Chinoiserie chic

Looks like Chinoiserie is having another moment in fast fashion.

From Zara to H&M to Stradivarius, Chinese themed blouses, particularly those with frog closures, are popping up. Some are made of Chinese-looking silk, while some are made with more modern fabrics like linen and denim.

Gosh, this reminds me of that whole stash of Chinoiserie that was in my closet during my stay in HKG and SHG. Should've kept those for a time like today.

The future is creative

This is the reason why teaching is something I'm passionate about. It's always great to see how young creative minds work, and how they approach creative challenges.

Today was my Copywriting class' final presentation, and they did campaigns for the school's hotel.

Seeing how creative their work is - both in strategic thinking and creative execution - it's easy to see that the future of creativity is in capable hands.

FMM: Double Life

Call this a double play or double feature, but today's Friday Magic Madness song is inspired by yesterday's movie trailer.

The trailer had a catchy music bed, and the song is a remake of this 1978 hit by Billy Joel:

"My Life" is one of his iconic songs, and it's been a while since I've last heard it play. But thanks to this trailer, it's now back in my playlist and I'm listening to it on repeat.

Safe to say, this song has been given a second life.

Oak-kay

Just when you thought you've seen every type of Dinosaur film, something like this comes along.

A sudden Dinosaur invasion in an American suburb? Anne Hathaway as a suburban housewife defeding her family from dinosaurs? Interesting.

While there's not much hype on "The End of Oak Street," looks like I'm going to wait for and watch this one.

Wearable Art

A few weeks ago, my parents and I went to this Bicol products fair at Shangrila Mall. 

They had the usual roster of products, like abaca and rattan products, pili nuts and its different derivatives, Paracale gold, Laing, and other Bicolano dishes.

But one booth stood out to me. It sold clothing, but with a very artistic twist.

The owner was an artist who does her own paintings, then prints them on fabric. From there, she makes various creations, including dresses, blouses, and other Filipiniana outfits.

The one that caught my eye was also the piece that eventually made it home. 

This is a bib blouse with a barong tagalog print. The blue artwork is the owners original art, and she added the barong pattern to give it the total barong Tagalog feels. It was so chic, creative and local.

And just like how barongs are usually paired with dark pants, I've paired it with a straight cut, dark denim jeans.

Now, this is modern Filipinana.

Now, this is art.

Hands off

So, it's true. They're shutting down the Tokyu Hands store in Shibuya.

Mark and I have been here once or twice. As a fan of crafting and writing, this place was a joy to visit. They had floors upon floors of papers, pens, cards, art materials, and everything else in between.

Hopefully, their other stores will still be open. That way, I'd still get my crafting fix whenever we go to Japan.

Bahnsen Burner

Was wondering, will Uniqlo be coming up with a new fashion collaborator? 

They have the regular lines with Clare Waight Keller and the U Studio. But there was a time when they had people like Phillip Lim, Costello Tagliapietra, Marni, Jil Sander and Alexander Wang doing capsule collections. And it would be cool to have something like that again.

Lo and behold, a capsule collection with Cecile Bahnsen.

She's a Danish designer known for blending femininity with her Scandinavian roots. So, think minimalism, but with a romantic twist. Something that you can see in her Uniqlo collaboration. It has a lot of ruffles and shirring, details that really elevates her pieces.

I've got my eye on the ruffled dresses, and something tells me that will land in Ate's closet soon.

Printed Matter: Dainty details

My penchant for botanical prints is well documented on this blog. In fact, Ate Bullet has a number of nice, botanical print clothes in her closet.

But there's always room for another one. Especially if the print is this cute.

This is a botanical print, but done in a dainty way. The prints are small and delicate, simple in its execution and colour, and spaced adequately so that you can appreciate it more.

And this dainty print is from an equally dainty dress from The Landmark.

You really can never have too many botanical print dresses. 

Meals with Mark: Aizu the sign

Mark has been talking about and swearing by this Japanese restaurant in San Pedro called Aizu.

It's one of the go-to restos of Mark and his family, and I've always wanted to try it and experience the Japanese food he's been raving about.

And today, that day finally came.

We had lunch at Aizu's 2nd branch. Apparently, the 1st branch, the one he frequents more often, is only open from 5pm onwards. 

