So extraordinary

The Korean Nettflix series, "Extraordinary Attorney Woo", appeals to me because of 2 reasons:

1. The lead character - Attorney Woo - is in the autism spectrum, just like my nephew.

2. She's also a lawyer - something I aspired to be when I was younger.

Aside from these, the stories per episode are engaging, surprising and timely. And true to the Korean genre, they're also unexpected.

Particularly, the twist of Episode 2 caught me unaware, and in a good way. Seeing the character development of the bride just made me smile.

It's rare that I watch a Korean series. But this series wooed me and has me hooked.

FMM: Rock & Rawls

Who doesn't know the iconic voice of Lou Rawls?

His voice is so distinct. So, buttery-soft and smooth. He sings in a way that's commanding yet calming. People will also say that his voice is very sensual. Which is true.

While he's best known for songs like "You'll never find another love like mine," that's not the song that made me familiar with his work.

And you'll be surprised at what song first made me familiar with Lou Rawls. It's the song for today's Friday Magic Madness:

Yes, it's a song from the cartoon show "Garfield."

As a kid, I'd watch the old Garfield animated series, and one episode featured this song. Once it played, I couldn't help but ask: "Who is this singer?" After finding out who, everything was history.

Thanks to Garfield, here comes Lou Rawls again.

Nuts about Singapore

It's been 3 years since my last trip to SG.

Frankly, I'm missing my trips - routine and random - to the city. And I'm hoping I can go back there soon. Very soon.

In the meantime, let me nosh on these.

Nut exactly the same thing, but it'll do.

To the left(ies), to the left(ies)

In Spain, Inditex is a mega-company that owns some of the biggest fast fashion brands. These are fashion brands that are renowned the world over, including Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, among others.

These brands are well-known in the Philippines as well. Personally, my closet has smattering of pieces from these brands - some bought abroad, some bought here.

But among Inditex's portfolio of brands, there's one that's not as well-known in the Philippines. Among its brands, this is actually their most affordable line, similar to what G.U. is to Uniqlo. That brand is Lefties.

Needless to say, I discovered this brand during one of my trips to Spain. And walking into their store felt like walking into Penshoppe or Bench in the Philippines. Lots of fashionable and trendy basics, and the prices were uber affordable. 

Think shirts for 3 Euros.

Now, why did I suddenly remember this brand? While looking for a pair of chinos in my closet, there was this pair of jeans hidden in the leftmost part, hidden behind my suits and jackets. It was a pair of Lefites jeans from more than a decade ago.

Looking at it, the pair still looked updated and current, and is still very much wearable now. So, even after that long period of time, this Lefties is still right.

LFTAT: Prairie Picnic

One of the shows we used to watch as little kids was "Little House on the Prairie."

It was our first peek into American country life - rolling plains, country houses, wagons, family picnics by the field - the whole shebang.

Then, there's the fashion. The women and girls wore dainty prints, loose silhouettes, frilly sleeves, clothes that looked fun and effortless.

The series last aired 40-years ago, but their effect on pop culture is still felt until today. And that effect is what inspired today's Look For Less Than A Thousand.

The top is from Surplus Shop, and has that neutral colour and frilly sleeve that harks back to their prairie dreses.

The Zalora skirt is loose and breezy, just like their dresses. And it has a red, checkered print that harks back to the picnics of old.

Together, it's a modern take on prairie dressing that can work both in the countryside and the city.

Together, this outfit cost less than P700, which is also aligned with the frugal, simple living of those living in the Little House on the Prairie.

The bold and the beautiful

Nope, this isn't about one of the longest running soap operas in the U.S.

And when I say "longest-running," note that TBATB has been on air since 1987! That's 35 years!

This is about floral prints.

When people say floral prints, the first thing that comes to mind are dainty, delicate florals. They're usually mall prints set against a contrasting colour. Which is what people usually see.

But there's another type of floral print. One that's big, bold, and vibrant. Just like this print from a dress that I got from Zanzea.

From the striking hues to the oversized graphic florals, this dress looks so happy and chic. And it's perfect for a weekend stroll in the mall or just lounging around the house.

