What's Up July

Oh well hello, July! I guess it's better late than never.

July is all about fitness and health for me and I mean it, in fact, I just started my low carb-high on protein and greens diet two weeks ago and so far so good because I feel less bloated. I went back to juicing detox for a month to get the junk out of my system but I started having mild headaches I decided to go easy on that and focus on my food intake instead. I really need to work hard on my diet I'm trying to avoid anything white such as rice, bread, sweets, etc. with a little help from exercise of course. Nothing comes easy but I'm sure it'll be worth it, I've done it before. 

I got all my eBay orders after a month long wait and I'm glad that they're all in good condition. I got my twin and I this real cute cat mugs (my favorite of the bunch), a nori puncher for bento making, a mermaid case for my phone and an Arabic throw blanket that I decided to hang on my bedroom wall in lieu of a headboard for my bed. There's just way too many cheap stuff on eBay but you have to be really, really patient in waiting and not in a hurry to get your orders. I enjoy free shipping though I still pay for the post office parcel fee so technically it's really not free (sigh), regardless, I'm still addicted to eBay.

eBay haul (not my pic)

Watching interesting flicks is still one of my favorite things to do and I'm glad I'm catching up on movies that I've missed. Thanks a bunch to so many online websites that offer streaming movies for free. Here are just some of the movie picks I watched recently that I'd love to recommend because they are really good ones.

Tracks (2013)

Starring Mia Waikowska and Adam Driver

Directed by John Curran

This Australian drama film chronicles the nine-month journey of Robyn Davidson in 1977 across the Australian desert to the Indian Ocean with her dog and four camels. A National Geographic photographer named Rick Smolan documents her journey.


My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐

I think this film is really inspirational, proof that with strong determination, anything is possible.

The Kids Are Alright (2010)

Starring Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, and Mark Ruffalo

Directed by Lisa Cholodenco 

This film was a Sundance hit in 2010 and Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture and Annette Bening was also awarded Best Actress. Bagged the Best Picture award at the 83rd Academy Awards and four nominations too.

An LGBT American Comedy-drama film that tackles the life of an unconventional family. Nic and Jules are a married lesbian couple living in Los Angeles. Each has given birth to a child using the same sperm donor. The couple is living a quiet life until one day, Laser, their 15-year-old child thought about finding their sperm donor father but has to be 18 so he begged for his sister Joni, to contact the sperm bank which identifies Paul as the donor. The three meet, Jules and the kids eventually start spending more time with Paul that made Nic jealous. Jules denies but later on admits that she's having an affair with Paul. Paul thinks that he has fallen in love with Jules and suggests she leave Nic, bring the kids and come live with him. Jules refused Paul's offer and was able to work things out with Nic and the kids.


My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐

We have to respect that there are things in this life that we cannot change. The key to make relationships work is to forgive because we all make mistakes and we learn from them.



Okja (2016)
Starring Ahn Seo-hyun, Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Lily Collins, Steven Yeun and Jake Gyllenhaal
Directed by Bong Joon-ho


Lucy Mirando becomes the CEO of Mirando Corporation in 2007 and announces that they have been breeding a special kind of super pig. Twenty-six of the best of the best pigs will be sent to locations around the world, and ten years later, one will be crowned the winner. In the present time, a young girl named Mija lives happily with her grandfather in the countryside of South Korea along with her super pig, Okja. Mirando Corporation's spokesperson and zoologist Dr. Johnny Wilcox paid a visit and declared that Okja is the super pig and that they will take her to New York City. The story follows Mija in New York City with the help of the ALF she was able to save her super pig from being slaughtered. Mija offered the golden pig (this was given to her by her grandfather) to Nancy, Lucy's cruel twin sister, in exchange for Okja's life.  Okja was free leaving other super pigs to face their dreadful fate.


My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Animal cruelty still exists. As long as there is high demand for animal meat consumption this will go on, it's a sad reality.



The Gifted (2017)
Starring Chris Evans, McKenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan, Jenny Slate, and Octavia Spencer
Directed by Marc Webb


Frank Adler is a single man raising a child prodigy - his spirited 7-year-old niece Mary, in a small town near Tampa, Florida. Frank's plans for a normal school life for Mary are smashed when her mathematical abilities come to the attention of his sinister mother, Evelyn, whose plans for her granddaughter threaten to separate Frank and Mary. 

My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Heart-warming, this film will leave you teary-eyed. Love knows no boundaries, one doesn't have to be a parent to protect someone dear to him/her.



A Street Cat Named Bob (2016)
Starring Luke Treadaway, Ruta Gedmintas, Joanne Froggatt, Anthony Head, and Bob the Cat as himself
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode


A British biographical drama film based on the International best selling book about how a street cat named Bob rescued James Bowen, a homeless and recovering heroin addict.


