'Tis the last weekend before Christmas

Hola! How are you? And you? And you? Are you done with your Christmas shopping yet? I hope so! And I hope everyone's feeling chipper, especially now that there are only *gasp* a little more than 24 hours before Christmas!

As for me, I spent the whole weekend holed up in my aunt's cozy house in Valenzuela and I couldn't have been more refreshed and recharged.

All I did were eat, watch TV, check my social media feeds via my phone, read, and sleep. A lot. It was definitely cozy and quiet there. Maybe a little too quiet for my own liking because when I woke up this morning all I wanted to do was go home and get ready for work.

Except I didn't have work today. I have a five-day Christmas break and am not required to go to the office until Thursday. Quite a nice change of pace from my old job where we needed to go to work even during holidays, but the moment I got home for real this afternoon, I was itching to turn my computer on and answer some emails for work. I work in PR, and although I acknowledge that industries won't necessarily collapse nor the natural order of the world will be put in chaos if I leave those emails unanswered, I don't really want to wait until Thursday to reply. It didn't take me more than twenty minutes to answer everyone, anyway.

And since it was the last weekend before Christmas and I am thankful to enjoy the comforts of my aunt's house while the rest of the world are probably going crazy with last minute preparations, I decided on a holiday read to, you know, set me in the mood for the holidays or something - if I weren't in the mood enough hee.

Let It Snow is a bundle of three Christmas reads in one: The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson, A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green, and The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle. At first I thought the stories were independent from one another like those Shake, Rattle & Roll movies. It wasn't until I was beginning with John Green's contribution when I realized that the stories were all actually interconnected, like Love, Actually (a very astute observation, LOL). I finished it in less than two days, and I liked it because it's witty and funny and the characters are not without flaws. In short, very believable. I liked it, although I think I liked David Levithan and Rachel Cohn's Dash & Lily's Book of Dares more.

After reading Let It Snow, I checked my Kindle and noted that I was able to finish 32 books this year via Max. 37, if you count rereads. "Physical" books, I'm not sure as I wasn't able to count, although I know I read Books of Adam and Kikomachine Komix Blg. 9 this year. Resolution for 2014: make sure to note all books read so as to make sure I made good on my personal goal of at least 52 books before the year ends. Movies, too. I think I will be able to clock in at least two more books before 2013 ends, and so since I have a flair for the theatrics, I made myself go through the unnecessary drama/ pressure of choosing which to read.

I chose William Goldman's abridged version of S. Morgenstern's The Princess Bride because I have read far too many lists recommending both the movie and the book (it was even referenced in a How I Met Your Mother episode!), and because it has been in my to-read list for years now! I stopped at the chapter with Fezzik's story this afternoon, and I can't wait to go back to reading it right after I click on Publish.

I wouldn't want to take too long now. I just dropped by to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas, and I pray we don't forget why we're celebrating it.

Christmas jar (with nuts, almonds, walnuts, cashew, marshmallows, and chocolates!) from Healthy Monsters. All my aunts and uncles are getting one from me this Christmas!

Happy holidays, everyone! May your bellies be full and your hearts be merry!