Rainy day blues

Things to do on rainy days (make sure you have an emergency kit, though! It's always better to be on the safe side. Also applicable to snow-ins):

1. EAT. Preferably hot food because rain always makes me feel chilly. (Click the name to go to the recipe)

Turkey Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup) from Cooking Light

Champorado (Filipino Chocolate Rice Porridge) by wokwithray.net

Sinampalukang Manok (Chicken in Tamarind Soup) by http://feastasia.casaveneracion.com

Perfect Potato Soup by The Pioneer Woman

2. READ. There are a lot of upcoming movies that are based on books, and in my opinion it's always better to read the source material first before viewing its big screen adaptation. Unless that's not your thing :)

Ender's Game (from Wikipedia): Set in Earth's future, the novel presents an imperilled mankind that has barely survived two conflicts with the Formics or "Buggers", an insectoid alien species. In preparation for an anticipated third invasion, an international fleet maintains a school to find and train future fleet commanders. The world's most talented children, including the novel's protagonist, Ender Wiggin, are taken at a very young age to a training center known as the Battle School. There, teachers train them in the arts of war through increasingly difficult games including ones undertaken in zero gravity in the Battle Room, where Ender's tactical genius is revealed.

The Monuments Men: During World War II, a group of British and American museum directors and art historians risk their lives to recover stolen works of art before they can be destroyed by the Nazis.

Jack Ryan series by Tom Clancy (this is the movie plot): A CIA analyst uncovers a terrorist plot to destroy the United States economy.

Odd Thomas: A short-order cook with psychic abilities encounters a mysterious newcomer in his small desert town.

3. WATCH. These movies are currently available to rent at Redbox :)

I watched this yesterday. Yes, it is long and has dragging moments, but it also has a lot of gems inside. The makeup can be distracting but does not detract from the storytelling. A must-watch! (The Asian version of Jim Sturgess is, I must admit, POGI hahaha.)

4. LISTEN. Here are some songs off of newly-released albums.

Other suggestions: Draw, write a short story, do pilates, basically anything to get de-stressed and not get depressed by the rain. It is essential for life, after all.

(Trivia: I used to affix a cutout of Batman's symbol to a flashlight then we'll pretend it's THE Bat Signal hahaha. Childhood is awesome, I don't know why some kids want to grow up fast.) 

Good night and stay dry! :)

<3,

P.S.

Help our brethren in the Philippines who were affected by Tropical Storm Maring by donating to reputable organizations. Remember, every cent counts!

Philippine Red Cross

ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor) Foundation USA Inc.

Music Videos: Cars

A VW Beetle-filled scene from "Candy" by Mandy Moore

Raise your hand if you wished you had a Beetle after watching Candy by Mandy Moore! Seriously speaking, it was my dream car, and the fact that my father used to drive one also helped in cementing that thought. But VW parts are expensive, so once the Ford Explorer my father passed on to me started overheating, I bought a trusty silver 2012 Toyota Corolla instead (nicknamed "Kotse," the Filipino/Tagalog word for "car" because I'm not really into names lol). I love looking at beautiful cars, but I'm glad that I don't mind if mine gets scratches because it's not swanky enough. I don't know if I'll ever get an expensive car either because I'd rather spend my money on traveling/vacations, charity and investments.

I used to spell Volkswagen as Box Wagon hahaha :) (Image taken from http://www.netcarshow.com/volkswagen/2003-beetle_last_edition/ )

This post is dedicated to my big bro Jong and his love for cars. One of the best memories ever: him building a makeshift car out of seat cushions from our living room sofa when we were 7 and 9 years old. I wish I had a copy of the picture of us in it so I could post it here :) Enjoy and au revv-oir ;)

Music video dump - Melancholic

OK Go

If MTV still aired music videos, the alt. rock band hailing from Chicago called OK Go would be a household name by now. All of their music videos are so choc-full of creativity and never fail to mesmerize that I can't help but click through all of them on youtube. I first came across this band when their video for Here It Goes Again, where they jump and dance on treadmills in tune to the song, became viral in 2007. What's amazing about them is that they're not all gimmick - sure, their videos are eye-catching, but without good songwriting skills they would just be a generic, run-of-the-mill pop-synth group with no soul. Yes I said that, haha. It's just that I feel a lot of popular artists only release songs that they know will be hits, not because there's an actual story or feeling behind it. Case in point, Selena Gomez's "Come And Get It," which is so awfully written and so synthesized that I immediately switch stations whenever I hear it. Although admittedly, I have had lapses in judgment wherein when I hear someone else sing it, or when I'm concentrating on my driving, I can't help but sing along *nananana.* At least Demi Lovato's song "Heart Attack" was co-written by Demi and has better vocals (though I wish she would not overuse auto tune like she did here, especially in the first part with the alien-sounding *tatatatack,* because her voice is fine without it. But that's pop for you *shrugs*). OK here's the part where I paste a lot of the videos for OK Go, but do check the ones I did not include :)

(trivia: like the band Imagine Dragons, I thought OK Go was from Europe! Ever since I watched the movie Billy Elliot and my cousin gave me a copy of its soundtrack, I've been addicted to bands that sound similar to T. Rex, a 70s rock band from Britain who penned the song "Children of the Revolution.")

Bonus:

Here's the link to a youtube playlist for the OST to Billy Elliot. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE :)

Love lots,

Random things

1. The making of "The Kiss" starring Superman and Wonderwoman: muddycolors.blogspot.com

2. The Boar Rider (Oil on Gessoed Panel) by Justin Gerard: Original post here

Video Madness!

A couple of recent videos on the world wide web (a good mix of trailers, cars, Zelda, music, makeup and fun stuff)

Aboriginal women who toured Vietnam as singers (based on a true story)

Yes, yes, yes! Another Miyazaki movie to look forward to!