The Random Bibliophile

by Renee Alexis

Renee Alexis
20-something Filipina, an introvert who loves young adult fiction, brush pens, Taylor Swift, and BTS. Coffee runs in my bloodstream.

Follow

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

2023 Reading Challenge

2023 Reading Challenge
Renee Alexis has read 0 books toward her goal of 30 books.
hide

2016: A Year in Review

2016 - A Year in Review

2017 is already peaking right around the corner and I am so ready for him to arrive! 2016 had been a bust and I know I am not alone in feeling this way, amaryt? But despite all the bad things that happened this year, I believe the good things still outweighed them all. I've ridden one heck of a roller coaster ride of emotions this year and after all of the stress and anxiety and confusion and hurt and heartaches, I am proud of myself to have overcome them all and survive!

The struggle hasn't ended yet but I am in a very good place right now and I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel already (or maybe I'm just overreacting, haha). But seriously, though, as what I have said on my November Happy List blog post, I finally got a sense of direction after being so lost and confused for months. It's a great feeling, to have a plan and to have knowledge that I have somewhere to go in the near future (and it's somewhere I would really like to be in).

I am glad 2016 is ending on a high note for me. I'm with my family, I've made my mom happy, I made myself happy, I am in a very good mood, and my skin is glowing! (haha, I had to include this  😂 ).

Now, without further ado, here are some of my 2016 favorites and highlights I'd love to share with you all! 😊

2016 favorite shows and movies

  • Movies and TV Series I Loved

    • Descendants of the Sun (!!!)
    • W - Two Worlds (!!!)
    • Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
    • Moana
    • Doctor Strange!
    • How to Get Away with Murder
    • Captain America: Civil War
    • The Voice US

**Although I haven't watched Moana yet, I just have to include it on my list of favorites because I'm sure Disney slayed this one and I have read a lot of great feedback about it from people who have seen it. I will watch it as soon as I can get a copy of it. 😁

**Korean Series has really, really stepped up their game this year. My absolute favorites would have to be Descendants of the Sun (seen it 2 times) and W - Two Worlds (just finished watching it)!!! Song Joong Ki and Lee Jong Suk stole my heart, gods help me. 😂

**As for the Miss Peregrine movie, hear me out first fellow die-hard Ransom Riggs fans. I liked the movie even if it didn't really give justice to the books. When I was done watching it, I got it. The movie wasn't an adaptation of the books, the movie was just inspired by it. The plot was different and it felt kind of rushed, and there were new elements introduced. I even heard that Riggs is going to write another trilogy to continue where the movie ended. I totally respect it if you didn't like the movie, but to all their own, right? And I personally loved it. 😉

  • Tunes I dug

    • Brand New Key (Darbie Walker and Karlee Metzger - The Voice US Season 11)
    • Try Everything (Zootopia OST)
    • How Far I'll Go (Moana OST)
    • Say you won't let go (James Arthur)
    • I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Zayn | Taylor Swift)

  • Books I Loved

    • Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas
    • A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
    • Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
    • November 9 by Colleen Hoover
    • An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
    • The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
    • Miss Peregrine's Series by Ransom Riggs

**I know, I know. I have been lagging behind from my book review posts and I have no excuse. 😅 I should make this a goal for 2017, that I'll be more diligent in writing reviews in every book I loved reading, hehe.

Renee's 2016 Travel Highlights!

  • Places I've Traveled


**It has been a wonderful year of travel. I loved getting to see more of my country. I sure hope I could travel as much in 2017! Cheers for more sights to see! ❤

  • Personal Discoveries

    • The Menstrual Cup changed my *period* life
    • Self-love is important ❤
    • I've fallen in love with Korean Skin Care Routine
    • I'm on my way to becoming a fitness junkie (or at least I'm struggling to be one!) 😅

  • Challenges and Fears I Conquered

    • Putting my mind out there
    • Overcoming my fear of the future (even for just a while)
    • Being the bigger person when crisis arose
    • Adult-ing was hard but I came out alive and survived!

  • Achievements I unlocked

    • Became serious in blogging
    • Live fully independent from the 'rents
    • Traveled to places with friends
    • Reached 100 followers on Bloglovin' 😁

  • Goals I achieved

    • Giving back to my parents in even the littlest ways possible
    • Reached my one year mark on the first mining company I've worked in
    • Opened a Paypal account and verified it with a friend's help
    • Bought a domain, a premium template, and got a sponsored blog post
    • Bought my own mirrorless camera! ❤
    • Hosted my own giveaway!
    • Completed my Goodreads Reading Challenge (45/45 books)
    • Achieved my savings goal 😁

**To more goals unlocked in 2017!

2016 Highlights

  • Blessings I received

    • An online part-time job for extra income
    • A sense of direction (finally!)
    • Warmth and love from my workmates
    • Gained great online friends! 😊
    • Getting to buy beauty products from my online earnings
    • Hope beyond the storms I came across with
    • My boyfriend staying with me after all the times I've been difficult
    • Good health for my family ❤
    • Having a mom who supports what you really want to do
    • Spending the Holidays with my mother's side of the family for the first time!

The Inzo Family

**Thank you, Lord, for all your wonderful blessings! I know I am nothing without you!

  • Blog Post Runner-Ups (Top 10)


**This was a great year for my blog that is still starting up. I hope 2017 will bring me more opportunities for blog growth! Of course, I couldn't have done it without my lovely readers who continues to visit and read my write-ups. You guys are awesome! Thank you all so very much! SML ❤



As I was thinking of things to put in this entry, I realized that 2016 wasn't as bad as I thought it was. I have been blessed so much this year that I couldn't be thankful enough. You really do have to count your blessings more to appreciate what you have, rather than keeping track of the bad things that have happened. Because in the end, what really matters are the lessons you've learned, the good things you've done, the things that made you happy, and the people that have been a part of that happiness.

I claim that this year of 2017 will be great and I wish that you will have a blast, too! Have a happy and prosperous New Year, guys! Cheers for a great 2017 ahead! 

Comments

Contact Form