what April wants

Love Month Giveaway

2012-02-02T01:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, February!

Everyone seems to be excited for your arrival. Of course, we know that you are the reason why roses are marked so high; why teddy bears are sold out; why fancy restaurants are full; why chocolates filled up every lady's fridge.

You, my dear February, is the reason for me to be extra beautiful. Will you stay by my lucky side this whole love month as I joined this fabulous Giveaway by So Gelleesh?

I, if am lucky enough, would be able to win and pamper myself from head to foot with these amazing beauty products:

This lovely giveaway includes products from Pond's, ELF, Ever Bilena, San-San, Penshoppe, Allure, Shawill, Island Basics, L'Oreal, Cutex, and Watson's.

Now, wouldn't it be amazing if I would have a wonderful time this love month with you, February?

Day 02

2012-01-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

Day 2 of 30-Day Challenges

Here are some photos of me with someone I have been closest with the longest:

Meet Alexis.

We have known each other way back in kindergarten, which has been more than 15 years now. We've been close during our grade school. I really can't say if it was during our first or second grade. I do remember we would often be on top of our game during one of the classes - trying to outshine each other, vying for the teacher's attention.

We have a weird love-hate relationship. He makes fun of me, and I hate it. He ignores me, and I hate it more. But, I love him dearly.

We never ever had a fight. I can't recall a time that we ever had an argument. If we did had one, I'm guessing he won. Because I love him and let him get away with it.

We are twins, though not biologically. We don't share the same birthday, we don't have the same personality, we don't even look alike. But, I love him like a brother.

We are polar opposites, yet still share the same interests in life. Maybe that's why I love him and our friendship has stayed for as long as we shall be.

***

Choosing the least favorite song is a very hard thing to do. There are songs that I definitely wouldn't want to hear for the rest of my life. There are some, however, that are bearable to my ears, but still makes me cringe when I hear them.

Personally, I have nothing against singers covering another artist's music. If one cannot make the music sound better, then don't bother doing a cover at all.

For instance, I do admire Charice's talent. In fact, I envy her singing ability. But, what I don't appreciate is her doing covers of some of the greatest love songs. Hearing her hitting the high notes make me want to cover my ears, not because she is having difficulty in getting it right, but because she is doing it over the top. In our country, people idolize almost anyone who can hit the highest note, in which singers tend to screech all throughout the song just to receive some admiration. Screaming one's lungs out to a Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey song sometimes makes the listeners want to pull the mic away. Maybe the keyword here is originality, and that is what Charice still lacks.

Here is a song that I used to love, but lost my love for it because of the cover version.

i do not own the video above.

Hello Again

2012-01-14T07:49:00.000-08:00

now, i have decided to re-launch this blogsite...

after a day of re-organizing and editing old blog posts, and tinkering with the template and layout, i can finally present to you What April Wants!

notice that i opted for the minimalist look. i always believe that less is indeed more. and the color scheme is the actual reflection of my current mood. although, i do think that this site, in terms of looks, will be in constant beta stage. but, as always, i will keep everything simple.

to know more about the writer, just head over to my previous entry. and as mentioned before, let us be friends, and you can visit me in my other social pages, including twitter, facebook, google+, networked blogs and tumblr. all links to these different media can be found on the sidebar.

Under Construction

2012-01-13T06:50:00.000-08:00

Pardon the mess. I am on the way to resurrect this website.

The previous year, I have created a similar website on a different web host. However, the web host does not support a few settings that I prefer for my own site. This explains my return to Blogger. I have imported some of the posts from the old one. Thus, my posts seem disorganized.

Give me a day or two, and I will be back on track.

Ciao!

Day 01

2012-01-07T01:34:00.000-08:00

Day 1 of 30-Day Challenges

Finally, I have decided to start the Photo and Music Challenges.

Today, I would be talking all about myself, and you would be able to get to know more about yours truly.

