Ny Minute Now

Fragrant Pause

2012-05-29T19:32:00.001-04:00

I rarely blog about beauty…because I work in beauty! It's the makeup and cosmetics version of a bus driver's holiday: If I muster up the energy to go on the computer by the time I get home (ideally, after a snack, nap, dinner, laundry; not necessarily in that order), the last thing I'd want to talk about is how you can perfectly apply eyeliner or what your lipstick is made out of. I would much rather talk about food and other things. And, maybe at some point, write an inspiration post, or maybe blog about things I found on Zara.com.

That said, I did chance upon two intriguing, blog-worthy scents, courtesy of the May issue of Vogue, with Scarlett Johansson on the cover.

First, Elie Saab Le Parfum. The bottle somewhat reminds me of Hilary Duff's With Love Eau de Parfum, they're a bit similar in shape—the flat, rectangular top and the jewel-like, faceted body (whereas Saab's is more diamond and Duff's, citrine). Eliesaab.com describes the fragrance as "an ode to light [that] celebrates, the splendor and the brilliance of radiant femininity with a floral solar woody theme. Orange blossom, jasmine absolute, and cedar woody notes unveil an elegant, enveloping trail like the train of a Haute Couture dress."

I should drop by the counters one of these days to catch a whiff.

Second, is Valentino Valentina Eau de Parfum, which actually came with a scent strip in the mag. It's been a long time since I've had to work on beauty awards, meaning, it's been years since I've had to sit in a room for an afternoon perusing bottles and bottles of perfume in between sniffing coffee beans and attempting to dodge an imminent headache. This one is easy on the nose, with a sophisticated-sweet lingering finish. It contains notes of bergamot, white truffle (how does that translate into a scent?), orange blossom, jasmine, cedar, and vanilla. More than its scent, it's the bottle that caught my eye, with floral appliqués that either look like smooth, posh ceramic—or delicious icing sugar flowers.

Images courtesy of Fragrantica.com

FitFlopping

2012-05-28T02:38:00.000-04:00

Now I get why millions have already bought FitFlops!

FitFlops seem to belong in the category of mass-produced footwear wonders—e.g. Crocs, Toms and so forth. People either think they're fantastic…or downright (f)ugly.

When it comes to these mega-popular ped picks, I had always been on neutral ground, with the exception of the first version of Crocs—to me, they're only cute on children. But, to each her own, right? That said, newer styles, like the Carliana Peep Toe Ombré blue-green shoe below, would actually look pretty on adults. As for Toms, I've tried shopping for them on several occasions, but for some reason, it hasn't worked out. Whether it's the size, color, or simply the mood, I have yet to find the perfect pair. I'll probably end up with something sparkly, like the Pink Women's Glitters below, or their classic red.

As for FitFlops, here's a bit of a backstory:

Marcia Kilgore held a series of random jobs before becoming a personal trainer, and then a facialist…with a seventh-month waitlist in her New York City studio. She later on founded the popular Bliss Spa and was somewhat responsible for changing the image of spas from matronly and antiseptic, to chic, comfortable, and cozy. A Vogue feature came along, so did a slew of celebrity clients, culminating in a multi-million dollar deal with Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) for a stake in her company. Bliss eventually expanded to include a line of skin and body products. And in 2007, Kilgore went on to create FitFlops—with the intention of having a slipper that can give your legs a workout when you wore them. Brilliant. According to this Asia Tatler article, over 12 million pairs have already been sold to date. (Read a detailed, pre-FitFlop biography for Kilgore here.)

Fab or flop?

AT some point, Kilgore also launched the kitschy/retro cosmetics brand, Soap & Glory. But that's a whole blog topic altogether.

About two years ago, my cousin-and-law, accessories designer Happy David, told me how comfy FitFlops were—that she had walked in them for four days in Washington DC. On rare and random occasions, I've passively tried on the purportedly cushiony sandal, finding that they looked funny on my feet…until yesterday. While walking around and shopping in SoHo, I chanced upon this one:

FitFlop Women's Hooper Thong Sandals

It must have been the hot weather and my feet having been enclosed in sneakers and socks all morning and early afternoon, but it instantly felt wonderful slipping into these sandals. Of course, I did the renegade trying-on-a-few-pairs and cementing the fact that I don't look good in most of them, BUT, when it came to this model—and another bright white style on the display wall—I was compelled to get them because apart from the ahh factor, they actually looked good this time around. And now, looking at the other pairs on the brand's website, it looks like I'm going to be hooked!

Tried to get a good solo shot but I guess our doggie wanted in on the photo-fun!
Here, I'm wearing an old top from Forever 21, Gap shorts, and my new, supercomfy Fitflops.

Model and product images courtesy of Fitflops, Toms, Crocs, and Footsmart.com

Food Mood

2012-05-10T01:25:00.000-04:00

I do miss writing inspirational blog posts, but those take time, contemplation—or even a vacation—to churn. For now, while I learn to manage this hectic NYC schedule, here are some photos of what I've been up to from a food (and gadget!) perspective.

