Crowne-ing moment

Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks in a dramedy. Now here's something I'll definitely not miss.

Something old, something new

In an effort to get my P1000 bill broken into smaller bills, I ended up at the Snack Exchange of SM Department store in order to buy something. Anything, actually.

And I ended up buying these chocolate bars:





I'm shocked that I didn't discover the "crispy" series of chocolates earlier. They're simply divine!

It has the same old taste that I've enjoyed. For Butterfinger, it's the crunchy brittle-like candy, and for Baby Ruth, it's the nuts and gooey caramel. But in their new versions, the flavors are toned down by the thin, crispy wafer. And it's a combination that works.

The chocolates are very light, yet bursting with flavor. It was so light and flavorful, I ended up eating the two bars right after the other!

What's amazing about these chocolate bars is the fact that it reminds me of my favorite chocolate when I was a kid - Snaps. I'd buy Snaps at Aling Leony's store in Morato, and it was this thin, wafer based chocolate with peanut butter filling and covered with chocolate. Like the two bars I've mentioned, Snaps had the perfect combination of being light and chocolate-y.

Amazing how a new chocolate can bring back the old days.

Happy, Javie Birthday!

Today, my wonderful, smart and very technologically advanced nephew is celebrating his birthday.

Happy, Happy Birthday, Enrique Javier! Here's to more computer time and gadgets in the years ahead.

(And no, the donut wasn't trying to eat Javie. It just looks like that.)

Nice girl, mean girls

The more I watch ANTM, the more I'm liking Jaclyn, the southern belle with the baby face.



She has such a nice personality that you just want to pinch her cheeks when you see her. But she's also able to take beautiful shots, so she's sweet and fierce at the same time. Among the girls, she's got the most distinct face, and that can work for her in this competition.

I wonder if the nice girl will finish first this cycle.

And on the other end of the spectrum, we have the mean girls.

When the cycle started, it looked like Alexandria was the mean girl. She's bossy, everyone disliked her, but I like her a lot. I think she's just - as Tyra would say - keeping it real. But after the last 2 episodes, it looks like there are 2 girls who are much, much meaner than her.



Actually, there were 3 last episode. Thank goodness Monique was eliminated. She was so mean. But in this week's episode, Brittani and Molly were bringing the mean-ness up a few notches. They were just downright disrespectful and childish! Making snide comments, releasing F-bombs. It was such a turn-off. And to think I liked them in the beginning.





Like the panel, I'm impressed at how Alexandria handled herself throughout the tirade of the mean girls. She was calm and dignified, and that made me admire her even more. Plus, she won a car! Which is a great incentive for all the crap she's getting from the 2 mean girls.

So will a mean girl or a nice girl win this cycle? I sure hope it's a nice girl!

Brands new

One thing great about browsing at Surplus Shop is discovering some new and unknown brands that turn out to be really cool.

I saw this nice cardigan with the brandname Silence + Noise.



It turns out to be a cool street brand which is quite popular with the youthful set. Their design sensibility is very young, but eschewing the trendy route. I'm not sure where their roots are, but it says in one site that they're in the Temasek School of Design. So maybe it's a SG brand.

The joys of discovery indeed.

Forever in Makati

Finally, Forever 21 is opening their first store in Makati! It's going to be within the SM Department Store area where the teen section used to be.

Now you know where to find the girls from Assumption and Colegio de San Agustin after classes.

Just add Tyra and Andre

I had to do a double take after looking at the huge billboard about Ayala Mall's upcoming Style Origin event this April.

On the 16th, there will be a talk on fashion and style. And their speakers are fierce!



Yup, not only are they bringing back Nigel Barker, they're bringing in Ms. J as well!

This event is really going to work it!

High na Hainanese!

Today, we had lunch at the new Hainanese Chicken place in Robinson's Galleria. And after tasting the real thing in Singapore, and the next-to-the-real-thing in Wee Nam Kee Ayala Triangle, I didn't have high expectations from this restaurant.

