. Her first willing guinea pig for her project is none other than me, of course. She cooked "Chicken A La Salsa" for her project and I got to eat it! It was a fun experience since I got to watch her cook. Her next willing guinea pig for her second project is... yeah, it's me again! Am I the only glutton in the family? Hahaha! But I love it! She cooked "Lemon Chicken Milanese".

Lemon Chicken Milanese. Delicious!

I was the one taking the pictures and video, then editing it on my computer so she could pass it to her teachers. I'm really happy that my cousin never gets tired of asking me to help with her cooking projects. It's one request I wouldn't dream of refusing. So happy!

Thanks, Kim. You rock!

Amazon Kindle

2009-02-12T22:51:00.008+08:00

First of all, I just want to say OH-MY-GOSH! I just got to have this beyond coolness gadget.

New Amazon Kindle eBook Reader

Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines
Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback
Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots
Improved Display: Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and even crisper images
Longer Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging
More Storage: Take your library with you; holds over 1,500 books
Faster Page Turns: 20% faster page turns
Read-to-Me: With the new Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read every book, blog, magazine, and newspaper out loud to you

It's perfect for reading all of my ebooks! Geekiness has never been this sexy before. Hail! Amazon Kindle.

Can You Keep a Secret?

2009-02-12T21:18:00.017+08:00

Yeah, I know... Another book to blog. When am I gonna stop boring you to death? But you're still alive right? So I guess there's no harm done! LOL

ANYWAY, so I am really into chicklits right now (forgive my temporary girlieness) and I've read Sophie Kinsella's Can You Keep a Secret? novel. Read on...

Can You Keep a Secret:

Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets:

Secrets from her mother:
I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur.
Sammy the goldfish in my parents’ kitchen is not the same goldfish that Mum gave me to look after when she and Dad were in Egypt.

Secrets from her boyfriend:
I weigh one hundred and twenty-eight pounds. Not one eighteen, like Connor thinks.
I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken.

From her colleagues:
When Artemis really annoys me, I feed her plant orange juice. (Which is pretty much every day.) It was me who jammed the copier that time. In fact, all the times.

Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world:
My G-string is hurting me.
I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is.

Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.

But come Monday morning, Emma’s office is abuzz about the arrival of Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO. Suddenly Emma is face-to-face with the stranger from
the plane, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her. Things couldn’t possibly get worse—Until they do.

The main character Emma is really hilarious. She's crazy and I can relate to that. ;-) I literally laughed and cried and laughed some more while reading the book. I want to strangle the characters that's making her life miserable. I already love Emma! She's an easy-to-relate-to character and she's as real as she can get. Most books I've read lack that characteristic in their characters. It's easy to put myself in Emma's shoes.

The thing is, it seems that Sophie Kinsella (author) put so much work on Emma that most characters in the book are not as interesting as Emma. The guy, Jack Harper is an awkward character for me... and he's Emma's love interest! Maybe because the book's narrated on Emma's point-of-view. But wait! Twilight's narrated on Bella's point-of-view, but Edward's not that awkward for me. Maybe it's because Emma's way to independent.

The supposed-to-be main conflict, Jack's betrayal... well, there's not enough suspense for me to grip my chair and pray that they're still gonna be together. I mean, c'mon! The book puts the capital P in Predictable! Silly, funny, not-so-rich girl spills all her secret to a stranger then poof! The stranger happens to be her boss and a multi-millionaire too. I used to read stories with plots similar to that when I was in high school.

So overall, the main character is fantastic, the love interest is a little awkward, and most of the characters are okay. The plot is predictable, the lines are quick, witty and funny. There's a balance in the book and it's an easy read.

Are you an author? Do you want me to murder... er... review your book here? Send me an electronic copy (ebook) via email: paperbackdesigns@gmail.com and I'll blog about it!

Oh! The Irony!

2009-02-10T15:52:00.004+08:00

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia would be the er... fear of long words.

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
(thank you copy and paste)

Am I scaring you right now?

I Want

2009-02-08T18:06:00.007+08:00

I want this fabulous, juvenile series by Cara Lockwood....

