Bookish Babble [4] - Goodbye, July! (Monthly Recap)

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July Monthly Recap!
(Reads, hauls, and other shenanigans)

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We're halfway through 2018 (YAHOO!) and who says you can't make a big change mid-year?

I guess the biggest change I got is that I finally get to do this kind of stuff. I never thought I’d actually last around to share something recap-worthy (I know I'm a few days late but gimme a break!) These past months that I've been on hiatus, I've experienced lots of milestones - both in real life and in the bookish sense. I finally graduated (yay!) and actually got a job (double yay?) So yes, I'm legitimately adulting and that's the best excuse I can give for being inactive *ugly cries*

Anyway, adulting definitely has its perks. I've expanded the places I can go to (I still have no sense of direction whatsoever though), and I finally get to participate in so many bookish activities that I've only been seeing through my feeds before such as book signings and events! Ya girl finally went to MIBF and attended her first ever International author signing (waves to Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian) 

Also, because earning my own moolah now, I can HOARD ALL I WANT MWAHAHAHA! Well, actually not as much as I want to (because fresh grad job huhu) but still! Way more significant that the little ones I've been getting before - but I got to participate in nationwide sales and book bazaars such as the Big Bad Wolf and the NBS Book Binge Bazaar so yay!

Anyway, I know it was supposed to be a July recap - not a recap of whatever happened these past months but hey! It's my first time doing this! I'm just so glad to feel like I'm actually ~part~ of the community now. Wow I feel so legit???

Anyway, here's a quick run through of my July adventures. Roll!

Bookish Babble [3] - Bookworms Unite PH Year 4 Recap + Giveaway!

#BookwormsUnitePH
Year 4 Recap!

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I know I’ve been MIA in the blogging sphere recently but attending my very first #BookwormsUnitePH is definitely something worth talking and sharing about. Plus, maybe this can serve as a springboard for my comeback? :)

Anyway, for anyone who follow me on twitter, you'll know I’ve been wanting to attend BU since its very first year but things haven’t been in my favor and stuff kept coming up that I had to tell myself “next year, for sure” 

2 years ago when I still CAN'T make it to Bookworms Unite PH 3 :(

FINALLY, after years of waiting, the stars have aligned and I am officially going to BU Year 4! You know I’m very excited that I signed up the very moment the preregistration opened and ended up being the first one to register haha! 

See that 001 right there? That's how excited I was!

So for all who’ve missed out on this year (who wants to experience the fun even through secondhand feels) and to those who attended (who wants to relive the day!) Sit back, relax, and brace yourself for incoming fangirling feels as I attempt to get myself together for this recap!

*Please bear with the long post, I waited 4 years for this! Plus, the event was really packed with so many things you just gotta know!

On the Grill! [3] - Perfect Night-In Starter Pack?

Perfect Night-In
Starter Pack?

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I personally consider myself as someone who greatly enjoys the company of others. Maybe not in the party and bar scene but staying up late for hours and hours just to catch up with friends is not a new thing to me. In fact, I actually look forward to those kind of talks especially when it feels like the whole world is quiet except for me and my peers.

However, like most ambiverted bookworms out there, I still appreciate an ol' comfy me-time. Sometimes, we just need to de-stress and recharge our social batteries and simply be left on our own. Of course, this doesn't mean that we like being lonely. It's just that sometimes, we feel the need to really breathe and do things that makes us happy... alone.

That's why when Leesa's Mattresses reached out to me a while back and asked what are my perfect essentials for a night in, I had to say yes (despite my super busy sched) because it's something I want to share with you guys! So without any more delay, here's my top Ailla-time companions!

On the grill! [2] - Dream Literary Collection

Dream Literary Collection

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Imagine that I won the lottery but the only things I could spend on are books. I wonder what I would buy with all of those? Probably shop on bookstores and buy everything I want!

Months ago, Ryan from invaluable.com contacted me and asked if I wanted to be part of a little project that their team is working on - and I said yes!

Just backtracking a bit, invaluable.com is a basically a haven for collectors all over the globe. From jewelry, clocks, antiques to even first edition and signed copies of books for sale! Upon going through their website, I discovered other collectibles and knick-knacks that I'm sure most of you guys would fancy. Considering how much of a packrat/hoarder/collector I am, I did actually enjoy sifting through their website.

Going back, Ryan asked me and other bloggers around the blogsphere to come up with our own dream literary collection. As a big fan of these beauties, I found it hard to decide which ones to include (because books are BOOKS! You'd want to have 'em all!) but as went through my shelf (and Goodreads Account) I realized which ones I definitely must-have in my collection and I'm really glad to be able to share what they are to all of you (and just in case some generous people out there would want to 'gift' them *ahem*) :)

(late) Birth Month Book Haul! :)

AUGUST = BOOK LUVIN'

Sample photo for our photography class <3

Hi everyone! Sorry for being MIA for the past few weeks (being a busy bee again because of school.) Anyway, aside from that, I just recently turned 18 last month. Hoorah! *confettis* 

And because August is my birth month, I decided to do something that I don't really practice in the blog: A Book Haul! :D

So yes, even though it's a wee bit late, here's the stash I had last month!

