FMM: Lovin' Linda

In 2019, one of the honourees for The Kennedy Center Honors was Linda Ronstadt.

She's one of the artists that Dad had cassette tapes of. That's why as early as my elementary school days, I've been listening to her music and immediately became a fan. 

As her AVP in The Kennedy Center Honors shared, Linda is a true gift to music. She seamlessly moved from being a country singer to a pop singer to a sultry diva. Her discography is so varied and storied, it makes you think "Is there anything Linda can't sing?"

Apparently, the answer is no.

She's even credited for singing unforgettable soundtrack songs. Which is today's Friday Magic Madness song.

In 1986, the animated film "An American Tail" was shown on screen. What made this film memorable was its theme song, "Somewhere out there."

Again, this song was brilliantly sung by Linda Rondstadt and James Ingram. And back in the 80s, it was a song that almost every kid would sing. Whether it's in a singing contest, a school program, or a family reunion.

That's how much people loved it.

And it's another reason to love Linda even more.

Chic and Classic

The crisp shirt and jeans combo is such a classic outfit that it never goes out of style. That’s why when I find interesting pieces of this sort, I can’t help but buy them.

Just like this pair:

Both items were from The Haunt, and are overruns from familiar brands. The top is from H&M, and the distressed jeans are from Lefties.

To elevate this classic pair and make it more chic, here’s the simple solution.

Bejeweled and jewel-toned flats! Got this at a Lazada shop and it’s so elegant yet easy to wear.

Put together, it’s such an elevated weekend ensemble.

Arby darned!

Yes, this was something i’ve talked about more than 2 years ago. 

When we were kids, one of the regular errands we’d do with Lolo and Lola was getting their medicine at Casman Drug and groceries at Top’s Supermarket.

Both these establishments were along Quezon Avenue and were just a few meters away from each other.

Sometimes, we’d park at Casman then walk to Top’s. Other times, it was the other way around.

But whenever we’d walk, we had a quick stop at this American fast food brand that was located in between those 2 places. That fast food was Arby’s.

Arby’s came to the Philippines in the 80s. The branch nearest to,us was the Quezon Avenue branch which was located at the building across St. Mary’s College. They were the first fast food place to introduce Roast Beef sandwiches, and they were also famous for their horseradish sauce.

Unfortunately, they were way ahead of their time. And after a few years, their branches shuttered one by one, until they were no more. That made me bummed because they were so darned good!

Why did I remember them all of a sudden? It was because of this new “Mexican Moms try...” video.

Fas

Gosh! I have to go to Arby’s the next time I go to the US!

Fry-day!

Yes, it’s just a Tuesday. But for me, it’s Fry-day!

After a long time, i’m finally having my super-duper-fave Loaded Fries from S&R.

Time was when i’d have this craving, i’d automatically run off to the nearest S&R to indulge. Alas, the last time I did that was years ago, so i’m so glad to have this delivered today.

Yup, everyday should be Fry Day!

Two C is to believe

Lately, I've been binge watching "The Kennedy Center Honors" on youtube. It's such a wonderful sight to watch all these American Icons being recognized for their work in the arts.

One of the most all-time favouritest moments from the many awards shows was the 2018 version. 

This was the year when 2 iconic "Cs" - both my all-time faves - shared one stage.

It was the year when Cher was honoured, and one of the performers who sang her a tribute is the 80s pop-rock icon, Cyndi Lauper!

The interaction of Cher and Cyndi was adorable. Especially the part when Cher shouted at Cyndi: "You said you were in LA!"

Believe me, I've watched this dozens of times already. And I don't have any intentions of stopping.

Skort the issue

Recently, Ate Bullet has been gravitating towards skorts. It’s one of her default uniforms whenever she goes to the shop.

This attire actually reminds me of our childhood. At St. Joseph’s College where Ate Lissa and Ate Bullet studied, their PE uniform consisted of a maroon skort and a white shirt with a maroon ringer detail. Maybe  this is Ate’s homage to her childhood.

Because she’s into skirts these days, I got her this very pretty one from the local clothing brand called Ziya. They have a lot of clothes with nice ethnic prints, like this one.

Like her high school uniform, this skort is maroon. But it has details in complementary colors which make it very visually interesting.

Since the bottom is already heavily printed, I chose a simple top. This loose shirt is from Memo, and it has an ultra soft fabric and a slouchy fit. A good counterbalance to the silhouette of the skort.

This ensemble will look great on Ate. No issue about that.

Happy Meal

My version, at least.

It's been years since I've last had these 2 faves of mine.

First is Hong Kong Style Noodles. I've written about this dish in this blog before. It used to be my go-to quick snack or lunch when they still had that stall in St. Francis Square. (They've closed, unfortunately.) 

