Ain't it Grand?

While the chic, modern and streamlined hotels are aesthetically eye-catching, I'm still partial to old-school hotels. Ones with big pillars, made with a mix of marble and wood. It gives off a vibe of grandeur that a modern hotel lacks.

That's why Arnoma Grand Hotel in BKK is one of my go-to hotels in Thailand.

Most people find the style old and retro, which it is. But it does it in a way that feels classic and nostalgic, which just further adds to its charm.

And the fact that it's at the centre of a number of malls - including Platinum Mall - makes it an even better choice.

Dive right in

Seeing this sleeping cat reminded me of Olympic divers.

His sleeping pose looked like he was in the middle of doing a dive. It looks like his legs were locked into his arms, and the way it's stretched is very sporty looking.

Guess this cat made sleeping a sport.

A tale of two Halloweens

As October winds down, the Halloween fever heats up.

Trick-or-treats abound, and that's actually a thrill for me since I'm a fan of making treat bags.

With 2 events - one at home and one at the office - my treat bag skills went on overdrive and was able to put together more than a hundred bags! At first, it felt like an overkill. But the fact that it was wiped out, and some people were asking for more, made me think "I should've made more."

So, here's the one at home:

And the one at the office:

It's really twice the fun!

Highlighting creativity

Seeing ads like this reaffirm my passion and love for this industry.

It's so simple, clever, and more importantly, the product is at the centre of the concept. Which is what real creativity is all about.

This is definitely one of those "I wish I made this ad myself" moments.

Oh baby!

 Look who joined us for our Sunday garage dinner?

Baby Saab is in the house!

This is cuteness overload at its cutest!

Designer insects?

My first thought that it might be a knock-off brand. But since it was in Central World, it had to be legit.

Turns out, it's just a misspelling. The name on the logo is correct, and it was the name on the directory that was wrong.

Wonder how Guy Laroche would feel if he found out that his brand was turned into a reviled insect.

Proofreader please!

FMM: Denver Ditty

During our monthly birthday celebration last Tuesday, our guest busker called us up to the stage to join us for a song. Of course, we were very reluctant. But in the spirit of good fun, we decided to just give it a shot.

The song they asked us to sing was this really old song from 1974, and is a classic folk bar song from John Denver.

"Annie's songs" is such a laid-back and easy-to-sing song. That's why even if we have no singing experience, it was fun to sing along with this ditty. Also, that was the impetus that led to making this today's Friday Magic Madness song.

The funny thing about this song is that people think the title is "You fill up my senses." After all, that's the main lyric that you hear over and over again.

This song really filled up our senses.

K-cool

Koreans have a thing for dresses over pants. I've seen many a K-drama where the main characters are rocking this look.

In one of my mall runs, saw this dress at H&M that was perfect for that Korean look. And this is the ensemble.

The lace top and inner blouse are both from H&M, while the jeans are from Lovito.

This dress is definitely O-K!

LFLTAT: Jump Twice

There's this stall inside Puregold Cubao that has long caught my eye but never gotten around to check out. It's a small stall filled with denim products in all shapes and sizes.

After a grocery run, the decision was reached to finally stop by and check out what they're selling. And boy, it was such a good decicsion.

They had a trove of denim jumpers, and the price was surprisingly cheap! And with less than a thousand pesos, was able to put together not just one look, but two!

LOOK # 1:

This light denim jumper had a tapered silhouette and pockets in front. To keep things simple, got a ribbed tank top from Straightforward to complete the look.

LOOK # 2:

This one was a dark denim jumper, also with a shape that's cut close to the body. To create a contrast, the inner blouse is a loose, striped shirt from Uniqlo.

This is twice the chicness for just less than a thousand!

This way comes

This just might be the reason for Mark and me to go back to the cinemas.

We watched the play way back in 2014 and was thrilled. 

Now, a decade after, it's time to see whether something Wicked this way really comes.

Little Miss Sunshine

Nope, this isn't about the Abigail Breslin film. But mind you, that's one of my favourite comedies.

This is about celebrating the birthday of our very own Miss Sunshine - Jing-jing!

As she celebrated her milestone birthday, CAO peeps from past and present gathered to show her how much she's changed our lives for the better. Back in SMC, she gained the monicker "Sunshine" because of her warmth and radiant personality. 

Even after my SMC exit, we've remained steadfast friends and we've had the privilege of partying, traveling and just being goofy and silly together. There's even a group name for our group - JKLM - and I'm the honorary member.

Happy Birthday Jing! As the Stevie Wonder song goes, "you are the sunshine of our lives."

It's the "S"

No, this post isn't about Skechers.

What it's about is how the letter "s" can change a word dramatically.

