Book: The Universe of Us by Lang Leav

★★★/★★★★★

 “Sometime the loneliest place to be is in love.”

I think me and Lang Leav's books have a very strange connection. I mean, I was totally in love with her words but as a whole this book failed to amaze me. Again, the words are beautifully woven together but I was emotionally detached and at times I didn't feel anything at all. And I really really wanted to love it more but it didn't do the magic like it did to others.

Conversations

You may be powerless now, but there will be a time when you won't be. Don't you see? And that's the time for you to be loud, to tell the world about the changes you want to see, to set them in motion.

Crying

You're still crying about him, aren't you? Silly girl. What good will it do to you to spill those sky blue tears? You meant either everything to him or absolutely nothing at all.

Having read all four books/collections of Ms. Lang Leav, I can say that I was a bit underwhelmed. The first time I heard about her books I was so excited for everyone seemed to love them and so I decided to grab a copy for myself. Don't get me wrong, Leav did a good job putting these poems together and they're beautiful but I guess they didn't wow me as much as I expected them to.They're fine and there are some I really loved but most of them failed to impress me. But again, it's just me and I hope the next person will love it more than I did.

Nonetheless, people who love poetry will definitely enjoy this!

Poem: One Day

'I'm over you.' I tell them.
But I don't know how long I can fool everybody.
'I'll find someone else.' Another lie.
Because I know there wouldn't be someone else.

'We'll be fine.' I convince my heart.
But I'm not sure how long I can lie to myself.
'It's okay.' I try to hope.
Because I'll be over you–eventually.

'One day.' I promise.
Because I can't be miserable forever.
'I'll be over you.' I tell myself. 
But for now let me hurt so badly.

Book: Memories by Lang Leav

★★★★/★★★★★

I related so much with this book and there were times I had to stop and appreciate how wonderfully written these pieces were. I love that most of them really tugged at my emotions and they struck straight through my heart. And though some were from her previous collections, I loved the added ones!

To be honest, I was disappointed with Leav's first two books but I love this one much better! It's sad and though they hurt, the words were honest and beautifully woven together.

Acceptance

There are things I miss

that I shouldn't

and those I don't

that I should.

Sometime we want

what we couldn't—

sometimes we love

who we could.

The Stranger

Does it make you crazy? To think he saw you—his eyes passed over you and if only there had been some small mishap in that pivotal moment. A spilled drink, a stumble through the door—his hand reaching out to steady you and it would've happened. A whole new world would've opened up like a vortex to swallow you both into blissful delirium. But you turned away, out of shyness or indecision and by the time you turned back, he was gone.

How do you explain it without sounding unsound? That click you felt when your eyes met his, like the switch of the train, transporting you for one miraculous moment, to what might have been.

Then reality intervenes and with a shake of your head, you tell yourself to stop chasing shadows. But I can tell you now—that click you felt, it was real—and you must not ignore it. For it is the sound of your fate beckoning. It is the voice of your destiny calling. Sometimes it only calls once.

December 2016 Music Videos

Bad Things - Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello (Dec 1)

Let's Hurt Tongiht - OneRepublic (Dec 6)

 My Favorite Part - Mac Miller ft. Ariana Grande (Dec 12)


Million Reasons - Lady Gaga (Dec 14)

Blame - Bastille (Dec 15)

Seventeen - Alessia Cara (Dec 15) 


Years & Years - Olly Murs (Dec 16)

Life Goes On - Fergie (Dec 16)

Faith - Stevie Wonder ft. Ariana Grande (Dec 20)
  

Safe Inside - James Arthur (Dec 25)

MERRY CHRISTMAS! :D

Hello, guys!

Just want to greet you a Merry Merry Christmas!! :D Hope everyone’s enjoying the day and God bless us all! :)

🎄🎄🎄

#5 Christmas Movies

"9 Things I Love About Christmas"

Well, other than listening to Christmas songs, I also love watching Christmas movies!! Who doesn't, anyway? And honestly, I enjoy watching Christmas themed movies even when it's not Christmas. Because who says I can't? Some of my favorites are Home Alone 3 (I watch this one with my sisters every year!), Magic Stocking (a Hallmark Christmas movie) and A Christmas Carol (a classic movie adaptation of the book I always enjoy!) I know there are more other Christmas movies to discover and one of these days I'm going to reward myself by having a Christmas Movie Marathon! :)

#6 Christmas Songs

"9 Things I Love About Christmas"

Of course, what's Christmas without its music? Today I'll tell you another thing I love about Christmas and it's Christmas Songs!! ♫♪ I've made dozens of Christmas playlists before but I'll share the most recent one I enjoy.

Since I'm having problems with my Spotify, I'll just give you a list of the songs included in my most recent favorite Christmas Playlist.

♫ My Grown Up Christmas List by Kelly Clarkson ♫

♫ The First Noel by Pentatonix ♫

♫ Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Michael Buble ♫

♫ Mistletoe by Justin Bieber

♫ Christmas Everyday by Simple Plan ♫

♫ Let It Snow by Christina Perri ♫

♫ Santa Baby by Taylor Swift ♫

>♫ Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande ♫

 ♫ Winter Wonderland /Don’t Worry Be Happy by Pentatonix (ft Tori Kelly) ♫

That's it. I know it's short but I can always give you another playlist!  

