Throwback: The Merville Days

   Today is Thursday, and you know what that means... its Throwback Thursday! I will try my best, from now on, to post a throwback every Thursday. Hope you enjoy the first one as much as I do.

   Some time in 2009 we moved to Merville (a village in the Philippines). Nicci was just starting to talk, she was going through the "gooh gooh gah gah" phase. The phase where one word could mean a million different things. This is by far one of my favorite phases. I remember it like it was yesterday, laying next to her while she played with my face and hair. Her laughing uncontrollably because I made a funny face. Her saliva on my shirt. Her annoying, yet slightly amusing, baby toys scattered all over the floor. Her crawling all over the house because she couldn't walk yet. Her calling me "Coco" because she couldn't say Nico. I miss it so much! I would do anything to relive one of those moments.

Nostalgia?

   I guess you can say Ive been feeling a little nostalgic lately. This week I've had dreams of the past. Old memories bombarding my head, filling my thoughts and launching me to the past. The past, isn't it funny how time flies? Yesterday is already considered the past. Time literally does fly.

   This past week I've had pretty interesting dreams. One night I was with my cousins at the beach, the other I was playing soccer with my third grade coaches. It makes me happy remembering these things, but at the same time it brings a bit of sadness. Nostalgia. However, I have learned to cope with this by distracting my mind. Reading helps, so does music and movies and a bunch of other things. Lately Ive been listening to a lot of Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith. I love how they feel their music and put a lot of emotion into their songs. Sam Smith, for example, literally cried while performing "Stay With Me" at the VMAs. Anyways, I bet you're wondering why I'm blogging about this. Why blog about Nostalgia? Im doing this because I know a lot of people are experiencing this. Im here to tell you that you're not alone. The past is in the past and thats where it will stay. This is a good thing and a bad thing. But the sooner we learn to accept this, the better.

   I went through this mini phase/ labyrinth/ side effect. I want to know how you've dealt with this. Email me nico.belasco@gmail.com . Share your story.

   (Heres a throwback picture, taken at our house in Castro Valley two or three years ago on Thanksgiving. We made a little fort and watched Edward Scissorhands for the first time.)

   

Lights, Camera, Action

   Yesterday I was shown around the RS Film Production House! I saw all the different cameras, lights, cords, and so much more! I learned that Filming is actually way harder than it seems. 

   Thanks to my moms friend Peter Kirk, a director based in Australia, I was able to check out the RS Filming Production House. I was showed around by an editor, Ramil. He showed me everything. They had about three rooms filled with cameras and a whole hall specifically for lights. I learned about the Red and Alexa cameras, they're the best, top of the line, used a lot in Hollywood. I also saw someone completely dislodge and reassemble a camera. The settings of their cameras were a lot like the ones on mine so I caught on pretty quick. They had cameras that were so old that iPhone camera quality is better than its own. Can you believe that? Technology advances rapidly! 

   Today was a great experience. I learned a lot about Film Production. Thank you Uncle Peter, Ramil, and Oli for the opportunity! 

Alaska Day!

   Ten years ago today John Green wrote one of my favorite books, Looking For Alaska. 

   After TFIOS I asked myself the question almost all readers ask themselves after reading a really good book: "what do I do with my life now?!?". After finding out that Hazel dies a year after Gus I fell into a funk. Yes, a funk. Just like the McKinley High Glee Club did when Vocal Adrenalin tried to freak them out before regionals. Looking For Alaska helped me get out of that funk. It also gave me four new friends. Pudge, The Colonel, Alaska, and Takumi. They brought out my inner teenager and showed me that life isn't always what you want it to be. You have your good days and you have your bad days. Miles Halter leaves his mom and dad for Culver Creek Boarding School. He "Goes to seek a Great Perhaps". Sound familiar? It's my tag line. Well, sort of: Seeking my Great Perhaps. Anyways, he feels that he won't find his Great Perhaps where he is right now, so he decides to move. At Culver Creek he meets (his roommate) Chip, mainly known as The Colonel. The Colonel introduces Miles (who is now known as Pudge) to Alaska. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. That's all I'm going to say about it because I don't want to spoil it for you. I would very much recommend it. 

   I also just found out that The Fault In Our Stars was published three years ago today! Thank you John Green for being such an amazing author. You have changed me for the better. 

Something New

   In my opinion, style is a big part of a teens life. It's a way of expressing yourself. So from now on I'll have a column specifically for style. 

   I'll start my Style section off with a whole set of clothes from H&M, because it's been one of my favorite stores for a while. Joggers! They are super comfortable and you can where them WHENEVER you want. You can wear them to the mall, to sleep, to movies, pretty much everywhere because they're "in" right now. They're not too skinny and not too loose. I've grown to love them. Let's move onto my shirt, another one from H&M. It's a bit oversized, I usually get them oversized because they last longer that way. I chose this shirt because I love the stripe-like-tribal pattern it has going on (I have a thing for striped and tribal shirts). It is, like all H&M clothes, uber comfy. My shoes are Roshes, from Nike. The most comfortable shoes I've ever had. They come in practically every color. 

   Nicci! My sister is by far one of the most stylish little girls I know. She's wearing a tribal shirt from Forever 21 and gold pants from H&M. Her black polka dot boots are from Sugar Kids.

One Of Many

   My very first blog post was posted today. Ever since then it's been blooming! I'd like to thank everyone for their love and support and for actually reading my blog. You guys are amazing! 

   One year ago today I decided to make a blog. And I have not once come close to regretting that decision. I love blogging. Blogging is love, blogging is life. It's like an online lifestyle, a personal magazine, a journal. A space for you to express yourself and write about anything you want. My blog has helped me immensely. My head isn't as filled as it was before. Adventures and stories that needed to be told we're told. And my stars (thoughts) have been fathomed into constellations. Having a blog makes life better. It actually made me want to venture more just so I could have something to blog about.

   One year ago today I started my blogger journey. I've had so many great adventures since then. Here's to many more! 

 

Fifteen!

   I was born on January 5, 2000, I've been on this planet ever since. 

   Fifteen? Birthday spam started coming in at 12:00 am! We started celebrating with lunch at Dads, one of my favorite buffets. Special thanks to my Ninang Pia for making it happen! We got there before my friends, so I watched them come in one by one. Every time one came I smiled uncontrollably. It's an amazing feeling, to love and be loved. After eating we headed over to the Ice Rink. Do you know how hard it is to walk in skates off the ice? It's like walking in your moms heels, but ten times harder. This was my second time skating so I got the hang of it pretty fast. My friends, however, were not so lucky. A lot of them were "First Timers". So they held on to the rail for a good 40 minutes or so before catching on. I loved every second of it. We skated for two hours, or was it three? I don't know, time flies when you're having fun. On the way home I was greeted by "The Boys Night Out" on the radio, thanks guys! 

   I just want to say thanks to everyone for the greetings and the presents and for making me feel extra special! You guys are the best!