My gift to myself this year is a long weekend. 
I spent my 26th birthday last Tuesday, June 7, and I took two days off from work (Monday and Tuesday). I was planning on spending the entire long weekend just lazing around, eating junk, and binge-watching Descendants of the Sun.
Well, I did achieve most of the three. I watched Descendants of the Sun from dawn of Saturday to Monday midnight — it’s my first time to watch because I never had the time before last week — and boy oh boy was I hooked. I love everything about it: the actors (Song Joong Ki, because of you, it’s as if the name Lee Min Ho doesn’t exist anymore in my world), the storyline, the amazing cinematography, even the OST. It’s such a pity that it only spanned 16 episodes like how dare you take us on a lovely ride and cut it short.
Anyway, yeah, Joong Ki, it was really nice to meet you.
It was nice to meet me too, right? Sorry Joong Ki but I’m taken…
Other than that, I wasn’t able to truly laze around because I suddenly had appointments and my colleague, Sarah, unexpectedly gave birth on Sunday. I then met my goddaughter on Monday! But it was still generally an awesome long weekend.
My goddaughter, Xandrah. Isn’t she the prettiest?
I planned on doing a blog marathon but life happened, so I wasn’t able to publish anything last week. So here’s a belated birthday post. Because I’m not feeling sentimental (it’s only 10 am on a weekend, after all), I decided to do something fun — and outdated, lol! I got the inspiration from a Facebook On This Day entry, from a time when publishing memes and tagging your friends was all the rage.
Here are 26 Get To Know Me questions!
1. Were you named after anyone?
None in particular, although my dad was obsessing over the name “Maan” for some reason. So they looked for two names that could birth the nickname, thus Marie and Angeli.
2. What is your middle name?
Filipino middle name (mum’s maiden name) – Abad
Western middle name (second name) – Angeli
3. What was your favourite subject at school?
Elementary – English
High school – History
College – Classical Art, Photography, & Theatre
4. What is your favourite drink?
Right now, it’s chocolate soymilk
5. Do you wear makeup?
Yep, but only the bare minimum: eyebrows, mascara, lipstick, and BB cream or pressed powder
6. What is your favourite food?
It’s a tight toss up between chocolate and cheese.
Runners-up: Tuna and kim chi
7. What is the last thing you bought?
Major thing? For myself? A Webster’s Pages planner
(I suppose groceries and school supplies are not included. I also didn’t include the rubber shoes I bought for my mum and my sister.)
Webster’s Pages Color Crush in Dark Pink
8. What is your dream vacation?
I know it doesn’t sound as fab as Maldives or as exotic as Santorini, but I really really want to revisit my boyfriend’s hometown, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur. I’ve been there in 2011, but all my photos got deleted when my memory card got corrupted. 
9. What are three of your favourite colours?
Dark pink, sea green, & white
10. What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?
Can it be two things? One, I’m in a sorority. Two, I used to smoke in college.
11. If you have the chance to pick your own name, what would it be?
I’m fond of my name, especially my nickname, because I think it suits me. But if I have a baby girl, I will name her Nina.
12. What are your favourite smells?
The scent of ripe mangoes, the smell of detergent and freshly laundered clothes (minus the scent of Downy — I can’t stand fabric softener!), and the smell of freshly shampooed hair
13. When was the last time you drove out of town?
Two Sundays ago, when we went to Banana Beach in Madaum, Tagum City
Banana Beach, Madaum, Tagum City
14. What are three of your hobbies?
Blogging, phone photography, and planning/journalling
15. Do you speak any other language?
Aside from English? Yes, Bisaya, Tagalog, and the tiniest bit of Hiligaynon and even littler Japanese
16. What is your job?
I’m the girl-friday of an Australian parenting company hahaha. Also the team manager of Team Philippines. Also a licensed real estate broker.
17. What is your favourite shop?
I would name bookstores (National Bookstore, Fully Booked, & Book Sale), but honestly? It’s our neighbourhood department store/grocery, NCCC Cabantian haha
18. What’s your favourite way to spend your free time when you’re alone?
Reading a novel, updating my planner, or watching a movie or TV show
19. When was the last time you cried?
Last Saturday, I think, during the earthquake episode of “Descendants of the Sun.” I want to re-watch…
20. What’s your favourite beauty product?
Currently, it’s the All In One Peeling Pad from Angel Factory. It removes the grime from my face so effortlessly! Travel-friendly, too!
21. What movies could you watch over and over and still love?
I have three: Titanic, Mean Girls, & Soul Surfer
Runners-up: Inside Out, Clueless, 50 First Dates, My Amnesia Girl, Starting Over Again, Zootopia
PS: I have several favourite Korean movies as well but I could never get myself to re-watch them… I think you understand why…
22. What is your current favourite TV show?
Descendants of the Sun, like duh! 
Me when someone disrupts my marathon sessions
23. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Still here, in Davao City. I would like to be able to fly anywhere, anytime, though!
24. What phone do you have?
An iPhone 5s
25. Do you have any strange phobias?
All phobias are strange, aren’t they? But yes, I get an anxiety attack whenever there’s a butterfly or a moth
26. Honestly, are things going the way you planned?
I have faith that things are going according to God’s will.
I hope you didn’t get bored reading haha! Have an awesome week ahead, everyone.
The post 26 Questions on my 26th Year appeared first on A Joyful Mess.