Eye see you

Magic eye posters were the thing in the 90s.

At my first advertising agency, there was a Magic eye poster outside the room of of the Special Prijects team. People would pass by, look at it, and would excitedly declare that they saw the hidden image. Meanwhile, for some reason, I couldn’t see it.

Day after day after day, attempts were made, and they were for naught. Until one lunch break, after deciding to give it another shot, I looked at the poster and saw the image.

It made me feel so accomplished and excited that a tear was shed. No exaggeration!

After that, it was easier for me todo d those images embedded on those posters.

And seeing this poster o line, decades after my last encounter with Magic eye posters, heck, it looks like I still have it.

Sheer up

Sheer blouses aren't a new thing. In fact, we see iterations of this fashion piece ever year.

But this one from Kashieca caught my eye the moment I spotted it from outside the store.

The cut of this sheer top is quite masculine. It actually reminds me of a barong. Then, there are 2 elements that make it feminine: 1.) the sheer, organza material, and 2.) the lace camisole underneath. Yup, the lace inner blouse is part of the package.

Because of its masculine vibe, a pair of tailored bottoms would be a good match for this. Enter this pair of wide-legged jeans with panels on the side. This is from Stella at Robinsons Department Store.

This combination takes 2 fashion staples and ups the ante with little details here and there.

Birth and rebirth

Our dear Adriana is now baptized!

Ate Lissa sent snaps from her double celebration - her birthday, and her baptismal day. It’s so providential that the day of her birth is also the day of her rebirth in the Catholic Faith.

Welcome to the Christian world, Adri!

Hey Mama!

No, this isn't a Black Eyed Peas post.

But it is about a song. Just not that group.

Today is Mother's Day, and it's fitting to play a song about Moms by the Spice Girls.

Back in the day, "Mama" was the quintessential tribute song to Moms. Rightly so, because the lyrics are so apt and so real.

Happy Mother's Day Mom! And to all Moms around the world.

Oreo intrigued?

As a fan of both Oreo and Sour Patch Kids, I'm intrigued by this combination.

Maybe I'll ask Kuya to get one when he goes to the US. Just to satisfy my curiosity.

FMM: Spell it out!

Back in 1985, when I was a kid who was fascinated with spelling, there was one song that caught my attention.

"Young, Free and Single" from Boney M was so memorable because it had a spelling element to it. They spelled out the first 2 words per letter, instead of reading the word. The nerd in me was thrilled by this.

I've forgotten about this song, until it popped in my head this week.

And that's how it became today's Friday Magic Madness song.

Mother-hood plot

Saw this upcoming film on Netflix which stars Brooke Shields. It's about a Mother of the bride who finds out that the Father of the groom was her college sweetheart. The same college sweetheart who broke her heart.

Seeing the trailer, the film looks very similar to "Ticket to Paradise." It has an island destination, a feuding couple, and the romantic tension that happens.

It's not completely the same, though. In "Ticket to Paradise," the objective of the parents were way different, but let me not spoil it.

Despite that, I'm going to be watching this Netflix film.

I'm a huge fan of wedding comedies, no matter what the plot is.

Color Story: Lovely Lilac

There’s this pretty lilac dress at The SM Store that caught my eye.

It was a pleated dress with bubble sleeves, a ruffled hem and a vibrant floral print. It’s a dress with such a strong summer vibe.

The color reminded me of this lilac sandal with scarf details that has been in “the stash” for quite some time now.

Of course, I ended up buying the dress to complete is lilac ensemble.

Lovely, isn’t it?

The peek of fashion

Peek-a-boo, I see you!

That seems to be what fashion is saying nowadays. There are a lot of peek-a-boo dresses that show skin. Some show slivers, while others are more daring and show a bit more.

Just like this dress from The SM Store.

Tomato red color - check!

Silky fabric - check!

Slip dress silhouette - check!

Peek-a-boo detail - check!

This is style at its peak!

Two a Tea

Zesto is an integral part of any 80s kids’ childhood.

It was the juice that was often served during parties, brought during field trips, and sold in school canteens. The iconic stand-up dot pack, and the hard-to-inert-straw, defines this drinkable icon.

Recently, i’ve found myself gravitating towards Zesto again, but this time for their iced teas.

For its price point, these teas are good. It has the right amount of fruitiness, it’s very refreshing, and it’s just P9 per pack!

Fit me to a tea!

Viva Mexico!

Today is Cinco de Mayo!

Time to bring out some Mexican music!