Wuthering High:

Welcome to Bard Academy, where a group of supposedly troubled teens are about to get scared straight. When Miranda, a slightly spoiled but spirited fifteen-year-old from Chicago, smashes up her father's car and goes to town with her stepmother's credit cards, she's shipped off to Bard Academy, a boarding school where she's supposed to learn to behave. Gothic and boring and strict, it's everything you'd expect of a reform school. But all is not what it seems at Bard.... For starters, Miranda's having horrific nightmares and the nearby woods are eerily impossible to navigate. The students' lives also start to mirror the classics they're reading -- tragic novels like Dracula, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre. So Miranda begins to suspect that Bard is haunted -- by famous writers who took their own lives -- and she senses that not all of them are happy. Complicating things even more is the fact that Ryan Kent -- a cute, smart, funny basketball player who went to Miranda's old high school -- landed himself in Bard, too. And the attention he's showing Miranda is making some of the other girls white as ghosts. Something ghoulish is definitely brewing at Bard, and Miranda seems to be at the center of ominous events, but whether it's typical high school b.s. or otherworldly danger remains to be seen.

The Bard Academy #2: Scarlet Letterman:

Miranda Tate and her closest friends have been let in on a powerful secret: their teachers are famous dead writers. After a heroic first semester, Miranda's got Bard Academy's ghost faculty in her debt, a new boyfriend in hot basketball player Ryan Kent.

The Bard Academy: Moby Clique:

Some literary classics have been around for centuries. Miranda Tate's just hoping to survive junior year....Her summer reading assignment is Moby-Dick, but Miranda's vacation hasn't exactly been smooth sailing. Between working at her stepmother's hideous all-pink boutique, and having broken up with her basketball champ boyfriend Ryan, not to mention snoozing her way through one of literature's heaviest tomes, she's almost looking forward to returning to Bard Academy. That was before her kid sister Lindsay smashed up their dad's Land Rover and got shipped off to Bard herself. Is the punishment Lindsay's -- or Miranda's?A private school staffed by the ghosts of famous dead writers is hard enough to navigate without a freshman kid sister in tow, but now Miranda's trying to sort out her feelings for her brooding friend Heathcliff, who happens to be a fictional character, while keeping Bard's secrets from her nosy sister. And when her nemesis Parker handpicks gullible Lindsay to be a Parker clone, Miranda knows a storm is brewing. Then, Lindsay disappears in the woods...and a frantic search sends Ryan, Miranda, and Heathcliff to Whale Cove, a spot rumored to hide a sunken pirate's ship. But something -- or someone -- even more ominous and terrifying lurks there. Can Miranda stay the course and save her sister?

I want them... Is that too much to ask? So anybody who want to buy me a Valentine present or an advance Christmas present or a super advance birthday present, here's your chance! I would appreciate any form of these books, whether in paperback or in electronic form (ebook). Please? ahhh.... I'm begging you?

Live Blogging

2009-01-31T14:13:00.005+08:00

I'm blogging via wifi connection from my e66 phone right now. The connection is superfast!

I'm at school waiting for my class to start. Our professor is late so I'm enjoying the view from the 3rd floor. The high school students are practicing waltz while the Hyperdynamics Dance Troup are practicing modern steps at the student park.

Phew! I couldn't believe that I'm blogging LIVE! It's so windy here. Maybe I'll edit this when I get home. Or maybe I'll preserve this in all its wifi glory!

Frustration

2009-01-29T23:14:00.007+08:00

Why do some people have to over-analyze things? If a "glass is half full", it means that it's a good thing. It's optimism, okay? And no, "a half empty glass" doesn't mean that you can still have room for improvement. It means pessimism PERIOD Get over it!

Ugh! I hate self-righteous people. No one cares if you think a "half empty glass" is actually a good thing for you. Just don't shove (and argue) your pathetic excuse for an explanation straight into my face.

See? It's about optimism and pessimism!

BREATHE. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.... I think I'm okay now. Hey E.S.! Read Wikipedia, maybe you could use it for your demo or something. Take note of the word rhetorically.

Not About Twilight (as if the picture isn't a dead giveaway)

2009-01-25T09:37:00.018+08:00

The Twilight Saga was probably the most outstanding piece of literature I've ever read in my entire life (and I've read many)! It took me to another world that existed only in Bella's fragile thoughts. I was hooked! Literally, I couldn't put the book down, afraid that something bad might happen to the characters if I take my eyes off of them for even just a minute. How crazy is that? I didn't have this problem with Harry Potter or Fern Michael's characters or Elizabeth Bennet or Narnia or I think you get my point. That's it! I must be insanely addicted to Twilight.

The book didn't disappoint me unlike some books out there... and no, I am not talking about Stardust (seriously, Captain Shakespeare is better off gay). Hahaha! Get over it already! Actually, the movie of Twilight disappointed me greatly. To the extent that the Mentors' Journal staff was sick of me ranting how they murdered the book. Well, that's just my stupid opinion, right? Right? Right!