But I was pleasantly surprised that their Hainanese Fried Chicken rice is really good! It's just about a notch or 2 below the Wee Nam Kee variety.

And the best part is, it's just P120 per dish, and the chicken rice is unlimited! I think I'm going to say "hi" to this Hainanese place again very soon.

Shine on!

There's something very peculiar about this song. I remember how I'd listen to this whenever they play it on Friday Magic Madness, and it transports me the decadent era of the 70s.

Something about it is dark. It feels like you're in a dark corner of Studio 54 with cigarette smoke billowing from Bianca Jagger and Andy Warhol. And the fact that the title is "Shine on" and the feeling is dark - it provides such an interesting counterpoint.



I don't get to listen to Friday Magic Madness that much anymore. But I still hear this song playing at Kamiseta. (Yes, the clothing store has a penchant for 80s ballroom tunes.) And when I hear it, I get the same feeling "over and over and over again."

Just as the song says.

Super!

Super fresh Shakes are da bomb!



I first tried it at Cafe Verde at Robinson's Galleria since it came with their veggie burgers. And after that first sip, I was hooked.

Their watermelon shake is the best I've ever tasted. And now, I'm trying out their other fruit shakes, and they're just as good.

What makes it even better is the tapioca that they mix in the shake. It adds a nice texture to the drink.

I think I've found my new favorite drink.

Philo facts

I was browsing through this month's InStyle magazine and noticed that the trend for Resort 2011 is veering towards austerity and minimalism.

Maybe it's in tune with current events - with the economy still trying to recover and so many tragedies happening around the world. While fashion is seen by many to be frivolous and out of touch, this season's offerings show that they're not totally detached from reality.

And when it comes to minimalism, no one does it as well as Phoebe Philo. I've liked her work since she was with Stella McCartney in Chloe. In fact, I remember buying this baby doll dress by See by Chloe in Macau a few years back.

Now that she's with Celine, she continues with her take on chic minimalism. But to keep it from being too drab, she adds colors and details to - as Anna Wintour would say - lift it.



Not surprisingly, Zara has a lot of minimalist pieces in store right now. And again, some of them are inspired by this collection by Philo.

Looks like it's going to be a clean and austere summer this 2011.

A Pinoy on Top

While browsing through the episode summaries of ANTM Cycle 16, I read that there will be a Pinoy designer this cycle. In episode 8, the models will be wearing creations by Filipino designer Michael Cinco.



Once again, a Pinoy proves that our talent is really world class. And if Tyra noticed his talent, that also means that his talent is FIERCE! Harhar.

(I wonder if Michael Cinco is the same guy as Maxi Cinco. He's a Filipino designer who we used to work with in ads.)

A marry year...

Grace got married last January, and Rona is set to tie the knot in May. Now, I just found out that another dear friend is going to walk down the aisle in April. And like the 2 above mentioned weddings, I need to play a part in this one, too.

Merry marry indeed.

Ageless Creativity

I've finally watched the Anna Wintour and Vogue documentary entitled "The September Issue."

Like most people I know who've already seen it, the documentary reaffirms the genius and magic touch of Anna Wintour. Even though she gets a bad rap for being an "ice queen," the interviewees all agree that no one has a better third eye into the fashion world than Anna.

But what I also felt after watching the documentary was a newfound admiration and respect for Vogue's Creative Director, Grace Coddington.



Like some of the best Creative Directors I know, Grace Coddington is more comfortable behind the curtains. Though not as visible as Anna, Grace is also a fashion force to reckon with. She's an artist, visionary, and stylist, in one elegant package. The way she envisions and executes the editorial shoots of Vogue is pure genius. She's very hands on and pays attention to every minute detail, and it shows.