Told Mark to handle the ordering since he knows this restaurant more. 

It's a super delicious and super satisfying spread of Tantanmen, gyoza, chicken karaage and chahan.

Everything was good. The ramen was creamy and spicy, and the noodles were firm. The gyoza was flavourful and the skin had the right amount of snap. The chahan was generous in therms of the inclusions and the quality of the rice was top notch. And the chicken karaage was crispy and crunchy without being too oily.

After the hearty meal, I now know why Mark enjoys Aizu a lot. And this is the sign that we should eat at Aizu more. (As well as sample the other restaurants around Pacita.)

FMM: What's the Plann?

Since we're in the subject of j3j3m0hwns, this song from 1993 suddenly came to mind.

"Bring dat booty" is a rap song from the Fil-Am group named Mastaplann. 

While this isn't exactly from the j3j3m0hwn era, (it predated it by more than a decade, actually), this song actually captures the vibe of that era. It campy, cheesy and cringey. But it's so campy, cheesy and cringey that it's fun.

Thus, it's fun to go back and randomly listen to songs like this. 

But yes, I'm still glad this era is over.

The Po3wzh Pose

Last Tuesday, the office had our birthday cocktails. The theme?

Jejemon.

Wait, that didn't come out right.

J3j3m0hwn!

As a sign of sportsmanship and the spirit of gameness, some of us showed up in our j3j3 best, which led the 3 of us to be named top 3 j3j3m0hwns.

I'm the traditional j3j3m0hwn, Mayu is the j3j3pan, and Mikee is the j3j3Lo.

Seeing this makes me even gladder that this era is over.

Sounds of Childhood

When we were kids, we had a talking alarm clock. It was a Raggedy Ann and Andy alarm clock, and if memory serves me right, it was Ate Lissa's and Ate Bullet's alarm clock.

You'd set the alarm, and once it hits the time when it was set, you could hear Raggedy Ann and Andy have this conversation:

Raggedy Ann: Andy, Andy, please wake up, it's time to play our game.

Andy: Okay, Ann, I'm awake, let's do it all again.

Sometimes, I'd get the clock and adjust the alarm to that exact moment I'm there, just to hear this conversation. And was always fun hearing it.

Recently, I saw that exact clock on the net.

It looks like the same one that we had. Now I'm wondering if it sounds the same, too.

Meals with Mark: Visiting Via

Via Mare, that is.

This is one of our go-to places to eat. And the Shangrila Plaza branch has been part of our foodie itinerary ever since it was on the ground floor, near the driveway.

For today's visit, we decided to go full-on Pinoy for merienda.

This combination of sweet (ginataang halo-halo), savoury (quezo de bola pandesal) and cold (shooters) was just what we needed. It's filling, flavourful, and has a summer vibe.

You can never go wrong with Via Mare.

Rugcats

Nope, this isn't a typo nor is it a spin-off of "Rugrats."

It's literally a cat on a rug, still enjoying the weekend feels.

Okay, cat. Time to work.

Master's Degree

Aside from "The Devil Wears Prada 2," here's the other reason I'm going back to the cinema soon.

I'm  a huge He-Man fan. In fact, the original "Masters of the Universe" film with Dolph Lungdren was one of my most watched films. And seeing the trailer of this 2-26 version, and seeing how the characters are closer to the cartoon counterpart, I'm even more psyched to see it.

The kid in me in screaming.

And he's screaming: "By the power of Grayskull, I have the power!!!!"

Summer Rokhs!

Seeing this dress from the latest summer collaboration from GU x Rokh makes me want to transport myself to a GU store, stat!

This dress screams summer! From the plaid fabric to the easy silhouette, it's such a cool and refreshing take on summer dressing.

Gee, you're making me want to go to Tokyo!

FMM: In the Nicks of time

What better way to end Double Denim week than this song from Stevie Nicks.

"Blue Denim" is one of my favourite Stevie Nicks songs. While it wasn't as popular or known here in the Philippines, this song has always been on my playlist since its launch in 1994. The sound is quintessential Stevie - a big of country, a bit of rock, but all phenomenal!

Until the next Double Denim week!