My exchange program in Mexico is still one the highlights of my travels, and my life. Being able to go to different states around the country, meeting diverse sets of people and trying authentic Mexican food - they're experiences that are forever embedded in my memories.

Muchas gracias y felicidades, Mexico!

Noah's Arc

When Noah left the Philippines, he was just a 1 year old baby.

We had this big family portrait, and he was the newest addition and the youngest one in that shot. Biboy and Liz also had him baptised before they flew to the US.

That felt like it just happened yesterday, but in reality, it's been more than 2 decades.

Now, Noah is all-grown up, and just graduated from college.

Our Noah is not a Respiratory Therapist!

It's so mice to have seen Noah's story arc progress through the decades. And it's exciting to see where his story will take him next.

FMM: Get a Klugh

During our weekly Sunday dinners, Raymond is our resident DJ and his playlist usually accompanies our meal.

Last Sunday, there was a song that played that automatically brought me back to my childhood. A golden oldie from the 80s, performed by Earl Klugh.

“Doc” is such a happy and uplifting song to listen to, it has a very sitcom-y and variety show-y vibe to it. And in reality, this song was played in many a sitcom and variety show.

This might be a Friday Magic Madness song, but i’m Going to listen to this the whole week.

When LFLTATs cross over

The nice thing about black, white and denim is the fact that they’re very versatile and can be mixed and matched easily.

There were 2 recent LFLTATs that featured black and white tops, paired with black and denim. While putting them together, I realized that you found switch up the tops, and the ensembles would still look as chic.

Here’s the loose, black and white top with the wide legged denim cargo pants:

And the balloon skirt with the knit top.

Now, that’s the cross over we’v Been looking for.

A Pun day

What better way to start the first of May than a word play! (Is that poetry or what?)

Gosh! Another month has started.

Time is zipping by so fast.

LFLTAT: Say Pleats

I’ve been eyeing this black pleated dress at Uniqlo since it came out a few months ago.

It has that Issey Miyake vibe, but in a fabric and style that’s more suited for everyday wear instead of being too high fashion.

Part of me wanted to buy it, but another part of me knew that it would be in sale soon enough.

And true enough, it did!

This LOok For Less Than A Thousand is a combination of the Uniqlo dress and a pair of black and white slides from For Me. Together, this ensemble was a few bucks shy of a thousand.

Good (and affordable) things come to those who wait.

Loose End(ing)s

I've seen "Dreamgirls" a few times already, and this scene never fails to get me.

In just a few minutes, this scene has created such and impact and left so many questions unanswered. 

It seems like Curtis figured out that Magic is his daughter. The way he approached her and looked at her, then Effie, you can see that he had a realisation. This leaves the question in everyone's mind (including mine), "What will Curtis do next?"

Of course, we'll never know the answer. Which actually makes it quite fun.

Unless someone thinks of doing a sequel to the original story.

Watch it!

Saw this watch on-line and was automatically transported back to my childhood.

Wonder if this is something that a guy my age can still pull off.

(Spoler Alert: the answer is no.)

Stuck!

During one of our “Tito conversations “ at the office, the topic turned to stickers. This discussion wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Panini stickers of the 80s and 90s.

This was the rage for kids during that decade. 

First, you’d buy the book. Then, you’d buy stickers in separate packs, and fill in the boxes with the corresponding stickers. Sometimes, you’d get duplicates, and you have to look for friends to swap stickers with.

At some of those rare times, you would get special stickers, like holographic stickers or those printed on metallic paper. Once you’d get those, it felt like hitting the jackpot.

Looking back at it now, those Panini books were good for developing your creativity, patience and friendship. Lessons that stuck to me decades after my first sticker book back then.

FMM: Carrie me through

Of course, a conversation about Carrie Laws will not be complete without her iconic 1979 hit, which is also one of the songs on repeat on my music platforms.

"Sometimes a love goes wrong," is such a beautiful song - from the melody, to the lyrics, to the way Carrie sang it. Her love, pain and longing are captured perfectly in every moment of this song.

You can't go wrong with a Friday Magic Madness song like this.

Flat out fabulous

Been keeping my eyes peeled for ballet flats since Ate Bullet started getting into it last year.

Thankfully, I recently discovered a local on-line shop that sells super fashionable flats at very good price points.

Presenting Azrtid!

Had to muster so much self control to keep me from buying more than 3 pairs. But my resolve prevailed and got these 3 super classic and super chic pairs.

Will probably wait a week before butting and-few more. Harhar.

That's so Fine(ry)

Been watching a number of reviews on Target's new fragrance line called Fine'ry.