(And, yes—I will find time for an uplifting post, or two, similar to those in the Inspiration Series. Stay tuned!)

Before I get to the food, let me just announce that I now am a proud owner of a Dyson DC35 Digital Slim! It's "the most powerful cordless vacuum" around and one of the best investments one can make for the home. (Yup, my husband loves me! By the way, Dyson has a 20% off sale going on until Sunday, and—you guessed it—those awesome blade-less fans are part of it!)

Remember the fish market I had mentioned in the "D.I.Y. Fish Fillet Sandwich" post? The store also sells (fried) porgy on-demand. Quite convenient, if you ask me, since that means I don't have to deal with hot oil—and that ubiquitous fishy smell—in my own kitchen. When paired with lightly toasted bread and a dollop of mustard, you've got yourself a simple, yet super-satisfying, dinner or snack.

Speaking of simple—and healthy!—here's a fresh fruit platter of fresh mangoes, raspberries, and strawberries that I recently prepared for Alvs, who usually prefers something light for dinner especially when we've both had a lot to eat during the day.

I recently made Pinoy-style chicken curry and these good-for-you veggies, red pepper and celery (including carrots and potatoes) were aromatic and delicious additions to the stew.

And, the pièce de résistance for this food post is the Valrhona cocoa powder I found earlier at Whole Foods. It's
a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I made fudge cupcakes with it and topped them with ganache made with Trader Joe's dark chocolate (true—as with fashion, mixing high-low pieces yields one-of-a-kind results) and they were superb.

D.I.Y. Fish Fillet Sandwich

2012-04-30T21:39:00.001-04:00

Homemade-takeout hybrid.

At 380 calories per serving, the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich is one of the more calor-rific items on the menu—that's 130 calories more than a Hamburger, or 80 more than a Cheeseburger… Not that any of that has ever stopped me from enjoying the "fishy" fast-food find every now and then.

Crispy, chewy, cheesy…overall scrumptious!

Although these days, whenever I have a hankering for fried fish fillet spliced between two slices of soft bread, smothered with tartar sauce, and topped with a square of cheese, I've taken to the kitchen for the surprisingly easy-to-make treat.

Building blocks of a great sandwich.

The breeziness of the "homemade" version, I credit to the nearby fish store that sells both fresh and cooked seafood—including an assortment of deep-fried fish for the latter: tilapia, flounder, porgy, and more.

And, here's a bit of trivia: When food is fried at the right temperature, the hot oil acts like a "seal" for moisture that steams the food from the inside, which results in minimal oil absorption. Too low of a temp means you have yourself a grease sponge. So, whip out a thermometer and reap delicious—even healthy—results! Or, like me, enjoy a homemade-takeout hybrid meal once in a while, and use the best ingredients you can find. Plus, you know the drill: everything in moderation.

Chomp, chomp, chomp.

Hello, Friends!

2012-04-19T10:09:00.001-04:00

I am not forgetting about this blog (or my blogging and online life in general)! My work life has just been extra-extra hectic lately that what usually happens when I get home is one or a combination of the following:

– tinker around the apartment/kitchen

– do laundry (or postpone laundry for yet another day)

– hang out with my husband and our dear doggie; go for a walk

– have dinner, work on a deadline (for the things I do outside of my day job)

– watch a TV show, pass out, wake up in the morning, and do the hustle all over again

I know I shouldn't be making any excuses. I've said this time and again, my writer and editor friends multitask and do all of this with aplomb. Case in point as always: Frances, who at the moment, is due to give birth soon to her second child, keeps house, helms the local edition of OK! Magazine, writes blogs, goes to events…the works.

Anyway, I do have a bunch of food-related posts in the backburner with pictures ready that I just have to sit on and write. There are those long overdue hazelnut brownies, a scrumptious D.I.Y. fish sandwich, and more.

Soon, friends. Soon.

Web Window Shopping

2012-04-10T05:07:00.000-04:00

While doing research for an article, I stumbled upon this supercute illustration:

Courtesy of Lancôme.

Makes you want to shop, doesn't it? View the deets over at the Lancôme website.

One-bowl Double Chocolate Chip Muffins

2012-03-29T23:47:00.000-04:00

See what's cooking over at Allmysugar.com!

Unbelievably easy to make!

Breakfast for Champs

2012-03-25T23:48:00.000-04:00

If there's one thing that I love about New York City weekend brunches is the availability of Eggs Norwegian—a delicious take on the classic Eggs Benedict: two poached eggs over a bed of Canadian bacon and two slices of English muffins, all drizzled with creamy hollandaise sauce. The former replaces the bacon with smoked salmon. Rabbit Hole Restaurant in Brooklyn used to be a favorite destination for this, and Smorgas Chef at the Scandinavia House in midtown Manhattan serves up an excellent plate of this perfectly poached combo.