Double Denim week: Life is Pleating

This has got to be the fastest and easiest Stella buy in my history of Stella buying.

The moment my eyes locked in and saw this denim ensemble from afar, my fashion instincts kicked in and propelled me to the rack to snag these:

It's a beautifully pleated denim coords. The top is a sleeveless, pleated blouse made of dark denim. And it has cute ribbon details in front. The skirt is made of the same denim and the same pleating style. These 2 pieces complement each other so, so, SO perfectly.

Yes, this double denim look gives me life!

Double Denim week: Turn it up

This blog is a witness to this observation: Stella is such an underrated fashion brand.

I've been buying Stella for more than a decade, and I've been consistently amazed with the type of clothes they churn out. Of course, there are some misses, but mostly they've been hits.

Riding on the denim trend, they have a lot of very nice denim pieces on their racks today. And this double denim ensemble caught my eye instantaneously.

It's a skirt and top combination. The top is cute because it's designed like an inverted denim jean. The skirt is made from the same material, but it has this turned up detail that gives it an edge.

I'm excited to see Ate turn up in this denim ensemble.

Double Denim week: Blowing bubbles

 No, this isn't a post about that popular 90s clothing brand. But that begs the question, "What happened to Blowing Bubbles?"

But that's not what this post is about.

We're on day 2 of Double Denim week, and today, we have this outfit that's centred on a bubble skirt.

The skirt is from Penshoppe, and was on-sale! Then, the top is from SM Woman, and it was also on-sale at 50% off.  

This outfit is another example of "classic with a twist." The top is a classic looking button down, but the bubble skirt is the twist part of the story.

And now that I"m realising that this is also an LFLTAT outfit, I'm blown away!

Double Denim week: Out of the Boxy

There are so many nice denim pieces out there these days, you can actually dedicate a week for double denim pieces.

And that's exactly what I'm doing.

First up is this denim duo that has a very relaxed and boxy fit.

The top is from the RAF x Nicolo collection. It's a tie back top made of medium wash denim. It has a boxy silhouette which gives it a modern edge. The belted, wide-legged pants are from The SM Store, and the shape gives it a super easy-breezy vibe.

If a nonchalant, cool-girl went out in a double denim ensemble, this would be it

What's cooking?

Better yet, who's cooking?

And the answer? 

Me.

Got home from the office quite early last Thursday, so I decided to cook dinner. Mom was already preparing to cook Camaron Rebosado, but I thought of levelling it up and made this Camaron Rebosado x Tempura hybrid.

See? I can be useful in the kitchen, too.

Has it begun?

I'm not sure if this is early or late, but this product is already in 7-11.

It's either this is a product from December that hasn't been removed yet, or it's really a Christmas product that they decided to display as early as May.

Mysteries never cease.

FMM: Cell la vie

My taste in music has always been eclectic.

That's because my parents listened to so many different types and genres of music, and we'd listen to those along with them. We could be listening to Richard Clayderman one day, then Village People the next day. One day, we'd listen to jazz, and the next day, we'd listen to synth-pop.

One of the synth-pop groups that I grew up listening to is a group called Soft Cell. They're an English band who had a number of hits in the 80s, the biggest being this song:

"Tainted Love," has the 80s vibe down pat. It must be the synth aspect of it, but this song was and is a joy to listen to. And each time I'm listening to it, I can't help but be transported back to the 80s. 

Interesting trivia is the fact that this song is actually a remake of a 1964 song by Gloria Jones. It was popular back then, but it never reached the same popularity as the Soft Cell version.

I've listened to both, and admittedly, I'm more sold on this version.

When misspellings are sweet

Yes, the difference a letter makes.

They might not have the spelling correct, but the recipe is on-point. 

I'll try this one of these days.

The recipe. Not the misspelling.

Sweet Devotion

Reading the story behind Ferrero Rocher made me love the brand even more.

The brand's founder - Michele Ferrero - is a devout Catholic and a firm devotee of Our Lady of Lourdes. In fact, the word "Rocher" means "rock," and it refers to the grotto in Lourdes where our Lady appeared.

This makes the story of this chocolate even sweeter.

Bake it 'til you make it!