Ten facts about aester:

1. I am Filipino-Chinese, hailing from the south-western part of the Philippines. I obviously come from two conservative races.

Tradition has been running my life for the past decades. Currently, I am trying to break away from the moulding left by the ultra-conservative family that was left for me to fill in. Don't be mistaken, I am grateful for the teachings and values that were instilled by my family and elders. However, I do believe that change is needed for to grow and to shape myself into a better me.

2. Photography is my passion. I capture and paint the light. I try to make an art out of it.

3. I am a living frustration. Singing and dancing are two talents that were never given to me. I am also inefficient in the kitchen. The best that I can come up with from the depths kitchen is a plate of instant noodles.

4. I come from the South. Went to the country's capital city. Survived five years of university education, plus part-time work. Came back to the South for a year of soul-searching. Went to a foreign country to know more about my roots and its culture. Came home again, and have been staying here in my hometown for the last two years.

Right now, I am challenging myself to go the distance and look for a career suitable for my passion. I am hoping to go back to the Metro Jungle before the year, or the world, ends.

5. I am certified TV junkie. Ironically, I watch television shows on the Internet. Most of the shows that I watch are US crime dramas, slapstick comedies, cute cartoons, and reality talent searches. I also spend quite some time watching daytime talk shows. In addition to my television watchlist are docu-dramas from different news and educational programs.

6. I sometimes isolate mentally away from my own self. It is a way for me to take a step back, and observe and assess what I have done so far to myself and to others.

7. During my down period, I would indulge in my sweet cravings of chocolate cupcakes and doughnuts. Sometimes, to balance out the sweetness in myself, I would go on a salty-food binge. I know I have an unhealthy eating pattern. I do try to stay healthy as much as possible. However, when emotions, and hormones, kick in, I have no choice but to satisfy my gastronomical wants.

8. I have a soft spot for kids. I love cuddly babies. I dream of having one of my own - biological or adopted. Although, I am not ready for motherhood, yet. But I do dream of that day to come.

9. aester in numbers:

24 - current age

36 - followers on Twitter

8 - languages spoken

4 - number of siblings

3 - countries that I have been to

597 - friends on Facebook

12 - age when I discovered my passion for writing

1 - camera that I have my own, which is a Canon 450D

2 - items ticked off my Bucket List

7.5 - size of my foot

10. I am a Potter-head. 'Nuff said.

For my favorite song, I would like to share with you this sweet song by Bic Runga. It talks about falling in love and wanting to be with that person for the rest of your life, asking him to stay with you til the end of time. Here is Sway:

Fairly New and Need Help

2012-01-06T00:12:00.000-08:00

i realized that all this time, i have not introduced myself to my readers (if there is any) yet. pardon me, but i have been so hyped about blogging my insights that i never had a chance to tell you about myself.

i go by the name aester. i actually chose that name because my complete name is so generic and sounds so boring. thus i came up with aester, which by the way, sounds like my favorite flower, aster.

currently, i am employed to a private company, which falls under the beauty and wellness industry.

i love to tell stories, fiction and nonfiction. thus, i ventured into blogging. most of my posts were personal and private back then. i have tried different blogging platforms before, however, the passion just wavered away from time to time due to various reasons.

now, with the luxury of time in my hand, i would try to be as active in the blogosphere as much as i can.

i have two blogs as of this moment: Piece of April (on wordpress) talks about my journey to a better me. it is filled with insights, dreams and emotions. What April Wants, on the other hand, is about my life's rants, raves and reviews.

in this site, i would be discussing my opinions and insights regarding a certain product, person, idea, place, and things. i would also be sharing with you my reviews on different kinds of artworks found all around us, such as film, literature, music and food.

since i am fairly new to this community, i would like to ask for the help of my fellow writers and bloggers in building my blogroll. let's connect and be friends!

you may drop your links into my comment box below. and you may follow me in the different blogging communities (facebook fan page, networked blogs) found on your right. you may, as well, add me on facebook, twitter, google+, tumblr and flickr. my e-mail address is: aprilmae.ester@gmail.com.

thank you in advance, everyone! cheers!