I began the weekend with my first foray into making this dish from scratch, referencing three recipes in the process:

1) English Muffins
These take a while to make (because the recipe calls for yeast and 'resting' time), so I opted for breakfast biscuits. My go-to are Ina Garten's, which I'd blogged about here, but I knew I was topping this dish with the caloric-bomb that is hollandaise, so I searched for a low-fat alternative. Ellie Krieger's Chicken and Biscuit Pot Pie Recipe on Foodnetwork.com yielded the crumby, scone-like discs that hold well enough to sop up delicious runny yolks on the plate. They also pair excellently with orange marmalade. By the way, I skipped the oil called for in the recipe, and also used regular all-purpose flour all the way.

2) Poached Eggs
This is hands-down the smartest, easiest way to poach eggs, discovered online by my husband! The following video shows you the "Sous Vide" method—unbelievable and ridiculously simple: First, brush on oil over a large square of cling wrap. Add your favorite seasonings—salt, pepper, and some herbs if you like. Next, place the plastic over a small saucer and drop an egg in. Gather the wrap around the egg and secure it with a piece of string (and now that I think about it, you can even knot the little parcel on top if you have enough room). Drop the egg in simmering water and cook for exactly three minutes. Surprisingly, the plastic wrap doesn't melt and instead, yields the perfect texture and consistency: firm whites encasing soupy yolks. Yum!

3) Hollandaise Sauce
Ahh... The pièce de résistance. Truth be told, it's highly probable that one of the reasons I even got out of bed on Saturday morning to build brunch from scratch is the thought of finally whipping up my first batch of this rich, decadent concoction/emulsion consisting of nothing but egg yolks, melted butter, lemon juice, and a dash of salt and cayenne pepper. It's no wonder that many have been known to approach the subject with trepidation—for one, there's a risk of the eggs scrambling before they become silken; for another, there is the issue of consuming pure yellow cholesterol. That said, everything in moderation makes life pleasant. And, if you set a glass bowl over simmering water—yes, the same one you just used to poach eggs—and whisk happily, while setting the bowl over the counter when things get too hot, you'll top off a great brunch with one of the most decadent sauces known to man. For this, I referenced Tyler Florence's recipe, also on Foodnetwork.com.

Perfectly drizzled with fresh, creamy hollandaise. Mmm...

Other notes:

- The smoked salmon is from Trader Joe's. The only other place that sells it for a reasonable dollar amount is Ikea.
- A biscuit slice slathered with orange marmalade provides a tangy-sweet contrast to the salty-creamy eggs.
- Restos usually add on a side of greens or some form of vegetable. You'll need it, to help justify the hollandaise :)

Building blocks of breakfast goodness.

Google Spring Art

2012-03-20T20:42:00.001-04:00

Earlier I chanced upon the above art on the Google homepage. Then I got reminded that today was the first day of Spring!

Looking forward to bright, sunshiny days ahead!

Roll 'Em Up

2012-02-11T20:14:00.002-05:00

New toy.

It's been a while since I talked beauty on this blog…or hair, for that matter. So let me share with you my latest beauty/hair find: the Conair Infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush.

It's fantabulous!

I've expressed over Twitter and Facebook my non-excitement for blow-drying hair. I find it to be a complete waste of time and I would much rather have a professional do it. I actually don't mind wielding a brush and dryer for others. During my makeup artist days, I would actually get jobs that called for both makeup and hairstyling, and sometimes, it would even just be the latter. But when it comes to my own tresses, the primping skill seems to be non-transferable and I simply lack the patience for it.

New hair.

As part of my New Year's resolution though, I told myself I would take better care of my coif, starting with regular trips to the salon to have it professionally blown out. (I figured, the hike in our electric bill by spending an hour drying strands in the bathroom would justify the cost of just having someone else do it).

That plan didn't exactly pan out, as the snooze button prevailed most mornings. So…

I cut my hair. Really short. A.k.a, a traditional "one-length" bob from my tweenage years. And, I'm loving it!

Except of course, it circles back to the dilemma of properly fixing it. Symmetrical bobs, as it turns out—and I may have completely forgotten this as I no longer write about these things for work—need to be shaped and styled so they don't look flat and stringy. Fortunately, short cuts are easy to style and I can muster up the EQ to get it done.

The Conair rotating styler is wonderful because it combines the heat from a regular dryer, the shaping capabilities of a roller brush, and the heat-keeping qualities of a metal barrel in one convenient gadget.

That it spins in both directions gives an added touch of styling ease. You have the option to turn that feature on or off. (Personally, I toggle between on and off to get the volume I want.) And, it comes with a "cool" setting too!

That it bears Jonathan Antin's name (of Jonathan Product reality show popularity) is just a bit of fun trivia. Check out the how-to videos on Conair's website. I bought mine on Amazon.com at a price lower than what it regularly retails for.

Jason Wu for Target

2012-02-09T21:05:00.063-05:00

Target's trademark red swirls. Love their copywriting!

Now, onto lighter and more exciting things! When I got home earlier today, I found a package from Target waiting for me. If it weren't for my internet savvy-er (and more patient!) husband, I wouldn't have been able to score the following items from the recent Jason Wu collection:

Bought online. Poplin Dress in Navy.

