WATN: Claire vision

Because scenes from ‘Meet Joe Black” popped up on my YouTube feed, I began to wonder: “Where’s Claire Forlani now?”

In the 90s and 2000s, she was a Hollywood mainstay, appearing in film after film. And whenever and wherever she appeared, she was always a vision of beauty and a powerhouse talent.

We need to see more of Claire again!

Chef Pilot

Aside from being an awesome pilot, my nephew Kevin, is turning out to be an awesome cook!

The past weeks, he's been busy in the kitchen, experimenting on different dishes. Last week, he made Spam Musubi which looked great. (Unfortunately, though, I wasn't able to try it.)

Then, yesterday, he created this!

Bagnet Kare-Kare!

Just like in true Morales tradition, he did this the old school way. He used crushed peanuts instead of a pre-mix or peanut butter. He lovingly hand-cut the veggies, especially the knotted string bean. And he plated everything to perfection.

And yes, it tastes as great as it looks!

Not only is Kevin flying high as a pilot, now, he's flying high as a chef as well!

Continue flying high, Kev!

LFLTAT: Fashionable Friends

Okay, so everyone’s talking about the Friends reunion. For our generation, this is huge! The series is a major part of our young adulthood, so watching Monica, Phoebe, Rachel, Chandler, Joey and Ross share the screen again is like re-living our youth.

And to celebrate this reunion, I bring you this Friends-inspired Look For Less Than A Thousand!

This outfit is from 2 shops from the Golden ABC group. The belted and buttoned skirt is from Penshoppe. While the Friends-print top is from For Me.

Both items were bought online, and on sale! I think it’ rang up to less than P600!

It’s a full, fun outfit for a very Friendly price!

FMM: You do you!

When you look back at the 90s, it felt it was a very recent time. But when you start doing the math, you realize otherwise.

Case in point, this Friday Magic Madness song which was the main title track of one of my favorite films from 1996:

“That Thing You Do,” both the film and the song feels so fresh and new. But the fact is, it’s already 25 years old!

Despite that, while listening to it, the feeling is that it was just yesterday when my friends and I watched this film at Greenbelt 1 Cinema, and we’d bop our heads to this song and every other fun ditty that the song served.

I wish we could do that thing you do all over again.

The Lotus Eaters

Nope, this isn’t about that hugely popular new wave band in the 80s.

It’s about this:

Yup, another gem of a find from Echague Bakery - Lotus Pork Floss Hopia.

Let me just say, this is as delicious as it sounds!

Get a Clue! Part 2!

It was almost 3 years ago when I wrote about this outfit that they had on display on Stradivarius. An outfit that was almost a copy of the iconic outfit of Alicia Silverstone in her iconic film "Clueless."

Early this week, while browsing the G.U. HKG website (just because I miss G.U.), they had these 2 items on their sale page.

Do we even need a clue to know where this outfit came from?

We all know the answer to that, right? 

I mean, we're not that clueless.

Capuchin Celebration

Being from a Capuchin school, I've always looked up to Capuchin Saints. I've always admired their lives, their faith and the change they've created in the lives of the Faithful.

Of course, St. Francis of Assisi is one of the earliest and most known Capuchin saints. His life story is something I know well, having performed in the "Transitus" in LSQC for 4 years.  Then, there's the Prayer of St. Francis, something that's also very close to my heart and mind.

Today, we celebrate another Capuchin Saint. In particular, we celebrate the day of his birth.

Yup, it's the birthday of St. Padre Pio de Pietrelcina!

Happy Birthday St. Pio! We are so blessed to have you in our lives.

Fast Food Feels

Fruit tea and dim sum.

This is one of my go-to afternoon snacks when we were still reporting to the office.

I'd often skippity-hop to the places where I could get this combo.

Closest place would be Lawson at the ground floor.

Another option would be at Robinsons Galleria or SM Megamall food court.

Or, if I had enough time, it would either be at Shangrila Mall or The 30th.

But these days, since we're working from home, those places seem so far away. That doesn't mean, though, that the experience of eating dim sum and drinking fruit tea has to be far away.

Hooray for our dim sum steamer and Yi Fang fruit tea delivery!

And for a fraction of an hour, it feels like we're in a fast food all over again.

Burning Flame

Nope, this isn't about that ultra-popular song from "The Bangles."

This is about the fact that today is Pentecost Sunday.

Even as a kid, I was fascinated about this Holy day of Obligation. I'd enjoy hearing and reading, and re-hearing and re-reading about the story of The Pentecost. In particular, the story about how the tongues of fire or flame descended from heaven and were on top of the heads of the disciples.

Also as a kid, I'd secretly hope that whenever we'd hear the Pentecost Sunday Mass that these flames would actually descend on our heads, too. I'd close my eyes in prayer, then slowly peek to see if it did happen. 

Spoiler alert, it didn't. Physically, at least.

But spiritually, I know it was happening. 

Because that's how the flames of our Faith burn in our hearts.

You're a Geno's!

If there's one item that's an additional mainstay in our freezers since June last year, it has to be this!

Yup, Geno's Ice Cream!

People who've been to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar know this brand as the ice cream that they serve in the resort. They're famous for their taro or gabi ice cream, which is the resort's best seller. I still remember a few visits to Las Casas where they ran out of taro ice cream due to the high demand.

No surprise there since that flavour really is da bomb!

Last year, we found out that there's a reseller near our area! And the rest is frozen in history! (Frozen. Ice Cream. Get it? Nudge-nudge-wink-wink!)