30-Day Challenges

2012-01-02T06:41:00.000-08:00

For the next 30 days, I will be doing two blog challenges simultaneously. Through these challenges, you would get a better glimpse of my world and my loves.

Wish me luck!

Photo Challenge

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts
Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show
Day 04 - A picture of your night(something you did that night)
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory
Day 06 - A picture of a person you’d love to trade places with for a day
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most fucked up things with
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate
Day 12 - A picture of something you love
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you
Day 17 - A picture of someone that has made a huge impact on your life recently
Day 18 - A picture of something you love to do.
Day 19 - A picture of your favorite Disney character.
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you’d love to travel
Day 21 - A picture of something you’re excited about
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change
Day 25 - A picture of your day
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Day 28 - A picture of something you’re afraid of
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

Music Challenge

day 01 - your favorite song
day 02 - your least favorite song
day 03 - a song that makes you happy
day 04 - a song that makes you sad
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 - a song that reminds you of somewhere
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to
day 09 - a song that you can dance to
day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep
day 11 - a song from your favorite band
day 12 - a song from a band you hate
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 - a song that no one would expect you to love
day 15 - a song that describes you
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio
day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio
day 19 - a song from your favorite album
day 20 - a song that you listen to when you’re angry
day 21 - a song that you listen to when you’re happy
day 22 - a song that you listen to when you’re sad
day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral
day 25 - a song that makes you laugh
day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument
day 27 - a song that you wish you could play
day 28 - a song that makes you feel guilty
day 29 - a song from your childhood
day 30 - your favorite song at this time last year

Glen Allison

2012-01-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

Two nights ago, I became acquainted with the works of an artist named Glen Allison via Twitter. As I was browsing through his photo galleries, I was totally blown away by the magnificent imagery!

He is described as a "vagabond travel photographer and visual artist." He has been travelling for the past decade or two, capturing the best of what the world has to offer. Aside from being photographer, Mr. Allison is also a writer. He has published several books, as well. Additionally, he has been holding photography workshops around the world.

I am so amazed with his body of work, I couldn't pick out which is my ultimate favorite!

If you wish to know more about Glen Allison, just head over to his website.

Here is a peek of what he has to offer:

Credits: Glen Allison

Rio

2011-07-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

Film: Rio
Year Released: 2011
Director: Carlos Saldanha

Visiting Brazil is in my Bucket List. That is why I took up Portuguese as part of the Foreign Language requirement back in college. Everyone else enrolled in French and Spanish classes.

If I were given the chance to go to Brazil, I wouldn’t care much about shopping for Havainas or Ipanema flip-flops, I would rather spend my time wandering around the rain forest, watching people do the samba during the Carnival, and seeing the Christ the Redemeer up-close. If only.

But God is indeed great! He gave me a chance to get a glimpse of Brazil thru the movie Rio. It became my introductory class to this lovely country.

The film opened with Blu, a nestling macaw from the rain forest of Brazil. An unfortunate twist of event brought him to a small town Minnesota, where he was found by the caring human Linda. Blu lived like a human for the past 15 years. He brushed his teeth, drank hot cocoa, and read books. But things didn’t end there. He was brought back to Brazil where he met the independent Jewel. Together, they set off on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro. This was where their story began.

Running around the forest (because Blu can’t fly) while chained together, the two lovebirds met Rafael. Being the local resident, Rafael led them in the search of Luiz, the bulldog who can help them get unchained. Along their way to find Luiz, the trio met the musicians – Nico and Pedro, whose soothing songs made Blu and Jewel fall in love.

The movie is all about the culture of Brazil – the music, the dance, the sun, the game, the parade. Rafael was singing The Girl from Ipanema to his wife when he first met Blu and Jewel. The whole city was glued to their TV screen during a football match. The streets were full of people, and birds, doing the samba. It was a paradise!

