Songbirds by Christy Lefteri

 

I just finished reading Songbirds by Christy Lefteri. It's my first time reading any of her books. I started reading this when I took a bus to the city one day and I got so engrossed with it. I love how she wrote the story and have you hooked as you turn page by page. 

At first, the cover caught my eyes. I have a thing for covers that shows leaves, flowers, birds and all the things you can see in a garden. It's like an automatic read for me. I want it on my to-be -read list right away! I got this as a secondhand copy from a live seller in TikTok. A very famous social media platform. There are so many  booksellers in the platform selling both brand new and secondhand books. I'm just glad I got it as it turn out to be one of my best reads in 2026!

It was a fast read to me. I did not know this genre would entice me in a way. It's a Historical Fiction intertwined with the modern times.

AUTHOR AND NISHA: with spoilers maybe

I just love how the author Christy Lefteri carefully wrote Nisha's story and the people involved in her life. Nisha is a woman from Sri Lanka to work in another country and met a lot of people. All these are mentioned and the author put everything into details carefully. It was written in two different POVs. Her Employer and her lover. 

If you are so updated with the news before and now, you would already have the ending in mind. The sad ending. But you just have to get into it step by step as how they have to confirm it's how it turned out. And then you would have a long sigh just as how the characters in the story did when the story unfolded.

I am a Filipino and I get shocked at the number of times my country is mentioned in a story but of course this is historical fiction filled with people working in Cyprus. There are a lot of Filipino working there as domestic workers just like women from another country such as Sri Lanka, Africa and more. 

Apart from knowing the lives of domestic workers there, I also learned one livelihood in Cyprus. Poaching birds. It is illegal and it is hard to read. But it is what's in the story. The lives of the men involved and how they are connected to Nisha is carefully unfolding in the story as well. 

All these will keep the grip in you to continue reading. You can't stop! It's unputdownable. You will see yourself going for the next page and never actually putting it down. 

 goodreads rating is 4 stars. I rated it 5 stars!

 Go grab a copy. 

Just keep reading! 

 

BINI SIGNALS WORLD TOUR 2026 CEBU

Me and my vivo29s 5G against the world 🤣 so happy to have witnessed another BINI milestone.  I enjoyed the concert a lot! Pang world class performance as always. Never slacking, always in synch, power belters.  Worth it ang BINI CONCERT AS ALWAYS!!!! ♾️

#BINI_SIGNALS_CEBU

Master's Dragon Peak in Borbon, Cebu.

I took these photos last year on May 02,2025.

I just got a new Vivo v29e 5G as my back up for work. I loved that it's 5G and it really served its purpose. The qualities of the photos are great in broad daylight. 

About the place:

Master's Dragon Boat is located in Borbon which is northern part of Cebu. You can get there via bus ride from SM City Cebu. All bus going north would definitely be okay. 

My photo has been sitting on my phone gallery in hopes of being published as all our photos do and finally did it.

I really want to be active here. And I think it's really happening. 

-MK

This and That

 

I really enjoyed this and as you notice, I can barely choose! Hahaha books are one of my weaknesses and it does show right there. I am always undecided to what type of book I like whether it is hardback or paperback. Haha! 

I have a lot for both types just to make sure I get to experience what it is like. Well, I have bunch of books here. Read and unread. It's such a lovely right.

I got this from Instagram and I had to capture an image and put it here. I just really really miss writing here. I know this isn't mainstream, you know, blogging isn't that anymore but I am just glad google had maintained this. That the page is still up! I wanna keep writing!

I bought a secondhand kindle

 

 

 

 

I brought my kindle with me while doing some errands yesterday. I got hungry as usual so I went to Jobee! The moment I got my order, I took my kindle out of my hand bag and comfortably ate and read couple pages. I did not mind everyone around me. Until, I snapped and was brought back to my reality that oh my I am in jobee hahaha. Then i started wondering what people may have thought about me while my kindle is placed like that infront of me. So, it's all theirs to keep. I will never know.

