National Book Store's Cut Price Sale 2013

YYYYEEEESSSSSSS!  It's the most wonderful time of the year!  Nope, it's not Christmas, pero parang ganun na rin because the National Bookstore sale starts this Aug 30 - Sept. 8, 2013!!!  Yay!!!

photo from nationalbookstore.com.ph

I'm just a little disappointed that the sale is only for 10 days.  But I have this feeling that the sale will extend until the annual Manila International Bookfair (September 11-15, 2013).  This year, I'm hoping to get books on art, calligraphy, parenting and children's health. 

Merry Christmas, A!  Time to spoil your constant reader again!

Stop Instagramming Your Perfect Life - Shauna Niequist

Sometimes, reading other people's exciting status updates, seeing their new travel albums  or hearing about their new 'toys' can make you feel like your own life is dull, boring and lacking.    Before you feel insecure and inadequate about your own life, try to remember that no one's life is perfectly amazing or happy.   It only looks that way on their facebook or instagram accounts. As the writer said, we are the curators of our social media account.  We control what people see and most of the time, we only show the amazing, awesome parts …. not the messes, the quarrels, the problems.   

from i'm feeling crafty today

I hope you take the time to read this beautiful article from relevantmagazine.com.    It helps put things in the right perspective. :)  "Remember that the very best things in life can't be captured in status updates."

Here's the link:
stop instagramming your perfect life

*the author has renamed the article as "Instagram's Envy Effect". 

The Constant Reader in Tagaytay - Overnight at Taal Vista

There's nothing new about me being in Tagaytay.  Except that this time, we stayed overnight.  That's something that's been on my bucket list!

 Dahil birthday ni A, parang birthday ko na rin.  Because he pretty much lets me do what I want. 

 This was one of the 3 rooms we got from the Lakewing of Taal Vista.  Loved the room, just don't ask me about the toilet, hehe.

Typhoon Gorio checked in along with us.  We were treated with rains, howling winds and zero visibility.   Sarap, ang lameeegg!!!!   We thought we were going to get stranded for another day, but the weather improved dramatically and we were able to check out (sayang!).

This is me with my Travel Magazine.  This is my third "new" place this year.  Hoping to be blessed with more. :)

World War Z - Max Brooks

Ever since I was little, I have loved the horror genre.  I got an early start with Pinoy Thriller and The Twilight Zone on TV and have moved on to The Walking Dead and George Romero movies (you don't know horror if you don't know George Romero!). 

photo from thinkhero.com

So, I was very excited to read World War Z, because the movie version is out soon. The book is written as a series of recollections of different people before, during and after the zombie war.  The war is over but through the characters in the book, one gets to relive the horror of how it was then.  The book blurb sounded really exciting but I was disappointed to find that the book was more about 'politics' than zombies.     All I wanted  was pure zombie-eating-people fiction not talk about what country governments did or did not do during the zombie war.  Not bloody or gory enough for me.  Not even scary, except for the only 2 parts that I liked.

photo from cineheroes.net

I hope the movie will be so much better than the book.  If only Brad Pitt gets bit by a zombie and dies early in the movie.  Boo Brangelina!  Brad and Jen pa rin!

photo from fr.cinema.yahoo.com

The Constant Reader in Anilao

Spent a weekend in Anilao this May for my three water guppies.

This is me with Town and Country Philippines, April 2013.







The view from Z Cafe in Vivere Azure.

Expect a rocky beach when in Anilao.  Expect lots of beautiful fish and corals, too, (according to my 2 water guppies).

 I love warm pools!

Best part of the resort ... for me.


I love weekend getaways!

My Birthday Wishlist 2013

My birthday's coming up and here's my book wish list!
                                                           

photo from angusrobertson.co.au

This month, I'm taking a brush calligraphy workshop.  Time to level up, hehe!                                                                                               
                                                                                                                  

photo from blacksburgbelle.com

Currently obsessed with letters!

photo from larkcrafts.com

Currently obsessed with stamps! Learning to carve my own stamps is on my bucket list.




                                                    

photo from deardesigner.co.uk.com

I just love the watercolored furniture in this book.  I took a watercolor class so that I could learn to paint like this.

photo from barnesandnoble.com

 I'm going through an arts and crafts phase right now.  Feeling ko artist ako, hehe! :)













 Don't underestimate the power of making a wishlist.  I was able to get 7 out of the 17  books I listed last year :).  If you list it, it will come!
 

Free Comic Book Day - May 4, 2013

Hi all!  It's Free Comic Book Day on May 4, 2013.   FCBD is comic publishers' way of enticing more readers to collect comics by giving away comic titles for free. Thank God I am over my comics addiction (crossing my fingers!).

may 2007- at my first and only fcbd - black cat comics in Milpitas, CA

I had been an avid collector of Spider-man and Star Wars comics.   I loved being the only girl browsing the stacks in Comic Quest and Filbar's.   It is quite a humbling experience to be in the same room with serious buyers who know so much about the Marvel Universe.  They usually get 2-3 of each edition,  are quite finicky about the grade and condition the comics are in, and are bothered about the imaginary dents and creases their comics have.

One day, I was looking through my whole collection housed in 5 big comic boxes when I realized I haven't even read as much as one box.    I was running out of money buying comics I don't even read!    That's when I knew I had to quit.

a comics store in downtown SFO

Some things I learned during my comics addict phase:
1. You can't ever complete your collection.
2. You will never have time to read all your comics.
3. You can't read them in chronological order. (I'm sure bungi bungi rin ang collection mo.)
4. You can earn money from holding on to your collection, but it's the really, really old and collectible ones that fetch more money.
5.  You can't hold on to your collection thinking your sons will enjoy them in the future.  (Mine didn't.)
6. It feels good to stick out like a sore thumb in a man's world!

photo from fcbd philippines facebook

Get your free comic books at Fully Booked, National Bookstore, Comic Quest, Filbar's  and wherever comics are sold.