Everything was as colorful as the umbrellas parked on the beach.
One of my favorite scene was the panning shot of the Christ the
Redeemer statue. Even in its animated form, the statue was breathtaking.

Not being a fan of zoology nor ornithology, I had a difficulty though in identifying the which kind of bird each character was. I didn’t even know what kind of monkeys does Rio have. I assume that most of these animals, except for the bulldog, are found in Brazil. I just find them all adorable just like all other talking animals are.

The characterization of this film reminds me of the old Disney film, The Lion King. Although I find Blu way more fun than Simba. He’s also smarter, book-wise, than the lion. Blu and Simba shared the same conflict of accepting their fate. Simba was insecure in leading his pride. He was afraid that the rest of the lions would not accept him as their king. Blu couldn’t accept the fact that he is, well, a bird. A flying bird. What helped them accept their true calling were in fact their female leads – Nala for Simba, and Jewel for Blu. Both ladies are not the usual damsels in distress. They actually fought back and hard against their nemesis while making their male counterparts fall for them at the same time.

The other characters in Rio share the same personality of the characters in The Lion King. Rafael, for instance, played the wise thinker like Rafiki the baboon. Nico and Pedro reminded me of Timon and Pumbaa, who shared comic relief and music. Even the group of little monkeys reminded me of the pack of hyenas.

Watching the film was truly an enjoyable ride. It made me more determined to save more than enough to visit Rio in real life.

Every hair has a story

2011-07-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

I am obsessed about my hair lately. I have been searching for the perfect celebrity hair that would totally suit my face and my lifestyle. I'm not into styling my hair very often. On a busy day, I would simply tie it into a tight ponytail, not wanting a strand to hit my face. However, during those days when I feel pretty, I would have it curled with an iron, having big waves to twirl my fingers around with.

During most of my child- and teen-hood, I had the typical Asian hair - black, straight, below-the-chin cut. It was only when I entered university when I had my hair layered, and straightened, as well.

It was during the height of Paris Hilton's popularity when I knew about Nicole Richie. Of course, I have heard of her name before as the daughter of a famous singer. I admit I occasionally watched The Simple Life on TV. It was in this reality show when Nicole Richie's hair caught my eye. It was a simple bob with bangs.

She looked effortlessly chic in that do. And I easily fell in love with those bangs. She even rocked that side-swept bangs in her mugshot.

I immediately went to the salon to have my hair cut. After minutes of explaining what I wanted to do with my hair, the stylist told me he understood what I wanted and to leave everything to his hands. My biggest mistake was not bringing a photo of the hair style that I wanted. So I ended up looking like this...

It wasn't really that bad, except that's not what I wanted. The cut actually emphasized my Oriental look, but I had a hard time dealing with the full bangs.

After graduation, I decided to have my hair colored. Ashlee Simpson was then at the peak of her career - having an album, getting married, and building a family. But it was her hair that I was drawn to. Her red hair to be exact. I was lucky enough to be chosen as a hair model for a well-known hair coloring company. I chose to have my hair dyed red then. It was, however, not possible to turn my jet-black hair into ginger locks without damaging my hair. So I had the toned-down version of Ashlee Simpson's hair color.

It did not stop with hair color. I decided to have her rocker-chic hair cut as well.

With the Ashlee Simpson hair color and the Ashlee Simpson hair cut, I could say it was the perfect hair style for me. It was manageable, and at the same time versatile. It was the first time I truly appreciated my hair.

It was not a happy ending, anyway. Three months into loving my hair, I had it straightened. I had no idea that the straightening product would have a damaging effect on my hair. In the end, my hair started to break away, leaving split ends. I had no choice but to chop the locks off. I was debating with myself to have the pixie cut or not. Of course, Ashlee Simpson totally rocked the latest Hollywood hair craze.

