Taco treats!

After 3 years, the townhouse finally held the annual trick-or-treat activity!

The kids were undoubtedly excited and came out decked in their best costumes.

But my favorite part was our neighbor’s cute dog - Taco. He gamely manned their candy station, and it was really a treat to see him taking part of the festivities.

It really was a treat!

Very Keen

Looks like Ate really liked the “Peachy Keen” outfit.

She wore it just a few days after she got the ensemble,

Ate definitely has a keen sense of fashion.

To a T!

Finally, it’s here!

Was really curious about the “White T-shirt” scent of Bath and Body Works, and i’m super psyched that I was able to get one.

This smells so awesome! It reminds me of some of my fave scents like Clean Cool Cotton and Clean Cotton T-shirt. It’s also reminiscent of those soapy colognes that Mark and I would check out at Yodobashi  in Akihabara.

Looks like i’m Going to wear this White T-shirt everyday!

FMM: Wizardry

One of the highlights of our Bicol trip was spending the afternoon walking by the bay with the fam plus my 2 cousins who we haven’t seen in a while.

What made that walk even more magical was this rainbow that was very visible that time.

This inspired today’s Friday Magic Madness song from 1939. Yes, 1939!

It’s a song from the classic film“Wizard of Oz,” and beautifully sung by the incomparable Judy Garland. A masterpiece that you can experience “Somewhere over the Rainbow.”

Ah yes, both the rainbow and Judy Garland’s voice are works of wizardry.

Familiar places

While driving around Legazpi, the lines from the popular Tears for Fears Song was playing in my head. But instead of familiar faces, all around me were familiar places.

Like St. Agnes Academy.

This is our sister school in Bicol. Becky and I went here for a talk before, and we’ve been meaning to come back to do another.

Then, there’s Seadog. 

This is one of Rico’s restaurants. My students and I ate here more than 5 years ago during our Bicol field trip. Their pizza is great and we had a lot of fun.

Seeing all these places make me enjoy my Bicol trips a lot more.

Weave got it all!

Dad and Mom have a new fave shopping place in Bacacay.

There’s a general merchandise store called Divisoria Mart. True to it’s namesake, they have almost everything you need at very affordable prices. From food to cooking ingredients, clothes to shoes, wares for the kitchen to the bathroom to the living room - it’s all there.

When we went there, the folks binge-bought Christmas decors. They now adorn our house in Manila and our cottage in Bicol. During that shopping trip, there was this plastic outdoor dining set with a woven pattern that was so nice. And it would really look good in our cottage by the beach.

Surprise, surprise, it turned out that Dad bought it went we went back to Manila.

We’ve got the same taste in things, Dad and I.

In the mix!

DJC Halo-Halo is another Bicolano icon.

Originating from Tiwi, this halo-halo is a tradition for Bicolanos. Their first shop is near the church in Tiwi, and families would hire off to eat this after mass.

What made this novel was the generous amount of cheese in every glass. This adds a savory touch to the usually sweet concoction.

Amazing how something traditional can change by adding something new to the mix. 

Childhood Churches

Albay has a lot of beautiful churches. That’s a fact.

What makes them even more beautiful is the fact that they hold cherished memories from my childhood. From hearing masses to watching processions, from spending Holy Week to participating in Flores de Mayo. Each church has a distinct memory.

Memories that came back after setting foot on 2 of those churches again.

First, the St. Rose de Lima Parish in Bacacay.

Second, the Church of St. Lawrence the Martyr in Tiwi.

The churches - and memories - are as wonderful now as they were then.

Be Cool

After 3 years, it was great to see Albay again!

It’s my first time to fly in through the new airport. And they’re right in saying that it looks so nice and notches above the old Legazpi Airport.

This makes it a really cool homecoming 

Hawk-ing it!

Whoa! Hawkman will be making an appearance in "Black Adam!"

I'm a huge Hawkman fan. I've written about it here before, when all the kids were dreaming of becoming Superman, I'd rather be Hawkman.

As one of my all-time fave DC Heroes, I'm looking forward to him flying into the big screen.

FMM: Elbow Room

One of the bands from the 80s that has a very unique and distinct name is Elbow Bones and the Racketeers. Bet you haven’t heard of a name as differently cool than that.

But yes, they’re an actual band. 

Just like their very catchy name, the group had equally catchy hits. In fact, their big hit from 1983 is one of my favorite songs. 

Actually, I was already working when I first heard “A Night in New York.” The first time I heard it, the song stuck in my mind because of its mix of big band and swing. It’s something you can easily sway or dance to, whatever you’re feeling at the moment this song plays.

This is a great song. No bones about it.

Shirt time

Clean Cotton T-shirt was one of my all-time fave scents. That’s why I was bummed when they discontinued it.

Recently, I discovered that Bath and Body Works launches this scent sometime this year:

They have a White T-shirt scent!

