Yay! Wonderful news, Kitchen Cow has made it to the finals of Nuffnang's first Asia-Pacific Blog Awards! Nuffnang is a regional blog advertising company, handling bloggers and advertisers in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines. They're holding the awarding ceremony in Singapore so I'm quite excited about getting a chance to go back. But the icing on top of the cake will be taking home the actual award! It's a formal event so I'll be forced into evening wear---I want to make it worth it, at least. So friends, may I have your help?



Please vote Kitchen Cow under the Best Food Blog category. You may vote once every 2 hours so if you have a few minutes to spare, I'll really appreciate it. You'll have to choose a blog under every category before you get to submit your votes but on the bright side, at least you don't have to sign up or anything. Please?

Thank you so very much!



p.s.
I know Pinoys have a tendency to want to know if anybody else from the Philippines made it, so just to answer your question, yes! Eight Filipinos made it, six are local residents while two are expats to Singapore and Australia.

They're Wifely Steps for Parenting, En Route for Travel, Jehzlau-Concepts for Most Influential, Bryan Boy for Fashion, Jim Paredes for Celebrity, Octwelve for Blog Design and Mr Gadget for Geek Blog.

Two relevant links for Pinoys.

Update on the Book Blockade of 2009. It hasn't really been lifted. The government is still out fuck us over.

Galing kay Conrado de Quiros. Isang artikulong naglalaman ng sinasaloob nating lahat.

i. 26 books?
Getting there! I just read book 19, Sophie Kinsella's Twenties Girl. It started slow for me. In fact, I felt a bit disappointed because it read like a chick bonding novel rather than the rom-com chick lit Sophie Kinsella's known for. It didn't change, despite the entry of romantic interests, it's still a girly-bonding story at heart. Thankfully, it picked up and I found myself appreciating the story as it unfolded. At some point, I couldn't put it down. Heck, I was crying buckets later on.

Anyway, just 7 books to go. Manageable, I think. In fact, I think I'll easily go over 26. It's really good that I lowered my goals, especially since I decided to stop counting graphic novels and manga. More manageable methinks, plus, I don't have to feel guilty whenever I reread old books that don't count toward my goal.

ii. on the dollie front
I actually signed up for another round of torture, sleepless nights and desperately racking my brain. Yep, TQ season again. Working on challenge 3 right now. Quite happy with how first two challenges turned out. Even if the second one shocked me because someone else did the exact same film. *headdesk*

Challenge 1: Text	Challenge 2: Design of a Decade Silent Film Era

iii. waiting for my crops to grow
Addicted to another facebook game, by playfish again, called Country Story. It's Harvest Moon, social networking version. I've tried other farming games on FB, Farm Town in particular, but I ended up quitting since I didn't like the graphics much. But Country Story delivers on the cute factor. Definitely Playfish. So I'm addicted again. *headdesk*

I'm stupid when it comes to history. I don't even know how I managed to pass my World History course in high school since I'm a total dunce in the field. So yes, I had no idea that the book I picked up two days ago was Historical Fiction.

Thankfully, my unfamiliarity with the Tudors didn't mar my enjoyment of the book. In fact, now I want to read up on history, just so I could read more of this. Anyway, The Red Queen's Daughter. It's a re-imagining of Mary Seymour's life---assuming that she lived past two as some historian's claim. This re-telling places her in Elizabeth I's court, as an undercover white magician, pretending to be a Lady-in-Waiting. Due to her pitiful background, as well as her observations from early on, she believes that love is a bane to a woman. She swears never to fall into the trap that ruined her mother and foster mother's life, as well as a lot of women in the court.

Kinda extreme, but hey, still manageable I think. Of course, life never sails smoothly and for our heroine, trouble comes in the form of her cousin, a charming man who persists in courting her. Oh yeah, aside from her vow, there's a teeny tiny glitch. It's just possible that he's a black mage. Drama yes?

Such an enjoyable read. Poignant, yet restrained. The words flow and it's an easy read, despite the setting and subject matter. And while it ends beautifully already, I wouldn't mind reading a sequel. I hope it's in the works, from the author's blog, it sounds like it's a possibility. Here's to hoping there would be one. *crosses fingers*

I can't believe it. It's finally in my hands.



