Bitter Pills, Breathing Spaces

To say this post is long overdue is an understatement. I've been debating on how to approach this post: do multiple installments, classify posts according to type of hauls. However, my need for brevity overrules sometimes so here's my attempt to keep this post simple but jampacked. So here goes the tip of my haul iceberg...



Some tip of the iceberg, huh? Actually my entire haul stash can hardly fit one big storage keeper box. I cleaned up my room yesterday and you can just imagine the shopping bags I had to throw out. Even my mother had a fit.

If you'll look at the picture carefully, most of my hauls are Twilight-related. If my previous posts don't hint to that, I am a full-fledged and, may I say, damn proud Twilighter. Combined with my collector attitude, it's a match made in heaven even if my wallet says otherwise. However, even with my need for Twilight, it didn't stop me from purchasing other items as well. Like shoes, CDs and DVDs for instance.

Here comes the juicy part (I hope): my long-awaited haul list. Let's begin with...



The arsenal of Twilight books I have can make one bookstore really happy. I didn't buy in any other store except there. Hint: I can live in their Fort Bonifacio branch. =]

I have a total of 14 Twilight-related books -- 11 of which were all bought here in the Philippines while the other 3 were a gift from my handsome (naks!) cousin from Australia. Here's the rundown:

• Hardcover copies of Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse & Breaking Dawn (4 books)
• Softcover copies of Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse & Breaking Dawn (4 books)
• The Twilight Illustrated Movie Companion (1 book)
• The Twilight Movie-Tie Versions, both trade and masss market paperback (2 books)
• Softcover copies of Border's Special Editions of Twilight, New Moon & Eclipse (3 books)

I also purchased other books as I was bracing for my long holiday. I can't wait until I can crack them open.

• The Host by Stephenie Meyer
• Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
  
• The Chronicles Of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• The Complete Works of Jane Austen
• Expeditions Prose by Fully Booked
• Harry: A History by Melissa Anelli
• London Fields by Martin Amis
• The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
• The Eight by Katherine Neville
• The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Also, since I like buying dictionaries too, I also bought (don't laugh) a copy of the Tournament Edition dictionary for Scrabble. You can see it in the picture above, still in it's original packaging. I can't wait to open it during New Year's Eve for a traditional Scrabble game with my family.



Over the last few months, I've purchased every conceivable US and Local publication that has a Twilight feature on it or it's two stars (Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson) on the cover. Here are the magazines I've purchased:

• Entertainment Weekly (July 18, November 14 3-Cover Special, November 21, December 5, December 19, December 26)
  
• Vanity Fair (August 2008 and December 2008)
• InStyle Magazine (December 2008)
• Rolling Stone (December 11, 2008)
  
• Teen Magazine (Winter Edition 2008)
  
• Teen Vogue (December 2008)
  
• People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive edition
• Ok! Magazine Philippines
• Fudge Magazine (I got a free Twilight poster with this! Teehee!)
  
• Candy Magazine
  

This is perhaps one of my few hauls that's not Twilight-dominated, and least numbered I guess. Hahaha. With the advent of digital downloads, I hardly buy these anymore. The only reason why I still buy them is because of the special features. I love Gag/Blooper Reels in DVDs and extra stuff in audio CDs.

• Twilight The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack CD (Must-play tracks here are Mute Math's Spotlight, Paramore's Decode, Muse's Supermassive Black Hole and Iron & Wine's Flightless Bird, American Mouth.)
  
• Twilight The Score CD
  
• Up Dharma Down's Fragmented CD
  
• Up Dharma Down's Bipolar CD
  
• The Kills' Midnight Boom CD
• Kung Fu Panda DVD
• Ratatouille DVD
  
• The Prince & Me DVD
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End DVD
  

Last on my haul list are a few girl items, a Twilight-inspired messenger bag and a Twilight 2009 Calendar.

After having my nails done in Menage Salon Gateway, I discovered a neat-colored nail polish: The Face Shop's RD303 nail color. I fell in love with it's dark red tint that I bought that shade in their BHS branch along with a nail remover and a clear polish to go along with it. Now, I bring it along when I have my nails done with my regular manicurist. I also bought a couple pairs of shoes: a pair of black open-toed heels and a pair of black & white patent ballet flats.

I wouldn't end this post without something Twilight-related again, would I? In the picture above, I also bought a Twilight-inspired messenger bag in the color of Alice's Porsche (wee!) and a 2009 calendar exclusive to Borders. I love the quote on the messenger bag: only a vampire can love you forever. From now on, it'll be my official bag during local Twilight-related happenings.


Whew, that was a long one! Hope you enjoyed the post. Here's to 2009 and plenty more hauls ahead!


c,')

xoxo, l.p.