Wherever it's worn, folks will definitely remark how beautiful it is.

Cross country

While in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, almost 2 decades ago, we wandered off into this street stall that sold these very pretty crosses.

Being a predominantly Catholic country, Mexico sells a lot of religious imagery made by local artisans. And this shop was one of them.

What caught my eye was a cross that's made of metal, then mounted on wood. The metal cross had different patterns and designs on them, and it made the cross very unique.

The crosses I bought still hang at home, at Biboy's house in ATL, at Ate Bullet's house, and at the houses of all my friends who received them as a gift.

While looking at it this weekend, it made me want to buy more. Now, I'll have to check whether they have it on-line, or if I have to go cross country to Mexico to get some mroe.

Scent Memory - Citrus edition

Citrus scents always fascinated me.

Probably it's because my grandparents had a calamansi farm in Bicol, and one of the most lasting childhood memories I have is walking around the farm and smelling the small, green fruits from the trees.

Whenever the caretaker would make calamansi juice, the distinct smell of the peels would waft from the kitchen, which was such a fresh, clean smell.

That childhood memory makes me gravitate towards citrus scents whenever I buy shower gels, shampoos and other personal care products. Palmolive Aromatherapy Anti-Stress was my go-to shower gel for the longest time, thanks to its mandarin extracts.

Then, there's this cologne that was given to me as a gift almost a decade ago. It was Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine, and it was a cologne with different types of citrus fruits in its top, middle and base notes.

It was such a fresh, clean scent that the bottle didn't last too long because I'd spray it everywhere. From our sheets, to our room, to my closet. 

During my US trip in 2019, this brand and scent was available at Sephora. Now, 3 years after, I find myself asking why I didn't buy that bottle. 

Hopefully, they'll still have it available in Sephora during my next trip to the US or SG.

That citrus scent still lingers in my memory.

FMM: Different forms of Love

Three years ago, I wrote about this LSS that kept on playing in my head. Back then, I wasn't sure of the title or artist, and the only thing I knew was part of the lyrics. 

Searching the net yielded this song from the 80s, "Everlasting Love" from an artist named Sandra. It became my Friday Magic Madness feature back then.

While watching youtube this morning, this song suddenly popped-up in the video suggestions.

Apparently, there's a version from as far back as 1967. According to online information, this is the original version, sung by Robert Knight.

After 7 years, the song was reinterpreted by another singer. This is the1974 version by Carl Carlton:

Now, aside from Sandra, there's another version from 1981 from Rachel Sweet and Rex Smith:

And if that's not enough, Gloria Estefan also had her version of the same song from 1994:

No matter who sang this song, even if it has different versions, it's still as fun and catchy as ever. And that's the hallmark of a classic song that transcends time.

LFLTAT: Mimicking Miyake

Issey Miyake is a fashion legend.

This avant-garde designer from Japan introduced and revolutionized the concept of pleats in fashion. It was in the 80s and 90s when his designs were recognized by the world, and people never saw pleats the same way again.

He turned pleats into sculptures that flattered the body, and it made pleats a part of mainstream fashion.

He immediately came to mind when I saw this blouse at The SM Store.

This beautiful cocoon-type blouse in a powdery, old rose color looks so chic. And it mimics the pleating style of Issey. What made this blouse even better was the fact that it was on sale!

With such a fashionable top, all it needs is a classic pair of dark denim jeans to make it pop.

Incidentally, the jeans were also on sale. Because of that, this whole outfit rang up to less than a thousand pesos!

But with the top alone, it looks so, so, so much more expensive!

Rome if you want to

While it's common knowledge that I'm a huge B-52s fan, and their song "Roam" is one of my go-to karaoke songs, this post isn't about that.

It's about "Rome."

My last trip to Rome, Italy, was almost 20 years ago. Being a fan of both Roman Mythology, Roman Architecture and Catholicism, this was a must-visit destination for me.

As a destination, it's postcard-perfect and coffee table book pretty. Walking around the city was like seeing a book come alive. The landmarks that are often seen in travel books and magazines - Trevi Fountain, the Colloseo Roma, The Vatican City - they're just as the books portray them. 

