Dern it!

Laura Dern is one of my favorite actresses. From her earlier work in "Jurassic Park" and "I Am Sam," to her more recent turns in "Little Women" and "Marriage Story," she really knows how to light up the screen.

That's why I was thrilled that she won an Oscar this year for "Marriage Story."

And what upped her cool factor a bit more? The fact that she was in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"!

For me, that's as awesome as winning an Oscar!

Hungry or Thirsty?

The person who edited this video might have been hungry and eating a lot was the thing on his mind.

Yes, he would rather "lamon" than "lemon." Harhar.

Proofreader, please!

Wu-Hoo! part 3

Aside from the Simply Vera dress from Kohl's, another piece of clothing that the folks back from the U.S. was another gem of a dress, also from Kohl's.

Presenting, a dress from Jason Wu's capsule collection for Kohl's!

There's so much going for this dress. First, it's made of neoprene which is very flattering to many body types. Second, the color is striking and cool to the eye. Third, the cut and style is classic and chic. And fourth, it has this cool rosette detail.

This would be an awesome piece to wear for a day wedding, or a cocktail event. And given how striking it is, it wouldn't be a surprise if someone asks "Wu are you wearing?"

(Tiger) Sugar, oh, honey, honey

Just like "The Alley," it was in Seoul when I first tried the milk tea brand "Tiger Sugar."

The first time I tasted it, I found it too sweet for my liking. That's why when they opened their stores in MNL last year, I didn't bother falling in line.

Last week, I passed by their branch in SM Megamall and found it bereft of people. So, I thought of giving it a try.

Surprisingly, the taste was much better here in MNL than in Seoul. In fact, my level of dislike for it in South Korea was my level of liking it here.

Maybe they did something with the formulation. But whatever they did, it was definitely right move.

Here's another milk tea brand to add to my rotation.

FMM: Speaking of Vines

Yesterday's post inspired today's Friday Magic Madness song.

This is a classic Marvin Gaye ditty from the 60s, and I'm sure you've heard it before. From the Grapevine, probably.



Such a groovy way to spend Friday!

Heard it through the Vines

There are a few SG clothing brands that resonate with me. I've written about one here before, and that's In Good Company. I wrote about it because they opened their first shop in Manila a few years ago.

Now, another favorite SG brand just opened its doors in MNL! It's Beyond The Vines, and they've opened their first store in Shangri-la Mall a few months ago.

Just like In Good Company, their aesthetic is very clean and classic, but with a small detail here and there that makes it less basic and more fashion. And that's the reason why I'll be visiting this store regularly.

Two favorite SG brands down, one more to go!

The Alley-oop!

The first time I tried milk tea at The Alley was during our Seoul trip last year. There were 2 stores in Myeongdong that we'd often pass by, and eventually, we tried their milk teas.

They were really good!

Sometime last year, they opened shop here in MNL, and last December, they opened a branch in nearby SM Megamall.

I haven't tried their teas here, but if it's as good as the one in Seoul, then The Alley will definitely be a part of my milk tea repertoire.

I like it Vera much...

One of the shops I enjoy visiting in the U.S. is Kohl’s. There used to be one near Biboy’s house in Alpharetta, but that closed down, and that’s a bummer. When we were in the US last 2018, we were only able to go to 1 Kohl’s store in GA.

When Ate Lissa told me there was a Kohl;s near their house, I immediately checked out their website to see if there’s anything interesting that I can ask her to buy and for the parents to bring home to MNL.

Luckily, there was. And with the arrival of the parents, this beauty from the Simply Vera Vera Wang collection also landed in Manila.

It’s a checkered jumpsuit with a ribbon detail in front. Jumpsuits are very in these days, and so is plaid. So this piece of clothing combines these 2 trends in 1.

Another detail I like is the mustard stripe that goes from the top to the bottom. Details like this is what adds fashion to otherwise everyday wear.

I’m sure Ate will Ike this Vera very much.

Let's get Latin!

As expected, there was a lot of dancing and hip shaking during this year's NFL's Pepsi Half-time show.

After all, 2 of the biggest names in Latin Music headlined the celebration.



The number is quintessential J. Lo and Shakira, and they brought the house down with their tried and tested hits like "Whenever, Whenever," "Hips don't lie," "On the Floor," and "Let's get Loud." It would've been much cooler, though, if J. Lo sang "Play" which I was waiting for.

The singers also had a National Pride moment when J. Lo wore a reversible coat which had the flags of both the U.S.A. and Puerto Rico.

From their music to their dance, it was Latino power at its most festive!

P.S. In terms of Half-time show "moments," I still find the "Pop-tart-toaster-moment" of Destiny's Child in 2013 one of the most fun and cheesy ones.

Creepy...

I've been reading articles about this breakthrough Korean film entitled "Parasite" as early as December.

They say that it's a very interesting black comedy about family and social classes. An interesting combination, if you ask me.

Then, Bonique and Mona started talking about it during our post-Christmas get-together. They were marveling at the story and how many twists and turns the film had. Which made me even more intrigued.

I've been given a copy on my flash drive and I'm so curious to see it. But they said it'll be shown in theaters again, and it's creeping back up thanks to the Oscar's push.

Maybe I'll hold out until it comes out in theaters.