Scored in-store. Cat Tote.

The items were practically gone in a flash the minute they went online—around 1 a.m. EST—and hit stores in the morning on Sunday. According to a sales associate, the line was 50-people long at 7:30 in the morning, in time for the 8 a.m. opening.

Now, I don't have the patience for these things. I was super into the Missoni collection a while back, but when I missed out on it (I went to the store a week later), it wasn't such a big deal. My husband, on the other hand—being the internet marketer that he is—can monitor threads and Facebook updates in real time. For the navy dress, I was almost half asleep when he nudged me that it was up online and ready to be purchased. Within five minutes after we checked out, it was sold out.

While I was asleep, he also got me this cardigan, which was really sweet of him:

Jason Wu for Target Long-Sleeve Pointelle Sweater in Belize Blue.

As for the super cute cat tote, Alvs spotted it on the floor under a rack of clothes leftover from early on. It was facing backward and quite inconspicuous, so people must have just ignored it.

To see the rest of the collection, check out the lookbook at NyMag.com. Here's how I look like wearing the navy dress, tada!

Product stills courtesy of Target.com

On Lazy Days

2012-01-31T22:48:00.002-05:00

For as long as I can remember, people in my stream of consciousness have held several occupations at once. When my dad was a bookstore owner, he also dabbled in writing and editing for the local paper (eventually becoming a journalist full-time, and now he's back to being an entrepreneur). During my early years working in the magazine business, all the editors I knew had other things going on besides turning over the monthly issue. Whether it was in the form of writing for sister publications, fashion styling, or makeup artistry, it was the side jobs that paid for cars, trips to Europe, and so forth.

I've pretty much kept the same outlook when it comes to my own work and career: have as much on my plate as possible.

So, suffice it to say, whenever I feel lethargic and all I want to do is stay in bed and watch cooking shows—eating and snacking along the way—I tend to feel guilty. Whenever I skip my to-do list for the evening, it becomes some sort of existential inner debate.

Last night was one of those moments: I had a ton of laundry to do, invoices to work on (for my other job), taxes to file, blogs to write…but all I did was remain in bed, watch TV shows on the desktop, and flip through an unfinished magazine. I simply felt tired—I didn't even feel like making dinner (although I did prep the pastry cream that will go into cream puffs that I have yet to make).

This morning, on the train to work, I read the following in this month's O, The Oprah Magazine:

"Georgia was a proto slacker," writes Karbo. "There were days and weeks when she would read, spend hours tramping around outside, write letters, sew, and play dominoes…. But when Georgia worked, she worked her ass off."

[Sidebar on the book, How Georgia Became O'Keeffe where writer Karen Karbo spotlights the life and times of "a Midwester farm girl as she becomes a self-assured art world phenomenon."]

I immediately felt a sense of relief after reading that paragraph. And, as the day went by, I realized that all these years and even leading up to today, I have benefitted from pockets of listless time. Whether it was a 30 minute afternoon milk-tea break, wasting the living daylights out of one weekend, or even a full-year sabbatical (which I did back in 2009 resulting in a page in a cookbook, among other fun stuff!), so-called lazy days have surprisingly yielded productive results.

A couple of months ago, on a bus ride out of town, I sat next to a writer and editor named Sara Marcus, author of the book, Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution. We were talking about writing books and self-imposed deadlines, and I told her about this long overdue novel in the works. She asked, "What's stopping you?" But during the course of our conversation (it was a long bus ride), she turned to me and said—and, I paraphrase—"Oh, don't be so hard on yourself. In the last four years, you immigrated to a new country, worked on becoming a citizen, got married…that's a lot."

These days, it's good to be reminded to never underestimate slower-than-usual moments, or even one's self—knowing and having faith that a productivity boost is just right around the corner. In the meantime, enjoy the slabs of dark chocolate.

Long-distance Lovin'

2012-01-27T02:02:00.004-05:00

Our feature is out now in the February/March 2012 issue of Maven Magazine!

That's actress Kim Chiu on the cover, oh, and I just noticed, the blurb on the righthand side for the article, "Real Long Distance Relationships That Work," yay!

Grab your copies now! :)

Lead photo: Pat Dy. Dress and suit: Kate Torralba. Makeup: Peddy Acebo. Hair: Bong Vicentico.
For wedding supplier info, read this post.

Cord Control

2012-01-21T19:45:00.003-05:00

Cute "donuts" for the home.

If you go to ContainerStore.com, you'll find a section specifically for organizing cords: Homepage > Shop Now > Office > Desk Accessories > Cord Control.

Ever since we moved, I've been fixating on this subject. I'm quite good at keeping things kempt in the cord department—given that between Alvs and myself, we have a fair amount of gadgets around the house. These Cable Turtles though, take organization up a notch and beat my go-to hair elastics for managing dangling wiring. I love them!