Anyway, I've read all 4 books within a week. It should be half a week only, but then I have to eat and sleep! Hahaha!

I borrowed the books from my cousin, Ate Grace. Her favorite author is Neil Gaiman, so I ended up borrowing some of her Neil Gaiman's books as well. I am so glad that there's another bookworm in the family. Tano IS jelous because she's the only bookworm in her family... and her favorite author is Neil Gaiman also (sorry Tano, I can't lend you the books). Which makes me even more grateful to Ate Grace! Hahaha! Kidding aside, thank you, thank you, thank you, Ate Grace for lending me the books. You couldn't imagine how grateful I am for reading such marvelous books. And I learned a new word from Stephenie Meyer... infinitesimal - I must admit, my vocabulary is seriously lacking!

I started reading Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. Yup! Also lent by Ate Grace. How lucky am I? Mharie was supposed to lend me the book, but I completely lost track on who's borrowing her book and decided to forget about it.

And just because I'm great like that, here are links to Twilight and New Moon outtakes (parts that aren't included in the books):

Twilight Outtakes
New Moon Outtakes
New Moon Extras

And finally, Midnight Sun, the unfinished draft parallel to the Twilight story but from Edward's point-of-view:

Midnight Sun

Okay, enough of the Twilight madness! Honestly, I'm sick of it. Let's talk about something else, like... MORE Twilight. Did I mention that Twilight usurped Harry Potter at the top five chart of my no. 1 favorite series?

Sorry guys, you can't squeeze any information out of me today besides the Twilight Series. So did I also mention that I am irrevocably in love with Twilight now? Umm... That's a little too much, huh?

I Just Want To Brag!

2009-01-20T17:26:00.008+08:00

Phew! I'm already 20 and strangely, I don't feel any difference. Except that I have a super cool phone right now! Yey! 20 rocks!

Lo and behold!

.
.
.

My new Nokia E66 phone! Thanks, mom.

Seriously, I have a lot to do right now. No wonder I've been neglecting this blog. I have to take care of my sick mom (nothing serious though)... then the blog designs, my studies and a little this and little that. But I can manage, I think. Anyway, there's a lot of things that I want to tell, like book reviews and more but that can wait.

You can wait... right?

Over The Top Award!

2008-12-24T15:55:00.001+08:00

To receive this award your blog must be exceptional in design and content; presenting us with new knowledge, a sense of style, or at times just giving us a smile!

Each recipient of the award will acknowledge the person who honored them with the award and then go to http://overthetopaprons.blogspot.com to copy/paste the award : Your Blog is Over The Top. (located on the right sidebar, scroll down)

Just for fun; I would like to invite you to hit on the Blog Award to see a neat, new website!

The recipient may then pass the award on to 5 others that they feel meet the above criteria.

Please enjoy this honor and consider yourself just a little bit "Over The Top".

This award was presented to Paperback Designs by Corline of Over The Top Aprons, and since I can't post it over at Paperback Designs, I'm posting it here! Thank you, Corline.

To pass the legacy (naks!), I'll present this award to.... drum roll please!

Congratulations! You guys deserve it.

Vacation! Vacation!

2008-12-19T21:39:00.001+08:00

Today was the last day of school and the official start of "Christmas Vacation". Woohoo!!! I am so ecstatic, except that I'm going to miss the Mentors' staff (stay connected, guys) and a few of my friends. Yes, that's right, I have few friends at school, but I got the BEST ones. When I say the"best", I really mean it. I mean, what kind of people can stand my constant sarcasm (my way of saying you're important to me) and childish wants? You tell me where I can find those kind of people? They're like extinct! Hahaha! So I am so thankful that a few survived the meteor shower and became my ~~annoying~~ friends. I am truly thankful.

This is totally random, but I can't help feeling sorry for those people who are not going to spend Christmas with their family. I don't think I can stand any holiday without my family. I feel bad for myself knowing that dad won't be spending Christmas here in the Philippines, but that's alright. I know that he's safe, so I guess that's a consolation. Knowing that my family is safe and eating 3 times a day is enough for me. And knowing that I can eat whenever I want... is more than enough for me! Hahaha! Kidding aside, I guess what I'm trying to say is that... I REALLY miss my dad! But there's nothing I can do about it, he has to work abroad. I love my old man.

