Okay. I think it's about time to get started with the changes that I've been planning for this blog. For the past month, I was preoccupied with formulating ideas to make this blog better. I've done my homework and came up with a couple of pet-projects for this blog. I think the ideas I came up with are really amazing. Hahaha.

For the past few years of this blog's existence, I was so concerned about my blog traffic and was a bit pressured to post daily to increase content -which is why there are some irrelevant posts during the early years of this blog (No worries, I will have them removed.). Now, I realized that there's really no need to concern myself with traffic. After all, I made this blog for myself so I'm pretty much satisfied of just having myself as my only audience. I guess it's just a phase that new bloggers go through. I'm just glad that I've out-grown it. Otherwise, this blog might end up being irrelevant even for myself. : ) 

So far, I was able to lessen my posts from 888 to only 192. Basically, I just deleted all my empty posts and voila! instant update. I think that was the most significant change for this blog as of this date. Thank blogger for now being able to schedule my posts. Now, I can change the date of my post to reflect the actual date that the event took place. I wouldn't have to worry about my entries being a tad bit too late. 

Here are some of my to-do list for the complete overhaul of this blog:

1. Change my profile to reflect my current interests.
2. Revisit my earlier posts and update some information that no longer applies to me. -and delete the mediocre ones.
3. Check all links if they are still working.
4. Limit my font color choices. - I noticed that in the past couple of years, some of my posts are really multicolored that they became a bit too much for the eyes. It's no longer appealing to me. So I'm planning to stick to four basic colors (white, blue, green, and purple) with red or pink every now and then.
5. Update the contents of each of my blog pages. - Some of them have been empty since I placed them there. (Me and my laziness...)
6. Finish the posts on my drafts section.
7. Open a flickr or picasa web albums account.
8. And lastly, go through the contents of this blog and see what events of my life had I missed posting in here.

I hope to get this done before the year ends. And hopefully, I will be able to implement my post ideas even before December. 

Here are the post ideas that I've came up with. Of course, it doesn't include my day-to-day life experiences. The items on this list are just 'fillers' for my blog's content. Sort of like 'auto-content'. Posts that are generic and may be found once in a while throughout the life of this blog: 

1. Blogthings - I've been doing this since this blog started and will continue having it but it will no longer be an everyday thing.
2. Q&A - These are just random questions mostly about me! It's basically just a questionnaire that you'll have to answer. These came from Friendster and was a popular trend back then (You'll just answer a questionnaire that you were tag at and some other person will do the same. It's actually a good way to get to know someone or update yourself with your friend's current interests. Most helpful if you haven't seen that friend in a long time or don't really know much about this person that you want to be friends with.)
3. MV - featured music videos that I love and why it appeals to me.
4. Lyreex - Just my favorite songs with its accompanying lyrics. Will include the music video for it if it's available.
5. Playlist - This is a compilation of songs that fits a certain theme/topic (For example: 10 Songs for the Summer, 10 Best Christmas Songs of all time, My Top 25 Movie Soundtracks, etc.).
6. Now Spinning - This is information about latest album releases.
7. KPOP News - As the title suggests, it's all about KPop!
8. Drama Reviews - My take on a recent drama that I've watched. This maybe done per episode or per drama. Right now, I'm thinking of doing a per episode review for new dramas and an over-all review for the old ones.
9. Music News - Self-explanatory. However, this would exclude news about Korean music as I have a separate post for it.
10. Hollywood News - Again, self-explanatory. But just those news that I think are worthy of my interests. Hehe.
11. Movie Reviews - Self-explanatory.
12. Photo of the Day - This project will officially begin next year as part of my 365 Days project.
13. Spotlight On - This is about new idol groups that I find interesting or new artists (Hollywood or not) that I've taken a liking to.
14. Bookmarked - About book reviews.
15. RealTV - About reality TV shows that I enjoy watching (ANTM, Amazing Race, Project Runway, The Amazing Race Asia, etc.)
16. TV'ed - Episode reviews or series reviews about TV shows (mostly, american series) that I've watched recently.
17. Travelogue - Chronicles of my latest journeys in or out of the country.
18. Travel Planner - My own made-up travel itinerary which someday would come in handy.
19. Hottie Discovery - About a recent male celebrity that I like.
20. It Girl - Female counterpart of Hottie Discovery.
21. Chow-Fun - A review of a latest restaurant I've been to or food that I've eaten.
22. Chillax - Where to chill or hang-out.
23. Coolcat 'It' List - My yearly take about people that I think made headlines or were significant for me for the past year. I started doing this in 2008. My own version of Time's 100 People of the Year.
24. Lists - Just random lists about certain topics.