My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Unapologetically heartwarming, indeed. As a cat lover, what's not to love about this film? I've always believed that animals have the power to help humans heal.

Shopaholic

Christmas is just around the corner and I'm feeling excited but haven't started shopping for presents yet. I'm addicted to online shopping I pretty much buy everything online because I love the convenience right at the comfort of my own home plus going to the mall as the holiday gets close is such a pain, the crowd is unbearable especially during SALE season. Online shopping has it's own risks too so make sure to buy from legit sellers only. As a piece of advice coming from someone who've been shopping online for 10 years, make sure to always check for customer's feedback especially if you like to purchase from international sellers just like in eBay.

I was an active eBay shopper until I got tired of waiting for ages for my package to arrive. I like to shop in eBay because that's where I find real cheap imported goodies plus the shipping is free, however, I still pay a postage fee of Php100 per parcel once it arrived in the country. Talk about free shipping but not really.

I was never a victim of bogus sellers (thank God!) because I know how to spot them. I like to shop with ease so whenever I encounter sellers that are quite unresponsive, I will keep in mind not to purchase from them again in the future. I'm not very hard to please. I lover sellers who are very accommodating especially in answering inquiries and those who give updates. I appreciate it when I'm provided a tracking number so I can personally track my package. I know how it feels to buy and sell. I have sold gadgets online as well as managed an online shop in the past so I know how it feels to win the trust of a complete stranger. I had the best and the worse customer experience but the worse of the worse just happened recently through LAZADA so for those wanting to purchase from them, think thrice. You have been WARNED.

Lazada sucks

I downloaded the Lazada mobile app last month because when my niece bought an all in 1 printer months ago she said she got it cheaper and it arrived soon so I thought that I will not have any problem since they are a legit and reputable company. I ordered a MacBook Air 11 on the 20th of November and got an email order confirmation immediately that it will be verified anytime. The following day I got a call from a customer service rep to verify that I really ordered the item. I thought this is good, I like that they really take time to call unlike in eBay, an email notification is enough.

According to the order details that I will get the item between November 29 - December 1st but I did not hear from Lazada after December 1st so I shoot them an email and got a reply (yes, they reply fast. Well, at least) that it is still in process by the supplier and that I will get my item no later than December 8 so I uttered to myself "okay, I'll wait then" though I'm starting to have doubts already that there is something that they aren't telling me but I still trusted them, that's how patient I am when I know that it is beyond my control. I started reading blogs and found out that Lazada has a lot of complaints regarding items that are taking way too long to arrive but I just shrugged it off because I don't want any of these articles to kill the excitement that I'm feeling. I stayed positive that I will get my item before the 8th until on the 4th of December, I got another email saying that the item I ordered is OUT OF STOCK from their supplier from the time that I ordered it although it allowed me to check out from their website and that they couldn't find any other supplier that have that model available so they offered me a P200 voucher that I can use on my next purchase. BEAST MODE ON. I was like, you gotta be kidding me... I waited 2 weeks for nothing and you expect me to purchase again and use that voucher? Seriously??? I was totally DISAPPOINTED. Who wouldn't be? They wasted my time. For a first timer in Lazada, this is just UNACCEPTABLE. I replied back to let them know how frustrated I was with their crappy website and that I will NEVER order from them I again. How on earth are you able to order an item that is out of stock? Ridiculous right?!

MacBook Air rainbow case

On the same day that I got the bad news, I went Macbook shopping with my sister in SM Cyberzone unfortunately, it was out of stock too on both Apple distributors thank God one of the sales persons from one of the stores told me that they have a stock coming the next day so I reserved it immediately and paid for the reservation fee. I was ecstatic when I got my MacBook Air the following day but still haven't forgotten about the bad experience. I told myself that if I wasn't too lazy to go to the mall, I would've have saved myself from all the s***. Moving on and lesson learned, if you're looking to buy a gadget do not do it online. It's still best that you are able to see the product that you are buying so you are able to test if it is in good condition, this is one of the things that you're not able to do when buying online plus it's still best that if something goes wrong, you're able to take it back to the store where you bought it to have it checked. Currently, I am pleased with my Mac. I am a first-time Macbook user but I find it very easy to navigate, it's very straightforward compared to Windows. I just love my new baby so I got her/him/it a rainbow case (ordered one from Shopee) that comes with a black keyboard cover, it's super cute.

Unboxed my MacBook Air 11

I guess my new baby will keep me busy again since our senior dog Brandon, is all well again after suffering from diarrhea and dehydration and was on medication for 2 weeks but we still have to watch his diet and administer his vitamins religiously. As of Yumi the tiny dog, she's still positive for blood parasite so this will be her second month of medication. I hope that her next check-up will turn out good.