Day 30: 5 good things that happened since I started the challenge

1. Finished the challenge! I started the challenge last April 2, 2011. I should've finished it by early May but because of procrastination and lack of blogging commitment,the challenge stalled for more than two months. That's why I am so happy that I get to finish this challenge right before the school starts tomorrow! :)

2. Finished 75% of the thesis experiments! For three weeks, my groupmates and I had the most productive days of our summer. It was really fulfilling to realize that this summer didn't all go to bum land.

3. Visited my alma matter after four years. It was a very nostalgic feeling when I stepped foot in Statefields again. All of my good memories in highschool flashed all at once as I walked the familiar hallways of my dearest alma matter. Friendship started, love blossomed and memories piled up in that place. Forget me not. Aaaagh nostalgia!

The last time I was at this stage was Graduation in 2007.

4. Found new, awesome friends. I started hanging out with my old friends that used to be just acquaintances before. It never hurts to expand my social circle.

5. Enjoyed summer to the fullest! I used to love staying at home, watching tons of DVDs for the whole week, pigging out, surfing the net and all the loner stuffs I do during vacation. But this summer is so different. Most of the closest people in my life finished school this March and I can never be happier for them.It's a chock full of social interaction, grad parties, tambay moments, kwentuhan and what-not's. It's my last summer as an undergrad student. And I can say that it's by far best :)

Day 29: 3 Wishes

1. Yellow umbrella ala HIMYM
2. A good and fun academic year for me and my other undergrad friends.
3. More memories

Day 28: Something that stresses me out

Last year of school. I'm not supposed to be stressed. But I can't help it. I'm stressed and excited. I'm gonna battle myself, stretch my limits and challenge my skills to the fullest! This year's going to be fun!

Day 27: My Favorite Youtube Videos

1. Cute baby laughing at ripping paper. It's just so cute!


2. Rica Peralejo - Joseph Bonifacio wedding video. I have watched this for n times already but it still never fails to give me "awww" moments.


3.Simple and Clean makeup tutorial by Michelle Phan. I love watching makeup tutorials and this is by far my favorite wanna-achieve-look as of late. Heh.


4. 500 Days of Summer official trailer.


5. Toughest Place to be a Bus Driver; a BBC Documentary.

Day 26: My Dream Wedding

An intimate Christian wedding at the beach with just closest friends and family in attendance. After the wedding we're going to drink and party (Bora style) under the rain (I hope). Or just make a fire and toast marshmallows by the sea. As long as I'm going to marry the one I love, I'm perfectly fine with everything else. 

Want some cheese? 

Day 25: Baby on shuffle. First 10 songs

1. Differences - Ginuwine
2. OMG - Usher
3. When I look at you - Miley Cyrus
4. You've made me so very happy - Bobbie Gentry
5. Everything - Michael Buble (KILIG!)
6. Whatever it takes - Nate Sallie
7. Who knew - Pink
8. I never told you - Colbie Caillat
9. I can't lie - Maroon 5
10. Sunday Morning - Maroon 5

Day 24: Something I've learned

Never entertain an attached guy. Coz you know, he's doing that because he's bored with his girlfriend and when he's done with you he'll just delete you out of his life. Like a sore loser, you are. Without much of an ego left on your system. Now all you will ever be in the eyes of every man is that you're easy. Aw. It's like a bad record that can't be taken out of your system. It makes you say an involuntary "ugh damn you!" whenever the memory crawls up your head.

I just wanna get over that ego-shattering moment. It's so painful in my ego. So heavy in my chest.

Day 23: Something I don't leave the house without

My purse. All I need for the day is in it. Once in a while,I try leaving the house without a bag but I really feel so uncomfortable. It's like I left something behind.

My golly. This question is so boring I wanna jump to the next one. :| 

Day 22: Fixtures in my Purse

1) Umbrella - Rain or shine. I never leave without it. I'm kinda allergic to rain and sun.

2) Calculator - weird but it must be the engineer in me talking here. You can leave your phone and money. But never your calculator.

3) Cologne

4) Lipsticks - I eat lipsticks.

5) Wallet - for financial independence.

6) Other personal effects  - hanky, powder, tissues and what not.

Day 21: Sweet Memory of My Past

JS Prom, 2007. 

Day 20: My plans/dreams/goals

Short term: To enjoy the remaining weeks of my summer to the fullest. Catch up on House as fast as I can. Start revising our Methodology. Finish this challenge before school starts!

Long term: Finish our thesis by September! Do the graduate march by March. With flying colors. It's my last year so I'm gonna give all the brain power that I have. I'm gonna be the hardworking Heidy that you have never seen before.

Longer term: Have a successful and stable career within five years. Visit at least three countries by 2015. Settle down by 2019.

Day 19: Something I miss

If you happen to be in our university just recently, you won't be seeing this place anymore. But three years ago, there is a place in front of the Roque Ruano building famously called as the "Hard Rock". My friends used to stay here during breaks and after class to hang (since we have a lot of time to waste during those days). 

Friendship blossomed and memories filled up in this place. I remember we used to call random names and  look at people from afar then see if they will look back. I also recall that we used to go here for "sight-seeing" hot boys, too. Endless chats, laughs and pictures defined the hard rock. 

