The circus, magic and 100 other things.

Assalamu'alaikum and hello! :D
How's it been guys? I've been doing great, Alhamdulillah~

One of the hundred things I wanted to post is an update about myself. I'm starting my university years in UK..somewhere in the kingdom. And that means, miles and miles away from home and my loved ones. Tough it is for me, to  wake up and find that my lovely people's expecting the sunset in a few hours. It's the first step in my journey in becoming.....me! (*not an independent woman ehem) so I'm going to have face it anyway ;D.

Of course I'd like to touch more on my experience here...on my first week here, but as I mentioned tht's just one out of the hundred things that is invading head right now. I'll update some more soon! :D

The next particulars I'd like to share with you all is on MAGIC! (** throws dust of SPARKLES!)
I don't really believe in magic when I was small...or if I did, maybe I forgot...or maybe if I did, it's probably all on delusional superpower....but i do remember I believe in fairies and horses...oops!..pegasus, I meant.
Though that was the sad case, the happy fact is that I grew up in a happy childhood of fantasy storybooks and cartoons. I grew up with barbie dolls and movies, bunch of fairies books , bunch of imaginary friends and happy people. I had quite a magical childhood. wonderful, it was.

Where am I going with this? "I didn't believe in magic", said the 7 years old I.
END OF STORY. 
 But I had fond memories of it...which was childhood.(*AS i mentioned..my childhood was magic itself) And as I grew up I realized this..and I held on it tightly. MY past, I meant.
Thus I grew up to be a daydreamer...the person I am now. TADA!
A person who loves to try and believe that children can have a happy childhood with things like believing magic DO exist! 
So..here's where we go to particular no. 3.  

CIRCUS MIRANDUS!

It's not just any circus....it's a fictional circus written in a book with the same title. And it's not just any fictional circus in a book written by Cassie Beasly, it's a magical circus!!

I must sum up my feelings for the book first of all. It was truly heartwarming. 

And that really sums up everything else. I just couldn't describe it in any other words. I just love it so much!! 

It had been awhile since I read anything like it. Might as well be my first time.

 I don't know if its a pre-teen or young adult or children's book...any way..I still feel attached to it.

I mean I read lots of "underage" novels don't I?

**********************************ADVERTISEMENT****

For unknown reasons, I can't graduate from that sort of level of books. I had read plenty which I fell in love with as well, which includes PETER NIMBLE AND HIS FANTASTIC EYES,(which was adventurous, humorous and a tale of princess and thieves. HA!)  

The land of stories series.(which were amazing, original and creative. Entertains and tear me up every book)  

100 cupboards trilogy(which I only had completed 1 book, and wow! I never quite read anything like it. WOWERS!)

sadly, my vocabulary list is never going anywhere either.

***************************************************end**********************

Anyway,   to summarise things, Micah, a boy who loves his grandfather, Grandpa Ephraim's story of magical circus Mirandus. Only it wasn't some sort of make-believe story. It's Grandpa Ephraim's precious childhood memory. The two of them lived happily together until everything changed when Ephraim's dying. And Micah and his friend, Jenny went to find the magical circus to ask for the miracle that the Lightbender promised Ephraim when he visited the circus years ago.

Though I really enjoyed the story very much. The way the author writes, is just lovely and u can see the story unfold infront of your eyes.  

Well, that's just as much as it is.Time for mah review! (**sparkles**********) 


*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#SPOILERS*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Now, there are a few types of characters in the book that I'd love to point out.

Truly as a child when u tell him of magic, they will believe it. But as they grow older they tend to forget about the stories that had been told and for some, they tend to despise the idea very much due to a rough step they faced when they are growing up.

But for Micah, he was one of the children who believes in magic all the way through and he never doubted the magical story his grandfather always tells him about.
And so was Ephraim(*the grandfather) since he had seen it himself & always wish to see the magic again.
That's not all, he was one of the few people inspired and changed by the magic he'd seen.And it was his dream to do magic and make changes in other children~

There's also people like Great Aunt Gertrudis, who was the younger sister of Ephraim, who grew up believing in magic but because of a mis-step and betrayals during her childhood, magic has become nothing more than a silly lie and she has turned into an unhappy person. She's one of those I had mentioned above.

