Because I'm still up at 3AM today as we had to finish something for work, I decided to just make do of my time and finish writing my review of these books.

This series is highly recommended by a fellow bookworm, Des. Of course I've heard of Gayle Forman and I'm really into YA these days so I had to give in.

I must say that this is really an intriguing set of books. Let's discuss them one by one shall we?

Just One Day

It all started with Just One Day. Written on Allyson's perspective it narrates about that one faithful day when she met Willem de Ruiter, a Dutch actor. They spent an entire day at Paris and fell in love. But she woke up the next day without Willem.

Thinking he ran off her, she went home with broken. Note that I didn't say, broken heart. Because that faithful day not just broke her heart, it broke her. Tore her into pieces.

While half of the book narrates how she found herself while trying to find Willem.

I know it's a cliche. And I know that some people just don't understand why this book is written this way but I totally do. That one day, when Allyson became Lulu (Willem called her Lulu), she became the person she always wanted to be. Without her parents, she was able to taste freedom and found herself in the process.

But then a girl like her, so young and vulnerable can't easily figure things out. With all those emotions.

Though I hope Gayle Forman focuses a little bit more on her healing process because it only takes about the 1/3 of the book.

But when I read Just One Year, I totally understand...

Just One Year

This one is written on Willem's perspective and started on the day he woke up at the hospital after being beaten by the skinheads when he left Allyson that morning.

So yeah, as expected, he didn't really left. Something bad happened to him.

This book focuses on the year after that faithful day.

Here is why I guess Lulu's part of the book is Just One Day while Willem's is Just One Year - Lulu found herself on that faithful day. Her realizations, her feelings, her pain are encapsulated by that one day. And that's probably why it has been so hard for her to move on.

While Willem's journey took a whole year. His life is more complicated. While he knew that something happened to him on that day in Paris, it took him one whole year to actually find himself. He has to connect with his mother, with the lost of his father, with his uncle, with his craft.

He is complicated. But he is in love.

Just One Night

According to Des, this is the best ending so far. This book is only 34 pages. Super short!

And this book tells about how Willem and Allyson patched things up and just talked and fell in love all over again.

So do I agree with Des that this is the best ending? Well yes and no!

Yes because I love how the book was able to resolve all the conflicts and made everything clear to us readers.

No because I would have loved a longer version of this book. Unless Gayle Forman is planning on having another book for this series.


I've been finding myself more and more drawn in young adult books. Probably because I love reading about young love. Don't you mumsh miss it? The kilig. The craziness. The uncertainty.

YA are also usually light and just easy to read. And I love that! I love some light reading to keep me sane.

Would I recommend it? Yes! Definitely! If you love a good romance novel. I love the way Gayle Forman writes. His writing style is very engaging. I have 2 more books from him that I have on my list. Let's see! He might be my next favorite.

I don't usually share much of my personal life here, specially about me and the #ReigningTatay.

First, because I'm pretty sure he won't appreciate it. Second, because ours is probably one of the most boring love story of all time.

We've known each other most our lives because we live in the same area. Our love story started 12yrs ago when we became a couple, then we got separated. Started dating again early 2013. I got pregnant. Now, we have the #FabSkye and we're still together. Nothing much. We don't even have an anniversary! And we're fine with it.

Living with him for 4 years has been crazy. Fun at times. Most days I wanna kill him and he wants to kill me. But overall, happy.


In this post I was supposed to share with you our secrets to a lasting relationship. And I'm pretty sure you've read open communication, do not sleep without resolving conflicts, yadah yadah yadah!

All of those are true but I guess our only secret is...

He decided that we will have a complete family. And I've decided to honor him.

Yes, folks! It's a decision for us. If we fight and I'd throw him out of the house, I know deep in my heart that he would always return. If we have a misunderstanding, we knew that at the end of the day it'll be just us figuring things out.

And because we've decided to be together and keep this family complete, we try to accept those stuff we don't like about each other. The smaller ones that irks us, we try to fix them.

Totoo naman. There are some things about each other that we don't like because we grew up in different household, we have different beliefs, we are different people. So learning to accept that the man I want to spend my entire life with is not perfect is something I am trying real hard to do. Of course there are days na mahirap. But I learned that not talking about it to other people is the best way to resolve this. Ika nga, we don't wash our dirty laundry in public. Ganun din kasi, magrereklamo ako sa Facebook tapos maya maya magpopost naman ako ng "happy family" picture. Muntanga diba? So wag na besh! Of course, we tell each other the stuff that we don't like about each other. But bottom line is acceptance talaga.

However there are some stuff naman na di pwedeng tanggapin nalang. Sometimes, we know we have to fix it.

Like one major issue I have with my husband - his mabahong damit!! I am hoping, praying, keeping all my body parts crossed na hindi nya to mababasa kundi yari ako talaga. Bwahahaha!!

Seriously! Don't get me wrong. My husband is not mabaho. But his clothes are! Especially once mapawisan. Eh I have allergic rhinitis so I have a very sensitive nose. Jusko talaga. Grabeng paghihirap.