The term performative reader then came to me. Did I seem less performative using a kindle? Coz it did seem like just another gadget only that if you look closely, it was for reading. Unlike if we brought a physical book, I think it may seem performative to some? Especially, the term has been all over the net! But the reason I brought kindle instead of a physical book, since i got an option now, is because i wanna avoid spilling something on my book 😭i had experienced it and it felt very aweful! So, it's never about being performative and whatnot. I just wanna read when I can.

So, I just went back to reading and thank God I do not really dwell in what people think about me anymore. I wanna bring the Songbird book but I this time I just decided to bring my kindle. Doesn't matter anyway! JUST KEEP READING!!! Finish a book! 

 

HAPPY READING! 

 

My little space

JUNE 14, 2018

// a space i’ve unconsciously created for myself, reminds me parts of who i am. There’s my headset for love, addiction,and passion for music, my Mac which takes meplaces virtually when i am online. There’s a pile of unread magazine which is reminding me that I have been lazy cause I haven’t read them for years, when I don’t read that means I am stuck on one thought and I have to execute it before moving forward. Whatever it is, keeping it for now. There’s got to be a way. Laziness is a big deal but you can be lazy for things we can delay,  when we feel so bombarded with different thoughts, that is okay, as long as you’re doing  what you’re supposed to be doing to survive the day. Sometimes, there are things that has to wait haha. I really just browse things on the mag, but I wanna read wordSs and their thoughts, so I considered it ‘Unread’. Haha Kidding aside.... those magazines remind me to never let go of my relationship to journalism and editorials. I love those things. I love magazines and write up, reviews and exploring and discovering things from magazines. It takes me to a whole new world and bring in new perspective and visions. I also have basic watercolor materials and empty, unsketched drawing books.,

Anyway, must be talking too much already.. So, I just happened to read Elizabeth Gilbert’s post today and here’s a part of what she wrote...

“The spaces that we make for ourselves in which to be quiet and creative MATTER. They don’t have to be big rooms. It can be just a little corner, like this room. But the space should be clean, and everything in that space should remind you of who you are. There should be nothing in that space that doesn’t bring your senses to life.”

after reading it, I looked at this tiny corner I created for myself and whenever fam come over, I had to move them out from the table and I get so sensitive like I do not want to move a single thing. It has to stay in there just within my sight. Whenever I am away, I have google to look for things I love staring at like Film Photography samples, or abstracts, quotes, Street Photog, music. whatever.. 

I just agreed with what she said. so, yea.. that’s it.. Good morning!

We are reading Iron Flame together!

 They are almost done while I am still at page 8 🤭😆

My Nicknames

I just remembered all the nicknames I was being called. It reflects the phases of my life. I just know who'd call me even when I am not looking. Hahaha

I want to start writing again.

Hiiii~ It's been soooo long since my last post and I am glad blogger/ blogspot stayed. I believe it will as it belongs to Google. 

I remember apologizing everytime, it took me awhile to make a post before I would start the proper input of my blog. i miss doing it.☺️

We can always start over right? 

Adulting hits so hard we often neglect what fuels our soul and focus on what requires lesser energy and what is right infront of us. I get consumed by social networks. It is very overwhelming until I got down the rabbit hole. It isn't a bad thing as it has been my free therapy and I had so much fun consuming the videos and so much more content. 

I think I have so much to share. I can just indicate some specific dates when I post about something from my experiences in the past years so we can keep track. I can do that. This is a blog anyway. 

Oh wow! Look, I wrote a lot of words! Is it a good sign to actually start blogging again? 

I love my blog. I will be writing some stuff soon. Hahahaha 

-mk

BOOKMAIL FROM HEAVENLY!

 

A birthday bookmail from Teach Heaven ( Anchelique) came early. It arrived April 1!

She gifted me with 4 books. Little Women is her precious copy from when she's 12 oh my gush! i feel special 😭🥹 Thank youuu sooo much

Performative Reading

 

Why do people say reading in public is "performative reader?" Sa tiktok ko lng nalaman yung term nayun ah. Parang bully naman pakinggan? Grabeh noh.