And let's not forget Victoria! The amazing Amazonian Bird Woman. A woman with magical ability to fly and to attracts birds with her wonderful voice. A woman who performs for the children in the circus,who performs magic for them. Too bad of her ill-natured personality, she thinks that her magic is such a waste, being  in the circus. She's that people who thinks realistically, such that "what of that of showing these children some magic? They'll forget about them soon. Or if they do believe, what good can it be to them?"
To sum it up, she's one with magic, who only wants power and doesn't believe that magic can have its effects on anyone.

As for Jenny Mendoza, she's simply a young character who never believes in magic. She relates everything to theories and science.

With all these characters here, the book manage to give me the many perspectives of magic.
Me? though I know such magic don't exist , I'm truly one who believes in magic by the heart.

Which one are you?

Also, there was the Man Who Bends the Light, the Lightbender, in short. He was part of the circus, a person who can do amazing illusions and can somehow "get into your mind into believing it's true"

Now, let's do a general review. 

I really love the lightbender's personality. He's mysterious but whenever the story depicts how he perform magic for the children, I couldn't help but feel enlighten as well. As if the character  himself had managed to create illusions in my mind as well.

Loving his moments with Micah very much and I'm very happy with the ending for the 2 of them.

I also love the young Ephraim. How he first followed the sound of pipes and drums all the way to the circus, and how he managed to track the circus again when he was much older, due to his faith in magic.

Magic had truly changed him.

But the much older Ephraim is just as lovely. How he took care of Micah and how he dreams of working in a circus. And how he never hate his wife for destroying that dream. And how I can feel he's trying to "shine" even though he's dying. And even with all of that, he still choose to believe in magic.

His endings were lovingly sad. I'm very happy that he died with his 2 most favourite people in the universe  and I'm touched by what he wished for his miracle.

Ephraim was also that character who has his own kind of magic. knots.Although at first, I can't imagine knots as magic...I'm impressed how it actually can be seen as magic by the end.

The book seems to tell us, whatever you're good at, and which can make people happy can be seen as "magic".

And as for Victoria who had those thoughts of what good can believing in magic be or soon we all will forget it exist. Though she has a realistic opinion, she was quite wrong. I mean, look at Ephraim, Micah and even the other people who worked hard in maintaining magic in the world, namely circus Mirandus. I mean, gosh she is truly cruel. And i really  wondered why I didn't mind the character remained "UNRESOLVED" by the end.

Then there's the main character, Micah.  throughout the story all he can think is of his grandpa and the miracle he thinks his grandfather has asked for.

Micah seems like a character who kept to himself and calm in every way. But very brave as well.

I love him as much.

 *******************************End of Spoilers**********

I really really thank the author  for creating such a lovely book.

Fictional it may be, but it's magical.

It had leave a deep impression in my heart. 

Of course I, myself had love the idea of magic...but this..had further open my eyes of what  kind of "REAL" magic that can truly exist in this world.

And that "REAL" magic is something someone is good at (and loved doing) and can make happiness through them.

As I mentioned, I really do believe that believing in magic is not harmful at all to children.

It gives them happiness, at least. 

And at least that magic can really be something "real" and change/inspire them somehow?

It does inspire me. This book and my magical childhood. Have I mentioned that I have a dream to create magic.
I did vaguely mentioned it....but didn't get to reveal what it really is.

HINT OF WHAT IT IS, in this post.

Can you imagine what that sort of magic is?

Now, what is your definition of magic?

Till next time, 

           ANA.

(C) Circus Mirandus does not belong to me. It belongs to amazing Cassie Beasly & other rightful owners.

(C) mumblings and opinions belong to me, otherwise stated. 

Loves, they can neither be right or wrong. 

Read the amazing books to find out which one.

 

 

 

Pixelated twin!

Creepy bear and  unseen bunny out of the box made by Ani

Left : Ana(me!!!) Right: Ani

Salam!!! Hye !!! Decided to make another pixelated gif at piskel! and here it is!! :3 Of me and my twin sis, Ani in our....animated form of course! I enjoyed it so I made us with lotsa  diff. annoying expressions! The above one is done by Ani, oh lol...the white bunny is not seen...due to the white background and the bear looks creepy to me....hahah! :3 I hope to make some more sooon!!!! ^^ Adieu'!