Next is Gong Cha's Peach & Lychee tea with coconut jelly. It's so refreshing and the interplay between the 2 fruits is just awesome!

This was definitely worth the wait, and today's meal will definitely make me happy!

FMM: The Right Place

Today's Friday Magic Madness song is one of those songs that randomly popped in my head. 

While preparing for my class today, a Lisa Stansfield ditty started to play in my head. Now, we all know that she has a lot of beautiful hit songs, but the one that came to mind was her 1993 hit.

"In All the Right Places" was a song from the film "Indecent Proposal." Just like the film, this song is so sultry and Lisa Stansfield sang and crooned it to perfection. It was a favourite song of mine back in the 90s, and the feeling is the same until today.

Good thing I remembered before Friday.

It's at the right place and the right time.

Wee like it!

Some impulse buys are definitely worth it.

Went to the supermarket to buy cooking oil, and on my way to the cashier, I saw this product called Dowee Donuts Delectables.

They. Are. So. Good.

The Choco Mallow one is da bomb! Not too sweet. Super chocolatey. And the right gooey-ness of the marshmallow filling! The Ube one is good, too, but not as awesome as the Choco Mallow one.

Actually, this can give the regular donut stores a run for their money. And it’s going to be part of my donut repertoire now.

Yup, that’s how I like it.

Like a Hawke!

Speaking of "Do Revenge," the two lead characters really shone as they played their roles. Drea and Eleanor were so fun to watch as a team, and they were compelling from start to finish.

When Eleanor was first introduced, the first thought in my mind was: "Whoa, this girl looks like a younger version of Uma Thurman."

And as the credits rolled, it turns out that Eleanor was played by an actress named Maya Hawke.

Of course, the last name was so distinct that, after looking her up, she turns out to be the daughter of Ethan Hawke AND Uma Thurman!

She definitely got her model good looks from her Mom. And the excellent acting chops from both her Mom and Dad.

I'm definitely watching her upcoming films. I'll be watching out for it, like a hawk.

Revenge Rollercoaster

Upon opening Netflix, the number 1 film that day was this American Teen flick entitled "Do Revenge."

The summary caught my attention and began to watch it. As the title states, this film is about a teen girl who wants to exact revenge on her ex-boyfriend who wronged her. She does this with the help of an unlikely partner.

As the film started, it felt like it was a straightforward story. But as it progressed further, the film felt like riding a rollercoaster of ups and downs and twists and turns. Although parts of the film were cliches, the way they did the narrative was so clever. As the film neared its conclusion, it was clear that it had a couple more surprises.

This film harks back to a lot of angsty teen dark comedies from the 80s and 90s. Watching it had the same vibes as "Heathers" and "Jawbreaker." Even Nora's character transformation reminded me of Judy Greer's wonderful performance as Fern, and later, Vylette.

The ending also harked back to "Cruel Intentions," also from the late 90s. There's also a scene that's reminiscent of "Thelma and Louise." So yes, "Do Revenge" is like a compendium of the best of teen comedies - dark or otherwise.

Boy, what a ride this film was. And I wouldn't mind watching it again.

Long overdue

Okay, this post is long overdue in 2 fronts. 

First, it happened almost a month ago, but was only able to write about it today.

Second, it took more than 2 years before this get together finally happened. Finally, the creative team at the office got together. Save for 2 people who weren't able to join. 

But it was definitely worth the wait.

These creative folks make it easier for me to keep the ideas up and running. And they definitely make work a lot more fun.

It's great how some things never change despite the years of not seeing each other. Including the fact that Jun is still our selfie master.

Here's to more get togethers soon!

Catchy!

It was Mark who first introduced me to Pokemon Go.

To say he's an avid player would be an understatement. He's probably completed his PokeDeck by this time. He has a range of regular and shiny Pokemons. Whenever there's a raid nearby his place, he'd excitedly join.

Whenever we travel, he makes it a point to catch Pokemons there as well. Part of my fond memories of our trips include catching these cute characters while we were in Tokyo, Jakarta and SG. 

That's why for his birthday cake, it was but natural that I gave him one that's Pokemon-themed.

When we had lunch yesterday and showed him the cake, he was both happy and excited to see the design.

That definitely caught his attention.

Double Celebration

Today is Mark's birthday! Woot!

And for the 1st time in 3 years, we're celebrating it together! Woot! Woot!

We celebrated it by going to some of our favourite places, like Chili's for lunch, then Pho Hoa for apres lunch drinks.

It's so indescribably wonderful that we're finally able to have this celebration, on a milestone birthday, no less. It's like a Birthday-Reunion, which makes today doubly meaningful.