I'd spend hours walking around, taking photos on my film camera, and just taking it the sights and sounds of this magnificent Italian city.

For some strange reason, though, I had no desire to revisit the city after that last trip. There were a couple of European cities that I've visited multiple times - Amsterdam, Barcelona, Koln, Paris - places I went back to because I really wanted to go back. 

Last night, while browsing Netflix, one of the suggestions was this rom-com set in Rome (so, should I call it a Rome-com? Harhar!) entitled "Love & Gelato."

Watching it made me feel like I was in Rome again. Even if it was almost 2 decades ago, seeing the sights made me feel like my trip was just a few months ago.

Now, I'd like to roam Rome all over again.

Hand-yman

Fun fact: Part of my advertising career is being a hand-talent. So, not only do I make commercials, my hand appears in commercials!

It started in the 90s, during my first job in Adformatix.

During a print shoot, we were having difficulty directing a talent on how to handle a capsule. To expedite things, I went in front of the camera and showed the talent how to do it. 

Suddenly, the photographer told me that I should just do it myself. And he photographed my hand for that print ad. And that began my "hand-talent" career.

Since then, I've appeared on print ads for a mobile phone (holding the newest model), print ads for a beer brand (holding a bottle of beer), a television ad for a cigarette brand (holding an unlit cigarette, because it's not allowed to advertise a lit cigarette,) among others.

Last week, our latest TVC for Gardenia came out. And guess who's hand was featured there?

Yes, that's me! (My hand, at least.)

It was the same story. While showing the talent how it should be done, our director told me that my hand was what he was looking for in the shot.

And just like that, the role was, uhm, hand-ed to me.

Fireworks

Let me quote Katy Perry's 2010 hit song, "Firework".

"Like a 4th of July. Baby you're a Firework! Come on, let your colours burst!"

Happy 4th of July, and have a colourful celebration to all my family and friends in the US! 

Catnappers

There's nothing like watching napping cats to make Sunday more relaxing.

Gosh, these make me just want to nap.

The Smiths

Nope, this isn't about that awesome New Wave group from the 80s.

Make no mistake, though. I'm a huge fan of the group. Especially their song, "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now."

This post is actually about another Smith.

ScentSmith!

It was around 4 years ago when I first saw their store in Greenbelt 5. The shop automatically drew me in, particularly the scent that wafted out of the store. Each time, I'd find myself popping in and trying some of their scents. 

The first scent I bought was "Lemongrass Mint" and it's something that I use until now. And while I started with their perfume, I'm topping up my collection with these other body products.

Let's just say that ScentSmith is Scentsational!

FMM: Always a Favorite

Recently, Julie Andrews was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Film Institute. And while watching it, I was grinning ear-to-ear with joy.

Julie Andrews is one of the most wholesome, charismatic and joyful actresses in Hollywood. 

These are also words that can describe the roles she played, from the start of her career to her more recent work. 

Wholesome, charismatic and joyful best describes her roles from Mary Poppins in the film of the same title, to Maria Von Trapp in "Sound of Music." From the dual roles of Victor/Victoria in the film of the same title, to her royal turn as Queen Clarisse Marie Renaldi in "The Princess Diaries."

But among her many films, one that's going to be always close to my heart is "Sound of Music." I've watched this film countless times, I've been on the "Sound of Music tour" in Salzburg, Austria, and yes, I've sang a song from that film, too.

When we were in the LSQC choir, one of the first songs we performed was "My Favorite Things." It's a song that I know to heart until now, and that's why it's going to be today's Friday Magic Madness song.

It's a classic and the feels are the same now as it was then.

Julie Andrews and this song. Truly 2 of my favourites!

Another Piso-ffering

You know you've crossed "Tito-world" when you go goo-goo over groceries. Which I do.

Especially those piso deals!

I've written about some of my piso deal finds from Robinsons Supermarket. 

Now, it's time for Landers Supermarket to join the league.

Potato Chips and 4 bars of Johnson's Baby Soap! Both for one peso!

One!

Peso!

Judging by my reaction and enthusiasm, yes, I'm a Tito.

