Wake up!

And just like that, it's the end of September.

And as everyone likes to ask: "Gosh, where did the year go?"

And since September has ended, the question is: should we wake up already?



Last quarter of the year, here we come!

Angelic!

Today is the Feast of the Archangels.

Thank you, St Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael for always looking after us and guiding us.

Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, guide us and pray for us.

Under Wraps

Since last year, whenever I'd drop by National Bookstore, I'd browse through the racks for interesting gift wrappers and get a piece or two.

Or three, or a dozen, or 20.

The past few months, I've been browsing through my gift wrapper stash to look for possible Christmas themes. And in order to visualize whether it'll work or not, I'd often wrap up random gifts to see how the wrapper and theme will look like in its actuality.

Here are two of those wrappers, with coordinating ribbons to approximate the look. (Thanks to Michelle's online shop, of course!)

They're pretty interesting combinations. Although I don't think they'll be the wrapping theme for this year just yet.

Say Cheese! Cake!

While our Oreo selection might not be as vast nor awesome as the ones in the US, recently, we've got a pretty decent selection.

Aside from yesterday's discovery - Oreo Salted Caramel - there was another discovery today!

While browsing through Landers online supermarket, this item popped up as a suggestion.

Oreo Strawberry Cheesecake!

This went from the screen to "Add to Cart" faster than you can say cheese.

A-Salted!

Yes, that would be an accurate way to describe what happened at the supermarket yesterday.

This assaulted - nay, A-Salted - my senses the moment I saw it on the shelf.

Salted Caramel Oreos!

Take my money, please!

FMM: Michelle Sells (online!)

Around this time - or even earlier - I would often use the weekend to hie off to Tutuban Center and visit one of my haunts in that area. A haunt that's also a black hole since going inside results in me spending at least an hour just browsing every nook and cranny of the store.

That store is Michelle's Ribbon and Lace Center.

From my memory, it has always been my go-to for ribbons, notions - particularly if I'm buying in bulk. If it's just a few yards, Carolina's is my go-to. Thus, when the Christmas season comes along, I'd be at Michelle's more because my ribbon purchases are usually by rolls of 10, or more.

Michelle's is also a great place to get design implements, like YKK invisible zippers, horse hair, Swarovski Crystals, glass beads and other beads for wedding gowns and other evening wear. Being a distributor, they usually sell it much cheaper compared to places like SM and VC Trading.

My last visit to Michelle's was last February. That was pre-pandemic and people could still freely and confidently go to Divisoria. It seems like yesterday, but it's actually more than 6 months ago! And now that Christmas is just around the corner (hanging out with Jose Mari Chan), the itch to go to Michelle's and get a stockpile of ribbons is so, SO strong!

Just as I was about to wallow in the fact that my desired Christmas ribbons might be out of reach, this epiphany came:

Michelle's Lace and Ribbon Center is online! They can check stocks, take orders, then have those delivered to you at home!

With that, my instincts kicked in and wrote down all the ribbons needed for this year's theme. Then, with a few messages, one of the important Christmas accoutrements was finally delivered to our doorstep.

If you can't go to Michelle's, then Michelle's will come to you!

Woot!

And in honour of this discovery, today's Friday Magic Madness song is from the 60s, and is from the Fab 4.



"Michelle," a song - and a ribbon and lace center - that is like The Beatles.

Fab!

Throwback Thursday

Auntie Eden sent us this photo that was taken so long ago. Heck, I think this photo is at least 30 years old.

Now, we're a lot older. And a lot taller! At this age, I couldn't imagine me and Biboy growing to be as tall as Kuya Marv. (Spoiler Alert! We did!)

But just like how everyone was squeezed together in this shot, the family is still as close as ever.

So, while some things have changed, the important things haven't.

Sincerely, Truly, Perfect, Inspiring, Outstanding

St. Pio is truly all that. And today is his Feast Day.

Thank you, St. Pio, for always being there for me. My gratitude to you is boundless. You said: "Pray, Hope and Don't Worry," and those words have strengthened me for so long and so many times.

And now, more than ever, your words are what the world needs now:

"Pray, Hope and Don't Worry."

Bow Wow!

Presenting the latest addition to our family in the U.S.

Presenting Ash Morales. Biboy and Liz's adorable new Boston Terrier.

This terrier is so fly, he even has his own IG account. (He even beat me, his Tito. I don't have one!)

Wow. Just Wow!

Hey, hey, we’re the Monkis!