(C) pixelated gif. belongs to me. PISKEL belongs to rightful owner!

Sketch post!

Assalamua'alaikun and hello to peeps! Today, I feel the urge to sketch random stuffs! Thats really rare for me, to have random things to draw.

Close up of the girl.

So I stopped by just to post my sketches! ^^ Cheers!!!

Below, you would find "She and her messy crown" which I drew this afternoon. It had been in my drawing list for awhile.
By messy crown is referring to her messy/lazy buns. You know how when you're lazy, you tied your hair in a bun or braids.This piece was inspired when I made the same bun for my sister. Which suits her as she's the "well-known" lazy princess , her signature character who has a crown on her head.(*FLOATING top of her head)


And below, is some sketch dump made on a whiteboard. Me and my bro drew some random characters....you can see Finn, Jake, Papermail, Ansatsu characters, the Pine Twins!!! Olaf and Baymax, of course. And the bunnies and mushroom co. and some random unknown characters huhu! :D

So, there, my so-called productive afternoon !! Been awhile since I drew so much. That must've been because it had been awhile since I felt stressed. :D Nevertheless, I enjoyed this very much!!! It helped me feel awhole-lot-better, in fact. Other than some random fanfictions that I had been reading :3. So until next timee, lovelies!

(C) Art belongs to Anapaper
(c)Baymax, olaf, Adventure Time, Pine twins, bunny with sharp teeth, ansatsu kyoshitsu, tako, Eru-tan belongs to rightful owner!

"She and her messy Crown" by me.

Fun , random stuffs drawn by me and my lil bro. Some characters  do not belong to us.

 

Heart-thumping and Pure at the most.

Assalamu'alaikum and hey!!! Making a late night post now, because my heart can't take it!!!
I think it will burst anytime soon now & melt.
Well, all of this because of a manga! "Last Game"

I had read Last Game before up to the recent chapters of that time but I stopped reading it because of a "heartache".
But, I remember how the earliest chapters are so lovely! So I decided to re-read them again. But now,  I have to prepare myself with the "heartache" oh lol!


*******Spoilers alert***************************
 Ever heard the phrase "those who fall in love first will lose?"
This was one of the early concept used in the GAME referred in the manga, that is other than academic competition.

(**summary found below)

 I really like the turn-out of the story where the game is;
 Yanagi (hero) tried to make  Kujou (heroine) fall in love with him and dumped her later on(***by falling in love, Kujou is the loser) and thus got a satisfactory victory in their longtime GAME. (**Though I must point out Kujou doesn't get why Yanagi kept bugging her of winning/losing) And later on, he realised his feeling towards her .....well, mostly because though he kept on trying to ignored her as he already got everything he needs, (** blah to that one loss) he ended up thinking and chasing her.(**though out of anger at first!)

But I love how both main characters, Kujou(heroine) and Yanagi(hero) maintains their friendship for 10 years and how....Yanagi chased after an unrequited love for kujou for the same period. It was sweet of Yanagi for me(though at first, he had a different attitude towards Kujou when younger) that he was patient and impatient at the same time...and pitifully cute!! I meant, his efforts were...fruitless.

Afterall, Kujou is an emotionless, ignorant girl (*bad at communicating) who loves her mother (only) the most and only when she entered college that she realized about her friendship with Yanagi.
Yanagi, on the other hand , is pathetic,charismatic , popular and well, perfect except for his luck in love(*with Kujou) but I definitely want to meet a guy like this!! 10 years!!!! c'mon man! I gave up easily-without-even-trying for only 2 years(*the longest i experienced, sadly)


 
 ***********End of spoilers***************************

A quick summary:

Yanagi was the perfect person ever, with such a rich family, athletic and top in class(**and arrogant)....until Kujou came and stripped him of being top in class. Ever since, Yanagi has never be able to beat the dull girl, Kujou...but still strive to do so that is, he even chased her up to college.
So, the name Last game here-being the last game declared by Yanagi to Kujou and see who will be victor. Now, what would that game be? :D

Do find out and have your hearts thump and laugh to this comedy-filled romance manga by Amano Shinobu. Though it has yet reach an ending anyway.

