61 Books of 2016...

As I mentioned previously, I am very proud of the number of books I managed to read last year. 61 Books! I love to read all sorts of genres, although I have my favorites and certainly a preferred type, I've learned. Of course, I love my series like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, and I'm very happy that I was finally able to start re-reading the Magic Tree House Series, even if it is for children. I was able to get my hands on several Sherlock Holmes stories, picked up new series and authors I hadn't heard of before, and I started reading new and old Manga series, as well as picking up a few lesser known plays in order to feed my Theatre brain. I've learned that I'm not a fan of Romance novels, I got bored every time I walked through the section, and (surprise, surprise) I love Murder Mystery Thrillers..!
Although I can just post a list of all the books I read last year, as I started at the beginning of last year, I'd really like to post about each of them separately (the series, at least), and if they have a movie counterpart, how do they compare?? It may take awhile, especially with all of my current reading list, but I'd love to get it done!

2016 Reading List:

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
Stuart Little by E.B. White
When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket
The Adventures and Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends by Shannon Hale
Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne
The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson
The Knight at Dawn by Mary Pope Osborne
Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
PJO: The Demigod Files by Rick Riordan
Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osbourne
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
Pirates Past Noon by Mary Pope Osbourne
EAH: The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
Ghoulfriends Forever by Gitty Daneskvari
Night of the Ninjas by Mary Pope Osbourne
Afternoon on the Amazon by Mary Pope Osbourne
Ever After High: A Wonderlandiful World by Shannon Hale
Flawless by Sara Shepard
Shouldn't You Be In School? by Lemony Snicket
EAH: Once Upon a Time by Shannon Hale
Fooly Cooly 1-3 by Yoji Enokido
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
Ace Attorney: Miles Edgeworth 1-4 by Kenji Kuroda
Gilgamesh translated by Stephen Mitchell
Attack on Titan: No Regrets 1-2 by Gun Snark
Why Is This Night Different from All Other Nights? by Lemony Snicket
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Big Hero 6 Manga 1-2 by Haruki Ueno
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Sunset of the Sabertooth by Mary Pope Osbourne
The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Children by A.R. Gurney
Is It Wrong to try to Pick Up Girls in A Dungeon 1-3 by Fujino Omori
Richard Cory by A.R. Gurney
The Middle Ages by A.R. Gurney
Idol Dreams 1-2 by Arina Tanemura
D. Gray-Man 1-2 by Katsura Hoshino
How to Be a Pirate by Cressida Cowell

#ThrowbackThursday

I've made a few posts in the past with the #TBT tag, and I'm really wanting to bring that initiative back. I'm hoping that by posting at least every Thursday, perhaps I'll actually keep up with my blogging. There's also, obviously, a lot that has happened in the past year that I would love to talk about, so #tbt is quite appropriate. Just as I try to post every Wednesday for #WaltWednesday on my other Social Media, I really hope this time it sticks!

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.