december 2017 playlist

happy 2018!! before we say goodbye to 2017, here's our playlist for the last month of the year.

perfect symphony // ed sheeran x beyonce

faded // kim petras x lil aaron

real friends // camila cabello

ocean drive // pia mia

meant to be // bebe rexha x florida georgia line

love hate pain killer // chelsea lankes

pink sand // cailin russo

end game // taylor swift x ed sheeran x future

islands // r3hab x kshmr

walk away // 3lau x luna aura

shedontknowbutsheknows // tove lo

all night // steve aoki x lauren jauregui

porche // charli xcx x mo

belong // cash cash x dashboard confessional

this again (remix) // breathe carolina x dropgun x taku-hero

i am human // escape the fate

do you love me // escape the fate

♥ what were your favorite songs this year

& who are you hoping to hear more of in 2018? ♥

november 2017 playlist

hills // kim petras x baby e
boa me // fuse odg x ed sheeran x mugeez
up in this // blackbear x tinashe
perfect duet // ed sheeran x beyonce
him & i // g-eazy x halsey
anxiety // blackbear x frnd
new // daya
wild // hedley
feels great // cheat codes x fetty wap x cvbz
fuqboi // hey violet
waste my time // cappa
matches // chelsea lankes
romantics // tove lo x daye jack
new fears // lights
tequilawine // olivia o'brien
echame la culpa // luis fonsi x demi lovato
havana (remix) // camila cabello x daddy yankee
first love // lost kings x sabrina carpenter
a different way // dj snake x lauv
bad moon // hollywood undead
loner // theory of a deadman
empire // escape the fate

♥ it's hard to believe the year is almost over already!

what were some of your favorite songs this year? ♥

15 Reminders from All the Reminders You Need to Get You Through Anything in Life

All the Reminders You Need to Get You Through Anything in Life by Thought Catalog

Essays, Poetry, Self-Help

June 23, 2016 from Thought Catalog Books

'All The Reminders You Need To Get You Through Anything In Life' is a collection of daily reminders you need to hear when you’re going through a hard time. These reminders cover all aspects of life: graduating, growing up, feeling lost, loving too much, struggling to find love, struggling to move on, trying to let go or going through a quarter life crisis. We all need uplifting reminders to keep us going and make us feel like we’re not alone. This book is more of a manual on how to navigate the hurdles of life and overcome them.

1.) “Every time you experience rejection, do one thing for yourself that pushes you forward.” (pg. 3)

2.) “Feeling lost is just a gentle reminder that you are trying to improve yourself everyday.” (pg. 6)

3.) “You are so much more than the worst mistakes you’ve ever made.” (pg. 31)

4.) “Apologize when you need to, not only to other people, but also to yourself.” (pg. 46)

5.) “Every emotion is valid, so don’t be afraid to express how you really feel about anything.” (pg. 51)

6.) “You’re worthy of greatness, even if you don’t see it yet.” (pg. 55)

7.) “You are allowed to not be ok” and “Your anxiety or depression is nothing to be ashamed of.” (pg. 55)

8.) “If there is a negative person in your life that makes you feel horrible, cut them out of your life and watch it get better.” (pg. 58)

9.) Allowing yourself to cry and to feel is allowing yourself to heal.” (pg. 58)

10.) “It’s better to be alone than with someone who doesn’t appreciate you or someone who makes you believe that loving you is hard.” (pg. 60)

11.) “Make time for the people who genuinely love and support you. Make sure they know it’s reciprocated.” (pg. 66)

12.) “If things feel too hard, ask for help. You’re not expected to do life all on your own. That’s the purpose of society—we’re all in this together.” (pg. 66)

13.) “Growth happens in pain.” (pg. 69)

14.) “If you have recently experienced what seems like a domino chain of failings, know that that doesn’t make you a failure. It means you are slowly weeding out things that don’t work, and won’t work for you.” (pg. 70)

15.) “There’s other love out there, other than romantic love, that can make you feel just as full.” (pg. 76)

5 additional reminders:

1.) “You don’t always have to be right, and people will respect you when you own up to your mistakes.” (pg. 1)

2.) “Count your blessings, not your calories.” (pg. 55)

3.) “Asking for help does not make you weak.” (pg. 56)

4.) “If you have a roof over your head, that’s already one thing to be grateful about.” (pg. 58)

5.) “Remember that you’re a human being. That means you’re going to make mistakes. That doesn’t make you a monster. That means you’re, well, human.” (pg. 65)

{Story Diary} All's Fair in Blog and War by Chrissie Peria

It's a battle of Blogger vs. Photographer -- See how the Filipino blogger and photographer fare on their trip in Macau.