I do anticipate it to have its own anime or drama, because it is a very lovely, sweet story that is up to everyone's taste.(*just say yes!!!)
Its true to say this, because the love is pure and well...you'll know FEEL it when you read it.

That being said.....today's recommended manga would be:

Last Game by Amano Shinobu

Magi no Okurimono by Yoshizuki Komichi-another heartwarming an BEAUTIFUL  story about letting go of the "BELOVED" ones, those who passed away. You really can feel the emotions which is conveyed in this manga. The art, spectacular!!! It's also about stars so.......I can't help it!!!

REad, Read, read!!!!!!

Last Game (*Scans belong to rightful owner)(c)Amano Shinobu and rightful owners.

Magi no okurimono by Yoshizuki Komichi. (*Scans belong to rightful owners)(c) Yoshizuki Komichi and rightful owners.

 So, anyway, there are more mangas in my reading list and books as well. I really need to buy books T.T.

A few songs to enjoy this with!!!

Tokyo sunrise by LP  - was introduced to this song by my fav. band Paradise Fears (their facebook account). LOVE IT as much as they do!!

Never Ending Circle by CHVRCHES- Love the vocalist voice so much !!!!

And to end the wonderful mumblings, I'll add a quote at the top of them all.

"Promise me you'll always remember : You are Braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think"-Christopher Robin, Winnie The Pooh.

 Don't promise me though, just remember because I believe so as well.

I love Winnie The Pooh, I love Christopher Robin and I love children's storybook.
Perhaps, next time, this will be the main course ;) 

Love,
     Ana and Papermail.

Take note, stories/plots of mangas /images / songs do not belong to me.

Reviews and mumblings belong to Ana, me :P.

I don't take credits in the amazing stuffs mentioned above!

Quickies!

Salam to all and Hya!!! :D 

How's it been? I hope everything is wonderlandiful wonderful!

So, Alhamdulillah, I finished the 2 months Work experience attachment !!! It had been fun, and amazing experiences.

Really miss the people that I met there, hope to see them again, someday!!

SO! I settled most of my sleeping debts so far ,*ehem **ehem , actually, I might overpaid them.

I'm still sleepy quite satisfy with it. And last time, I had this gathering with undivid8d stars!!! 

AT A STEAMBOAT RESTAURANT!!

yay!!!! 

Achievement unlocked. 

It had been a dream of mine to eat at steamboat restaurant !! >.< And I'm glad it had been really fun! We had gifts-exchange! And I got chocolates, yum!!! From Amni, that is. ;)

And then, we have this raya open house at our place. I baked RED VELVET cupcakes.

unbelievable right?

I was never fond of red velvet stuffs until I taste this...one cupcake someone gave me during my working attachment.  

I wished i take two.

It was so goooooooodddd!!! It was PERFECT!!!!! So moist and everything nice!

And there was also this strawberry cheesecake that I've been given as well, that was paradise!

PERFECTO!!!!! A score of 100% for a cheesecake!

Now, I say this because...I don't really like strawberry or cheesecake either.

(***TOO MUCH DISLIKES)

Oh! so then,because of this extreme cravings, I found this recipe which looks good to try...and for the first time in forever, I actually bought some cream cheese!  CHEERS!!

(**I was actually indecisive between making cheese cake or red velvet, but decided to go for the latter due to the presence of lemon(which is rare,I tell you) in our fridge)

 

Let's skip the baking part.....which was fun! And lets go to the tasting. The cake dried out T.T and has this papercup taste or smthg. It was suppose to be buttery!!! 

But then, add the magic!!! The magical, yummy cream cheese....and it turned out fine, OVERALL.

I really like how the cream cheese turned out . Just yummily right .

Anyway, back to the raya day, we had a fun time with lotsa photoshoot session with my darlings! 

Thanks for comin' over, loves!

So, that would be the quick  updates for the last few weeks!! Enjoy the days to come, peeps!!

Recommended songs:

King by Lauren Aquilina - soothing and go get the message yea? She has a truly lovely voice! 

 Check her other songs i.e Fools and sinners as well!! Thumb up!!!

Fight song by Rachel Platten - Another motivational song. Let this be your fight song which will help you move forward. :D

Love, 

Ana. 

 

It's what it is.

