Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

I can feel the cool breeze which says that Christmas is just around the corner, and since I am in the mood for YA novels lately, and I love Levithan and Cohn, I decided to why not plunge into this book which is perfect because of its holiday vibe. I just wish I could give justice in my attempt to sortov review it.  Or at least you could take my word that it's really a delightful read. ;)

This is about a boy, a girl, and a red Moleskine --a red Moleskin that held the plot all together!

It started when this snarly, bookish, introvert boy named Dash (whom I imagined to be Michael Cera) went to Strand and in between the books of his favorite author, he found a red notebook with a lot of instructions in it. 

Lily, the owner of the notebook is a bubbly, loving, and daring (by the end part of the book) girl who loves her family so much that she spends a lot of time with them but hates the over protectiveness she is getting from them. Thanks to Langston, her brother, who came up with an idea through the dares he had written on the notebook, so as to distract her while he hangs out with his boyfriend. 

Who would have thought that a notebook will connect two people and will let them have the sweetest, wittiest Holiday adventures of their lives? 

Here is the long list of my favorite lines from the book:

“I want to believe that despite all the evidence to the contrary, there is reason to hope.”

“It was one of those moments when you feel the future so much that it humbles the present”

“I want to believe there is a somebody out there just for me. I want to believe that I exist to be there for that somebody.”

“Maybe, I thought, it’s not the distance that’s the problem, but how you handle it.”

“You want meaning? Well, the meanings are out there. We're just so damn good at reading them wrong.” 

“‘The important people in our lives leave imprints. They may stay or go in the physical realm but they are always there in your heart, because they helped form your heart. There’s no getting over that.’”

“You think fairy tales are only for girls? Here’s a hint - ask yourself who wrote them. I assure you, it wasn’t just the women. It’s the great male fantasy - all it takes is one dance to know that she’s the one. All it takes is the sound of her song from the tower, or a look at her sleeping face. And right away you know - this is the girl in your head, sleeping or dancing or singing in front of you. Yes, girls want their princes, but boys want their princesses just as much. And they don’t want a very long courtships. They want to know immediately.”

“When in doubt, ingest carbs.”

"We all just took the bookstore at its word, because if you couldn't trust a bookstore, who could you trust?".

“There are just lots of possibilities in the world...I need to keep my mind open for what could happen and not decide that the world is hopeless if what I want to happen doesn't happen. Because something else great might happen in between.” 

‎”You don’t know who Nicholas Sparks is?” Dash asked.

I shook my head.

Please don't ever find out," he said."

“I'm told there's no going back. So I'm choosing forward.” 

“I want to believe that, despite all evidence to the contrary, it is possible for anyone to find that one special person. That person to spend Christmas with or grow old with or just take a nice silly walk in Central Park with. Somebody who wouldn’t judge another for the prepositions they dangle, or their run-on sentences, and who in turn wouldn’t be judged for the snobbery of their language etymology inclinations.

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares was really a fun read. It made me giddy, laugh out loud and smile a stupid smile, it's just too cute and freaking hilarious! The secondary characters, Aunt Ida, Boomer, and Mark added a blast on the story without overpowering the main characters. I opted not to disclose the dares they had done because I want you to have a fair share of what I had felt when I had read it, and I am telling you, it will leave you the happies! :) 

Also, I love the part when they spent the New Year at the Strand. Holy cheezus! I dream of spending a day/night surrounded with books, BRB, going to that bookstore, hoping to find a red notebook and my own Dash. *wink* *wink*

Let all that you do be done in love

I've been meaning to really learn how to cook, say sinigang or kaldereta, or have a signature dish to which those people around me will crave for or look for during handaans or whenever, but since I am still on the process of learning the basics, let me just share to you this Saturday habit that I have wherein I "cook"/prepare merienda for my loved ones.

I feel like a homemade pizza making machine, but it's worth it! :)

Taco party: favorite forever~

Tuna sandwich,  my version of mojo potatoes and garlic mayo dip ♥♥♥

You know what's the best part of it all? Carlo telling me how good I am with my "cooking"! Hahaha! God, I love him so much! :)

Isn't it ironic?

Maybe we have our own ghost/s -a fear that we are so afraid to face, a thought that's been bothering us or even a person from our past. It's been a tough day and I had come to realize that it's possible for a person to be coward and be brave at the same time. Coward because a) I had done precautionary measures on all my social media accounts as if my entire life was at stake, and b) I had cried a lot today. It may sound weird, but I also feel  brave. Brave enough to walk away from all of these, and hey, it doesn't make me a loser, it only means that after everything that I had been through in life, I finally  learned to choose my battles wisely. With that, I can now sleep soundly beside the love of my life.