Saying such term is discouraging readers. I have grown accustomed to people reading newspapers everywhere, um well until 2020. Sad. I dunno what happened but maybe coz of gadgets? But people still read but through posts such as status and captioned photos.

That was never in my vocab because I read when I can. But back when I was still in school I do read in jeepneys, buses but syempre it wasn't fiction books, it was our huge textbooks. Performative reader na ba yun? Haha

I just hope it stops na uy. That is plain rude to be called performative reader. LET ME FINISH MY BOOK OKAY. Just as you try to finish watching your short stories.

Read when you can and wherever you can read. There's no law naman cguro that says we can't read in public😭

Not like fiction books are intended to be read in our house. Don't be shy .. just read that book! I am done with school so just let me be!

The girl beside is probably reviewing so good job sister! Goodluck!!!

People We Meet on Vacation

 

I will definitely miss Poppy and Alex! These two got me so invested! Why would some dnf this. Pick it up again! You will giggle, be angry, cry and cry some more. Stare at the ceiling, go on a week of being in a reading slump and wonder why and then you will pick up the book again! You will also question yourself. WHY YOU DID WHAT YOU DID 🤣 did I do the right thing? Haha

----

Just finished reading this book by Emily Henry! Now, let's pick a new book and get on another adventure 🤣i can't keep sobbing here! I am a big girl now! Emily girl you got be sobbing like a teenager😭😭🤣

It was such a cute book and makes you remember when and how you felt needing someone🤭 oh hahahahah

Get your copy now!

Crying in Hmart

 

 

I'm so happy to announce that I have finished reading Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. I will miss the family I am introduced to. I will remember the whirlwind of emotions I've experienced while reading the book. She made me cry while I was trying to read while eating at the nearest carenderia in my place, stare blankly while seated. She put me on a reading slump because I was contemplating about my own life. This book is a non fiction. I highly recommend you read it, too!

Middle School Series

 

Too cute not to share! I am reading James Patterson and Chris Tebbets' Middle School How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill. And I love these pages right here!
 

You Belong With Me

Has anyone here read this book? Only few chapters left and I am done. There were times I felt lost reading this book and I know my friend told me this is book 2 and I totally forgot about it. I should have listened and went to look for Who's That Girl.

I have learned my lesson. I guess when I know it's a series, I must go seek the first book.!

 

 If you are on tiktok and you like to buy cheaper books or mainly thrift some books, then look for MariGracia23 on tiktok. She has such a sweet voice when she is selling live and she talks to her buyers. Look at the free bookmark. Isn't it lovely? 🫰I'm inlove with this bookmark 💕 Thank you mima!

The Muse by Jessie Burton

 

sa tinood lng i wanna shut my brain for awhile.

reading coz it helps but ohhhh jeezzz..

let me take this out my brain or magbreakdown jud...

a spike of anxiety just rolled in. 😵‍💫‼️❓⁉️

grabeh na kaagi bai. sorry for the word na

"grabeh"... i know what i am going through right now is not even half as bad as others had or is still experiencing right now. but what im saying is ..

started to rain again. as in auto pilot kas tnan + anxiety what a combo but you have to function as normal as you can without breaking down.

how I am torn between two right now but is there something i can do??? nothing. do this or not? just skip and stay and then what?

padung sad mag 10 pm? in just like a few hours mag 10 pm npd. and my. ginhawa tag lawm.

how many rounds of triggers pman ni n0h?

there is nothing we can do if NATURE na magpapalihuk sa tnan. all we can do is stay positive and do what you got to do daily.

for you and for people around you.

Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop by Caroline Roberts

 

Just finished Caroline Roberts' book and I wanna find the other 2 books she published.

I thrifted this book from Tiktok. I think this is around 89php - 100 php. I can't remember but I have been checking out books more than I should. I have been buying cute cover books with cute stories, too. Light read and I cannot believe I have finished 4 books in span of 4 months. I used to be on a reading slump.