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All's Fair in Blog and War by Chrissie Peria
Contemporary Romance, Travel, Filipino Fiction, #ownvoices
June 24, 2013

Five Cuevas @fivetravels
Three guesses to where I'm going next. Starts with an M. Ends with a U. Has a lechon named after it. #travel

Twenty-something travel blogger Five thinks she has hit the jackpot when she gets invited to glittering Macau for an all-expense-paid bloggers tour. Think majestic old churches, sparkling casinos, exhilarating bungee jumps, and the world's most unforgettable egg tarts. The trip is practically perfect, except for one little glitch. She gets assigned to be travel buddies with Jesse, the world's most infuriating photo blogger, and it's definitely war at first sight.

Will Five let Jesse turn her dream vacation into a total nightmare? Or will falling in love be on the itinerary?

Macau

[Image Source]

"We are currently in Taipa, an island to the north of the Macau Peninsula. . . .For the next few days, you'll be making your home along Ponte 16. It used to be the first fisherman's port and is known for its iconic clock tower."

--Chrissie Peria, All's Fair in Blog and War (Loc 424)

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City of Dreams

[Image Source]

Ruins of St. Paul

[Image Source]

"The church facade behind me is all that's left of the church of Mater Dei. It was built in 1602 but it was destroyed by a fire in 1835. Most of the church and the college beside it was made of wood, so other than the facade, most of the foundations, and the church's front steps, everything burned. . . .The ruins of St. Paul is an icon of Macau. . ."

--Chrissie Peria, All's Fair in Blog and War (Loc 616)

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Macau Tower

[Image Source]

"Macau Tower is an internally acclaimed convention and entertainment center that offers the highest and most dramatic views of Macau."

--Chrissie Peria, All's Fair in Blog and War (Loc 652)

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Lord Stow's Cafe

[Image Source]

Clube Militar de Macau

[Image Source]

Read about the history of Macau's most historic buildings here.


Senado Square

[Image Source]

"(T)his part of town turned sleepy as the stores closed before 9pm. Instead of the glittery bright lights from the hotels, the only illumination came from yellow-tinged incandescent street lamps. All around us were shuttered storefronts. . ."

--Chrissie Peria, All's Fair in Blog and War (Loc 1024)

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Margaret's Cafe e Nata

[Image Source]

"Margaret's Cafe e Nata was a small bakery coupled with outdoor seating nestled along one of Macau's side streets."

--Chrissie Peria, All's Fair in Blog and War (Loc 831)

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Five's To-Do List

Five, our MC, sets 5 goals to do while on the trip to Macau.

1. Explore Senado Square and surrounding streets at night


2. Share a meal with the locals


3. Taste every stall's offering along the road to St. Paul's


4. See St. Paul's Ruins at night


5. Bungee jump off the Macau Tower

-- What would be on YOUR list if you visited Macau? --

Tagalog

Pasalubong = souvenir
Manong = older male relative
Manang = older female relative
Chedeng = car (specifically Mercedes-Benz)

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It was a bit disappointing, that for this story taking place in Macau, that there wasn't much or at all Macanese or Portuguese (languages mainly spoken in Macau) spoken besides Bienvenido a Macau, which is said to mean: "Welcome to Macau."

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Food

There's so much glorious food in this book, take a look at a few of them below.

Hungry yet?

Favorite Quotes

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"Blog events create the strangest bedfellows."

--Chrissie Peria, All's Fair in Blog and War (Loc 208)

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"I'm really really sorry. I know I should've made reservations," Jesse explained. "Sorry for dragging you all the way here. I'm such a dumbass," he laughed dryly.
"Hey, don't beat yourself over it. It's an honest mistake. We're Filipino, we're not the reservation making kind."

--Chrissie Peria, All's Fair in Blog and War (Loc 978-983)

Hahahaha where is the lie!? We also are the late-to-everything kind. XD
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Meet Chrissie Peria

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Chrissie Peria is the author of All’s Fair in Blog and War, a contemporary romance novella set in Macau, featuring a pair of feuding travel bloggers. While it is her first foray in writing a novella, she isn’t a stranger to writing, having been an advertising copywriter in her past life.