So there you have it. It's a lot and I have other more ideas but these are just the more concrete ones. Some of the items in that list already exists on my blog so there'll be no adjustments whatsoever. I just hope that given these ideas, I wouldn't ran out of anything to post in here. No more excuses other than being lazy that is! 

Anyway, here's some of the lists that I came up with and hopefully I'll be able finish one before the year ends:

• Favorite Movies of All-Time
• Favorite Asian Dramas
• Fave TV Series
• Fave Reality TV Shows
• Mighty Ducks -Where Are They Now?
• Fave Musicians
• Rock Bands
• Fave Asian Movies
• Fave Drama Soundtracks
• Fave On-Screen/Off-Screen Couples
• Fave Asian Artists
• Hottie Hall of Fame
• It Girl Hall of Fame
• 50 Korean Hotties
• 50 Korean Beauties
• Fave Korean Variety Shows
• Fave American Idol Contestants
• 100 Songs of All-Time
• Fave Movie/TV Soundtracks
• Male Celebrities: Then & Now
• Female Celebrities: Then & Now
• 100 All-Star Female Celebrities (Hollywood)
• 100 All-Star Male Celebrities (Hollywood)
• Top 50 Pinoy It List
• Top 25 Chinese/HK/Taiwan Artists
• Top 50 Japanese Artists
• Top 50 Asian Male Celebrities
• Top 50 Asian Female Celebrities
• Korean Idol Groups
• Fave Korean Entertainers/Comedians
• Fave Immortal Song Performances
• Fave We Got Married Couples
• Fave America's Next Top Model (ANTM) Contestants
• Fave Project Runway Designers
• Fave Models
• Fave Beauty Products
• Young Hollywood -Where Are They Now?
• Fave Music Videos
• Fave Books

Cool list huh? Anyway, that's already a lot and now that I'm finally done conceptualizing the content for this blog, don't you think it's about time to get started and have all these ideas materialize? Yes, you do!

XOXO.

Under Repair

okay... I noticed that I haven't given much attention to this blog for the past couple of years. It's here, I do post something once in a while, but most of my plans for this blog are still on the pages of my sketchpad and they are yet to come to life. And because this blog is almost 6 years old, I wanted to update it and make some changes to its content. Believe me, it won't be an easy task because I have to clean up 888 post (of which, only 150+ had been published), check all the links if they are still working, and finish some of my saved posts. I'm allotting a whole week just to finish this. But something tells me that it'll take more than that. Hahaha. Anyway, a week is a week. I just hope that I get to finish it on time. And if ever I don't, I hope I can make a significant change to it anyway.

Looking forward to my future overhauled blog! Cheers! ^_^

Down to my last two weeks.

Here in SG. :) 

A lot of people would probably think that I still have a lot of time to look for a job. I have two more weeks, and if my long-term visit pass gets an approval, I'll have a whole year to stay here in Singapore (legally) to continue looking for work. But you know what, I've already decided on it a few weeks ago. It was just around the same time the extension on my short-term visit pass got approved. I knew... I wanted to go HOME. 

It wasn't a very easy decision to make. Believe me. I've thought about it not a thousand but just a hundred times. It's just something that's been constantly on my mind. Coming up with this decision, I feel a little sad because I've traded security just to try my luck here. But more than anything else, I feel happy, relieved, and content. Happy because in a few weeks time, I'll be seeing my family once again. They play a big part on my decision to go back home. Since coming here in SG, I find myself missing their company a lot. And I thought that maybe being homesick is normal and that given a few more weeks i'll be able to adjust. But the feeling hasn't gone away. As time passes, I'm missing them more and more. So I'm actually excited to see my family again. 