Assalamu'alaikum! and hi to everyone! I hope all is well and well to all~ :3
It's the last 2 week of  July now and I'm nearing the ends of my working attachment days! I'm looking forward to paying my sleeping debts! YESSSSS!!!!!

And it's also Syawal! Happy Eid Fitr to all the muslims over the world, may this year Eid be filled with joyous and wonderful times with your loved ones. And not to forget, Alhamdulillah, we've gone through the holy month of Ramadhan with success and InsyaAllah, we'll meet again with it in the years to come. ^^

This year, Raya felt different to me. And I agreed to my ....to myself, that it was because I wasn't home to help preparing for the festive days. I did helped cleaning but it wasn't that much anyway. And most importantly anyway, me and my sis weren't there during the shopping spree!!!
I'm not of a shopaholic actually, unless it's a hunt for candies and chocolates!!! Oooh! and baking stuffs as well! I mean, supermarket is mah playground, man! It's where I run freely!!

So, yeah...that's why it had been different.

 I felt all kinds of emotions when I returned home that afternoon from Belait. There's emptiness-due to those above, there's happiness-due to the raya mood and atmosphere in the house, there's stress-due to the lots of clothes to wash & iron and also drowsiness-hmph! Not an emotion but we all know why.

And just when we returned, I immediately baked some cookies...which had failed anyway. Really!! The cookies had this disgusting-cracky surface! It never happened before T.T ....why now!!!!!
lol! But it still taste good- umm, edible-nevertheless.

And it's still serve-able!

So came the first day of raya...and I ate a lot. And the second day, I ate a lot too! I couldn't help it....though I wish I could. There's a huge price for eating THAT much anyway. REGRETFULLY. 
But, that's not all that I did on the raya that I spent! Me and my sister spent the 2nd day of raya in the kitchen, making some sushi and riceballs ! Yea... O.o It was tough job which was worth it because many people actually ate them. UNEXPECTEDLY! Maybe because they were adorables >.<
It's true though, we made the riceballs with faces and some are even shaped like animals esp. cats >.<
Too bad I didn't take any photos of it T.T  so yea...but I still had a very fond memories of it. You guys can just imagine however you want :P
 ^     ^
(=*.*=)...

That would be all, I guess. Just a brief details on what had happened all this time....in case you're wondering, that is! So, until the next post!!! Ciao!!!

JUMPing!!

Salam Ramadhan. May we have a blissful month filled with good deeds.

Salam and hello everyone! :D How are things? I hope all is doing well, wherever they are!

Now, we have come a very special month for all muslims, which is the month of Ramadhan where we fast from dawn to dusk. ^^ So, Salam Ramadhan Kareem to everyone. May every of our good deeds be accepted by Allah.

So, right now, I'm having my 2 months working attachment with a company in Brunei before I'm starting my degree in August insyaAllah~ :D I'm currently living with my sister , and 2 of my friends, one from my former school and one from PTEM. We spent 4 weeks together now, and I really enjoyed my time with these lovely times!

Anyway! I'm bringing a lovely news for myself! I successfully downloaded Hey! Say! JUMP's new album JUMPing Car!!! I listened half of the tracks and I love them so much!!!! >.<
So energetic!!! Yeaaa!! I have to get this album in my hand!!! >.<!!!! Although I am still obsessed with their single Chau#/Wo I need you, namely those two songs! I mean, Chau# was love at first listen!!!!

Secondly, I'm reading a manga, forgot what's its called. But its about a surgeon mainly pediatrics, those who handle children. It is a very inspiring manga about the medical courses !! I just reached volume 2 of the series, but I enjoyed it very much and learned bio all over again from it!!! ^^

and!! And....I made donuts last timeee! Yay!! But, it tastes like fried flour T.T sob sob!!!
Doesn't matter, I got fatter during the attachment period...ugh its hard to not give in to the temptations. >.<

Forget about tht, I felt uncomfortable touching the topic about my weight hohoho!!! Anyway, I hope to bring you some more good news. And while waiting, lets enjoy and live our life to the fullest :D Smile more! :I

AAAAAAANNNNNNDDDDD.......!!!!

Let's laugh more (*they tend to burn calories huhu) by watching thisssss 
YLVIS' elevator prank. 
Adieu!!!