Tako-yummy

Do my eyes deceive me?

Will our fave Takoyaki chain in Japan finally open near me?

Here's the answer:

February is a few weeks away.

Let the countdown begin.

Cats know

For some strange reason, I always see cats like this every Monday:

Yup. They definitely know what Mondays feel like.

Six decades of Love

My parents' 60th wedding anniversary was such a festive, nostalgic and heartwarming event.

Festive because both Mom and Dad love to celebrate and party. Dad insisted on having the band to liven up the venue with retro music, line dancing and ballroom dancing. 

Nostalgic because of the videos done by Kurt. The video of their 1966 wedding in Malinao, with "We've only just begun" in the background was such a beautiful way to open the event. The videos of both the 40th and 50th anniversaries, as well as the old family photos were like time machines that brought us back to the past.

Heartwarming because of the family and friends who took like out to celebrate with us. Dad's high school friends were there. Our relatives who were there during the 50th anniversary also came. The Park Avenue group also came in full force. It just shows how much my parents are loved by the people around them.

So, yes, this was truly a celebration of love. Not just of my parents, not just of our family, but everyone who mattered.

Happy 60th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Sweet 60!

Today is the day!

Celebrating 60 years of marriage is such an amazing milestone. And we're super blessed that my parents have the privilege to celebrate theirs.

Needless to say, this party was in order.

FMM: I heard a rumour

No, this isn't a Bananarama post. Though I've featured their iconic song in this blog before.

This is about the other "Rumours."

Timex Social Club had this massive hit in 1986. It was such a big hit that it was difficult to replicate. And judging by the fact that this is the only hit under their name, it's probably true.

Yes, it wasn't a rumour.

Printed Matter: Glam Bot(anicals)

In the many times that Plains & Prints has done botanical prints, they've always done it well. 

Ate Bullet has a closetful of dresses, skirts and tops from the brand, and it's time to add another one to the collection. 

It features this print:

It's an array of flowers and leaves, all light and bright in colour, set against a backdrop of deep green that makes it pop. This pretty print is the canvas for this even prettier coords.

It's a crop top with a ribboned strap, plus a flowy skirt.

This is a perfect ensemble to make everyday a glamorous one.

Color Story: Sand just like that

Sand is one of the more underrated colours in my book.

Not as pristine as white, not as creamy as beige, not as strong as khaki.

But it has a touch of those qualities - pristine, creamy and strong.

Qualities that make it chic and effortless. Just like this outfit.

This sand duo - top from Mango and skirt from The Landmark - has that right balance of qualities. Add the Mary Janes from The SM Store, and you've got a look that can go from work to weekend.

Nothing rough about this sand.

Top (hot)dog

She started as a viral sensation.

Neneng's hotdog became a by-word because of TikTok.

She had this small table below Carriedo station, and she would sell her signature "hotdog overload." It was a hotdog sandwich that was literally overloaded with toppings. It was a good value product that gained traction on line, and IRL.

And it looks like that traction continued, because she now has this stall in front of Isetann Recto.

It's so gratifying to see success stories like these.

Never grows old: the marriage

Nope, not the marriage of Jul & Jen. But that's going to  hit a decade in a few months.

The wedding in this case is my parents' Golden Wedding Anniversary. 

Yes, that was already 10 years ago.

And this is still one of my favourite photos from that celebration.

It's Kevin's selfie. And I've said this before and I'll send it again, it's genius!

This moment - just like love - never grows old.

Never grows old: the engagement

Found this photo from Jul and Jen's engagement party.

That's when it hit me that this photo was already taken a decade ago!

Amazing how fast time flies.

Model Behaviour

A few months ago, was in Zara in Megamall and paying for my purchase. There was something playing on the screen, and it was the first time that I really stopped and watched it.

Gosh! It was iconic!

This was Zara's 50th Anniversary ad. They took 50 iconic models, one for each year. And the cast was like the encyclopedia of supermodels!

They had Twiggy. They had Cindy. They had Paulina. They had Naomi. They had Alek. They had Karen. They had everyone!

The cherry on top? It was directed by Steven Meisel.

This is the model of how anniversary ads should be done.

FMM: It's time

One realisation during last week's D' Frendz get together was that time is moving faster than we would want it to.

The babies we used to carry are now teens. The kids who loved to hang out with us now prefer to hang out at home or in their rooms.

We're now starting to discuss body aches and pains, trips to chiropractors and medical conditions.

This brings us to this question:

"Where does the time go?" by Julia Fordham is the perfect song for this. This 1988 hits still feels current, but hits different in our current age.

That said, can we just ask time to slow down a bit?

Celebrating Sixty!

Wedding anniversaries are always worth celebrating.

Much more so if it's a 60th wedding anniversary!

And that's what Mom and Dad are celebrating today.

Of course, the fam was in full force to celebrate. Including Princess who's visiting from Canada.

Happy 60th Wedding Anniversary!

Color Story: I've got the Pow(d)er

At one point, powder blue was a popular colour for weddings.

Take it from me. I'm a wedding planner. (Or used to be, at least.)

 But powder blue is a great hue for everyday wear, too. Just like this combo.

The knit top is from Penshoppe, while the floral skirt is from The Landmark. To ground the look, beige flats from Parisian.

You won't get the blues with this ensemble.

I think you're ready for this Jelly

No, this isn't a Destiny's Child post.

It's about a recent discovery at SM North EDSA.

There's a shoe store called Lyn. Because of my unfamiliarity with the brand, my curiosity led me inside. Once there, the shoes they had were very Charles & Keith in terms of the vibe.

But in one corner, there was a display of jelly shoes under the brand "Jelly Bunny." That's what got my attention.

The attention turned into browsing. The browsing resulted in me going home with this pair of jelly Mary Janes.

What makes it interesting is the material and the cap detail. Gave this to Ate Bullet and she swears by the comfort.

Looks like I'm ready to buy more from this brand.

Mood

While we were at the office as early as January 2, today is actually the official work day at the office.

And seeing this cat outside our building pretty much sums up how everyone at work feels.

No time for cat napping thought. 

It's a new year.

Time to hustle!

Meals with Mark: It's a must

Over the decades, Mark and I have built small traditions that we enjoy going back to.

One of those traditions is to have lunch together on December 31, particularly at North Park in SM Muntinlupa.

No question, North Park has great food. But one of the things that we keep coming back for is their Fresh Lemonade, it's a must!

Yup, that's how this item appears on their menu. "Fresh Lemonade. It's a must." Heck, they even have a poster for it.

Here's to more meals with you this 2026!

New Year, Old Frendz

Though we might not see each other as often as we used to, or as often as we want to, it's always a riot when D' Frendz finally get together.

This coming 2026, here's to more meet-ups, iyak-tawa moments and discoveries with these long standing friends.

FMM: Hello Kit-tea!

Despite being more than 50 years old, Hello Kitty shows no signs of stopping.

Just saw this installation for the Chagee x Hello Kitty collab.

She's proof that a classic never grows old, and that there's always a way for you to be continuously relevant for other generations. From merch, to cafes, to tea, Hello Kitty has a midas touch that she has maintained for all these decades.

And in honour of this achievement, today's Friday Magic Madness song is dedicated to the kitty herself!

I'm not sure why I'm familiar with this song, but the "Hello Kitty theme song" has been living rent-free in my mind for a long time now.

This is the best time to bring it back.

It's a New Year!

And just like that, we begin another year.

Thanks, 2025, you were great.

Here's to greater things this 2026!