Post it!

I’m probably one of the last, few holdouts of traditional mailing.

Whilst everyone is sending things via email or posting them on social media or doing it electronically, I still write letters and postcards, and send them via post.

So, it’s always a thrill when I receive letters or postcards by mail.

Just like this one:

Bebe sent this from Japan. She spent her New Year holiday there, and found time to write and send me a postcard. Sugoi ne!

It’s def something worth posting 

Happy moments

It took years and several plans before this get together pushed through.

It was worth it!

Happy, Lyli and I were teammates at DY&R-Alcantara, and we were also lunch mates, merienda mates, and we'd often hang out during shoots.

Even if we're with different agencies now, we still make it a point to get together and catch up, just like old times.

And it's great that even if years have passed, a lot of things haven't changed.

Getting receipts. Will edit this later.

No, this isn’t a Taylor Swift post. 

This is about how “receipt” should be an easy word to spell.

Apparently not.

Proofreader please.

Keller instinct

My decision to hold out on buying dresses from the Claire Waight-Keller collaboration was correct.

The dress that I wanted for Ate is now on sale!

This pretty, sunshine yellow dress is both free-spirited and elegant thanks to little detains like the micro-pleated skirt and drawstrings on the side.

Got this at around 70% off!

How’s that for a killer deal.

Overall Mood

For a lot of people, wearing and pulling off a jumpsuit or an overall is a challenge.

Luckily, it isn’t for my sister. Thus, every time there’s a nice jumpsuit or overall on sale, it’s easy to grab it.

Just like this one from Pull and Bear.

The material is like denim, albeit lighter, the pants are cargo pants, which Ate is a fan of. And the top has an interesting overlap design, and the sleeves are slightly extended. 

Overall, it’s a modern - and affordable - take on the jumpsuit.

FMM: You can do it!

From Milk Magic, we have another Magic.

Yes, today’s Friday Magic Madness song is inspired by my post on Milk Magic.

The word “Magic” reminded me of one of my fave songs from the 80s. It’s from the American folk band aptly named “America.”

With a song like this, you can definitely do magic.

Dream Collab

By this time, it's clearly established that I'm a fan of hopia, and I'm a fan of Choc-Nut.

So, you can imagine my thrill upon seeing this:

It has less Choc-Nut than it should have, but hey, this combination is a dream.

Trash Talk

As Mark would sometimes say: "This is why we don't deserve nice things."

Throwing trash isn't a difficult thing to do. Actually, not only is it correct, it's also the decent thing to do. That's why it irks me whenever people throw trash on streets and sidewalks. And when they do it nonchalantly and proudly, the level of "irkness" increases exponentially.

That said, these 2 things really got my goat.

Exhibit A:

This was at the Unionbank ATM near the office. Gosh! How can people just throw their receipts all over the place. People, there's an "no print out option." if you're just going to throw it, then don't print it.

Exhibit B:

This was at Serenitea in Megamall. The duo who sat on this table was a mother and daughter tandem. The daughter was gathering the trash when the Mom asked her to just leave it there. So much for leading by example.

Gosh! People who have that kind of attitude are just...

Hello Doll-y

And the Toni supremacy continues.

My niece is in another beauty campaign! 

Having her endorse a product like Cathy Doll is so apt for her. She’s really into all things girly and fab, so this is such a strategic fit.

Proud Tito here.

Magical

Here’s a recent discovery after a random grocery run:

The brand name is so apt because this milk is Magic!

The right amount of creaminess with that balance of sweetness from the brown sugar. And with the sea salt added, it has just a hint of saltiness.

And because it was limited edition, I just had to buy all the packs on the grocery shelves.

Now, I;m a believer of (Milk) Magic    

Calling Collins

Looking at her, it’s kinda hard to believe that Joan Collins is 92 years old.

Yes. She’s. 92. Years. Old!

She should be the poster child for ageless beauty.

Faith Flashback

Can’t believe that it’s been 9 years since this photo was taken

It was in 2015, during Pope Francis’ visit to Manila.

We all hung-out at Manila Yacht Club to wait for the Pope mobile to pass by. When it did, it was so close to us that we got a clear view of the Pope.

That was such a blessing, and it’s something that strengthens my faith until today.

FMM: Will you?

From "Marry Me" in 2023, we go back to 1991 for today's Friday Magic Madness song.

"Will you Marry Me?" seems like an apt song for today. This is one of Paula Abdul's hits from the 90s, and it would've been cool if they included this ditty in the "Marry Me" film.

Aside from sharing a bit of the title, they also both share the same effervescence and sweetness.  After all, they're both marriage-themed.

Sing(apore) along

Thanks to Jo and Kawei, I’m currently enjoying my SG faves, right here at the office.

Gardenia Fruit and Nut Loaf and Curry puffs!

They travelled a long way, and it was definitely worth the trip. 

Marry January

Finally!

"Marry Me" is coming to Netflix.