When not writing, Chrissie looks after Miffy, her boss and overlord; and Miffy’s minion, Cooper, a miniature red poodle. She also enjoys reading, taking photos, cooking, and playing with dolls.

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Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
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Purchase All's Fair in Blog and War

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Amazon Kindle | Amazon US | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Book Depository | Smashwords | Buqo

october 2017 playlist

click image to enlarge

games // demi lovato
damage // partynextdoor
feelings // hayley kiyoko
milk // the 1975
hoodie // hey violet x ayo & teo
all night // hedley
dear hate // maren morris x vince gill
be true // ghost loft
kicks // lights
super far // lany
bruised // morgxn
two young lovers // sophie rose
rip // olivia o'brien
silence // marshmello x khalid
we own the night // hollywood undead
wake up call // theory deadman
bad at love (remix) // halsey x dillon francis
almost like praying // lin-manuel miranda x artists for puerto rico
you're not alone // owl city x britt nicole
wildflowers // tom petty
hollywood surf club // the bloody beetroots x mr. talkbox
...ready for it // andie case
fight and fuck // terror jr
both of us // 112 x jgged edge

september 2017 playlist

click image to enlarge

perfect // ed sheeran

temporary high // allison taylor

be real // phoebe ryan

skydiving // lights

mistakes // tove styrke

body // leon

remember that night // grouplove

rainbow // kesha

1-800-273-8255 // logic x alessia cara x khalid

dusk till dawn // zayn x sia

disco tits // tove lo

what lovers do // maroon 5 x sza

if you're gonna leave // plvtinum x bvrnout

fuck love // xxxtentacion x trippie redd

let me go // hailee steinfeld x alessia cara x florida georgia line

we were here // lights
get low // zedd x liam payne

i'm a fan // pia mia x jeremih

♥ what songs did you listen to as we transitioned to fall? ♥

{Story Diary} The Queen's Game by Carla de Guzman

Filipino royalty -- check
Fake dating -- check
Childhood friends to lovers -- check

Filipino rep AND #ownvoices!? Yes, please!

The Queen's Game by Carla de Guzman has it all in spades, so look no further and dive into the royal world of kingdoms and long-time friends in the Philippines.

The Queen's Game by Carla de Guzman
Contemporary Romance, Filipino royalty, #ownvoices
August 1, 2017 from Midnight Books

There are only two reasons why Nina would come back home to Cincamarre--one, if Auntie Delia promises to stop butting into her business, two, if her father died and she was made to ascend the throne to be queen.

Unfortunately for her, it was the second thing that brought her home.

As a princess who's sunk a yacht and been caught kissing popstars, it's easy for her aunt, the regent, to think she's ill prepared for the throne. But Nina doesn't think that having to fake date Felipe, the handsome, squeaky clean Prince of Concordia was the best solution for that.

Nina's ready to learn the ropes of her new role and make it hers, and reconnecting with Felipe only makes her want to be a better queen. But is the monarchy ready for Queen Nina?

Places

Kingdom of Cincamarre

"From the clouds, the island nation of Cincamarre looked small, and it was. They prided themselves in their smallness, their fantastic rolling hills, and breathtaking views. There was a famous saying that any window that looked out of Cincamarre had the view of the sea with it."

--Carla de Guzman, The Queen's Game (Loc 137)

"The houses in Cincamarre were built with brick or stone, painted white when appropriate. As the islands were conquered by the Spanish in the 1500s, the palace had sprawling villa feel to it, with bright magenta bougainvillea cascading down from the second floor."

--Carla de Guzman, The Queen's Game (Loc 387)

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It is said that Cincamarre is based on the very real and beautiful province of Batanes in Philippines! Telling from the description and pictures, Cincamarre kind of does it kind of does resemble Batanes.

[Batanes, Philippines | Image Source]

I haven't been since I was a kid, but this book made me want to go back.

Kingdom of Concordia

"Concordia had flatter, heartier lands, better suited to fields of wheat and other crops. It made both islands prime targets for both the Portuguese and the Spaniards during the age of exploration. Both countries decide to compromise and split up the twin islands, while the Portuguese held on to Concordia until 1800s when they sold the island to the Macasaet family."

--Carla de Guzman, The Queen's Game (Loc 510)

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Filipino culture + food

[Lanzones | Image Source]

The Legend of Lanzones

Lansium Parasiticum, or Lanzones for short, are a beloved fruit in Philippines. It's mostly grown in plantations in the province of Laguna, though the sweetest ones are often found in Camiguin Island. There's even a huge Lanzones Festival every year in Camiguin.