( Waheeheeheeheehee. )

More coherent post on http://www.kitchencow.com. Once I finally get down from this high.

Just some links :P

• A stick your head in the freezer meme? Why the numbers 241543903, I have no idea, but it is true. An image search does yield freezer head pics.

• Okay, I'm kinda late with this piece of news but Jose Rizal's childhood home is now GREEN! And what I found even more surprising is that noted Filipino historian, Ambeth Ocampo actually approved the re-painting!

• Awesome headphones / earphones! Suddenly, my swimmers feel so ordinary.

I was never the type to fall in love with shoes, clothes, or any other fashion related article. Sure, I love books, movies, fictional character but shoes?

Until I saw the Tokidoki x Onitsuka Tiger Lunetta. Squeeee.

A part of me didn't want to get them because I'd get them dirty so quickly, and they cost so much more than what I'd normally pay for shoes. But I couldn't get them out of my head! Sure sign that I had to have them, yes?

Mercury really must be in retrograde, considering all the technoshit that's happening to me lately. My most recent one was a stupid dbase importation error that screwed up Kitchen Cow. My fault, really but it was an accident. Cost me two posts but that was easily recreated with the use of google caches. But the awful thing was losing all those comments! And to think one of those posts that died was my bento giveaway contest post---the one going 77 comment strong. And those comments were mostly entries to the raffle I'm holding. Gawd. Stupid stupid me.

But at least the site's back up, and it's still early anyway. I'm crossing my fingers that people will want to join again. If they don't, oh well. Nothing I can do about it.

Also on the blog front, my new webhost, Downtownhost, is made of awesome. Customer support with them is great. They helped me fix my issues with Dokidoki Central in 15 minutes or so. So, that means my dollie blog is back up now. I just faked a "Junpei database crash" to explain why there were no posts for 5 months. It's quite hard to pretend all of them just got busy at the same time. Still wondering how I'm going to treat the storylines but hey, I'll get there. Somehow.

And finally, because I like ending posts with pretty pictures, here's Sam in her new wig. Sam, looking so cute like this, reminds me why she's my grail.

I luff you, Silas. *huggles*

Was getting ready to sleep, all on a Harvest Moon high but I guess there are times when you can't help but be rained on.

This calls for a little Hiro cheerer-upper.



And another day of Harvest Moon. Hnnn...15=30 more minutes of gametime, tops. Hnnn...must not get too preoccupied with game. I don't want to be a zombie for tomorrow's shoot. (doh)

I knew Facebook was useful for something other than Pet Society...

Life is the same old, same old. Writing for a living, writing for fun. Playing with my dolls. Experimenting on food. Working on improving my photography. It’s the same old grind. Not that I mind of course. I’m a creature of habit and working on things slowly but surely keeps me going.

On major thing I’m working on that’s very new to me is fiscal responsibility. I’m actually trying to save up and clear my credit card debt. I plan to get rid of one before the 3rd quarter of the year. The other one, I’m keeping for my online shopping but I plan to zero out the balance. I guess I am growing older and more responsible. Not a bad thing, right?

~ ~ ~ ~



Half a year after I visited Singapore for the first time and I’m still not done sorting my trip photos. Uploaded a new batch last night, will be adding more this week, I’m halfway through the last and largest folder---my Singapore zoo photos. As always, food on Kitchen Cow, general travel photos on Flickr and personal photo crap soon to be up on Multiply.

Posted to eljay.

Sent using a Sony Ericsson mobile phone

Alert: Airheaded fangirling up ahead. Consider yourselves warned.

One of the first things I did when I heard about Mizushima Hiro being cast as the lead in Mei-chan no Shitsuji (Mei's Butler) was to find copies of the manga. Written by Miyagi Riko, it was about a poor little orphan girl, Shinonome Mei, who suddenly finds herself the heiress of a big fortune when her parents get killed in an accident. Part of the package was getting her own personal butler, Shibata Rihito to care for her.



Coffee, tea or me?