I feel relieved because even though I wasn't lucky enough, at least my friend who came here with me has found her luck here. In a way, I actually feel responsible for her. Though I know it's her own decision to come with me, It was me who encouraged her in the first place. She left her job and tried her luck here, all in the promise that we have a place to stay and that looking for a new job would be easy. Imagine my guilt when we had to arrive here in SG with nowhere to go and that it took us more than a month without anyone calling us for an interview. So I've been praying a lot for her. I feel somehow guilty because since two weeks ago, I actually stopped applying for jobs because I've decided to just go home. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I no longer want to pursue a dream here. So I was waiting for her all along and just want to keep her company. That's why I actually didn't feel envious when she was the one to get the job that we both applied for. The feeling is actually a surprise for me cause normally, and I hate to admit this, I am a very competitive person. But at that time, I actually felt genuinely happy for her. Now I know that she's just not my classmate in high school but she's actually a friend I care so much about. And though we've had issues when we were here, in the end, I can say that we're indeed friends. 

I feel content because despite everything, this has been an enjoyable experience. It's been memorable and something that will be a life lesson for me. Even if I was not able to be successful here, at least I can say that I've tried. I've been able to visit a new country, visit its tourist destinations, eat its food, and meet old and new friends. I was also able to know more about this country's culture. All in all, its been a truly wonderful experience. In the end, I know that no matter what happens, I will never regret choosing to leave my job and look for better opportunities here. 

"On this day, God wants you to know... that it's time you let go. Yes, of course, you want to control so everything happens in just the way you want it. But at the end of the day, we control nothing. It's all in God's hands -has always been, and will always be. So, do what you can, and then let go, and let God handle the rest."

This was the message I got yesterday on one of the applications on FB and it's so fitting. This message addressed all my worries and concerns. And now I know that it's time for me to move forward... which for me means to go home. 

I'll be home... I'll be home soon! :)

Dream High OST

I'm absolutely loving this drama's soundtrack. I've been listening to both songs the entire day. Seems that I can't get enough of it. I love IU's voice in Someday and the Dream High song is soooo addicting. A few more plays and I would have memorized the whole track - yeah, including Taekyeon's rap cut. I'm so looking forward for more and would definitely buy a copy of the album once its out.

Dream High (드림하이) - Taekyeon, Wooyoung, Suzy, Joo, Kim Soo Hyun

I dream high 난 꿈을 꾸죠
힘들 때면 난 눈을 감고 꿈이 이뤄지는 그 순간을 계속 떠올리며 일어나죠

두려움의 끝에서 난 오늘도 흔들리죠 떨어질까 봐 날아오르지 못하는 어린 새처럼
자꾸 내가 할 수 있나 내 꿈이 이뤄질까 내딛는 걸음 한 걸음 걸음이 다시 두려워 질 때마다

I dream high 난 꿈을 꾸죠 힘들 때면 난 눈을 감고 꿈이 이뤄지는 그 순간을 계속 떠올리며 일어나죠
I can fly high 나는 믿어요 언젠가는 저 하늘위로 날개를 펴고 누구보다도 자유롭게 높이 날아 오를거에요

넘어진 날 일으켜 줄 용기가 필요하죠 먼지를 털고 다시 일어나 또 한 번 뛰어갈 용기가
다시 한 번 나를 믿고 나의 운명을 믿고 모든 걸 걸고 내 키보다 높은 벽을 뛰어 넘을거에요

I dream high 난 꿈을 꾸죠 힘들 때면 난 눈을 감고 꿈이 이뤄지는 그 순간을 계속 떠올리며 일어나죠
I can fly high 나는 믿어요 언젠가는 저 하늘위로 날개를 펴고 누구보다도 자유롭게 높이 날아 오를거에요