And we're only 6 days away from Christmas, you guys! :D

#7 Wishlist

"9 Things I Love About Christmas"

I always always love making wish list and what's more exciting than writing your Christmas Wish list? I know we all have a long list of things we want to receive this Christmas but my list for this year only contains 3 things. These three things are what I would really love to receive this year and I think I've been nice enough for Santa to surprise me by granting these wishes.

Number three on my list is The Lunar Chronicles Boxed Set! I've been wanting to buy one for myself but wouldn't it be nicer if Santa would give me this boxed set instead? (And whoever my generous Santa is, I'd be grateful if you'd actually give me one!) :D

Number two on my list is a roundtrip ticket to Palawan! I miss my mom so seeing her this Christmas would be the perfect gift! And I'd love to see my Nanay (grandmother) too! :)

And the number one thing I've been praying to have this Christmas... a new smartphone. Yep, just a smartphone. I just disposed my old one (I'll miss you!) and now I'm looking for a brand new one. 

 So, that's all for my Christmas Wish list. How about you, what's on your list?

#8 The Joy of Giving

“9 Things I Love About Christmas”

“Only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have.”
-Jim Rohn

Today I’m telling you about the joy of giving. It’s another thing I love about Christmas because it’s really heartwarming everytime you know that you make someone happy by giving them gifts without asking something in return.

Aside from attending Simbang Gabi, it’s also become a tradition to us to pledge to give something for the kids in our church every year. At the beginning of Simbang Gabi, the people in our church put up a simple Christmas Tree where they hang pledges and here, people can choose what they want to pledge to give. These pledges are for the less fortunate kids and we really hope that these gifts we will be giving on Christmas Eve will somehow make them happy! :D

My sister and I chose these pledges (a new shirt and a new bag) and we’re really excited to give these to the kids!!

#9 Chirstmas Tradition "Simbang Gabi"

“9 Things I Love About Christmas”

I know this has nothing to do with books but since Christmas is only 9 days away, I decided to do “9 Things I Love About Christmas” starting today. Each day I will be posting something that makes Christmas extra special for me and today I will be telling you all about a Christmas Tradition called “Simbang Gabi” that we Filipinos very much practiced.

Simbang Gabi is a nine-day/night series of Masses we attend to in anticipation of Christmas Day. It starts from the 15th to 23rd of December at four o’clock in the morning but those who can’t attend this can attend the nine o’clock in the evening mass from the 16th to 24th which is called the Anticipated Mass. My sisters and I have started the Simbang Gabi today, we attended the four a.m. mass, and it’s been a yearly tradition to us to attend and never miss a day for they say that if you complete these nine days of masses, then one of your wishes will come true this Christmas Day.

We’ve been attending Simbang Gabi for 11 years and we used to attend with our Grandmother but now that she’s gone, it’s just me and my two sisters. And I always love attending Simbang Gabi because completing it is like an accomplishment and the excitement of counting down the days until Christmas is fun! With these masses, we also get to become closer with God and his words.

They also say that attending the Simbang Gabi is like a sacrifice for you get up early for nine days just so you can celebrate with everybody else and with them you anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ.

That’s it for my favorite Christmas Tradition and tomorrow I will be back to tell you another thing I love about Christmas!🎄🎄🎄

Book: Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

3.75/5stars

“All children, except one, grow up.”

  
Peter Pan movie has always been my favorite and I love Peter and Wendy! I admit I found their story a bit heartbreaking but it's a wonderful story nonetheless!! :) And I know it rarely happens but I also found the movie better than the book. 

“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” 

I really enjoyed Peter's story as well as his and the Lost Boys' adventures in Neverland. Wendy showing up with Michael and John just made it more exciting and bizarre. For me, Peter Pan is really an interesting character for he never wants to ever grow up, always wanting to just have some fun and adventure. He's arrogant, he fights pirates, flies around, befriends mermaids and run things around Neverland. The Lost Boys look up to him and together they make their adventures. Tinkerbell is also one of my favorites! She's ill-tempered, jealous, and I liked it everytime she's pissed off at Peter and spits out, "You silly ass!" She's mischievous but very fond of Peter and helps him everytime. 

I somehow feel sad for Peter for he has no strong ties to reality. He thinks that as long as he stays as a boy, then he can be free of any responsibility. He forgets important things and people and he's always carefree, not taking things seriously. With Wendy, he found a mother figure, one that could tell them thrilling stories, tuck them to bed and help them clean. Wendy is a wonderful character for she really cares for Peter and the Lost Boys. She might have enjoyed Neverland and wanted to stay, but she knew what's real and that they must come home to their parents. 

“You won't forget me, Peter, will you, before spring cleaning time comes?”