It officially ended when I got hold of Jessica Jung's book SHINE. I also have a copy of its sequel BRIGHT. Bookmarks ready.

I am just so happy I am starting to love "reading" again. I had this one book that took me 3 years to finish. But still glad I did. It was FANGIRL. The problem was not the book. It was about me getting easily distracted by a lot things around me. Especially my phone. 😆✌️

Currently reading: The Secret Life of an Uncool Mom 

 HAPPY READING!!! 

Bantayan Trip (AUG 2016)

 Last August 2016, Mear (IG: mear_mewin) and I headed to Bantayan Island to begin our travel plans and ideas. She makes sure everything is set before we go such as transportation details and fare rates, accommodation and the beach sites. I don't have much idea about these things although I am guilty of loving the thought of travelling. Like who wouldn't, right? I just held back from getting technical about these things because it could be really addicting. So, she takes care of them, while I tag along as planned. We both are into bikinis and I love the thought that we really do love channeling our inner mermaids and island girl persona when we're together and and when we're by the beach or on an island. And while I am writing this I really miss being on the beach. I told you, it's addicting. 

I love being on the beach. I just have to say that first because it's the first thing that came to my mind after the first sentence. Just so it's very very clear. I miss blogging and I miss travelling so much. I miss taking pictures and telling a story every shot. I miss it so much. I just didn't feel like I have enough to tell anymore. But I've always checked my blog and I wished words came out already so I could begin my stories, well, until now. I'm happy that I am writing right now. 

The Bantayan Trip I had with Mear isn't the first time I've been there. I've been there for a couple of times already and it's a new experience every time. I always read this line and I'm reminded by it as I was writing. So, it does feel like that.  We went around some beaches and had photoshoots together. She had a GoPro and it's magic every time. Every shot just so good I can't even help it, I think I am getting one. But for now. what I have is  a Supermo1. My mother got me one because she knew I wanted to have an action camera and she then sighted the package deal with promo at Globe Communications while she was paying our bill. Haha I have a couple of shot and I am going to post it up soon too. Ah~ this is getting addicting now. And I am starting to post things up again. This is good!

So here are a couple of pictures we got through her GoPro. :) I'm going to update soon, again.

What a great feeling it is to actually feel like writing again. I thought about it so many times. 

I have a lot in mind right now and what I'd want to do next is make sure I got the right words to say on here when I finally write my thoughts on my blog.

I missed my blog.

I am more content these days. Nothing much has changed. 

Everything seems to be better now.

I will be back.

I took the time to browse through my journal, the physical journal, and I began writing again. I felt weird at first like I couldn't hold the pen properly because I haven't wrote stuff in there for a long time, or maybe because I had not got used to writing through a pen anymore unless if I wrote a number from our sales.

That was really awkward.

But as I was writing, I also felt the freedom to express. It's like an offline journal. Cos it is an offline journal. I have kept it for so long already. A journal which is almost a decade now and I am still writing on it every time I get the chance to, or when the urge of writing something that has been happening in my life occur.

I mentioned that it's been a long since I wrote there. It's true.

And when I flipped through my last entry, I figured that it was such a sad entry to begin with. 

It's about a break up that I experienced with a friend. We've been friends for 2 years but the impact seem to last a lifetime. I considered her actually as my little sister and a bestfriend. But things got a little rough and the friendship really made its bitter end. I sent her my last message via gmail and did not receive a reply so I guess, really, for the nth time. It's over between the two of us.

 

and im moving on.

My relationship with my family has been stronger also since I thought about not meeting new people so I won’t get any more friends, and so I can guard myself from getting hurt cos apparently no one understands me outside my house. The only person who understands me is my Mother and some cousins and/ or maybe my brother does. It’s given I think? haha And to me, they’re enough. My mother is enough as a company in anything. and my cousins and my brother, and some relatives i think. You know, you have those times when you search for who you are in people, and thought maybe they would understand you because you are on the same grade as they were, you’re workmates, you guys hang out a lot, but actually,. or sometimes, they don’t. It doesn’t apply/ or even happen to a lot of people. I’ve come to a point that I’ve stopped seeing people actually even the friends I’ve made. I just totally stopped seeing them especially when they don’t reach out to me, when it turns out that I was the only one trying to reach out to them- but when I did, they started doing it to me. They reached out to me more than they did before. I don’t know why? hahaha