At first we thought it's because he would usually send his clothes to the laundry shop when he was single. We know that those are not okay diba? But since we live together already, we wash his clothes at home na. Ganun pa din besh! Worst is feeling namin, nahahawa our clothes too.

Then I would blame it on the fact that he would spray like a gallon of perfume on his clothes all the time! I honestly think eto padin talaga ang culprit why the clothes smell in the first place pero kasi, bakit diba? Maayos naman ang laba.

Then I would notice that it'll be mas malala if hindi natutuyo ang clothes ng maayos. And I noticed that my clothes are starting to be stinky as well. Malaking hadlang sya sa sexy time. I swear! Lalo na pag napupunta na sa skin yung baho.

My mama would always say, na ihiwalay daw namin ang clothes ni Tatay from our clothes like what she would do with my Papa's clothes. Ayun pa pala, my father's clothes are mabaho as well. So medyo tinatanggap ko na ang katotohanang ganun talaga ang damit ng mga lalaki. Pero di talaga pwede eh!

Until a month ago when my aunt who washes our clothes resigned and I was left with no choice but to do the laundry myself.

Thank heavens DIY laundry shops are available already.  Super okay because they would dry the clothes also. As in paglabas ng damit, mainit init pa.

That's when I discovered Dell Forever Joy.


The laundry shop attendant offered that fabric conditioner to me. He said it's the best one and a lot are using it. So I just said okay.

I am planning on bringing my own the next visit because we use a different fabric conditioner. Yung may antibacterial churva because nga our clothes are really smelly. Kahit yung sa #FabSkye, I noticed that umaamoy na din pag napawisan.


But oh boy! I noticed a huge difference on the smell of our clothes. Sabi ko at first it's probably because tuyo ang damit. Also, di ko sinabay ang damit ng ReigningTatay sa damit namin ni Skye that time. Actually, di ko nilabhan sa laundry shop ang damit nya because I honestly don't think kakayanin ng ganung laundry shop ang damit nya. I was thinking, lalabhan nalang separately yung kanya dito sa bahay since mabaho nga his used clothes.


The next visit, I used our old fabric conditioner again and dun ko napatunayan yung difference! The #FabSkye's clothes started to smell again!

So on my next visit to the laundry shop, I brought all our clothes na (including the ReigningTatay's) and used Dell Forever Joy once again.

Mga besh! Confirmed!!! Del Forever Joy ang sagot sa matagal ko ng problema. Ang sumalba sa aming pagsasama! Char!


Pero medyo seryoso yun ah. Sometimes kasi nabubwiset na sa akin si Tatay kung bakit daw sya ang lagi ko sinisisi sa pagbaho ng damit namin. Bwahahaha! Sabi kasi ni Mila eh!!! Pero aminin nyo mga mumsh, diba? Mabaho naman talaga ang pawis ng mga tatay? Lalo na pag nagbasketball!!! Ay patayan na ito!

I would always nag him and tell him to put his clothes on a separate hamper. Kasi sabi ko kaya bumabaho din damit namin ni Kakay because of his pawisan clothes. Mga besh! Mali ako!! It's because I'm using a fabric conditioner that is not okay with our clothes. But I'm pretty sure yung fact na natutuyo ng maayos this time ang damit namin is also a huge factor.

Yes, this is my entry to Nuffnang's contest for Del but I swear, everything I said here is true. Based on real experience mga besh. Also, Mila is now using Del as well. And confirmed, ang 30 years na nyang issue sa mabahong damit ng Tatay ko na matagal na nyang tinanggap nalang eh naresolve. Bwahahaha!

So to ReigningTatay, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I hope you love my gift for you this year - mababangong clothes finally!! And a blog entry about your "baho". Nyahahaha!

I've always been the statement earrings kind of girl. If you've been reading this blog since forever you'd remember when this used to be a fashion blog. Grabe parang ang tagal na nun!

If you still remember, I'd always go for huge earrings. Feeling ko noon, pak na earrings lang plus red lipstick and high bun, keri boom na ko!

And then the #FabSkye happened and I threw away all my statement earrings because you just can't wear one when you have a baby who pulls everything. I tried before pero muntik ng mapunit ang tenga ko!

But now that the #FabSkye is almost 4 and already understands that my earrings are not toys or teethers, balak ko na sanang magbalik loob.

See that beautiful tassel earrings? I got that from my friend Steph's online shop - Flora.

Steph is an officemate (seatmate actually) and I would always gush about her beautiful, out of this world earrings. Ang gaganda talaga besh!! Usually pa terno with her top. I learned that she and her sister loves to make accessories and most of the ones she's wearing is hand-made.

I would always beg her to create one for me and I guess her other friends would always say the same thing so she and her sister decided to open an IG shop for their creations. Hence @shopfloraph on IG!

I got the one pictured above and used it on one of my events and I swear, everytime suot ko sya I would always get compliments. Ganda naman talaga diba?

Here are some of their creations..


I love the white one! Bagay on anything no?


And this one is also love!

I actually have another set na wala dito because I can't take a decent photo of it. All of the items are hand made and the designs are limited.

Just in case you want unique accessories, go visit their shop! Everything is made with love.