Christmas is fast approaching. Just like the chasing colors in our Christmas lights! And I just can't keep up. Oh boy! Am I getting old? I'll be turning 20 on January, next year, which is as good as tomorrow, right? I can't believe it. The last thing I remembered was that I was hugging this HUMONGOUS Minni Mouse doll that was given to me by my godfather on my 7th birthday, and next year, I'm already 20 years old! I'm no longer a teenager, time to ahem... pretend... ahem to act like an adult. Hahaha! Anywho, it's not a big deal.

So let me just wish everybody an advance Merry Christmas! May your holidays be less bitter than mine! And a very happy birthday to the person that matters the most this season... The king of kings... The guy with the purest of hearts,and a really great hair, Jesus!

Happy birthday, you big guy up there... just kidding! Don't forget, I love you!

Stardust: Movie Vs. Book

2008-12-09T00:22:00.001+08:00

Just bought the book "Stardust" today. I am almost finished reading the book, and to be COMPLETELY HONEST...

movie (Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Robert De Niro, & Michelle Pfeiffer) & book

I like the movie better.

I don't know, maybe it was the movie's simple storyline and humor. The characters and events are presented better in the movie than in the book. Of course, the book version is far more detailed than the movie. But there's something about the movie that makes it so charming.

Alright, to be completely unbiased, I think the movie is much much much better than the book! Hahaha!

Stardust by Neil Gaiman:

What happens when you make a promise to bring back a fallen star? Teenager Tristran Thorn is about to find out, as he ventures beyond the wall of his English countryside town. After falling in love with the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester, he sets out on a quest to fulfill his promise to his beloved—and stumbles into the magical realm that lies beyond.

Remind me never to write a book review again. I suck big time!

Some Things In Life Are Priceless

2008-12-07T11:10:00.001+08:00

I got the surprise of my life this morning when a dear friend of mine (back from high school) appeared at my doorstep with her HUSBAND and her BABY! It's been almost 2 years when she last contacted me. And now, just 20 yrs. old, she have her own family. I'm stunned actually, but I'm happy for her. We had breakfast together, and her baby (8 months) is SO CUTE! The baby, Eunice, always smiles at me. She likes me. :-) The husband, Ronnie, is a nice guy. Grace (my friend) and I had so much to catch on. I'm going to be Eunice's godmother. I'm just too happy today!

Grace and I were classmates in high school, we became friends because of the organization (Citizens' Army Training, Rescue Team) that we joined in. I guess we clicked and became inseparable for the whole school year! Too bad we went to different colleges after that.

It's always nice when a long lost friend came to visit you. It means that you are not forgotten, especially the memories that you've shared together.

A Very Long Update

2008-11-23T17:52:00.001+08:00

Oh boy! It's been a week already since my last update. A LOT has happened since then. Maybe I'll just mention the highlights of the week. :-)

Nov. 15 (Saturday) - Dad came home for a vacation. He's been working abroad since I was in high school (coming back home every 2 years). Such a hardworking fellow, my old man! Hahaha! I love my dad!

Nov. 17 (Monday) - Went to Union Bank (Meycauayan) with my mom to apply for an Eon Card (for Paypal). The travel time? 2 HOURS! I still can't believe we don't have a Union Bank branch here in City of Malolos.

Nov. 19 (Wednesday) - Went shopping with my dad. Bought new speakers for my computer, 2 cans of ice creams, 3 flavored yogurts, large french fries, burger steak, and lots more! Me and my dad are both foodies (we don't eat speakers, ok? hahaha!).

Nov. 21 (Friday) - Meeting with the oh-so-lovable Mentors' Journal's staff (geesh, so many 's'). They gave me tickets to sell for the auction. Tano girl joined me on my quest to find my missing professors. Thank you Tano, you're a real mind boggler, how can you stand me? Hahaha!

Then Mharie confirmed that she'd missed me "in person". I know, I couldn't believe it either! In fairness, when I entered the Mentors' office, there was a standing ovation with loud cheers and handclappings... okay, they only clapped their hands, but allow me to exaggerate a little here. It's my blog!

Around 4pm, we had a general assembly at the Students' Park for the ACoMaS (Association of Computer Major Students) meeting. I talked about the Suffrage (voting system) since I was the one who wrote the Constitution for the article about the Suffrage.

Joma (3rd year representative) told me beforehand, in his own sugar-coated words that my explanation about the topic might be boring. Actually, the voting system is really boring! My teacher instinct immediately kicked in. Before I started the presentation, I had a very effective motivation.

