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The Backstreet Boys concert was amazing.

At least, that’s what the pictures seem to tell me. You know, the pictures taken by the people who were actually there. I can’t believe I missed their concert—again!

© Pong Castillo

The Backstreet Boys were a huge part of my childhood. They were, literally and figuratively, everything to me back then. Justin who? I didn’t even start to appreciate the uber-hotness that is Justin Timberlake until waaay after N*Sync ended. There were no other boy bands (more like no other boys, period) out there, just AJ, Howie, Brian, Kevin, and Nick. Ahhh, Nick. Recess time circa 1999-2000 with my friends was spent fighting over which BSB to marry and daily allowances were saved up for their latest posters and albums. I swear, one patch of my wall has always been lighter than the rest of it for as long as I can remember.

But eventually, we all took the posters down, stored away our CD collections, and (kind of) stopped believing that Nick Carter would magically appear on our doorsteps and ask us to marry him. All of a sudden, our all-time favourite Backstreet Boys tunes were considered (gasp!) novelty songs. After we snapped out of our BSB funk, different music genres started popping out of nowhere. They’ve probably always been around, we just weren’t interested enough to give other music styles and artists the time of day. We all found something else we were interested in and promptly moved on.

Girl power bands and artists eventually came, emo/rock/punk/heavy metal took on the music scene for a while, and even more boy bands appeared and tried to steal the hearts of many shrieking girls out there (some were successful, some weren’t). But agree with me on this one—there has to be a reason why you have at least the chorus of your favorite Backstreet Boys song memorized by heart. You don’t even need a minute to think about it. Your mouth just opens and the lyrics tumble out almost automatically. Hiatus, a missing member, and 10 years later, it’s almost as if they were never gone in the first place. Now, an arena of people singing their hearts out to all the songs that take them back to their childhood/teenage years while looking at the same people they idolized and hopelessly crushed on for years and years? It must’ve been awesome.

So, any news on whether Nick is single or not? My doorstep hasn’t given up yet!

Since I can’t curl up with a good romance book that would make my heart curl up in all sides, I go to the Silver Screen. It usually, never fails.

Usually.

FAIL Flicks Numero Uno: Dear John

photo via andromeda-6.deviantart.com

So I’ve been wanting to watch this ever since the trailer. I even read the book (even though Nicholas Sparks isn’t really my cup o’ tea. He’s too much of a slow writer for me.)!

So we went in watching the movie. For the first half hour, it was all fine, then came the grainy pictures for about 10 minutes. After that, the entire movie stopped. Blackout. No, not Britney Spears-style but the they-were-about-to-kiss-why’d-you-stop?! kind of black out. So it came back on after 3 minutes but there was this annoying black gradient thing on the bottom, which completely took out the very, very, FIT body of Sir Channing Tatum.

But at least, we finished the movie. Unlike FAIL experience number two.

FAIL Flicks Numero Dos: Valentine’s Day

photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

I love abusing no class days, and what better to spend it than in a movie screen whilst being stuffed with guilt-free yogurt. So I was excited to see, the… romanticism… aspect… of… Who am I kidding? I wanted to see Taylor Lautner’s Smile and Bradley Cooper’s Blue Blue Bluueeee Eyes whilst swooning over That Guy From Aliens In The Attic.

Anyway, I knew from the beginning that Valentine’s Day is an overrated film. There isn’t really a story line, and the saving grace was the fact that Anne Hathaway was in there. I thought I would be corrected, but I wasn’t. Halfway through the movie, there was a blackout. It took us 10 minutes to get it back on again and for 10 seconds, we were watching a silent film. No music at all. Thankfully, it got back up again and everything was running smoothly until it happened again. This time, longer. We hear the generators in the mall backing up and nothing is happening. The group of guys sitting beside me is starting to get sassy so they thought it would be good for the mass of the movie house to put on a shadow play show.

I have no idea why they had a flashlight with them, but they did and so they flashed it on the screen and started doing finger puppets. Then there were people screaming: ” REFUND! REFUND!” and my friend decided to join: ” ON POPCORN, TOO!”