Anyway, there's a legend around the Lanzones and you can read a bit about it here.

"According to local legend, the lanzones fruits were poisonous until an angel descended from heaven and touched them. The black and brown spots on the yellow fruits were fingerprints, and was a sign of a ripe lanzones fruit. Some say it made the fruits even sweeter."

--Carla de Guzman, The Queen's Game (Loc 231)

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Funeral traditions

It's tradition that following a wake and funeral, families and friends of the deceased go to out to eat afterwards. It might have something to do with a superstition that is said a ghost will follow you home if you go straight to your house after, but mostly that's not the case. It's just a superstition that derives from folklore.

Some believe that it's good luck to eat if the deceased was old. It may be neither of those reasons -- we just like food. We will eat our feelings if we damn well please.

[Banana-cue | Image Source]

Saba banana / Bananaque

Bananaque, aka banana-q or banana-cue, is pretty much how it sounds: a BBQ...but with bananas. Deep fried bananas coated in brown sugar on a stick. Yum.

Saba bananas are a hybrid fruit originating in Philippines, that is a staple in many Philippine cuisines.

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Novena prayer

Majority of Philippines' religions are Catholic (some call it Christian) and Muslim. Novena prayer is a Catholic prayer where you recite a series of specific prayers with an intention in mind, and occurs over the course of nine days or hours. When you pray your novena, you pray with trust and faith in God that He will provide you with the right answers the right way, and in His time.

The word "novena" comes from the Latin word for "nine", hence the nine prayers and days. There's more to the prayer, but that's the gist of it.

[Pan de sal | Image Source]

Pan de sal

A bread roll very common among Philippines or Filipino families, served before or with meals. If you ever come across a local Filipino bakery, find pan de sal and give it a try. Or you can make it yourself; there's a bunch of recipes online that consists all the ingredients you will need.

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[Pan de leche | Image Source]

Or if you have a sweet tooth, there's another similar but sweet bread roll called Pan de leche. Either way, both are delicious.

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Tagalog

Tito = uncle
Ate = sister
Palasyo = palace
Manong = older male relative
Tita = auntie
Ukay-ukay = thrift store
Beso = cheek-to-cheek kiss
Korona = crown

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Favorite Quotes

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"My worth is not determined by reputation," Nina finally said.

--Carla de Guzman, The Queen's Game (Loc 471)

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"This [sunflower] field is my heart out on display for everyone, which isn't at all manly, but I find that I don't really care. So...don't laugh."

--Carla de Guzman, The Queen's Game (Loc 1044)

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"Nina wanted to hold all of the flowers in her hands. They were so bright that she wondered if she could use them to fill the black hole in her heart."

--Carla de Guzman, The Queen's Game (Loc 1052)

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"There's only one thing I've done recently that makes me as happy as this does."

"What?" She asked him, tilting her head.

"Spending time with you," he said.

--Carla de Guzman, The Queen's Game (Loc 1066)

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"Casual sex was still very much a taboo topic in their very religious nations. . . .Sex could be fun and hot. It didn't have to be shameful and ugly, and if you kept your wits about you, it didn't need to be too complicated."

--Carla de Guzman, The Queen's Game (Loc 1112-1114)

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"There's a fire in you, Nina. It lights up everything you touch."

"Including you, I suppose?"

"Especially me."

--Carla de Guzman, The Queen's Game (Loc 1144)

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Meet Carla de Guzman

If you ask Carla what she does for a living, she will tell you that she’s not quite sure.

By day, she works a regular day job and writes for a lifestyle website. By night, she’s an author and an artist, spending her midnights at her desk and making these silly love stories. She loves to travel, coming home to her dog Kimchi and spending her weekends having dinner with her crazy family.

She’s currently on a quest to see as many Impressionist paintings as she can, and is always in search of the perfect pain au chocolat.

