Thursday, January 02, 2025

Slambook (2025 Edition)

As I was looking back on my blog posts and drafts (unpublished posts) from the last 19 years, I chance upon this post I made almost 13 years ago. And while I was reading that post, I realized that so much has changed from my preferences in the last decade or so. My likes and dislikes, my favorites... heck, even my personality has somewhat changed. Which is why I decided that maybe it's time to update that post to reflect the current me. Obviously, I'm old and a bit more mature now. I mean, I made that post when I was 27 years old and now I'm 40 (turning 41 this March!!!). But it's fun to think that there was a time in my life that I liked what I liked and enjoyed the things that I listed in here before. (Oh my twenties... how I've missed you!)

Anyway, without further ado, here's my current answers to the following items:
 
name:  abby mercado
nickname: abbymercs
age: 40
birthdate: March 04, 1984
birthplace: STUH, Sampaloc, Manila
zodiac: Pisces
MBTI: INFJ
height: 5'1 1/2"
weight: 75.20 kg (from just 54 kg 12 years ago!)
bloodline: Filipino - true-blooded Pinoy!
school: Malate Catholic School (1991-2001), University of Santo Tomas (2001-2005)
hobbies: reading, dancing, writing, making art & crafts, taking pictures, blogging?
talents: none. still waiting to be discovered...
biggest (wildest) dream: to be an astronomer and a famous choreographer
active member of: none
fave hang-out: my room
gimmick guide: malls and cafes
more likes: sleeping, coffee, photostravelling, k-pop, K-dramas
i like to bounce to the beat of: K-Pop, hip-hop, dance tunes
fave CD: enhypen - romance:untold

fave music: K-POP!!!
food trip: ice cream, carbonara, mcdonald's fries, java chip frappe, chicken skin, kfc hotshots, chocolates, greenwich lasagna, Goldilock's polvoron, avocado shake, cheese!!!
must haves: brain, faith, sense of humor, common sense and money! $$$
prized possession: photo albums, books, k-pop CDs
fave TV show: dawson's creek, amazing race, are you afraid of the dark?, running man, 1n2d, grandpas over flowers, jinny's kitchen, amazing saturday
silverscreen likes: schindler's list, my best friend's wedding, the patriot, jurassic park franchise, mighty ducks, miracle, the cure, home alone, my sassy girl (korean), the admiral: roaring currents, train to busan
Oscar Award for cutest actor goes to: Ryan Philippe
Oscar Award for cutest actress goes to: Sarah Michelle Gellar
"suki" stores: Penshoppe, National Bookstore, Fully Booked, Bench
fashion sense: comfortable/loose shirt and skinny jeans
fave item in my closet: jeans and sweatshirts
the man of your life is: currently, it's Heeseung of Enhypen. But I think I will always be a fan of Mike Cortez. I mean, he's been my ultimate crush since 2002! 
if you're Barbie, Ken would have to be: god-fearing, family-oriented, understanding, athletic, smart, witty, well-rounded, affectionate and super-TALENTED! or at least dances well. 
thumbs down on: guys who smokes, does drugs, acts like they're going to hell, drinks like there's no tomorrow, and also guys who are demanding, has no sense of humor, and irresponsible. and of course, those who cheats in relationships.
ideal guy: I don't think I could go out with anyone who can't carry his end of a conversation.

describe your personality: moody
how would your best friend describe you: moody but has a good heart... 
you can kick butt in: in my forty years of existence, I don't think I've found anything that I'm really good at. procrastinating, maybe?
korniest thing you've done: write letters and give small trinkets to friends... but I'm sure I've done much kornier stuff than that.
bookworm babe: The Alchemist, Harry Potter, The Baby-sitters Club
life philosophy: No one can put you down when you have the knowledge. There's so much more you can do with your brain than with any part of your body. 
moments that made your heart skip a beat: watching my favorite groups and biases on Youtube.
pet peeve: traffic, large crowds
sibling revelry: I have 5 younger sibs. 2 boys and 3 girls.
my zoo: we currently have two dogs: Bella (3) and Kobe (1)

i like me, because: I'm unique.
i'm not too crazy about me, when... i say things that can hurt someone. i'd wish to take them back, but the damage has already been done.