The good news: Monki has finally opened its first Philippine store in SM Megamall! 

Before, I had to fly to HKG to get my Monki fix. But now, it's just a stone's throw away from where I live, and much closer to where I work.

The not-so-good news: we're still not going to the malls.

Well, at least I know that Monki will just be there when we need it.

S & M

Nope, it's not about that S&M.

Nor is it about Rihanna's hit, "S&M."

This is about this dress from the Zalora website.

"Asymmetric" seems like an easy word to spell, right? One "s" and two "m"s?

But apparently, they thought it was the other way around.

Proofreader, please.

Coming up roses

Obviously, we just discovered the fun and joys of filters.

Life is definitely more fun with rose colored glasses.

(Better yet, roses and colored glasses.)

FMM: Two for the road

Sesame Street has a lot of classic songs.

Even if these songs are decades old, and even if I first heard them when I was 4 or 5 years old, they still play in my mind today as vividly.

I've written about a couple of them already, and today, there's a new addition to this Sesame Street Friday Magic Madness.

The "two" song.



Both the song and the visuals make this a classic. The way it was written, visualized and acted are top notch. Plus, the two little cats made it such a fun sketch to watch. After 4 decades, that line still plays on loop in my mind:

"What's that, small pitter-pat. One, two! Two little cats!"

Ah yes! The joys of Sesame Street.

Happy Virt(ual)day!

When Mark still living in Tokyo, we'd always make it a point to spend his birthday together. That's why when the 2nd week of September comes around, I'd clear my schedules to spend at least 3 days in order to be with him on his big day.

So it's sorta comical (how very Miranda Priestly) that now that we're both in Manila, it's actually the time that we're spending his birthday virtually.

But thanks to technology, it still feels like we're together even though we're physically apart. And even if the greeting and celebration is virtual, the essence and emotion remains the same.

Happy Birthday, Francis Mark!

Oh, Love Ya! part 2

My pretty grandniece is getting prettier by the minute!

Look at that adorable smile and equally adorable pose!

Oh, I can’t wait to see this beautiful baby girl in person!

A feather on H&M's cap

Cool kids in the 90s and 00s will definitely know this.

"Kangol Caps."

These iconic caps were a mainstay during those decades, and a lot of hip-hop artists had this brand on their heads. That's why a lot of the cool kids followed.

But like many "cool" brands, it eventually went "cold." Then, it pretty much dropped out of the scene.

Until now.

In a bid to be cool and relevant again, Kangol is now the latest collaboration partner of H&M! Plus, to up it's cool-cred, they're teaming up with award-winning singer and songwriter - Mabel!

Sounds interesting, though I haven't seen any of the products in this collaboration. So, let's wait and see before we put a cap on this collaboration.

Fairy Dishwasher

There are certain brands that have different names in different countries.

This is one thing I learned during my stint in the region. For example, in certain countries, "Palmolive" exists as "Softsoap." What's "Selecta" here is "Wall's" in other countries.

Shopping (online) at Lander's made me discover other brands that have this peculiarity. One of the country's most famous dishwashing liquid - Joy - actually doesn't exist in a lot of Western countries. But if you look at their supermarkets, you'll see that very familiar Joy-esque packaging, but with a different name.

A magical one at that.

Yup, "Joy" is "Fairy" in different markets.

So, if there's a "Fairy" godmother, there's a "Fairy" dishwasher.

And yes, that "Fairy" is actually helping us in dishwashing at home now.

Harvest Buddies

It was a belated birthday virtual celebration for Irene!

Since she's Melrose's resident vegan, our celebration was veggie themed. Everyone harvested vegetable-based snacks and decided to wear veggie colours.

Needless to say, it was a very healthy celebration.

Happy Birthday Irene!

Cat-urday

Saturday was spent busily and efficiently working inside the studio our shoot, but in reality, we'd rather be this cat that was unmindfully and comfortably sleeping outside the studio.

Mind you, he was just sleeping there for more than 6 hours! And it brought me great joy just watching him spend Saturday as lazily as possible.

Ah, to live like this comfy cat.

FMM: Proud of Mary

Since this week has been a very Marian-kind of week.

First, Mama Mary celebrated her birthday last September 8. Then, Rona - a great friend who's a devout Marian - celebrated her birthday last September 10. So, it's fitting that today's Friday Magic Madness song have a "Mary" theme as well.

Enter Tina Turner, and one of her earliest and biggest hits, "Proud Mary."