Like most manga by Miyagi Riko (Love Monster, Hana ni Nare), it's your usual naïve little innocent girl and a super hawt guy who absolutely adores her. I had serious misgivings about whether this would work as a drama. For one, the manga is borderline lolicon. Plus, I found it absolutely absurd. Come on! A school where each young lady had her own private butler living with her? It sounds more like a hentai plotline than anything else. Still, since it had Hiro in it, I knew I had to watch it. Heck, I sat through Zettai Kareshi just for Hiro; what more Mei-chan where he's the lead?

( cut for photos )

Looks like I'll be a swooning fangirl this TV season again, much like how I was during the Hanadan, Nodame Cantabile and Hana Kimi seasons. But hey, with hawt boys abound, can you really blame me?

ps.
Oh yeah! The Shibata brothers, Rihito and Kenta are both Kamen Riders! Kabuto & Den-O respectively. Henshin!

It was my usual case of morning road rage. This car cut in front of us. I was already hurling obscenities but seeing the car's plate number had me rushing to grab my phone to snap a piccie.



Made of win, yes?

For the curious, here's what uke can mean.

...do I keep torturing myself with tragic stories? I just finished reading Basilisk, all 5 volumes. And my heart hurts.


Gyeah. Masochistic streak much?

And if that's not enough, I'm planning to look for my copy of Shinobi to watch it. Then probably the Basilisk Anime.

Gyeah.




On the internet front, we still don't have internet at work so I'm not online much. Hates both Globe and myDSL.

What was that New Year's Resolution again? Update my eljay more often? *cackles madly as she falls to the ground in classic failure pose* OTL



Here's Junpei looking cute, just so you guys will forgive me.

On the brighter side of things, Kitchen Cow is still being updated regularly so you can go there instead of here.

Oh yeah, and going fairly okay with my Movie / Book goals this year. Between the last post and now, I managed to watch Slumdog Millionaire and read Austenland by Shannon Hale. Must watch at least 5 movies for February to make up for missing one week in January. Still manageable, methinks.

Yep, doing it again this year, even if I majorly failed during the last two months of last year. While I wasn't able to list all the stuff I read / saw, I was doing mostly okay volume-wise. Still, I hope to up the quality as well this year, especially with books that's why I'm splitting my reading lists between actual books and graphic novels / comics and manga.

VIEWING LIST
Goal: 52 Movies / Videos / Series in a year
2008 - 43 Listed, November and December unmonitored
2007 - 55 Movies / TV Series

JANUARY
1. Let the Right One In (Film • Sweden)
2. Zack and Miri Make a Porno (Film • US)
3. Slumdog Millionaire (Film • UK)

FEBRUARY
4. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (Film • US)
5. The Heartbreak Kid (Film • US)
6. Shinobi (Film • Japan)
7. Galileo SP (Drama Special • Japan)
8. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Film • US)

MARCH
9. Full Metal Jacket (Film • US)

APRIL
10. Change (Drama • Japan • ep 10/10)
11. Maou (Drama • Japan • ep 11/11)
12. Earl and Fairy (Anime • Japan • ep 13/13)

MAY
13. Yôgisha X no Kenshin (Suspect X) (Movie • Japan)
14. Voice (Drama • Japan • 11/11)
15. Iron Man (Film • US)
16. Incredible Hulk (Film • US)
17. Hellboy (Film • US)
18. Terminator Salvation (Film • US)

JUNE
19. Top Chef 5 (TV Series • US • ep 15/15)
20. The 40-Year Old Virgin (Film • US)
21. Superstar (Film • US)
22. Tropic Thunder (Film • US)
23. Definitely, Maybe (Film • US)
24. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (Anime • Japan • 12/12)

JULY
25. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Film • US)

AUGUST
26. Just my Luck (Film • US)
27. The Proposal (Film • US)
28. Itazura na Kiss (Drama • Japan • 9/9)
29. Up (Animated Film • US)

SEPTEMBER
30. Top Chef Masters (TV Series • US)
31. Mr. Brain (Drama • Japan • 8/8)
32. Kitchen Confidential (TV Series • US • 13/13)

OCTOBER
33. Shining Inheritance (Drama • Korea • 28/28)
34. Yasuko to Kenji (Drama • Japan • 10/10)
35. Mei-chan no Shitsuji (Drama • Japan • 10/10)
36. Jennifer's Body (Film • US)