Why didn’t I see this when I ordered by Bath and Body Works stash from the US?

Gotta get my hands on this. Stat!

Nifty Nineties

Back in the 90s, wearing a white t-shirt inside a dress was all the rage.

My Ates were big fans of this look. Ate Lissa had this favorite ensemble consisting of a white t-shirt worn inside a spaghetti-strap floral dress. She had it in several hues and prints, but it’s the black floral dress that I remember the most.

These days, the look seems to be coming back. Not surprising since fashion usually has a cycle of 2 decades before trends come back.

Yesterday, I wrote about this nice, white t-shirt from Elizabeth and James for Kohl’s  that was part of the “Bermuda Triangle.” Today, we use the same shirt for a more 90s outfit.

It’s now worn inside a cream-coloured knit dress from The Landmark. The cable-knit of this dress adds much needed texture and plays well with how plain the shirt is. It also updates the look from being to 90s to more 2020s.

Amazing how versatile a white shirt can be.

Bermuda Triangle

No, this isn’t about things disappearing into thin air. It’s actually about finding things.

Back in the 80s, everyone knew what “Bermuda Shorts” were. They were the uniform of the preppy set. The length was somewhere in the middle of knickerbockers and roller girl shorts. They had a safari-vibe to them, especially when they were in neutral hues. Just this:

They’re very easy to wear and also very easy to style. The vibe changes with the simple switch of a top, And instead of 2 top options, we have 3!

The first is a Simply Vera Vera Wang Top that I snagged at Surplus Shop. It has a comfy and loose silhouette that looks great when tucked-in the short. It has a bright salmon colout that makes the outfit pop.

For something more muted and classic, the same top is available in a gray hue. This is an example of how a slight colour change transforms the vibe of the outfit.

The 3rd option is an homage to the safari roots of the shorts. This time, it’s paired with a plain, white tee from Elizabeth and James for Kohl’s. The yellow scarf, also from the same brand, gives it a much needed splash of brightness.

With this pair of very classic shorts, it’s so easy to triangulate a perfect outfit.

Bicol bites

There are 2 baked goods from Bicol that automatically transport me to my childhood.

First, there’s Marcasotes. It’s a traditional chiffon cake that’s served during fiestas and birthdays. Second, we have Budin. This is a pili cake with a small pili nut on top.

And last week, I was finally, FINALLY, able to take a bite of these 2!

It tastes as good as ever,

Color Story: Peachy Keen

The color peach, much like the fruit it was named after, is very refreshing. It’s very cool on the eyes, sweet without being too saccharine, and you can look at it for an extended period of time without getting tired of it.

That’s why i’ve always liked clothes with this hue. 

Peach dresses give out this very summer and girly vibe, but peach can also be very strong and powerful. Just like this ensemble that i’ve put together using varying shades of peach:

The knit top is from Surplus Shop, the soft blazer is from Promod, and the trousers are from The Landmark. Together, this looks like a power suit set, but with a feminine twist, thanks to the color.

Ate will surely be keen to wear this.

Boss moves!

Back in the 80s, one of the shows that I'd stay up to watch was an American sitcom entitled "Who's the Boss."

The reason I'd watch it religiously was Alyssa Milano. She was so adorable as the smart and sassy Samantha Micelli. Judith Light was also a joy to watch as Angela Bower. And let's not forget the headliner, Tony Micelli, played by Tony Danza.

Recently, I've been wondering how the cast of this classic show are doing now. Providentially, this video popped up on youtube.

It's so good to see the cast together.

And they all look good! Like a boss, really.

FMM: Newton's Law

Since yesterday's post was about Santa Maria Novella, our Friday Magic Madness song for today is a natural progression.

Back in 1979, there was this very campy but fun song that filled the airwaves. It was so campy, it was used in an iconic scene of a local comedy film.

The song? "Santa Maria!"

This song from Newton Family is such an ear worm, there should be a law against it!

Novel Novella

What 4711 is to Germany, Santa Maria Novella is to Italy.

This is one of their oldest colognes and was originally made by Nuns in Firenze in the 1600s. It became a tradition to make these perfumes, and they’re still in the market today.

The first time I tried this was during a Europe trip I. The early 2000s. I liked it back then and I still like it now.

It’s such a novel story that adds so much character to the scent.

Buy the Hudson

For Fall 2022, Target is collaborating with some insider labels that have a cult following. One of these labels is a designer i’ve been following - Sergio Hudson.

His clothes have that balance of strength and femininity, and it’s easily seen in his designs. And seeing his collection for Target, his capsule collection has the same DNA as his main brand.

My fave from this collaboration is this fuchsia ensemble consisting of a cropped jacket and tailored trousers.

Gosh! If I were in the US, i’d definitely run to Target stat and buy this!