Happy Birthday Mark! 

FMM: That's it!!!

Since we're talking about things that are Italian, this is an obvious and perfect song for today's Friday Magic Madness.

Gosh! Talk about old songs. This one is really, really, really old! Like, 1953-level of oldness!

"That's Amore" is probably the most popular song that was sung by Dean Martin. It's so popular that it's been used in countless films, a plethora of commercials, and I've heard this sung in many hotel bars.

Yup, people can't get enough of this song.

What can I say, that's amore!

The Italian Job

Nope, this isn't about the 2003 film featuring Charlize Theron and Mark Wahlberg. Make no mistake, though, that's a really nice film that I've seen several times.

This is about an observation made while scanning through films on Netflix - both new and old.

There seems to be a lot of films that are shot and set in Italy. 

Last July, they had "Love & Gelato" which was so fun that I watched it more than 3 times in a week. Then, last weekend, this film popped up in my suggested titles.

"Love in the Villa" is set in Verona, particularly at Casa Di Giulietta. It's a standard rom-com where a feisty American girl meets an uptight British guy. Initially, they're at odds and hate each other. But as the film progresses, they discover each other's good traits. And we know what happens next.

Told you its standard.

Despite that, it's a fun and easy watch. And it's making me want to fly off to Italy again soon.

Book of Wrap

On today's edition of "Things you find when your'e not looking for them."

While looking for my one-hole puncher, there was a book that was discreetly stuck behind my side table. After pulling the book out, voila!

It's a book of wrapping paper!

The book was purchased during one of the cut-price book sales at National Book Store in 2017. Yup, I remember this book clearly because it was the only one left. I actually wanted to buy 2 or 3 more of these, but alas, they had no more stocks. 

Inside this book are 15 different gift wrappers with various designs. They range from flora and fauna, botanicals, watercolour prints, patterns, among others. Plus, it has 24 stickers that you can use with the gift.

It's providential that this book reappeared since I've been looking for wrappers for Mark's gifts. And this has everything I've wished for, and more!

Now, that's one for the books.

Dear Editor

Do my eyes deceive me?

Is one of my all-time favourite SG clothing brands landing in MNL next year?

If this is THE The Editor's Market, then I'm stoked!

While it's still sad that "In Good Company" had a very short-lived stay here, this will be a good and fitting replacement.

White Night

After receiving an invite to an upcoming fashion show, Ate Bullet asked me what would be nice to wear. Of course, my first question was: "Is there a dress code?" Her reply: "Yes, wear something monochromatic."

The designer is her close friend's daughter. And her aesthetic is very sparse and minimalist. So, her theme came as no surprise.

Ate said she wanted to wear something simple, either all-black or all-white. Then suddenly, a dress from The Stash popped in my head. It was a long, white jersey dress with a cut-out detail that fits into the theme, as well as the designer's aesthetic.

This H&M dress has probably been in the closet for 4 or 5 years. Thankfully, it's wrapped in an airtight bag, thus it was able to keep its pristine colour. The overall feel is very 90s, and it's going to be a great dress for a fashionable night out.

At least, Ate already has 1 option.

Next option: something black and bespoke.

There’s nothing to it...

More than 2 years after buying and holding a new magazine, I'm so glad that my return to magazine reading is the maiden issue of Vogue Philippines!

It's awesome that their very 1st issue coincides with the biggest fashion issue - the September Issue. And leafing through this magazine, it's like reading American Vogue with its wonderful fashion spreads and broad range of articles.

So, in the words of Madonna:

You gotta get... Vogue!
 

Part of it!

After much anticipation, they're finally releasing the trailer of the live action version of Disney's "The Little Mermaid."

As a major fan of the 1989 animated film, and having watched it over and over and over and over again, I'm excited for this film. I'm hoping that they'll be faithful to the original version, much like "Beauty and the Beast."

Once this comes out in cinemas, expect me to be part of that world that will watch it!

FMM: Fitting finale

When Friday Magic Madness meets Pant-tastic week, it's time for the 1989 jazz classic from Max Bennett!

"Fancy Pants" was something we'd always play on the cassette whenever we'd go on weekend drives in Tagaytay. It has that very cool and chill vibe that's great to listen to on long drives. Plus, Max Bennett's voice is so calm and soothing.

And with that, this Pant-tastic week comes to a close.

But I'm sure another one will be in the offing soon.

Pant-tastic Week 2.0 - Day 5: Portrait of a Woman

Since we're going to talk about amazing women, let's start this post by celebrating the birthday of a truly amazing woman who has been such an important part of our lives.

Happy Birthday Mama Mary!