Good night, blogosphere! :)

Books Before Boys

When I was about 8 years old, I would always ask my parents to accompany me to National Bookstore whenever we are at the mall and there I would lurk around  shelves and shelves of books. Luckily, my dad was supportive of this new hobby and would buy me paperbacks instead of stuffed toys. I was so into Sweet Valley then, my classmates and I even had our version of the Unicorn Club, hihi. I don't know what came into me, that one day, I had sold all my copies at Recto for 5 pesos each and it was really not worth it, but I did it anyway! I can't even recall what I had bought out of the money that I got from those books, ah, maybe some goodies from Gift Gate?

I had rekindled my love for books in 2005, my cousin gave me some James Patterson novels and then when I had read all of it already, I started buying books again, little by little it's piling up and what a joy it is to see them grow bigger and bigger in numbers! And I swear, I would never, ever sell them at Recto again! Hahaha! But I intend to lend it to friends because books are meant to be shared! And it makes me giddy to talk to people about fictional characters as if they were true. The smell/sight of books excite me so much. It makes me happy that I can do splits and cartwheels, ok, course I kid! :p

Here are some photos of the treasures that I have:

and according to my son, I have 100 books already. :))

I know I had sworn to read the printed copy, I still do! But other than being a book lover, I am also a mom and a student, who watches over her budget all the time, and by this, I mean, I had come to love ebooks as well, it is handy and readily available on the net, for FREE! Here are the supplies that I have in my library now:

1. The Art of Fielding, Chad Harbach
2. Every Day, David Levithan
3. Every You, Every Me, David Levithan
4. The Lover's Dictionary, David Levithan
5. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, Rachel Cohn, David Levithan
6. Harry Potter Series, J.K. Rowling
7. The Causal Vacancy, J.K. Rowling
8. The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin
9. Keeping the Moon, Sarah Dessen
10. Lock and Key, Sarah Dessen
11. Along The Ride, Sarah Dessen
12. An Abundance of Katherines, John Green
13. Let It Snow, Lauren Myracle, John Green
14. The Fault In Our Stars, John Green
15. Looking For Alaska, John Green
16. Paper Towns, John Green
17. Love and Other Things I am Bad At, Catherine Clark
18. Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore, Robin Sloan
19. One Day, David Nicholls
20. Big Boned, Meg Cabot
21. She Went All The Way, Meg Cabot
22. The Boy Next Door, Meg Cabot
23. Starstruck, Lauren Conrad
24. The Fame Game, Lauren Conrad
25. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
26. How To Kill A Rockstar, Tiffanie Debartolo
27. Twenty Boy Summer, Sarah Ockler
28. Why We Broke Up, Daniel Handler

If you wish to have copies of any of the books on the list, feel free to ask me and I will e-mail it to you immediately. :)

P.S. I am also on goodreads, let's be friends! ;)

Today in Bullets

• My feet was so itchy that I slept at around 1am already
• Woke up at 7 am
• Had 6 hours of sleep
• I am so galing in Math!
• Today's weather was so bipolar, I want to slap it on the face!
• Saw happy crush walking along the school
• and surprisingly, I did not squeel
• Played Coin Dozer and Pou while my professor was discussing something
• because that is how I roll!
• Food coma after eating lunch
• I like budget meals which could be delish at the same time
• I am on my way on feeling indifferent about this certain person
• because indifference is the opposite of love, right?
• and it is way better than hate
• because feeling hate over someone is just so draining
• and it's just too much to take
• Attended a talk about Psychological Testing
• This Draw A Pig Test is just accurate
• and funny!
• It was interesting at first, but because I have the attention span of a squirrel
• I eventually played, laughed, and just talked with my seatmates
• who were also bored as I am
• Had dinner with friends
• It's Andrea's birthday
• Ate too much
• and then this thing happened
• I think I just have to continue reading Let It Snow
• or maybe play?
• or write more stuff?
• BLAH!

Blogworthy. Chos.

NOTE TO SELF

THIS TOO!

AND PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE GET ME THIS GOSLING

COLORING BOOK FOR CHRISTMAS!!! 

Mini Haul

I used to be an impulsive buyer in my younger years, but being a mom/student made me realize that I should only get things that I need the most, which means I should buy useful, durable, and budget friendly stuff. Here are some of my recent purchase and I must say that I am really happy about it. 

I actually had second thoughts of getting this pair because a) it's printed b) my kuripot self is telling me not to, but my loves saw it on me, and he approved of it and said that I should buy it. :)  Got this loafers at Rusty Lopez for P599.00, It is very light, comfy, and it makes me look cool or NOT, whatever!

This royal blue tote, I got for P399.00 at Herbench, I am actually not a fan of this brand but was pretty pleased when I saw this hanging in the store. Also, I like them big, which is just perfect! :)

I've been looking for a satchel for the longest time already, and just like true love, I happened to lay my eyes on this cute sailor satchel and I know we were meant for each other, haha! Got this for P199.00 at some girly store in town, good deal, yes? ;)

Hahaha, funny because I really do not know how my closing paragraph should be, or does this post even need one? Hahaha! Guess I just better say, 'til my next haul? Lelz!