Looks like I've been pretty MIA here for awhile now. Please forgive me, it's just that school plans have been coming into fruition earlier than I thought they would. 

Not too long after my last entry on the Enchanted Fairytale Bash, I began my research on colleges around the Las Vegas area and limited my choices down to the 2-year colleges where I'd jumpstart my career with an associates degree so that by the time I'll have transferred to a University, there'll already be an incoming flow of money to support higher tuition cost. Cutting things to the chase, school began on January 30th for me at the College of Southern Nevada - and not like fall as planned. Since then, there was suddenly more to life than facebook xDD and along the way, I've also discovered a passion for green living and recycling. 

I promise to stay in touch with everything and everyone on xanga now that things have started to settle down. In the mean time, could you all please do me a favor and check out a recycling video I made for a scholarship entry to Castle Ink Paperless on recycling awareness :) The deadline's going to be in a couple of days and I'll see you all back here soon! 

P.S. For those of you who kept track of my 500 day countdown, it didn't happen and I couldn't be anymore thankful because that experience made me grow as a person and helped me discover what defined me :) Now I'm as happy as ever! 

As if another world existed behind those doors, the moment people were led into my auntie's 40th Enchanted Fairytale Birthday Bash, they'd be amazed by the forest leaves and vinyards (made of cloth and paper) hanging from every corner. It was like a trip to Narnia minus the snow XDD 

My auntie held a white angel themed birthday last year to celebrate her 39th and since everyone was anticipating for an even bigger event, she decided to up it for her big 40. Lucky for most, the birthday party was held on November 5th which meant everything halloween was on clearance...but for some of us, prices were still too steep especially costumes sold at halloween stores that are open all year round. They don't give discounts. With time running out, my mom and I had to figure out a way to get our costumes or else we'd have to pay a penalty fee upon entry to the party if we didn't have any. (They were gonna use the penalty money to give to the winner of the costume contest that night) 

And with me being an environment conservation geek, I resorted to shopping at the thrift store...

...and came up with a look that cost less than $20. Of course the dress had to be modified with ribbons and I reused my 3-tiered necklace as a headpiece. Voila. 

Lady Arwen of Rivendell from Lord Of The Rings :) 

I trimmed a sky blue silk dress and put together a hand-sewn hooded cape for my mom - the fairy godmother from cinderella :) Papa stuck with the ol' cowboy get-up XDD 

They had a pole dancing section, beside it a live band, a dj upstairs and 2 bars serving cocktails shots for the 21+...I guess you could call it a halloween night for the adults. Thank God for being legal now! 

The Dark Fairy and her Monk XD

Greek Goddess and Rogue

Sooooo many fairies and pixie dust!

It was a fun-filled night. Now back to our dull routine realities XDDD 

Adventure Dome by day, Fright Dome by night. 

Circus Circus Hotel's indoor theme park transitions from pink to black, happy clowns turn to chainsaw chasing zombies, rides turn from fearful to frightful...and the children's section turns to a fright zone with strobe lights that blink from total darkness to blinding light. It was my first ever halloween experience inside a theme park (this was 3 days ago), and for it to be voted one of the country's top 5 scariest attractions in the Nation, I'm even surprised we survived the night without completely losing our voices. 

First stop was Hillbilly hellhouse where we went in 2s and 3s. The boys were brave enough to go in first (and leave us behind) so we girls had to link arms in order not to lose each other. The whole time we were on our tippytoes, screaming. A couple of times, I heard my own voice on top of the loud music and sound effects: 'is there a way to go back?!? is there a chicken exit somewhere?!?' but my friend was too scared to listen/too caught up screaming as well and my other friend was having too much fun laughing at the 2 of us XDD

We spent most of our remaining time on the rides. Since pretty much everyone was lining up for the haunted houses, waiting time was less than 5 minutes for each ride! It was like being on fast pass! But before reaching certain rides, we had to go through a number of fright zones. These actors all made-up in scary ghoulish costumes would prance at you (luckily they aren't allowed to touch you) from nowhere, some holding a chainsaw...and if they saw how scared you were, they chased you down...and boy were they fast XDD

It couldn't have been a more exhilerating experience...for anyone out there who's willing to have some fun on halloween, this should be the perfect stop :) There's still so much more to write about but I guess I'm going to hit the hay early tonight. 

When I was 6, I'd walk up to my parents with these little toy stethoscopes and play check-ups. 'I'm gonna be a doctor one day! I want to save lives!' I'd say. 

When I was 12, I had a knack for the sciences. Worked extra hard in grade school to save myself a seat in a well-reputed high school 'Well, maybe a general doctor,' I'd chuckle. 'I can't stand blood and syringes so becoming a surgeon's not an option'

When I was 14, I got into the highschool of my choice. Over the semesters, competition was becoming so fierce. Seemed like everyone was great. Then somewhere in there, I started to overestimate my intellect 'If I did well in grade school, then I'm capable of handling this without having to put in as much work' It was hard enough keeping up with math, and physics was hammering me down. At the same time, my friends and I joined talent quests and did well in them. 'What if I follow my parents' path and try a career in the entertainment industry (My parents are musicians)?,' I thought with utmost ignorance. 'It's way more fun and I'll get to meet a lot of people.' The light at the end of the tunnel began to fade. My focus shifted and that burning desire to excel in the sciences went poof. I wanted to become a TV star. 

When I was 16, I transitioned to taking the arts. I had a knack for languistics. French, Filipino, Cantonese, Japanese etc. came into the picture. I was so excited to explore the outside world. Even got myself into my school's drama production, played Psyche's confidant, Calypso at 15 and planned on working my way to theatre or television. People encouraged me to 'Go for your dreams!'. Little did I know, I was going the wrong direction. 

When I was 18, I arrived in the states, still all giddy about getting into telly. 'Join American Idol!','try that local theatre','there are some good modelling, acting agents you should go for', people would say. However, some would counter that with 'Where are you getting with that career?', 'it's not stable','why not pick something more secure?' I joined singing competitions, received compliments. I actually thought I could succeed in the entertainment industry. Then I started to see my limitations, the harsh reality of an entertainer, the competition and the level of consistency needed. I began to doubt this route. 

When I was 19, I was lost. 'What am I doing with my life?', I'd ask myself. How did it get to this? That dream of getting into hollywood felt unrealistic and immature. I wound up with jobs I never thought I would be doing. Such included setting up an online store, helping take care of a boutique etc.

Today, at 21, I've been doing office/paper work for an aunt who's a nurse, for 8 months consecutively. She'd come over to the house and mentor me about certain disease types, skills, medication and how the body works. Never in my life have I felt more enlightened. I've thrown the prospect of hollywood in the trash (of course) and am picking back up on where I left off in highschool with the sciences. If it weren't for this opportunity, I would never have realized how much I love the medical field. Today, I'm back where I was when I was 6. Only now, I'm going to buy a manual blood pressure monitor/stethoscope to understand better how blood pressure works and the precautions to take when it's either too high or low. Hard work is the key. Today, I'm walking up to my parents once again saying 'I want to become a doctor one day! I want to save lives!' 

*cross your fingers* for me that I'll be able to start school next fall :)