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Deep inside, I know I could handle short short cut. But I would also like to feel my hair every day, having each strand, no matter how dry and brittle it is, to run through my fingers. So, I asked for the generic, above-the-shoulder, layered cut. No celebrity inspired me to have this cut. I just wanted to save my hair.

It has been almost a year now since I had my hair cut. I decided to let it grow for now. I still maintain my bangs - full or side-swept; I changed it up every few months. I had it colored again. This time, though, I opted for the copper blond look, which, according to a trusted hair dresser, is more suitable to my Asian skin tone. I now bathe my hair in intensive conditioner weekly to keep it from getting dry and damaged.

Right now, I am envying Leighton Meester's hair. I noticed that she, like me, has thick hair. But, she looks glamorous in any hair style she dons. She has the perfect cut, perfect color, and perfect volume.

So everyone should watch out, for someday, I would be sporting the same hair do as Leighton Meester's.

Photos not mine.

Flora Series: Heartbeat

2009-07-08T06:53:00.000-07:00

Heartbeat
2009.06.07

Flora Series: Fiery

2009-07-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

Fiery
2009.06.07

The Guide

2009-05-31T06:26:00.000-07:00

The Guide

2009.04.19

Sound Box: The Sun Ain't Shining No More

2009-05-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons.
You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body.

~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Music indeed cleanses our soul. My taste in music ranges from contemporary pop to old school rock and roll to proudly Pinoy hits to futuristic electropop sounds to serene piano ballads. I may not have the ears to rightfully judge how good or bad a certain music sounds. However, through this Sound Box series, I shall share some goods found in my collection.

Today's feature will be The Asteroids Galaxy Tour's The Sun Ain't Shining No More. I love the upbeat tempo and the quirky voice of the lead vocalist. This song was played during the Winter Ball scene in Gossip Girl Season 2.

PS: It takes a long while to load the song.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Urban Dictionary

2009-05-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

Went blog-hopping and found this cool entry by my friend, Ailish. So, I decided to have my own version of her post.

Go to urbandictionary.com and write the answer to each question in the "look up" box and paste the DEFINITION on a copied version of this note.

1. Your name?

APRIL
A female of wise words. Often regarded as a "panda" person. These types of females are very energetic and friendly, and when you see these types of girls down, you feel down too.

2. Your age?

22
1) A .22 caliber handgun
2) Any rim that measures 22 inches in size
3) Underage kid's favorite age for their fake ID

3. What should you be doing?

SLEEP
Kinda like a drug but you're hooked at birth. As you grow older and worked f*%#ed up hours and invest in a life, you go through withdrawAl.

Withdrawal Symptoms:
Heavy eye lids, tired muscles, confusion, boredom, being on the computer at 3:00am (after work), watching reruns of the 10:00pm news.

Treatment:
Well. there are three ways we can go with this;
1. Kicking the habit: Continue with withdrawl. soon enough you'll replace your blood with bawls, jolt, or coffie. You may go crazy, but you'll have more time on your hands.
2. Overdose: Keep your funny hours at work. When you get home from work on Friday, just crash on your bed and sleep right through the weekend.
3. Work around it: Ask for different hours at work. When your boss laughs in your face, reffer to methods 1 and 2.

Side affects of taking Sleep include:
Refreshed feeling, more energy, better attitude towards life, better performance in the workplace, addiction.

4. Favorite color?

BLUE
The hue of the portion of the visible spectrum lying between green and indigo, evoked in a human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 420 to 490 nanometers.

5. Hometown?

ZAMBOANGA
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6. Month of your birthday?

APRIL
The month where the sexiest bitches are born.

7. Last person you talked to?

SALLY
Another term for wuss/wimp/acting like a little girl.

8. Where are you right now?

BED
A mattress on a stand or on the floor (lol) that has a blanket and pillows on it and u got to sleep on it coz sleep is so good.

9. Your nickname?

PHENG
A great thing.

Nemo meets his Match

2009.05.15

One of the reasons why I like this photo is that my brother Nico's photo looks as if it has been superimposed on the photo of the fish in the aquarium.