I got these punchy-hued "donuts" last weekend. Made in the Netherlands (not surprising!), each one features a soft rubber casing that easily flips out to make winding a breeze, and then flips back in for the full cord-keeping effect.

Just make sure you get the right size for what you need.
I'd recommend buying an assortment!

I'm pretty sure you'll find versions of these in Greenhills or CD-R King in Manila. Or, the exact same ones in Make Room. I remember spotting my cousin with something similar when she visited New York. Having said that, I guess this cord organization fixation runs in the family!

Steve Jobs—who favored an uncluttered aesthetic—would be happy.
(If you go to the Apple store, you'll find that all cords for five, seven computers neatly meet at the center of the table and run down in the same hole housed in one thick tube. I wish I'd taken a picture!)

Beauty Kaboom

2012-01-19T23:29:00.008-05:00

Odd as it may sound, my forehead is a pretty reliable indicator of stress levels. Literally, the minute anything feels out of whack, trust that a zit will pop up. I know this seems ridiculous, but it's true.

Towards the latter part of December, I found myself with a gigantic pimple right smack on the forehead, a few millimeters short of center. If you read the Happy New Home post, it was in plain sight.

I know all of this sounds quite superficial, but I do have more serious thoughts about beauty that I'm better off not talking about in public. Oh, and I'm no longer stressed out right now, just wanted to share that bit of trivia and at the moment, indulge in some random ramblings on beauty, hair, and skincare, starting with...

1) A New Brightening Product
My former editors know how I feel about whitening products: I don't like them because they essentially go against the grain of loving one's own skin tone, no matter what. But, when new products come up marketed to even-out skin tone and address dark spots—and not exactly bleach your complexion to dangerous proportions—I'm more forgiving. Luminaze, for example, claims its formula is gentle enough to use everyday, thanks to an enzyme derived from mushrooms that targets melanin in the skin. The enzyme supposedly is 'programmed' to do that one thing, so that with anything else it touches, it's pretty much harmless—at least that's what the brand says about their product. What I think sets this apart from other brightening skincare is that it doesn't contain hydroquinone, a bleaching agent found in some products (not cool).

2) Haircare Resolution
In my Fashion Decisions post, I'd mentioned wanting to fix my hair more often. I figured, I should start going to the salon for regular blowouts—versus trying to address my tresses using a hairdryer because first, I don't have the patience to brush and dry my hair for almost an hour(!), and second, I just think it's a waste of time (even if I did have the patience…or flair for hair, for that matter) when I could be doing more productive things, or getting more sleep.

3) Beauty, in general
About those serious thoughts, well, let me touch on them for a bit. Lately, I've been thinking more and more about metrics for success, and the personality that comes with it. I realized, I want to be kind, sincere, and...real. If I have to sacrifice the above just to blaze a trail in my chosen field, or if I have to be mean and step on people's toes, I'd be happy to sit it out on the sidelines…and perhaps have more time to fixate on my hair!

In The Kitchen

2012-01-18T21:45:00.003-05:00

Churning out sweet and savory treats :)

Now that we've settled into our new home, I've had more time to tinker about in the kitchen. So far, I've made:

Banana Walnut Muffins…

Buttermilk Biscuits…

…and Hazelnut Brownies!

Read about the biscuits at All My Sugar, and tune in for the rest of the recipes—will blog about them soon!

Fashion Decisions

2012-01-11T19:48:00.003-05:00

My items arrived in this beautifully-wrapped package!

Now that we've settled into our new home, I can concern myself with other things like cooking, baking, blogging, beauty and fashion. A few days ago, I announced to my husband that "this year, I think I'll fix my hair more." To that, he politely pointed out that I haven't been fixing up so much. Now, Alvs isn't mean or condescending that way—far from it, actually. He was merely stating the obvious: I've gotten so lazy in terms of primping in preening. While I've always prided myself for being able to get dressed in five minutes flat, especially in the summertime, it seems like I've taken the 'express-wear' to the extreme by getting up at the last minute, grabbing something quick from the closet, and heading out, hustling all the way to the subway.

Now, it's not like I've been going out looking like a slob. The one other thing that I'm actually proud of is my well-edited closet. I regularly purge and review its contents so that anything I pull from it makes sense. If something no longer fits or works—whether or not it had been purchased weeks, months, or years ago—out it goes to be donated. (Also, I think people should donate articles of clothing when they still look fabulous!)

So, last Friday after work, I spent a good chunk of time online shopping at Zara. It's soo much easier than browsing and trying on items at the store. What I love about this brand is that it's consistent in sizing, making it a breeze to pick out pieces.

Since I missed out on a super-cute nautical print tulip dress over the summer, when I saw the orange A-line dress above, I immediately went for it. (Zara updates inventory every week, so I've heard.) I also picked out these laminated heel court shoes, as I've had to let go of my favorite nude pumps because they have gotten so old.

Also part of this year's fashion resolution is to re-train my feet to wear sky-high heels. I know it sounds silly, but yes, I'm going forward with it. Of course I'm doing the New-York-commuter version by heading to work in comfy flats/boots, and changing into these ridiculous things later on. (Oh, the things we women do for fashion!)

