FMM: Behind her

Today's Friday Magic Madness song is bittersweet. It's a song that's 20 years old, and the title has a colour which is also the name of a friend who we recently lost.

Hazel is one of the IUJ girls who I met during that time I surprised Mark in Urasa. I was sitting on a bench outside SD2, waiting for Mark, and this group of 3 girls passed by. I overheard one of them ask if the other 2 knew who I was, and what country I was from. That girl turned out to be Hazel.

It was during that same night, at the Karaoke party, that we were formally introduced. After that first meeting, we became friends. Being friends with Hazel was easy because she had a very friendly personality. She was bubbly, accommodating, and she always had a ready smile. 

Whenever she'd see me alone and waiting for Mark's class to finish, she'd stop and take time to chat and keep me company. Whenever we'd go to Yummy Ice Cream or JUSCO in Muikamachi, her presence would always light up that place where we were.

After their IUJ stint and they were back in Manila, we'd still occasionally see each other. Some were planned meetings, like when her daughter was baptised. Some would be accidental, like seeing her in the NEDA building in Ortigas. But no matter how many years have passed, she was still the same bubbly, accommodating and friendly Hazel from IUJ.

It was last Friday when we heard the news that she was in the hospital, and last Wednesday, we heard the sad news that she passed on. It's shocking since she's still young, and it's saddening because we won't be able to experience the friendliness and warmth that was uniquely Hazel.

So, for you, here's Kelly Clarkson's 2005 song which was one of the songs that kept me company during my first few months of living in HKG - "Beyond these Hazel eyes."

Vaya con Dios, Hazel. 

3D: Double Dark Denim

Although denim is a fashion staple, I've been noticing more and more denim pieces coming up and out these days.

Plains & Prints dropped their DNM Studios collection recently, and per usual, there were a lot of covetable pieces.

Just like this pair:

Yup, it's so good, I had to buy it stat!

The pants are cuffed, dark denim pants with side button details. The top is a loose, sleeveless top with a boxy silhouette. And together, this outfit gives a very nonchalant but cool vibe.

It's so cool, Ate wore it immediately.

And that's the sign that the outfit is doubly good.

Picture Pair-fect

I've been eyeing this cropped denim top from the Stella brand at Robinsons Department Store, but they don't have Ate's size. I've been looking for it at their Galleria, Magnolia and Ermita branch, but to no avail.

So, I asked Mark to check if they have it in RGS, the place to be. Here's the picture I sent him.

Then, a few days, he sent me this picture:

Woohoo! They have it!

But what's more amusing is the fact that our photos look alike, considering we shot it in different places and different times.

Yes, pairs do think - and take photos - alike.

Pinoy Pairing

I'm a fan of the solihiya pattern.

I'm a fan of Pinoy prints.

And SM has a barong that pairs these 2 nicely.

Would this be something I'd wear? Not really. It's a tad bit too flashy for me.

But it really is a nice barong.

Turn around

No, this isn't a "Total Eclipse of the Heart" post.

It's another cat post. It's a Monday after all.

And today's cat is facing the wall.

Makes me wonder why this cat has his back turned against all the onlookers and passers-by.

Maybe he did something wrong. Maybe he just doesn't want to see people.

But one thing's for sure, this cat sums up our feeling this Monday.

Simply Stella(r)

The hallmark of a really good designer is the ability to elevate something that would normally be simple.

And Stella McCartney displays that ability in her new H&M collaboration.

While there are a lot of very nice pieces, my key piece is this seemingly simple dress.

Yes, it's a white, sheath dress, but the way she draped it makes it look phenomenal. It's already gorgeous as a flat piece, so imagine it when it's actually worn.

If they carried this piece in the MNL stores of H&M, it would probably be the one I'd be grabbing.

Not Bad

You know you're old when the artist you listened to as a kid is now the subject of a retrospective.

Yes, there's a Michael Jackson mini-exhibit in One Ayala.

Listening to the kids talk about Michael Jackson as if he was some super old person is both amusing and humbling.

Yes, we're old.

(And that's not bad.)

FMM: XS-sive

I've been doing this Friday Magic Madness thing for more than a decade, and I'm actually surprised that there's hasn't been any INXS song featured yet.

They're a rock band from the 80s, and they had a number of massive global hits. Needless to say, they're also a mainstay in TV shows like Video Hit Parade, America's Top 10 and MTV.

One of my most listened to INXS songs is this 1983 hit.

"Original Sin," is their first song that really caught my ear and became an earworm back in the 80s. The lyrics well-written, and the musicality of their performance is just top notch.

They really are originals.

Ca(t)mouflage

This cat definitely amused me.

Yes, there's a cat in this photo. He's just strategically positioned so that you can hardly see him.

Great camouflage skills, Mr. Cat.

Good Natured

I've always liked Human Nature.

They have really nice personal care products, and I'm a user of their mint shampoo and cooling body cleanser. 

Found another reason to like them after passing by their Trinoma store:

They're closed on Sundays!

Yup, the day with the most foot traffic is the day their store is closed. Why? Because it's a Holy day of rest, and they choose to honour that.

The people behind this brand are really good humans.