We can't get enough of it that's why whenever we're about to finish a gallon, we order a new one. It's a case of FOMOOG.

The great thing about having this often is that we got to try their other flavours as well. While the taro is really yummers, their mango, strawberry, chocolate and peanuts, and avocado are equally delicious!

Our Geno's obsession made me feel bad for our other go-to ice cream brands who were kicked out of the freezer. That line-up includes Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia, Big Scoop's Bubble Gum Mallows and Mint Chocolate Chip, and Tilamook Vanilla!

While they're all so yummy, Geno's looks like it's going to have a secure spot in our freezer for a while.

But if - by any chance - Bohol Bee Farm's Ice Cream finds its way to Manila, well, that situation might change.

FMM: Shall we?

It started with Bail Ling.

Then, it led to the film "Anna and the King."

Then, it led to the original film, "The King and I."

And this led to today's Friday Magic Madness song from the OG film with Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. This seems to be the farthest we gone for FMM since this film was shown back in 1956.

From that film, of course, is this classic song:

"Shall We Dance" is a great song because there's a mix of innocence, tension and love, all in one song. And it's a tough feat, but this does it beautifully.

Shall we watch it again?

What the flick?

Proof that in art direction and layouts, all the little details count.

I know it's supposed to say "flick," but if you look at it this way, well, you'll get what I mean.

What the?

Japa-nice

It’s a discussion that Mark and I usually have. How much we miss our trips to Japan.

Whether it’s the time he was finishing his PhD and i’d visit him. Or during his short work trips and I’d tag along, every trip to Tokyo was fun, memorable and filled with nice memories.

And it’s been years since our last Japan trip, we always dream of that day when we can come back.

Until that day comes, we’re hoping to get the experience somewhere nearby. Like the Mos Burger outlet in BGC.

Even if it’s the mobile store, I hope we can get together and eat our go-to Mos Burger.

That would be nice.

Carven Copy

After seeing it on Brie and seeing it on the RAF website, curiosity got the best of me.

Net takeaway, I had to see the dress again for myself.

Et voila!

Yup, my memory serves me right. So did my observation. This RAF dress is definitely a Carven dress for less. Much less.

And yes, it’s a very good copy. It got it right, from the cut, colour, even the cut out!

Yup, imitation is the best form of flattery.

Looks and tastes like summer!

From my childhood until now that I'm an oldie, I still get thrilled whenever Dunkin Donuts comes out with new flavors.

So, imagine my excitement after seeing this:

Summer-themed Dunkin Donuts Bavarian flavors!

The fact that I'm a huge fan of Halo-Halo and Maja Blanca makes this an even bigger thrill!

Oh, Dunkin Donuts! Take my money, please!

WATN: Bai the way

Back in the 90s, one of my favorites Asian-American actresses was Bai Ling.

What I like about her is the fact that she was very unconventional. From her looks, to her roles, she was really a stand-out and she shone in every role she played.

I first took notice of her in “Nixon.” Then, she had a stellar turn with Richard Gere in “Red Corner.” Later on, she did a very mainstream Hollywood comedy - “Wild, Wild West” with Will Smith. That was quickly followed by her poignant portrayal as Tuptim in “Anna and the King.”

In 2004, while on a work-trip in HKG, I caught “Dumpling,” a horror film where she appeared as Aunt Mei. Her portrayal was riveting, and it turns out she won several awards for that role.

There was news that she’s appear in “Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith,” and I waited for her role there. Alas, she was edited out. Boo!

After that, her big screen roles were few and far between. She was in “Crank 2” - a B-movie where she shone, as per usual. But after that, I didn’t really see much of her anymore.

Which begs the quest: Where in Bai Ling now? With that kind of depth and talent, I think she should be appearing in more Hollywood films.

Heck, I’d love to see her in the next installment of “Crazy Rich Asians.”

I’d definitely Bai that!

A Grand time!

There’s a new baby girl in our family!

My nephew Carl is a new Dad! Which means I am - for the 3rd time - a Granduncle!

And here’s our newest addition to the growing clan:

Welcome Adriana! Yup, like the Supermodel!

Actually, her full name is Adriana Solenn. So, they’re 2 fashion model names, actually.

Congratulations Carl and Jamie! 

Lolo can’t wait to see you, Baby Adriana!

FMM: Looking for Lewis

There are quite a number of songs from the 90s that take me back to my start in the advertising industry.

Songs that remind me of long nights, brainstorming for ideas at the office, listening to upbeat, pop music to get the energy up and the ideas flowing.

Then, occasionally, one of the creative folks will take a break from work to do a random dance on top of the chair or table. This would be the impetus for other creatives to stop working and just groove.

One of the songs we'd love to dance to was a song from a British singer/rapper named C. J. Lewis. He wasn't a mainstream artist, but he had an awesome album. 

And one of his songs that we'd love to groove to was "R to the A."

This song suddenly popped in my head last week, so I thought it would be a great Friday Magic Madness song for today.

Pardon me while I stop working and bop by head to the beat.

One to Teen

While looking at these photos taken from Becca's Fiesta-themed 1st birthday party, it's hard to believe that this fun, Filipino event happened 12 years ago!

Today, Becca turns 13! Our D' Baby is now officially a teenager!

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Gosh, I feel old!

Berry, Berry Nice

As a major fan of Strawberries, this new product from Dexter's thrilled me to bits.

Strawberry bits, that is.

Yup, they now have Strawberry Pianono!

Not biased or anything, but this is the best pianono. 

I'm berry sure of it!