Dream high a chance to fly high 아픔들은 이젠 모두 다 bye bye 하늘에 있는 저 별들처럼 높이 날아봐 니 꿈들을 펼쳐 보는 거야 time for u to shine
이제부터 시작이야 gotta make em mine 니 손으로 이뤄가 미랠 두려워 하지마
이젠 힘껏 자신있게 걸어가 Destiny 숙명이지 멈출 수 없는 운명이 지금 우리 눈앞에 펼쳐지지
이건 너를 위한 whole new fantasy 그러니 이제부터 여기 내 손을 잡아
우리의 목표는 지금부터 하나 꿈과 미래 포기하지 않아 젊음 열정 여기 모두다 Dream High

I dream high 난 꿈을 꾸죠 힘들 때면 난 눈을 감고 꿈이 이뤄지는 그 순간을 계속 떠올리며 일어나죠
I can fly high 나는 믿어요 언젠가는 저 하늘위로 날개를 펴고 누구보다도 자유롭게 높이 날아 오를거에요

Someday - IU

언젠간 이 눈물이 멈추길 언젠간 이 어둠이 걷히고
따스한 햇살이 이 눈물을 말려주길

지친 내 모습이 조금씩 지겨워지는 걸 느끼면
다 버리고 싶죠 힘들게 지켜오던 꿈을
가진 것보다는 부족한 것이 너무나도 많은 게
느껴질 때마다 다리에 힘이 풀려서 난 주저앉죠

언젠간 이 눈물이 멈추길 언젠간 이 어둠이 걷히고
따스한 햇살이 이 눈물을 말려주길

괜찮을 거라고 내 스스로를 위로하며 버티는
하루하루가 날 조금씩 두렵게 만들고
나를 믿으라고 말하면서도 믿지 못하는 나는
이제 얼마나 더 오래 버틸 수 있을지 모르겠어요

기다리면 언젠간 오겠지 밤이 길어도 해는 뜨듯이
아픈 내 가슴도 언젠간 다 낫겠지

날 이젠 도와주길 하늘이 제발 도와주길
나 혼자서만 이겨내기가 점점 더 자신이 없어져요

언젠간 이 눈물이 멈추길 언젠간 이 어둠이 걷히고
따스한 햇살이 이 눈물을 말려주길
기다리면 언젠간 오겠지 (someday, someday)
밤이 길어도 해는 뜨듯이 이 아픈 내 가슴도 언젠간 다 낫겠지

언젠간 언젠간

Farewell 2010... Hello 2011!

First post for the year 2011. Woot! Woot!

As early as March 2010, I was already looking forward to this year - 2011. I just feel like a lot of great things will happen to me this year. Since 11 is my favorite number, I was hoping that the year will also take favor on me, be kind to me. ^__^ I have so many plans for this year. In fact, I'm going to make an outline of it tomorrow. There'll be a lot of travels, projects, and BIG decisions to make.

We welcomed 2011 in our great grand Lola's house. It has been  a family tradition to celebrate new year together with the whole clan. I couldn't remember ever having to spend new year somewhere else. It's always at the big house in our compound where most, if not all of my relatives get together to wait for the coming year. Our celebration wasn't at all grand. We just had a simple dinner and greeted each other a happy new year. Yes, there were fireworks, but we spent most of our time looking at other people's fireworks display. It has been, at most, a quiet new year celebration. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but the important thing is that I get to spend it with the people I love.

My favorite fireworks shot!

My other new year pics can be viewed here.

Anyway, I'm really really looking forward to what 2011 has set for me. Like everyone else, I'm going to take this new year as a brand new start, a fresh beginning. I will try my best to make this year work for me. And if it doesn't go as planned, I will take whatever life has offered me. Take it and make use of it. I'm not going to let simple mistakes burden me like it did last year. I will get up and do whatever it is that's needed to be done to make this year the best year of my life. Once again, Happy New Year! 새해 복 많이 받으세요!

2011: DARE to follow your DREAMS!

2011 New Year's Resolution

A new year. A new beginning. 

