Let's Dance

Even though it's not an obvious choice - after all, it might not even be a colour - I'm very much drawn to this year's Pantone colour of the year.

Cloud Dancer is basically white. With a bit of softness to it. This is actually making it easy for everyone to follow the colour code this coming new year.

Hope the coming year will be filled with quietness, simplicity and freedom - just like a Cloud Dancer.

The Royal Treatment

After last year's very muted, black and white Christmas wrapping theme, my idea for this year's theme was the complete opposite.

At the get go, my mind was veering towards something more vibrant and elegant. A thought that was further solidified after seeing this wrapper:

It was the royal blue and gold combination that sold me to it. The combo felt so luxe, yet also quiet and muted.

Because of that colour scheme, the accents and accoutrements also followed suit. Found this really nice metallic gold ribbon, and a glittered gold snowflake.

That same blue and gold theme carried on to my gift cards, which echoed both the colours and patterns of those materials.

Together, these elements created this year's Christmas wrapping theme.

Now, let me put on Lorde's "Royal" in the background.

LFLTAT: Straight to No. 1

No, this isn't about the song by Touch and Go.

What it is is another post-Christmas sale ensemble.

For less than a thousand, of course.

The top is from Kashieca, which is a lace top (it's long enough to be a dress, actually) with an interesting, Chanel-esque print. The skirt if from The Landmark, and we all know who affordable fashion items are there.

Despite the P800 price tag, this look definitely has a lot of class to it.

LFLTAT x Color Story: Taupe tier

Sales about after Christmas day.

Retailers know that people have a lot of Christmas money to burn, so they give them a gentle nudge and suggestion on how to do it. 

Because of these sales, it's so easy to churn out a Look for Less than a Thousand, that can also be a Colour Story. Just like this ensemble:

It's a very classy and classic taupe look, but with something extra. The top is from Baleno at The SM Store, while the pants are from H&M. The pants are particularly interesting because it has that faux layered look, thanks to the lace overlay.

For the price - which is just around P900 - is a top choice!

Suddenly Six

Here's a case of Christmas history repeating itself.

These photos were taken on the same day - Christmas eve - but 6 years apart!

So much has happened since 2019, and the world is a lot different.

But Ate Bullet and Toni still look the same.

FMM: Christmas Calling

There was this very catchy yet very mindless piece of techno music back in 1999.

"Mindless" because for more than 2 minutes, they just repeated the same line over and over and over and over again. "Catchy" because it was so popular back then. You'd hear it on the radio, on MTV, in clubs and parties. 

You might not know the title, but once you hear it, it'll all come back.

IYKYK, as kids these days would say.

Yup, it's "Somebody answer the phone" by Mario Piu.

It's a fitting Friday Magic Madness song, inspired by Mark's very thoughtful Christmas gift.

He must have seen how old my current phone was, that he decided to give me a new one. He knows that I'm not the type who'll buy a phone for myself, so he took matters into his own hands.

Very thoughtful.

Great call, Mark.

Christmas at the Park

Park Avenue, that is.

From our family - both in Park Avenue and in Texas, Georgia and Toronto - a Merry Christmas and a blessed Holiday Season.

See you Litre

Went to Serenitea for my usual Lychee Green Tea fix, and got a big surprise.

Literally, big.

Like, a litre big!

Apparently, they have an anniversary promo. If you buy a selected drink (and my Lychee Green Tea was selected), you get a free upside to a 1-litre cup!

That's a whole lotta Lychee! (Not complaining, though.)

Bicho bottom dollar

No, this isn't an "Annie" post.

It's a post about the fact that, despite eating at Tsokolateria many, many times, I'm only discovering their Bicho Bicho today.

It's SO good!

The Bicho has the right combination of a crunchy exterior and a pillowy interior, and the choice of dips complement it.

Looks like the Churros Waffle will be dislodged as my Tsokolateria fave.

Creativi-tree

After a year of work, productions, work, pitches, rushed work, and more work, it's finally a wrap for the creative team this year.

From our creative family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Danke Schon

Thanks to Arche, I'm now familiar with this German brand of mixed fruits.

Meyve Mix was what I got from the exchange gift, and I couldn't be happier.

Hope they have this in supermarkets in MNL. 

It's sehr lecker!

Not Becky's Kitchen

But Becky's living room!

Once again, the Mass Comm faculty continues our tradition of spending our Christmas party at Becky's home.

As expected, it was an afternoon filled with food, laughter, and teacher talk.

Merry Christmas, Mass Comm!

FMM: Wither on not

Today's Friday Magic Madness post is in honour of the song that wasn't sung yesterday.

For our finale, we were supposed to group sing Bill Withers' 1972 hit, "Lean on Me."

But the team felt that we needed a more upbeat and party-ish ditty to end our tribute medley. Eventually, we sang "Happy Together" by The Turtles.

Too bad, actually, since we were really feeling the vibe of this Bill Withers song. Which I'll play today.

Too bad that this song didn't get the airplay it deserved.

Silver linings

And just like that, our agency celebrated our Silver Anniversary.

Congratulations, Catalytx!

Here's to the next 25 years.

Pro and (Comic)Con

We noticed a lot of people carrying "Back to the Future 40th Anniversary" totes, and was wondering what's up.

Then it hit us. 

It was Tokyo Comic Con!

Maybe we'll see Johnny Depp roaming around Makuhari.

SSDD

A decade ago, we were in Tokyo Midtown with Mark's friends - Derek, Trina, Diego & Rondel, and we had our photos taken at the bridge that connects the park to the mall.

During our Tokyo trip last week, we were able to take our photo on the same bridge.

So, this qualifies as a SSDD - Same shot, different decade - post.

Back to Earth

Because the Polo Earth that I bought and brought from Narita Airport was so good, just had to get another bottle.

Two, actually.

Guess this means that I'm a certified Earth-ling.

Meals with Mark: Go Cro!

When they closed the St. Marc's cafe in Megamall, we were bummed. Where do we get our yummy choco cros now?

That's why when we saw that there was a St. Marc's cafe outside our hotel in Makuhari, we already knew where we'd have breakfast.

It's so good to be able to share a choco cro with Mark again.

Luck is Standard

I'm so thrilled that we decided to stay in Makuhari on our last day in Tokyo.

Aside from the fact that there's the Mitsui Park Outlet just outside our hotel - literally, it was outside our hotel - there's also the Aeon Mall which was just 1 train stop away.

That mall is one of my faves because of these 2 shops:

Luck Rack is always a great place to hunt for off-season Japanese brands, while Standard Products can really give Muji a run for its money.

I'm super happy with my haul from these 2 stores.

FMM: The Others

Back in 1993, there was a song that enjoyed a lot of airplay, and it also enjoyed a lot of on-air play. I'd see the official music video on shows like MTV, and being danced on TV shows by popular dance gorups.

It's a song from a duo called "The Other Two." The English husband and wife team, originally from New Order, tried it out as a duo and came up with this hit song.

"Selfish," has that new wave vibe that also has a bit of a slow dance feel. It's that combination that makes this song such an ear worm.

Let me be selfish and play this song on repeat.