Baking is a part of our family - even at a very young age. Back in my grade school days, I'd buy those pre-packed Devil's Food Cake mixes and try to make it at home. Some would succeed, others would look like burnt cakes on the outside but liquid inside. 

The interest came from my Mom who's a good baker. She'd make apple pie and empanadas for merienda when we were kids. And they were spectacular! Ate Lissa is also a good baker, and her specialty back then was macaroons. 

There was a book at home called "Cooking it up with Nora," written by the legendary Nora Daza. It had a section on cakes and baking, and I'd find myself reading the recipes and imagining that I'd make them.

When I was in high school, my interest in baking was still there. And around that time, I was determined to make that interest something real. So, with money saved from my allowance, I bought my first baking cook book.

And that cook book is still with me until now - 35 years after I bought it.

This book helped me become more confident in my skills. Through this book. I made my first Caramel Butter Tarts (which later became my specialty), my first Mud Pie, and my first attempt at making Dark Fruit Cake. 

Opening the pages of this book brought back so many fond and fun memories. More than that, it made me want to try making these recipes again.

One of these days, I'm going to make those Caramel Butter Tarts again.

Decisions, Decisions

To eat or to sleep? That's the pressing issue today's Monday cat is facing.

Looks like sleep won.

Madrid Madness

Chocolateria San Gines, an uber popular chocolate cafe in Madrid - has opened its first branch in Podium.

They're bringing in their famous chocolate and churros, a combination that's been around in MNL for quite sometime.

And as expected, the lines are cray!

They're not the first big churros brand in MNL. Just a few years ago, La Lola Churrria was a popular hang out spot, but they lost their steam a few years after. They're now trying to make a comeback through The Bistro Group. 

There's also the OG - Dulcinea. Now, this is the churros that we grew up with.

Honestly, I'm curious to see if the taste is the same as the original one in Madrid (but it's been almost 2 decades since my last trip there). But I'll wait for the crazy lines to subside before trying it.

LFLTAT: Stuck on Rugby

During my stint in HKG, one of the things that Hong Kongers would anticipate was the HK Rugby Sevens. It's a sporting event that became part of pop culture, and people would show up - costumes and all - to watch the rugby games.

That's why around April, you'll see a lot of Rugby themed merch floating all over the place. 

I'm actually a fan of Rugby shirts, and I've always had 1 or 2 in my closet. Right now, there are 3 in my rotation - 2 from Bench and 1 from SPAO.

While passing through SM Cubao, saw a Rugby shirt that was on-sale. Conveniently, there was a pair of baggy jeans that had the same colour story as the shirt. Those 2 sale items gave birth to this outfit.

This is so sporty and fashionable. The best part, it rang up to less than P1000!

Let's play Rugby!

FMM: Behind her

Today's Friday Magic Madness song is bittersweet. It's a song that's 20 years old, and the title has a colour which is also the name of a friend who we recently lost.

Hazel is one of the IUJ girls who I met during that time I surprised Mark in Urasa. I was sitting on a bench outside SD2, waiting for Mark, and this group of 3 girls passed by. I overheard one of them ask if the other 2 knew who I was, and what country I was from. That girl turned out to be Hazel.

It was during that same night, at the Karaoke party, that we were formally introduced. After that first meeting, we became friends. Being friends with Hazel was easy because she had a very friendly personality. She was bubbly, accommodating, and she always had a ready smile. 

Whenever she'd see me alone and waiting for Mark's class to finish, she'd stop and take time to chat and keep me company. Whenever we'd go to Yummy Ice Cream or JUSCO in Muikamachi, her presence would always light up that place where we were.

After their IUJ stint and they were back in Manila, we'd still occasionally see each other. Some were planned meetings, like when her daughter was baptised. Some would be accidental, like seeing her in the NEDA building in Ortigas. But no matter how many years have passed, she was still the same bubbly, accommodating and friendly Hazel from IUJ.

It was last Friday when we heard the news that she was in the hospital, and last Wednesday, we heard the sad news that she passed on. It's shocking since she's still young, and it's saddening because we won't be able to experience the friendliness and warmth that was uniquely Hazel.

So, for you, here's Kelly Clarkson's 2005 song which was one of the songs that kept me company during my first few months of living in HKG - "Beyond these Hazel eyes."

Vaya con Dios, Hazel.