And it's showing today.

TODAY!

Evening schedule blocked off.

Sketchy Stories: Art and Science

In Advertising Production, there should be a meeting of creativity and reality. Based on the idea you created in your head, the back of your head should also consider if the idea is doable.

Same goes with fashion. While it's fun to sketch ideas, one thing to consider is the viability of the idea.

That's why whenever I do a sketch, there are 2 versions - the "art" version and the "science" version. 

The latter is what the dressmaker uses to bring the idea to life. It has to be a detailed sketch to make things easier for the person who will pattern, cut and sew the dress.

Just like this one:

I give Ofel a sketch like this so that she can properly execute every detail that I have in my head. With something like this as guide, it's easier to go from concept to execution.

Going back and forth

It’s been 2 weeks since the Plains & Prints Purple Sale started, and admittedly. There’s a haul that needs to be written about.

Let’s start with this silk dress from R.A.F. It has a nice length, 3/4 sleeves with a bit of puff, and a flattering silhouette.

And the back is gorgeous! You can tie it into a bow and have a bit of skin peeking out.

Bonus: you can wear the dress with the back in front!

The criss-cross top also reveals a bit of skin on the waist.

How’s that for a dress that looks good both from the back and the front.

Wing it!

When I was living in HKG, i’d often go to McDonald’s for their McSpicy Wings.

Now, after almost 2 decades, that product is finally here!

Better late than never!

Excuse me while I rush to McDonald’s.

On a Quest

It's been a few months since I discovered "Royal Match."

This is a game where you're supposed to complete challenges in different levels. 

One of the features that this game has is the "Lava Quest." Basically, you have to complete 7 levels consecutively, and when you do, you get the grand prize for the quest.

I've tried to complete the quest several times, but only went as far as 5 levels.

But that all changed today:

Yes! I've completed the Lava Quest!

The grand prize is 10,000 coins. But because you have to share it with other players who joined the quest, my coins amounted to just over 1,500. Not bad!

Now, it's off to the next quest!

FMM: Made in Manhattan

Manhattan Transfer was a favourite of mine, even as a kid.

My classmates actually found it odd. At the time that they were into Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet - both pop groups - my preference was this jazz band that was preferred by our parents.

They're known for a lot of hits, some of which have been featured here as FMMs.

Today, they're back with another famous song:

"Birdland" is their 1979 song which was so popular back then. It was so popular, there was even a jazz bar named after this song in Timog. It was this nondescript place that was popular among jazz enthusiasts - my Dad included.

Listening to this song again, I'm amazed at how beautifully their vocals blend together. It's one of the signature traits of Manhattan Transfer that makes them a classic.

Okidoki Enoki

Enoki Mushrooms are usually seen in 2 types of restaurants.

You can see it in Samgyupal places where it's usually grilled along with beef, or in Hot Pot places where it's part of a soup.

"Fried Enoki" was new to my ears. That novelty was also the trigger for me to try it.

This is Fried Enoki at Nineteen degrees. For the price, it's a hefty serving of crispy mushrooms with the right amount of spice. 

It's. So. Good!

Among the 3 ways I've tried Enoki, this will now be my fave!

LFLTAT: Monki see, Monki do

This year's first LFLTAT is courtesy of the on-going Monki sale.

Spotted this psychedelically pretty dress a few months ago. It has this vibrant floral print is loud colours, set against a classic wrap dress with balloon sleeves. Upon checking, the dress was already on sale, and the price was ridiculously low!

Since the dress had different shades of pink, this pair of jewelled fuchsia mules came to mind. It's been in the stash for a while, and it's about time it saw the light. Got this on Lazada in one of the double-number sale.

With 2 sale items together, this outfit cost less than P800!

See? You can do a lot with less than a thousand.

Violet reaction

While eating my afternoon snack, the thought suddenly came to mind.

“Is it eat-everything-violet-day” today?

But hey, you can never go wrong with Simply Doritos & Riyal Grape.

Great at 58!

As the priest who officiated my parents’ Golden Wedding Anniversary so aptly said: “May Forever.”

Today, my parents celebrate their 58th year as a married couple.

This is such a blessing, so we made sure to start it by thanking Him for the blessing of love, health and longevity. It was my parents’ first time in Sagrada Familia in Gateway, and they were impressed.

Then, it was off to dinner at Tong Yang. 

Usually, they play a birthday song and give out a birthday cake for celebrators. When the receptionist asked what our occasion was and I told them it was a Wedding Anniversary, they changed things up.

They played “Forevermore” and gave Mom and Dad an anniversary cake.

Dinner was good, and the company was even better. While we missed the other members of the fam, we’re looking forward to celebrating with them again soon.

Truly, it was a great way to celebrate!

Open Wide

Opening a new fashion year with these cool finds from The SM Store.

The past months, they've been coming out with a lot of unusual and innovative jean designs.  This inside out jean is one of my fave purchases in 2023.