Yehey! It's already 2011. I've been looking forward to this year since March of last year -maybe even earlier. My 2010 had been non-eventful - and it kinda sucked actually - which is why I've been wanting 2010 to end so badly so that I could have a brand new start.  Anyway, a new year wouldn't be complete without my New Year's resolution. For some reason, I didn't bother making one for 2010 (Was that already an indication that that year would suck big time? ㅋㅋㅋ). Since I skipped 2010, this year I really am going to start things right. So now, my new year resolutions are back  and for this year, i also came up with the following new year's resolution which i should really really try to accomplish. This is sort of like a repost of my 2009's as I haven't done much since then. Again, I'll try to accomplish as much as possible so I could take some resolutions off my list.

1. Be more PUNCTUAL

This year i should strive to be in the office by 8AM; always come 15 minutes before get togethers; and to not use my sick leaves and annual leaves, unless when necessary.

Now that we're going to have to report to work by 8:30 AM, I think it's time for me to really be serious about this. There'll be no more excuses! Also, I will try to lessen my leaves for the remaining six months as I am going to resign by July this year and move on to better opportunities. Time to bring back the early bird me during that period of time.

2. Save moohlah!

aside from the things i have to buy, i should not spend money on things not included on my to-buy list; i should save money for my anticipated trip to Seoul, South Korea this coming September; And, i should learn to be more thrifty.

Because 2011 is my TRAVEL YEAR, saving enough money for my trips is a must! Also, I'm planning to open a new bank account at BDO before my 27th birthday. I think it's time for me to really save up for the future. I'm getting old narin kasi.

3. Renew my faith

attend mass and other holy days of obligation; pray the rosary; do not forget to thank God for all his blessings; read the bible and the purpose driven life; go to confession; and be more honest

4. Live a healthy lifestyle

no more drinking alcohol; exercise regularly; sleep before 11pm, avoid staying up late (except on weekends); no more coffee after 6pm, limit coffee intake to at least one per day; take vitamins everyday; take a shower at night regularly; do nightly rituals regularly; drink tea at night; and eat more fruits.

I gained a lot of weight last year. From my 90+ pounds, I now weigh 120+. Damn! I couldn't even wear some of my shirts now. And I also noticed that I get tired easily. So this year, I'm going to exercise regularly and stay fit. Time to bring back those abs!

5. Reinvent myself

wardrobe change and update at least once a month; wear accessories and shoes; be more girly; learn how to apply make-up; foot spa!

I sort of discovered a new best friend last year... liquid eyeliner. It really does wonders, you know. I'm planning to buy one. And then, I guess shoe-shopping monthly is another good idea. I recently caught the 'Imelda' syndrome so I'm planning to give in to that addiction.

6. Take up a new hobby

try out something new this year... maybe photography; also update my bucket list, make art crafts more often; update blogspot; do movie and drama reviews; finish writing my stories; do the outline of my scrapbook

Planning to buy a new camera to start taking photography seriously. And then, I guess while I'm traveling, I could tick off some of the things-to-do on my bucket list. My scrapbook project is well on its way, I think I just might be able to finish it before 2011 ends. That'll give me a whole year to do it as creatively as possible. Also planning to do my reviews this year too. I was fortunate enough last year to be able to watch more movies than I did in 2009, and I plan to continue that this year.

7. Learn

learn a foreign language: korean, japanese, spanish, french, or mandarin; study world history; review my accounting notes; review my other subjects; tutor my sibs; search a topic that interests me and read about it; read one book per week

I bought so many books last year but I hadn't read any of them. So this year, I'm also planning to catch up on my reading list. About my foreign language studies, I have to be more serious about it. I have to act as if my whole life depended on whether or not I'd be able to watch korean or japanese dramas without relying on subtitles. And if I'm planning to migrate to Canada by 2012, I need to polish my French skills. I know they're locked somewhere inside my brain. Have to find the key though.