Printed Matter: Mapping it out

Even as young as 4 or 5 years old, I've always been a cartography nut.

I'd always buy maps at National Bookstore and Alemars Bookstore. While my siblings would have posters of pop stars, I'd have maps as posters. Heck, one thing I saved up for as an elementary school kid was a globe.

That's why it comes as no surprise that whenever a map print comes along, I gravitate towards it. Just like this print.

This map isn't on a poster or a postcard. It's on this dress from Plain & Prints' "Femme Power" collection. It's inspired by Amelia Earhart, thus the airplane, compass along with the map. And they've turned this print into a midi-dress with a puff-sleeved faux jacket.

You can't get lost with a fashionable choice like this.

Color Story: Orange you glad

Considering that orange is the colour of enthusiasm, I'm quite surprised that fast fashion brands don't gravitate towards orange that much.

It's quite rare that you see clothes in this happy, citrus hue. That's why whenever there are pieces that pop-out in stores - both physical and on-line - they catch my eye and automatically get purchased.

Just like these 2 pretty dresses:

The first one is from Surplus Shop.

It's a kaftan-type dress that's cut a bit closer to the body. It has a deep-V neckline and bows on the sleeve that make the dress feel easy and breezy.

The second is from the Zanzea online shop.

This is literally an orange dress because of the happy orange slice print that covers the whole dress. This was a joy to look at on the computer screen, and that joie-de-vivre perfectly translates to the actual garment.

These 2 dresses will surely make Ate feel glad.

I do like Mondays

Yes, I'm referencing Biboy's favourite song from The Boomtown Rats entitled "I don't like Mondays."

But this is the flip side, with me saying that I do like Mondays.

Especially if it's Cheap Monday.

This is one of the earlier "indie" denim brands and they're known for their very young, carefree and nonchalant approach to fashion.

Which is exactly what this dress from Cheap Monday is about.

The sweater dress is young, carefree and nonchalant. From the fabric - a cotton, sweater-y fabric without the heft, to the ultra-loose and boxy silhouette, to a nice touch of string to cinch in the waist.

It's definitely something nice and cool to wear on a Monday.

Sailing (Sun)Day

After what felt like an hour, going back and forth, spraying on paper then spraying it on my wrist, I finally decided on this bottle of Maison Margiela Replica.

It was a close call between 3 scents. But after letting it stay on my skin for a couple of minutes, it was Sailing Day that ticked all the boxes. It had to be light, it had to smell like second skin, and it had to have that shower smell.

The fact that this reminds me of the Clean scents that I have was probably the deal-breaker. I'm not a perfume kind of guy, so having one that doesn't smell like perfume is a plus. Quite ironic because it's perfume that doesn't smell like perfume.

Despite choosing this bottle, the 2 other scents still linger in my mind. And if it stays in my scent memory, I might have to go back to Rustan's and get those bottles as well.

It's getting Hut in here

You know you're old when one of the brands you frequent as a kid is now being called a "nostalgic brand" on the internet.

Such is the case of Tropical Hut.

The past weeks, the internet has been on fire as thousands and thousands of people were posting about Tropical Hut Hamburgers. These posts helped renew interest for the brand, and now, the news is that the branches are happily dealing with a sudden surge of customers. 

Personally, I'm glad that people are rediscovering this under-the-radar fast food brand because it's really, really, REALLY good!

My siblings and I grew up eating Tropical Hut, thanks to Lolo Iking who was a fan of the brand. We'd usually get our groceries in Tropical Hut Quezon Avenue, and once we've loaded our groceries in the car, we'd stop by Tropical Hut for an afternoon snack.

Their burgers are legit! You know that they're made fresh and that they're pure beef. Lolo would always order the burger, while my go-to was the chicken sandwich.

Even after Lolo passed, the family still frequented Tropical Hut. My parents and I would have the occasional Tropical Hut run in Greenhills - another sentimental favourite branch. 

Now that the younger audiences are discovering the brand, I'm sure they'll appreciate how good their food is and that they'll be back more often. Because their tagline really tells the truth about Tropical Hut:

"Sarap na babalik-balikan."

