Innocent Wild turns 3 today, and I almost forgot! That's the thing with summer breaks... I lose my sense of time. Anyhow, I'm glad I was running through old posts, and I stumbled over last year's 2nd anniversary post, because if I didn't, I probably would've just let this day pass.
Maintaining a blog is difficult enough - never mind three years of it! There's the dread of harsh comments, the embarrassment after publishing posts with typos or grammatical errors (sometimes, I just want to die because of this), and the craving of more experiences to share with your readers. But for the most part, you just want to be read.
Over my time as a blogger, I've watched my stats rise and fall, had the shock of my life whenever I find out that people from some country I don't know view my posts, felt pissed that a post I've worked so hard on only earned three views (and I'm not even sure if all three of them read it), tried different things and went to different places just so I could post something people might find interesting, and of course, I've also felt discouraged to carry on whenever I over-think about the fact that, maybe, nobody wants to read about the life, musings, and ideas of some middle class Filipino teenager like me after all.
But I'm happy I never stopped, and I don't think I will be stopping soon.
So yeah, three cheers for three years of fun, heartbreak, music, fangirling, crafting, travelling, cooking, and whatnot!
And here's a BIG THANK YOU to all the readers - new and old - who keep checking back in for more!
An avid crafter myself, I was probably one of the most
excited Candy Girls, when I found out
that Candy will be releasing a DIY
book.
Sure, the magazine features crafts every now and then, but
I just couldn’t get enough of them! So, I thought the DIY book might satisfy
the crafty side of me…or at least, a bit
(since I’m always restless when it comes to making something new with my shaky already-arthritic
hands).
I decided to grab my copy of the Candy DIY Book (get
yours for only 175php at a bookstore near you!) during its book launching event
last 20 March at Fully Booked The Fort (The Bridgeway), which doubled as a craft party.
Guests, young and old, took the liberty of making their
own craft projects. From pom-poms to postcards to rings, it was simply a lovely
afternoon to let one’s creative juices flow, while having fun at the same time.
Authors, Macy Alcaraz, Mikko Sumulong, Alessandra Lanot,
and Mansy Abesamis, whose projects graced the book, were also at the event to meet
fellow crafters and sign their copies of the DIY Book.
Unlimited access to washi tapes, ribbons, buttons and
whatnot!
I enjoyed the stamping station the most ♥
Check out these post cards I made :D
An artist's (crafter's) hands are almost never clean.
#ShowEmOff #ProudCrafter
Some rings I made... (the one in the middle was made for me by my fellow
Council of Cool member, Mika)
With Candy's Web Managing Editor and Candy DIY Book
Editor-In-Chief Ms. Macy and Mika
I pity kids today for a lot
of reasons. This makes me sound old, but it's true. I really do pity kids today for a lot
of reasons, but let me start with the fact that they were all too little – probably,
still non-existent – when Disney Channel was still Disney Channel.
Sure, I may not have been
around yet during the height of Sister, Sister and the Zenon movies,
but believe me, I still made it to watch a lot of Disney Channel's feel-good
shows and TV movies. I was also there when Disney Channel had its last hurrah.
When was it, you ask? Well,
if you want the answer to your question, you better ask your older sisters or
brothers. I'm pretty certain that everyone from my generation will have their
own say about that.
The thing is, I hate to admit
it, but the Disney Channel kids know today is not as good as the Disney Channel
I once knew.
I do understand that time flies, and the demand of the audiences changes just as well, but it wouldn't
hurt to air at least one old Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) per week, or
have a re-run of Disney Channel's old TV shows.
Since people today are so
fond of throwbacks, why not make good use of the idea by applying it to something
that does not just involve old photographs?
***
Here are the 11 things that define Disney Channel for me (in no particular order at all, because I love them all so much!):
Lizzie and Miranda's fashion statements
Tie-dyed shirts, awfully-colourful printed pants, and crazy 'dos among others... These BFFs gave a whole new meaning to mixing 'n' matching in the early 2000s.
The feathers!
The rows and the fringes!
Ren and Louis
Oh, the true epitome of every love-and-hate relationship of brothers and sisters.
The old Disney Channel Stars' intros before the start of every show
Y'know, the part when they draw the sparkly Disney Channel logo with a wand? They just seemed to be doing it much better back then.
EXTRA: I could also remember those short videos (interstitials) they play before the start of each show, where kids imagine being mermaids (I loved the music that came with that one) or bike racers or dinosaur diggers.
