2015 Mixtape, Part 1 of 3

When December rolled around, I started writing some of my recap posts for 2015 in a notebook because I’m pretty sure I would forget things, and I didn’t really want to struggle to remember them while writing the post. Then as I was writing them, I realized that if I follow the format of the previous years’ posts, I’m going to end up with really long posts that people probably would just glaze over. So I decided to break them up into several parts, which makes it also a way for me to pay for all those days I was too busy to post anything.

So first on the recap posts is the first part of the 2015 soundtrack! I’m trying to figure out a theme for each year’s soundtrack, and I think this year is the most…theme-less, I guess? 2012 was pretty sweet, 2013 hurts, and 2014 was all challenges. This year, most of these songs are just songs I happen to like listening to over and over again. Some of them may mean a bit something, but it wasn’t as…I dunno, heavy as 2013. Not less feelings, but maybe more detached? Could be I’m just getting older. :)

1. Fall Like Rain by Courtney Cole

[youtube 1yFkTobR5wQ]

My heart on my sleeve but now it’s stained red
It’s too late to hold back now
Gonna open up the clouds and let it fall like rain
Fall like rain

Only because the song shares a title with my book. :) This doesn’t relate much to Rain’s story, though, but I’m putting it here for 2015 anyway because Fall Like Rain was the only book I released this year (and I promise to catch up next year)!

2. Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita by Roselle Nava

[youtube wKiH0pi9rSI]

Dahil mahal mahal na mahal kita
Hindi ako matatakot, mahihiya
Anuman ang sabihin nila

Again, not because I can relate to this (good God, no), but because my friends and I attended a Juan Miguel Severo event last February and we played this game Bingo ng Tanga. This song was featured there, and we had a ton of laughs while playing the game (and guess who ended up being the most tanga for love in our little group?).

Power Rangers vs. Pag-Ibig: Hulaan sino ang pinaka-tanga XD #intersections

A photo posted by Tina Matanguihan (@storiestotell) on

3. Don’t Forget Where You Belong by One Direction

[youtube 4LXzCtPQVVA]

Don’t forget where you belong–home.
If you ever feel alone–don’t.
You were never on your own.
And the proof is in this song.

Possibly my most favorite song in their concert in Manila. I didn’t appreciate it until that night. And yeah, my friend and I watched the concert, but as I always told people – it was the second night, I didn’t even have to line up to get the tickets. We just decided to watch, I bought online and there we go. We got rained on, we were surrounded by youth(s), but we had a really great time singing along. And we totally understood why everyone was screaming for Harry. :P

4. Rather Be by Clean Bandit feat Jess Glynne

[youtube m-M1AtrxztU]

If you gave me a chance I would take it
It’s a shot in the dark but I’ll make it
Know with all of your heart, you can’t shake me
When I am with you, there’s no place I’d rather be

I’ve heard this song several times in the gym, I think, but of course I didn’t know the title until I decided to listen to Spotify’s Mood Booster playlist. What a fun, fun song to listen to! A real mood booster. :) Plus it reminds me of my other (more popular) character, Meah!

5. Break Free by Ariana Grande

[youtube L8eRzOYhLuw]

I only wanna die alive
Never by the hands of a broken heart

Okay, who would have thought that I’d actually like an Ariana Grande song. I didn’t even know anything from her until I found a jogging playlist in Spotify. This was so catchy, and also a bit right at a certain part of this year (Heh). I now selectively listen to Ariana Grande’s songs, especially when I exercise, because they’re pretty good workout music.

* * *

Next five songs in the next post tomorrow (maybe)! :)

All These Things (8): Space for what matters

Before anything else: help me out for one of my final projects for school? If you’re a romance reader anywhere in the world, may I borrow ten minutes of your time to answer this reader survey? This is to profile our target market so I can create a marketing plan for indie romance books by Filipino authors. Survey is open until Wednesday, so please answer and share! Thank you! ♥

I was planning my week last night before going to bed and while I was doing so, I started freaking out because why are there so many things to do? I feel like I’m running out of time, which, of course, is all in my head. But I can’t help it sometimes, especially when I realize that it’s almost past half October, and soon it’s November, and the last two months of the year is usually my busiest.

And the lola in me just wants to get enough sleep.

I’m not complaining, because there’s nothing to complain about. I do know that I may be too busy sometimes. My friends at work tell me this all the time, and lately, I agree. And lately, I’ve been thinking of the things and activities that I could maybe let go of, even temporarily, to make room for other things that I need to prioritize. Like writing, school, SFC, exercise, and sleep (most important!).

I guess I’m coming to a point where I realize that I don’t need to do everything. Years ago, I kept on saying “Yes” to so many things because they’re fun and I want to try new things…but maybe now, it’s time to start saying No. Because I only have so much time, and I need to make space for the things that matter.

Reading

The Mermaid From Siquijor by  Justine Tajonera, from the #StrangeLit Fateful Turns bundle. With all the things I need to do, I barely have the time to read, and when I do read, I want it to be as stress-free as possible. Meaning short stories, or stories that don’t make me think too much (but feels are okay!). I hang out with my Kindle and my Buqo app a lot, because paper reading makes me fall asleep too fast and I just feel guilty with the book.

That said, the #StrangeLit bundles are really fun, and I’m only about 1/5 through the stories (there are 41!). Reading these makes me wish I could write fantasy, but I think I’m really more of a reader of the genre. But who knows, maybe later.

Go get them if you haven’t – they’re Php 90 each on Buqo, with 10-11 stories in each bundle!

Writing

Sill that novel, and also some articles for work. :D I have to put that novel on hold for a bit because of school, but when I’m on break, I write some. It’s an uphill climb, but that’s good for the heart, right?

Listening

Jon McLaughlin’s new album, Like Us. Liking it so far. :)

Thinking

Of what to do after this. Do I design, or do I edit?

Smelling

Nothing as of the moment, but I bought a new air purifier scent from Mia Maison last week, called Rain. (I may have bought it because of the association with my book. :D) It smells so nice and clean. :)

Wishing

That I be satisfied with the productivity I have every day, when I know I have exerted effort. (Because there are times when I know I haven’t, and that just feels right to feel bad about that. But I mustn’t let that get to me.)

So now my wish is that I would focus, give my all, then let go at the end of the day.

Wearing

Purple and black dress, black cardigan. It’s Monday, and it’s always dressier during Mondays.

Loving

Studying! It’s not easy to juggle schoolwork and work, and it’s totally not easy heading to Makati for the whole day on Saturdays, but I like being in class. Learning is fun, and meeting new people is also very fun. We had our last class for Digital Marketing Analytics 102, and we still have a long way to go with our marketing plans. But look at us, so happy in our last class picture!

We have a final defense on October 24 to get us our Specialist titles, so wish us luck. :)

Wanting

A pair of hands to help me out at work would be nice. What did the Gospel last week say? Ask and you shall receive? There. Lord, please give me someone to help out with all of this soon.

Also wanting to iron out the schedule this week – including the non-work event tomorrow at Makati, and the dentist appointment on Friday. Not looking forward to the dentist thing on Friday, but alas, it is needed.

Needing

A good workout. And not to be lazy so I can get that workout.

Also to pass the defense on the 24th.

And yes, sleep. But that’s a given.

Feeling

Slightly bit hassled because of the adulting things I need to do. Haha, but well, we cannot avoid being adults, and stuff. Remind me to call my dentist later.

I also feel like I need to hustle now. So, hustling. Don’t let the Monday blues beat you, folks!

Image credit: Time’s Up by Ana Fuentes