motto i'd want to live my life by: "Live your life as if it's your last."
if i had an alias, it would be: storm because: i'm magulo?
my hidden talent: like I said, it's still hidden.
my cheap thrill: mango shake, fishball
people don't know i'm... mabait!
i'm a: bag, books, k-pop, movies addict.
i would never eat: insects!
i want to be more: punctual and less: timid
if you want to get a glimpse of me, you'll find me in... my room
anyone you're currently addicted to: Enhypen's Heeseung, NCT's Jaehyun, Seventeen's Minkyu, Hwang Inyeop, and Jung Haein
top 3 life essentials: Faith in God, sense of humor, and your brain!!!
people describe you as... masungit, moody
but you're really... malambing and friendly
what can scare you? Ghosts
what can make you cry? losing my love ones. 
what are you like when you're angry? when I'm mad, I really don't talk to anyone -and I mean ANYONE!
what's the family like? typical!!! and I wouldn't have it any other way.
standout personality trait: flexibility? I can adopt to all kinds of personality.
fave place in the world: paris, france!
beauty secret: beauche skin products
beauty weapon: brains!
life-changing moment: when I realized that I'm not to blame if my partner cheated on me. If he cheats, it's a reflection of his character, not mine. And that you don't have to be sorry for loving someone even if it hurts, especially when it hurts.
girl power mantra: never sacrifice your values and principles. Don't try so hard to fit in that you let go of what's important... -words of wisdom from Bianca Gonzalez, my role model.
most exciting thing happening in your life? Right now, I do want to attend Enhypen's concert in March.
if I could be any person or thing for one day, i would be: a wish-granting machine.
my favorite people in the whole world: My family, my friends from high school to college, my work friends, my life-long friends, my favorite artists, and my k-pop biases.

Movie Theme: Best New Year's Eve Movies

Following my resolution about watching more movies, I decided to go about it by using a theme for each month of the year. I've seen so many list about what movies to watch during a certain month or a certain theme, or a ranking of the best movies to watch during "insert theme", that I decided to just compile them and watch as many as I can without considering any other factors.

Anyway, since it's the beginning of the year, the theme for this month is New Year's Eve Movies or New Year Movies. It might be movies about the new year, movies that took place during new year's eve, movies about new beginnings, or any movie that basically fits the theme.

I've sourced the list below from Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Purewow, Oprah Daily, Country Living, The Pioneer Woman, and Esquire. I will be linking a separate post for an individual review of each movie and maybe come up with my very own recommendation on what movies to watch. I will also probably add movies to this list for as long as it fits the theme.  

So without further ado, these are the movies that were listed as the best movies to watch during new year's eve:

200 CIGARETTES (1999)
A LONG WAY DOWN
A LOT LIKE LOVE (2005)
ABOUT A BOY (2002)
ABOUT TIME (2013)
AFTER THE THIN MAN (1936)
THE AGE OF ADELINE (2015)
AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (1957)
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
THE APARTMENT (1960)
ARE WE THERE YET? (2005)
ASSAULT IN PRECINT 13 (2005)
BACHELOR MOTHER
BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997)
BRIDGET JONE'S DIARY (2001)
CAROL (2013)
CITIZEN KANE (1941)
DINER (1982)
EAT. PRAY. LOVE
FORREST GUMP (1994)
FOUR ROOMS (1995)
FRUITVALE STATION
GHOSTBUSTERS II (1989)
THE GODFATHER II (1972)
THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
HAPPY NEW YEAR (2014)
HAPPY NEW YEAR (1987)
HAPPY NEW YEAR, CHARLIE BROWN (1986)
HIGH BALL (1997)
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL (2006)
THE HOLIDATE (2020)
THE HOLIDAY (2006)
HOLIDAY INN (1942)
LADY BIRD
MERMAIDS (1990)
MONEY TRAIN (1995)
MOONSTRUCK
THE NEW YEAR
NEW YEAR'S EVE (2011)
NEW YEAR'S EVIL (1980)
OCEAN'S 11 (1960)
PHANTOM THREAD (2013)
POSEIDON (2006)
THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972)
RENT (2005)
ROSEMARY'S BABY
SERENDIPITY (2001)
SEX AND THE CITY: THE MOVIE (2008)
SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (1998)
SNOOPY PRESENTS: FOR AULD LANG SYNE (2021)
SNOWPIERCER (2013)
SOMEONE LIKE YOU
STRANGE DAYS (1995)
SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
TRADING PLACES (1983)
TWO LOVERS (2009)
UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN
WAITING TO EXHALE (1995)
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1989)
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING (1995)

Wednesday, January 01, 2025

2025 Resolutions

 A New Year. A New Beginning.


2025.

Oh-eM-Gee! 

I still can't believe that it's been nine long years since my last 'New Year's Resolution' post which was in 2016. I had been away from this blog for far too long. Aside from my very personal post last 2022, I haven't posted anything in this blog at all. 

Looking at my list from nine years ago, I must admit that I haven't accomplished much. I think I've done them for a good couple months and then completely forgotten about them. And then there were some that I never even bothered to do. Anyway, with that being said, this will once again just be a repost of my 2016 New Year's Resolutions with a few tweaks here and there. Because in those eight years, my likes and preferences has also change. So I'm also going to incorporate them on this list.