Everyone got pretty much fed up by guessing the words that were mouthed by the actors so we all got a refund.

I guess I really have bad experiences in the movie house and I guess I can’t do anything about it. But for now, I have my beautiful refunded money to spend on more yogurt. Or maybe invest in a good chick-lit instead.

SAG Awards, Golden Globes, People’s Choice Awards, and the Grammys—things we can officially tick off from the Major Awards Shows of 2010 list (Academy Awards, here we come!). Personally, I think half the fun of watching these shows is seeing the celebrities walk down the red carpet at the pre-show ceremonies. It’s always really fun to scrutinize every single gown and dress on that carpet, whether you end up totally hating or falling in love with it. I’ve also found that the pre-show fashion rituals are best shared with your girlfriends—even if it is just over the phone! Sorry boys, it’s a girl thing.

photo courtesy of Fox/Solar Entertainment

An actress who, for me, passed her first red carpet experiences with flying colors is Glee’s Lea Michele. Who would have known that little goody two-shoes Rachel Berry could work a red carpet that well? Definitely an upgrade from the pastel cardigans, argyle-print sweaters, knee-high socks and penny loafers she wears on the show!

Click on these links for Lea’s looks:

Looking like a modern day princess at the Golden Globe Awards

Working the red hot look at the People’s Choice Awards

I think she looked like an absolute dream at the SAG Awards

Nothing beats her Grammy Awards dress! My personal favorite: I. LOVE. THIS. DRESS.

You know who I’m going to look out for at the next red carpet event I can’t wait!

I have long developed a fascination for TV series. Currently, I’m keeping up with Greek, 90210, The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, but I have been most loyal to One Tree Hill. I am forever indebted to my friend who gave me a copy of the first two episodes of One Tree Hill long, long before it was shown here. Immediately after watching the pilot episode, I already knew there was something about that show that would make me love it so much. I have never missed an episode in all 7 seasons. Characters have come and gone, but I’m still a loyal OTH fan. I can say that my life wouldn’t have been the same if I had never set foot in Tree Hill.

I learn a lot about relationships and life in general from watching TV series, but what are they without the characters and their complex webs? Here are my favorite characters from my favorite TV shows:

1. Erin Silver, 90210 (Jessica Stroup)
   On the first few episodes, Silver appeared to be an arrogant and snotty non-conformist; but as the series progressed, I was able to see depth in her character. She can be very cynical and witty but she always speaks her mind. She puts up a tough exterior and she stands by what she believes in. More than her amazing fashion sense, I admire how she would always be there to support her friends. Once they’re getting off-track, she tries to reel them back to the right direction. If they refuse, she doesn’t force the friendship. She allows her friends to discover what she’s been saying all along for themselves, but she’s always ready to rekindle lost friendships as long as lessons have been learned. She’s been through a lot and never really had a mother figure because her mother is alcoholic and she hated her for that. At the middle part of season 2, Silver shows strength and integrity as she faces a big challenge and as she chooses forgiveness over hatred.
   

   photo courtesy of The CW/Velvet

2. Elena Gilbert, The Vampire Diaries (Nina Dobrev)
   First, I like her because she keeps a diary. I’m pretty partial to those things. On another note, while recovering from the loss of both parents, she tried to watch out for her younger brother even though she’s having a difficult time herself. She then gets involved in a world she thought could only be a fantasy - a world involving vampires. Given that, she’s dealing with overwhelming things simultaneously but she’s still able to make mature decisions. I admire her for her open-mindedness and capability to trust. (Plus, she’s really, really pretty. Girl crush!)
   

   photo courtesy of The CW/CS9

3. Rusty Cartwright, Greek (Jacob Zachar)
   Rusty is such a cute character! A geek who aspired to become a part of the mischievous Kappa Tau fraternity, his adventures are definitely laugh out loud funny. He is loyal and honest to his friends and to his sister Casey. He doesn’t let rivalry between houses come between friendship. He dealt with his first shot at romance and heartbreak in a way only Rusty can (his character is just so cute and unique!). The relationships he develops (with his friends, sisters, and “brothers”) definitely gave me bits of life lessons that I will carry with me as I go along.
   