This I gotta C

Richard has been talking to us about this as early as December last year. He told us to take at least 2000mg of Vitamin C a day to keep our body resistance strong against disease. And a lot of us have started taking it regularly, thanks to his advice.

Now, there's another round of talks about how important Vitamin C is, in the context of the virus scare that's been going around.

Thank goodness my folks brought this big bottle of Vitamin C from the U.S. for me.

To C is to be protected. (Hey, that could be a tagline for something.)

FMM: Success!

Since Pant-tastic Week was successfully completed, let this Friday be a celebration of that fashion feat!

Let's bring out Roxette to sing their classic 80s ditty about the merits of being "Dressed For Success"!



Don't you just love the 80s?

(The 80s fashion, though, not so much.)

Pant-tastic Week, Day 4

We all know how versatile the pants are for the day.

But is it something you can use for a girl’s night out?

Of course! Just add this fully sequined blouse which I found in one of my haunts.

Together, the ensemble is fit for a night in the club. It’s just the right sparkle, and the dark wash of the jeans just sets it off.

It’s effortless chic that’s very Milan.

Pant-tastic Week, Day 3

Mornings are now a bit colder, which I feel is the belated Christmas breeze.

Because of the weather, a bit of layering is in order. And those versatile pair of pants work great on a layered look, too.

Behold:

The plaid jacket is a nice, masculine touch. But the bright pink-orange blouse balances it out with femininity. Like the pants, both items are from Bench.

Very New York Chic, eh?

Pant-tastic Week, Day 2

Now, let’s get into a bit of fashion minimalism.

I like this top from Maldita because it’s the proverbial classic with a twist. The fabric is gray jersey - ultra classic, but the cut is very 3-dimensional.

Together, it’s such a Paris-worthy ensemble.

On to the next,outfit!

Pant-tastic Week

Once in a while, you find an article of clothing that’s so classic and versatile that you can style it many different ways.

I found one at Bench, and it’s this pair of cropped jeans with a selvedge cuff.

This piece of article can be dressed up, dressed down, and the possibilities are endless.

For starters, let’s go a bit preppy. I’ve paired the jeans with a loose, striped shirt from SM which has a very relaxed silhouette.

Together, the combination has the British-cool vibes.

One outfit down, more to go.

Rock the Botanical

Wait a minute. I haven’t written about last year’s Christmas wrapper theme.

The first time I saw Botanical Prints in a museum as a kid, i’ve always been enamored by it. There’s something fascinating about the artistry and science behind it. Since then, i’ve been on the lookout for these types of prints. Whether it’s a framed piece in SM Department Store, or a full exhibit at the Museum of Prague.

Imagine my delight when I found this beautiful wrapper at National Bookstore sometime last year.

It’s a black, printed wrapper with a Botanical motif. Immediately, I was sold! And of course, I proceeded to order 100 pieces of the same wrapper. Harhar!

Botanical prints are predominantly green and white, so I also chose ribbons of the same color. The combination was deep green and off-white.

Then, in keeping with the Botanical theme, I decided to include seeds along with the gift. Each brown envelope included a seed of an herb, flower or vegetable. If you don’t recognize what seed this is, it’s Citronella, just badly spelled.

Finally, the tag. Botanical print - check! Botanical script - check! We’re all set.

And here’s the 2019 Christmas wrapper theme - Botanical!

Oh, the wrapper had an opposite side, too.

Of course I had to do versions using that.

This made this year’s Botanical theme twice the fun!

LFLTAT: Well, well, well, Madewell!

In the U.S., Madewell is known as the younger, hipper sibling of J. Crew. Whereas J. Crew is very classy and classic, Madewell is younger and more trendy.

In the Philippines, not a lot of people know Madewell. Or J. Crew for that matter. But anyone who’s traveled to the U.S. knows how cool and covetable this brand is.

Occasionally, I go to their website and check out items to see what the trends are. One of the items that caught my eye was this chambray skirt with front buttons. And as it turns out, a lot of people eyed it, too, that’s why it’s sold out!

But lo and behold, as I dropped by one of my haunts today, look what I found:

Yes! The same “Palisades” skirt in Manila. And on the cheap, too!

Immediately after getting it, I had to find a top that would be a great match, and I found it at this comfy, cool shop called Lazy Fare. (More on them later.)

Together, it’s an Uber-chic look for less than a thousand!

My day is made!

FMM: The Divine Miss Devine

Friday Fun Fact!

Better yet, Friday Magic Madness Fun Fact!

One of my favorite actresses, Loretta Devine, isn't just an awesome actress. If you've seen her in Boston Public and Grey's Anatomy, you'll know what I mean.

She's not just a good comedienne. If you've seen her in Madea, you'll know what I mean.

She's also a good singer! And now you should see this, so you'll know what I mean.



Loretta Devine was on Dreamgirls! How awesome is that!

And yes, her performance is simply divine.

Hui will, Hui will rock you!

Hui Lau Shan is a thing in HKG.

They're a permanent and often seen feature in the HKG food landscape. You can see them everywhere, teeming with its mango-colored goodness. No surprise since most of their best sellers are mango-based desserts.

While walking through Emerald Avenue, I found this!

Yes, Hui Lau Shan is finally in the local food landscape. And my mango-loving taste buds are thrilled!

Welcome to Manila! I hope you rock the dessert world in Manila.