I'm gonna talk about some websites/ app. I have a couple of accounts online. I got tumblr which is my visual diary http://mkmariakristina.tumblr.com

I got my twitter @ twitter.com/operariomk and instagram @ instagram.com/mkmariakristina. Well, I do have facebook which I think had 1,500 plus friends/ contacts but I trimmed it down to 68, that only includes my family and relatives. 68 People only. I got one friend who freaked out and got mad and blocked me off her account. But she wasn't a real friend. She really wasn't. Damn--- also my other friends were okay with my idea of just using the Messenger as our way of keeping in touch to each other. It's open for everyone. 

The reason behind why I decided to cut down contacts is simple.  I got tired of just lurking on timelines and not TALKING TO EACH OTHER. So, I decided to cut out people and leave my Messenger on. A CONVERSATION WITH A HUMAN BEING/ A FRIEND/ A FAMILY/ A RELATIVE/ OLD FRIEND/ STRANGER/ ANYONE  IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME. SO LET US JUST TALK ON MESSENGER OK?

There. I actually really just felt writing stuff. 

That's all for today ;-)

There comes a time when you really can't write things in a blog.
Sometimes, I may have the idea on my mind but all I can write are limited lines. Never the kind that share something about something.

I even got to a point where I made another one and neglected one. Did't show the links as if it was hidden. But it's not. It's just there.

the feeling of writing again is almost back. I may write again..

thank God blogger has kept this. Thank God they're still here. my blog is still here...

i am just so thankful for this!!!!!!

i will be writing soon!

Dear Life

Dear life.

I’ve had this on my mind for quite sometime now. And I think I’ve come to a point where I can really fix my mind and finally put it into writing. I think my life has become more organized, serene, peaceful by cutting off people who belittle me. They do that to me without even noticing that they’re doing it. And although I feel alone sometimes, cause literally I am because I am single, but it’s better this way. No gossips, no pressure of night outs, no spending too much on alcohol, fare and time for doing things over and over again like just simply “holding on for tonight” (got this from Sia’s Chandelier) kind of life? So, I guess it wasn’t YOLO kind of thing cause we were like slowly killing our organs inside for drinking almost every other day for two years, for staying up late from partying and shooing our probs away, temporary happiness and for contributing to arguments for almost not going home and for what we thought finding bestfriends and sisters outside our family circle was everything and fun. If you have friends whom you’ve become so close you sometimes forget you have family whose supposed to know every single thing about you. lol we could just be jamming, we weren’t doing significant things with other people anymore. I got stagnant and absurd, and foolish, wild and a pain in the ass. It’s not just me, everybody does become like this at one point and then realizing change has to happen. Thanks to Dear Life it doesn’t make us miserable all the time. We stand up again back on track for what we live for. Our family, some close friends, love, faith and dreams and Our Purpose.

I found a thread that's totally just about networking. I'm still so curious about it.

http://www.istorya.net/forums/business-finance-and-economics-discussions-16/497174-ngano-man-daghan-nag-lagot-sa-networking-business.html

The more i read the negative posts, the more I want to say that hey " networking is a thing" "negative thoughts about it is a thing" "it's job you gotta work on and not depend too much on other people although some will back you up as a starter" But it all boils down to attitude. IF YOU LIKE IT, THEN GET IT. WORK IT. EARN IT.

and finally.. SPEND IT.

do it again...

WORK AND EARN IT

SPEND IT....

anyway, so there.