Sure I miss my old alma matter. But Statefields is still there; standing high and mighty in the highway. But the hardrock isn't, anymore. That makes me miss it more; along with the mostly happy memories that happened there. It happened at a time when we were still younger, carefree and problem-less. It was my happy place. 

Day 18: Favorite Place to Eat

It's a restaurant that offers yummy Pinoy foods. Our family just loves to dine at this place every time we go out :-)

Day 17: Something I look forward today

I can't wait for my muscle sores to be over and play kinect again. It's super fun plus it makes me sweat a lot. Too bad I can't move half the muscles in my arms due to over kinect-ing yesterday.

I'm also looking forward to my Chuck marathon later :-)

Day 16: Dream House

My dream house is something that has this:

A happy and harmonious family. I'm dreaming that one day, I'd be able to make a home.

Day 15: Bible Verse

"If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest

of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment."

Job 36:11 (NIV)

Day 13: Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

Natalie Portman. Reasons?

1) She went to Harvard! The Harvard! Of course my MIT dream is still alive, but I definitely won't turn down an offer to even just step a foot on Harvard! Or even just conduct a free crash course on cloning, business, religion or whatever. As long as it's Harvard. 

2) She's brainy.

3) Her facial bone structure is to die for. Seriously. She pulled off a shaved head! Even Emma Watson failed on that. Seriously, Natalie what's wrong with you? 

4) She's ze Black Swan. Loved her to bits on that movie. 

Day 12: Favorite Movies

What do I look for in movies?

1) It has to be well-made. And by well-made I mean smooth-editing, decent soundtrack, good cinematography, decent directing and non-cliche writing. I hate movies that are made of scenes patched-up together without a good continuity. Seriously those movies should go straight to the trashbin.

2) Good acting. I can't stand nail-on-chalkboard acting. Sorry.

3) The heart. I believe that every movie has to make sense. Even action movies should make sense. All the explosions and flashy what-nots should have a reason behind it that people could understand. In one way or another the audience should be able to interact with the movie.

When these three qualifications are met, a movie becomes my favorite <3 Here are mine, in no particular order:

1) The Notebook. I always say this: It is the best love story ever told. I'd love to find another story on par with The Notebook. It's one of the book adaptations that exceeded my expectations. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams portrayed Noah and Allie rather well; they are such in perfect chemistry together. I also liked that the movie chose to put more background to their love story rather than how it was done in the book.

2) Definitely, Maybe. It's not for Oscars but it's definitely a feel-good movie. Very satisfying. It's kinda like How I Met Your Mother: The Movie. 

3) 500 Days of Summer. "This is not a love story. But it's a story about love." It was an offbeat movie with unparallel narration but it's as real at it can get. At one moment people are so in love with each other and then after some time, they aren't anymore. 

The soundtrack is to-die-for and the movie is like an artistic canvas all throughout. Check it out!

4) Taken. It definitely left a great impact on me: that I shall never talk (and flirt!) with handsome strangers when travelling because no.1) the prostitution showed in Taken is real and no.2) I don't have a badass father like Liam Neeson to save me.

5) Black Swan. This movie is crazy. But I! loved! it!

6) The Classic. It kinda turned into a sobfest during the last minutes, but boy the sobfest worked. Sometimes when a tearjerker is trying so hard to make people cry it looks stupid already (like when all the characters are crying every minute?), but with this one, it totally made me a crybaby! I loved the subtleness of the whole movie. I felt like I'm just going with the flow, like I'm part of it. Plus the cinematography and the OST are goooood.

7) If Only. The message is so clear that we all should take a leaf out of this movie.

Day 11: Favorite TV Shows

How do TV shows become my favorite? First, it must have a good, appealing plot for me to check it out. Second, it must be entertaining. Unlike a movie, I couldn't stand a quiet snoozefest for twenty hours or so because what works for a movie doesn't always work on a TV show. Third, it must be well-made. You know, not a piece of crap. Last one: I'd know I have a new favorite if I'm investing enough time, emotion and brains on the show.

1. How I Met Your Mother

Five awesome people sharing their lives on one of the most awesome place on earth. Great dialogue, good narrative, fresh story and it's very funny. Sold.  Its current season continues to redeem itself from its average, rocky early episodes, so for those who dropped it early, go watch it again! ;) 

2. My Girlfriend is a Gumiho

I invested my time! Who cares if the net is slow? Who cares if I'm tired on a Saturday night?

I invested my emotions! SO MUCH.

I invested myself that I was so sad when it ended.

3. Chuck

Fresh, funny and cool. But a little bit clumsy. I like that our hero isn't some Mr.Perfect guy. It's what makes Chuck, the character, real. So far I think season 3 is its best season. Its episodes aren't stand-alone as the previous seasons and there is a big plot around it: Chuck being a real spy and the price that he has to pay for it. Yeah check it out. 

4. Prison Break

Oh Prison Break, I can never forget the awesome pilot season that you pulled on us. I might even watch it again. You had me invested like that. That's why it hurts so much that you had to go downhill from there. Especially when you owed Kellerman your happy ending.

Day 10: Something I'm afraid of

I am afraid of beetles, snakes and falling from a chair.
I am afraid of dark alleys, meeting hoodlums and perverts.
I am afraid of disappointing my parents.
I am afraid of my past to take over my future.
I am afraid to say out loud my greatest fear.