And without further delay, here are my new year's resolution for the year 2025:

1. Be More Punctual.


This year, (1) I will strive to be on time for work and always arrive 15 minutes before get-togethers or any scheduled engagements (e.g. meetings, seminars, etc.), and (2) I will only use my vacation leaves and sick leaves when necessary.

This resolution has proven to be the most difficult one for me. Judging from how I always include this on my NYR lists, you would already get the idea that I'm having difficulty accomplishing this. Sure, I am able to do this for a good couple of months but the consistency for me is the problem. After a few months, I always go back to my usual self. So this year, I will strive to avoid being late. I know it's a big commitment so to make it more realistic, I promise to lessen my tardiness to just five per month. And the second point is self-explanatory. Actually, I've already done this before, but based from last year's attendance record, I need to get this back on this list. Also, I'm planning to use my leaves in my future travels so I would really have to do this.

2. Save moohlah!


I promise to allot a portion of my salary on savings. I should also keep track of my expenses and learn to budget my money wisely. 

Again, this is something that I struggle with. Like my tardiness, I did this one for a good few months and completely disregarded it. Last year, I was able to save up until June and was able to keep track of my expenses up to October. And then for some reason (most probably my laziness), I just stopped doing it altogether. Recording my expenses is actually fun. I get to keep track of where my money goes and then I feel disappointed in myself whenever I see something that I should not have bought. Lol! Also, I'm already at the age where I should have been financially stable, but due to my obsession with material things, I'm thousand of miles away from becoming one. So this resolution is a non-negotiable for me.

3. Renew my faith.


Attend mass every Sunday and other holy days of obligation; pray the rosary; read the bible and the purpose driven life; do not forget to thank God for all his blessings; and finally go to confession.

Unfortunately, I never bothered to make any improvements for this resolution in the last couple of years. As someone who attended Catholic school for all of her student life (First grade to College), I suck at this. So for this year, I again promise to be closer to God. 

4. Live a healthy lifestyle


Exercise regularly; sleep before midnight; avoid staying up late (except on weekends); no more coffee after 6PM and limit coffee intake to at least one per day; take multivitamins everyday; take a shower at night regularly; do skin care routine every night without fail; and drink tea at night.

As of this writing, I currently weigh 75.20kg which is significantly over the recommended weight for my height. No wonder I am now having trouble standing up for long periods of time and that I feel pain in my joints and ankles from time to time. So this year, I want to lose even just 10kg. 

Also, I feel like my coffee dependency is going back to its old ways. Until early last year, I've done very well at having only a cup of coffee per day. Two cups if I'm putting an all-nighter. But around April or May, I found myself drinking two cups of coffee per day and three cups (or more!) when I have to stay up late. And speaking of staying up late, my insomnia is at its worst. Unless I'm really tired, I sleep at 3-4AM and had to wake up at 6-7AM for work. That's three hours of sleep plus the other two or three hours I manage to sneak in after work when I can no longer stay awake. So this year, I hope to make a few changes (even just a little) to my health.

5. Reinvent myself.


Wardrobe change and update at least once a month; wear accessories; change my hairdo; and learn how to apply make-up.

Again, the problem is that I have too much of everything but I never wear or use them. I couldn't open my drawer because of all the boxes stored in front of it and some of the clothes that I have no longer fit me. As for bags and shoes, I have a lot but I keep wearing or using two to three pieces at most. For about a year, I always use the Jansport backpack I borrowed from my sister and worn two shoes out of the 30+ pairs that I have. For accessories, I seldom use them and I have like several drawers containing earrings, rings, necklaces, watches, bracelets, and hair accessories. When I was also cleaning my drawer, I threw out 30+ nail polish and a pile of expired make-up that I've only used a few times. So this year, I want to only buy things that I will definitely use and use everything that I already own.

6. Take up a new hobby.


Knitting, sewing, or dancing; learn photography; update my bucket list; make art crafts more often; start the outline of my scrapbook and travel photo-book; get into any kind of sport; learn how to play the guitar; lettering; painting; and coloring.

Again, everything that I needed to start some of these hobbies are collecting dust in my room. Last year, I even bought a ton of stickers to start my scrapbook and journal, but as of today, I never even bothered to open them. Also, the paint by numbers kit that I've bought a few years ago are also left unopened in my room. 

Another thing is that, I also wanted to make accessories again. Not for business, but for personal use. When I was cleaning my room, I saw all my tools and beads and I kind of miss making something beautiful out of them. So this year, I want to visit this shop that I frequent at Quiapo and stock up on my jewelry-making supplies or go to Divisoria to get more materials for other hobbies like cross-stitching or knitting.

7. Learn.


Learn a foreign language: Korean, Japanese, Spanish, French, or Mandarin; study world history; review other subjects like Psychology, etc.; search a topic that interests me and read more about it; finish an online course; get into the habit of reading the news daily; and read more books.