Ta-da! Here's how I wore the new pieces today :)

(Dress image courtesy of Zara)

Happy New Home

2012-01-11T00:20:00.126-05:00

New year, new home. Cheers!

Over the holidays, my husband and I moved into a one-bedroom apartment—which meant that on top of the usual flurry that comes with the season, we also had to deal with hauling things back and forth and all over, even from out of state! This included two trips to Ikea, U-Haul rentals on separate occasions, and more.

But, the best part of the season was finally having our own space. We welcomed 2012 over champagne, cheese, chocolate, and cheers and were absolutely thrilled, even if at the time, our living room looked like a disaster area. In lieu of a center table/console on which to place the cheese board, we stacked Banker's boxes...which, by the way, also make up our nightstand at the moment.

Our makeshift bedside table.

That said, it's refreshing—and a relief!—to know that my husband and I share the same design aesthetic and essentially agree on items to prioritize. Our bed was our first splurge, while the reasonable, well thought-out pieces from Ikea have been a blessing and a joy to shop for.

Our living room is actually looking better these days.
This piece from Ikea marries form and function…at a price that can't be beat!

My modernist take on home design clearly stems from having had chores growing up and I have no doubt in my mind about it. You see, it's key for me that our living space is easy to clean, so that automatically discounts all the frilly stuff that can collect dust. As for my husband, I guess with him being a guy—who also happens to like tech things—clean lines make sense.

Speaking of Ikea, on one occasion, I spotted a woman carrying an Hermès bag and I immediately had a light-bulb moment. I thought, That's it! That pretty much sums up how I want to approach this whole thing about furnishing our new home: Even when I can afford Hermès, I still would want to be seen traipsing around the mega-store shopping for file folders, shelves or a nice big red table/orange mirror. I want the same high-low approach to interior design in the same I would with fashion.

So, anyway, here's a glimpse of what our home looks like these days. I plan on posting behind-the-scenes pics in another blog post.

I've attempted to blog in the bedroom but with this cozy bed and
fluffy comforter—plus my huggable husband—it's been a challenge!

It's still pretty much a blank canvas, and the plan is
to keep things clean, modern, and cozy.

Moving!

2011-12-13T20:38:00.002-05:00

I can't wait to get one of these! The Mamma Ro Garlic Keeper.
(Image courtesy of Inventorspot.com)

About to start packing for our big move ahead—hopefully in the most logical, non-overwhelming way as possible—and thought I'd squeeze in a blog post before I get carried away with everything that needs to be done. By Saturday.

Fortunately, I have a tiny room with not that much stuff (methinks).

What I'm most excited about is having my own kitchen again. Right now, I have roommates. Don't get me wrong, I have good roommates: One of them speaks the same disinfectant language that I do, and the others, happily share their garlic/milk/eggs/lemon juice/olive oil when I'm running low. (And, yes—I happily share my household loot too).

So going back to the subject, you see, the amount of cooking that I do is directly proportionate to the amount of writing and blogging I get done. Words seem to come up while I'm tinkering about in the kitchen, washing dishes, maybe even chopping garlic... A writer whose name I don't remember called this the "Kitchen Sink" method—doing something totally unrelated to writing to inspire the writing, and I absolutely believe her.

If you look at the gaps in my blogging (especially for All My Sugar), I can tell by the dates that in those weeks/months, I barely cooked or baked. Somehow while the food is being made, words percolate as well.

Pom-pom Pow!

2011-11-30T22:28:00.003-05:00

Shake your pom-pom!
(F.Y.I., the fur is faux.)

(Gotta get-get…)

I usually leave the fashion blogging to my more stylish friends and those who are in the media/event loop such as Kat, Frances, or Christine, whose blogs, Kat Dy Finds (and her shop, Martina-Martina!), Topaz Horizon, and Manila Fashion Observer, respectively, are read by many who are keen on the latest/cutest/super fabulous the fashion mill has to offer. These days, I'm quite the passive spectator when it comes to trends—choosing to finely filter a few key pieces to repeat, reuse, and add to my wardrobe.

Every now and then though, I chance upon things that indulge an old fancy. I know, that given the opportunity to splurge and go on a shopping spree, I could unleash that magazine-editor frenzy for clothing, shoes, and accessories, and totally bring it. (Back then I would randomly buy pairs of shoes during afternoon breaks. Well, our office was inside a mall, so shopping was eeeasy. Also, online clothing stores at the time weren't as available and readily accessible as they are now.)

Apart from the fluffy ball up top, I like
how the knits are created in a different
way with every layer.

During the recent Thanksgiving holiday shopping rush—yes, my husband and I participated in the shenanigan, complete with leaving the apartment at midnight on Thursday to scope stores in Soho!—I picked up two items with an unplanned and unexpected theme: pom-poms! First was a beanie from Urban Outfitters, and then a scarf from H&M. Both were fluffy knits warm enough for when the temperature dips. That said, I have no plans of wearing them both at the same time!

