Photo Challenge: December Photo a Day

Since I've always wanted to join a photo challenge but always late, I'm jumping on the bandwagon before 2012 ends, and end my year with a snap! ;)

Breaking Dawn 2: Breaking Hearts, too.

My anticipation for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 was somehow obscured by my gloominess. I'm so dispirited these past few days that I wasn't even excited to see the movie. Kristen Stewart is a lousy actress, and toss in the fact that she cheated on Rob Pattinson, I don't want to spend even just a minute watching her.

My cousin's birthday fell on the "Twilight Weekend", and it is somewhat customary for us to watch the Saga as a group. I miss my cousins oh so much, that absence is simply not possible and acceptable.

I sure hope for my sanity's sake that my lack of enthusiasm is just a prequel of my period.

But just because I wasn't excited for it, doesn't mean I wouldn't welcome it. 

After all, it's the last installment.

During the long introduction, I realized I was going to cry. Again, it was the final installment. It's as good as a farewell party.

It's nice finally seeing the scenes I have once read and imagined, especially the part where Bella found out Jacob had a "moronic wolfy claim" on Renesmee, Edward and Bella's daughter. I hate seeing Jacob getting hurt, but that part was just hilariously cute. We laughed at every assault Jake got from Bella. We were as amused as Edward was. LOL. Jake's strip-tease was a treat because first, he's hot; second, he's hot; and third, Charlie's reaction was cute. :))
It was also nice to see the movie not just about Bella or their love triangle. The Cullens once again showcased their love for each other, and how far they would go to protect their family.

SPOILER ALERT!
What really blew my mind was the battle scene.
Aro read the minds of Edward and Renesmee, but what he saw were not shown. When Alice was to show Aro what she had foreseen, we jokingly said they should let us see it too. But the battle began shortly after Aro touched Alice's hand, and Alice revealed that Aro still want to take the Cullens down even after proving their innocence. It was touching that Carlisle was the first one to run for Alice, and how they reacted after that. I felt their pain and anger while they fight for their lives, and avenge the ones they lost.
It was VIOLENT but beautifully done, and NOT RUDDY at all.
Luckily, they don't have blood.
I cried like a baby when Carlisle and Jasper were beheaded. I kept searching for their bodies, hoping they weren't being burned yet. Haha. I wanted to explode then and there, make the movie stop, and tell them that they did the movie wrong. Clearly, that's not what the book says. But that was a cinema, I should at least compose myself.
Alas, that was a twist going on. The battle scene was what Alice had foreseen. Aro's scenes were funny after that. It was obvious he got scared of losing his head as well.
A flaw I noticed was Alice's vision of Renesmee and Jake's future together.
Jake blocks Alice's visions.
I remember clearly when she thought Bella had died after cliff diving because she didn't see her being saved by Jake. Also, when Bella got pregnant, and they didn't know whether what Bella was expecting was really a baby or a monster, Alice couldn't see the baby inside because the baby imprinted on Jake.

But nevertheless, it was great.
It's the best twilight movie, and definitely my fave. :)

Where art thou, ENTHUSIASM?

Excruciating might be an overstatement, but that's how it sometimes feel like;

How one thing remains the same over the years while a lot has changed this past 2 years.

This day last year, I already ticked off almost every names on my list.

This year, I haven't even started making a list.

And although I know I have a lot of things to do, I just cant seem to get my body start working.

The days are flying by so fast.

And as that "now-seem-to-be-a-dreadful-day" approaches, it's hard to keep my eyes dry.

But I know I can't stay this way.

I shouldn't.

I'm not even sure how I ended up in this state.

All I know is I got to get out here.

It's not happiness I'm scouring, but enthusiasm.

P.S.
I'm not burning down our house. I can't, not even in my wildest imagination or dream. It's our home.
But yeah, this used to be a FUN HOUSE. :/
And I'm SANE.

Ain't a Piece of Cake

Although baking a cake is on my "Bucket List", I never imagined it possible.

We attempted to bake a cake gazillion times before, but I guess "FATE" just never permitted it until last August.

Before August ended, we finally started turning the oven on.

The first thing my sisters baked was a starter red velvet cake.

It was a success! Too bad they had doubts, so it wasn't enough.

They tried baking cupcakes after that, and sadly, they failed.

We then decided to bake a Blueberry Cheesecake, and it was soo good!

It instantly became a FAVORITE. :D

Baking became a bonding time for us.

My sister A has a busy schedule though, so we don't get to do it as much as we want.

Last September, my brother asked me to bake a cake for his girlfriend.

And since I really like his girlfriend, even though I don't have a full baking experience, I didn't say NO. 

I searched for a basic cake recipe over the internet, and baked it with a full heart, and one eye shut. LOL.

And yaaay, it was a success. 

My number 1 fan had to have a picture with it :)

 I got myself a "souvenir" though.

But it was worth it. I guess. LOL.

My scar is just now a constant reminder that I was able to bake a cake by myself for the first time.

First time, yes, and definitely not the last.

We baked another one, and this time, we covered it with fondant.

Again, it didn't stop there.

I craved for a choco-banana cake, and got surprised it wasn't that hard.

So, my busy sister came home to this. 

We decided we're ready to bake our Grand Matriarch a cake for her birthday.

And so we did.

Please excuse the novices' unimposing design. :))

The first time I saw that flower candle, I knew our GM should have that on her birthday cake.

Our GM loved the cake, she requested us to bake another one for her sister who celebrates her birthday a week after hers. And just like her cake, she wanted it to have a flower candle.

Whew! Baking definitely is NOT a piece of cake.

I'm glad I'm now ticking this off my list.

Another achievement for me!

Whoohoo! :)

My Memory Card - Now Just a Memory

It was in August when I upgraded my camera's memory to 16gb from 8gb. I decided to upgrade it because I didn't have the heart to delete 8gb's stored photos.

Back-up, baby! -- I know, I know!

But I'm somehow not in good terms with "back-up."

Why?

I did back them-up.

BUT

Our desktop and laptops have gone through countless reformatting.

and

my flash disk got stolen.

And I don't trust the idea of online storage, sorry!

So, I bought a new memory card and kept the old one in my camera pouch.

Last week, my sister borrowed my camera for her field trip.

And just as crazy as it seems, when I woke up the morning of her field trip, I had the feeling she would neglect my memory card. I tried texting her so she could keep the memory card, but she left her phone at home. 

I could swear I fretted the entire day.

But boy, never did my instinct serve me wrong!

My sister lost my memory card.

And although she kept saying sorry, and I know she meant every apology, I just couldn't help but cry.
Yep, I cried.
I didn't mean to make her feel more guilty, but it was so hard for me to control my emotions.
I tried holding it in, but it kept winning over me.

The memories in that memory card are now really just memories.