She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

2009-05-20T07:22:00.000-07:00

I admit I never liked my name. I cringe each time someone calls me Aprilmae, or worse Aprilmae Ester. This embarrassing situation usually happens in class; and is usually followed by a more embarrassing and annoying questions like "Were you born on April or May?" I try to keep myself from rolling my eyes and let out a loud "DUH?!"

Why wasn't I given a more sophisticated name like Sofia? I always like that name. Or something of royalty like Isabella. Or an exotic one like Saleisha. Or my parents could have tweaked my name a little and make it Avril. My list of "I Wish It Were My Name" would go on forever.

One night I was surfing the Net ,and found the meaning of the name April. Its origin is Latin, and meaning is "opening."

I also stumbled upon this very interesting site, in which parents could get ideas in naming their newborn babies. I found some information gathered fromt the web site's name survey where people with name April were asked if they like their name. 864 people answered the survey and the feedback follows:

Data were gathered at http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com

Those who were bullied are the ones who, like me, were asked stupid questions like "Were you born in April?" and being called "Ape" (short for April) at one point.

So I'm not alone. Somehow other girls named April do appreciate the name. I gotta learn how to love my own name. Hey, one even commented how she likes how her name sounds... it's "melodic and sweet."

PS - I also found out that Mae is English for "Flower," while Ester is derived from the Persian language that means "Star." Lastly, Pheng is Chinese for "Duckweed."

Scruffy Little Dog
2009.05.06

First Love

2009-05-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm back to my first love - WRITING. It's not that I'm the best writer in town. I don't write the way Emily Bronte or JK Rowling do. My English grammar is not perfect. I don't have a wide range of English vocabulary (nor in other languages). I simply enjoy writing. Period.

Flashback:

Before I discovered the beauty of photographs; before I enjoyed cutting, gluing and coloring pictures on a scrapbook; before I got hooked on cable TV and watched Hollywood films non-stop, I was writing. I write down silly thoughts - three to four sentences max - on a piece of paper. And then, I'll throw it in the trash bin.

My enthusiasm in writing was first noticed by Mrs. Tan, my English teacher back in Grade Six. She assigned the class to write a poem for our mothers. Guess what? She liked it! Although I don't think I've written something spectacular (my rhyming sucks big time), but hey, I got noticed.

She was the one who urged me to join writing competitions. I don't win all the time. But going beyond the school grounds to represent our "beloved" Chong Hua was an achievement for my li'l old self.

Enter High School: D' Plum, the school paper, became the training ground to hone my so-called writing skills. Being a part of a league of highly-gifted students was overwhelming. (Hey, being in a first-name basis with THE Shan Abdulwahid, Anthony Montuno, and Jo Te was I also met Ma'am Aileen, whom I now considered as a mentor and hero.

I can say that my writing did improve. Classmates and friends would casually consult with me during essay questions (not during exams, that is). I wrote scripts and speeches and letters. I could see my future this time.

But that was it. It ended there.

College was a different story. Being in a university surrounded by all the valedictorians and top students in the country could sometimes tarnish one's self-esteem. Being proficient in written skills was only a fraction that the school needed. Students there were really vocal about what they think. So, I decided to beat them through writing. But the more I pressured myself, the more I lose it. I noticed that I only perform better in creative writing. I began to doubt myself. Maybe academic writing is not for me.

End of flashback.

For the past six months, I immersed myself into books and TV series. So much ideas form inside my head. I felt that I need an outlet for these thoughts and feelings. That's when I turn to writing again.

The big problem is my creative juices only flow when I am bored in mid-afternoon. That's the time when laptop and Internet are out of my reach. So, I decided to do a JK Rowling and write down whatever I think or feel on a piece of paper which I'll later transfer to my laptop.

Another problem is when I start writing, I don't know when to stop. So I'll end my entry here. ;p

pHenG and Angelica

2009.04.19