But 2024 isn't planning to get left behind.

On the 1st week of the year, they had these 2 pairs of jeans that were super good buys.

The 1st pair is this light washed, wide legged jean. It has this panelled design and the pocket has a dropped design. The front part is also asymmetric and the middle is higher than the rest of the waist band.

The complex design needs a simple white shirt to go with it.

Then, there's another pair which has a medium blue wash, wide-legged, but slightly narrower than the 1st pair, and the front is also asymmetric. But in contrast to the 1st pair, this one is higher on the sides.

For this one, a black boxy shirt highlights the detail on the waist.

These are such fun and different pairs of jeans to open the year.

Make it ‘til you fake it

Divisoria is known as a haven for fakes, but this is a totally different level!

If this isn’t duck, me wonders what it is. Harhar!

Proofreader, please!

FMM: Ella-mentary

For the first FMM song for 2024, we’re going to go back.

Way back.

In 1947, Frank Loesser - a popular and prolific songwriter - wrote this smooth and heartfelt ditty about New Year. It’s a song that proved to be such a classic that musical artists from the 1940s to the 2010s sang this song and had versions of it.

But for today, we’re paying homage to the OG.

Ella Fitzgerald was the first singer to sing “What are you doing New Year’s Eve.” True to her style of singing, this version is sultry and croony, and captures both the romance and celebration of Christmas.

So what am I doing?

Listening to this song over and over and over again, of course.

Sketchy Stories: Take it or Sleeve it

After our little collaboration for Kevin’s wedding, Grace told me that she was going to be a wedding sponsor once again. The wedding was on January 10, and it was December 23 when she told me.

A 2-week timeline? Doable!

She told me that she liked what we did for Cza’s bridesmaid’s dress, particularly the exaggerated cape sleeves. She wanted sleeves like that, but on a more ornate dress.

There’s a cut of beige lace leftover from Kevin’s wedding - it was supposed to be for Ate Bullet, but they suddenly changed their dress color to dusty blue. With that lace in mind, this was the sketch.

And with Ofel’s help, the sketch became this beautifully elegant gown.

As a bonus, we made the sleeve detachable and replaced it with ostrich feathers for the reception.

That takes the gown and gives is a double dose of chic!

Peach Perfect

Before New Year came around, Ate Bulket was already rummaging through her closet to look for something Peach to wear. 

While she was sharing this dilemma, I was reminded of a Kashieca jumpsuit designed by Rhett Eala. Aside from the unusual silhouette. That jumpsuit was also peach!

So, it was off to Kashieca to check if it was still available.

Not only was it available, it was on sale!

And that’s how Ate Bullet started New Year’s Eve with a Peach ensemble.

(Of course, this was her day outfit. She wore matching lace dresses in a dark peach colour for our Noche Buena.)

Rio Grand

What was the Christmas Gift Wrap theme for 2023?

Sometime in June, we went to National Book Store in Cubao to buy some supplies. Part of the 2nd floor was turned into an NBS outlet, so I decided to go up and check out what they had.

One corner of the area was set aside for gift wrappers. Rolls upon rolls upon rolls of different gift wrappers of varied designs where jammed into cardboard boxes. Of course, I had to check out the designs they had.

There was one design that jumped out of the plethora of rolls. The wrapper was covered in different tropical birds doing a celebratory dance. Immediately, this reminded me of the film "Rio," one of my favourite films. That sealed the deal.

Since the wrapper itself had a dark colour, the ribbon had to be light and bright to serve as a contrasting element. Looking at the many, many colours on the design, my eye singled out yellow as the main ribbon, while coral and baby blue served as the additional hue.

With the wrappers secured, it was time to look for the accent. I knew exactly what I wanted - clothespins with a bird design. But gosh! It was so difficult to find! Went to 168 - none. Checked out Shopee and Lazada - none. Just when I was about to give up, a random stroll at The Landmark proved to be the end of my search. 

They had clothespins with a flamingo design. Woot!

Aside from that, found 2 other worthy accents - a red robin clip-on, and a wooden keychain with a bird motif.

Then, the cards. Made the usual 4 designs, but was only to take a photo of 2 since the rest ran out already.

With all these elements together, here's the final theme.

Just like "Rio," it's frivolous, festive and fun! Which is what Christmas - and Christmas gifts - should be.

Color Story: What’s the fuzz?

Being in Advertising, I’m very familiar with the concept of Pantone. It has long been our guide in creating logos and color stories.

That’s why when Pantone comes up with the “color of the year,” I’m one of the first people to go on board.

For 2024, it’s Peach Fuzz. It’s supposed to be a warmer version of the popular pastel hue.

There are many ways to interpret this color. After all, Pantone is very precise, and it’s difficult to duo,I Ate that precision. 

So, as the family ushered in the new year, we all wore our version and iteration of Peach Fuzz.

It’s our no-fuss way of interpreting the Fuzz.

Happy New Year!