Majority of the reviews are glowing. They're all agreeing that Fine'ry fragrances are good dupes for high end and niche fragrances, at the fraction of a price. And for $29.99, it's hard to go wrong with that.

Take me to Target, please!

LFLTAT: Wide and Narrow

In fashion, it's always nice to play with proportions. Pairing together opposites usually creates a move visually interesting ensemble.

With that thought in mind - and because of recent sales this weekend - we have a Look For Less Than A Thousand that embodies that thought. An ensemble that plays with wide and narrow.

The "wide" is this wide-legged jeans from Penshoppe. This pair is such a winner! From the silhouette, to the dark denim material, to the white stitching, plus the fact that it's a cargo pant! So many wins in one piece of clothing.

The "narrow" is this knitted top from The Landmark. It's cut close to the body, and has a semi-turtle neck to bring the silhouette all the way to the top.

It's a play of proportions that's so chic, you'd think that it cost a lot to put it together.

(Guess what? It's less than P600.)

Old and New

Back in my college days, Piattos was the go-to-snack.

We'd often trek near CASAA to buy a pack. Sometimes, the stores inside the restrooms (yes, we had stores inside our restrooms) would sell this as well.The most popular flavour back then was Sour Cream, but we'd buy the cheese one every so often.

Decades after, Piattos is still around, and it's still enjoying the same popularity that it did. One reason is that they're always finding ways to make the product feel new and fresh. Having new flavours is one way they do this.

Just like my newest discovery:

Yup, Piattos is now on the Truffle bandwagon! And while the flavour isn't as strong and distinct as Lay's or Meadows, it's still good. Especially if you thin of how affordable this is.

It's these new things that make me look forward to an old brand like Piattos.

Fifty and Fabulous!

The iconic DVF wrap dress is 50 years old?

Whowouldathunk?

Further proof that classic fashion is timeless.

LFLTAT x Color Story: Sunshine State

Here's another collab of a post.

Just like last Tuesday's post, it's a Look For Less Than A Thousand, but also a colour story.

This yellow ensemble brings in so much sunshine. The pique shirt dress is from Regatta, and the cropped jacket is from The SM Store. Just like the happy hue, the ensemble is also happy, youthful and relaxed. It's a great ensemble for the weekend, maybe around September onwards. Not now, it's too hot.

Snagged both items while they were on sale, and total rang up to a few bucks shy of P900.

Both the colour and the price are enough to make you happy!

FMM: Carrie over

Carrie Lucas is a legend. 

Most people know her from the 70s as the woman with a voice that's both powerful and soothing. She can shift from ballads to disco with ease, and her emotions come out in the song no matter what genre it is.

One of her hits which is a family fave is a song from 1977, and is a mainstay in discos during the 80s and 90s.

"I Gotta Keep Dancing," is quite an irony - a happy-sounding song, but the lyrics are quite sad. It's one of the go-to songs for those who love dancing the swing - including my Mom and Ate Lissa. No surprise since it's a very danceable ditty.

This is one of my top 2 Carrie Lucas songs, and playing it once, I gotta keep listening to it.

What’s the Plan?

Apparently, it’s Leche.

Proofreader, please!

Instant Indian

Our neighborhood supermarket - Daily Supermarket - might not be a big chain, but you can spot some unusually good finds on their racks.

Just like this:

Poppadoms!

As an Indian food Stan, this is such a thrill. I’ve tried this and the flavor is really close to the traditional Poppadoms that you can get in Indian restos.

Gotta buy more and share with my fellow Indian food foodies.

LFLTAT x Color Story: Browns ville

Whenever they're on sale, a visit to The SM Store is mandatory because of the wealth of great finds that they offer.

During this time, they put some of their new-ish stocks on 50% off, which makes it irresistible. During their sales, it's so easy to come up with a chic Look For Less Than A Thousand. And this one drew me in because of the colours.

This ensemble plays with different shades of brown. The top has this rich, caramel colour and is a knitted blouse with textured details.

The pair of trousers has a loose silhouette, rendered in a mocha hue.

Just like caramel and mocha, this sweet ensemble rang up to less than P800.

Brownie points for that!

LFLTAT: Let it loose

With the current very hot weather happening in the city, you just want to wear something loose and easy. After all, wearing loose clothes will let the air pass through and make you feel a bit cooler.

Unfortunately, some people equate loose clothing with being lousy. 

Contrary to that thought, loose clothing can actually be fun and fashionable, as well as frugal. This Look For Less Than A Thousand can attest to that.