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Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Purchase The Queen's Game

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Amazon

summer 2017 playlist

click image to enlarge

bad at love // halsey
haters // tlc
change the story // bone thugz n harmony x uncle murda
sorry not sorry // demi lovato
body like a back road // sam hunt
forgetting all about you // phoebe ryan x blackbear
f with u // kid ink x ty dolla $ign
don't play // halsey
guys my age // hey violet
learn to let go // kesha
little of your love // haim x bloodpop
strip that down // liam payne x quavo
what you want // plvtinum
high without your love // loote
complicated // dimitri vegas x david guetta x kiiara
alive // xylo
the way i are (dance with somebody) // bebe rexha x dallask



♥ these are the tunes i jammed to (do people still say that?) this summer.  what were your favorite songs of the summer? ♥

strange the dreamer the novl box!

i came home to a pleasant and fun-filled book mail surprise from the awesome the novl team. the strange the dreamer box by the novl! i'm pretty sure that this was a giveaway? because i don't think there are other ways to attain their boxes, but don't quote me on that. either way, it's filled with a lot of fun and pretty stuff, and i am eternally grateful. their book boxes are so cool and different every month, so be sure to subscribe to their newsletters so you can enter to win a box!

of all the boxes of theirs i won, i'm so glad it was this one because strange the dreamer has been on my tbr for SO long, and now it's finally here. i've heard nothing but incredible things about it, so i'm even more excited to read it.

what's included in the box:

• strange the dreamer by laini taylor (hardcover - signed) 
• (4) strange the dreamer buttons 
• the novl tote bag 
• the novl uv-protected sunglasses 
• the novel fruit-infused water bottle

many thank yous to the novl. ♥ check them out here.

♥ have YOU read strange the dreamer? without spoilers,  let me know what you thought of it in the comments below! ♥

may 2017 playlist

eyes closed // halsey
hierarchy // cailin russo
right now // haim
history // olivia holt
whippin // kiiara x felix snow
moodz // blackbear x 24hrs
strangers // halsey x lauren jauregu
each time fall in love // cigarettes after sex
burn wild // rozes x young bombs
e.y.t.y.k. // cemetery sun
versace on the floor // bruno mars
felt this good // kap slap x m.bronx x florals
stfu mashup // andie case
wild love // cashmere cat x the weeknd
invisible // linkin park
i'm the one // dj khalid x justin bieber x quavo x lil wayne x chance the rapper

april 2017 playlist

now or never // halsey
do re mi // blackbear
shape of you (major lazer remix) // ed sheeran x major lazer
no promises // cheat codes x demi lovato
don't // zoe kravitz
splitz // cute whore
lust for life // lana del rey x the weeknd
nights with you // mo
blue heaven midnight crush // betty who
drummer boy // misterwives
restless // cold war kids
say my name // tove styrke
it was love // lany
coachella // new city
that's what i like // bruno mars
humble. // kendrick lamar
goosebumps // travis scott
ridin solo (arvfz remix) // njomza
did i offend you // lauren ruth ward
girl at coachella // matoma x magic! x d.ram
despacito (remix) // luis fonsi x daddy yankee x justin bieber

march 2017 playlist

shape of you // ed sheeran
ocean away // a r i z o n a
sleepover // hayley kiyoko
fleurs de la lune // of verona
good girls // lany
september rose // cailin russo
apocalypse // cigarettes after sex
when the lights turn low // patternist
i still wait for you // xylo
wherever you go // karl wolf
galway girl // ed sheeran
white roses // charli xcx
good life // g-eazy x kehlani
the hart part 4 // kendrick lamar
something just like this // the chainsmokers x coldplay
empty // olivia o'brien
so good // zara larsson

february 2017 playlist

immigrants (we get the job done) // k'naan
free love // vic mensa x malik yusef x leif x lil b x halsey
wave your flag // afrojack
love // lana del rey
how would you feel (paean) // ed sheeran
dark side // phoebe ryan
heavy // linkin park
by your side // the 1975
dive skye holland
lies in the dark // tove lo
code blue // the-dream
quit you // lost kings
run up // major lazer
inside out (joe mason remix) // the chainsmokers x charlee
lonely again // gnash
stay // zedd x alessia cara

january 2017 playlist

not afraid anymore // halsey
shape of you // ed sheeran
don't leave // snakeships x mo
i don't wanna live forever // zayn x taylor swift
sex // cheat codes x kris kross amsterdam
firestone // kygo x conrad sewell
trouble // r3hab x verite
light // san holo
say it // flume x tove lo x illenium
blackout // julie bergan
until you were gone (reez remix) // the chainsmokers x tritonal x emily warren
warrior // steve james x lights
once upon a time // mariahlynn
i got u // bebe rexha
do you dirty // kehlani
all i know // the weeknd
k. // cigarettes after sex
driftwood // jesse jo stark
80s mercedes // maren morris
castle on the hill // ed sheeran
scream // kevin "chocolate droppa" hart