2012 movies that make me giddy!

The Secret World of Arrietty, February (Japan release: 2010)

The Hunger Games, March

Men in Black III, May

Brave, June

The Dark Knight Rises, July

Ice Age 4: Continental Drift, July

Rurouni Kenshin, August (Japan)

The Hobbit, December

When I first read The Hunger Games Trilogy, which was December 2010, and learned that there will be a movie adaptation this year, I thought that I could never be more excited for a movie, ever. But when I found out that there will also be an adaptation of The Hobbit, I can't...I just can't possibly contain my excitement! Yes, I seem to be more giddy about the latter (at least as of the moment). Don't judge haha. It might be because it's one of my most recent reads, and the time I'll have to wait 'til the movie is released is relatively shorter.

The year that was

Noteworthy happenings of 2011:
- A first, on the first (January)
- A celebration (February)
- Finished college (March)
- Bought my first film camera: a Bell+Howell BF35, 35mm toy camera (April)
- Bought my first SLR: a Minolta SR-T 101b (June)
- Started buying a lot of secondhand books a.k.a. the time when I developed a Booksale addiction (September)

Blah moments:
- I'm still unemployed (ugh)
- Although it's the year I got started on film photography, or photography in general, I haven't been taking photos as much as I hoped and thought I would. Unemployment is one contributing factor. Also, I tend to take photos of the same things over and over as I don't really go out much. I have a total of seven rolls of film waiting to be processed.
- I only started reading profusely by mid-year
- Started some things that were never updated or continued
- I had so much time to do a lot of different things (both old and new) and yet I didn't really accomplish anything

All in all, 2011 seems to be a "hibernation" year. It's a shame I never really "went out" or did something new, different, or worthwhile. I mostly stayed home, read, stayed long hours on the interwebs almost daily... I won't be able to have this much time once I start working and yet, this. It's... a bit sad.

Oh, well. Let's make 2012 a more fruitful year, shall we? :)

Whatcha watchin'?

I've been watching a lot of (great!) movies and anime/tv series lately (lately being at least more than a year). I just thought I might share them here:


Chuck
My all-time favorite series which is still on air but, sadly, on its last season. I would watch as many episodes as I can daily, forcing my eyes open until I can't take it anymore haha. Oh how I would miss this when it's finally gone.

One Piece
Whole-day marathons as well. Now one of my two most favorite animes! Still on air, already on its 528th episode this week. I used to read the manga while waiting for the next episode to be available for download, but now I'm too lazy to do that.

Studio Ghibli films
I've been seeing a lot of Totoro stuff on Tumblr, and I finally downloaded the movie. I loved it and discovered other Studio Ghibli creations. Naturally, I downloaded 'em as well. This was around the middle of this year. I have now watched ten SG movies! (Note to self: download more) Their stories are unique and very entertaining, characters are so easy to like. Most of the leads are female, which is also nice. I AM IN LOVE.

Walking Dead
A series which only had six episodes on their first season. BUT, those episodes are very satisfying. I can't wait for more zombiessss, or walkers, as they call it in the show. I'm not sure if season 2 is already up haha

Rurouni Kenshin
I first watched the series on Studio 23 back in high school. THIS IS MY FAVORITE ANIME, EVER. (Well, OP and Ruroken kind of share the spot now.) I don't know why, I just do. Also this year, I read the manga version, and boy, I sure am glad I did. I thought the series seem a bit too short, and it is. Only ninety-five episodes, while the manga has 200+ chapters. I would read 'til sunrise daily. Seriously. I am now downloading episodes 11-20.

Makoto Shinkai movies
I'm not sure how many movies there are, but I currently have two. According to an ad I saw on Facebook, Shinkai is dubbed as the next Hayao Miyazaki (of Studio Ghibli!!!), so I downloaded the two, immediately. How were they? Well, the plot's nice. I just think the pace is a little bit too slow. I am also not a big fan of lengthy monologues, which basically comprises his movies. (Why do the Japanese like too many lengthy monologues??) I was expecting films similar to those of SG, so I was a bit disappointed. I'm still on the lookout for good stuff from Shinkai, though.


There you go. :) What have you been watching this year?



P.S. Thanks to B for not listening to me when I told her not to watch Chuck, for making me love One Piece (which I didn't like when I watched it on TV), and for introducing me to Walking Dead. :)

Food blogs and other things

1. Gone are the days of clean desktops and huge free memory
2. I have this constant struggle of limiting myself to two cups (mugs, actually) of coffee a day
3. Coffee candies doesn't do the trick, however yummy they may be. It actually makes me want to grab another mug
4. Looking at food blogs at night is a very, very, very bad idea. I do it, still. And speaking of food blogs, these three are my current favorites:

• Food Porn -- I've been following Food Porn for a long time. It never fails to make my mouth water. Ever.
• Grilled Cheese Social -- Been looking through Blogs of Note last night, and discovered this. I love cheese, though I'm only familiar (taste-wise) with a handful. I love how doable these recipes are and how you can substitute ingredients for what's readily available. I tried this this afternoon and though I used pandesal and lack herbs, it was delish!
• Breakfast -- Found this just now through Food Porn. I was just telling a friend last night how I love breakfast food and ta-dah! Here is a food blog that can leave me dehydrated due to excessive salivating (that's just gross hahaha). It's destiny, I tell you.
• Salad Pride -- I don't visit this blog often, but might as well add it here. For healthier picks, here's one for you. I love salad as well! Tumblr for photos, Blogspot for complete recipes.

Go ahead and browse through these wonderful blogs. It can last you a lifetime. 

Small things to smile about

1. preparing grahams cake at 3am
2. slicing peaches thinly and not cutting yourself
3. small gatherings
4. cute babies/kids
5. homemade food (yum!)
6. stuffing your face without a care in the world
7. the golden hour
8. taking pictures of sunlight seeping through the windows
9. reading and enjoying a never-heard book that you impulsively bought
10. learning something new in Photoshop (heh)

ETA:  11. funny kitty videos on YouTube

Eternal daydreamer

Always dreaming and daydreaming of:

doing something awesome
writing something great
saying something important
making beautiful things
capturing magical moments

For now, I can only dream.