Here's what I did:

I introduced myself and my position as an officer... then I ASKED them if they have any questions and pretended to walk away. They all laughed! Geez, the crowd loved my little joke. From there, I explained the voting system for the next batch of officers. They seemed to understand my explanation without getting bored. I think.

Then Gelo (my not-so-GAY friend), asked me if I could ACCOMPANY him to the REST ROOM! The reason? It's already dark and he's spooked out with all the haunted stories we've been hearing about the old buildings' rest rooms. I laughed so hard I thought my real teeth would fall off!!!

Nov. 22 (Saturday) - It felt so weird being taught by a student teacher who is also my classmate... So weird indeed. Special thanks to almighty, honarable SIR Wilfred who took pity on me and gave me a reviewer for the quiz and accepted my late homework submission (no deductions, ok?).

Nov. 23 (Sunday) - Today, we went SHOPPING at SM Pampanga!!! We ate at Flavors of China. I HIGHLY recommend it! The service is superb and the food is delicious. My dad bought me my second Harry Potter book. He was supposed to buy me the Twilight book, but the lady at National Bookstore informed us that the Twilight Series hasn't arrived yet. Why? Oh why? I want to read Twilight!

Right now, I am SO exhausted! But I still can't wait to answer all of my fan mails (i.e. my clients' emails). Keep 'em coming!

Fern Michaels Obsession

2008-11-14T21:36:00.001+08:00

When I saw this book, I just KNEW I HAVE to buy it!

This book is SO addicting. Promise!

It was Fern Michaels, okay?! How can I resist?

Hey, Good Looking:

Darby Lane and Russell Gunn had been inseparable friends from their early years in the Horseshoe, their wonderful Baton Rouge neighborhood of Southern comforts and childhood fancies, all the way through to graduate-school dreams and beyond. Then the unthinkable happens: a tragic accident takes Russ's life, and Darby's world is shattered. Returning to the Horseshoe in utter despair, Darby clings to the only family she's ever known: the three wily and colorful aunts who raised her.

Her long journey to healing takes hold as Darby begins to see Russ's brother Ben through new eyes. Suddenly love blooms in the place of grief, and now, with the help of her aunts, Darby faces the challenge of reuniting Ben with his estranged father -- if they can get through the conniving schemes of Ben's social climber stepmother. Calling on the same tender care and patience with which she builds custom dollhouses, Darby begins to create a new life out of her loss -- and comes to understand that love truly can conquer anything.

I haven't read the 2 books I bought last week, but this book, I'm halfway through. I can't get over Fern Michaels' books. I swear, she is my favorite author next to Jane Austen.

When I grow up, I want to be just like Fern Michaels. LOL!

Holiday Giveaway!

2008-11-13T21:02:00.001+08:00

Guess what?! I'll be giving away a Creative Blogger Package to one REALLY lucky blogger this coming holiday! The contest is being held at Nothing But Purple. Isn't that cool or what?! I'll also be giving away 4 Entrecard designs as consolation prizes!

Now the trick to win is to simply count all the exclamation marks I've managed to jam in this single post... NOT! Hahaha! To know the real mechanics of the contest, go to Nothing But Purple now!

Join the contest here!!!

Do it now or at least before November 23! But if I were you, I probably would be joining now. :-)

I am looking forward to giving YOU a new blog design!

All I Want For Christmas...

2008-11-11T21:38:00.002+08:00

Dear Santa,

I've been such a good good good girl this year (ok, maybe not THAT good). There is just one small gadget that I really really really really want for this coming Christmas...

MSI Wind Laptop

I am willing to work in your toy factory and help the elves out if you just grant my wish. If not, there is always the Blue Fairy. Hahaha!

Modern Way of Stealing

2008-11-10T01:38:00.001+08:00

One word: HILARIOUS!

Two Books and One Room

2008-11-06T22:36:00.001+08:00

Yesterday, it took me nearly an hour deciding which book I should buy. Hmmm.... "Excuse Me For Asking" by Janis Arnold or "The Middle Man and Other Stories" by Bharati Mukherjee? My brain was like in severe pain choosing between the two.