I'll also mention Captain Hook because a tv show I'm watching, Once Upon A Time, has him as one of the main characters and there I love him so much! He's not as callous as novel-Hook but he's still a pirate and he's, well, gorgeous (played by Collin O'Donoghue). I can also understand Hook's hatred for Peter and as he said, it's Peter's cockiness that puts him off, because Peter, really, can be cocky most of the time.

Like I said earlier, Peter and Wendy's ending broke my heart. It's really sad and the fact that Peter did forget Wendy somehow, oh my god! :( How could you, Peter! 

 

Peter Pan and Wendy will always be my favorites and no matter how sad their ending is, I'll never get tired watching the moving over and over again. Lol.

“Oh, all right,” he said at last, and gulped. Then he unbarred the window. “Come on, Tink,” he cried, with a frightful sneer at the laws of nature; “we don't want any silly mothers;” and he flew away.

There could not have been a lovelier sight; but there was none to see it except a little boy who was staring in at the window. He had had ecstasies innumerable that other children can never know; but he was looking through the window at the one joy from which he must be for ever barred.

Book: I Wrote This For You: Just the Words by pleasefindthis

★★★/★★★★★

 

THE WAY SATURN TURNS

All I can do, if I feel this way, is trust that somewhere in the universe, there's a you that feels the same.

 

Really wanted to love this book but I didn't want to force myself to. It's fine and I related to some but like the first book, I wasn't really drawn to it. Have my favorites though.

THE CLOSER

You lie in bed, staring at the ceiling and counting crows.

Someone.

Anyone.

 But anyone could be someone if only you looked a little closer.

THE FOREST OF STARS

There's no point in me saying I miss you.

(I miss you).

THE WAVES PUT YOU TO SLEEP

I love you like I love the sea. And I'm ok with drowning.

THE AGONY OF BEING OTHER PEOPLE

 I keep wondering, how many people do you need to be, before you can become yourself.

THE WORLD NEEDS MORE LIGHTHOUSES

You can join the millions talking int he dark. Or you can stand up and scream light, out into the night.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAKING THINGS AND PEOPLE

Just so you know, there are certain people who were out here to break you.

So you could learn how  to pull yourself back together again.

THE FORWARD

Always have something to look forward to. Make something up right now. Something you want to do. Someplace you want to be. Someone you want to meet.

And look forward to it.

Poem: Please Be Mine

Would you
...take my hand?
Would you
...fly with me?
Don't worry
...I'll understand
If I'm not
...your Wendy.

I'll find myself
...fairy dust.
I'll teach myself
...to fly.
Then I'll soar
...away fast.
So I can
...be up high.

But won't you
...take my hand?
Please be
...the one.
Then I'll take you
...to Neverland,
So you can be
...my Peter Pan.

Book: I Wrote This For You by pleasefindthis

★★★¹⁄₂/★★★★★

 The City Rises and Falls

You were a dream. Then a reality. Now a memory.

I'm obsessing with poetry these days so I decided to pick this one up and it's fine. I mean, it has pictures and I love the first part of the book but gradually lost interest towards the latter part. I don't know what happened but as I read on I found myself unimpressed with the words and pictures. There were some that I really connected with but some I just didn't get. Maybe it was because they felt too cliche and I think the angsty-teen-vibe has gotten too old for me early in the book.

THE SHAPE OF IT

They want me. I want you. And you want someone else. But none of us want to turn around.

THE WAY GLASS BREAKS

This is the song I only sing when you're sleeping. These are the words I say when you can't hear me. This is the way I look when you can't see me. And you will never know.

THE TRAIN OF LIES

I say that I won't touch you.

But my fingers are liars.

I tell you how I won't hold you.

But my arms are going to hell.

I promise I won't kiss you.

But my lips break it.

I let you that I won't love you.

But y heart has no conscience.

And no part of me will apologize.

THE POINT PAST PEAK FEELINGS

I know you have feelings left somewhere.

But they're all hard to reach.

Perfectly Perfect by Simple Plan ♫♪

You might not think you're a supermodel
But you look like one to me
I'd rather have your picture on my phone
Than on the cover of a magazine
It's hard to think that a girl like you
Could have any insecurities
It's funny how all the things you would change
Are all things that are cute to me

And I know you don't believe me
And you think that I'm a fool
But I don't care

Maybe
You'll never see in you what I see
The little things you do that make me go crazy
I'm not crazy
You're perfectly perfect to me

You brush it off every time I tell you
Your smile lights up the room
And I'm guessing that you don't even notice
The whole world notices you
You think you're clumsy
I think you're cool
You say you're typical
But I think you rule
Sometimes I wonder if you'll ever believe
That I wrote this song for you

Maybe
You'll never see in you what I see
The little things you do that make me go crazy
I'm not crazy
You're perfectly perfect
Someday
You're gonna see you're beautiful this way
And that you're always gonna make me go crazy
I'm not crazy
You’re perfectly perfect to me

You don't have to try
Change a single thing
‘Cause just the way you are
Is sweeter than anything
Maybe I’m a fool but it’s always been you
‘Cause no one ever makes me smile the way you do 

- azlyrics