It's so sad networking has a bad image already here in the Philippines. I used to ignore people doing these stuff because of the notion that I got from observing people who does the job and work on it. I've seen people succeed, earn daily, monthly, yearly, for as long as they chose it as their job because it's legit, instead of applying for a company with a contract and time for work. I have learned that with if you become a "network marketer" you are making yourself your own boss 24/7 where in all these things take place. You own your time, you choose your work time, you feel lazy in the morning you do the work in the afternoon and whatever is right for you. But the products are not yours. They give you a bundle. Something you have to work on. This time not papers with deadlines and stuff, photocopies, uhmmm drafts, research papers. You are not selling your OWN products coz apparently you did not create/ manufacture them. A company did it for you, and all you just gotta do is spread the word and sell them to people who might be interested with them. Take note! Who might be interested. Leave those who do not and get back to them next time,they might wanna get it next time. I didn't like this before, too. But change came, a switch of interest just hit me. US.

So my mom and I, registered as well. That's when we totally understood it. I'm just glad that we found a good company.

We are part of Alliance in Motion, Global.

If you want to become A ‪#distributor‬, a ‪‎#businesspartner‬, ‪#entreprenuer‬, ‪#negosyante‬ and a ‪#boss‬....

then...

contact me. We gotta talk. hahah here's ANOTHER WAY TO EARN IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'VE EARNED ENOUGH while you were working in an office or you're doing what you like. Sick of going in and out of your office. Tired of working, stuck, bummmmm, not doing anything, a plain fangirl.

DUDE YOU GOTTA WORK!!!!

You just didn't have enough. and you want more. ADD THIS BUSINESS On YOUR BUCKET!

Contact me: 0933-363-0754

Open for international and local candidates 

wink emoticon

PM ME! I'M ALWAYS ONLINE ANYWAY.

#BeingOnlineDoneRight
IM SERIOUS!

YUP!

WHY NOT!

BEYONCE BEING BEYONCE!!!!

I love the whole performance!!!
I totally stopped at what I was doing the moment it started.
IT'S A PERFORMANCE LIKE NO OTHER!!!

Beyonce always do a killer performance! I love her so much as a performer. Oh! I just wish I'd get a chance to meet her and watch her in a live performance! It gives me chills ...whoooooo!

Hair and Curls

Most of the time when it took us for awhile to write something in our blog we get confused which one to write about especially when our blog is spontaneous and includes all the random things that you can think about it before. Unlike other blogs that only featured all things Fashion, Food, DIY or Photography among others. There are too many things and many categories. My blog just happened to be a random blog. But today I thought about writing about my Hair.

I would have to say that I have been taking care of my hair and I have been so conscious about it. I read magazines a lot and I really like articles about hair and how to take care of it. It's a girl's crown. It's one of the best accessories a woman could ever have.

Today I chose to put up some images I took with my handy phone. 

For girls like me who takes care of their hair, GOOD JOB! That's a woman ought to do. Never take your hair for granted. Just don't. OKAY?! haha

So, naturally, I have a long wavy hair. I had it coloured only when I turned 25. I was a late bloomer myself but it is not a competition. It is when you become comfortable deciding things for yourself that make you one. This is risky for some because dying your hair may not always give you a good result. That tube you use may contain harmful contents for your hair and it might just cause damage. Hope it doesn't though. I never wish that to happen. There are girls who have colored hair, actually a lot of them. But don't be pressured by people around you, it happens naturally. It often takes time but you will also know what you like and what you're comfortable of doing.

My friends and I did this one to our hair, sometimes with the help of my friend's sister who volunteered to put the color on our hair. So, yes, dying your hair doesn't necessarily mean going to the salon right away, if you have someone whom you can trust who knows about hair can do it for you. Or if you are more comfortable to have it done in a salon that would still be fine. It's going to save you so much time, more girly time with your girlfriends and your squad. Make sure to arrange  schedule so it would be more fun! But for my hair I have not made it done in a salon yet. I had somebody do it for me. Maybe the next time I decide to color it again. hmmmm 

I talk so much!! 

Here are a few pictures I got. And I must admit that I got addicted to doing massive selfies because I was lovin' my hair everyday because it didn't look the same every single day. Perks of having a wavy hair. It was never in place but it was a good thing #WavyHair

Take a pic of yourself and be comfortable ;-)