Observe.

Spotted this at Don Quixote in Shibuya. 

Admittedly though, "Emergency Exist" sounds like a cool sci-fi film.

Proofreader, please!

Do your Pilati-s

I've never heard of Zara doing designer collaborations before, so this window display at Zara in Ginza totally caught me by surprise:

Apparently, they have this collaboration with Stefano Pilati for FW 2024. 

Yes, Stefano Pilati. The creative genius behind the resurgence of YSL in the 2000s, and eventually, Zegna in the mid-2010s.

Strangely, though, there were no lines nor fanfare on the collab. In fact, the sales clerks at Zara were even drawing attention to the collection by walking around the store, brandishing selected pieces.

His collection was composed mainly of trousers and blazers. It's the "masculine tailoring with a feminine twist" approach. Saw an interesting shirt dress with ruffles, a suit set with strawberry prints, and a structural LBD.

Was contemplating on buying a piece or 2, but after further scrutiny, they're very special occasion pieces that you can't use everyday. So, it was a pass.

Visually interesting, but a pass.

FMM: You'll Shirley like it

Upon thinking about it, there are a lot of famous singers named "Shirley."

One of them I've written about several times, and that's Dame Shirley Bassey.

But this Friday Magic Madness post isn't about her. 

It's about "Shirley & Company."

This popular disco group from the US was headlined by Shirley Goodman - thus the name. They had a string of hits in the 70s, but the son they were most known for was their 1975 hit.

"Shame, Shame, Shame," was a phenomenon and became a hit both in the US and Europe. Listening to it now, it has that very Motown vibe that makes it a joy to listen to.

So, there's no shame in listening to this song on repeat.

Rokh it again!

After his collaboration with H&M early this  year, Rokh is back!

This time, he has a collaboration with GU.

The thing was, when we were in Shibuya, the collection wasn't launched yet. They only had a preview rack, and it allowed you to check out the clothes, but you couldn't buy it. Just yet.

It was frustrating because you could see how nice and different the pieces are, but you can't buy them because they're still a few days away from the official launch.

Good thing there's the GU x Undercover FW collection to help me not feel too bad.

Rockin' burgers

Speaking of outlets, this was a perfect opportunity to try new cuisine. 

We saw a burger joint called Rockaway Burger, and it was a Hawaii-themed resto. Since the vibe was nice and the food looked good, we decided to give it a shot.

Mark got the burger combo, and I got the Surfer Salad.

In terms of taste, value and overall ambience, this place rocks!

Spending time (and money)

Mark and I decided to spend our last full day at Shisui Outlets in Chiba.

Like other outlet stores in Japan, this is patterned after US Outlet Malls. From the look to the layout to the frontage - everything feels so American.

What we shopped for, though, was very un-outlet. There's popcorn.

And Fanta Grape Soda!

Yes, there were a few purchases from Coach and Michael Kors, can't leave without those.

Overall, it was a day well-spent.

Figuratively and literally.

The New Standard

Here's one of our new and interesting discoveries in Tokyo.

Standard Products is a home store that's pretty much like Muji. They have items for every room of the house, from the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, laundry room, and the like. The designs are very Japanese in aesthetic, making it as visually pleasing as it is useful.

Now the thing about Standard Products is that it's owned by Daiso. So, the items range from Y300 to Y1200. Yup, they're cheap.

This is going to be a standard store to visit in Tokyo from hereonin.

Feeling Chik-y

After asking Mark if he remembers the last time we had our photo taken with Hachiko in Shibuya, the answer was simple.

It was a long, long time ago.

Maybe it was in the late 2000s or early 2010s. 

What I remember is our photo with the reunited Hachiko and Professor photo which was taken in 2015.

Since it was too long ago, it was time for a redo!

After seeing that the line had whittled down completely, we took it as our chance to have this traditional souvenir shot taken.

Great to see you - and have a photo with you again - Hachiko!

Hooked on it!

Since they've discontinued Filet-o-fish in the Philippines, it's one sandwich that I'm constantly on the look-out for whenever my travels take me out of the country.

Luckily, they still have it in Japan!

Bonus, they also have sweet potato pie!

This meal got me. Hook, like and sinker.

FMM: Generation Alpha

Let's make today's Friday Magic Madness song simple.

Forty years ago, 1984 to be exact, Alphaville launched this song that became such a global hit. Let's just say, the song made it big. Really big.

"Big in Japan," is now an iconic song that's known and loved by many generations. This was quite th efeat considering how Alphaville was a German band, but they were able to penetrate the international marketr with their catchy synth-pop music.

Considering how many people are into visiting Japan these days, this song has more meaning.