   photo courtesy of ABC Family Worldwide

4. Carter Baizen, Gossip Girl (Sebastian Stan)
   I don’t really have a favorite character in Gossip Girl but I really like Carter Baizen’s character. Yes he had a shady past but what’s important is that he was able to reinvent himself and face the consequences of his actions. He showed honesty and loyalty, backing Serena up when nobody else was there for her. He helped her face one of her major life issues and he didn’t choose the easy way out.
   

   photo courtesy of The CW/Solar Entertainment/ETC

5. Peyton Sawyer, One Tree Hill (Hilarie Burton)
   She is probably my favorite character of all time. It’s sad that she is no longer part of the whole OTH franchise, but she’s had her time. She is an amazing artist who expresses her emotions through her drawings. She is all about art and music. She drives that wonderful and classy black Comet that brought her to the love of her life. She was a cynical character who lived a lonely life. She went through several dark moments in her life from issues on family, stalkers and love. She pursued her passion in music by establishing a record label and eventually popularizing Mia Catalano (Kate Voegele), a used-to-be uninspired and unmotivated artist. Through it all, she allowed friendship, faith, hope, and love to redeem her from what has been a world without a glimmer of light to a world that shined so brightly, running off to the sunset with all her dreams right at her fingertips.
   

   photo courtesy of Solar Entertainment/ETC

I like them because no matter how fictional they all are, their personalities not only reflect those of the people we meet every single day of our lives but I can also see a part of myself in them. They are all flawed and they have their misgivings, but what makes them so great is how they rise above their falls and grow from their experiences.

PS. It’s February! I hope we all get to make a blast out of this month!

American Idol is starting this week and I couldn’t be more excited. I wasn’t able to watch last season so I’m making up for it by keeping tuned in this year. Meanwhile, while we all await the next American singing sensation (my favorite part have always been the auditions), allow me to round up my most favorite idols.

(photos via Tumblr searches)

David Archuleta - Season 7

Him, yes him. I’ve watched David ever since his audition and I was immediately amazed. And even after that, I was very impressed with his song choices. I loved “Another Day In Paradise,” “When You Believe,” “Think of Me,” “With You,” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” Since the release of his album, I’ve also already included “Touch My Hand” and “A Little Too Not Over You” on my list of favorites. And you gotta admit, David is one of the few who has the nicest smiles. (blush)

Katharine McPhee - Season 5

Katharine lost to Taylor Hicks, but it doesn’t say she’s no better. With her very catchy tunes “Over You” and “Love Story,” Katharine’s got more than her American Idol fans screaming for more. Now, the brunette-turned-blond diva is out to prove to everyone else how much she has matured since the reality show and I just can’t wait!

Kelly Clarkson - Season 1

“Since You Been Gone,” “Breakaway,” and “Because of You” are only few titles greatly LSS-ed by everyone during the beginning of our adolescent stage. Who could forget the first ever American Idol? Kelly started to please viewers with her song choices which included Dionne Warwick’s “I Say A Little Prayer” and The Weather Girls’ “It’s Raining Men.” Today, Kelly Clarkson still continues to delight her listeners (including me) with better-sounding, pop tunes like “I Do Not Hook Up” and “Already Gone.”

Carrie Underwood - Season 4

One of the few proud Country singers in American Idol, Carrie Underwood never fails to amaze us with her beautiful vocals and blonde charm. My personal Carrie Underwood favorites include “Jesus, Take The Wheel” and “Before He Cheats.” Even more, what I like about Carrie is that she is a good role model to everyone else. Graduating High School as Salutatorian and College as Magna Cum Laude, Carrie Underwood proved that fame is never a reason to stop pursuing school and education.

Thinking about all of this makes me even more excited. So, who’s your American Idol?