The voluminous skirt is from Surplus Shop. It has that right amount of puff and volume to make it look effortless. The top is from Jewels, which is a Shop where you can get surplus clothing on the cheap. The top is the loose, boxy shirt with a high boat neck which make it such a cool top to wear.

Together, this ensemble just cost P749!

Proof that you don’t need to lose a lot of money to look chic.

Sunday snoozers

And the sleeping cats saga continues.

It must've been a super lazy Sunday for this cute cat.

It's a Thai!

There seems to be a Thai food wave in MNL these days.

They had a Thai Street Food festival in Makati last week. Now, 7-11 has a Thai food selection in their stores.

But of course, I'll keep coming back to my super fave Thai instant noodles. 

YumYum has been a staple in our pantry since 2019, and it's so nice to see and read that it's getting more and more fans.

You can't deny how yumyum these Thai noodles are.

FMM: it never ends

We can't talk about "The Neverending Story" without mentioning its iconic theme song.

This classic song from 1985 is by Limahl. While they had several hits in the 80s, among them "Too Shy," this is the song that really made an impact on me. It might be because of its relation to the film, but this has a magical quality to it.

That's why my fondness for this song never ends.

Catzzzzz

It might be because of the summer heat, but I'm finding more and more cats snoozing in different places.

Just like this cutie cattater at the nearby fast food place.

It's plain to see how comfy this cat is. 

Makes me wonder, what could he be dreaming about.

WATN: That boy, Barret

Back in the 80s, Barret Oliver was the quintessential boy-next-door in Hollywood movies.

His career really kicked-off when he appeared in "The Neverending Story." This was such a fantastic fantasy film which became one of my faves. 

Then, his next big role was in "D.A.R.Y.L." This was another film that captured my imagination and briefly made me consider wanting to be an android. 

Then, there was "Cocoon" and "Cocoon: The Return." These films solidified his character as the curious, precocious boy who always gets into these great adventures.

After the 80s, he disappeared from the Hollywood scene. Which necessitates the question: "Where is Barret Oliver now?"

Searching for him on the net, it seems like his last Hollwood appearance was at the end of the 80s. After that, there weren't any movies or TV shows that had him. 

And with that, he'll always remain that precocious, adventurous, boy-next-door in my mind.

Printed Matters: Toile order

You know me and Toile Du Jouy Prints. For me, it’s irresistible!

Just like this print:

It’s a quintessential toile print - florals. 

And this fab print is from an equally fab dress from SheIn. 

It’s no wonder I ordered it the moment I saw it.

French Twist

Nope, this post isn’t about a hairstyle.

It’s about how you can put a twist on fashion trends.

The striped top and navy pants combo is a staple in French fashion. It’s the quintessential uniform of the chic Parisian woman.

But you can “lift” the look with the right pieces, like so:

The top is the classic striped top that French women love. But instead of a bateau neckline and 3/4 sleeves, this has a crew neck with a drop shoulder silhouette. This cool shirt is from Monki.

For the pants, instead of the usual relaxed trouser style, this is a cargo pant with multiple pockets, it’s a fab find from Forever 21. (That’s an alliteration with lots of Fs!)

So, if you ask whether something a chic as French fashion can still be made even more fashionable?

Oui agree!

Rita's Return

It saddened me when Rita's Italian Ice closed its doors in 2022. 

Their Greenhills branch was our go-to stopover after our Unilab meetings. Their UP Town Center branch was where we'd have dessert after a long day of malling.

Looks like I'll be able to enjoy this cool treat once again.

Yes, they're back! And they'll have a branch at The Podium, apparently.

Can't wait for the return of Rita's!

It's Electric!

If the kids get all giddy and excited whenever K-Pop acts, that's how Gen X-ers react to something like this:

Gosh! Debbie Gibson looks great!

Part of me wants to live my (Electric) Youth and watch this concert.

FMM: Very Telling

I'm not sure why, but Cat Stevens suddenly popped in my head.

Scratch that. It's because of the cat post made yesterday.

Cat Stevens is one of the most popular folk-pop singers in the 60s and 70s. He has a lot of hits that have become classics, being enjoyed by music lovers until today.

Among his many hits, today's Friday Magic Madness is his iconic 1971 ditty:

"How can I tell you" is one of my fave Cat Steven songs. Despite the fact that it was released even before I was born, I'm familiar with this song, thanks to Dad's cassette tape collection. 

Actually, this song is more popular because of the Lani Hall version. Yup, she also has a version of this song, and it has its own charm and feels.

No matter who sang it, you can tell it's a great song.