The title "Proud Mary" takes a deeper meaning for me. Aside from being a proud product of a Marian School (Lourdes School), I'm also a proud and firm believer of Mama Mary as well.

This song is a great way to celebrate Friday.

Go, Virgo!

When Plains & Prints came up with a Zodiac collection late last year, I knew a Virgo who would look awesome in the "Virgo Dress."

That person, of course, is today's birthday girl, and Virgo, Chonabelles!

Happy Birthday Rona! (Vir)go and have a day filled with happiness, health and blessings!

Legion of Dune

Back in 1984, there was one film that truly captivated me, and made my inner sci-fi geek giddy to the farthest ends of the galaxy.

It was a film directed by David Lynch and produced by Dino De Laurentiis. A film that I watched several times, and whose trailer is still fresh in my mind - 36 years after I first saw it. A trailer with a line that my mind recalls until now:

"The Planet is Arrakis. Also known as - Dune."

Gosh, thinking of that line makes me geek out already!

Back then, this was already a very high-concept Sci-fi film. From the location, the costumes, the premise - they were all so fantastic! From the sandworms of Arrakis, to how Baron Harkonnen looked and hovered - it was a feast for the eyes and the imagination.

The 80s version had a cast that was a mix of new faces and established actors. The lead role went to Kyle MacLachlan, and if memory serves me right, this was his first film. Also cast in this film was a very young Sting. Plus, there were veteran actors like Max Von Sydow and Francesca Annis. It also had a very young Patrick Stewart, Sean Young and Virginia Madsen. So, it was a powerhouse film.

With that awesome story and cast, it was easy to see why my affinity to this film was so strong. Something that remains until now.

Yesterday, I found out that they did a remake of this iconic film. The trailer popped up on my youtube, so it was automatic to view it.



Come to think of it, a 2020 version would be a good move, considering all the advances in film making. But as other remakes have demonstrated, sometimes technology goes overboard and the narrative suffers. This has been evident in many films the past decade. (Uhrm... Tron...)

That thought is making me wonder whether this 2020 version of "Dune" should be something to watch, or should the 1984 version be the only one in my mind. Because a bad remake can ruin even the original.

Well, it'll be a few more months before they show this in the US. And who knows if this will actually be shown in the Philippines.

So, there's still time to think about it.

Mother of all Birthdays

Today is a special day because it's the birthday of the Mother of all peoples.

Thank you for always looking after us, listening to us, and guiding us. It's your birthday, but it's you who so generously gives us gifts. And for that, we're always grateful

And on your birthday, let me dedicate this song that we always sang as a choir when I was still in Lourdes School.



Happy Birthday, Mama Mary! Ave Maria!

The Age of Aidan

On today's edition of "Man, I feel old!"

It feels like just yesterday when we welcomed Bonique's youngest - Aidan - into D' World of D' Frendz.

And today, he's celebrating his 7th birthday!

Gosh! These kids are growing up so fast!

Look what you made me Dew

Since Mello Yello isn't available in the Philippines anymore, Mountain Dew has become my default when I'm looking for something citrusy. Back in my HS days, Mello Yello was my default soda, and it was what I'd always buy in our canteen, or in the nearby "OK Food Stop" across Lourdes Shrine.

Last time I was able to enjoy Mello Yello was back in the US. And boy, did I cherish that moment.

We're not in the US, though, so you'll just occasionally see the bright, neon green bottle of Mountain Dew in our fridge whenever the citrus craving arises. That ubiquitous bottle that you also see being recycled into vases and other display items by the road.

During my last 7-11 visit, there was this strange bottle inside the cooler. It said "Mountain Dew", but it wasn't neon green but was clear! Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a new variant - Mountain Dew Ice!

It's their new lemon-lime flavour, which is their basically their answer to Sprite.

Looks interesting. Now I'm wondering if it tastes interesting, too.

There's only one way to find out...

A Choco Rainbow...

Nope, this isn't about Nips.

It's about this special line of chocolate that you can only find at 7-11, right now, at least.

This special line of Hershey's chocolate isn't the usual chocolate brown. It's actually a rainbow of pastel colors like pink, light yellow and mint green. And just as the colours are vibrant, so are the flavours.

Being a fan of strawberries, mint and sprinkles, I had to try them, of course. And they didn't disappoint.

Each one definitely added a touch of color into my chocolate repertoire.

FMM: Dressy

Since September kicked off with a fashion theme, the first Friday Magic Madness song should at least be aligned with that.

Time to bring out Madonna then!