It takes a genius to creatively direct shots like these:






I was reading this month's Vogue issue, and Anna Wintour dedicated the Letter for the Editor to Grace Coddington in honor of her 70th birthday this April. She said even at 70, Grace is still a creative force to reckon with, and that she looks forward to more collaborations with her in Vogue for many years ahead.

And I can't wait to see those future collaborations.

They're growing up...

There are certain "emotional signs" of aging.

This was the conversation we had in school yesterday while grading papers and finishing reports. Among these signs are: reliving the "good old days," (like how Coke was just 0.75 cents back then), getting nostalgic over 80s songs, (like "Farewell to you my friend" - the quintessential Graduation song in the 80s & 90s) and starting to experience what our parents experienced a few decades back.

And yes, we were all experiencing these.

Yikes!

But aside from those signs, an additional sign that I experience is seeing my nephews and nieces growing up before my very eyes.

Like Kurt, who just graduated today and is entering high school next school year. It feels like just yesterday when I was still carrying him around and calling him "Pa-turt."



Or Princess, who was our first niece, and the first female apo of the Regalado-Morales clan. Thus the nickname Princess. A few years ago, she was this round, little baby who liked to snicker a lot. And now, our round, little baby is a tall, lithe young lady. (She's the one at the rightmost part of the photo, wearing white.)


Looking at these photos, then looking at photos from 3 or 4 years back, really makes me feel like time is passing by too fast. A little bit too fast for my liking.

Taylor made

When I was a wee little boy, I remember watching TV and catching this movie about Cleopatra - the ruler of Egypt who was as beautiful as she was cunning and ruthless. At that time (and even up until now), I've been fascinated by all things Egyptian, and the story of Cleopatra was definitely one of them.



Apart from the story, the other element that drew me into the film was the actress playing the part - Elizabeth Taylor. She was perfect for the role: beautiful, innocent, wily, manipulative, but still keeping her fragility all throughout.

I've watched the movie countless times since the first time, and Elizabeth Taylor just keeps on shining in this role.



Tonight, that shining star faded out. Dame Elizabeth Taylor passed away due to a lingering illness.

They don't make stars like they used to, and because of this, I'm sure Elizabeth Taylor will be sorely missed.

Catty!

Saw this photo from the next episode of ANTM Cycle 16. And I must say, it's gorgeous!




Looks like Alexandria and the little leopard are having a catfight. Literally!

How's that for fierce? (She deserves this week's top photo!)

Slightly off-kilter

The first time I came across the Costello Tagliapietra brand was more than a year ago. They had this Designer Collaboration with Uniqlo and I was able to buy a few pieces.



What's nice about the brand's aesthetic is that it's dramatic without being over the top. All they do is add an off-kilter detail to create something interesting from something that's otherwise plain.

Take for instance this piece. The boat neckline is quite high and there's subtle draping in the chest area. If you look at it closely, it doesn't look like much.



But if you see the dress in its entirety, these details add volumes to how the dress falls and looks. Ate Bullet tried this dress on and it looks stunning.



Speaking of slightly off-kilter, the designers of the brand are the perfect epitome of that. You'd think Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra are slim, well-chiseled and well-mannered designers in the mold of other designing duos like Proenza Schouler, Dolce & Gabbana, and Badgley Mishka.

But no. Just look at Costello and Tagliapietra.



How's that for unexpected?

Methodical Friday

Since it's Friday, it's time to relive the 80s! Just like Magic 89.9's ever famous "Friday Magic Madness."

And the song that's been playing in my mind the past few days is a classic from Hall and Oates. It's the method of modern love.



The 80s rock!

Awkward exit

So I guess the awkward girl WON'T be America's Next Top Model.

After a lackluster performance in her "Fierce Roast Coffee" commercial (what a name), Sara was eliminated.



Now that she's gone, the "characters" left in the ANTM house are Ms. Mean, Ms. Naive, Ms. Unassuming, and a host of other Ms. Blahs.

"Who will be eliminated next?" As Tyra would say.