FMM: More Musika-lity

Of course, a series of posts regarding the Metropop Music Festival isn't complete without the grand prize winner of its 8th edition in 1984.

True to the concept of celebrating music, the winner that year both celebrated and thanked OPM. It's a song that uplifted our local music industry, and sung by a multi-talented comedienne and singer.

So, for today's Friday Magic Madness song, here's Nanette Inventor - best known as Dona Buding - in her role as a singer, a contest-winning one at that.

Such a beautiful melody and lyrics, that's a fitting thanks to our very own music.

Salamat, Nanette Inventor. Salamat Danny Tan. 

Salamat, Musika!

Like a what?

Like, like, like a Circus!

With flavours like Swirly Megapop, Toffee Apple and Raspberry Snowcone, this has to be good!

Yes! The Circus is coming to town.

Specs-tacular

Olivia is growing up to be a cheeky little girl.

She snagged Ate Lissa's specs and gamely modelled it in front of Ate.

Spectacularly cute kid!

Scent Memory

There are certain scents that trigger a particular memory. It can be a memory that's recent or far back. 

Personal examples:

- The scent of freshly cut grass reminds me of childhood, spending our summers in Bicol and Lolo would ask the caretaker to mow the grass around the house.

- The scent of plastic balloon reminds me of my playmates in Tomas Morato and how we'd buy plastic balloon at Aling Ensa's store. Then we'd blow the balloon and make it burst on our foreheads.

- The scent of Nina Ricci L'air du Temps reminds me of Lola Dita since that's her favourite perfume.

- The scent of Caesar Salad dressing reminds me of Tita Evelyn and how she would make this from scratch - using anchovies, mustard, parmesan, among others.

That's how powerful scents are in triggering memories.

And that's the spirit behind these perfumes from Maison Margiela called "Replica." 

Each scent is designed to trigger a memory, aside from making you smell good. The first time I smelled this was in SG at the Margiela store, and I'm glad that they finally have this in the Philippines.

I'm actually not a perfume user, preferring colognes and clean scents. That's why I gravitate towards something like "Bubble Bath," which is a barely there scent.

Reminder to myself - buy that the next time I go to Rustan's.

Meals with Mark: Temple feels

It's been almost 5 years since Mark and I went to Tokyo. That's why it's always part of our conversation, particularly, when we'll be back to visit again.

In the middle of those conversations, we compensate for missing Tokyo by eating at Japanese restaurants. And tonight, we tried a new one in Vertis North.

"Asakusa" is a tempura place named after the area that's close to our hearts. After all, we'd often visit the Sensoji Temple, especially if there are visitors who are first-timers in Japan. Because a trip to Tokyo isn't complete without a photo with that gigantic red lantern at the entrance of the temple.

Mark ordered the prawn tempura with chahan, and my order was the vegetable set with the cold soba. Our verdict, the food was legit and it brought us back to Japan. Even for a night.

Bonus: there was a nearby Japanese store pop-up and was able to get these snacks that we'd usually buy in Tokyo.

It's so nice to spend Monday night being transported to Tokyo. By way of QC. Harhar!

Cheers, Dad!

Dad spent most of his professional career in San Miguel Corporation.

Growing up, we always had San Miguel products in our fridge. It was always teeming with Coke, Royal Tru Orange, Magnolia Ice Cream, Magnolia Chicken, among others.

Some weekends, Dad would bring us along with him to Polo Brewery where Biboy and I would camp out at the kitchen in the 1521 Center to drink all the Choco Vim we wanted.

Summertimes, I'd be tagging along with him when he travelled around the Philippines for "Balikbanda." This is where I got to meet Pinoy music icons like Sampaguita, Florante, and that's how Bert "Tawa" Marcelo became my honorary ninong.

When there's a birthday in the family, we'd drive to the Magnolia plant in Aurora and he'd order the iconic Magnolia Ice Cream cake with flowers and fruits as topping. One time, I rode the conveyor belt that delivers the products from the freezer to the customer. Of course, I got scolded for that.