Now, to continue our pant-tastic week feature.

The beauty of this week's featured pant is that it's so classic that it makes even the most playful printed top look so put together and polished.

Just like this very fun blouse from a store in Lazada.

The play on colours and how the profile of the woman's face separates the 2 hues is so creative and clever. And it's fashion serendipity that the line of the blouse is aligned with the exposed zipper of the pant. That creates the illusion of one straight line and lengthens the whole look.

This is practically a portrait on a blouse, and it looks so chic!

Pant-tastic Week 2.0 - Day 4: The Romantics

The daintiness of lace and a very masculine cut pair of pants may seem like polar opposites. But as the adage goes, opposites attract. And those opposites created today's romantic ensemble using the same pair of Kiabi pants.

This black and white lace top is from Robinson's Department Store. It's actually been in the closet for more than 3 years, and it just resurfaced while I was tidying up the gift closet. And upon seeing it, I knew that it would look great with the featured pair of jeans for this week.

Isn't it romantic?

Pant-tastic Week 2.0 - Day 3: Crop to it

From classic to chic, time to give the same pair of denim pants a more youthful spin.

That's easily done by pairing it with this very young and very current crop top from Surplus Shot. It has puffed sleeves that are very du jour, and it has horizontal stitching elements make it look dainty. But the bold colour keeps the top from looking too saccharine.

It's such a nice counterbalance and makes a young crop top look elevated and elegant.

Pant-tastic Week 2.0 - Day 2: Caped crusader

While jeans are usually seen as casual, the colour and cut of this week's featured denim pant makes it look more polished.

And it can also look like an equally polished outfit, especially with the right top. Just like this:

This caped blouse from Stella looks very chic and elegant. The shape and teal hue makes it look more dressy, and elevates the overall feel of the pant. This is something that can transition from work to a dressy night out.

From yesterday's classic look, this one is a bit more elevated. And it's achieved by a simple switch of a blouse.

And that very versatile pant, of course.

Pant-tastic Week 2.0 - Day 1: The Classic

More than 2 years ago, was able to buy a pair of pants from Bench that had such a classic cut and denim fabric that it inspired a "Pant-tastic Week" post. For 5 days, the same pair was featured with 5 different tops that give it a different look each time.

This week, I'm doing that idea again, thanks to this very nice pair from The Landmark.

It's a pair of overrun jeans from the brand - Kiabi. It's a fast fashion brand from France that's pretty much like H&M. The pants are a pair of wide legged pants with an exposed zipper. The dark denim colour and the heavy fabric makes it very versatile and classic.

Speaking of classic, this pant-tastic week will kick-off with a very classic look. 

The top is a crisp, cotton shirt from Uniqlo with a high-necked top and elastic sleeves. This white and dark jean combination is truly a classic that you can wear anytime, anywhere.

You can never go wrong with classics.

And a versatile pair of jeans, of course. 

KL means Kool Loot

After more than 2 years, Mark went to this first overseas trip last week.

He was speaking at a convention in KL, and this is his first face-to-face conference since 2020. Naturally, i’m very excited for him! Maybe even more excited than Mark! Harhar!

Actually, I was planning to tag along with him on the trip. Unfortunately, though, it was the first day of Saturday classes, so I couldn’t miss that.

But of course, Mark brought a little bit of KL when he came back from the trip. And here’s the loot he brought:

Old Town Coffee is a Malaysian icon. Then there’s Birthday Cake Oreo because Mark knows i’m A huge Oreo fan. He also brought Oat Cookies and Almond Chocolates.

I’m so happy with this loot. But even happier that he had a successful presentation and a safe trip back home.

Hopefully, our next trip abroad will be together. That would be super cool.

FMM: The truth

Yup, I called it!

Today's Friday Magic Madness song is inspired by my musings about finding a flat in HKG, 17 years ago!

Here's Janis Ian's breakthrough song from 1976:

"At Seventeen" is one of those beautifully written songs with such memorable lyrics. 

"That love was meant for beauty queens,

For high school girls with clear skinned smiles,

Who married young and then retired.

And those of us with ravaged faces,

lacking in the social graces,

desperately remained at home,

inventing lovers on the phone."

Wow! Like, Wow!

The truth is, I'll never tire of hearing this song.

Simply Put

One of my recent discoveries that's truly rave worthy is Simply Soft Hand Wash. Particularly the Fragrant Olive & Cedar Wood scent.

This smells so divine. It has that nice blend of earthy and gourmand. I'm actually tempted to bathe in it! 

But don't worry. I haven't.

Yet.

Gosh, if they had this scent in a body wash, I'd hoard it!

It's that simple.