LFLTAT x Color Story: Baby (pink and blue) Love.

Since it’s springtime in the US, a lot of pastels have been coming out from fast fashion brands. 

Both H&M and Zara have stocked up on pastels and florals (florals, for spring, groundbreaking.) Even a lot of local brands have jumped on the trend.

SM Department Store is one of the local brands that has been coming up with chic, pastel colored pieces. The best part is, their pastels are also on sale! Imagine that! So, it was easy to find an outfit that was within Spring’s color story, and within the LFLTAT budget.

Behold:

The skirt is from the GTW brand. It’s a nice dusty pink color with front buttons and pockets! Very relaxed, yet very stylish.

The top is a very light denim that is almost powder blue in color. Still within the pastel theme, it has a loose silhouette, with long sleeves and ties on the end.

Together, it’s a very light, Spring-feeling ensemble with 2 pastel colors.

And thanks to the sale, the whole outfit cost less than P700!

Bring on Spring!

Family Flashback

When I was a kid, I'd see this photo on the wall of the ancestral home in Malinao, and was always fascinated by it.

Maybe it's because I got a glimpse of my Mom as a teener. Or how the photo captured the Regalados as a strong and diverse family. Or how I could feel the strong presence of Lolo Doring and Lola Pining emanating from the photo.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think that's what makes this photo so special.

Haw come?

The last time I bought Haw Flakes was 2 weeks ago.

They were P49.75 per pack, and I bought my usual 6-8 packs.

After that, they suddenly disappeared from the shelves. Not sure if it was a stock-out issue, but I couldn't find it in any SM Department Store.

Today, I found them again in SM Megamall.

But guess what? They're now P69.75 per pack!

That's a P20 increase in 2 weeks? Crazy!

It won't stop me from buying more Haw Flakes, though.

San Roque rocks!

This house in San Roque brings back a lot of nice, fun and fond childhood memories.

Memories that I got to relive when I visited Bicol last week.

It's great that some things never change.

FMM: O Captain, my Captain (and Tennille)

I'm feeling very 80s today, especially since I saw 2 friends from the 80s here at Creative Fest.

Which is why I've chosen an 80s classic for today's Friday Magic Madness song.

It's a cool, chill and laid-back song from Captain and Tennille:



I enjoy listening to this song so much that I'll do it one more time.

Creative Creatures

Attending creative conferences is fun.

Aside from the learnings you get, it's also the chance to reconnect with old friends from the industry.

And attending it is even moremfun when you have some of your teammates with you.

It's going to be a fun and creative 2 days!

Mysterious & Mexican

I've seen a lot of M&M variants before, especially when I go to the US. I have my personal favorites, like the pretzel M&M, mint M&M, and crispy M&M.

Then, I saw this mysterious pack on the shelf and was instantly intrigued by it:

Mexican Jalapeño M&M!

True to its Mexican roots, it's spicy! You can taste the kick of spice the moment you bite into it. But before it gets super caliente, the chocolate comes in and neutralizes it.

Off hand, I think this is one of those "acquired taste" M&Ms. Fortunatelt, I've acquired a taste for Mexican food.

When the chic hits the fam

i've mentioned this before, but you know that Ate Bullet likes an outfit when she wears it immediately after you give it to her.

Such was the case with the lace top and wide pant ensemble that I wrote about the other day. She liked it so much that she rocked it within a few days:

Yup, it's more chic in person than it is on a mannequin.

The teen scene

And just like a blink of an eye, our Baby Javi is now a teener!

I know this line is often said, but I'll say it again:

"Don't grow up too fast, Javi!"

One pant, two ways: Widen your horizons

We were waiting for dinner at SM City Legazpi when I decided to meander around the mall.

This meandering brought me to ForMe, mainly because of a "Sale" sign outside. Then, that "Sale" sign ended up with me buying this nice pair of wide trousers which was on sale.

These trousers have all the makings of being a staple. The shape is loose and comfortable. The stripe is flattering. The color is so versatile that it can go from classic to more fashion.

To demonstrate...

Here's how it can go classic. Take a navy blue jersey shirt with a round neckline and fluttery sleeves. The color complements the trouser, and the streamlined shape is a good foil to the wideness of the pants. This shirt is from SM Department Store.

Paired together, it's a classic ensemble that can go from business to casual.

For something a little more fashion forward, this is where this lace blouse from Yessica comes in. The colors of the blouse echoes the colors of the pants. It has shades of navy blue, red and a hint of black.

Usually, lace and pinstripes aren't a likely pairing. But because of the color match, these two items look great together. And it's an ensemble that's more fashion forward and looks good for a creative event.

The great thing about these 2 ensembles is that they're all items bought from Legazpi. So, it's a good indication that you can find affordable, fashionable ensembles almost anywhere in the Philippines.

Little Joys!

One of today's highlights? An impromptu merienda with Maricar and Gary at the little gem in East Avenue!

Little Quiapo is a legend in the area. Their halo-halo and palabok are to die for! We've been going here since my grade school days, mainly because it was near Claret.

I didn't know that they moved, and apparently this was more than 5 years ago. And I haven't eaten here in about a decade.

Needless to say, the halo-halo and palabok we ate was more than just a little joy.

It was massive!

FMM: Heat maker!

if we judge it by the current temperature, Summer is definitely making its presence felt!

It's muggy and humid indoors, and scorching outdoors.