Excuse Me For Asking:

Julia Salwell seems to have it all - money, a father and brother who are crazy about her, and a rich boyfriend who's co-captain of the football team in tiny Cypress Springs, Texas. But there's something wrong, something eating at Julia, something that keeps waking her up at night, screaming in the dark. When Robin Tilton meets Julia in college, it seems they've got nothing in common. Where Julia is flashy and dramatic, Robin is quiet and insecure. Where Julia breezes through, Robin has to bear down. Where Julia's rich parents will always bail her out of trouble, Robin is a scholarship student who doesn't even know who her parents are. But when Julia and Robin are thrown together as freshman-year roommates, it's just the beginning . . . of a beautiful friendship. Excuse Me for Asking is told in the voices of Julia, Robin, their families, friends, and nosy neighbors. As Julia and Robin watch their dreams collide with the reality of careers, husbands, families, and aging parents, they draw us into a touching story of women's lives and small-town America, a story involving compromises, infidelity, repression, and (possibly) a murder.

The Middle Man and Other Stories:

Bharati Mukherjee's work illuminates a new world of people in migration that has transformed the meaning of "America." Now in a Grove paperback edition, The Middleman and Other Stories is a dazzling display of the vision of this important modern writer. An aristocratic Filipina negotiates a new life for herself with an Atlanta investment banker. A Vietnam vet returns to Florida, a place now more foreign than the Asia of his war experience. And in the title story, an Iraqi Jew whose travels have ended in Queens suddenly finds himself an unwitting guerrilla in a South American jungle. Passionate, comic, violent, and tender, these stories draw us into the center of a cultural fusion in the midst of its birth pangs, yet glowing with the energy and exuberance of a society remaking itself.

Both books are intriguing and don't sound boring. Whenever I SHOP for BOOKS (all the time, lol) I usually get three to five paperbacks I find interesting to read and choose between them. Then, I buy only 1 if I'm a little choosy, or buy 3 to 4 books if I am rich for the day. And in rare cases, I buy all of them if I'm not in the mood to torment my brain!

I decided that my brain shouldn't suffer anymore, so I bought both of the books!

I haven't read any of the 2 books today because I spent ALL DAY cleaning my messy room. I started at 10am and ended at 5:30pm, I even skipped lunch for it! I was so into it that I cleaned the walls, cabinet, drawers, bed, books, floor, ceiling, literally everything! I never thought that scrubbing four WIDE and dusty walls is really hard work until today! It was so dusty and messy that my shirt became dirty (wow, it rhymes).

The good news is that I can see the floor now!

Cat-ography

2008-11-05T19:40:00.001+08:00

I am more of a dog lover than a cat lover, but still, I couldn't resist taking some pictures. Take a look.

little kitty hiding

a blind cat

What do you think? They usually hangout in our backyard, but they're not our pet. We do feed them most of the times, because we feel sorry for them, especially the blind one.

The Uncomplicated Girl

2008-11-04T22:52:00.000+08:00

Hi! My name is Vanessa and this is my blog.

Where do I start? Well, I design this awesome blog! I hope you like it. I just love it! I have an obsession for pretty designs... I guess that's my word for the day: Obsession.

OBSESSION.

I am slightly obsessed in designing blogs. Don't worry, it's not a scary obsession, more like a good obsession. I have designed numerous blogs and maintained two websites. I love what I'm doing. Pretty-fying the blogosphere makes me feel so complete. :-)

I am also obsessed with the motto "I CAN do anything." Okay, let's not be literal here, I can't fly... unless wings grow off my back. I can do anything as long as I am willing to learn, and so can you!

PASSION.

There are many things I'm passionate about: writing, reading, teaching, designing, learning and the list just goes on and on and on... But my number one passion is eating! No really, I eat two plates of rice every meal. I love sizzling plates with Java rice, yummy! And my favorite, Chicharon with fried rice is undeniably scrumptious. You can't go wrong with that. I guess if there is a coffee addict, there is also a rice addict! That would be me, of course. Oh, and pizza with lots and lots of mushroom is a sure hit. Good thing I have an ultra fast metabolism or I may be a whale right now!

UNCOMPLICATED.

I don't like complicating things. I am simple and easy to deal with. I'll agree with you if I find it agreeable and don't if I don't find it agreeable. As simple as that, no beating around the bush. I can say that I am quite frank. Some people like this side of me, some may find it intimidating. Well, as long as my friends and family accept me the way I am, there is no reason for me to change. They are the only ones that matter in the end anyway.

I guess that's it for now, and before I forget, I am 19 yrs. old (birthday on January 18). I am a Filipino web/blog designer, soon-to-be Computer teacher and a Layout Artist. I can't believe I forgot the basics! Guess, that's one thing about me... forgetful.