Go big, or go home. That's what they always say.

Meals with Mark: Gusto-tory delights

The question of where to have lunch first is a perennial one for Mark & myself.

When we asked each other that question yesterday, the answer turned out to be just a ew meters away.

Cafe Gusto!

So, our first lunch in Tokyo is Italian by way of Japan.

We had Mentaiko pasta, Margherita pizza and fries. Let's not forget the drink bar.  All good, as expected.

Like many of our constants, Cafe Gusto does not disappoint.

Tones in Tokyo

With Toni's talents, it's easy to see that she'll go far in whatever endeavour she puts her mind and energy into.

Even in her newest venture - Sweet Tones!

Yup, she's finally venturing into a food business! It's a natural progression considering that she graduated from a culinary course and even went to the US for her internship.

And her first product - her version of the viral Dubai chocolate - is so good!

It's so good that it's now in Tokyo!

See! It's already gone that far.

Wasted Attitude

One of my pet peeves is when people choose the "print receipt" option on ATMs, then immediately throw away the receipt after it's dispensed by the machine.

Such a waste of paper.

What makes things even more upsetting is when they carelessly throw away those pieces of paper. That act creates a situation like this:

Such a waste! Figuratively and literally!

Do not be deceived

Looks like there's more than meets the eye to this jeepney.

Makes me wonder what this transforms into.

Sketchy Stories: Scrap star

Was cleaning my room one weekend and chanced upon a pile of scrap fabric.

These were fabrics that were left behind from previous projects. It included some cuts of native fabric, the "kumot," pieces of "katsa," and a small cut of chambray.

Instead of throwing out the scraps, it inspired me to sketch this.

The scraps will be part of the bottom of the skirt. The design is tiered and a bit random, to give it a mish-mash and patchwork feel.

Showed it to Ofel, and she was able to execute it exactly the way I envisioned it.

The base is a dark denim dress, and the fabric scraps added colour and fun to the skirt. The sleeveless dress has a bateau neckline and a v-shaped back.

There was so much fabric scraps and denim, that we were able to do another dress. This one had flutter sleeves and a v-neck neckline.

Who would've though that scraps could be this chic!

The perfect channel

As a student of a Franciscan school, one of the prayers we'd always say is the Prayer of St. Francis.

As a member of the school choir, this was also a song we'd memorise by heart.

And since it was the Feast of St. Francis yesterday, it's only but fitting to play this song:

This song still gets to me.

Happy Feast Day St. Francis of Assisi!

FMM: No worries

Upon seeing the ad announcing the concert of the group "Incognito" here in MNL, it felt like the 90s all over again.

The group was huge in the 90s. We'd listen to them whenever we'd pull overnighters for college projects, so hearing their songs brings me back to college.

My favourite Incognito song has to be "Don't you worry 'bout a thing." It's such a fave that it's going to be today's Friday Magic Madness song.

Hard to believe that this song was first launched in 1992! So, it's already 32  years old!

Gosh, I'm old!

Printed Matter: Instant Doodles

I've been drawing since my childhood days. It's something I've carried until now. Occasionally, I'd find myself doodling on random pieces of paper. It could be a house, an animal, a paisley print - things that just pop in my head randomly.

This love for doodling is what drew me to this print.

It looked like someone gave a kid a piece of cloth and asked him to doodle anything he wanted. The result are random doodles featuring shapes, faces, even plain scribbles.

And these doodles are the centrepiece of this beautiful dress from Urban Revivo.

This dress is just GOR-GE-OUS! The print is the main focal pint, but the 60s silhouette with the ruffle detail elevates the whole look.

That's why I knew I had to buy it the instant that I saw it.

New Heights

Despite the fact that I've been with the company for more than a decade, this is the first time I'm seeing this view.

Apparently, we have a balcony that faces Emerald Avenue!

Despite the height, I'm finding this view quite relaxing.

Ah yes, you learn something new everyday.

Way back Wafer

 Lola Dita would always have a lot of food in their room. In fact, they even had a double door fridge inside their room, and they would keep a stash of goodies there, like ice cream, chocolates and gummies from Spain.

Another thing that Lola would always have was a can of Nissin Chocolate Wafers. Back then, my eyes would always gravitate to the big, brown can with a very interesting vintage graphic. It showed a street scene from (what I felt like was) the 1940s, and had different women in bikes. 

They stopped producing that can here in the Philippines, and that memorable visual was gone from our shelves.

But apparently, it's still pretty much alive in Malaysia.

You could just imagine my thrill after seeing this. It felt like being back in my childhood, inside Lola Dita & Lolo Iking's room in Morato.

Amazing how snacks can be a way of going back.