For review:

Overboard by Elizabeth Fama

(ft. my fave book buddy: Pokka's Milk Coffee)

- Check my review HERE!-

Borrowed:

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

(Thanks to my fave cousin forevs for lending these lovelies @elizalove17)

Birthday Haul:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The Complete Sherlock Holmes 1-2 by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Pieces of My Sister's Life by Elizabeth Joy Arnold

Scarlet Nights by Jude Deveraux

Birthday Haul pt. 2:

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Legend by Marie Lu

Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

How about you guys? Any book hauls lately? What should I start with first? Should I do Book Hauls more often? (my wallet wouldn't thank me, though) :)

On the grill! [1] - Re-reading: Yay or Nay?

Re-reading: Yay or Nay?

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A few days back, I finished re-reading Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before in preparation for reading its sequel: P.S. I Still Love You. I still got the same feels (*squee*) but of course, the excitement is a rung lower than when I first read it since I already knew the plot twists and how it would end. However, it allowed me to see the little things I've missed before (and it also helped me to finally pick a side between Peter K and Josh since after reading it for the first time, I was still confused on who to root for lol)

It is not an unknown fact that I have an extremely long TBR pile so I actually think it over several times whether to re-read a book or not. Eventually I do, if the "craving" to re-read is still there after a week or so. Sometimes, I re-read when I'm in a reading slump. Another thing I consider is the length of the book. I don't think I would read something over again if it's 500+ pages long (there are exceptions, of course)

Because it's my first ever discussion post (yay! *confetti*), I invited some of my favorite bloggers around the blogosphere to share their thoughts on whether re-reading is actually a good idea or a total waste of time.

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

First of all, I want to apologize for being MIA for the past few months *cries* Studying and working are two hard things to manage, really. And I know this is long overdue but better late than never, right? :)

Anyway, I would like to thank a handful of my fellow bloggers who tagged me for this award: Both Carmel and Kyla from Carmel and Kyla and Julie from Books and Insomnia. Be sure to check out their blogs!

Here are the rules for the award:

1. Thank the blogger that nominated you and link back to their site

2. Post the award's logo on your blog

3. Answer the 10 questions you've been asked

4. Nominate 10 other bloggers and ask them 10 new questions. (You can skip this part if you did this tag already. But still, I would love to read your answers.)

Since I've been tagged thrice already, I guess I'll do all three sets of questions here. Be prepared, it's gonna be a long one!

TMI Tag! (Blogger Edition)

Hi everyone! 

So, Kyla of Book Buddies PH had tagged me on her very own TMI Tag (Blogger Edition) [squeee! Thanks Kyla!] I learned that the tag went viral on Youtube last year so she decided to create one of her own, blogger edition.

The rules are easy: You just answer the following questions that would allow others to learn more about you and then pass it on to others. You have your own choice to do as much of the 50 questions as you wish (or less if you want) With those stuff said, here's mine. Enjoy! :)

NEW BLOG!

Hi everyone!

So, a little update about stuff in real life. I'm trying to be active in tumblr again aaaaaand I've decided to make it my personal blog. There, I would be posting my things concerning non-bookish posts. That means, this blog would be finally a full-time book blog! *throws confetti* 

Oh well, that's it for now. I hope you guys drop by my other blog which can be found by clicking here:

On another note, watch out for more of my reviews, bookish news, features, and whatnots :) 

Cheers!

ALL'S FAIR IN BLOG AND WAR: A Review + appreciation post :)

"When it comes to love, all bets are off"

(spoiler free! Read on!)

TITLE: All's Fair in Blog and War
AUTHOR/s: Chrissie Peria
PUBLICATION DATE: 4th of July, 2013
AVAILABLE AT: Amazon | Smashwords

First I must apologize for the late (appreciation) post. I wanted to bundle it up with a review and I haven't got a chance until last night. 

Anyway, as always, I had once again felt really excited upon receiving something through mail. This time, it came from Miss Chrissie Peria! It was a prize from her 8th blogoversary giveaway which luckily, I won. Hooray!

Thank you for these lovely things Miss Chrissie! <3

I got some cutie bento-prep stuff (which I'm planning to put into use very soon!), a box of heavenly cookies (Bacon and chocolate, what more could I ask for?!) which came with BUBBLE WRAP!!! aaaand the best thing of all (I REALLY wanted this!) was a SIGNED PAPERBACK OF ALL'S FAIR IN BLOG AND WAR with matching bookmark and postcard. Wheee! Thank you very much :D

So now, here are my thoughts on Chrissie Peria's All's Fair in Blog and War! :)

IN OVER HER HEAD: A Review + appreciation post :)

"In love, sometimes you have to lose in order to win."

(Spoiler free! Read on!)