This song, and especially this video, is classic 80s. When this came out, everyone did this dance number, even my sisters! And that opening pose that Madonna did, well, it was iconic and aped non-stop. 

Of course, the fashion is quintessential 80s Madonna - leggings, denim pencil skirt, cropped top and jean jacket - it was the look that defined her, and defined that generation.

You can't dress better than that. (Back then, at least.)

Collaboration Conundrum

Because of the pandemic, I feel bad for the sartorial geniuses who have collaborations with H&M this year.

Since everyone's at home and no one's really going out shopping - much more dressing up - these sartorial pieces aren't getting the attention they deserve. And of course, the sales that they were expecting to get.

Johanna Ortiz was lucky since she had a head start last December. But still, her full collection got caught in the pandemic, and that was a downer. In fact, I wasn't able to get that red eyelet dress that I was eyeing, and I'm not sure if it'll still be on the shelves by the time everyone's free and comfortable to go out.

But the ones that will follow, well, I'm not sure how well they'll be received. Which is a pity because they look very chic and very promising.

Sabyasachi x H&M, a collaboration with a leading Indian designer has vibrant colours and prints, coupled with loose and breezy silhouettes. This would have been perfect for summer.

Sandra Mansour x H&M, their first foray with a Lebanese designer - a female one at that - is very dreamy and romantic. The use of tulle reminds me of the recent Giambattista Valli collaboration, though this one feels more wearable.

Giuliva Heritage x H&M, a beautifully tailored collection from a famed Italian duo. Heck, when it comes to tailoring, you can beat the Italians. And looking at the look book, this collection is filled with crisp suits, pants, vests and more that will surely elevate work wear to a new, sartorial high!

If these collaborations don't move as fast as they expected it to, I do hope they keep them and re-introduce them when people are going out and shopping more. I'm sure people will snap them up when the opportunity comes.

I Chu-s you!

Although not "Sex And The City" or "The Devil Wears Prada" in scale, the film "Crazy Rich Asians" had some fashion moments as well. It wasn't as prominent as the jewel moments, but there were a few ones that are noteworthy.

Of course, Astrid would be the resident fashionista of the film. Her first scene - wearing that ivory shift dress with the shawl neckline - that was fashion gold. And when she bought those pearl and ruby drop earrings - that was cherry on top of the icing.

But the main character, Rachel Chu, had her fashion moments as well. Of course, her style was very no-nonsense, New York economics professor. But thanks to Peik Lin and Oliver, she transformed into a 70s disco Goddess and an ethereal wedding guest in Giambattista Valli.

It's a far cry from where she started. This simple and pretty red shift dress which she bargained for in NYC and was supposed to wear for her outing in the Young household.

And if you watched the film, you know that the Goh family pooh-poohed this dress and found it extremely pedestrian. Despite that, I still love the simplicity of it. It was a dress that fit Rachel's character quite well.

During a routine Zalora website visit, I saw a red dress that had the same feel as Rachel's dress. It had the same color, the same neckline, similar cap-sleeves, and the same striking simplicity that I liked. Because of that, in the cart it went, and soon enough, it was here!

It's a dress that was an easy choice.

Back in style!

"Fashion is Back!"

That line was bannered in the September 2020 issue of InStyle. After all, September is the month of the year when fashion magazines bring out their big fashion guns and usher in the new season. Also, because of the pandemic, fashion took a back seat as people focused on more important things, like health and safety. But as the subhead so correctly states: "Let's dream again."

It's a line that's also apt for this blog as we welcome the first day of September.

Since the end of May, I made a conscious effort not to write about anything fashion-related. Even though there was a lot of possible material - most of it coming from the fact that Zalora delivered clothes at home on a regular basis - I inhibited myself from writing about them.

Frankly, it was very difficult. But I stuck to my guns and made it happen.

Each time I'd be tempted to write about the lace dresses that I got for a ridiculously cheap price, or how I visited Plains & Prints Ali Mall after many months, I'd stop myself and write about food, musings or other passions that I have. Again, it was a challenge to myself to see whether I could avoid shopping and fashion related topics for a month.

Or two. Or three. Or four.

And now that it's September, I think this would be the opportune time to start writing about fashion again. In truth, there's a lot of available material on this subject - Zalora and Plains & Prints being the most obvious topics. Yup, there are a plethora of dresses from these 2 brands that are just waiting to see the light.

Maybe not plethora. Avalanche would be a more appropriate word.

With that said, let me echo what InStyle stated:

'Fashion is Back!"