2017 Reading in Review...

Last year when it was time for everyone to figure out what kind of goals and resolutions they wanted to set for themselves, I chose to really focus on my reading. Amongst other things like getting healthy and setting aside more time for myself to chill and relax, I really wanted to read more. And I did!

In 2016 I read a total of 61 Books. My goal for this year was to either match that number, or surpass it. I am thrilled to announce that I totally beat that number!! I read a total of 127 books in 2017!!!! Ok, ok... but before we get too excited about that number, here's a little breakdown:

Novels- 20
Children's Books- 31
Manga- 89
Plays- 5

So, yeah, when you look at the actual count it doesn't seem like much, haha. I didn't do a breakdown of my 2016 reading list I really should, though, but I'm sure it's going to be similar. Now, you may think that it's easy to read a ton of books when they're solely for children, or have a lot of pictures, but even so, I read them. Most of the Children's Books I read were apart of the Magic Tree House Series but I also continued exploring my dear How To Train Your Dragon universe. As for the novels, I thoroughly enjoyed discovering new authors and new stories, as well as rediscovering the magic from some of my old favorites. I got to complete a number of series I had never heard of, in the novels &&& manga collections, and finally had the chance to read some that I've just never been able to pick up. Let's just say, my library card has become my best friend.

2017 Reading List:

Battle Royale by Houshun Takami
Madoka Magica 1-3
Magic Tree House Series 8- 27
MTH Series Companion Books 1-10
D. Gray-Man 3-25
"The Wayside Motor" Inn by A.R. Gurney
Insidious by Catherine Coulter
Rurouni Kenshin 1-2
Kiss Him, Not Me 1-5
A Silent Voice 1-3
A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
How to Speak Dragons by Cressida Cowell
Yu-Gi-Oh GX 1-5
Love*Com 1-3
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
Backstage Prince 1-2
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories)
Dragonball 1-3
Goosebumps Most Wanted: Planet of the Lawn Gnomes by R.L. Stine
Naruto: Shikamaru's Story
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
Neon Genesis Evangeleon 1-4
Kingdom Keepers II Disney at Dawn by Ridley Pearson
The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
Hotel Valhalla: Guide to the Norse Worlds by Rick Riordan
How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse by Cressida Cowell
"The Dining Room" by A.R. Gurney
Naruto: Kakashi's Story
"What I Did Last Summer" by A.R. Gurney
The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
Gengaku Picasso 1
The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan
Poke'mon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life
Poke'mon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan
Camp Half-Blood Confidential by Rick Riordan
Poke'mon XY Series 1 & 2
Poke'mon Adventures Black2 White 2. 1-4
Poke'mon Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire 1-3
Poke'mon Adventures Heart Gold & Soul Silver 1 & 2
Zelda Twilight Princess 1 & 2
Yo-Kai Watch 1 & 2
"Medea" by Euripides
K-On! 1-4
Fruit's Basket 1
Dengeki Daisy 1-4
Kuroko's Basketball 1-4
My Hero Academia 1- 13
The Story of Moana by Kari Sutherland
Gurren Lagann 1-3
"1984" by George Orwell

The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere
Kingdom Keepers III Disney in Shadow by Ridley Pearson

Started the year off strong with the classic, Battle Royale, which I LOVED & ended with one of my current favorite series, and hard to find, Kingdom Keepers. It was definitely a great year for Manga! haha. This year, though, I hope to read a lot more Plays and Novels to balance that out. And, of course, complete most of the series I began last year.
Here's to another year of solving mysteries and traveling through imaginary worlds!

Another Day Another Typical New Year's Post...

I ended up working for my birthday &&& New Year's this time around! Luckily, I'm not much of a partier, so getting to go home & relax to the sounds of Disney Fireworks made for a fantastic evening. <3 nbsp="" span="">

It's officially 2018 which means I have to make the obligatory New Year's Resolution Post..! 
First off, I've got to say that I'm pretty proud of all that I accomplished in 2017. Now, I'm not going to make some sappy post about the crap that happened because I believe in Good Vibes Only. I plan on working this year to leave the "Behind in my Past" and move on to a better year.

Allow me to do a refresher on my "2017 Goals":

"For 2017 I want to pamper myself- take care of myself- enjoy my time. 
I've made list of random purchases I plan to "splurge" on, since I never do that. My "Gift to Self" List.
And by taking care of myself,that also means getting my hair & nails & body taken care of regularly! (I even have a small collection of bath bombs that I am stoked to finally try out! *w*)
I may be starting this year out broke (what's new?), but at least I'm not in "Family Debt" anymore! I want to work a lot so I can have some actual spending money, but find that perfect balance between Work & Rest.From 2016 I plan to continue leaning towards Clean Eating Habits & Working Out.
Spend time out and about, hang out with my friends.
Explore Orlando/ Florida! Who knows how long I'll be here??
Continue to attend Auditions. Be confidant. Never Give Up!
Continue my Reading List that is ever-growing!!
Work on my Shows and watch more Movies.
Visit the parks and events, obviously!
And definitely work on my Languages! That is one thing I failed on this past year and would like to focus on this time around.
And, of course, continue to slowly work my Poke'mon: Princess Debut! I've let it go these past few months, but I thoroughly enjoy my time writing, so hopefully I'll be able to stick to it."