Since I'm turning 41 this year, I realized that although there is no age limit when it comes to learning, I really need to start learning a new language now or else I will be too old to even bother doing it. And then there's my 1,800+ books that I still have to read. I'm afraid that if I don't start now, I won't have the time to do so in the future. 

8. Travel more.


This year, I should go to a place that I've never been before; If possible, be able to go out of the country again; and/or revisit Baguio, Tagaytay, Intramuros, Antipolo, and other places that I haven't been to for years.

I'm planning to make a travel bucket list of places I want to visit this year (here and abroad). Also, I've already made plans for a tri-city tour (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia) with my friends at work this coming December. So hopefully, that will push through. 

9. Accomplish something on my bucket list


Again, I should work harder on crossing off items on my bucket list. I made that bucket list for a reason, not just stare at it and imagine things about it. I should be able to live it and experience it for real.

Since making the list, I was only able to cross off probably less than ten items on it. It's such a pity really because you know, I'm getting older, and I really wanted to finish everything on that list. But judging on my track record, I will probably need another lifetime to get everything done. So I really really need to work hard on accomplishing them. Even just to finish half would be awesome. Otherwise, I will live the rest of my dying days full of regret. I also plan to reorganize my bucket list and just put in those that I know I can finish and remove some things that have become impossible for me to do as I got older.

10. Redecorate my room.


I used to like the idea of fashion spreads on my wall, but now that I'm on my forties, my preferences has also changed. Now I want my room color to be gray with a few pops of green, black, and pink. I also want to be as organized as possible that's why I'm planning to purchase storage boxes for my things. 

11. Learn my way around the kitchen.


It's about time I start to learn how to cook something edible. Something other than instant noodles, canned goods, and fried foods. Hopefully, learn how to bake too.

Last year, I finally learned how to cook rice and use the rice cooker. So this year, I want to learn how to cook even just one dish. I also plan to seriously learn how to bake. Because the electric oven that my dad bought for me before he died has been collecting dust for ten years now. I've only ever used it once when I was trying to learn how to bake from my aunt, but since then I haven't used it at all. 

12. Try out something new this 2025 or my 41st.


Paintball, Go-Kart Racing, Target Shooting, Archery; or eating something that I haven't eaten yet: sushi, isaw, dinuguan; or experience something new: watch a theatrical play, visit the Dessert Museum, or ride a roller coaster.

This item is actually linked to my bucket list as some of the items listed here are part of it. Looking back, I'm proud to say that I've crossed off bowling and ice skating (which apparently I sucked at!) from this list. Though, I wouldn't mind doing them again.

13. Stop Procrastinating. 


I've always been honest with this: I AM A MASTER PROCRASTINATOR. I keep on finding or making these excuses not to this or that and putting things off for later, and then completely forgetting about them. I really need to fix this "habit" of mine as my to-do list keeps on getting longer and I haven't finish most of them. 

14. Become more confident, decisive and organized.


My closest friend could really attest to me being indecisive. When they ask me what do I want, I keep saying I don't know. I will say one thing then change it to another one and then go back to my first choice then still think of my second. It has always been like that for me so I really need to fix this too. I need to learn how make decisions on my own and not rely on my friends especially with things such as where to eat, what to eat, etc. 

Also, I need to be more confident. Actually, I've been improving on this one but it's still lacking base on my own standards. So yeah, this should also be addressed this year. With being more organized, I think my room and my life needs an overhaul. I used to be kind of OC when it comes to my things, but looking back at the past years and how my room looks like now, I need to bring that side of me back.

15. Keep a Journal


I need to do this one as I want to remember things that happened to me on a certain day or  period of time. I also need to keep one as I'm getting all these ideas that I sometimes forget about them especially when I don't write them on paper. Keeping a journal is like a pensive. I can remember things or moments that took place on a particular day. I will be able to remember the people, the emotion, etc. This is based on actual experience as I have been rereading portions of my diary and I felt so happy that I was able to capture the emotions I felt on a particular day. Reading them again was like travelling through time. So yeah, this one should be done again.

16. Don't dwell on the past.


Lastly, this is something that I should also work on this year. I've been feeling nostalgic about so many things lately. I've been re-living and re-imagining my past. I mean it's okay to revisit the past once in a while, but I realized that I've been doing it a lot lately. Even my conversations with friends are all about past memories. I couldn't even tell a new story because I've been living on my past. Dwelling on it. Letting it consume me. And then I started thinking of the 'what if's and if only' which is not good for my mental health. So for this year, I promise to live in the present and look forward to the future!

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Like always, I wish that the new year would prove to be a lot better for me, resolution-wise and otherwise. Cheers to 2025!