Then, as an adult, he convinced me to try working in SMC. He told me to send my CV to his friend, Ric, and in a matter of weeks, I was part of the Corporate Affairs Office - the same office where he worked for decades.

Funnily, some of the staff under me where Dad's staff, too. And they'd joke how they feel like they've gone full circle because they have 2 generations of Morales men supervising them.

And because of those many San Miguel stories, let me raise this virtual San Miguel Beer to greet Dad a Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, Dad! And to Kuya Marv, Biboy, Jul, Carl, Ray, and Bob, too!

Yes way, Jose!

While hearing on-line mass at Santuario de San Antonio last week, I noticed someone familiar behind the lectern. 

Yes! The Lector during that mass was no other than Jose Mari Chan!

I've been fortunate enough to work with him a few times, and he's really a super cool, funny, down-to-earth guy. And of course, his singing voice is the stuff of legends! 

During our last shoot, it was my birthday and he sang for me! That definitely made my day.

Hopefully, we'll get to work with him again soon.

FMM: Oooh, Child!

It's often said that - at times - you don't have to win in order to achieve success.

That's true in the case of today's Friday Magic Madness song. A song that's still part of my series of the Metropop Music Festival.

In the maiden version of the competition in 1978, one of the entries is a heartfelt ballad about a parent and child. It's a song masterfully written and interpreted by Freddie Aguilar. Those factoids are enough to confirm what's on your mind.

That song is "Anak."

It didn't win the derby. It didn't even figure as one of the runners-up. It was just one of the finalists.

But it's the finalist that could. And did.

"Anak" became a worldwide phenomenon. A song that was wildly popular not just in the Philippines, but in countries both in the East and the West.

In Japan, people always say "Anak," when they find out I'm Filipino. And it's a staple song in Karaoke joints, being sung even by Japanese singers. Same goes in the US, and even in Germany when I visited there.

This song was even translated to English. That's how powerful it was. And it's now part of Philippine music history as one of the most widespread and most sung Filipino song in the world.

This finalist ended up being a winner.

Ube-be-baby!

While my obsession over the Deka Wafer Roll peanut butter flavour hasn't waned, here's another discovery that amped up my snack excitement!

Deka Wafer Roll has Ube flavoured rolls!

As a huge fan of anything Ube, this is def a must try!

When Pocky met Pepero

This is what came out:

This must be said, though. What it lacks in originality, Pockero makes up for size. The sticks of this snack are huge! My estimate is that it's 12" in length, and about 1" in diameter. Just one stick is enough to fill you up.

Amazing what snacks you meet when you browse on-line.

Make it Works!

Do my eyes deceive me?

Is my all-time favorite store finally opening in mainstream MNL?

Apparently, it is:

Bath and Body Works is finally making it here! It’s going to open in SM Megamall!

Now, I don’t have to go to the US, SG and ID to get my scent fix.

Eggzoited!

Doggone cuteness!

Spotted this adorbz cutie during Liz's birthday party yesterday.

He's (or she's, we never got to ask) such a nice and playful doggie - constantly running around, climbing our chairs and legs, sitting and shaking hands on command. 

Kuro would definitely have a great time playing with this doggie.

Search for Independence

Trust Google to be the first to celebrate the country's 124th Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day, Philippines!

Two wonderful

Two years!

That's how long it took for Biboy, Liz and family to finally come home and visit.

They were originally scheduled to be in MNL in May-June of 2020. But we all know what happened. And we all know how that pretty much derailed travel plans around the globe.

But thankfully, and finally, they were able to travel to the Philippines! Aside from spending time with us, they were lucky enough to spend time with Liz's relatives in Cebu, our relatives in Bicol, and have a quick stop at Boracay while they were at it.

And today, the two-year delayed celebration of Liz's birthday finally happened!

It was great to see the Inciong family again after so many years. It was awesome that Liz finally got to have her celebration surrounded by family and friends. And it was even more awesome that 6 out of 7 of the Regalado-Morales gang were finally together!

Looking forward to next year when Ate Lissa will finally be able to come home, too! That would be even more wonderful!

FMM: Musika-lity

Yes, I'm still on a Metropop Music Festival streak for my Friday Magic Madness song for today.