This is a job for Glenn Frey!



What an apt Friday Magic Madness song for this weather.

Kondo living

One of the joys of staying home during the Holy Week holiday? Going all Marie Kondo and disposing stuff that "don't spark joy."

And here's my pile for today!

Can't wait to do some more tomorrow. This is strangely gratifying.

When coloring is in Vogue

Here's something that takes the concept of adult coloring books to a totally different level:

Vogue coloring books!

I found this while roaming around SM City Legazpi, and is one of the Best Buy's of this trip.

Next stop: fashionable crayons,

Chickening out

During my weekend trip to Bicol, there's one thing I realized.

You know you're in the province when you have chickens in your backyard.

And yes, we had geese and turkeys, too.

Can I cry fowl now?

Gone Bananas

"Sinapot" was one of my favorite childhood snacks whenever we went to Bicol.

They're thinly sliced bananas, stacked, dipped in a sweet batter, then deep fried.

The result, of course, is divine! It has the right amount of crunch on the outside, and it's soft inside.

I'm so,glad that we were able to buy some while we were in Bicol.

I would've gone bananas if I didn't.

SM means Stunning Mayon

Methinks that SM City Legazpi is probably the SM Mall with the best view.

Imagine eating at a restaurant with this as backdrop!

Yes, SM has a full, unadulterated view of the Mayon Volcano! (If it's not covered in clouds.)

This is definitely a mall with a view!

Back to my childhood

There are some things that automatically transports me back to the simple, idyllic time of my childhood.

Like the soft, black sand of the beach in Bacacay,

And eating freshly cooked sinapot.

Hooray for the simple life!

FMM: Kool for the Summer

just because I'm going to Bicol, and I'm sure that I'll cherish my time there, this MUST be my Friday Magic Madness song:



And off to Bicol we go!

So bad, it's good.

My officemate sent us this meme which took me a few seconds to process.

The question was: "What's the date today?"

Followed by this:

Ah yes. As millennials would say: When you see it...

Berry dreamy!

Suddenly, I have a craving for Baby Yulo's Strawberry Shortcake!

This creamy, dreamy concoction is definitely TDF!

Where o where to get it?!

WATN: Polo Club

While vegging out in front of the TV and channel surfing, I came across this old US series entitled "Royal Pain."

What made me stop and look at the screen was this familiar actress with a super pretty face:

It's Teri Polo!

A decade or so ago, she was one of America's Sweethearts. A leading lady who came out in hits like "Meet The Parents." She's been MIA from the big screen of late, though.

Time to bring her back!

LFLTAT; Lace for less

There was a time when lace was known to be a special occasion fabric. Because it was expensive and rare, it was often used for wedding, debuts and other big events.

The reason for the cost is the craftsmanship that goes into making it. Back then, lace was made by hand, by artisans. So, it was really an art.

But as fabric technologies progressed, making lace became easier. And more affordable. So much so that it's now an everyday fabric.

Take this white lace dress from SM Department Store. It's elegant. It's for everyday. And it's less than P500!

What's not to love about lace?

Beach, please.

Good food. Good company. Good cooks. Good beach.

The creative folks should go to the beach more often!

A spelling challenge

Really. "Challenge" should be easy to spell, right?

Apparently not.

Proofreader, please.

FMM: Wonders never cease

There are some things that will never grow old.

Just like great songs with beautiful melodies and lovely lyrics.

Just like this classic 80s song from Stevie Wonder:



Songs like these make me look forward to Friday Magic Madness even more.

Makeover and above

I've got a new TV show portion to binge-watch!

The past few days, I've been watching "The Today Show" on YouTube, particularly the "Plaza Ambush Makeover" portion.



It's such a joy to see how a simple tweak on a person's look can change their life and self-image dramatically.

I'd love to see something like this in a TV show in The Philippines.

LFLTAT; Stripe tease

Saw this banker stripemshoft dress at SM Department Store from afar, and had to take a closer look.

Aside from the classic camisole silhouette, it was made more interesting by the strategically placed contrast stripes, plus the slits!

But the best part is, it was on sale! For P400!

Sold!

LFLTAT: You Kendo it!

Sale racks - especially the ones that are packed to the rafters - can be daunting to some people. Luckily, I'm not "some people." In fact, it's an enjoyable exercise for me to comb through sale racks and end up with fab finds.

While waiting for Mark in Glorietta, I saw that Bench had a sale on pants and jeans. The rack was super long and super packed, and I knew it would take patience to go through it. But I did. And was rewarded with this architectural, Kendo-style black jeans.

 Being a fan of loose, boxy silhouettes, this pair resonated with me. The fabric was thick and holds it's shape. The cut was very roomy and fashion forward. And the kicker, it was P499!

Then, I remembered this draped, black blouse which I got in SM Department Store in Davao. At 50% off! The softness and drape would be a good foil to the lines of the jeans - making it a great combination.

Together, this P700 outfit gives that modern Japanese vibe.

Thank goodness for sale racks!

Exie-lharating!

Another awesome discovery from Project Runway All Stars 7, Christina Exie!

I don't follow the international seasons of Project Runway, but she's the winner of Project Runway Australia Season 4. And now is making waves in the fashion scene down under.



She's such a dynamite! Aside from being creative, she's also very articulate, conceptual and technical. Plus, that accent! Divine!

Must. Back watch. Her. Season!