Anyway, if you're planning some holiday clothes shopping, you may want to look at Byron Bay Threads, an online store for women's clothing and more. They're based in Australia and I believe they ship internationally (their checkout page has a drop-down menu listing countries). Here's a link to their their website, and below is a playful video featuring their items:

Victoria's Secret Diet?

2011-11-29T23:43:00.008-05:00

With tonight's telecast of the Victoria's Secret show (that I have yet to see online as we don't own a TV), today's free paper, Metro, had a write-up on model Miranda Kerr. The svelte stunner reportedly lost all her pregnancy weight in a matter of a few months leading up to the show (she just had Orlando Bloom's child). When asked about her diet and fitness regimen, here was what she told the publication:

"I like to start the day with a fresh green juice with kale, spinach, cucumber, beets and lemon. Then half an hour later, I have a power smoothie which has Sunwarrior protein powder, chia seeds, maca powder, raw cacao, bee pollen, goji berries, noni juice, Vitamineral Green and coconut water. Then an hour after that I’ll have oatmeal or eggs. That’s my three-course power breakfast. For lunch I might have some grilled fish with goat cheese or baby spinach salad and olives. Sometimes I’ll have a sweet potato. At dinner, I’ll have a lentil soup and maybe some chicken. And I love to have my salads with avocado, feta and spinach."

The above, plus a 12-year yoga practice, and Pilates, etc. after having the baby.

I figured, so, I have the juicing down pat. While not as intense as the sexy strutter, I do start my morning with a freshly pressed concoction of carrot, apple, ginger, lemon, kale/spinach/parsley juice as often as I can; and when I am not too lazy to walk a few blocks to the fruit stand/juice cart near my office. I've also been having steel-cut oatmeal for breakfast since discovering it in January, and before that, had also eaten rolled oats regularly. As for the eggs? Check. Yoga? Check. And, thanks to having long been a fan of David Zincenko's Abs Diet—more of an eating lifestyle, than a "diet"—which I credit for the 15 lbs I lost back in 2004 and have kept off since (give or take five pounds), I practically eat the same things as Kerr does…at least the ones she had mentioned in her interview.

So the big question is, why the heck don't I look like a Victoria's Secret model?!

Dessert audit, anybody?:)

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-26T17:47:00.003-05:00

My kind of turkey.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving holiday weekend! I had my fair share of turkey in the form of this decadent tablepiece at a family dinner. Given that my modified pesco-vegetarian diet leaves little room for poultry other than chicken, imagine my delight upon discovering that the hosts of a scrumptious, sweet, and savory meal placed shiny dark chocolate figurines next to beautiful flowers. Before dessert was served—a fantabulous spread of fruit, figs, cake, pie, and cupcakes—one of the guests wondered out loud if the little chocolate turkeys were to be eaten. Then, she gamely broke off a piece and the rest of us left at the table enjoyed slivers of its rich, bittersweet "meat."

I now also happen to own one whole piece. The host's mother must have found it amusing/odd that my husband and I kept snapping pics of the chocolate charmers, that after dinner, she told me she would wrap one up for me to take home. Yay! Happy Thanksgiving, indeed :)

Cybernesting

2011-11-19T22:32:00.001-05:00

Ny Minute Now. Now na.

I have no excuse for not blogging. I have the tools, gadgets, even the time. You know the saying, work expands to the amount of time we're given. It's like putting off de-cluttering for months, and when you have guests popping over at the last minute, all the mess is gone in 30 minutes flat. I believe I read this in the book, It's All Too Much, by organization and clutter expert, Peter Walsh. (Blogged about the book here.)

But, if I play the time card and account for my non-blogging, October really was quite a blur of a month. Here were the highlights:

1) I became an American

I know I'll always be Pinay at heart (I did go to the University of the Philippines, where we were reminded that our affordable State tuition was made possible by tax-paying citizens, including farmers and the hardworking working class) and no doubt in my mind and heart that I will always give back to my country in the best of my abilities.

Still a Pinay at heart.

2) My husband became a New Yorker.

Yes, four years in the making. We've finally graduated from the shenanigan of a long-distance relationship that we had subjected ourselves to. And I do not recommend it to anyone.

At one of my favorite, hole-in-the-wall sandwich shops in Soho.

Drinks for two!

3) Work, work...

Well, I've been working at my full-time job since April. And, I always say that whenever my day job entails writing and editing, the blogging is the first to get pushed to the backburner. Add to that my two other (part-time/off-site) jobs that take up a couple of hours every now and then. But then again, I have no excuse: so many of my editor friends do this. Some are even mommies!

At mass last Sunday, the readings, again, offered swak-na-swak [super apt/applicable] insight to whatever issues I had the previous weeks. Whatever drama, neurosis I've inflicted upon myself, I go to mass and leave feeling at peace—like a refreshing, centering salve to whatever dilemma is at hand. (The feeling is close to coming out of yoga class, which, by the way, is a great place to say one's prayers and tune in to God.)