8. Travel More

go to a different place, somewhere i've never been before this year; if possible, be able to go outside of the country again

this year, is definitely Abby's Travel Year. I already have a line up of places i want to go to this year. In fact, I'm bound for Vietnam on February 24 and would also visit Cambodia on February 27. I'm still waiting for the seat sale for my Bangkok trip on the first week of February. Then, I'll be off to Singapore and Malaysia on July and still trying to squeeze Indonesia somewhere in my calendar. The highlight of my travel year would be the anticipated trip to Seoul, South Korea sometime in August or September and my last trip would be the 'Hong Kong-Macau' trip by December. Still trying to figure out if I can make it to Beijing, China this year too. That's a lot, right? As for local travels, I'm planning to visit the following places: (i) Anawangin Cove, Zambales; (ii) Tagaytay; (iii) Palawan; (iv) Batanes; (v) Cebu; (vi) Surigao; (viii) Hundred Islands; (ix) Davao; (x) Cagayan de Oro; and (xi) Baguio.

9. Accomplish something on my bucket list

it's time to get something done again from that list. i have to be able to cross something off before the list gets any longer. And before i ran out of time to do them.

10. Own a pet

i think fishes would do. I'm also considering birds or rabbits, but fishes top my lists since i'll be able to take care of not just one. I plan to buy 13 angel fishes which represents each member of Super Juniors. hehe. Same from two years ago.

11. Redecorate my room

Theme: Artsy. fashion spreads on my wall, collage of pictures, world map

Same from 2009. I plan to redecorate my room this year. Still planning to have an artsy kind of room. Instead of traditional wallpapers, i would use fashion spreads from different magazines as my wallpaper. Then i plan to have a corner for me to post pictures on the wall and a world map and map of the Philippines so that i could mark the places i've been to. It's just sad to think that I have to leave it after seven months while I'm away in Singapore.

12. Smile often

no more frowning girl. remember: you're never fully-dressed without a smile. i read this in a magazine years ago and figured i should give it a try too. Sabi kasi nila, lagi na lang ako nakasimangot. That's why they think i'm snobbish, mataray, suplada, etc. Besides, smiling often... makes you look a lot younger.

13. Learn my way around the kitchen

it's about time i start learning how to cook something edible. something other than noodles and canned goods. or something other than fried whatever; hopefully, learn how to bake too.

Again, same from 2009. It's really embarrassing but i have to admit that i don't even know how to cook rice. I don't even know how to use a rice cooker. I can only cook noodles, pancit canton, instant spaghetti, instant sotanghon, at kung anu-ano pang instant. Nakakahiya talaga. I can't even cook fish! -even when it's fried! I should be able to learn how to cook because i can't live on noodles or take-outs forever! and besides, 'the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach' pa rin. haha. Also, i'm tired of being the dishwasher at home. it's about time for me to be the chef instead. double Haha!

14. Make my business successful

do all things necessary to make 'she blings' successful; be more creative in making and selling accessories; also start selling personalized items like calendars, tumblers, shirts, etc. I guess it's time for me to make use of my business degree. In addition, I plan to sell retail stuffs such as shirts, bags, trinkets, etc., that I get to see during my travels.

15. Fall in love = Give love a second chance

Because i'm turning 27 this March, i decided that its probably time i give myself some time to really fall in love.

16. Try out something new this 2009.

I'm thinking of playing 'Paintball'; Go-Kart Racing; Bowling; Ice-skating; or eat something that i haven't eaten yet. Thinking of sushi, isaw, dinuguan, or balut. Or eating in a Japanese restaurant.

17. Be more decisive

avoid second-guessing myself; believe in myself more

This would be important for me since I'm planning to look for another job in Singapore. It'll be the first time in six years that I would be going to a job interview again. Yikes! I have to prepare pala for that. In line with that, I can say that I'm already prepared to leave the company. I already have a year worth of preparation. I'm up for anything right now. It's time to get that resume activated!

Well, those were my new year's resolution for this year. Hopefully, i won't have to include all of this again on my 2012 new year's resolution. Hehe. I'm really determined to make everything work out for me this year. (^__^)v