Been loving the Philippine Movie scene these days. I know I haven't been posting my reviews on some local films but I've watched a handful. And so far so good. Ang gaganda ng mga movies ngayon no?

And Love You to the Stars and Back is one of my favorites this year. Probably next to Kita Kita.

Oh wow! This film is just wow!

It's a road trip film. And like most road trip films it involves the actual journey and their journey to knowing each other. This film is a nice mix of comedy, romance (JoshLia's chemistry is undeniable!) and drama. DraRomCom talaga to besh!

Mika (Julia Baretto) is a weird girl who can't move on from the death of her mum. By simply looking at her bangs and hearing her talk about aliens and stuff is a dead give away of her weirdness. Some people find it funny, but I find it alarming and sad. Here is a young girl who suffered loss and is definitely lost. She is a well loved girl and you can see it but her loss is something that consumes her. Making her disregard all the love around her.

Julia did great on portraying a character with so much layers. I love her weirdness. Her quirkiness. Her pain. Dama mo talaga.

Caloy (Joshua Garcia) is that fun loving, pilyo guy with cancer. He's someone who appears positive. And when he bumped into Mika while he's on his way to meet his dad, his real journey begins...

Spoiler alert na talaga to mga besh, stop reading if you haven't watched the film yet. But please know that I really really recommend this movie!! GO and watch! Tapos balik kayo dito.

So ayun nga....

Caloy was biking across Batangas to meet his dad. His walang hiyang Tatay according to his mum. But he was there to just let her dad know that he has cancer. Sabi nga nya, "wala naman sigurong masamang Tatay kung malalaman nya na may cancer ang anak nya".

You could sense that beneath the fun-loving guy is a boy who wants his dad. Another reason to live. Another person to love. But then his father didn't even face him.

That first break out scene of Joshua and Julia is just too painful to watch. A young boy who just wants her dad. But was slapped by the truth that his mum has always told him. And a lost girl, who cares for this stranger. Ang galing ni Joshua. The pain in his eyes, damang dama. Julia's subtle, lost acting is superb too. That's also the first time she saw the effects of cancer on Caloy.

After that first break out scene, they both decided to go to Mt. Milagros to get abducted by the aliens. Yes! Both of them.

And Antoinette Jadaone has been very very effective in hiding a deeper, darker meaning to the film which I hope a lot has realized now. Behind the kilig, the comedy lies a story about teen suicide.

That journey to Mt. Milagros that Mika took when she learned about her father's new baby is more than just a road trip. When Caloy decided to not go home to his loving mum and went with Mika to Mt. Milagros after his own dad refused to meet him is an act of letting go. That moment, he decided to stop fighting.

We later learned that Caloy's mum is selling their house, his brother is selling his car just to come up with 4.5M for his operation with 50% survival rate. For him, it's too much. Too much for his loving family.

That painful scene when they both called their families to say good bye before waiting for the aliens to get them is proof of what I have always thought. That these kids, have no plans of coming back.

But then when a helicopter came, which they thought is an actual alien, they both chickened out and decided to do it in the morning instead.

The following morning, Mika saw Caloy in another break out scene. His cancer was taking it's toll on him. And when faced with the painful truth and reality of actually losing him, she realized that life is actually worth living.

It's a wonderful film. A film that made me realize that some pain are too much to bear. That some people looked okay but is actually hurting. That some people, though surrounded with so much love just needs a little bit more or at least an assurance.

I hope the kids who got to watch this would realize that at the end of the day, family is always worth living for.

I love this film. For the way the actors was able to convey the feelings needed for the film. For the way the story was told. And for being brave enough to tackle something as dark as suicide.

Yes. I joined the bandwagon and got myself a bottle of every beauty expert's favorite - Micellar Water.

I've heard loads of positive reviews about micellar water and here are loads of brands that carry this. But I opted for the brand that's locally available but still highly recommended.

Maybelline's Micellar Water is definitely a life changing product for me. And to think that they say there are other brands that's better than this one.

I totally get all the hype! It's gentle on the face, and cleans up really well. One of my issues with toners and cleansers is that it still feels like there are some make up residues even though I've been scrubbing real hard. I know! I know! It's a no-no but I can't help it!

But with Micellar Water, a gentle wipe is all I need. And it doesn't sting! Even on nights when I feel like my eyes are too tired for a proper face wash, just the micellar water is enough.

Aminin nyo naman kasi talaga, there are days na parang kelangan mo talaga pumili, pagkabulag o aging skin? Heller! Specially for me who works in the computer all day. Diosmio! Pagkabulag talaga ang aabutin ko pag nag wash ako eh.

So this bottle of micellar water is really a life saver. Why did I not join the band wagon earlier again? Cray! Cray!

This bottle only costs around 200php. Super sulit! A must buy even if you are not using make up everyday. Perfect for cleansing your face.

I also can't help but notice how clear my skin is lately. Been using it for a month now and I swear, I noticed a major improvement.

Go try it out. See for yourself.

Let me know if you've tried it. Also, let me know where I could buy the Garnier Micellar Water. I wanna try that next.