TITLE: In Over Her Head
AUTHOR/s: Anne Plaza
PUBLICATION DATE: 24th of October, 2013
AVAILABLE AT: Amazon | Smashwords

So, yesterday, a surprise came through the mail. My giveaway prize from a raffle hosted by Miss Mina Esguerra at her blog minavesguerra.com ! In this modern time whereas almost everything can be accessed, transferred, and redeemed through the web, receiving packages and mails through post gives me such a rush! :)

Thanks a bunch Miss Anne! <3

Well, I received a gift pack courtesy of Miss Anne Plaza, the author of In Over Her Head, which includes an uber cute journal/planner, a set of pens, a couple of adorable keychains (squee! My keychain collection's expanding!), an In Over Her Head postcard and book mark, and A SIGNED PAPERBACK OF IN OVER HER HEAD which I didn't expect because I already got an ebook of it as part of the prize. But seriously, it made me soooo happy! Thank you so much! :D

Anyway, with all that said, here's a review (definitely honest!) of Anne Plaza's In Over Her Head :)

Trinoma Hang out! :)

Starting on our Bucketlist!

Since it's summer and I haven't really been doing anything aside from hanging around the internet + catching up on my reading and blogging, it's a good time to get started on our buddy bucketlist (it's actually our own bucketlists combined haha)

So, instead of doing something out of my list, which mostly includes EXTREME SPORTS, we decided to start on something small: Mall Hang out! 

Going out but first, let me take a selfie :3
Ultra puyat face due to lack of sleep lol

Bataan Summer Outing! :D

It's summer time again and you know what that means? OUTING! Woohoo! Hello Bataan! :D

[This will probably look like a big photo dump hahaha]

*UPDATED ON APRIL 24, 2014*

April 18-19, 2014

Starting at Olanda's residence, we all met up together before heading out but not without arming ourselves with a little prayer lead by Tito Froi :) 

After around 2-3 hours of being on the road, we finally reached our destination: Clearwater Beach Resort at Bataan!

The view outside. Isn't it amaziiing? :)

Youth Walk 2014 :)

"No better way to spend the season than being with Him."

April 15, 2013

Twice before, I've joined this yearly Lenten Recollection organized by the Saint Joseph Parish Youth Ministry and this year, I'm glad to be invited once again :)

"Keep the Faith"
SJPYM Youth Walk 2014

Porwan Day out :D

"True Friends are never apart. Maybe in distance but not in heart."

IV-Rizal batch 2013 :)

April 13, 2014.

Finally after weeks of planning (?) and rescheduling, it's finally here! Waking up at around 4:30 am to prepare for what the day will bring :)

A Year-Ender Tribute to 1CA4! :)

"Each ending comes with new beginnings"

I can't believe the school year is already over! After months of thick hand-outs, endless reports, mind draining quizzes, sleepless nights and tons of paperwork, we are already saying hello to SUMMER VACATION and soon enough, greeting our second year in college! Hooray! :)

COLLEGE is NEVER EASY. It takes hard-work, patience, determination, and many other values that one must have in order for him/her to keep on going. The freshman year is definitely one of the hardest part of university life. That period of time when everything looks new and you get to taste a higher dose of freedom as well as a heavier weight of responsibilities on your shoulder; that starting point when life seems to be starting to make sense; that momentous moment when you know, that finally, it's time to pave the way towards your future.

Back to back to back birthday bash!

"The best birthdays are those which are celebrated with the people you love"

January 18, 2013

It's the weekend! And guess where we're heading? Hello Antipolo!!! 
After a week of books, hand-outs, reviewers, and few hours of sleep, the Preliminary exams week is finally over and I'll be able to chill for awhile. And when I say "chill" I meant it figuratively and LITERALLY.

Ready for the trip! Sort of.

Adhohoho2013!

"For God, glory, and more. Roar, 1CA4!"

It's THAT time of the year again! Parties, music, gifts, lights, food everywhere! People are definitely feeling the vibes as we count down towards Christmas Day and we are not an exemption :)

PART I: 1CA4'S VERY OWN ADHOHOHO2013

We party. And we party HARD!
WHAT: 1CA4's Adhohoho2013
WHERE: UST, St. Raymund's Bldg, Rm. 207
WHEN: December 20, 2013; 11:30 am

"Are you ready for the biggest party of the year?!"

Batangas-Tagaytay Escapade!

"Open your eyes and you will see, 
how beautiful nature can be"

Amidst the great deal of pressure brought by the fast paced living today, one must learn how to relax and let go even for just a few days. That is why, even though I should have been beating deadlines, my weekend was spent on relieving myself from all the stress that the weeks have brought (and has been bringing, actually).

Day One: Saturday, November 30, 2013

With Le family before meeting up with Tita's and Tito's :)

Saling9awi: Thomasian Pride

Salinggawi: "Salin ng mga dating Gawi at Lahi"

On September 13, 2013, the Thomasian Pep Rally in preparation for the upcoming annual UAAP Cheerdance Competition was held at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. 

(c) Mairielle Ashley Fernando