Now, here's what I had posted way back in 2016:

**
Read More!
Watch More Movies!
Catch up on Shows!!
Practice Japanese!
&&&& Spanish...!
Work on Poke'mon: Princess Debut!
Keep up with a Workout Routine!
Eat Healthy!
Get out of "Family Debt" (>v<)
Meet all the Disney & Universal Characters!
Actually GO SHOPPING!?
Hang out with Friends & Family/ Stop being a HERMIT!
**

....I'm seeing a bit of a pattern... I CAN SAY that in 2017 I did a much better job at keeping up with bill and family and friends! If my friends asked to hang out, I usually found a way to make it happen. I attended a few events at the parks, but still sucked at being a Hermit in general. Haha, I don't think that will ever change. A major success of mine was the amount of BOOKS I read this year, and the number of shows and series I completed or even just caught up on! I'm going into the New Year completely caught up on ALL my shows! As for my language skills and debt, well, it could be better. In actuality, I don't think I've ever been this much in debt before. But somehow, it'll all work itself out and I truly believe that. 

I started the year on a good foot, in terms of my health: Suzette & I will be participating in the Disney Full Marathon!! Keeping up with a genuine workout routine is something I still need to work on, but in the past year I've certainly succeeded in my goal of being healthy! Another major success of 2017 was pampering myself. Though I can definitely do better at giving myself some "Me Time," I'm off to a pretty good start. I've updated my fashion a bit and have slowly started breaking out of my social shell thanks to my new job within Entertainment. 2018 is going to be a most wondrous year, and I just know it. I'm leaving Florida -officially- and moving to Cali, I'm traveling to Europe, and I plan on finally starting the next chapter in my acting career. I know and fully understand that my "big break" won't come overnight, or anything, but I can't express how excited I am to just get the ball rolling. 

So! Here's to another amazing year! Bring it, 2018!! 

16 Going On 17...

It's another year & here I go making empty promises to myself...
The first promise?? That I'll blog more... lol We'll see..! 
I was looking back on last year's New Year's post and I do have to say that I'm pretty proud of myself! A lot of people are saying that 2016 was a terrible year all-around, but I don't know. A lot happened. From Elections to Tragedies to deaths, but personally, I had a pretty fantastic year! 
My List for 2016, and I have to say, I did a pretty good job...
**
Read More!
Watch More Movies!
Catch up on Shows!!
Practice Japanese!
&&&& Spanish...!
Work on Poke'mon: Princess Debut!
Keep up with a Workout Routine!
Eat Healthy!
Get out of "Family Debt" (>v<)
Meet all the Disney & Universal Characters!
Actually GO SHOPPING!?
Hang out with Friends & Family/ Stop being a HERMIT!
**
At the beginning of 2016, I wasn't sure how I would be taking care of myself in the months to come. I was having to ask my family for money because I didn't have a job. Come mid-February, however, and had 2 jobs! Soon I was back working with Disney and starting a new job at Universal Orlando! I've made so many fantastic friends and have somehow been able to keep up with those across the big pond. I started attending auditions! Sure, I'm a long way from being an actual entertainer, but at least I'm working on it! I've been pretty good at taking care of myself- for the most part... I've even gotten out of the house and have hung out with my friends! Yay for fighting my inner introvert! One of my dearest friends asked me to be a Bridesmaid in her wedding &&& my mother got engaged! But oddly enough what I'm most proud of: I read 61 books!! I don't think I've read that many books in a good while..! I made sure to work on my shows (I doubt I'll ever actually be caught up on ALL of them), and I made sure to watch more movies as well. With so much good happening in my life, I can't help but have hope for the New Year! 

One thing I did have to sacrifice in order to accomplish a lot of what I did last year was any time for myself. Instead of resting or taking care of myself, I was forcing myself to work everyday and save money for future expenses. It upsets me that although I'm constantly working, I'm always broke and never have money, or simply TIME, for myself. At the start of this New Year, that's going to be my main focus. 

For 2017 I want to pamper myself- take care of myself- enjoy my time. 
I've made list of random purchases I plan to "splurge" on, since I never do that. My "Gift to Self" List.
And by taking care of myself,that also means getting my hair & nails & body taken care of regularly! (I even have a small collection of bath bombs that I am stoked to finally try out! *w*)
I may be starting this year out broke (what's new?), but at least I'm not in "Family Debt" anymore! I want to work a lot so I can have some actual spending money, but find that perfect balance between Work & Rest.From 2016 I plan to continue leaning towards Clean Eating Habits & Working Out.
Spend time out and about, hang out with my friends.
Explore Orlando/ Florida! Who knows how long I'll be here??
Continue to attend Auditions. Be confidant. Never Give Up!
Continue my Reading List that is ever-growing!!
Work on my Shows and watch more Movies.
Visit the parks and events, obviously!
And definitely work on my Languages! That is one thing I failed on this past year and would like to focus on this time around.
And, of course, continue to slowly work my Poke'mon: Princess Debut! I've let it go these past few months, but I thoroughly enjoy my time writing, so hopefully I'll be able to stick to it.

There's certainly a lot happening in these next few months for me: moving to a new apartment, family visits, birthday... I have to be careful not to fall into what I know best: working all the time and never taking care of myself. I want this year to be different. I don't want to have to worry about how I'm going to pay for rent, worrying about hanging with my friends because I don't have the time or money. My absolute main focus this year will be to find that Happy Medium between Work and Rest. Last year I made a lot of progress in my "New Year's Resolutions," and I know this year I will as well.