The Disney Channel Games 2006
Ah, the first Disney Channel Games... I could still picture myself watching this eight years ago with some friends at a playmate's house. It was summer, and we were taking a break after playing a game of tag, dodge ball, and, I think, some pretend, too (lutu-lutuan or we were pretending to be spies again. I'm not so sure anymore). Oh, how I rooted for the Red Team! Shin Koyamada and Zac Efron in one team. 'Nuff said.
Fresh from HSM :))
Lucas is better off singing than competing against Shin :D
"A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" Music Video
This music video of the Disney Channel Circle of stars will remain on top of my favourite music videos list. Everyone just looks like they're having so much fun, and they all look so young! This is the way I want to picture the stars in the video forever.
Kim and Ron's "It's Complicated" relationship status
Best friends since childhood + strong inexplicable feelings for each other... You get the picture, right? And, you've probably felt like that, too, before, right? Right.
The songs from Hannah Montana
I did not spend a single cent from my measly grade school allowance for a couple of weeks just to buy the Hannah Montana album, and belt out to "The Best of Both Worlds", "If We Were A Movie", and "Just Like You". Man, Hannah Montana was my idol!
EXTRA: Remember THIS Miley?
Yeah, I miss her, too...
Raven's visions
Now, who would forget Raven's visions? Nope, not me. Raven's psychic abilities and all the trouble that came with it made me realise that not knowing the future is better after all.
EXTRA: Aww, look at the adorable David Henrie as Cory Baxter's friend, Larry, waaaay before he was Justin Russo...
Zack and Cody's shenanigans ... at the Tipton Hotel
Yup, they lived in a hotel before they lived on a cruise ship, and Mr. Moseby had more reasons to worry about the shenanigans (which were way crazier) the twins got themselves into. My favourite? When Cody joined a beauty pageant as "Tyreesha Jones" (notice that Cody's got a striking resemblance with Taylor Swift when he's dressed as a girl? Yeah, I did, too.).
Raviv "Ricky" Ullman.
Sorry, Zac Efron, but Ricky Ullman is my first true and ultimate Disney Channel crush ever since. His geeky charm, his messy hair, the goofy faces he makes, his breath-taking smile! Gosh, I could go on forever about how much I love this guy. How I wish he still takes on-screen projects, so I can see more of him today. I love you, Ricky!
He says: "Aww, that's my girl! Love you too, Andy!" :")
The Disney Channel Original Movies (until 2006)
Because after 2006, no movie just came close as good as the old ones.
***
I'm honestly coming up with more stuff to put in here as I write, but I know that I should end this list one way or another. Writing this made me feel a bit better. Proud, even, because I got to say that I was able to experience all of these great stuff that Disney Channel used to offer their kid and teen audiences.
I'd really love to go back in time and re-watch everything on the list, knowing that I wouldn't be seeing them again soon (or ever) in the future. *SOB*
How about you? What defines Disney Channel for you?
One of the best things about summer coming: strawberries. Yes, STRAWBERRIES. Not the heat (I hate the heat). Not the beach parties (I don't like parties). And, definitely not the boring vacation days (because I don't have the genius brain of Phineas or Ferb). So yeah, strawberries, which is why I was simply beyond ecstatic when I found a tray of strawberries from Baguio in our fridge a few days ago.
I've always eaten them fresh (with cream!) or made jams, but at the time, I wanted to try something different, so I froze the strawberries and drizzled them with condensed milk for dessert. Of course, the outcome was delish. The sweetness and creaminess of the milk went so well with the acidity of the cold and crunchy strawberries. In other words, the outcome was magic.
I know this is a pretty shallow topic (forgive me, my brain is super sabaw with all the academic requirements I have to comply with. I'm just posting in here just so you know that I still do exist.), but there's always someone out there in the world who hasn't tried this treat, so allow me to share with you one of the many ways to make a simple frozen strawberries dessert.
Frozen Strawberries Drizzled With Condensed Milk
Fresh Strawberries
Chilled Condensed Milk
***
1. Rinse the strawberries and remove the stalks and leaves.
2. Slice the top of the strawberries and cut them into halves. This will make freezing them (and eating them later) easier.
3.Leave the strawberries in the fridge for 5-7 hours.
4. If the strawberries seem too hard to bite after a few hours in the fridge, thaw them a bit.
5. Drizzle some condensed milk over the strawberries.