NOVEMBER
37. Top Chef Season 3 (TV Series • US)
38. Voices of a Distant Star (Anime OVA • Japan)

ongoing series
• Witch Yoo-hee (Drama • Korea • 4/16)
• Fated to Love You (Drama • Taiwan • 14/25)
• Full Metal Alchemist 2 (Anime • Japan • 23/xx)
• Rose of Versailles (Anime • Japan • 23/40)
• Mad Men (TV Series • US • 4/xx)
• Glee (TV Series • US • 8/xx)

---

READING LIST
Goal: 26 Books in a year
2008 - 127 Listed, November and December unmonitored
2007 - 97 Books / Graphic Novels

JANUARY
1. Ambergate by Patricia Elliot
2. Banana Heart Summer by Merlina Bobis
3. Austenland by Shannon Hale

MARCH
4. Hotel Pastis by Peter Mayle

APRIL
5. Man of by Dreams by Curtis Sittenfield
6. Nothing but the truth (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen Headley
7. The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan

MAY
8. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
9. Ex and the single girl by Lani Diane Rich
10. A Girl's Best Friend by Elizabeth Young

JUNE
11. The Fairy's Return and Other Princess Tales by Gail Carson Levine
12. Hush by Donna Jo Napoli
13. My Imaginary Ex by Mina V. Esguerra

JULY
14. Airhead by Meg Cabot
15. Airhead: Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
16. Talisman of Valdegarde by Madeleine Simon

AUGUST
17. Criss-cross by Lynne Rae Perkins
18. The Red Queen's Daughter by Jacqueline Kolosov
19. Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
20. A Curse as Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
21. Love Off-Limits by Whitney Lyles
22. Duchessina by Caroline Meyer

SEPTEMBER
23. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
24. Set in Stone by Linda Newbery
25. 1-800 Missing You by Meg Cabot

OCTOBER
26. Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

NOVEMBER
27. <a href="http://e-lockhart.com/main/?page_id=7>The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks</a> by E. Lockhart

i. preludes
I should be writing a year in review thing. First post of the year, it would be appropriate. But I've been gone too long and it just feels so difficult to get back in the swing of things. Where do I start? Do I go back to my last post? And I've been putting it off because of that. But the first week of the year has past and still no update---whatever happened to my resolution to update my livejournal more? So I might as well get started.

ii. life changes
2008 is a pivotal year in my life. I'm not exaggerating when I say the year and its milestones changed the way I see a lot of things. My priorities have shifted and somehow, I feel older---in an I've grown up sort of way.

So resolutions?
• Be more responsible with my expenses.
• Update blogs more.
• Start writing again.
• Read more.
• Travel.
• Learn something new or improve old skills. Take classes.

iii. film & book goal list fail
I was mostly on track with my video goals last year but I failed to record the last two months of my movie and video viewing. I was planning to sit down and write everything down but I couldn't find the time and ended up forgetting.

For my reading goals though, while I hit the target, the figure is mostly factitious because while I read a lot, it's mostly manga. It really defeats me telling myself I need to read more. So I figure this year, I'm going to separate my book and manga list. Instead of the old 52 books a year, I'm putting the book goal to 26. That's one every fortnight, no comics or graphic novels. Considering the pace my life is going, that sounds a bit more realistic.

So here are my advance apologies for the next three posts which will come consecutively, but could look spammy to you guys. I need to post my book and movie goal lists separately for easier archiving.

iv. photo projects
After last year's 365 Toy Project (which I finished after much skipping), I've chosen to embark on two more doable projects this year. A Doll a Week and Dolly Diptych Weekly. I must confess, I didn’t know Dolly Diptych existed when I signed up for A Doll a Week but since I have signed up already, I figured I might as well stick with it. It looks feasible anyway---I can take solo shots from the Diptych project for use with ADAW. Anyway, I've taken a photo for each to cover week one.



v. shameless plug
Raffling off a signed, first edition, hardcover copy of Anthony Bourdain's A Cook's Tour (which I honestly want to keep for myself). Win it for yourself at Kitchen Cow.