Aside from the fact that this song was the winner of the very first Metropop derby in 1978, it's also an apt song because it celebrates Filipino music and takes pride in it. Timely because this weekend is Philippine Independence Day - the day when we celebrate and take pride in being Pinoy.

The song is an OPM classic, sung by an OPM legend.

"Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika" by Hajji Alejandro. The title alone evokes so much pride and celebration of Filipino Music. The same pride and celebration that the Metropop Music Festival embodied.

No wonder this was the very first winner!

Shake things up

Thanks to my conversation with Kai and Noah last night, I suddenly missed the Steak N Shake restaurant in Alpharetta.

This place is very memorable for me. 

During my first visit to GA, this is where Biboy and Liz brought me for a midnight snack. We came to Steak 'N Shake straight from the airport, and this was the first restaurant I set foot on in Alpharetta.

Then, in 2018, this is where the whole family had lunch after hearing Christmas Day mass. Because of our sheer number, we occupied this really long table and the staff were pleasantly and happily surprised to see a family this big.

Hopefully, I'll get to visit GA again soon. And Steak 'N Shake will definitely be part of my itinerary.

Tostitos of Manila

One of the key takeaways that I learned during my stay in Mexico in the early 2000s was this: 

Authentic Mexican nacho chips and salsa are incomparable.

While there are a lot of Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants here in MNL, I still find myself longing for that legit crunch, subtle flavour and texture.

When that happens, my go-to brand is - for me - the next best thing.

Tostitos!

That's why it's no wonder that we never run out of it home.

Extra "S"-tra

No, the word "feedback" doesn't have a plural form.

Funny how putting an extra, single letter like "s" can turn a sentence into a mistake.

Proofreader, please!

Suddenly Sketching

It’s something that I haven’t done in ages!

But this weekend, I found myself bringing out my Pilot pens and sketching again.

While sketching this, the actual materials and accouterments are already playing in my head! 

Hopefully, this sketch will go from paper to an actual garment.

All Claire!

It may be a few months late, but it doesn’t make it less fun!

Finally, we had our Zoom Birthday celebration for Claire! The theme was “Claire Appreciation Day” which is super apt because she’s really a blessing to Melrose!

From all of us here - Belated Happy B, Claire!

Pisoffering

A few years ago, my concept of "cheap thrills" would be finding clothes from my fave fast fashion brands at 70% off. Or more!

Nowadays, it has shifted to finding P1 grocery items from my usual on-line supermarket haunts.

And this is today's little haul:

These 4 items only cost me P4! Antibacterial wipes, Cadbury Chocolates and Soy Sauce.

Yes, they're random. But that's what fun shopping is supposed to be.

Aside from the fact that they're just ONE. PESO. EACH.

FMM: Makes me smile

The more I'm reading about the MetroPop Music Festival, the more I learn that a lot of my go-to tunes are either winners, or finalists in this song writing derby.

One of these gems is this song which dominated the airwaves in the 80s. This is also a song that the whole family loves. Aside from me, this ditty is something that my Kuya and Ates listened to a lot when we were younger.

For today's Friday Magic Madness song, we have the grand prize winner in the 1984 MetroPop. Beautifully written by Rene Novelles and aptly interpreted by Jam Morales - "A Smile in your Heart."

True to its title, this song never fails to put a smile on my face. And in my heart.

Family size

When my cousins from BCN visited last March, one of the things that amazed them is how our Coca-Cola products come in a wide range of sizes.

The 1.5l bottles is something common place in Spain. But what they really found cool are the Swakto bottles. They found it so cute, they had to bring some home!

Whether it's for a fam of five, or just one person, there's definitely a Coke product for each member of the family.

Marni, Marni, Marni

Yes, Abba is sampling in my mind while writing the title.

But no, this post isn't about "Money, Money, Money." It's about the recently launched Marni x Uniqlo collaboration.

After writing about it a few days ago, I was finally able to buy a few pieces from the collection!

True to the brand's aesthetic, the shirts I got were colourful, graphic, and teeming with joy. Two shirts were for me, while Mom has one shirt, too.

These will be perfect for summer!