And sharing a meal, yay!

So anyway, the Gospel for that day was the Parable of Talents. We're all given skills and tools to make it through life. I was recently just telling my husband that it's amazing how engineers have figured out a way to run tunnels underwater for subways, and how each person is brought to this earth to do something. My mom always talks about this too. And it's true: some of us are meant to be doctors, scientists, while others write, entertain, cook. It's an amazing mix of talents that inhibit the world. So, automatically, I got to thinking about blogging, how I've become lazy. The parable was a great reminder to get back on it, and not keep coming up with excuses, and to share what I share with the world, both serious and the seemingly mundane.

The priest also mentioned how, as children, we open presents at Christmastime and find ourselves comparing what we received. He said to "mind our own presents/talents" and, picking up from the homily, to truly hone, nurture, and treasure what we've been given.

Upward Spirals, One Year After

2011-10-08T16:59:00.001-04:00

Spiral up and away!

I quote from the November 2011 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine ("What I Know for Sure," p. 210):

"One of my greatest lessons has been to fully understand that what looks like a dark patch in the quest for success is the universe pointing you in a new direction. Anything can be a miracle, a blessing, an opportunity if you choose to see it that way. Had I not been demoted from the 6 o'clock anchor post in Baltimore back in 1977, the talk show gig would never have happened when it did. When you can see obstacles for what they are, you never lose faith in the path it takes to get you where you want to go."
—Oprah Winfrey

It's a lazy Saturday and I'm supposed to be making space for big changes in how I live up ahead. For one, there's a possible imminent move to an apartment that I have yet to find. For another, there's all the work that I have to do, in and out of the office.

I did just want to upload a blog post real quick, as yesterday was a year to date of my last day working at Avon, with the trend brand, mark., where I had been abruptly laid off. That same week, I'd gone to yoga class and had written the post, "Upward Spirals; Not Circles."

I wrote (quoting from the teacher): "It is when when we move around in circles and find ourselves in the same spot that we ask ourselves, 'Why am I here again? Why is it that I never learn?' When in fact, we're actually moving in an upward spiral, not in circles; that when we end up in the same spot, we've actually gone one level up."

Yesterday in yoga class, again (where I seem to find inspiration for blogs), it occurred to me that what if these spirals where literal springboards for life? What if, whenever we reach the top of each one, it coils and propels us up and forward? A delightful analogy, I must say.

Happy weekend, folks!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Superserum

2011-09-26T07:07:00.001-04:00

My editor friends will probably laugh at me for
being impressed by this: I got the usual press folder,
and in lieu of the accompanying CD/DVDs of
product info and images, this time there was
a bowl of USB sticks one could dip into.

Speaking of my affinity for many things European, I recently went to the US launch of BioEffect at The Library in the superposh SoHo House New York. The Iceland-bred "magic" serum is touted as "a next-generation serum that improves the appearance and health of your skin by encouraging the the skin to repair its own cells."

Now, having been a full-time beauty editor, I've gone to countless beauty events. Hence, exactly why these days, I tend to shy away from parties and nighttime shenanigans (and why you'll never get me to go to Happy Hour anywhere and for whatever reason). I'd much rather hop on the train home straight from work, or head to yoga class and find an excuse to indulge in a bowl of Japanese ramen post-session.

Anyway, back to this new skincare find, I did manage to RSVP for BioEffect, without knowing that the publicists were based in London and that the phenomenal product took 10 years to develop in Iceland. What sets the serum apart from others in the market are the following two key points:

EGF is grown inside barley seeds—planted in pure volcanic pumice—
in this geothermal-energy-powered greenhouse.

1) The active ingredient is Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), "a substance which occurs naturally in human skin and has the ability to speed up the rate of cell turnover." Now, before you get totally freaked—like I tend to with certain products, for example, that have the word "placenta" in them (not this one though)—the EGF in BioEffect is developed inside and extracted from barley seeds in state-of-the-art greenhouses. According to the brand's press release, "Producing EGF in plants, rather than in bacteria or animal cells, is very important to get an active, clean, and stable EGF [that is] suitable for a highly effective skincare product."

"Barley seeds act like mini-factories for the production of human-like EGF cellular activators."

2) The tiny bottle of potent serum contains only nine ingredients: glycerine, aqua, sodium hyaluronate, tromethamine, alcohol (less than 0.9%), calcium chloride, sodium chlodride, Hordeum Vulgare seed extract, EGF (transgenic barley SH-Oligopeptide-1—all clearly labeled in the packaging. This is great news if you're looking to streamline and simplify your beauty routine. And, when using BioEffect, all you need are two to four drops for the face, eye area, and neck.

The only possible drawback is the price tag: $210 (which includes the cost of shipping to the U.S.). Is it worth the investment? Ask me in a month's time. For now, if you'd like to read up further on the brand and this product, check out BioEffect.com and BioEffect.co.uk.

This photo (of the greenhouse) makes me want to go to Iceland.
The country currently has a population of about 318,452!