Sleep spot

What is it about our office building that makes it a fave sleeping spot of cats?

A week after taking a snap of that comfortable catnapper, here’s another one!

Times like these, you can’t help but want to be a cat.

Color story; Hot (Pink) Summer

Summer calls for bright colours. And they don't get any brighter than hot pink.

And it doesn't get any more summer than this ensemble.

The dress is from The SM Store. It's a linen dress with side cut-outs and a front slit. The overall silhouette screams summer!

The slides are from Zara, and it has the same hot pink hue as the dress. To give it an even more summer-y vibe, there's a floral detail in front.

As an ensemble, the best way to describe it is using Paris Hilton's classic line:

"That's hot!"

 

Especially touching

I’ve lost count how many times I’ve seen this video. But each and every time, the feels are the same. There’s a feeling of nostalgia and happiness, but it also leaves me a bit teary-eyed.

“Especially for you” was the song that cemented the popularity of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. They were a couple when they sang this hit. But they eventually split up and led separate lives, both professionally and personally.

Seeing them together like this just shows that there’s no love lost between them. After many decades, they still have the same love and respect for each other. You can see it in their chemistry, their dynamics, and their spoken and body language.

I’ve seen this dozens of times, and that touching feeling just goes on and on.

Goodbye Greenbelt

Unfortunately, this is not an April Fool’s Day joke.

Greenbelt 1 is officially closing it’s doors and will be demolished.

So much of my young adult to adult memories were made here.

Triple V Express, National Book Store, Cinderella, National Sports Grill, plaza Fair and Fairmart - the list goes on and on.

The structure might be gone, but the memories will definitely live on.

Thanks for the memories, Greenbelt 1.

Can you Handel this?

Happy Resurrection Day!

As the Bible scripture says: "He is Risen. Alleluia!"

And it's that time of the year again. Time to bring our Handel's "Messiah" and celebrate our risen Lord.

A glorious day deserves a glorious hymn.

Refreshing

Back when Mark and I would spend our Easter Vigils in the Franciscan Chapel Center in Roppongi, there were 2 hymns that they'd usually.sing.

First is "Go down, Moses." And this is a song I've written about before.

The second is a hymn entitled "Come to the Water."

This is part of the 5th reading, and they would often sing this song as part of the scripture. 

As we commemorate Black Saturday and hear the vigil mass, it's refreshing to hear this song once again.

FMM: Act of Love

Among the many World Youth Day songs, it’s the 1995 one written by Trina Belamide that’s most memorable and meaningful.

That year, World Youth Day was held in Manila, and we were part of it. Some Adformatix friends and I decided to join WYD as delegates, and we’d go to Don Bosch Church in Makati after work for briefings and practices.

One of the things we’d regularly practice is the song and gestures for “Tell the world of his Love.”

The first time this song was players, it was clear that the song was a perfect hymn for WYD. The message was beautiful, the lyrics and arrangement were divine, and it. A-Tueres the Story of Christ in a way that’s young and relevant.

The intro alone was so real and heartfelt:

“For God so loved the world, He gave us his only Son. Jesus Christ our saviour, His most precious one.”

This song played in my head as the Good Friday procession passed by in front of the compund

As we celebrate Good Friday today, this song is a fitting reminder of how God loved and continues to love us.

It’s a Good Friday Magic Madness song.

One top, two ways: Cream of the Cropped

Cropped tops are SO back.

This 90s staple has been reappearing for years, but this 2023 and 2024, it’s been making an appearance more often than usual.

My niece - Toni - has been rocking cropped tops since long, long ago. Ate Bullet has been wearing them of late as well.

Even fast fashion stores have been bringing out their cropped tops en masse. Just like this graphic, knit cropped top from The SM Store.

The top has a 90s feel to it. Maybe because of the print. Overall, the silhouette is nice and the crop is just right - not too short and not too long.

The first look is a top and pants combo.

This is a wide-legged dark denim trousers from Plains & Prints. It has a very Summer, nautical vibe, thanks to the shape and the gold button detail in front. Because it’s high-waisted, it complements the crop top, providing ample coverage, yet still showing a hint of skin. 

The second way to wear it is a hark back to the 90s. Since the top already has a 90s vibe, let’s push it towards that direction. So, it’s time for the “shirt inside the cami dress combo.”

The dress is from aerie, and is a slip dress with cargo pockets and a drawstring waist. It’s a 90s dress with a modern twist.

And that’s how versatile a simple cropped top can be. It may be short on length, but it’s definitely long in style possibilities.